Past Sins Revisited

by Mary Goldberger

  The rest of the day was like that as they laughed and joked while they found something to entertain themselves with the storm still raging outside.

  Edric kept the fireplace supplied with wood stroking it when needed while he and Calida talked about anything, and everything, which came to mind. That night they cuddled underneath the quilt on the couch still talking as the wood splintered and crackled in the fireplace.

  They fell asleep in each other’s arms and in the early morning, they turned to each other as passion flared in their half asleep state.

  As Edric covered her with his lanky frame and slipped inside her, Calida stared up at him with eyes filled with passion and love.

  “I love you, Edric Walwyn, even though I tried to fight it,” she whispered running her hand down his back as her hips arched up to meet him.

  The simple action drove Edric over the edge as he took control of their lovemaking sending them both flying as they came fully awake at the pleasure they both received.

  Breathing hard, Edric laid against her kissing the curve of her shoulder before he muttered, “I love you too Calida Lindley and I’ve fought it harder than you did.”

  Calida froze underneath him and he lifted his head to stare down at her seeing a cloud of doubt cross her face. The chain he wore around his neck caught her attention and her mouth dropped open as she raised a shaky hand to it.

  “My engagement ring,” she whispered on a shaky breath.

  Edric gave her a quick, but breathless kiss before he shifted allowing him to unclasp the necklace so he could slide the ring off the chain.

  “The necklace with its pendant was the last thing that Adella gave me,” he told Calida who raised her hands to refasten the chain around his neck for him leaving her hands anchored there.

  Edric gave her a wicked grin as he reached up unhooking her arms and bringing her left hand around so he could kiss her palm before sliding her engagement ring back on her finger where it belonged.

  “The ring was going to stay on my chain until you promised to marry me,” Edric told her staring at the ring before lifting his head to meet her eyes. “So, Calida Lindley, would you do me the honor and accept my proposal again? Will you marry me?”

  “Sophie,” Calida began as tears of happiness came to her eyes.

  “We had an intimate relationship a few years back and I will admit that I thought of asking her to marry me. I even organized a party planning to propose in front of everyone as I knew Sophie would’ve liked such a flashy proposal,” Edric revealed easing to the side slipping an arm under Calida’s head as she turned to him one hand resting on his chest where her ring sat comfortably.

  “What happened,” Calida asked raising her other hand to his face rubbing light fingertips over the contours of his face.

  He stared at her nipping her fingertips as she traced the edges of his lips and Calida giggled retreating from his lips while he sighed becoming relaxed at the light movements as he answered her question.

  “She snuck away in the middle of the party with a friend I had invited because he had thing for my secretary at the time,” he revealed tangling his fingers in her hair. “Tomas found them in the guest bedroom that Sophie often used and came to tell me as he knew what I had planned. The party continued until past midnight and Sophie left with him confused as I told her to be prepared for a surprise. A few weeks later, they announced their engagement which was fine with me because after the day of the party, I returned the ring I had planned to give her.”

  Calida stared at him even as her hand continued to trace the contours of his face, and she stated, “That’s why…”

  “She never knew what I had planned for that evening as only two other people knew what was going to happen,” Edric confided.

  “Ms. Welsh and Tomas,” Calida guessed getting a kiss from Edric before he settled back against the couch.

  “After that I never brought it up again,” he continued a thoughtful look crossing his face. “I could’ve revealed it at the Reseda house when I confronted after the funeral, but I didn’t.”

  Calida studied him for a second seeing his green eyes grow harsh for a second followed by a hint of worry and she sighed before she said, “And yet why do I have a feeling that you expect another confrontation when we get home?”

  Edric grimaced tugging lightly at her hair as Calida winced glaring at him, and he gave her a slow smile which made her roll her eyes good naturedly as she raised her eyebrows at him.

  “Although I told Sophie that I loved you in a subtle way, I doubt she believed me so,” he said leaving the rest of the sentence hanging, and Calida moaned lightly putting her forehead on his chest.

  “We’ll handle her together,” Edric promised kissing the top of her head.

  Calida shook her head before she lifted her head another thought crossing her mind as she stated, “So I’m surmising that everyone was in on this kidnapping attempt of yours.”

  “I didn’t kidnap you,” Edric argued with a smirk. “It’s not my fault you fell asleep before I could ask you where you wanted to go and since I was planning on coming here anyway, I just bought you along.”

  Calida leaned back from him with a sharp glare from her hazel eyes as her mouth tightened into an angry line, but Edric merely rubbed a thumb across her lips.

  “As I told you before, they wanted us to talk before you made any decisions concerning us,” he told her honestly getting a reluctant nod from Calida.

  Edric leaned down to kiss her again but Calida turned her head away at the last second as she asked with a note of anxiety,” The baby, Edric, you never said if…”

  “It broke my heart when Wilma told me that you lost our baby, but I was relieved to know that you were still alive,” he told her answering her unfinished question. “We won’t forget about the one we lost, but we can have more and I fully plan on making that dream come true.”

  Calida smiled with relief as Edric leaned back down to kiss her again. He stopped when he saw a thoughtful look on her face his own knotting with confusion until Calida revealed in a breathless voice, “Adella, in my dream told me to give her nieces and nephews that she could be proud of.”

  Edric’s face broke out with pure male smugness as he leaned down catching her lips in a searing kiss before he muttered, “Now that I can definitely work on.”

  Calida’s laughter was lost when he kissed her passionately stealing it from her as the room became heated once more.

  Later as the fire dwindled down, Edric told Calida, “I have another gift for you that I was planning on giving you when I returned from my trip. I’ve had it for some time but I never found the right moment to give it back to you.”

  Calida stared at him in bewilderment as Edric leaned over her and opened the drawer on the coffee table taking out the long jewelry case he placed in there the other night planning on giving it to her before they went home.

  “I think now is the right time,” he said as he placed the case in her hand before he opened it. “I was told that it was special to you.”

  Calida couldn’t stop the tears as they came to her eyes and fall down her cheeks while she reached out with shaky hands lifting out the necklace with the monkey charm her mother had given her.

  “How,” all she was able to ask.

  “I found it on the ground that first night your brother had some of his men attack you,” Edric admitted taking the necklace from her and Calida pulled her hair away from her neck as he clasped it on for her. “I was going to give it back to you the next time I saw you, but I noticed the clasp was broken so I bought a new chain that would support the monkey charm without breaking.”

  Calida and Edric watched as the charm slipped down to nestle at the base of her throat before she lifted her head.

  “Thank you,” she told him leaning up to kiss him sweetly and Edric kissed her back with the same sweetness passion held in check for the moment.

  The kiss was filled with love, understanding, and even more than that
, a promise of a lifelong commitment.

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart,” Edric finally whispered as they broke the kiss.

  There was a moment of silence before Calida’s laughter filled the house and Edric’s masculine one joined hers a second later as the storm outside began to subside as if it had served its purpose.

  Epilogue

  Eight Months Later

  Edric walked into the house as laughter spilled from the living room and he frowned slightly heading in that direction only to stop in the doorway when Calida looked up from where she was passing around a tray.

  “Edric,” she said with happiness flashing in her eyes as she put down the tray and rushed over to him. “You’re home.”

  Edric, after a long and tiring two days away from home, wrapped his arms around Calida and held her close feeling his body relax as she encircled her arms around his waist.

  “Are you hungry,” Calida asked laying her head on his chest. “I can make you something to eat, or have Ms. Welsh make up one quick meal that you enjoy.”

  Edric shook his head as he kissed the top of her head muttering, “I ate on the plane.”

  “So did you resolve it, Ric,” Tomas asked from where he sat on the couch and Edric lifted his head to look at him.

  “Everything is fine, Tomas, but next time you will be going there to settle any issues,” Edric warned him as Mariah began to argue.

  “I’m joking, Mariah,” Edric said as Calida turned in his arms allowing her to see their guests but still within his hold. “Next time, though, I’m taking Calida with me.”

  Calida laughed as she tilted her head back to meet his eyes telling him, “That may be difficult, dear, but I will do my best to accompany you when I can.”

  Edric eyes brightened with pride as he surmised, “I guess that you have gotten a few more clients.”

  “They loved her desserts and Jenny’s mother-in-law couldn’t stop raving about the cakes Calida made,” Mariah told him while Lida sitting next to Matt nodded her head in agreement.

  “They were good because Calida allowed me to try them although the woman has some weird taste,” Lida commented thoughtfully as Calida and Mariah laughed while Matt chuckled and Tomas shook his head.

  “So,” Edric stressed resting his hands on Calida’s hips, “how are the wedding preparations coming along?”

  After Calida and Edric returned from the house in the mountains, they both decided to take it a little slower and enjoy their engagement for a few months. In that time period, Calida did a few jobs one for Jenny’s mother-in-law which was recently, and even Maria hired Calida to make a cake for her although Calida didn’t charge her. Unfortunately, Maria and her husband were out of town at the moment visiting family before Maria‘s pregnancy was farther along that would limit her traveling.

  Now the only thing left, in Edric’s opinion and frustration, was for Calida to legally be his wife although they had been living together for the last eight months.

  “Well,” Calida drawled out aware that Edric was frowning at her.

  “They are done,” Lida and Mariah called out together as Calida collapsed against Edric in laughter.

  “I had my last fitting for my wedding dress this morning,” Calida revealed after her laughter calmed down. “Miss Anders said that my dress fit perfectly and that no more alterations needed to be done.”

  “We’ve found someone to perform the ceremony,” Lida stated as she took a sip of her drink while Matt shifted on the couch more comfortably allowing one hand to rest on Lida’s upper thigh getting a quick smile from Lida as she placed her hand over his locking their hands together. Matt and Calida started dating not too long after Jeffrey’s funeral and although Matt would like more, he knew that Lida was still wary after what happened with Jeffrey so he would be patient until she was ready.

  “Thank you,” Edric said gratitude echoing in his voice getting Matt and Lida’s attention. “I don’t think I can wait much longer to make Calida my wife.”

  They all laughed especially when Calida blushed at his words and excitement ran through the room as Ms. Welsh returned with glasses of champagne.

  Everyone raised their glasses to the happy couple as Wilma and Marti looked on with tears in their eyes from the loveseat in front of the windows.

  “Wilma,” Calida said seeing it a frown coming to her face as she made to step toward her and Wilma waved her hand at her.

  “I’m just happy that you finally find someone to love you like your father always hoped for,” Wilma stated wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “And that you are both at peace with the past,” Marti added looking from Edric to Calida seeing no shadows or haunting lights in their eyes.

  Jake decided to intervene here as he said, “We have a wedding to get through and then…”

  He turned his gaze to Mariah and Tomas who looked away before he shifted that same gaze to Lida and Matt.

  “We’re still getting to know one another,” Lida defended although everyone saw the flicker in her eyes that hinted at something more.

  “Oh, I haven’t decided yet myself,” Tomas said with a slight frown. “I mean…”

  Mariah gasped and hit him on the arm as she got up to walk away, and Tomas rubbed his arm before he stood up grabbing her arm and yanking her back to his chest.

  Edric gave a smirk which Calida caught as she glanced up at him and her eyes widened with understanding before she turned away biting her lip to stop from giggling aloud.

  “Will you marry me,” Tomas asked producing a ring from his slack pockets. “After Edric and Calida’s wedding, we’ll begin planning our own so by the time they return from their honeymoon, we will be ready for ours.”

  Edric began to laugh while Calida unable to hold it back began to giggle as Mariah threw her arms around Tomas’s neck officially giving him a ‘yes’, and everyone clapped for the newly engaged couple.

  Calida watched Tomas tease Mariah as he placed the ring on her finger and she smiled scanning the room of their closest friends, and Edric murmured in her ear, “Are you happy?”

  Calida didn’t respond but she nodded her head leaning her head back against his shoulder as they watched their friends laughing and joking with each other.

  Later that evening as they got ready for bed, Calida made a small comment about Sophie and Edric grimaced slightly as he slipped into bed putting an arm under his head staring at the ceiling and Calida climbed in beside him hazel eyes intent on his face.

  “She is an old friend,” he told her honestly, “but it is our day and I don’t want anything that can spoil it or upset you. Besides, we haven’t heard or seen her for over eight months now.”

  Calida frowned at those words sitting on the bed staring down at Edric who turned to stare at her one hand running down the calf of her leg. When they returned from their time in the mountains, Sophie called one time but merely to inform Edric that she met someone and was staying to further their relationship. Edric believed that she had done it merely to make him jealous, but Calida wasn’t so sure.

  “Turn off the light, baby,” Edric told her with smile lifting his hand off her leg.

  Calida turned off the lamp she had put on before she crawled up next to him and he slid an arm around her waist nestling her even closer to his side. “I think,” she began slowly in a soft voice, “that Sophie must really care about you, Edric, if she was willing to run me off.”

  Edric thought about that statement before he shook his head telling her honestly, “I believe that Sophie has feelings for me, but I don’t think it is love, sweetheart. Sophie assumed that I would always wait for her even when she slept with my friend in my own house when we were dating. I can’t say that I had been faithful either but when I decided to marry her, I cutoff ties with the other women in my life. I may not have loved her fully as a man should but I was going to respect her, and yet she couldn’t even do that for me in my own home.”

  He sighed heavily as Calida tilted her head up res
ting her cheek on his sinew shoulder as she ran a hand across his chest her fingers tangling in the hair that covered it. “Don’t worry about her as she found someone new already to replace me.”

  “Maybe…” Calida began only to stop when Edric suddenly turned to face her trapping her hand against his chest while his other arm nestled in the small of her back.

  “I love the fact that after everything she has done, you are still trying to defend her but Calida, she made her choice and so have I,” Edric told her his tone slightly hard. “I want our wedding day to be special for you and having Sophie here would only add drama to a day that should be full of celebration.”

  Calida stared at him with hazel eyes flickering with emotion as she tried to come up with a counter argument until finally she sighed in defeat. “All right,” she conceded grudging. “I just don’t like the fact that you have to choose between a close friend and me.”

  “You weren’t the one who forced me to make that choice, honey,” he admonished her and Calida scrunched up her nose at his words which caused him to laugh before he leaned down to kiss her.

  “Stop thinking about Sophie and anyone else,” he whispered against her lips as he cleverly shifted her onto her back getting a sultry look from Calida.

  “Well, since you ask so nicely,” Calida teased him only to gasp as Edric rested his full body against her.

  “What if I don’t ask nicely,” he growled playfully leaning down to nip at her neck and Calida gasped at the sensation.

  “That’s more exciting,” Calida breathed out in an alluring voice and a rough chuckle escaped Edric before all talking stopped with only soft gasps echoing around the room.

  A week later, Calida looked in the full length mirror and frowned slightly at her reflection.

  “Frowning on your wedding day is not permitted,” Wilma said as she and the others entered the bedroom.

  Calida turned to face them hazel eyes apprehensive getting smiles and nods from Lida and Mariah.

  “You look beautiful,” Marti told her walking over to give her a hug before she fiddled with her veil.