Acceptance, The

by Bernadette Marie

  He’d been glad he’d had the foresight to stop at the corner store and buy a box of condoms. It had been awhile since he’d been with a woman. There wasn’t a supply of them tucked in his wallet or car.

  He thought about the moment he’d stopped and reached for the box he’d shoved in his jean pocket. For a moment, he’d thought Courtney was going to cry because he’d even given thought of protecting her—them.

  She moaned against his skin. “I’ve never felt like that before.”

  Tyler brushed her hair from her forehead. “You’re going to explode my ego.”

  “It deserves it.” She pressed a kiss to his chest. “I never thought someone would take such care of me. I mean you carried me up the stairs. You didn’t just have sex with me.”

  Tyler ran a hand down her back. “You’re more than that to me.”

  “I just keep waiting for the moment when that’s all I am.”

  “It’s not going to happen.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  “I believe that from you.” She lifted her head and turned toward him. “I’ve always accepted what happened to me. It sucks. Don’t get me wrong. It might have been better if I hadn’t always known what being sighted was like. But it happened. I am who I am because of it.”

  She trailed her fingers down his breastbone and back up. “And I believe the world is full of good people. You know, the kind that don’t judge a person’s ability on whether they can see or not. But I’ve learned that people in general are not patient enough for people like me.”

  Tyler rolled her so that she was on her back and he was looking down at her. “I’m a very patient person.” He laid his lips on the crevice of her neck and trailed more over her shoulder. “You’ll meet my family tomorrow and you’ll understand where I get my patience.”

  Courtney smiled as he moved his mouth back to hers. “Your family won’t judge me?”

  “No. Not a one of them. Talk about a group that accepts anyone—everyone. My mother, aunt, and uncle were adopted. My sister was given up for adoption and then reunited with our family—so I consider her adopted back,” he said and she giggled under him. “My Aunt Simone was as far from normal as I suppose you could get for my uncle. And Warner Wright…” He propped himself up on his arm and thought. “I think he was lucky he landed in this family where everyone is accepted. He needed that.”

  “And what about Tyler Benson? The son who felt pushed out when his sister came back? Is he accepted in this family?”

  He ran his fingers through her hair and focused on the softness of each strand against his skin.

  “Tyler Benson was the only one who thought he didn’t fit in. He’d never been unaccepted,” he said as if he were realizing it for the first time too.

  “That’s what I figured.”

  “You’re going to love them. All of them.”

  “Do you suppose they’re going to know what’s going on here—between us?”

  He chuckled as he nuzzled his face into her hair, which sprawled out like a fan. “Something tells me you’ll still have that glow in your cheeks by dinner time tomorrow.”

  Courtney’s mouth opened. “Glow? Why?”

  Tyler pressed his mouth to hers and took it with the passion that surged through him as he rolled atop her. “Because I’m thinking that this is exactly where I want to be all day, doing exactly this,” he said kissing her again. “Chances are they might notice.”

  He felt her tense again beneath him, but as his tongue tangled now with hers and her body began to go pliant under his, he was sure she too wouldn’t care what kind of glow she gave off. The Keller/Benson clan was about to fall in love with the most perfect woman Tyler had ever known.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Every muscle in Courtney’s body was relaxed, until the car stopped and she heard Tyler put it in park.

  “This is it.”

  She heard him pull the keys from the ignition. “I’ve only known you a week. Maybe it’s too early to meet your family.”

  “I’ve already met yours.”

  That was true enough. Thankfully she’d managed to avoid them most of the week. Well, her father at least. She knew that wasn’t going to last long. He’d already texted her and asked for her to meet with him on Monday.

  She wasn’t going to tell Tyler about that. After she heard what her father had to say, then she’d see how she felt about sharing the conversation.

  “I don’t take you as the type of person who gets nervous,” he said resting his hand on her thigh.

  “Oh, I can get nervous. In fact, I’m very nervous.”

  Tyler moved in his seat and she could feel his eyes on her so she turned her head toward him. “What are you nervous about? Give me specifics and I’ll be able to tell you what to expect.”

  Courtney dropped her shoulders. “Did you tell your family I’m blind?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that doesn’t define you. Would you have rather I did?”

  She shrugged. “Even when people know in advance it doesn’t stop the shock.”

  “My grandmother has met you. My guess is she might have mentioned it to my parents. Not because it matters but because you see the world differently than the rest of us. It’s a charming quality.”

  That squeezed at her heart. “I’ve been told I don’t look blind.”

  Tyler’s hand came to her cheek. “You don’t. I can tell you that. Your eyes are clear, chocolate brown with specks of gold in them. You often look deep in thought.”

  Courtney bit down on her lip. That was probably the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. “Someone in that house will stop mid -sentence when they notice me.”

  “Okay, so someone will. I can absolutely guarantee that it will be only a heartbeat long and never happen again.”

  “You can guarantee that?”

  “With this group, yes.”

  Courtney licked her lips. “I’m scared of your mother.”

  Tyler laughed at that and she didn’t know if she should be horrified because he thought it was funny or maybe it was something she should be afraid of.

  “My mother? Oh, my. No one in their life could possibly be afraid of my mother.”

  “You’ve never been afraid of her? You ran away after all.”

  His laughter stopped. She’d wounded him. But she couldn’t help it.

  “I left because she’d hurt me. Not because she was mean. I was wrong to run away—hide—leave. Whatever the hell I did.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said softly. She was on edge. This was what she’d do to her mother, not her lover. “Let’s just say I’m afraid she won’t think I’m worthy.”

  “I think you are and that will sell it. What else?”

  “Will your cousin Christian be there?”

  “Y—es,” his word was drawn out.

  “And his sister Clara and her husband?”

  “More than likely. At least she will be. He’s still working a lot. Why do you ask?”

  “Fitz admired Christian. I want to tell him that.”

  Tyler took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Chris has gone through a lot the past few years. That will mean a lot to him.”

  Courtney smiled. “And Clara and Warner are famous.”

  He chuckled at that. “They are my family. In this house they clean the dishes, pass the bread, and give me a hard time. In this house they aren’t famous.”

  “I’ll try not to be star struck.”

  “It’ll be easy enough.”

  She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “What about you? What do you expect? I’ve known you all of a week.”

  “I expect them to love you.”

  “I mean, if I go in here do you expect more from me?”

  His body moved and she knew she’d made him uncomfortable. “I don’t understand.”

  “This relationship is new. I’ve said things I should have saved in my own head, out loud to you. I’ve gone to bed with you.” />
  “We’re adults. That’s allowed.”

  “I don’t know what I can give you, emotionally. I don’t want to set you up and fail you.”

  “I’ll be the judge of whether I feel failed. God, who put it in your head that you weren’t worthy of love and attention? Certainly not Fitz.”

  No, certainly not him, she thought. “I deserve to be reserved.”

  “Fine. Be reserved on the basis that you’re meeting new people. Be a bit nervous that the man who loves you is about to introduce you to his mother. But don’t go in thinking they will judge you because you can’t see their faces. That sells you short.”

  “Go back.” Her breath was stuck in her chest. “The man that what?”

  Tyler took both her hands in his. “The man that loves you. I know you don’t want to hear it, but it’s there. I wouldn’t have taken you to bed any other way. I’m not like that. I wasn’t raised like that.”

  “And I don’t usually use my blindness as a crutch.”

  “I didn’t think you did.”

  “I’m really nervous.”

  Tyler leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Do you love me?”

  “Yes,” she said and there was no hesitation in it.

  “Then you will love them and they will love you. You don’t have to see them to know. This family loves with all their heart and unconditionally.”

  Was it too much, she wondered, to want that as badly as she wanted Tyler in her life?

  Tyler walked around the car and opened her door. She stepped out and let her cane open. She didn’t use it in her home and hadn’t used it when she was with him at dinner. He could see this was a moment when she needed that security. Her cane provided that to her. Perhaps it would ease things a bit too. If he knew his family, someone already had their nose pressed to the window waiting for them. They’d see the cane. They’d know she was blind. They’d be prepared if his grandmother hadn’t mentioned it.

  How much of that had she planned when she’d pulled the cane out of her purse, he wondered.

  It wasn’t any more of a surprise when the front door opened and Clara grinned down at him. “Two weeks in a row!” She shouted. “And thank God you brought a woman.”

  Courtney pinched his elbow and he fought back the urge to yelp, but he saw the smile on her face and that told him already she was prepared to meet his family.

  “How come you’re the only one who stands at the door?” he asked as they made it up the walk.

  “Warner is on his way. He finished his solo album.” Her voice carried with it the pride that her eyes carried.

  “Solo?” Courtney stopped. “Why is he going solo? You’re a fantastic duo.”

  Tyler moved so that her grip was no longer on his arm and he laced his arm behind her. “Clara, this is my girlfriend Courtney. She’s a big fan of yours.”

  Courtney slapped him on the chest. “Big fan, yes. Girlfriend, we’ll see,” she said laughing as Clara walked down the steps toward them.

  “She fits right in,” Clara said easily. “I’m the oaf’s cousin.”

  Courtney reached out her hand and Clara shook it.

  “We thought he was bringing someone with him. I’ll admit I was the look out.”

  “I thought you were waiting for me.” The voice came from the street and Clara’s eyes lit up.

  “Come here!” Clara shouted as Warner walked up to them. “This is Tyler’s girlfriend, Courtney.”

  He watched as Warner processed Courtney’s hand extended, but her eyes diverted toward his shoulder. He shook her hand graciously.

  “Very nice to meet you.”

  Courtney smiled wide. “I’m a bit star struck,” she admitted. “I don’t mean to be. I told Tyler I was afraid I would be.”

  He gave her a gentle squeeze.

  “I’m star struck too,” Warner said. “My wife is amazing. She has the voice of an angel and the body of a goddess.”

  Courtney laughed and Warner took her hand and draped it over his arm. “C’mon, let’s go inside.”

  Courtney shifted from Tyler to Warner. “Let me take your elbow and how many steps are there?” she asked as she collapsed the cane and let it fold up in her hand.

  “There are three,” Warner answered.

  “Wonderful.” She turned her head toward Tyler. “Come along, Tyler. Warner Wright is going to escort me in.” Her voice was full of humor and lightness. She was star struck and he thought perhaps Warner was too. Not only over his wife, but Courtney seemed to have wormed her way right into the man’s heart just as she had Tyler’s.

  A flash of—something—hit him in the chest. He was going to marry that woman, he thought. Oh, yeah. She was absolutely the one.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Voices, laughter, and the hum of the television filled Courtney’s ears. Something fragrant—Italian—filled her nose. Sausage, tomato, there was chicken, and the ever wonderful scent of fresh bread.

  Warner warned her of the step up into the house. She was in an entrance hallway. This she could tell without her cane. The area was tighter.

  The voices became muffled and then the shuffling of feet.

  “Okay, Warner has a new girl,” a man said with a laugh as he moved toward them.

  “I stole her from Tyler,” Warner replied. “This is Courtney.”

  “Hello,” she said and held her hand out to shake the man’s hand.

  His grip was firm, but friendly. “Nice to meet you. I’m Christian.”

  Courtney felt her heartbeat kick up a notch. “Christian Keller?”

  He chuckled. “Yes.”

  “Sorry.” She caught her breath. “My brother was a big fan of yours. He enjoyed watching you play ball.”

  “Oh.” His voice shook a bit. “I haven’t played ball in a long time.”

  “I know. But I wanted you to know you brought him great joy.”

  Christian patted her hand. “I’m sorry about your brother. His sacrifice to our country won’t be forgotten.”

  Courtney stiffened her trembling lips. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  “Okay, okay.” Tyler moved in next to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Let’s move into the house. I can smell dinner and my stomach is growling. Where is my mother?”

  “She’s right here,” a woman said and Tyler gave Courtney’s shoulders a squeeze.

  “There she is.” Tyler moved around her and toward the woman, leaving one hand on Courtney’s arm as he embraced the woman.

  “Mom, this is Courtney,” Tyler said as he wrapped his arm tightly around her.

  “Hello, Mrs. Benson. It’s nice to meet you,” Courtney offered as she held her hand out to shake his mother’s.

  “Oh, aren’t you precious.” She took her hand and instead of shaking her hand she held it in hers, patting it with her other hand. “I’m so excited to finally meet you.”

  A moment later she was pulled into an embrace by the woman who smelled of floral notes and kitchen scents.

  “Welcome.” She pulled back. “And you can call me Regan. I’d prefer it.” She stepped in next to Courtney and whispered in her ear, “Mrs. Benson is my mother-in-law.”

  Courtney laughed. “She is a very sweet woman.”

  “Hmmm, yes she said she met you first and you were quite a catch.”

  Courtney laughed. Okay, there had been no reason for her to be nervous about meeting his mother.

  “Come, I want my parents to meet you.”

  Regan moved in next to her and offered her arm just as Tyler had the first time he’d walked with her. Courtney took her elbow and let her lead her through the house.

  Ten minutes later, Courtney had met every single member of Tyler’s family. Her head spun with names and voices. Laughter ensued, again peace filled her heart.

  Tyler watched Courtney as she engaged in conversation with the women he called family. They’d sat her down at the kitchen table. She was nestled in between Avery and Simone. His mother and grandmother were busy
at the stove with his Aunt Madeline.

  He’d missed this. This was where he belonged and looking at Courtney laughing with his cousin, he knew it was where she belonged too.

  “Hey, cuz,” Ed slapped Tyler on the shoulder. “I need some help bringing in the cooler of beer. Help me out.”

  Tyler nodded and walked to Courtney. “I’m going to step out back with Ed.”

  “I’m in good hands. Don’t worry about me,” she said in his ear and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  Tyler walked out the back door with his cousin and out toward the detached garage.

  “Why don’t you guys do dinner somewhere bigger? I mean you have to keep the beer in a cooler and bring it in?” Tyler asked as he followed Ed.

  “While Grandma and Grandpa can still come, dinner is here. Besides, I think Darcy really enjoys this. I know she had a good upbringing, but she didn’t have family like this. She craves it.” Ed opened the cooler and pulled out two beers. He handed one to Tyler and twisted the cap off his own. “We put in an application for adoption last week.”

  “Adoption? So you’re ready to start a family?”

  “We’re ready.”

  “What about your own? Can’t you have kids of your own?”

  Ed pulled from his beer. “Oh, we plan to do that too. Darcy feels like it would be the right thing to do. With your mom and my dad having been adopted, and Aunt Arianna. And with her having been adopted, she just feels like we should give a home to someone who needs it.”

  The thought spun inside Tyler. And these were the people he came from, he considered. The kind of people who would do for others first. Pride swelled in him.

  “I think that’s a real nice idea.” He twisted off the cap of his own beer. “Are you going to try to have your own kids soon?”

  Ed wiggled his eyebrows. “We try every chance we get.” He laughed and Tyler followed suit. “What about you and this new woman? You’ve been home a week.”