by Toni Jackson
“I want you to come home with me.”
Sean’s fingers stroked over the palm of her hand sending shivers throughout her body. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sean.”
“I know,” his voice caught. “I know that you don’t believe I truly care for you. Listen to me now.”
“When…,” he closed his eyes and swallowed against the lump in his throat. “When I first met you, it wasn’t by accident. Everything had been planned.” Sean drew a deep breath and put his head down. “For us to meet...everything. I thought that I could convince you to have my child and give it up. Then something happened. The more I was around you…the more I was with you…the more I wanted to be with you.” Sean looked up at Dani, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “Thanks to you, my life stopped being about work and the next deal, and became about building something with you.”
Dani could see the moisture that had pooled in his eyes, threatening to fall.
“Thanks to you, I finally understand what it means to love someone and to be loved. I want to take you home and watch my child grow inside you. I want us to have something I never had. A family.”
Dani could not understand why everything around her was blurry until she realized that her eyes had filled with tears.
“I want to Sean, I do. But I need time,” she turned to Tina. “I’m ready to go as soon as I get dressed.” Tina shot Sean a quick look then left the room.
“Give me another chance, please?” Sean begged.
Dani closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall. “I can’t,” she whispered, watching Sean’s face pale. “I can’t go home with you knowing that everything was a lie. That everything could still be a lie. I was nothing to you but a means to an end, and almost died because of it.” She placed her hand over stomach, covering the precious life growing inside her.
“I will never stop you from seeing our child. But I can’t believe that you truly care for me.”
Sean stood in silence. He realized his actions had cost him the most important thing in his life. The woman he loved and his child. Not to mention, the chance to have more children with her – to have a real family.
He nodded slowly and turned to leave the room. He was lost in thought as he walked down the hallway and out of doors of the hospital.
CHAPTER 38
Dani admired herself in the mirror in her room in Tina’s townhouse. Four months had passed since the incident with Clayton. In spite of everything he had done, they had done their best to give him a decent funeral.
She was ready to begin work on her West Coast commission as soon as the baby was born. The gallery had been closed and the work previously stored there had been moved to the warehouse with the Dani’s other sculptures. Tina was working with her to schedule a showing of all of the sculptures through another gallery.
Tonight, all her sculptures would be on display for the first time. With over 15 works of various sizes to display, it took a while to find a space large enough for the show.
Dani smoothed her beige gown over her baby bump. The same woman who designed the black dress she wore when she met Sean designed it for simplicity and comfort. The material was a soft silk that felt sexy against her skin. She wondered how their child would look and hoped he would have their father’s beautiful green eyes.
It seemed like forever since she had seen him.
For the first few months, Sean had called every day. Each conversation was torture. Every time she got off the phone, she cried, wanting to run back to him, but not trusting her own judgment. When she stopped answering his calls, he started calling Tina to find out information. Tina mentioned that Sean had been silent for the past two weeks.
A lump formed in her throat when she thought about never seeing him again.
So…that was it. It was over. She took a deep breath to pull herself together.
Grabbing her shawl and purse from the bed, she slipped her feet into the comfortable flats Tina located for her. Tina did her makeup and hair earlier, so she would be ready to go on time.
Dani and Tina arrived fashionably late – Tina’s idea, not Dani’s.
The owner of the gallery, James Peterson, a tall handsome African American man whose gallery was firmly established, greeted both of them at the door. Tina with a glass of champagne, Dani was a glass of sparkling apple cider.
They were both amazed at the number of people who had attended the showing. Several sold signs already hung from some of her works. Peterson led them through the gallery introducing them to several people who had already purchased pieces and others who just seemed curious about her.
Dani managed to mingle graciously for about an hour before she needed to seek out somewhere quiet to sit down and rest. The sheer number of people in the gallery was overwhelming.
She wandered until she located a glass conservatory filled with plants and flowers attached to the back of the gallery. Statues peeked out from fanciful locations. Cushioned benches appeared at several locations along the stone path.
Walking over to one the less visible benches, she sat down, turning sideways to lift her feet, while placing a cushion behind her back. Already, the profits from this show were enough to hold her over indefinitely.
Closing her eyes, her mind drifted for a moment. The soft tread of footsteps headed in her direction made her open her eyes and swing her feet around to the ground. Glancing up, her breath locked in her chest as she watched a tuxedoed Sean Davenport emerge from the shadows.
Her eyes drank in the sight of him. His face was thinner and sadness showed in his eyes. His black hair was slicked back, highlighting the lines in his face.
“Hi Dani.” Sean’s voice was husky.
“Hi,” she whispered. Her hand automatically began rubbing on her stomach. Sean’s eyes glanced over her and became sadder.
He cleared his throat. “Looks like things are working out for you. Everyone loves your work. But I knew they would.”
Dani stared at her hands, where she clenched her purse. “Thanks for coming out.”
He stepped closer. “How – how is the baby? Have you been eating right and resting?”
She nodded. “I -,” she took a deep breath. “I had a sonogram the other day.”
“Is the baby okay?”
“Yes.” Tears threatened to fall. “Everything’s fine. It’s a girl.”
Sean’s eyes closed as he looked down. “She will be beautiful…and loved…just like her mother.”
Reaching into his jacket pocket, Sean pulled out an envelope. His fingers tightened around it before he stepped forward to give it to Dani.
“What’s this?” She frowned, reaching out for the envelope.
Sean said nothing, just waited patiently for Dani to open it.
Puzzled, she laid her purse on the bench and pulled out several sheets of paper. After scanning the first few paragraphs, Dani’s eyes snapped up to his.
“Sean, I don’t understand.”
Sean shook his head. “I couldn’t think of any other way to make you understand how I feel about you.” He gestured towards the papers.
In her hands were papers giving Dani sole custody of their child, while naming an amount that would eliminate any worries about money.
Dani shook her head, confused. “But, I thought you wanted a child to carry on the Davenport legacy?” She frowned, then looked up at him. “Did you find someone else?”
“God, no!” Sean whispered. He knelt at Dani’s feet. “None of it means anything if you’re not with me. There is no one who could take your place. I don’t want anyone else.” Taking her hands in his, he turned them and placed a kiss on each palm.
“I’m sorry, Dani. I’m so sorry for what I did.” He reached out and spread his hand across her stomach. “But I can’t be sorry for meeting you.” Leaning forward, he gently kissed the child nestled deep inside her. “And I will never regret our child.”
Sean looked up at her, all the love he felt for her shining brightly in his gr
een eyes. “You’re the only one for me.”
Dani could barely see through the tears falling from her eyes.
Reaching up to wipe her cheeks, Sean frowned. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to upset you. Stop crying, Dani, please?”
Dani leaned back and grabbed the envelope. Taking out the papers, she began tearing them into pieces.
It was Sean’s turn to look confused. “Dani?”
Once she finished shredding the papers, she turned back and lifted his face to hers, kissing him.
“I love you, Sean.” Taking his hands, she placed them back on the swell of her stomach. “I want you in our life.”
He slid his arms around Dani and pulled her close. “Come home with me, please. It hasn’t been a home since you left.”
She closed her eyes and swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Yes.”
Sean looked up in disbelief. “Yes?”
Dani nodded, smiling. “Yes! Take us home.”
He stood and gently helped her to her feet. Pulling her close, he said, “Marry me. Build a home – a family with me.”
Dani nodded again, smiling.
Sean kissed her. This kiss was a promise. A promise of a lifetime together. He picked up her purse and the envelope from the bench and handed them to Dani. Pulling out a handkerchief, he wiped the signs of tears from her face and kissed her again.
“Oh, there’s one more thing.” Reaching into another pocket, he held out a small box. He flipped open the lid to reveal a large marquise cut diamond ring. The platinum band was carved with intricate figures.
“I had just picked up your ring the day that Clayton…,” Sean’s voice trailed off as he recalled how close he came to losing Dani. “I’ve been walking around with it in my pocket every day in the hopes that I could convince you to come back to me.”
She stared speechless as he slipped the ring on her finger.
“Now we can go home.”
Hand in hand, they left the conservatory and headed back to the gallery. Both of them were smiling broadly. To Dani’s surprise, everyone began to cheer. She looked at Sean as he began blushing.
“I asked them to wish me luck.”
Dani laughed as Tina ran forward and gave her a hug, kissing her on the cheek. To her surprise, Tina turned and hugged Sean, too. He squeezed her hand and led her out of the gallery to a limousine waiting at the curb. A middle-aged gentleman held the door open for them, dressed in a black suit with a dark red tie.
Sean gently handed Dani inside and slid in beside her. The gentleman smiled at them and closed the door before taking his place behind the wheel.
“A limo tonight?” Dani asked, quietly.
He nodded. “If you hadn’t said yes, I was going to get drunk. It wouldn’t have been wise to be behind the wheel in that condition.”
She giggled and snuggled into his side.
“Where to, sir?” the driver asked.
Sean stared deep into Dani’s eyes before he replied.
“Home.”
