Our Forever Promise

by Mary Wasowski

  I felt a presence beside me. It wasn’t dark as the times before. It was lighter and freer. I turned, and it was my father.

  “Hello, son.”

  “Father.” I barely could get out above a whisper. He looked like the man I remembered him to be when I was in my younger years. He was still him, but no hardness in his features. He looked at me filled with love and pride. I blinked a few times to make sure this was real and not a hallucination.

  “Thank you, Walker. Thank you for forgiving me. I thought I would be bound to my sins forever with no light ever to be seen again. You are my son. And I know I failed as a father, and I have failed you. You are a good man. A better man than I ever was.”

  I took a breath and opened my eyes. He was gone. It was over, truly over. I could walk out of here and finally leave the past behind, and begin the first day toward the rest of my life with Reese…

  AS OUR CAR made its long trek up our driveway, the path was lined with “Welcome Home” signs and balloons, and of course, Lila and Thomas Mitchell. Reese’s grandparents decided to stay for an extended length of time with no date to return home to Georgia. I had their home in Pottersville closed up, and their shop in town was still going with their trusted staff. Their manager sent me weekly reports. Lila asked her dear friend Mabel to help with some of the more personalized baking in her absence.

  Her friends had flown home only a week after their arrival in California. With the wedding still on hold, they wanted to return to their homes. They would fly back to California when we were back on track with our plans.

  Riley was first to jump out of the limo and leaped right into the waiting arms of her great grandfather. He swiftly picked her up and swung her around. Where did he get his strength? He looked younger than his given age and was in great health. He took his heart medicine daily, exercised, and ate well. During our phone conversations, he expressed how much he was looking forward to helping Jackson. Reese cried while listening on the extension. She loved Thomas as if he was her own father.

  Next was Reese to get a lift, but Thomas was very careful with her. This was the first time they were seeing her since we announced our good news to them over the video chat. Lila wiped away her tears as she took in Reese and all of her beauty. They were both crying, hugging and simply glowing. The Mitchell women were amazing, and I was damn lucky to soon be marrying my Georgia Peach.

  The last of the welcoming party made their way over to us. Freddy and Fabrizio walked hand in hand over to us. They both took a turn hugging Riley, and then hugging Reese with Fabrizio kissing her on her cheeks.

  He preferred to speak to Reese in Italian. He animatedly spoke to her in Italian with my girl responding perfectly back to him. I understood the language, but sometimes I felt they had their own private way of speaking to one another that made me feel left out. Freddy had spent most of his career in Italy, so he spoke it fluently as if he was born there. Their friendship was solid and now with Fabrizio in the mix, it was a beautiful sight to take in. Anyone that can make my angel smile like that is alright in my book.

  FABRIZIO WAS SO adorable with his hello kisses to me. “Ciao bella ragazza. Sembri positivamente raggiante. Ci sei mancata.”

  The worldliness of my modeling days long ago meant I had to learn a few words in other languages, Italian included. I responded, “Grazie Fabrizio. Siamo tutti contenti di essere a casa.È rimasto del Cristal in cantina?”

  Fabrizio of course flashed me his sexy smile and kissed me again on my cheeks, gaining a smirk from Walker. He knew and understood how much I loved Freddy and Fabrizio, so his jealousy was mildly contained.

  Fabrizio whispered in Italian that they had been discovered, and the cellar was re-stocked, but the code had been changed. That new piece of information made me look over to my man, who was now laughing. What a devil, squashing his and Freddy’s fun.

  Other than Walker and Freddy, who understood what Fabrizio and I exchanged, the rest of our party were standing and looking confused. I simply announced that Fabrizio had told me that I looked glowing due to the pregnancy and how happy they were to have us home.

  My grandfather huffed, but Nana smiled. This was quite the eclectic bunch, I thought to myself. As we made our way into our home, Freddy whispered into my ear for only me to hear. He said that he had Priscilla, our house manager, wrapped around his finger. He gestured his hand, and then said he already knew the new number sequence to the wine cellar. I laughed so hard, I nearly wet myself. Oh it was good to be home and with everyone that I loved.

  “Oh my sweet girl! Let me take a look at you.” Nana happily took my hands and looked me over from top to bottom. “I have never seen you look more beautiful in all of my life.”

  “You do realize you say that all the time, Nana. You would think I was the Mona Lisa with the way you describe me. I’m just simply happy and so in love with him.” I turned to see Walker watching me. He touched his heart and blew me a kiss. Oh I can’t wait to revisit our gazebo. My mind was already spinning out of control, as well as my desire for him.

  I never wanted to leave our home again. The minute I walked through the door, I felt the warmth and love greet me. This was our new beginning right here. We would fill this home with many new memories to share as husband and wife, and parents to our little girl who will soon arrive. I couldn’t contain the smile that I was showing. I blew back a kiss to Walker, and gave him the silent promise of a wonderful night to come for us.

  I spent some time with the guys, having promised to catch up with them. With my growing belly, Freddy would have to work on my dress and fit it to my body. We knew we wanted to get the wedding plans up and going again with marrying the soonest we could, but we needed to make sure Jackson was settled in first. He argued with Walker that we shouldn’t put off one more day because of him, but we wouldn’t hear of that. We didn’t want him blaming himself for our postponed wedding. All would work out. We would soon have our day.

  Freddy and Fabrizio were leaving for New York in the morning. They had to tie up some loose ends before returning back to California for our wedding. They promised to only be gone for a few days and would return by the weekend. I was beyond excited and was ready to see the masterpiece Freddy designed for me. He was so secretive about it. Freddy did some new measurements once he took in the size of my belly. He said to Fabrizio that a trip back home was necessary. That didn’t help my self-esteem, but Fabrizio assured me that this was his beautiful creative mind at work, and to trust him. I did. Not only with a dress, but with my life.

  After a delicious dinner prepared by Nana, we spent the next hour catching up, trying to keep the conversation on a positive note. Walker was worried that Jackson would be depressed. He was quiet all throughout dinner, but kept close to Riley, which was a good sign. They kept to themselves in their quiet conversation. I wasn’t too worried. They would both be taking off the fall semester, with Riley beginning the new term in January. We would have to wait and see for Jackson. Walker had taken a video conference call with the dean over at UCLA to begin the enrollment process for Jackson and Riley.

  This didn’t sit well with Samuel at first, on account that Riley was our daughter, but I quickly helped him work through it and move on from it. No reason to argue over who was helping with the arrangements. Samuel was her father, and only father. He was a proud man and disliked the fact that Walker had a strong active role in his daughter’s day-to-day life. This was the area we all needed help with. We would forever be in each other’s lives because of our children. The fathers would eventually find their way of understanding the other’s role. We had already come so far while we were in Maryland. I wasn’t going to go backwards now. It was a new beginning for all of us.

  “You look tired sweetheart. Let’s get you upstairs and settled into your room.” I said to Riley. I made it very clear that she and Jackson would have their own quarters. No arguments from my daughter, and none from Jackson. We had the long put off conversation with both our children. We knew th
e dynamics of their relationship had changed in more ways than one, but we still wanted the boundaries and rules of our home followed. Once those words left my mouth, I knew what Walker had been thinking. I kind of thought it also, that these two were in love and would probably move heaven to be with each other, even under our roof. I believe Jackson understood the meaning of discretion, so it would be Riley that would need more guidance on this subject matter.

  “This room is huge, mom. It’s bigger than the one I had at our house back home.”

  “I’m happy you like it, honey. As you can see, all your personal things have arrived. Your closet is fully stocked with some new Freddy Mac Originals, and of course, Mr. Yankee Bear.”

  “Oh mom! Thank you so much for being amazing. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too Riley. You have grown so much since the last time you left this house. It feels like forever already. I’m so proud of the way you handled all of this with Jackson. You are strong and fierce down to your core.”

  “Don’t give me too much credit. If I’m anything it’s because of Jackson. He makes me better, and his love gives me the strength that I need to take on anything we are challenged with.”

  “You sound like someone I know.”

  “Who?” Riley asked.

  “Me. It’s exactly how I feel when it comes to Walker. We are part of one another, two halves that make one. That’s what real love is, baby. I don’t know how I lived all of these years without him, but so very thankful that I will never have to know that feeling of loss again.”

  “Mom, does that mean you regret your past with daddy?”

  “No, honey, not at all. In life, we all have our share of regrets and what might have been, but I would never trade up one day as your mom. I couldn’t say that if I regretted my time spent with your father. The love we did have for each other made you, and that will always be cherished between us. Do you understand that?”

  “I do. I guess I needed to hear it again.”

  “I will explain it to you as much as you need me to. Don’t worry about your dad. He’s going to be okay. We all are. Now, get some much needed sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for Jackson. His new physical therapy team arrives. With the improvements made to the gym, he is all set to continue with his therapy.”

  “Mom, I was kind of hoping to take a few days to relax with him, and just spend some time alone.”

  “You will have that Riley, but his therapy has to come first. This is not up for discussion, especially with Walker. Am I clear?”

  “Yes, mom, you are.”

  “I love you. Go to sleep and dream about Nana’s homemade cinnamon rolls. I had mentioned to her that the baby had yet to taste the decadent flavors of her gooey breakfast treat. Well, that did it, and I saw Nana go into the kitchen, no doubt already preparing the batter.”

  “Mom, do I have to remind you that you have a wedding dress to fit into? Nana’s cinnamon rolls are the size of a softball.”

  “Thank you for the reminder, but I will be careful. Go to sleep, my darling daughter. And worry about your own figure.”

  “Punk,” I called out to Riley, as I closed her bedroom door, earning a breakout of laughter from my daughter.

  “Gotcha!” Walker screamed at me as he grabbed me from behind and lifted me effortlessly in his strong arms.

  “Oh my goodness, Walker! Thank you for the heart attack. You scared me.” I pouted. He crushed his lips down onto mine and began walking toward our bedroom. Once inside, he kicked the door closed behind us and locked the rest of the world out.

  “I’m so happy that your daughter cares about your body, but no need to worry, baby, that’s my job. A job that I take very seriously. And I am about to inspect every delicious part of you.”

  “Oh yeah? Where will you begin your exploration?”

  He bit my lip and then winked. I was already craving him to be inside of me. It was days since we last made love, and I wanted him now!

  He placed me down on our bed, but on the edge where my legs could dangle over. Kneeling in front of me, Walker began to lift my leg and remove my shoe, giving the now freed foot a massage. I let out a pleasured moan, and then he proceeded to give the other foot the same attention. He knew what he was doing, and it was driving me insane. Next came my stockings, unfastening them by their garters, one by one. I was leaning back onto my elbows with my back already in an arched position. He was leaving a wet trail of kisses up and down my thighs until he reached my swollen clit and inhaled my arousal for him…only for him.

  I was beyond mad with want. My skin was heated and my body was screaming for a release, but it wasn’t to be found anytime soon. Walker was slowly torturing me with his skillful tongue and stimulating every nerve ending in my body. He would pull me to the edge of ecstasy where my voice would go hoarse from screaming his name, and then begin all over again. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take, and just when I was about to claw my fingers down his sculpted back, Walker plunged his pulsing dick into my slick hot heat.

  “Yes!” I screamed out.

  He silenced my screams with his mouth. Our tongues were twisting together inside of my mouth. This was what I wanted. This was what I needed…we needed. No matter what happened, we would always have this moment where we could lose ourselves to the other without any barriers between us.

  “I love you, Reese. You own every part of me. I am yours …forever. You feel so good baby. You’re my home. You’re my life.”

  He screamed as he let go of his release and climaxed so hard deep inside of me. My hands were clenching the sheets as I rode out my own orgasm. Walker’s body was shaking as he stayed in me and poured every last drop of his essence into my body. He was right. I did own every part of him, as he owned every last part of me. As the man that I’ve loved for twenty years was still on top me, in me, my mind drifted back to the day his simple three words changed my life.

  It was one of those moments in life you never forget. Every last detail was etched in my memory. It was the memory of that day I always carried with me:

  “I love you, Reese, so much that I’m afraid to blink and you’re going to disappear. You are my air, I need you to breathe. You are my first thought when I wake in the morning, and my last thought when I go to sleep. When I hold you in my arms, my world feels right. For the first time in my life, I’m home.”

  “I love you, Reese.” His words broke me out of my blissful memories of our past. His words were true then, as they are right now. Another beautiful moment forever sealed in my memories shared with this incredible man.

  He carefully broke our connection, and I was already feeling the loss. I was exhausted, but my mind was wide awake, and all thoughts were of Walker. In his darkest hours, he submitted all control over to me, as if I was his lifeline for survival. Didn’t he know that he did the same for me? I am a woman deeply in love.

  He was back with a warm Jasmine scented washcloth. With gentle strokes he cleaned down and in between my legs, and then onto my stomach. Lifting and placing me down under the soft duvet where he climbed in behind me and pulled me as close as two lovers can be.

  “Don’t over think it, babe. I love you. Now sleep, baby.”

  “How does he do it?”

  “Do what?”

  “Oh my goodness! I actually said that out loud.”

  Now he was laughing.

  “Stop it, Walker. I’m serious. How do you do it?”

  “And my love, I’ve already answered you. How do I do what?”

  “Know my thoughts before I say them? You always did that with me. It drove me crazy.”

  “What can I say? I’m a man in love. I never really stopped from the first day I said those words to you. I love you, Reese Mitchell. You are my life, and please spend the rest of yours by my side as my wife. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes. I will marry you Walker Reed, but I believe you already asked me. Come to think of it, you asked me several times. Do I have to worry about early memory pr
oblems?”

  “Nah, no worries babe, I just like asking you. The way you breathlessly answer makes my heart beat just about out of my chest.”

  And with that loving sentiment, I took him by surprise and straddled his hips. The feeling of Walker filling me with his powerful erection was addicting. This was home. Here with Walker, inside of each other, making love and falling in love with him. Over and over, again and again. My love for him is on forever repeat.

  “Marry me tomorrow. Seriously, babe, I can’t wait one more day.”

  “It is tomorrow.”

  “Perfect, then I’m ready when you are. Are you ready to become Mrs. Walker Reed?”

  “Absolutely, my love.”

  ALTHOUGH I KNEW he was in good hands, I still had taken a few more days off to be at home with my son. I wanted him to settle in and return to a familiar routine. When he left this home three months ago, it was with Riley to begin their summer long vacation, and then off to New York to begin college. He’s less mopey, but not the same as I knew him to be. He seems to get along with his new physical therapist, but to air on an extra side of precaution, I called my good friend, Tyler McVee, to lend a helping hand.

  He was my personal trainer and was happy to step in to assist Jackson with his rehabilitation. Tyler, a former UFC Champion, was now retired. He’d worked with Jackson before and developed a friendship with my son. A personal touch was just the very thing I was hoping would get him out of his foul mood. Liam checked in daily and we’d discussed this matter. It was part of the healing process, and I was encouraged to be patient with him. I needed to be in the office today. I had a mountain sized pile of work waiting for me, and Jenny has already texted me twice this morning. I didn’t want to leave Reese or Jackson.

  Lila wanted to shop the Farmer’s Market with Reese and Thomas. I immediately said no, but as always, Reese manipulated the hell out of me with her sexy smile and promises to rock my world tonight. I easily caved under her sexual hypnosis. I still didn’t have a location on Townsend. That fucker disappeared off the map with no clues left behind. He was a man of great wealth and could easily disappear if he wanted to. I had Gail and all of their properties under surveillance. I told him to never come near my family again, but when I said it, it fell onto dead, soulless eyes. The man had lost everything. When you had nothing else to lose, you become dangerous.