Two of Hearts

by Alexa Jackson

  - With you by my side, very well - his thumb smoothes my cheek, and only now realize my damp face - You were very brave, but never do it again. Never put yourself at risk, even for a bluff.

  I'd better not tell him that he had not bluffed. I was even willing to Allyson away from him, even if my life ran risk. Of course I thought of that new life growing inside me when I made the proposal. Somehow, I find a way to escape and keep our son safe.

  - I promise - I'm being sincere. Because, I hope never to need such an act.

  No more misunderstandings, bad people wanting our evil intrigues and conspiracies. The last enemy had fallen.

  - I promise that I will be totally and completely obedient, my lord - my leer says exactly the opposite.

  He laughs. The most perfect and lovely sound in the world.

  - And how obedient you intend to be? - It removes the sheet, invited me to lie next to her.

  I look at the door slightly. The next medical round would be in an hour or so. And we already took scolding enough due to the raunchy behavior and nothing discreet he has.

  - I promise not to grab you, do not hold you and not do anything inappropriate until we get home.

  Lay aside, trying to put as much distance between us.

  - And if I have to do exactly the opposite? - He arches his eyebrows, grimacing. It was to be sexy, but it is extremely comical.

  - Behave yourself, Mr. Crighton, is all patched, if not remember if -digo him, smiling - I promised obedience, not said I was with you.

  Adam pulls me closer, until our faces almost touching. His warm breath touching my mouth, making me want to be his lips there. The hand stuck in my waist makes my thoughts no less than unseemly.

  - Orders were not always made to be fulfilled ...

  He kisses me. Soft and tenderly. We were so lost in time and space. Something we always feel when we're together.

  ****

  With my boys back home, safe and recovering well, I could relax and let your guard down. Benjamin had adapted well to the transplant, there was, until now, no hint or threat of rejection to the liver. Every day it is more beautiful and strong, remarkably more like his father. Six months, his first word was pope. And I can say that there is, in this house, a person insufferably proud of him. Not that I'm jealous, after all, I just spent days, hours and weeks training him to speak Mom, but not; Benjamin simply called Pope lustily to see Adam come up with a huge brown bear. Men are visual creatures and self-serving. Corruptible. For they that would strengthen. My little girl and I will make the lives of both a true martyrdom.

  - Do not go betray me too, Amy - caress the little ripple in my womb - Mom needs help.

  I'm fourteen weeks of pregnancy, and are awaiting the arrival of a girl. Our little Amy - means loved. Adam who chose the name, even before the first ultrasound. There would be no more appropriate name than that. Already we love very much, and we look forward to catch her in his arms and know your face.

  It would be like me or be like him, like Benjamin? Adam says it will be like me.

  - A girl with my face, suffer bullying at school.

  He had played in one of the many nights we spent wondering how Amy would. Obviously, a female version of him would leave many male hearts devastated by the way.

  - Hey, Cinderella, wake up! - Julienne snaps his fingers in front of my face - Do you think the dress was good?

  I look at the mirror in front of me, looking at the wedding dress for my body. Unlike the dress that Mrs.. Wade had chosen for me, this is more curvaceous and discreet, and the syrup opens from the knees.

  - Why am I proving the dress now, if I have to adjust it when the baby is born?

  We postponed our wedding because of the transplant, then to keep pace with calm the recovery of our son, and I finally choose to perform the ceremony when Amy was born. Honestly, it's just a ritual that Adam is more concerned than me.

  - We're just experimenting - it helps me down after the seamstress make the finishing touches - still have the photo shoot to do. You know I want to leave everything perfect.

  Julienne been so obsessed with preparations in the last two days, which seem to marriage would be her. Well, so far it was fun to have a few hours in the spa, getting a massage, making skin cleansing and hair. But the day starts to get tiresome. Despite that pregnancy is much more quiet, morning sickness almost have disappeared and not feel like dying before they get out of bed, I've been much more sluggish and sleepy.

  - I want to go home - implore her - we have at least seven months to think at all.

  - Do not be spoilsport. Today is Saturday, and promised me a day just for girls.

  I had actually promised to have a nice day with her. I do not even remember how long we do not have moments like this, just the two of us.

  - All right, let's take the pictures - groan, won - And I thought it would be just shopping at the mall and cinema ...

  ****

  When she told me a little photo shoot, I thought it would be right there in the spa, not that I would be conducted to know where there, much less a helicopter would be waiting for us.

  - What's going on, Jenny? - I ask the woman smiling next to the door.

  - It's my wedding gift - she screams, dragging me into the helicopter, which starts purring, ready to take flight.

  Dressed as a bride, with two crazy beside me, I am beginning to find all this very strange situation.

  - Where are we going?

  - Field!

  - Beach!

  Both they respond to the same time and look away away from me. Clearly they hide something. And analyzing the whole situation, it does not take a great genius for I suspect what is, although I have taken a while to put all the pieces.

  - Okay. You can go talking - I ask through the attached microphone to the headset in our heads - What Adam got ready this time?

  - We can not say - Jenny is a sign, sealing the mouth and Julienne pretends to look through the window - We are prohibited.

  I could cry, kick and beg - them I did not receive any information. These small traitors are fully closed with Adam to drive me crazy.

  - This is kidnapping! - I tell them now with a huge smile on his face - I repeat, kidnapping! They know it.

  -. There is a wedding - Julienne slap the lips, so is denounced - Oh, shit.

  A wedding.

  My wedding.

  When Adam cease to amaze me?

  - And where is the bouquet?

  The two look at each other, laughing.

  - Paige.

  Everything makes sense now. There would be no better person to help you in this madness that Paige. Compared to the marriage proposal certainly would not be a simple ceremony in a chapel any city. Paige should have designed something great. I have the best friends that anyone would crave to have.

  - I love you - extend hands to them - Thank you for everything.

  Helicopter to the white limousine. Terrified, I recognize the city where circulate. Edgartown, where I spent much of my life, left behind painful memories and had fled in search of peace and happiness.

  - What are we doing here? - Wonder when the car park in front of the church.

  The same church that Maxwell had abandoned me, making me the laughing stock of all. I was publicly humiliated, and still hurts to know how people can be petty and bad.

  - Starting a new story - says Jenny, before leaving the car, followed by Julienne.

  My heart is a drum solo. Memories of past and present blend into my head. I can not marry here. Facing all these people again.

  - I can not! - Wince me in the car and close my eyes, trying to control my breathing fast - I can not do this ...

  I sink the bank beside me. Jenny is certainly trying to convince me to go out and face the world. I do not know if I can be so bold as expected.

  - You can, dear - my hand is received by others, and open your eyes, I face my father - Remember the last time we were here?

  How could I forget? It was from that mom
ent that my life took another turn.

  I think what would have happened if he had stayed in Edgartown. Would have the same quiet and empty life? But I would have been happy? I would have discovered me as a person and the woman I am today? Or continue to be the girl who said yes to all, quite different from that now can say what you want? And above all, I would love me the same way I fell for Adam?

  So all this makes no sense. I imagined a simple wedding with family and friends. In the home garden, perhaps. Not with hundreds of people who really do not know me.

  - I was a different man - my father continues. The affection in my hand aims to calm me down, and I confess that will paying off - You were just a frightened girl. Sorry to make that day even more difficult.

  - Father ... - decided to scratch the past, leaving hurt and charges where they should be: buried.

  - Became a beautiful woman. It's an amazing mother, and I'm sure will be a wonderful wife - he says, his voice filled with emotion brings my emotions to the surface - The man loves you, my daughter. He would do anything for you. I could not have wished for a better man to take care of my most precious possession. So you can, yes. We moved. You changed. We become better people. It's time for all this city see that. How strong and happy, and how I feel proud of who you have become.

  - Oh, father! - Embrace the strong - I love you, Daddy.

  They say that marriage is a farewell between parents and children; for me, it's like our reunion. A few months ago, I never dreamed even see it again. Today I will have my parents at my wedding, but also had with him one of the most important conversations of our lives.

  - You drive me?

  - Of course - his smile brioso saying more than his words.

  When I go down the car, Paige hands me the bouquet - white, beautiful lilies. She straightens her dress tail and the tiara on my head. I wonder if the makeup was not blurred, and she tells me I still beautiful.

  - Let's go? - My father stands beside me, giving his arm for support.

  He guides me the steps to the double door entrance. The wedding march begins to play. Lauren and Lily, in her white dress with silver ribbons at the waist, smile at me and take his place, throwing rose petals in the basket the red carpet.

  Door, I notice the crowded church. They all look at me. I recognize some faces and others seem new. At the altar, all our friends and family.

  Every person I expected to see less Adam.

  Panic wanting to take my heart is not the fear that he had done the same as Max. But yes, that something bad had happened to delay this time.

  - James? - Adam's voice echoed behind us - Leave it to me. I take it from here.

  I turn quickly and run into him. The most beautiful smile I have witnessed someone. Benjamin is a copy of it in his arms.

  My love and my life - together. No one else in the world can make me as happy as them. Nobody ever would love them as much as me.

  - I should not amaze me with it - my father scratches his head and walks down the aisle toward the altar.

  I see Adam, forcing my tears to stay where they are. I do not want to miss a detail of her beautiful face and eyes overflowing love.

  - We will get together. As Neil and Jenny did - he reaches out to me - not only today, in this church, but for life. We will walk always side by side.

  Already I can no longer control the tears slipping through my eyes. Crying and smiling way with them. Adam, Benjamin and Amy in my womb. If I'm strong, it's because they are the ones that make me stronger. If I'm happy, it's because they are the reason to get up and smile every day. And if anyone here today in doubt, now will be sure of how fortunate we are.

  However, for every face I looked, I saw only sincere smiles. As were our votes. We promise to love, respect and care for each other until our last breath of life. There was assayed poems or words. We said that our hearts meant. There will be bad days and complicated, so is life, but we are quite sure that our love is stronger than anything.

  ****

  The party was held in the church hall. The decor is elegant and simple. Lilies with golden ribbons are everywhere. All feel comfortable - eat, dance, drink and laugh a lot.

  With Julienne and Liam babysitters, we have all night for us. Adam and I are already, you know, dancing the twenty music. I'm drunk, even without having taken a single drop of alcohol; floating around the room, totally surrendered to his arms.

  - Can I? - Pull away the head of Adam's chest and stare at Max, standing in front of us, his hand extended toward me, asking for a dance.

  quickly look at Adam, trying to think of some way to keep him calm. But to my surprise, he smiled serenely.

  - Lily charged me a dance - he hands me the Max and go toward the girl running between the tables.

  Among stunned and confused, let me Max lead the dance. Definitely, he's the last person you'd expect to see in our wedding party.

  - I'm not a ghost - he laughs when analyzing my scowling - and not the monster of the closet, too.

  What he does here and because Adam not freaked out by his presence in our party?

  - Answering all the questions here - he touches the small wrinkle on my forehead, and I come undone - I practically begged her husband to allow him to see her for a few minutes.

  Look at Adam and Lily. Even talking and dancing with the girl, his eyes are glued to me. He smiles, I smile back. My heart longs just to look at him.

  - I've done many wrong things in my life, Penelope. Leave it that day in the church, however, was the most worthy act that did - says Max, and my attention back to him - I never have that twinkle in his eye, always looking for him. But I regret to have lied and used their good faith. I have hurt you at some point and allow others to magoassem. I was not a good man, but I want to learn to be.

  The difference being in the wrong way and be a bad person is this. Bad people like Nathan and Allyson feel no remorse.

  - Some people are bad because they are lost in life - I tell him. I sincerely believe in these words - Good find the way home.

  - Maybe one day my sins can be forgiven and I am worthy of love such a good woman like you - he stops dancing, holding my chin - Maybe I see the same sparkle in someone's eyes, for me.

  I want him to be happy. What do some women out there in need of love, happy.

  - Wade, I just said a dance - not seen when Adam came, but now he firmly holds his hand on my waist - Do not make me regret it.

  - I think it was half dance, but do not want to irritate you. I know very well what happens, enough the big one there scowling - he points out Peter and his mortal look at it - and ... Crighton. Be happy. She already is.

  Another song starts, but instead of dancers as imagined, Adam leads us to a chair in a more secluded corner of the room.

  - Are you happy, princess? - Asks, sitting down in her lap.

  Charming, princess, my darling, my love. I love all the forms he calls me. He is my prince, I have my beautiful dance and, best of all, does not end at midnight. My fairy tale is just beginning.

  - I've never been so happy prince - say, sticking my lips on hers.

  Lauren and Lily had started this game Prince and Princess. No one has ever been so right about us.

  - Mrs Crighton. - He lifts my hand and kisses the ring - My?

  - Always yours - caught his hand, returning the affectionate gesture - Mr. Crighton. My?

  - Always and forever yours.

  We sealed the promise with a kiss can make everything else disappear. We are in a sphere only ours. In a glowing bubble called love.

  Chapter 54

  Penelope

  Dubai ...

  Kisses delicious and soft in my warm skin. That's how I wake up after my little nap in the late afternoon. I love the way he awakens me, causing sparks all over my body. I get connected in just a few minutes.

  - I thought you were sleeping for a hundred years, Bela - Adam chaise longue takes me, taking my place, then put me on his lap, burying his face in my neck - I thought I would n
ot wake up more. I was pretty sleeping, but I got tired of just looking. Still took a walk on the beach, I plunged to distract me, but what I really wanted was right here, sleeping like an angel.

  - What? - Move away me a little of it to look into his eyes - my husband walking alone out there?

  There is a big joke tone in my voice, but a twinge of jealousy too. I still remember the first time we were in Dubai. The way women looked at him, almost throwing when Adam walked away to get a drink or for any other reason. Now is no different, in fact, would be no different anywhere in the world, be it in beach costumes or beautifully dressed in an elegant suit. Even with the fancy ring on her finger saying: Keep away!

  I had opted for a more discreet, but my sweet and jealous husband wanted something striking to the eye.

  - For everyone to see that already has an owner - out what he said when questioned. Despite the words sounding possessive, he felt the same. Adam was mine. As I belonged too.

  - For twenty minutes - he complains - it was all I could back away from you.

  It was a week of fantastic honeymoon. Sunny days, walks on the beach, diving with sharks - even against his will - romantic dinners and nights literally take my breath away.

  The only thing to overshadow our perfect day was the longing of Benjamin. As promised, my parents are in New York through these days with him.

  Whenever we can, they make video calls on Skype. See my baby so beautiful and so far made me cry and ask for Adam we shorten the trip. Of course he gave in. But when he put the bags on the bed, I realized as I was being ridiculous.

  - It's a shame we have to leave - purr when he wins the fight with the bikini node and release my breasts to the touch of his mouth.

  - Two days ago I wanted to leave - hands take place the lips so he can talk - but if you want to get more, I'll manage.

  I could stay here with him for life. But it's just a playful part of what we have. My true happiness is there, in New York, with our son and our friends.