Coming Together: Welcome to Carson, Book Two

by Renee Harless

  Nikki is dreamer - a believer in fairytales, even when her home life is far from a fantasy. She watches many a man succumb to the whims of her mother, who has too many affairs to count, while her father turns a blind eye, working longer and longer hours. Not the ideal home for a child. When her mother finally runs off with her father's boss, what Nikki had known as family is tarnished beyond mend.

  Her father is never able to recover after being blacklisted in the New York financial district. With a father who quickly loses himself to the bottom of a bottle and a mother who no longer acknowledges her daughter's existence, Nikki finds herself standing on the front stoop of her Aunt Andrea's home.

  To say she has feels that her life turned a complete one-eighty is an understatement. She quickly learns what the word “family” means; what unconditional love actually looks like. It is definitely a new experience to a young and impressionable Nikki.

  Her cousin Melanie rapidly becomes her best friend and teaches her what being a "sister" is all about. The two teenagers become inseparable, but when Melanie's father falls ill and the family desperately needs to downsize to save money, Nikki takes it upon herself to get her GED and make her own way in life.

  She stays in Savannah, Georgia to be close to her aunt and cousin, but when her uncle passes away a few years later, Nikki feels like what little control she had of her life is starting to slip away. She waits until she feels like her family will understand, then packs up her things and heads to Carson, North Carolina after seeing an advertisement on a local website.

  She is in Carson for six months before she surrenders to the desire she feels towards Austin. Their coming together is explosive, but more than that, she thoroughly enjoys her time with him outside of the bedroom as well. Though Nikki only has a GED, she ranked very high on the intelligence scales in school. She loves to read and learn and - for once – she has found a man who could hold a conversation with her without feeling intimidated or confused. Her bouncy blonde hair and slim physique alludes to a stereotypical façade that causes many to stop at the surface. Not Austin. He loves quizzing her with random trivia and watching Jeopardy on the couch with her as she answers every question correctly. They have this deep, unspoken connection, and she absolutely craves him. She is obsessed with him: his chocolate eyes, his toned muscles from years of working construction, the way his rough, calloused hands envelope her much smaller ones… not to mention the large tattoo on his chest: an intricate eagle design that encases his taught pectorals.

  But most of all, she can't escape her feelings for him. She fell in love with him so fast and so abruptly that she felt it throughout her entire being. Though it struck suddenly, it wasn't an emotion that she could turn off so quickly.

  Finding out that she is pregnant is a moment filled with both elation and anxiety. Only two weeks prior, Nikki had seen a text come across Austin's phone from a woman named Tiffany (who Nikki had recalled from a meeting at Horizon's, the local bar. She hadn’t been snooping on purpose, but with Austin sitting beside her, she couldn’t help but peer over his shoulder.) The text was more provocative than Nikki could have ever imagined sending - a full nude shot that had caused Austin to stare for just a moment before placing the phone back on the table.

  Nikki had always considered herself even-keeled, but in that moment, her burgeoning hormones unleashed and she found herself turning into the proverbial green-eyed monster. Yes, Austin had received an unexpected text from a woman he had spent a night or two with here and there (which was what he and his best friend, Logan, had long been known for), but that stare that lingered just a little too long was the straw that broke the camel's back. Her bout of jealousy broke free as she began cursing Austin and accusing him of cheating, while he stared at her, amusement sparkling in his cocoa eyes.

  "I didn't message her back, babe," he had said.

  "I know that! But you stared at it and then put it down on the table. At least inform her and all your other sluts that you currently have a girlfriend!" Nikki rocketed in return, cheeks blazing with heat.

  "Are you my girlfriend?" He asked in the same, nonchalant tone one might use when inquiring about the weather.

  "What?"

  "I mean, we hadn't talked about it, so why should I declare something that I myself am unsure about?" Austin responded with his signature smirk. Usually that look melted her insides -- instead, it caused her blood to boil.

  "Get the fuck out."

  "What?" he demanded, his cool demeanor vanishing as he rose from the couch.

  "I said get out."

  Staring into her eyes and measuring the truth, he turned and exited her apartment without a word.

  Nikki had left the next day to stay with Melanie: a decision she continued to regret.

  She despises having lost that week with him, but of course, in her naivety, she can't find any other solution than to repeat her past mistakes when a few weeks later, she is suddenly staring at those two pink lines.

  She hates relying on anyone. Accepting Melanie and Andrea's help has been difficult the past few months, but they help her get a job close by and assist in paying for her hospital stay. Nikki didn't know it was possible to be so sick: there is no smell or taste that she could tolerate. During this time, she is so scared she might lose the baby that she is even more determined to keep her “situation" hidden from Austin and his family. Only Avery knew, and she had proven again how trustworthy she is by keeping the news to herself. When at last Nikki reaches the middle of her second trimester, she can finally tolerate food again. Dishes as simple as Jell-O and chicken broth, foods she had always taken for granted, tasted like the most decadent meals imaginable as they hit her palate.

  A week after being released from the hospital, Nikki's aunt and cousin perform their intervention. Melanie knew how much Nikki cares for Austin and begs her to return to Carson - to give her child the opportunity to have a family. The impassioned plea seals the deal and broke Nikki of all resolve. From the moment she had first driven down its single road (Main Street, of course), it was the one place she could see herself building a family.

  The small town is so deeply rooted inside her heart that when Melanie and Andrea gang up on her, beseeching her to fix things with Austin, Nikki can no longer resist. Of course, in typical Nikki fashion, she can't calmly tell Austin over a cup of coffee at his sister's bakery. No, she wants to surprise him on Christmas as he is gathered with his family. Nikki always swung on the side of the dramatic.

  His reaction didn't shock her, watching his hunched back as he storms away from his family's home. No, that reaction she expected. His family's reaction is the surprise. His mother welcomes her warmly, even extending the offer for her to stay with them when everyone learns that she had been evicted from her apartment. His sisters then take her and Avery aside, their conversations flowing like a bubbling stream around names and baby showers.

  For the first time in her life, she feels like she belongs. But reality hits her – the way it always does – and once she remembers why she is there, she instantly feels sick to her stomach. After all, Austin told her from the get-go that he had no desire to have children. The oldest of six, Austin had practically helped raise his younger siblings and claimed to have already gotten his fill.

  Of course, that Christmas also the same day she feels the baby kick for the very first time. It is a moment she desperately wishes she could share with Austin, especially for the holiday, but no one knew where to find him.

  "Wow," Austin exhales, gazing back down at the photo and bringing her back to the moment. "The heart. Is...is everything ok? There was a heartbeat?"

  "Strong and steady. The doctor said everything looked perfect." She reassures with a small smile.

  Leaving him to gaze in wonderment at their creation, she indulges in the heavy comfort of the chicken potpie.

  Their dinner ends not long after, and having won the argument, Austin pays the bill. With his hand on the small of her back, he ushers her out of the diner an
d onto the busy sidewalk. Carson townspeople move back and forth across the walkway, still busy hanging stars and twinkling lights in preparation for their New Year’s bash; a party that brings people into town from forty counties over.

  Nikki stares in quiet amazement as the Fitzgerald sisters work to hang the twelve foot star in the middle of Main Street, dangling a line between the town’s parallel buildings. Luckily for them, Austin and a few of the other local workers rush over to help the aging fabric store owners.

  Once the star is placed to their liking, Austin returns to where Nikki is waiting against the wall of Angie's diner. As he approaches, Nikki feels the first trickle of wetness falling on her cheek. Only then does she notice that the light snowfall seems to be increasing in heaviness as it continues.

  Coming to stand beside her, Austin turns his attention in her direction.

  "Are you ready to go? I'm afraid that the snow is forecasted to be a bit heavy tonight."

  “Yes, sure.”

  Taking her by her elbow, the heat of his hand filtering through the thickness of her coat, Austin guides her to his large work truck. Parked parallel alongside the street, as she steps off the sidewalk to enter the vehicle, her foot slips on the slick precipitation. Instead of falling face first into the side of the truck as she was anticipating with a wince, Nikki finds herself twisted around and resting in Austin’s overly muscled arms.

  “Are you ok?” he asks, cradling her close to his body, but in the moment, Nikki is speechless.

  Unable to form any words, she simply nods her head. Trapped in a heated exchange with this man she’s missed for so very long now, Nikki feels herself leaning closer into his body, bringing her lips an inch from his, but as if struck by terror, Austin straightens abruptly and steps away from their embrace. Instead of kissing her as she had hoped, he opens the truck door and lifts her by her hips, placing her into his truck. He angrily slams the door closed, shaking the truck and Nikki as she sits inside, stunned.

  His eyes spew hatred as he climbs into the driver’s seat and Nikki turns to gaze out the window, shrinking into herself. Her hands rest protectively on her stomach as she rests against the door, as far from Austin as she can possibly be. The warmth of her breath caresses the cold glass, causing the window to fog with each exhalation of air.

  “Nikki…” Austin pleads, attempting to garner her attention.

  She turns to study him.

  Running his fingers through his hair exasperatedly, he simply says, “I can’t do it again.”

  “Do what?” she whispers in return.

  “Fall in love with you. I just can’t do it, Nikki. It would kill me this time.”

  THE SLIGHT PURSE OF her rosy lips, just begging to be kissed, is killing him. Nikki had always been his weakness, and when she slipped on the slushy snow at the edge of the sidewalk, for just a moment he was finally able to do the one thing he had dreamt of doing for the past three months – hold her in his arms.

  At first he was planning to give into the temptation - to press his lips against her begging mouth, but then the memory of her leaving and the pain he had felt flashed forward in his mind and his anger spurt forth.

  Now they sit in silence as the truck steadily warms up, watching the snow fall around them.

  After he declared that he wouldn’t fall in love with her again, she had turned back in her seat and gazed outside the window.

  As they cruise down Main Street towards his house his nerves were getting the best of him. He hadn’t told her about the house; she hadn’t even known about it while they dated.

  As they pass Logan and Avery’s home, he notices that Nikki perks up in her seat.

  “You passed their place.”

  Anxiety-ridden, he tries to keep his voice steady and replies, “I know.”

  Wringing her hands in her lap, a nervous gesture he’s witnessed from her numerous times, she takes in the barren surroundings again before anxiously asking, “Where are you taking me?”

  Austin feels his body relax as he takes a deep, cleansing breath.

  “To my home, Nikki.”

  “But I thought…” she starts, hitching her thumb over her shoulder, gesturing in the opposite direction as confusion swirls in her eyes.

  “I don’t live at the apartment across town any longer. I’m taking you to the home I built.”

  Her eyes widen to an alarming size and she mouths the word “Oh,” before gulping loudly. “You, um…you don’t have to do this. I’m fine in the guest bedroom at Avery’s.”

  Sparing a glance in her direction, he narrows his eyes towards her before turning back to face the road.

  “A woman carrying a child -- especially my child - won’t be sleeping at her friend’s place when there is a perfectly good bed for her to sleep in at my home.”

  As Austin takes the final turn into his two-mile driveway, he sends a prayer to a higher being to give him the strength to stay away from Nikki. Her scent pulsing against every barrier in the vehicle taunts him with desire. He had to work hard during the drive to refrain from breathing through his nose, her essence teasing his already wavering resolution to stay away from her.

  As they bump along the loose gravel, Austin makes a mental note to level the driveway to avoid harming Nikki or the baby by riding in a vehicle down the path.

  Soon the white farmhouse comes into view, the small flood lights illuminating the outside of the home for observation once they pass the tree line. Out of the corner of his eye, he watches as Nikki inhales a gasp and covers her mouth with her delicate hands.

  Trying to look at the picture through her eyes, Austin takes in the wreaths hanging on each window, a candle placed in each sill. The small evergreen sitting in the corner of the wraparound porch twinkles with cream colored lights. The home looks welcoming; all thanks to the keen eye of his mother, Amy.

  Austin shuts off the vehicle and exits, and then walks around the truck to help Nikki step down. When he opens her door, he finds her sitting in the same position, mouth open, hand placed over her lips, her eyes focused on the house. Austin looks closer to her eyes and finds them swimming with tears.

  Alarmed, Austin rests his hands on her thighs, drawing her attention first to his hands, then to his face.

  “What’s the matter?” he implores, concern etched in his voice.

  Swiping away at the wetness that is quickly pooling beneath her eyes, she moves to get out of the truck, causing Austin to step away and remove his hands from her legs.

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s stupid.”

  “What is it, Nikki?” Austin repeats more forcibly.

  “Fine. It’s just that this beautiful home is what I always imagined having when I was a little girl and…” she starts, then takes a quick breath, “and it’s where our child will grow up when you have him.”

  “Nikki…” he murmurs, reaching for her shoulder.

  “It’s stupid - I know. But I’m glad that he’ll have this. Even though we won’t be together as a family, he’ll grow up in a place meant for a child to play and enjoy life.”

  “It’s not stupid. I…” Austin begins, almost telling her that he built this house with her in mind the entire time, but stops himself. Not even three hours into her company and he is finding it harder than he could have imagined to ignore the pull he has towards her. The want and need to give her another chance beckons him ever closer to her. Attempting to change the mood and cover his mistake, Austin continues, “…he?”

  “Oh, yea,” Nikki admits, smiling with a tiny blush, dabbing at her eyes with her sleeve. “Whenever I think about the baby, I envision a little boy that looks just like his daddy.” She sighs a little before adding, “We probably need to talk about the baby at some point.”

  Austin nods and guides her inside, eager to get her out of the cold.

  “We will, but not tonight. We can discuss things after your doctor’s appointment tomorrow.”

  “OK…” She begins, then stops short as they enter the house. �
��Wow…,” she breathes. “It’s beautiful in here, Austin. I love how open it is,” she exclaims, her voice echoing joyfully in the large space.

  "Thanks," Austin grunts as he strips her of her jacket, hanging it and her purse on the peg beside the door while she wanders farther into his home.

  Turning, he watches as she gently strokes her hand across the soft fibers of the couch, walking from one end of the room to the other, taking note of the large stone fireplace in the center of it all. At last, she comes to a stop in front of the large wall of glass that overlooks the back yard and pond. Outside, everything is covered in a fine sheet of snow.

  "Come on, I'll show you where you can sleep. I can grab you some clothes to wear, too."

  "Thanks. I appreciate it, but I really am fine on the couch. I don't want to put you out."

  "Darlin’, I have five bedrooms in this house and only one is occupied. Believe me, you won't be putting me out."

  "Ok. Yes, I'd like to change."

  Escorting her up the stairwell, he stands at the top of the hallway and takes a moment to decide which room to offer. On one hand, the bedroom at the other side of the house is the smallest, but it would act as a barrier between him and the temptress standing beside him. Desperately he wants to put her in the room farthest from his own, but he finds himself stepping closer towards his bedroom, to the large guest room next door to his master.