Parker's Island

by Kimberly Schwartzmiller

  “Evidently not,” she said quietly.

  “Do you really want a man who doesn’t love you? You deserve better than that. We both do.”

  She thought about what he said for a few minutes. “I guess I just couldn’t accept the fact that you didn’t want me. No man has ever refused…fine, the merger stands. I’ll give you what you want. I’ll sign the papers.”

  She started to walk away, and Logan reached down and grabbed his pants, pulling them on under the sheet. He stood up and said, “Martina, thank you. I’m really sorry this didn’t work out like you wanted.”

  She turned and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll survive. You’re not the only man…” Suddenly, she turned pale. Logan followed her eyes, they were on me. Martina was focused on my very pregnant shape, no longer concealed by Logan and now very evident under the form-fitting sheet.

  Her beautiful face turned from pale to bright red in a matter of seconds. I found myself pulling the blankets up to protect my unborn child from the mere look of her anger. I had never seen such hatred in someone’s eyes.

  “I’m such a fool! You almost made me believe you! You’re going to pay dearly for this!” she roared with such anger, that I was actually frightened for him.

  “Martina…it’s not his baby!” I yelled. But it was too late, she was already gone.

  Logan ran after her, but he came back a few minutes later and said, “She won’t listen to reason.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I cried, running into his arms.

  “For what? I told you, she can’t hurt me. Delaney, stop worrying. I swear to you it’s alright. She’s not going to be able to do anything. All she can do is take the company, and I don’t care about it anymore. It’s not the same company since the merger. It’s not what my grandfather and mother built. They killed that long ago. I have everything I want. Please believe me, you are the only thing I care about.”

  “She was just…so hurt,” I said sadly.

  “I know. I had hoped it would end on a more positive note, but honestly, I know Martina and I knew that was very unlikely. Delaney, she will get over this. Don’t you think that if she truly loved me she would have honored our marriage vow, or at least made an attempt? Delaney, she doesn’t really love me. She doesn’t know how. She’s just angry that I didn’t fall all over her like every other man she’s ever wanted.”

  What he said made perfect sense and once again I was starting to feel better about things. I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, but she can’t have you anyway! You’re mine now and I think we should get back to...jogging,” I said, needing to feel the comfort of his arms around me. We fell back into bed and picked up where we left off before Martina walked into the room.

  A while later, Logan quietly asked, “So, did I make you forget?”

  “Hmmm?” I asked, blissfully content.

  “Did I make you forget about…Chad?” he asked, softly.

  “Who?” I asked, pulling him back down to me for another wonderful kiss.

  And although I was blissfully happy in Logan’s arms and in his bed, I couldn’t escape the nagging feeling that Martina had meant what she said.

  Chapter Ten: Making Plans

  We spent the rest of the morning in bed, until Logan said, “I think I need IV fluids now.”

  I laughed and said, “Well, if you weren’t so perfect, I would have gotten up hours ago.”

  “Perfect, huh?” he grinned. “Far from it, but I am thirsty, and I’ll bet you two are hungry as well,” he said, patting my over-grown belly.

  “I have what I’m hungry for,” I said, and pulled him back down to me.

  “You’re going to kill me. You know that, don’t you?” he said jokingly.

  A while later I begrudgingly allowed him to lead me to the kitchen for some much needed food and drink.

  “You should be starving,” he said, after chugging down orange juice from the carton.

  “My mother would have a fit if she saw you doing that,” I laughed while envisioning the rage on her face.

  “Well, if you hadn’t drained me of all my fluids, I would have been able to wait until I filled a glass.”

  I was standing there looking at him longingly, wanting him yet again and said, “I think you better drink a few more cartons.” He grinned and finished the carton off.

  We sat down for a quick breakfast of eggs and toast and I looked up and saw him watching me. “What are thinking about?” I asked.

  “You, the baby, everything; how blissfully happy I am,” he said, smiling at me and reaching out to take my hand.

  “Me too. I guess we still have some things to work out. But for the first time, I’m not afraid to face it. In fact, I’m looking forward to…everything.”

  “Do you want to live here, or would you rather buy a house closer to your parents?” he asked, out of the blue.

  “What? Why would I ever want to leave this beautiful island and what would make you think I would want to live by my parents?” I was stunned.

  “They are your parents. I know things are strained between you right now, but they love you. Please don’t take that for granted,” he said; then added, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lecture you.”

  “I forget sometimes that you don’t have a relationship with your father. I do love my parents, but we’re not that far away from them. When things are…settled, we can visit them and they can come here. I love it here, and I wouldn’t dream of asking you to move.”

  “I would, though, without hesitation. My home is with you and the baby and it doesn’t matter to me where we live.”

  “Good, then we’ll live here,” I said, touching his perfect face.

  “You said that your mother would throw a fit if she saw me drinking from a carton?” he asked, looking pensive.

  “Oh, definitely. She would give you a look of extreme disapproval, making you instantly remorseful and apologetic, whether you were actually sorry or not.”

  “I’ll bet they loved Brian,” he said, looking a bit distant.

  “Yeah, they did. Why the sudden interest in my parents?”

  “No reason. Well, what would you like to do…?”

  “Oh no. I’m not letting you off the hook that easy. Why the sudden interest in my parents?” I asked again.

  “I guess I’m just not so sure that they’ll think I’m the best choice for you.”

  “They’ll love you. They’ll see how wonderful you are and how happy you make me. They’ll love you, I know it.” I had never realized how much Logan longed to be a part of a family. I had always had a family, and although they may have tried my patience, they were there for me and they loved me.

  “I’m not so sure. They may hate me for…” he stopped and looked at my belly.

  “But you didn’t...”

  “I’m the baby’s father, Delaney, and that’s what we’re going to tell everyone. No one ever has to know about Chad. I can promise you that he won’t ever say anything to you or anyone else about it. But we still have to tell your parents that you’re pregnant, and unfortunately, I can’t marry you until Martina signs the damned papers, and I know she’s going to drag it out as long as she can.”

  “You…you want to marry me?” I asked, stunned.

  “What kind of question is that? Of course I want to marry you. I’d marry you today, if I could.”

  The tears started then and he was on his knees at my side. “You don’t have to marry me…it was just a thought. You don’t have to do anything you don’t…” he said, misunderstanding my tears. I kissed him hard, leaving no doubt as to my answer.

  “Maybe I should ask you to marry me more often,” he said, and carried me back to bed.

  We spent the rest of the day in bed, making love and making plans. Logan ordered a pizza so that we didn’t even have to leave the sanctity of his room for dinner. It was a perfect day. We had everything planned, right down to what we would tell everyone and we were even prepared for the anger and accusatory looks. But we didn’t care. We
were madly in love and no one was going to stand in the way of our newfound happiness…or so we thought.

  Chapter Eleven: Wesley Barnett

  The next morning we were awakened by the telephone. Logan reached over me and grabbed the phone.

  “Can’t you handle it without me?” he asked groggily.

  I watched him for a few minutes, wondering what the problem was and hoping that whatever it was wouldn’t take him away from me.

  “She wants what?” he asked, sounding shocked.

  He hung up the phone a few minutes later and said, “I’m sorry, Delaney, I have to go.” He kissed me and then headed into the shower.

  I didn’t want him to leave, but it was obviously important. I followed him into the bathroom. “What’s wrong?”

  “That was my attorney. Martina is refusing to sign the papers.”

  “But you knew she was going to do that.”

  “Yes, but I certainly didn’t expect her current request.”

  “What did she request?” I asked, instantly jealous that she was requesting anything at all from him.

  He turned the water off, grabbed his towel and stepped out of the shower. “She demanded a paternity test.”

  “Why would she do that?” I asked, as shocked as he was.

  “I don’t know, but my attorney said I had to comply. So I have to go in this morning for the test and then I have to meet with him. I don’t think I’ll be back until late this afternoon. He said Martina’s going to be very difficult, as if I didn’t already know that. I’m sorry I have to leave you again,” he said, touching my cheek.

  “But doesn’t the baby have to be born first?” I asked.

  “Yes, but my attorney thinks I should do my part now and not hesitate. I agree. I just want it over.”

  I had a bad feeling about him leaving. I knew he had to, but for some reason I didn’t want him to walk out the door. “Can you take the next ferry?” I asked, wanting to keep him as long as possible.

  “I want to get this over with, so I can come home to you, one step closer to a free man,” he said, and kissed me softly.

  I refused to let him go and our soft kiss led us back to the bedroom. I kept him until he finally had to run to make the next ferry. I hugged him and said, “I don’t want you to go.”

  “I don’t want to go either, but I have to. Why don’t you go shopping today? We have nothing ready for the baby. Go have fun, I’ll be home tonight. Tomorrow we can work on turning one of the rooms into a nursery. I love you,” he said, but this time he kissed me on the top of my head for fear I’d make him miss another ferry.

  I still had a gnawing feeling as he drove away. The words Martina threatened, “You’re going to pay dearly for this!” echoed through my head.

  I shook off the feeling of doom and decided Logan was right. We needed to start getting some things ready for the baby. I picked up the house, made the bed and headed into the shower, before I was to head into town.

  Standing in the bathroom, wrapped in a towel I heard a man’s voice. The voice sounded like Logan’s, but I knew it wasn’t. It was deeper and harsh.

  “Hello? Logan? Where are you?” the man called. Duchess was growling. “Shut up, dog! Logan, where the hell are you?”

  I threw off the towel and grabbed Logan’s robe off the hook in the bathroom. My hair hung down my back dripping wet, and I didn’t have time to put anything on my feet before I heard the man heading upstairs.

  “LOGAN MICHAEL, where are you?”

  I stepped out of the bedroom and headed toward the stairs to tell whoever it was that Logan wasn’t home. As I reached the top of the stairs I took a deep breath. I found myself staring at an older version of Logan. There was no doubt in my mind as to who this man was. He had to be Logan’s father. He was a very attractive man and I saw a glimpse of how Logan would look in the future.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  “Um, I’m Delaney Miller. I’m a friend of Logan’s.” I was very nervous and I was certain that he could sense that. This was not how I wanted to meet Logan’s father for the first time, standing in the hallway, wearing his son’s robe with my hair dripping wet; not to mention barefoot and pregnant.

  “Friend, huh? I’ll bet. I’m his father, Wesley Barnett. Where is he?”

  “He had to go to a meeting on the mainland. He won’t be back until later tonight,” I said, looking down at my bare feet.

  “That’s just great! Why don’t you go get dressed, meet me downstairs and then maybe you can explain what it is my son thinks he’s doing,” he ordered, and then ran back downstairs.

  I did as he said, not wanting to upset the elder Barnett. I brushed and towel dried my hair, dressed and slowly made my way downstairs. I had no idea of what to say to him. I decided that I would stick with what Logan and I had discussed, even if some of it was a lie.

  He was standing in the living room, looking out of the window. “May I offer you something to drink?” I asked.

  He turned to face me and I realized he had already helped himself to a glass of orange juice from the fridge. “Oh.”

  He must not have noticed my pregnant shape when I was wrapped in Logan’s robe, because suddenly he was staring at my pregnant belly, looking disgusted.

  “Friends?” he said, openly staring at my belly. “Now it’s starting to make sense. He’s willing to give it all up for…you?” he scoffed.

  I suddenly found it very difficult to believe that this man could even be remotely related to Logan. He may have looked like him and their voices may have been alike, but that’s where the similarity ended. This man was cold, his eyes hard. I was afraid of him. I stood there, feeling like a lost child and I couldn’t say anything. I suddenly understood Logan’s need to make a good impression on my family, as he’d never had one.

  “Delaney, is it?”

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Exactly what kind of hold do you have on my son?”

  “Excuse me?” I didn’t know what he wanted me to say.

  “Is it money you want?”

  “I don’t understand…”

  “It’s a good thing you’re pretty, because evidently, you’re not too bright. He’s going to lose it all, you know? She’ll take everything.”

  I was shaking again, and I couldn’t say anything. I just stood there staring at the floor.

  “Evidently you don’t care what my son is giving up for you. I sure as hell hope you’re worth it!”

  “He said he doesn’t care about the company, anymore,” I finally managed to say.

  “The company? No, he probably won’t mind losing that. But he will mind losing all of this,” he said, waving his hand around the room.

  “But the house and the island are his. She can’t touch them,” I said, my voice trembling.

  “So, you really can talk. Good. Then tell me something. Whose baby is that?” he asked, looking at my stomach.

  “I…” I couldn’t answer him. I couldn’t tell him the story we had come up with. Instead, I stood there, too terrified to say anything.

  “So, he’s willing to lose everything and the kid’s not even his. Well isn’t that just like him? Always the white knight.” He was pacing now, swirling the juice in his glass. “I don’t suppose he has any vodka I can add to this?”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve never seen any alcohol in the house.”

  “Figures. So, what are we going to do about this little problem?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Surely you’re smart enough to figure out that his wife is going to take everything from him in the divorce. And, since he’s now an adulterer, she gets it all; the company, the island and his trust fund.”

  “She can’t take the island or touch his trust fund,” I said nervously.

  “My son is a very smart young man, but he’s also too trusting for his own good. He really should have read the fine print.”

  “What fine print?”

  “The one that states that if
he gets caught cheating, then she gets it all!”

  “But he didn’t…do anything until he had already filed for divorce,” I blushed.

  “And you think that matters? They are still legally married. I’m assuming she knows you’re staying here?” he asked.

  The memory of Martina’s visit was still fresh in my mind, so I blushed, remembering she had walked in on us in bed.

  “Caught you in bed, did she?” he grinned, guessing the truth from my blushing cheeks.

  I needed him to leave. My head was spinning. I needed Logan by my side, but he wasn’t there and I realized I had to deal with this on my own. “I love him,” I whispered.

  “Then leave him! Do what’s best for him,” he said.

  “He loves me, too.”

  “Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. That’s irrelevant.” He stepped forward and towered over me. “Martina Bolivar will destroy him, I promise you that!” he said, staring me down with hard eyes.

  “Logan’s not afraid of her. He’s in town now straightening things out. He’s taking a paternity test.”

  “What will that prove?” he grinned and leaned back against the bar.

  “That she cheated on him…first, that the baby isn’t his.”

  “Well that makes two baby’s that aren’t his, now doesn’t it?”

  “He loves me and the baby,” I said, touching my stomach.

  “It’s your baby though, not his! I’m going to explain something to you about paternity testing. It’s not an exact science. It can prove without a doubt that a man is NOT the father of a baby, like in your case. But it can leave a lot of doubt if by some chance the DNA is found to be…similar.”

  “But he’s not the father of Martina’s baby…either. I don’t understand what you’re saying…” I was staring at him completely confused, when it hit me. Martina was carrying his baby. “Oh, I see,” I said, feeling sick to my stomach.