drdaddy
Page 30
“Let’s do this,” Lucy insisted, brushing negative memories of her parents aside. There was no room for sadness and regrets – not today. “Seth has a game to get to.”
***
While Lucy was taking her time, Seth was busy pacing the parlor. He’d walked the area directly in front of the large fireplace a thousand times and counting. Fear that she’d change her mind had a strangle-hold on him and it was everything he could do to simply breathe.
He’d managed to convince the woman he loved that she was going to live a long, healthy – cancer free – life in hopes that she’d relax and let herself live. For almost five years now she’d solely existed for Jacob – their son. After finding out she was pregnant with him, she completed her college courses and graduated, all while suffering morning sickness, labor, and numerous consecutive, sleepless nights with a crying baby and daycare. She’d done it all, by herself.
The thought of her parents pushing her away still brought on a white-hot rush of rage. She’d done the work of both Mom and Dad with only her brother and sister-in-law for the occasional assist.
Was he still angry with her for keeping Jacob’s existence from him? Yes, in short, he was. But with all things considering, she’d made the right decision. Up until recently, Seth hadn’t been ready for a family; but more importantly, he hadn’t been ready for the responsibilities that came with having other people depend on him as a man.
“Daddy!” Jacob called as he jumped off the last step of the stairs. His little boy voice echoed throughout the spacious foyer. “Where are you?”
“In here,” Seth called and braced himself for the little tyke. Although he’d gotten over his shyness, Jacob had found a whole new level of confidence that only few people had. It was like he’d lived his first four years in the dark, thriving without sunlight. The moment he’d learned he had both a mommy and a daddy; he’d squared those little shoulders and leapt into life with both feet.
Seth couldn’t be more proud of his son. The little boy proved to be a natural in playing sports, especially baseball. Hell, the boy had a better pitching arm than his old man.
Jacob came running across the parlor floor and practically threw himself into Seth’s arms. Catching him snuggly against his chest, Seth breathed in the scent of his son. It wouldn’t matter how old, Seth would never get tired of holding Jacob. He knew he’d never get back the time he’d lost, but he could more than make up for it by being there for the rest of his life.
“What’s up?” Seth asked as he sat the boy back on his feet. “Where you been?”
“I went looking for Mommy,” Jacob answered and smoothed the new wrinkles from his tuxedo. Lucy had insisted that the ceremony be low-key and simple. Seth had honored his promise to her but made a few small splurges that she didn’t know about. Jacob’s tux was just one of them.
She’d acted only mildly surprised when Jacob had gotten dressed this morning, but only smiled at Seth. Since he’d escaped that incident with no repercussions, he hoped she would accept the other surprises with as much dignity and grace.
Smiling down at his son, he reached down to ruffle his hair only to be stopped by an angry glare from his progeny.
“How much longer did she say she’d be?” Seth inquired. The spacious backyard was filled with the few guests he’d been allowed to invite: his manager, the team’s owner and a couple of his teammates that were good friends. He’d just felt bad that Lucy only had Chris and Amber to be there for her.
“She said she was coming,” he informed and reached up to run his little finger around the inside of the collar. “Are these things always so itchy?” he asked and scrunched his little face.
Seth chuckled.
“You’ll get used to it buddy,” he advised and then noticed that Amber was standing in the open doorway.
“She’s ready,” Amber announced and reached out for Jacob’s hand. “C’mon little bit, let’s go on outside and take our places.” Jacob grinned up at his daddy. “That means you too,” Amber advised Seth and then turned to lead Jacob out the back door.
Seth turned to study his reflection in the mirror over the fireplace.
“You are the luckiest bastard on the face of the earth,” he told himself with a slight smirk. “Get your ass out there and marry that woman before she changes her mind.” He straightened his tie and headed out to take his place on the altar. He couldn’t help recalling all the times he’d declared his disinterest in having a wife or children and now, with two simple little words, he would acquire both.
Suddenly his face split into an ear-to-ear grin. Oh, how one slip of a girl and spirited four-year-old had rocked his world. He looked forward to many, many more.
***
Country music band, Rascall Flatts’s ballad, God Blessed the Broken Road, floated out of the dozen or so speakers placed strategically around the half acre yard. Two rows of white chairs sat on either side of the makeshift aisle and it looked like a truckload of yellow daisies had exploded above the scene, beautifully showering everything in the area.
Seth stood under the English Ivy decorated arch, dressed in an impeccable white tuxedo matching his son’s. The only difference was the blood red tie he’d donned in homage to his Cardinal Brothers.
He kept his hands folded neatly in front of him, afraid that should he not keep a firm grip, everyone would see just how nervous he really was. Everyone that knew him would say that Seth Landers was not a man to worry about anything, especially when it came to women. In reality, internally, he was a wreck. He was about to make the most important play of his life and he wanted everything to be perfect.
Lucy deserved the best and he aimed to be the one to give it to her. She’d been through so much, endured unfathomable pain and loneliness and he admired her with every fiber of his being. It wasn’t just the fact that she’d raised one helluva kid; it was that she’d both gone through and beaten the cancer. She’d fought tooth and nail for their son and he couldn’t have asked for a better woman to call his own. He looked forward to having many more children with her.
The country song ended and a new one began, the signal that the bride was about to make her entrance.
Blake Shelton’s smooth vocals floated from the speakers and the double patio doors swung outward, revealing Lucy on her brother’s arm.
Seth inhaled sharply, almost as if someone had punched him in the gut. He’d been with many, many women over the years, but none of them even come close to comparing to the beauty heading down the aisle toward him.
Jacob stood just in front of his father and turned to grin up at him.
“She’s so pretty,” the little boy said. “Isn’t she?”
“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Seth agreed and reached down to pat his son on the shoulder.
Lucy squeezed her brother’s bicep and inhaled deeply, letting her breath seep out slowly in some effort to calm her racing heart. Chris reached up and patted her tense hand and the warmth in his smile gave her some comfort.
“I’ve fantasized about this moment since first laying eyes on that man,” Lucy admitted sheepishly. “I just can’t believe it’s all coming true.”
“Don’t worry,” Chris soothed. “This will be over with before you know and you have him and your son for the rest of your lives. Just breathe,” he advised.
Lucy nodded curtly and offered her older brother a smile. He was right. She and Seth had a long, hopefully happy, life ahead of them. They’d be able to raise their son together and that was what made her the happiest.
She allowed her brother to lead her slowly down the aisle, her soft ballet slippers barely making a whisper as she walked on the white carpet that layered the path.
They paused just before the minister and Chris nodded at Seth as he took his sister’s hand from his bent arm and offered it to his best friend.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the minister asked.
“I do,” Chris answered and smiled.
They turned toward the man who proceeded to walk them through a ritual as old as time. They each spoke when it was their turn and when the minister called for the groom to kiss his bride, Seth wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly to his chest. Bending her backwards, he lowered his lips to hers and the small audience erupted in cat calls and applause.
Everyone laughed and when he lifted her back to her feet, Jacob rushed to hug them both. Jacob bent down and scooped their son into his arm. He kept a firm grip on Lucy’s waist with his other. The knowledge that he held his family in his arms gave him more strength and power than he’d ever felt before.
“We’re a family,” Jacob announced and wrapped his little arms around Seth’s neck. “We’re a whole family now,” he repeated proudly.
“Not quite,” Lucy interrupted and Seth’s gaze zeroed to hers. The mere thought that something was wrong seized him like a heart attack. Had he forgotten something?
“What do you mean, Mommy?” Jacob asked and frowned.
Lucy looked up into Seth’s eyes and couldn’t stop the smile from taking over. She’d gotten some rather good news on her checkup yesterday and she’d been waiting for this moment to tell everyone. She’d been afraid that the chemo and radiation treatments had left her barren, but through some great miracle, she’d been given a new, wonderful gift.
“We’ll have another member joining us in about seven months,” she announced and watched as Seth’s expressions morphed from confusion to comprehension to pure glee. He laughed and tilted his head.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered. “I found out yesterday.”
“Who is coming?” Jacob asked, looking from his mommy to his daddy with his own confused expression.
Lucy reached up and pulled her son’s hand to her lips for a quick kiss.
“Your new brother or sister,” she answered softly. “Mommy and Daddy are going to have a baby.”
Jacob grinned and squirmed so much that Seth finally set him on his feet so that he could wrap his new wife in his arms.
“I love you so much,” he murmured as he lowered his lips to hers. “Forever and always.”
“I hope so,” Lucy challenged. “Keep that in mind when we have to buy a bigger house. I want a houseful of kids.”
“Your wish is my command,” Seth promised. “Always and forever.”
***
The End
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Irish Daddy
Alana
A shiver shot through me as I walked through the deserted streets on campus towards my apartment in residence. This is absolute madness; I should have left the party a lot earlier, now I’m stuck all alone at 3 AM. I wasn’t even much of a party freak to be honest, but somehow I’m always invited. Of course it was as obvious as daylight that they all just invited me because of my status. You see, my dad is one of the wealthiest men in Boston, Fergus O’Devlin. And just because of that, people seem to think I’m equally well off. They aren’t too wrong about that though. Having a rich father comes with many perks. I’m one of few students with her own apartment, a gorgeous car, which I wish I had right now, and a wardrobe that would make Paris Hilton jealous. Naturally every guy on campus wants a piece of me, but I’m not like most girls. Frankly, unlike most of my peers, I want to stay a virgin until the day I get married, and being shy and conservative doesn’t help either. In today’s day and age, it’s almost impossible to stay innocent, but I’m all about impossibilities and proving society wrong.
I pursed my lips as I tried to stifle a yawn and tears blurred my vision. Just a few more blocks and I’ll be home, then I can crash and burn for the rest of the day. Classes would have to wait; there was no way I would even be remotely interested or awake enough to sit through Dr. Richardson’s 9 AM class. I was about to cross the street to my apartment, when I spotted a black SUV, one I haven’t seen before, but then again, I never really paid much attention, much less walk around campus during the early hours of the morning. I kept a watchful eye on the vehicle and decided to stay on this end of the street until I was well past it before crossing. As I approached the entrance to the residence, I glanced over my shoulder and let out a relieved sigh. I slipped in and hurried to my place. It was pretty much the entire ground floor, or rather two apartments my father had merged into one. The Dean was opposed to it at first, but when my father offered a sizable donation for the upgrade of their football locker rooms and fields, he didn’t think twice.
I dumped my handbag on the kitchen counter, kicked off my shoes and headed straight for my king-sized bed, flopping unceremoniously down on it with a loud satisfied groan.
“Home at last,” I mumbled to myself as I tucked my pillow under my head. The way I felt now, I knew it won’t be long before I dozed off.
I had just started to drift off when hushed voices filled the room.
“Quick, get her!” Someone muttered in a hushed tone.
My body went numb with fear the moment I realized I wasn’t alone. But before I could move, two strong hands had me pinned face down on the mattress.
“No, let me go!” I screamed as he flipped me over on to my back.
I kicked with all my might, but I was no match for him. The masked villain had reached for something in his pocket, which I assumed would be a gun or a knife, so I bucked my hips wildly and tried to push him off. It was then that he hit me with such force it felt as if my head was being ripped off my spine. I could taste blood in my mouth and I groaned in pain. Again, my attacker tugged and pulled me, and then there was a second one who grabbed my feet. The one closest to me smelled like old sweat and whiskey. He stuffed a foul-tasting rag into my mouth before pulling a black bag over my head while his partner tied my feet together. It sounded like cable ties being zipped and tightened far too harshly around my ankles, and then around my wrists. The plastic was literally cutting into my flesh. I tried to fight them but it was impossible, tied up and gagged there was no way I was going to get out of this. My brain was in shambles, I couldn’t form a single thought as panic shot through every part of me.
With my tongue, I forced the cloth out of my mouth and cried, “What do you want with me?”
“Shut up bitch before you wake up the entire fucking campus. One more peep from your sorry little mouth, and I’ll show you exactly what that mouth was meant for,” one attacker ground out.
Terrified, I shut my mouth and tried to stay calm, that’s what a person was supposed to do right? Not to panic, as if that was even possible.
Why me? I kept asking myself as he gathered me up and flung me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“I can give you any amount, I swear, name the price…” I tried.
“Shut that fucking bitch up or I’ll gut her myself!” came a disembodied raucous voice of the other attacker sounded.
This can’t be happening, I told myself. It was like movie scene, something I never expected. I decided to stay quiet, but tried to listen for anything familiar, any voices or sounds. Maybe, just maybe, it was a bunch of college kids playing a prank, but there was nothing familiar about these men. The cool air hit my skin as they carried me out, and the next thing I know, I was being dumped ungraciously into a vehicle. The engine revved and the vehicle pulled away, causing me to tumble and crash against the side of the vehicle.
“Get a move on!”
A sob tore through my lungs, but I had this sinking suspicion that my tears would win me no favor. Whoever this was, they were out to either use me for ransom so that my dad can pay some ridiculous sum of money, or they were human traffickers, and I was going to be sold to some pathetic rich foreign bastard, to
be his whore.
As we sped off, all hope to be found or saved diminished. It would be at least three hours before anyone discovered I was gone. That is if I was lucky enough for someone to come look for me. By then we could be halfway to the next state. The way my heart was beating felt as if it was going to crush right through my rib cage. I realised I was never going to see the light of day again, and I started to cry hysterically.
“Shut the hell up! Jesus you’re fucking annoying!” one of the hoodlums shouted.
“I don’t want to die!” I cried.
“Well then shut your trap and I might spare your fucking life,” he muttered.
Just then screeching tires, followed by a loud bang sounded. My whole body jerked and I crashed into the seat in front of me. My bones and muscles felt like they were being crushed. My lungs contracted with such force that it felt as if I was suffocating. If I wasn’t bound, my arms and legs would be flailing, but now I was at the mercy of gravity and velocity. As if the cloth over my face wasn’t enough, my world kept flickering from semi-darkness to complete darkness. The only sound that filled my ears was the crushing of metal and glass. Then suddenly, everything stopped and the strong smell of gasoline filled my nose. I frantically tried to move, but to no avail. Out of the blue, two strong hands gripped me under my arms and hoisted me up before tugging the bag off my head.
Oh my god, it was Irish! He worked for my father, it all made sense all of a sudden. He’s trying to play my dad and using me as bait! Frantically I tried to back away from him, hopping with my bound feet until I crashed to the ground.
“Easy Alana, your dad sent me, we don’t have much time,” he said calmly.
“What do you mean we…?”
He snapped the cable ties with a quick flick of his wrist and picked me up, cradling me in his arms, “I would love to explain it to you, but now is not the time,” he interrupted and stalked over to a BMW parked not far from the crash.