by Skye Turner
Liam
Well that was intense. I can’t believe that panic that flooded through me when Clove said that she only got naked with people she liked. I don’t want anyone other than me seeing her naked. Like ever again. I was so jealous. I couldn’t control it. I literally saw red for a minute. If she ever does realize that she can do so much better than me and leaves, I don’t think I can handle it. I want her. I want the baby. It’s mine. It’s not mine, but it feels like it’s mine. I want it to be mine. If she wants it to be, she can say it’s mine. They’re both mine. I love them both. They’re mine.
Stop it, Liam. Calm down. She’s not going anywhere. You sound like a psycho stalker!
I purposely baited her though. I wanted her to admit she loves me. I need her to say it to me. Dade says she does and I think that he may be right, but I would really like for her to say it.
I’m not Liam the rock star to her. Hell, she doesn’t like Bayou Stix Liam. She just said so. He’s an asshole. I don’t want to be Bayou Stix Liam anymore. With Clove these past few weeks, I have been the happiest I’ve ever been. I’ve been me and I really like the me I am when I’m with her. I’m a man John and Paw can be proud of…
Glancing over, I see Clove has fallen asleep. She’s been so busy with getting everything ready to go on the website that she’s been working really late hours. Bradi and Blue both got a tongue lashing from me about not letting her work too hard and making her take it easy. I read online that being pregnant is physically and emotionally exhausting for a woman. I want her to take care of herself.
She’s so beautiful. Her mouth is slightly open and she’s breathing deeply. She was always beautiful, but her long hair mixed with her pregnancy just really makes her look like a beautiful woman now. Her skin also has a little glow. I’d like to take credit for that, but I read that pregnancy does that, too. I’ve been reading a lot.
Her hands are also crossed over her stomach. She does that all the time. I don’t know if she even realizes it, but I love it. I love that she’s so protective of the little one. I do it, too. I can’t go to sleep now if Clove isn’t in my bed. If she’s not in my arms and my hands aren’t on her stomach, I feel lost and can’t sleep. It’s a good thing she’s practically moved into my room.
We start touring again in about three weeks. I still need to ask her to come with me. I know that Jessie is going to ask Blue. I need Clove with me. I’ll worry too much if she’s not.
Jeez, when did I become such a damn girl and start worrying about everything?
When you took your head out of your ass and realized that you loved Clove, you douche. I have someone, no, two someone’s, to worry about now. I have to be the best I can be.
I’ve spent the last twenty minutes talking to myself in the truck as Clove sleeps. As I make my turn onto the street, I softly talk to Clove to try to wake her. “Clove.” She mumbles. “Clove, come on, Princess. Time to wake up. We’re almost here.”
Her eye open and she looks at me sleepily. I want to pull the truck over and consume her. She smiles and says, “Sorry, I guess I fell asleep, huh?”
Chuckling, I nod. “Yeah, you did. Not one minute after you closed your eyes.”
She stretches and her breasts and stomach are pressed tightly against the little top she’s wearing. Forcing myself to look away, I smirk at how easily distracted I am by this woman.
She doesn’t catch my observation and looks around at the surroundings. The Oak trees and old houses catch her attention. “Oh, this is beautiful. It reminds me of Dade’s house.”
I laugh. See we are on the same page. “Me too. Paw lives in his family’s home. It’s restored, but everything is pretty original or as close to the original as it can be. I love the house.”
Angling my head, I nod towards the house. She turns to look in that direction. She gasps. “Oh, wow. It’s beautiful, Liam. It looks like a house in a movie.” She claps in glee.
I look at it and try to imagine how she’s seeing it for the first time. It’s stately. It’s old, built in 1879, but is in perfect condition. The exterior is white with large ornate carved columns and the gardens are perfectly landscaped with azalea bushes, camellias, crepe myrtles, and oak trees. There are also several magnolia trees that are over 100 years old, so they are full and lush. Nothing is blooming yet, so she can’t see the gardens in their glory, but I’ll just have to bring her back once spring arrives. The house is really a picture then.
I park the truck and walk around to help Clove out. She chuckles as I open her door and gesture for her to take my arm.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
She leans up and kisses my chin. It’s the highest she can reach without standing on her tip toes or unless I bend down. Her dark brown eyes are twinkling as she says, “You’re funny. My chivalrous knight.”
My eyes crinkle, too and I throw my head back and laugh. “Hey even rakes can be chivalrous if the right maiden comes along.” Then leaning down, I kiss her quickly and whisper in her ear, “And you, my dear, are exactly the right maiden.”
Her eyes dilate with her desire. Grinning, I straighten back up just as the door opens and an amused voice calls out, “You just going to keep the pretty girl in the driveway, boug. Or are you going to let her come in?”
Laughing, I turn around and walk Clove to the door. She has a look of apprehension on her face as we approach. I call out to Paw, “I was kind of thinking about it. I don’t want to lose my girl to you, you old coot.”
Paw chuckles and looks Clove over. Once we get to the door, he takes her hands. “Let me look at you, Cha.” She smiles at him and I can see him melt. “You’re a pretty thing. Liam didn’t do you any justice.” Turning into the house, he leaves me on the porch as he walks into the house, charming Clove the whole way. Her musical laughter wafts down the hall.
Shaking my head, I follow along behind them and stop into the kitchen where Verna is setting out some sandwiches and making tea and coffee. She gestures to the tray that’s already loaded and says, “Take that out to the back. It’s a pretty day and we’re going to enjoy the sunshine.”
Walking over, I hug her and kiss her cheek. “Yes, ma’am. Paw stole my girl.”
She chuckles and harrumphs. “He’ll give her back. I’m glad you brought her here today. We’ve been wanting to meet her and he’s been missing you.”
I stay there hugging her and she pats my arms. Stepping back, I look at her and smile. Her face lights up. “You’re happy.”
Taken aback, I nod and say, “Yes. I’m very happy. She’s amazing.”
Verna nods and points to the tray. “She must be. Now take that out to them. I’ll follow with the coffee once it’s done. I’ll only be a few minutes behind you.”
Laughing, I tell her I’ll be back to get the tray and she shoos me out of the kitchen.
I take the steps down into the back yard and just look at the scene before me. Paw is walking Clove through the gardens and pointing at this and that. They walk over to Maw’s roses. He had them dug up and replanted here once he sold the house in Baton Rouge. He wanted a piece of her to continue to live on. And damned if every spring and summer those pink roses don’t come back bigger and more beautiful than the year before.
Clove reaches down to smell one and Paw produces some clippers from his pants pocket and cuts the stem for her.
Crossing my arms, I watch the pleasure spread across her face as she smells the flower.
Damn, Liam. You better step up your game, or Paw really is going to steal your girl.
I should give her flowers.
She must realize I’m standing at the table because she turns to me with a smile and gestures at her flower and a couple of minutes later, she’s leading Paw back this way. We sit on the outdoor furniture and look around at the beautiful day for a bit.
Standing up, I excuse myself and head back into the house to help Verna with the tray. I don’t want her carrying the heavy thing and walking down the steps. As I get to the top, I see her watching us all t
hrough the screen door. She chuckles as she sees me and wipes a stray tear from her eye.
Immediately, I’m alarmed. “Verna, what’s wrong?”
She cackles and pats my face. “Nothing is wrong, boug. I’m just happy to see you happy. She’s beautiful. She has a special way about her.”
Turning to look back at the backyard, I have to agree. She’s perfect.
Smiling again, I take the tray and offer her my elbow to help her get down the steps. “Come on. You need to distract him before he falls in love with her.”
Verna mutters so quietly I almost don’t hear it, “Finally.”
I puzzle over this as we make our way to Paw and Clove.
Clove hops up and apologizes for not helping with the tray and coffee. Verna waves her apology away and asks her if she’d mind pouring the tea and coffee. The French press is full and there’s a kettle of hot water and some tea bags.
Clove pours coffee for Paw and me and then takes out a tea bag. As she sees the label, she looks at me in surprise. I shrug and wink. I mouth, “I pay attention.”
She smiles and her face lights up.
Everyone talks for a bit and then we eat the sandwiches Verna has made. Once we’re done, I help Verna take everything back to the kitchen. She tells Clove to stay and keep Paw company while we clean up. I make her sit down at the table and pick up the leftovers and place all the dishes in the dishwasher after rinsing them.
Verna doesn’t talk, she just watches me. Soon enough, I’m done and she raises her brows at me and pats the seat across from her at the table. I sit down.
“You love that girl.”
I’m taken aback. What? How does she know that?
She laughs in delight at my face. “It’s as plain as day on your face, Liam. I have known you for your whole life and I’ve never seen you like this. She’s good for you. You know I love you and I’ve been proud of you, but this is the first time I’ve seen you really care about someone more than yourself in a romantic way. It warms my heart. You look at that girl with love in your eyes. I’m proud of you, boug.”
I get a little choked up as I mull over her words. I have not been the greatest guy in relationships. Hell, I haven’t had any relationships other than friendship, but this… Clove means something. I love her.
Nodding, I say, “Yeah, she’s the one.”
She chuckles and squeezes my hand. “Good. Does she know that?”
Shaking my head, I say, “No. We haven’t talked about it.”
She clucks her tongue at me and looks deep into my eyes. “You haven’t told her you love her?”
Shaking my head again, I sigh. “No, I don’t know if she’s ready for all of that.”
She cackles and it makes me jump. “Oh, she’s ready. That girl loves you, too.” She stands up and holds out her hand. “Now, let’s go wrangle your Gaienne away from Gordon.”
I laugh at her use of the old Cajun words. She’s called me “boug,” meaning boy, for as long as I can remember and now she’s calling Clove “Gaienne”, or my girlfriend.
Well shit, Liam. She is. Hell yeah, she is! She’s not my girlfriend, she’s my love.
Shaking my head to clear out all of that nonsense, I chuckle, and follow Verna out the door.
Paw and Clove are quietly talking. I hear her talking about the website endeavor. She’s telling him all about how it works and explaining it in terms he can understand. She’s going to be an amazing mother.
She sees me approach and a smile lights up her face as I draw near. Leaning down, I plant a soft kiss on her lips. Paw watches the whole scene and Verna sighs and clutches her hands on her chest as she softly smiles.
Paw says he needs my help with something upstairs and Verna asks Clove if she’d like to accompany her into the house to have some girl talk. Clove agrees and I turn to see what Paw needs help with.
He tells me to follow him upstairs and off we go. I have no idea what he could need. Everything is kept downstairs for the most part since the stairs are hard for him to navigate with his cane.
We get to the bedroom that Paw and Maw occupied before she died and he stops to catch his breath. What do we need to go in here for? As far as I know, Paw hasn’t even been up here in a few years.
I open the door at Paw’s insistence and he proceeds me into the room.
It looks the same. The same floral quilt is on the four-poster bed, the same gauzy lacy curtains hang at the window, and the same rugs are on the floor. Her knick knacks and makeup are still spread out on the counter. It looks like it’s just waiting for her to return from town.
I look at Paw in silent question and he walks to the closet. Opening the door, he points at the top shelf. Maw’s jewelry box is up there.
“Go on, boug. Get that down. I can’t reach it and I’m too old to be climbing on a ladder.” He says gruffly.
Standing on my tip toes, I’m able to grab the old carved wooden box. Tucking it under my arm, I turn and wait for instructions.
Why does he want this? What’s in here?
Paw walks over to the bed and pats the mattress, so I set the box down and step back.
He traces the rose pattern carved into the box before lovingly raising the lid.
I can’t see what’s in the box, but his shoulders start to shake as he takes something out. Turning, he holds out his hand.
Uneasily, I look as he opens his hand. Tears are running down his face. I get choked up too as I gaze at the treasure he’s holding. It’s Maw’s wedding ring. The beautiful rose gold is filigreed and lovingly cups an oval diamond. The band is delicate, yet beautiful. The detail on the ring is amazing and for as old as it is, it looks like it was created yesterday.
I look up at Paw with a question.
He smiles. “Take it, boug. It’s yours.”
Stepping back in shock, I shake my head. “No, I can’t take that. That’s Maw’s ring. It’s the ring you gave her. I can’t take that. Why are you giving me that?”
He shakes his head and says firmly, “It’s yours. I want you to have it. She would want you to have it. I did give it to her. I gave it to her sixty-one years ago when I asked her to be my wife. The day I asked her to share my life. And she did. I loved her. She loved me and we had a good life. She’s gone and she’d want you to have this, Liam. You have someone in your life now that you love.”
My mouth drops open in shock again and I can’t form words. I’m so choked up my throat feels tight.
“Yes, I know you love her. You brought her here to meet me. You have never done that. Not one time. Take this ring, Liam. When you’re ready, use it. You deserve the happiness Vivian and I shared. You can have that with the girl downstairs.” He swallows and his watery blue eyes challenge me to deny what he’s saying. “You already have it with her.”
He drops the ring into my hand and my fingers instinctively close around it. I shake my head again. “Paw? I do love her. But am I enough?”
His voice raises in anger. “What in the Sam hill are you talking about, boug? Are you good enough?! Don’t be a fool. Stop overthinking everything and feel. Listen to your heart. It will not steer you wrong. What does it say?”
I look at him and all of the worry, insecurity, and shame in my life is clearly on display. “I’ve been with hundreds of women. I’ve done some stupid things. She’s so good and amazing and perfect and I want her. I love her, but I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I love her. I love us. I can’t even sleep if she’s not in my arms anymore, but what if that’s not enough? I want the baby.” I start pacing. “It’s my baby. I want it. I want both of them. I want to be his father. But I’m so scared I’m going to screw up.” I look at him beseechingly. “What if I screw up?”
Walking over to me, he takes my shoulders and he shakes me one time. “Look here, Liam, marriage is hard. Life is hard. It’s work. A successful marriage is one that the people in it work on every single day. There are times you will fight, but you never go to bed angry. Fighting is n
ormal. Fighting means you have passion. As long as you are fighting, you are loving. You will both screw up, but you learn from that. Being a parent is the scariest thing you’ll ever experience. It’s also the most fulfilling. I raised you, boy. I raised you right. Everything you are and everything you know, you know from Maw and me. Use those values. Teach them to that babe in her belly and to future babies.” He shakes his head again and smiles. “If you are this worried you’re going to screw up, then you are ready to be a husband and father. If you weren’t scared then you aren’t prepared.”
A tear escapes. This man is brilliant and I’m so lucky he raised me.
I nod at him. He smiles and claps me on the back, “I’m proud of you, boug. I couldn’t be any prouder of you that I am right now.”
He asks me to pick up the box in the closet and hands me a bag for the ring. Tucking it into my pocket, I help him down the stairs. Verna meets my eyes and winks at me.
We stay until the sun starts to set. I see Clove getting tired, we say our goodbyes, and head for home with promises to be back soon.
Clove falls asleep as soon as the truck is in motion and I think over everything Paw and I talked about on the drive home as the woman I love softly snores beside me.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Clove
I can’t believe I passed out in the truck last night. It was so good to meet Liam’s grandfather and Verna. They are the cutest, sweetest old people I’ve ever met. It makes me sad that I never had that, but I’m so glad that Liam had them growing up.
I have another appointment with Dr. Bird today and tonight is our shindig for Rock With Us. I’m so nervous. People from everywhere are coming and everyone from music to movies and everything in between will be there. I’ve never been around so many famous people in my life. Bayou Stix doesn’t count. They’re my family. I’ll also be there with Liam and he’s warned me that the paparazzi will be there and to be ready for photos and questions.
Being in the public eye so much scares me to death. If I’m going to be with Liam though, I need to thicken my skin and get ready for it and I very much want to be with him.
