by Christina OW
Chapter Eleven
Loraine watched her mother with Tyler on her lap as they ate in the midst of laughter and conversation. Well, her mother laughed as Tyler got rib sauce all over himself and her. Loraine hadn’t been sure what to expect when Tyler patted her cheek, leaving a print of his little hand. She’d watched her mother with bated breath, praying she wouldn’t over react. Her mother had laughed, not even bothering to wipe it off. Instead she painted her lips with the same sauce and kissed both Tyler’s cheeks leaving a print of her lips. Tyler rewarded her with a smile and a kiss of his own and Loraine could swear she saw tears in her mother’s eyes.
She never thought she’d ever see this woman again—carefree and too happy to sweat the small stuff.
When Susan had asked her for a makeover, Loraine jumped on that fast in case she changed her mind. She had her mother remove her contacts and used the left over hair dye to darken her blonde hair to a chestnut shade, and then she let it dry on its own for natural curls. Seeing her mother for the first time as herself in twenty years, Loraine couldn’t hold off the tears even if she wanted to. The next thing they did was change her out of her skirt suit and into t-shirt and jeans.
When she’d walked in the crowded room the first thing Reno said was, “Wow, Lori, your mom rocks those jeans way better than you do.” Any other day she would have smacked him over the head but she understood what he was doing. Her mother had looked so uncomfortable before Reno said that and taking his brother’s lead, Ruiz dropped a few lines of his own, giving her one of his seductive smiles. Her mother had rolled her eyes and good naturedly flirted back until her father came into the house. When he saw her, he didn’t say a word, just walked right back out and disappeared.
That pissed Loraine off, but she didn’t give her mother time to think about it. She pulled her into the kitchen where the other ladies were, to distract her. They had fun, teasing the two pregnant women—Amy and Riana—as they cooked. She loved cooking beside her mother. It was one more memory with her she wouldn’t forget.
“Reno, may I have a word?”
Her father’s voice silenced the entire table. Loraine turned to the foot of the table where Reno sat, staring across at her father. His face gave away nothing except for the muscle in her jaw that always worked over time when he was contemplating something. Loraine was nervous. Reno wouldn’t really say no to her father? If he said yes, what exactly had they to discuss and is it going to make the situation worse?
Loraine hadn’t spoken to her father since their argument earlier on that day and she had left the two of them talking then, which resulted in her father coming to dinner, but it was clear he did so grudgingly. He hadn’t said a word since he’d walked into the house and headed straight for the table where everyone else was already seated. Except for the misstep and shocked hesitation when he saw her mother, had turned into this longing puppy dog look before he masked it and sat down. She had loved his reaction though she would have loved it more if he joined into the conversation or paid his new grandson attention.
Tyler just stared at him with big round eyes like he did every stranger before he made friends. He was social like her but guarded like his father. But his grandmother had distracted him with food, games, and conversation, and he would only pay her father watchful looks from time to time. That usually meant her father would soon have no choice but to make friends with Tyler because he was slowly building up his courage to approach the grouchy old man. Tyler didn’t like it when people were excluded. Her father eating quietly, stealing glances at her mother while everyone else was having fun was exactly that. Excluded. Loraine loved her thoughtful son.
Reno finally gave a curt nod and stood. “We can talk in my office, Mr. Larson.”
“Can I come?” Tyler eagerly chimed in, staring up at Robert Larson.
Loraine was shocked when her father smiled down at Tyler. Ruffling his new short hair do he said, “No kiddo, this is grown up talk.”
Tyler gave him a toothy and rib sauce grin. “Okay, grandpa.”
Her father’s smile grew to a grin as he nodded then followed Reno out of the room. Loraine exchanged a happy look with her mother. The ogre’s heart was going to be fluff and warm in no time with Tyler’s help.
“Mama!” Tyler yelled holding up his hands palms out to her.
Loraine moved to the cardboard that sat at the corner of the dining room that used to be empty, nothing but a fashionable decor. She had turned it into a little bar complete with different glasses and napkins. She picked up the box of wet wipes and took her father’s seat.
“What do you think that’s about?” she asked, pulling a few leafs and passing them down to Allan and Mark who had the same sticky situation with their kids before she began cleaning Tyler up.
Her mother pulled a few leafs and wiped the sauce off her cheeks. “I don’t know, but it’s nothing bad.”
“How do you know?”
“He would have said whatever it was in front of everyone, exactly like your grandparents. A scathing remark deserves an audience.” Her mother smiled sadly and Loraine winced.
She was right. Her grandparents loved an audience when they took someone apart, and more often than not her mother was always their victim.
“How are the old—” Loraine clamped her mouth shut before she said goats. “How are the old folks doing?”
Her mother shrugged. “Last I heard they were in the Hamptons. I haven’t spoken nor seen them since they dismissed…you know.”
Loraine nodded she knew—Pierre coming back. They didn’t care much when she was actually attacked, why would they care if she was being stalked, especially if her father still kept it under wraps?
“Don’t sweat it, mom. I’ve got all who really matter right here under one roof.” She turned to the rest of the table. “Though I still don’t know why exactly everyone is here.”
They all exchanged amused looks but stayed silent. That only made her more suspicious. What was Reno up to?
She narrowed her eyes looking at each one of her guests. “What’s going on?”
“I know mama!” Tyler announced.
Everyone groaned as they turned to look at Tyler. With a smug smile Loraine faced her son. “I knew I could count on you. What’s daddy planning?”
He gave her one of his smiles that tugged at her heart. “I can’t tell you. Daddy says it’s a sap…sap…” his brows twisted in concentration.
“Just sound it out honey,” she said encouragingly.
“Sap…ice…Surprise!” he laughed, clapping at his success and Loraine felt a little proud.
“What if I gave you a big slice of chocolate, would you tell me then?”
“Loraine!” her mother admonished her laughingly.
Ignoring her, Loraine went on listing the bribe. “With a big scoop of your favorite ice cream, how about that?”
Tyler suddenly jumped off her mother’s lap and ran out of the room screaming, ‘Daddy’ at the top of his lungs. Loraine stared after him dumbfounded as everyone else burst out in laughter.
“What was that?” she asked no one in particular.
“Reno must have told him to run screaming if you tried to get the surprise out of him,” Riana responded.
Loraine sighed standing up. “Of course he did. I’ll get desert, you guys clear the table.”
“In a minute.” Reno walked in with Tyler perched on his arm. “Bribing our son, really Lori?”
Loraine rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t have to if someone would tell me what’s going on.”
With a chuckle, Reno handed Tyler to her father, which took her by surprise. The man smiling at her son like an endearing grandparent was not the same man who wanted to drag her back to the States kicking and screaming.
She raised her glass of wine and took a long whiff.
“Lori, what are you doing?” Reno took the glass out of her hand and placed it back on the table.
“Checking to see if there is something in the wine.” She lo
oked at her father, her brows knitted in both surprise and wonder. “What did you do to my father in there?”
“What do you mean, Rain?” her father asked, shifting Tyler to his other arm. Her mother gasped and stood, quickly moving to where he stood, tears in her eyes and the biggest smile on her lips. Her father wrapped his free arm around her and hugged her to his side.
Loraine felt a little panicky watching this. She didn’t want to hope in case he fell back to being the oppressive father who showed very little affection. And her mother, God, she’d cry if she went back to being the socialite puppet.
“Who is he and what have you done with Robert Larson?” she demanded a little too forceful.
“I know I haven’t done right by you and your mother for a long time and I’m trying to change that. It’s been a long time since I recognized not only myself but your mother too. I’ve made mistakes and I promise to right them…but right now isn’t the time for that honey.” Her father responded his excitement rolling off him in huge waves.
She knew she should let it go, but that explanation wasn’t enough for her. There was too much disappointment to get over and she needed to be sure this wasn’t just an act. It would kill her if they were dangling her biggest fantasy in front of her eyes only to yank it away. If this were a set up…she wouldn’t be able to handle the fall.
Loraine blinked away treacherous tears. She hadn’t cried in front of her parents over this and she wasn’t going to start now. “What was your incentive?”
He signaled to Reno with a nod of his head. “Your man here. He told me if I disappointed you again, I’d never see you again and that just isn’t an option for me.”
“Why?”
She felt Reno move to stand behind her, his arms going around her waist. She fell back into him, a weight lifting off her with his show of support. She loved how he made her feel strong, a little fearless knowing he had her back.
Her father blinked a few times, his brow creased in wonder. “Why? You’re my daughter and I love you, why else?”
“Why are you sad mama?” Tyler whispered reaching out to her.
Loraine moved to take him from her father and reassure him but Reno held her back.
“It’s okay, kiddo. Mama is fine. I think it’s time to give her the surprise, don’t you?”
Tyler nodded slowly his eyes shifting between her and Reno. It was clear how much he wanted to believe Reno and she wasn’t helping with a sullen look on her face. She forced a smile and turned to Reno. “It better be a car, or the title to this house to appease me. I don’t like being the only one out of the loop.” She held her hand out and quickly drew it back. With a warning glare she said, “It better not be a hissing cockroach or some other stupid practical joke.”
Reno’s mouth fell open. “I would never…”
“Don’t lie big brother,” Riana warned. Loraine turned to her. Loraine had laughed at the story, especially since Riana had a phobia to the creatures. Reno had told her he had a surprise for her. She’d eagerly held out her hand and he’d placed a hissing cockroach on it. She’d screamed trying to shake it off but it stayed stuck on her hand, which made her scream more as she ran around their apartment. Reno had to catch her and hold her down to remove the thing.
Riana still rubbed her hand unconsciously on her hip at the memory.
Reno laughed drawing her attention back to him. “I said I was sorry and no it’s something equal to the title of the house.”
Loraine held out her left hand. “Gimme gimme.”
Reno gave her an intense look before he took her held out hand and placed a little box in it. The entire world stopped for Loraine as she looked at that little box that rested on her palm like a ticking bomb.
This wasn’t…it couldn’t mean… Her mind ran a mile a minute.
“I know we haven’t known each other long, but from the moment I heard your voice, the concern you showed for my sister, I knew you were someone special. But when I saw you in that dress at Riana’s and Allan’s wedding with those sexy legs teasing me, I knew I just had to have you.”
Her father cleared his throat behind Reno, his eyes narrowed making Loraine laugh. It made her less anxious and seemed to also relax Reno as he winked and smiled at her.
“I had to have you in my life,” he amended, making everyone laugh again. “And then you came here and just gave more of yourself to me and to my son. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t taken charge of Tyler. I would have kept being an ass if you hadn’t stressed how important family is and I thank you for that. Even more, I want you to be a part of my family.”
Loraine quietly sobbed as teas ran down freely down her cheeks.
“I want you to be my wife, the mother of my son, the woman who’ll bear me more children and who’ll be beside me for the rest of my life. I know I haven’t said this before, but I love you, my crazy Lori, with all my heart, body and soul, with everything I am. I can’t think of living another day without you with me.” He dropped to one knee and Loraine covered her mouth with her free hand to muffle the sobs. It was really happening, it wasn’t a fantasy anymore. “Loraine Larson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
With her throat clogged with tears, Loraine could only nod her assent. The room erupted with cheer as Reno opened the box and took out a ring she recognized.
“Mom?” she looked at her parents. Her mother cried openly and her father fought to blink back the tears.
“I thought we’d start a tradition. You’re father gave me that when he proposed. It holds so much love and happiness of the best years of our lives, and I wanted to share that with you.”
Loraine nodded hugging her endowed hand to her chest. “I’ll treasure it and keep it safe for my future daughter.” She turned to Reno wrapping her arms around his neck. “I love you so much and I can’t wait to be your wife.”
He held her to him, rubbing his nose against hers. “Good, because we are getting married tomorrow. I don’t want to risk you changing your mind.”
Loraine laughed. “If you are so worried, we can sign the marriage certificate now.”
“Good, because the notary is here with a few papers to sign.”
Loraine laughed harder. “You’re not risking anything are you?”
He shook his head, pressing a light kiss on her lips. “You have no idea.”
A man in a dark suit carrying a briefcase walked into the room, a huge grin on his face. “I believe congratulations are in order.”
Loraine side stepped to stand next to her husband-to-be –she just loved that name—as he turned to face the new visitor.
“Mr. Harrison, you’re just in time.” He wrapped his arm around Loraine’s waist and pulled her into him. “This is the amazing woman I told you about. She just agreed to be my wife, the nut!”
Loraine elbowed him. “Don’t mind him, he thinks he’s funny— as much as I’ve tried to convince him otherwise.” That earned a snicker, but Loraine wasn’t paying attention to that. She looked Mr. Harrison over again and he had that thing her father had in spades. “You’re an attorney aren’t you?”
He nodded. “And a notary. You are very observant, Miss Larson.”
Her first instinct was to say ‘yeah, being stalked does that to a girl’. But she’d learned to always take in her surroundings and the people in it, assessing potential danger before she fully relaxed. But instead she said, “It’s a talent. So what wonderful surprise do you bear?”
He chuckled shaking his head. “Right to the point.”
Reno snorted next to her. “You have no idea.”
She shrugged. “What can I say, I love presents.”
Her mother cleared some space on the table to make room for Mr. Harrison’s briefcase. He thanked her, laying it on the table and opened it. “Let’s get this ball rolling then. Why don’t you take a seat Miss Larson?”
Loraine gave Reno a quizzical look but he just smiled down at her, pushing her to the seat. She fell in it and wa
tched as Mr. Harrison take out a few papers and lay them before her, placing a pen above them.
“What’s this?”
He pointed the papers out as he explained. “Your marriage contract, adoption papers and Tyler’s new birth certificate naming you as his mother. Keep in mind the original birth certificate stays even though it’s from Spain for record purposes.”
Loraine was completely dazed, staring up at Reno. She hadn’t heard a word after Tyler’s new birth certificate listing her as his mother. When Reno had kept saying they would be a family, this was the furthest from her mind. She’d been fine with being a step-mother, she had expect to have the right to adoption and custody rights, but had been afraid to ask in case Reno thought she might run off with Tyler once it was all legal. It would be easy for her to take the kid out of the country, if she wanted to, without his permission.
But this…on Tyler’s certificate of birth, she was listed as his mother. This was better than anything he could have given her.
She stood up and moved to her parents, taking her new son, who was already dozing from her father’s arms and hugging him tightly to her. He wrapped his little hands around her neck tucking his head into her neck and sighing contently like he was home and allowing sleep to overtake him.
Loraine cried into his hair, knowing just how he felt as Reno wrapped his large arms around them both. He kissed the top of Tyler’s head and Loraine’s temple before he rested his forehead against Tyler’s on her shoulder. It had been so long, a very long time, of searching and hoping, and now she had finally arrived. Her spirit was settled, her soul at peace, and her heart overflowing with joy she never thought she would ever feel.
She was finally home.
* * * *
Loraine looked outside her bedroom window in complete awe. Reno hadn’t been joking when he said everything would be ready for the afternoon ceremony. The tents were already going up by dawn. She had hoped to see more of the decorations, especially with the army going in and out of the tent, but it was completely covered.
