Touched

by Vicki Green

  He looks up at me, so I sit down in the chair beside his bed, and his arm moves towards me until his hand is on my face. I’m trying to control my chin that’s quivering, but I can’t stop it. “Jaden. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.” His eyes move to Mom. “Just like your mother.” I look over at Mom and see her tears falling down her face and then I look back to Dad.

  “You always were a smooth talker.” I give him a smirk, and he laughs. He laughed. My heart is so full with hope at that moment but its short lived.

  “You brought a boy over, I see. He better be treating you right. You’re my girl and no one had better hurt you or they’ll have me to deal with,” he says as he looks at Knox. The tears begin to form, and I feel like I’m back in high school, bringing home a boy for the first time.

  I take his hand and hold it close in mine. “No, Daddy. He’s treating me like a queen. I promise.” He looks back at me and smiles. Then his face changes to a serious look.

  “I need time alone with you.” He looks at Mom and then at Knox, and I turn to them as well. Knox straightens his stance but Mom puts her hand on his arm, and he looks at her. She smiles and nods and he turns to me. I wipe away a tear that’s making its way down my face and smile, closing my eyes and reopening them, then nod. Only then Knox would let Mom lead him from the room, but he points to the hallway telling me he’s right there in case I need him. My smile is bigger as I nod again and wink at him, and then they are gone. I turn back to Dad, and he’s smiling.

  I take a deep breath. “We’re alone, Daddy. I’m all yours.”

  He tries to sit up but can’t so he settles to shift around trying to make himself more able to see me better. “You’ve always been all mine, pumpkin. God, I’ve missed you.” My brows raise, and my heart starts racing. He laughs. “Yes, my mind goes in and out, out mostly but there are times I’m here in the present. But I’ll be quick. I never know for how long I’m here.” He purses his lips as he tries not to cry, but I see the wetness in his eyes. He becomes blurry in my eyes as my tears start to swell, and his hand moves to my face to catch one as it falls. “I never told you often enough how very proud I am of you. I wasn’t the greatest of dads but I always loved you with everything I am. The night…” He stops and clears this throat. “That night, I was so mad. I wanted to kill that boy but instead I took it out on you.” His chin starts quivering, and a tear slides down his face. “I don’t know why I did that to you. I…” He sighs, and his face becomes morphed into anger. “I hate myself for the way I treated you. You didn’t deserve my lash. You deserved my love and I didn’t give it to you. I’m a monster.”

  “No, Dad! Don’t…” His finger comes to my lips, and I hush immediately.

  “Please. Let me get this out before it’s too late.” I nod and he releases my lips, and then he smiles. “You’ve always been a good girl.” Now I start sobbing full on. If he only knew what all I’ve done. He wouldn’t be saying that. He takes a deep breath and lets it out looking down at the bed. “I let you down and I’ll always regret that.” His eyes move back to mine, and he looks so sad. “I don’t expect your forgiveness. God knows I can’t forgive myself, but I would like to try to make peace before I leave this world.”

  I stand and throw my arms around him and am surprised to feel his move around me. “Please don’t go, Daddy. Don’t leave me.” My cries are loud, but I don’t care who hears me. In that moment, I’ve forgiven him for anything he’s ever done to me, any time I’ve ever been upset at him, from the times I can count on one hand of spankings I received when I was little to the time he stole my banana at breakfast and any other mishap that’s happened in my entire life. I feel his hand rubbing my back and his body shaking with his own crying as we just hold each other. Finally, he pushes me back, and I sit back down wiping my tears away with both my hands. “Daddy? Know that you’re the best daddy in the world and I’m getting married to the boy out there in the hall and we’re going to have a baby.”

  His brows raise and his face softens. “A baby,” he whispers. “Once again you’ve made me the happiest and proudest daddy. I wish I could walk you down the aisle and see and hold my grandchild but know that I’ll be watching when I’m gone and I’ll never been more proud of you than I am at this very moment.” I feel the love pour from him and hold on to it with everything I have. “I can die happy now. I can die in peace. Go get your mom. I need some alone time with her too.”

  I nod, still pushing away fresh tears and stand. As I get to the door, my hand on the knob, I hear his voice and turn my head. “I love you, Jaden. I always have.” Trying to keep my tears at bay I nod and blow him a kiss with my other hand.

  “I love you too, Daddy. I always have.” He turns his head to the TV, but I can tell he’s still crying.

  I open the door, nod at mom who’s blubbering and walk straight into Knox’s arms. His hand immediately moves to hold the back of my head, his other one rubbing my back. He moves me into his side and leads me out of the building and to the car, helping me into the back seat and then following me in as I can’t see through my tears. We sit there and he just holds me quietly as I sob into his chest, and I can feel how wet I’m making his shirt. After what seems like forever I start hiccupping and sniffling and lean back a little, so I can see his beautiful and caring face. “Thank you for loving me, for putting up with my stubbornness and my crying like a baby.” He smiles and places his hand on my face, lovingly.

  “Angel, I’ll always love you. My heart is yours forever. Nothing will ever tear us apart again. Know that, believe that and hold on to that.” I couldn’t love him anymore than what I already feel, and I believe with my whole heart and soul that nothing will ever tear us apart. Ever again.

  About an hour later Mom appears at the car and Knox and I get out and take our places in the front seat while she gets in the back. She’s smiling and has dry eyes. I’m surprised. “Mom? Are you ok?” I ask as I turn my head to the back seat.

  “I’m great, sweetheart. Tomorrow your dad and I are going to renew our wedding vows. The home is allowing me to move into his room since hospice has been called in.”

  “Oh, Mom. I didn’t know. I mean I knew he was on that floor but didn’t know it was that close, I guess.” Knox takes my hand and squeezes it, and I turn to smile at him.

  “Yes, dear. His organs are beginning to shut down rather quickly now. Thank God it is taking him quickly instead of suffering for an indefinite period of time.” She leans forward, as much as her seat belt will allow and places her hand on my shoulder. “He wants you to go home and not linger here waiting for him to die. He wants you to remember your visit today and all the good memories you have had together. He asked me to tell you that. He’s a proud man and wants to be remembered for the man he used to be before everything happened between you two. Can you do that for him?”

  More tears form, and I cannot believe that I can even produce them now. I’ve never cried so much in my life. “Yes,” I simply state while nodding as I shake. Her smile is beautiful, and I turn around not wanting her to see my tears falling.

  We have one last night together but spend it laughing as we sit in the kitchen. Mom and I reminisce of my younger days, and Knox laughed really hard at the things I used to do as a child. All the temper tantrums, the pranks and practical jokes I played. I think he realizes now I’m more of a handful than he had originally thought but the love in his eyes, his hands never leaving me the entire time, his smile every time he looked at me, and the way his eyes would light up, tells me that it doesn’t matter to him.

  Knox and I flew home the next morning and saying goodbye to Mom was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m already missing her but happy in her decision to stay with Dad and her promise of selling her house when he’s gone and moving close to us in Florida has made me happier than she’ll ever know.

  I’m exhausted by the time we walk into our apartment but once we reached our bedroom, fully intending on unpacking and starting laundry, Knox tak
es me in his arms, gently pushing me onto the bed and we both become frenzied in removing each other’s clothing and then making love the only way we know how. Passionately. It’s not long after we showered together, making love again, that I find myself in bed and my heavy eyes closing. I barely remember him moving the covers over me and kissing my cheek.

  When I open my eyes, a new day is here. I can’t believe I slept the rest of the day yesterday and through the night. Knox’s side of the bed is empty and cold to my touch, but I notice all my clothes have been washed and are folded on the top of the dresser. I can’t help the smile on my face of his attentiveness and love. My body is stiff as I stretch from sleeping so much, but I manage to get out of bed and into the shower, the warmth of the water doing wonders to my aching body. Once I’ve brushed my teeth, dried and brushed out my long hair, I dress in my comfortable clean yoga pants and one of his t-shirts and head to the kitchen. I stop in the doorway, leaning against the frame and watch as he cooks breakfast. He’s all yummy in no shirt and his pajama pants, and I watch his strong muscles flexing as he moves. Damn, I’m horny again.

  This afternoon I have my first official OB checkup appointment with a doctor who Phillip recommended. Knox wouldn’t have me go to a male doctor as he said he couldn’t handle another man touching my girly parts so Phillip suggested a female OB that’s top in the field, and Knox jumped on that quickly. Personally, I laughed. It’s a doctor, doesn’t matter to me if they are male or female. They’re not in it for their kicks but no way would Knox bend on this. I love him even more for his protectiveness.

  Knox is holding my hand while I’m being checked out at my appointment. It’s a little comforting and a little embarrassing being sprawled out on a table even though I’m covered from the waist down but still. It’s not like Knox hasn’t seen everything I have, touched it, been in it… Oh, you get the picture. Dr. Finley is very nice, and now I’m glad to have a female OB after all. “Your pregnancy is progressing nicely and your baby’s heartbeat is very strong. Listen.” She reaches over and turns a knob on the machine that’s sitting next to the bed on a cart, and I look over at Knox quickly when we hear the fast beating of our baby’s heart. Knox eyebrows raise high into his forehead, and the smile on his face is the biggest I’ve ever seen.

  He looks at the doctor and smiles. “Can you tell the sex yet?”

  She laughs. “Not quite yet but soon.” She looks at me still smiling. “Make an appointment for two weeks and we’ll do a sonogram. Let’s just hope your baby will be in a position that we can tell the sex. Sometimes they’re a little stubborn and won’t be at an angle we can tell.”

  Knox looks at me and smirks. “Stubborn? Chances are great that we won’t be able to tell then. Our princess will be just like her mommy, stubborn to the hilt.” I stick my tongue out at him and he raises a brow.

  “Oh, so you think it’s a girl?” She asks Knox.

  He looks back at her, the pride evident on his face and grins. “Oh, it’s a girl. There’s no doubt.” Oh, how I hope it’s a girl. It doesn’t matter to me as long as they’re healthy and because they will be a part of Knox, but for him, I so hope it’s his little princess.

  Once we leave the room, and I’ve made my appointment and get another prescription of vitamins, we head home, and before we reach the living room, he has me on the floor and is inside me. This time is different. Our making love is always passionate and loving but this time, he’s so gentle, so kind and careful. It’s almost like he’s afraid he’ll hurt me or the baby. I love all the ways he makes love to me, but I think this is my favorite by far.

  § § § §

  “Yes. We’ll be over just as soon as we finish breakfast. I know. I can’t wait. Did you get everything in order? It must be perfect. Good. I owe you. Yes, I know. Again. Put it on my tab. See you in a little while.” I end the call with Tabbie and feel my heart full in anticipation. It’s been two weeks since we’ve returned from Jade’s father’s funeral, and we move into our castle today. She doesn’t know it yet though. I’ve been planning this as a surprise. She believes it will be another few weeks before we move but between the contractor, Tabbie and Amber, we set it up for today. I secretly packed a bag with her favorite clothes, and the girls have one that they will bring with all new toiletries for my Angel. Ralph and Emerson will pack up the rest of our things and bring them over tomorrow giving us the night to break in our castle. Room by room. With all new furniture and appliances, all they need to bring is our clothes and office things. I didn’t replace anything in those two rooms. However, Jade’s new special room is twice the size and there are more bookshelves that match in it that adorn the walls. When she unpacks her room, she will find in one of the desk drawers, a gift card with an enormous amount of money to her favorite online book store, so she can get more books. I can hardly cook her breakfast feast due to my excitement, but finally, I manage to finish and am sitting at the table drinking my coffee waiting for her. I try not to drink coffee in front of her since she can’t have any until after the birth. She finally graces me with her presence, smelling all kinds of sweet, and I have to adjust my hardening cock as she sits down at the table. I need to control my desires until after I get her to our castle, not wanting to waste any of my stamina before christening every room.

  She digs into her eggs, but her eyes look up at me and her mouth forms a smile around her fork. Shit! Even that is incredibly sexy! She swallows and drinks some orange juice. “What’s got you happier than usual?” She looks at my arm that slides under the table, my hand readjusting my fuck hard cock once again, and then her eyes return to mine, her head tilting. “Or should I say your horniness but that’s not unusual. I’m not sure who’s hornier during this pregnancy. You or me.” Busted!

  My hand returns to the table and picks up my napkin, wiping my mouth lazily. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re referring to. I’m always eager to get into your panties. Pregnant or not.”

  Her sweet laugh is music to my ears. “Oh, I know. And I love you for it.” Her chin rests on her hand as she lays her elbow on the table, her eyes dreamy as they look at me. I don’t think I could be any happier than I am right in this moment.

  Finally, she continues to eat and I’m so pleased at her appetite lately. Her flat stomach has begun to poof a little and I love placing my hand over it, even though there is no movement of my princess yet. Oh, how I can’t wait to feel her in her mommy’s tummy.

  “I need to bring you to our castle in a little while. There’s a few things I need you to look at and see if you agree with me on my decision.” She stops, fork raised to her mouth and shrugs.

  “I love all your decisions, my darling. We have the same tastes. But if you’d like me to come you know I will. I’m actually excited to see how it’s progressed. God knows I’ve begged you to take me but you’ve never allowed me to go.”

  I take my dirty dishes over to the sink and leave them knowing Bea will clean up when she arrives. Turning around I lean back against the cabinet and smile. “I’ve wanted it all to be more done before you first lay your eyes on it. But I think I can bear to have you see it now, even though it still has quite a ways to go before it’s completed. Come, eat up. I’m getting rather impatient to take you.” She winks, smiles again and continues to eat.

  Ralph and Emerson are behind us in the limo as I told them I wanted to drive Jade over in the SUV myself. Of course, there are a few more cars following behind them; paparazzi. Oh, well. They’ll be stopped by the front gate and won’t be able to get near our private space. I keep watching Jade’s face out of the corner of my eye as we leave the gate and head up the winding drive, the trees on either side of the road making the house not visible yet. I’m so relieved how everything has gone off without a hitch so far, even Jade not noticing her picture over our fireplace was missing this morning. It needed to be in place at the castle to make everything perfect for her eyes.

  As the car swings around the last curve, I pull over when she gasps, and th
e limo stops behind us. I have to see her face, and I’m not disappointed. Her hands are covering her mouth, her eyes wide and filled with tears. After she takes some time just staring at our new home, she unclasps her seatbelt and straddles my lap, my hands moving quickly to her back so she doesn’t hurt herself on the steering wheel. Her luscious mouth is on mine in a heartbeat, her tongue diving in, and I suck on it while my lips move against hers. “Fuck! You’re gonna make me cum just sitting here, Angel,” I speak against her lips. She laughs but then sits up, and her chin begins to quiver. My hand cups it and I smile. “Those better be happy tears, my love. There’s no more sad tears allowed. From now on I only want to see happiness come from that beautiful face.” Her mouth is on mine again, her hands pressed against my chest and her hips move against me. I swear I’m gonna lose it before we get inside the house if we don’t stop. Finally, she moves back to her seat, buckles her belt and bounces, eager to get there. I know how she feels. The car begins moving up the drive and then turns into the circle and stops right in front of the wrap around porch. She looks at me and I nod while smiling, but she hurries out of the car and waits for me to walk around. Taking her hand, our fingers threading, I lead her up to the front door. Once I’ve unlocked it, I bend down and lift her into my arms, receiving a loud squeal and a laugh from her but my mouth covers hers in an instant, and then her moan comes out loud and clear. When I finally release her mouth, she gasps again as I set her down on her feet, her head and eyes moving all around the large entryway, up the curved staircase and then back to me.

  “Oh my God, Knox! This is magnificent!” Taking her hand, I begin to show her around the downstairs and when we walk into the living area, she stops, pulling my arm back. She looks up at her framed picture above the massive fireplace. “When did you get this here? How?”

  I move behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and locking my fingers together over her little poof. “Easy, when you’re distracted.” My mouth finds the soft skin on her neck and begins kissing and sucking. She pushes away from my grip, walking around the room and taking it all in. “I thought I’d never say this but not now! I have to see everything.” My laugh surprised even me but comes out loud and strong as I watch her. Her hand slides down the corner bar as she walks the length of it then she touches the bottom of the 70 inch flat screen TV on the wall making her way to the front picture window and then back to me. “You’ve outdone yourself this time, Dunway.”