by T. K. Leigh
“Giant daffodils,” she recalled. “You were right. They look nothing like daffodils.”
“Yeah.” A tear fell down Alexander’s face, weeping for the loss of his best friend all those years ago. He took a step toward Olivia, brushing a wayward curl away from her eye. “I wish I could have known you all those years. I think that’s what hurts the most.”
“But if one thing was different, we wouldn’t be where we are now…about to get married.” She stood on her toes, brushing her lips against his, savoring the feeling of his mouth on her cold skin. “Now please. Take me home and make love to me before Kiera gets here and banishes you to your house until tomorrow afternoon.”
His eyes grew wide, forgetting that he wouldn’t be able to see Olivia that night. “Yes, ma’am!” He scooped her up in his arms and gingerly placed her in the front seat of the car. He drove rather carelessly through the streets of downtown Mystic before pulling up in front of Olivia’s childhood home.
“This place brings back some great memories,” he commented after Olivia opened the front door, granting them both entry.
“You can reminisce later, Alexander.” She took off her coat and walked up to him. Unbuttoning his jacket, she stood mere breaths away. “Right now, I need you inside of me.” She looked into his vibrant green eyes and felt shivers run through her body.
He crushed his lips to hers and pushed her against the wall of the kitchen. “God, Olivia. Just a simple kiss and I’m ready to ravage you.”
She leaned her head back, giving him access to her neck. He nipped her earlobe, planting rough kisses on her skin. She moaned out in response.
“You like that?” he asked coyly.
“Yes,” she exhaled. “I need to feel your lips on me. Don’t stop.”
“We’ll make love tomorrow night,” he growled. “I plan on fucking you right now, right here against this wall. Now take off your clothes,” he demanded.
Olivia’s heart started to race. She loved the two very different sides of Alexander. It was one of the many things she loved about him. She stood staring into his green eyes, overwhelmed with love.
“What did I say, Olivia?” Alexander asked, snapping her back from her thoughts.
“Sorry.”
“Sorry, what?” he said, grabbing her nipple through her shirt and pinching.
Olivia moaned. “Sorry, Mr. Burnham.”
“That’s better. Clothes. Off. Now.”
“Yes.” She quickly rid herself of her sweater and bra, followed by her jeans and panties while Alexander stood watching.
“Turn around,” he said quietly.
Olivia obeyed, spinning around, and looked straight ahead at the kitchen wall in front of her, listening to the sound of Alexander’s clothes hitting the floor. She could feel him approach behind her. The anticipation was killing her.
“Put your hands up on the wall. Brace yourself, love.” His voice was demanding but, at the same time, soft and sensual.
She did as she was told, tremors coursing through her entire body. Out of nowhere, she felt his tongue between her legs as she stood bracing herself against the wall. “Fuck!” she exclaimed.
“You like that, Olivia?” Alexander breathed.
“God, yes,” she replied, his tongue continuing its torturous journey around her clit.
“You are delicious, Olivia. I just needed a little taste before I have to wait an entire day.”
She felt him raise himself and, within seconds, he gradually pushed into her, both of them moaning in pleasure. He moved slowly at first, filling her.
She held her arms against the wall as he picked up the tempo, flexing in a steady rhythm.
“I love this view. You have the cutest butt,” he said, bringing his hand back and smacking her cheek.
She yelped out in surprise before he grabbed on to her hips, his movements still gentle and deliberate.
“Faster, Alex,” she exhaled. She was so close. She needed her release.
“Already, Olivia?”
“Yes,” she exhaled.
“Damn.” He picked up his pace, driving into her, reaching around and tugging on her nipple.
Olivia squealed, the feeling of him moving inside of her and pulling her nipple sending her over the edge. She screamed out his name and came undone, the aftershocks of her orgasm lasting several minutes as Alexander found his own release, coming inside of her.
He reached around, resting his hand on Olivia’s stomach, helping to support her as he gently nipped on her shoulder. “I know I say this all the time, but I just love being inside of you.”
Olivia smiled. “And I love it when you’re inside of me. Now move it so I can clean your come off me.”
“Nah. Keep it there.”
“Alex…”
He laughed, withdrawing from her and gently picking her up in his arms.
“I love you, Olibia.”
“And I love you, Alexander. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“I’ve been waiting all my life for you to come back to me. And you were so worth it.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
SURPRISE
“KIERA,” OLIVIA SAID THE following day as she got ready in her childhood bedroom. “Can you go down the street and give this to Tyler, please? Tell him to give it to Alexander right before he enters the church.” She handed her a small envelope. “It’s his wedding present from me.”
“What did you get him? This is just a card.”
“The present is in the card,” Olivia replied, nervous energy coursing through her entire body as she contemplated Alexander’s reaction.
“Okay. I’ll be back in a few.”
Kiera left and Olivia returned to stare at the girl in the mirror. She looked the same as she did over a year-and-a-half ago, but she felt so different, like a huge weight had been lifted. She was no longer just going through the motions, trying to survive. She had something to fight for. She had Alexander. She had a family. Finally.
~~~~~~~~~~
“KNOCK, KNOCK,” KIERA CALLED out, walking into Alexander’s house. Hordes of people were milling about in the large living and dining areas, waiting to head to the historic church down the street.
“Hey, baby,” Mo said, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s our turn next, ya’ know.”
Kiera grinned, excited about marrying him the following year. “Where’s Tyler?”
Mo gestured with his head toward the dining room. “He’s in there, talking with Olivia’s grandparents.”
“How’s Alex doing?”
“Good. Excited. He just wants the wedding over. He wants to marry that girl something fierce.”
Kiera laughed. “And I want to marry you something fierce.”
“Then let’s go to Vegas next weekend! Come on, baby…”
“Jack, both of our families would kill us. It’ll be the crime of the century anyway, an Italian marrying an Irish woman in Boston.”
“You’re right about that,” he laughed.
“I gotta run. I’ll see you at the church.” She planted an affectionate kiss on his lips and went in search of the best man. “Tyler!” she yelled, half of the house turning to look at her. “Whoops.”
Tyler simply shook his head and walked over to Kiera in her deep green tea-length bridesmaid dress. “You sure do know how to make an entrance.”
She laughed. “I know.” She handed him the envelope. “I’ve been instructed by the bride to give this to you. You are to give it to the groom right before he goes into the church and not a second before. Do you understand?”
He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. “What is it? It just looks like a card.”
Kiera shrugged. “Hell if I know. Bitch hasn’t told me anything.”
“Okay. Well, here.” He picked up a shirt-sized box from the dining room table. “Give this to the bride. She can open it before she leaves.”
“Got it.” Kiera grabbed the gift and left just as people began filing out to make their way to the church. She hurried back to
Olivia’s house to finish getting ready.
“It’s about time you got back,” Bridget remarked when Kiera walked through the front door.
“Sorry. I got held up. Is she ready?”
“Yeah. I helped her into the dress. I had to hook all those buttons by myself, thank you very much!”
“Sorry.”
“It wasn’t that bad. I’m just giving you shit.”
Kiera laughed. “Bitch.” She ran up the stairs, busting through the door to where Olivia was getting ready. She looked at her best friend and tears began to well up in her eyes. “Oh, Libby. You look beautiful.”
Olivia met Kiera’s eyes, becoming rather emotional all of a sudden. “Stop it, Care Bear, or I’m going to cry and smudge my eye makeup.”
“It’s okay. I used waterproof.”
“Good, because I’m so going to need it.” She eyed the box Kiera had clutched in her hands. “What’s that?”
“Oh. This is from Alexander. He said you can open it now. Do you want some privacy?”
“No. You can stay.” She grabbed the box and slowly unwrapped it, gasping when she pulled back the tissue paper, exposing her gift.
“What is it?”
“I can’t believe he still had this…” Olivia looked down into the box. There was a frame around the picture she drew for Alexander on his first day of school. “I was so mad at him for leaving me and starting school,” she explained to Kiera. “I cried and cried that day. Then my mama told me that Alex wouldn’t be very happy if he came over after school and I was still crying. She told me to draw a picture to give to him. I drew this.” She looked at the old drawing of stick figure versions of Alexander and Olivia eating ice cream. Her heart swelled and she desperately wanted to get to that church and marry her best friend.
~~~~~~~~~~
“NERVOUS?” TYLER ASKED AS he drove Alexander to the church.
“No. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
“You’re not leaving this one at the altar, are you?”
“Ha, ha. Very funny.”
Tyler pulled the car into the parking lot and the two brothers got out, heading toward the front door of the church. “Wait. Before you go in, Olivia wanted you to have this.” He handed him the envelope.
“Alex, dear!” his mother called from the front steps. “We need to start! Olivia’s here and the girls are all ready. We just need the groom. Tyler, you’re on my shit list for taking him to a bar on the way here, young man!”
“Coming, Ma.” Alexander laughed, opening the envelope as he walked into the church. He stopped dead in his tracks when he looked at the fuzzy black-and-white picture mounted on a piece of card stock.
“What is it?”
Alexander’s heart started racing. He couldn’t believe it. “I’ll tell you later. Let’s get this show started.” He was so excited that his hands were shaking. He wanted nothing more than to see Olivia at that moment. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her and never let her go again.
He took his place at the altar and the processional began. The guests laughed when Runner emerged onto the aisle, trotting toward his master with two shining rings attached to his green collar. “Good boy,” Alexander said, grabbing the dog’s collar and handing the rings to Tyler.
It seemed to take forever for Bridget and Kiera to walk down the aisle of the church. Alexander just wanted to see his bride. Finally, he heard the music change to the familiar strains of The Beatles’ I Will, and he knew Olivia was about to walk down that aisle. His heart started to beat madly in his chest. Finally, she appeared in the doorway carrying a bouquet of sunflowers with Mo standing next to her. He thought it was sweet that she asked him to give her away. She looked amazing, wearing a champagne-colored gown. It was simple, yet elegant. It was very Olivia. That’s what she was. Simple, yet elegant. Finally, she took a step, but Alexander couldn’t wait any longer.
Stepping into the aisle, he rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her, and kissed her. “It’s true?” he asked through his tears.
Olivia looked at him through her own tears. She nodded, a grin on her face. “Yeah. We’re having a baby, Alex. September.”
He crushed his lips to hers once more, not caring that everyone was watching.
“Hey, man. I haven’t given her away yet,” Mo said.
Olivia laughed as Alexander pulled back, staring deep into her big brown eyes. “You better get up there, Mr. Burnham. You knocked me up. You’ve got to make an honest woman out of me now.”
“Oh, love. I’ve been waiting my entire life for this moment.”
“Me, too.” She tilted her head and brushed her lips against his.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
LOVELY
AUGUST TWENTY-FOURTH, A DAY that he used to hate, no longer lay heavy over Alexander’s heart. The sun woke him up early that Sunday and he lovingly admired his wife, her belly protruding from her slim frame, before hopping in the shower. When he was finally ready to start his day, he returned to the bed where his Olivia was still resting peacefully, and gingerly placed a kiss on her forehead.
Olivia stirred, rubbing her eyes. “Hey,” she said sleepily.
“Good morning, love. How are my two best girls this morning?”
She smiled. “One of us is tired. The other one is running a marathon. Take a guess which is which.”
Alexander laughed. “She’s definitely taking after her mama then.” He leaned down and planted an affectionate kiss on her lips. “I need to head into the office for a quick meeting. I’ll be back in a few hours. Will you be okay?”
“Go. I’ll be fine. I’ll probably be in the same exact position when you get back.”
Alexander raised himself off the bed. “Okay. I’ll see you soon, Mrs. Burnham.”
“I can’t wait, Mr. Burnham.”
He turned to leave.
“Oh, and Mr. Burnham?”
“Yes?” Alexander said, spinning around.
“Happy birthday, Daddy.”
Alexander smiled, leaving Olivia resting in their bed. She soon drifted back off to sleep for a bit before the excruciating pain set in. She raised herself into a sitting position, feeling something sticky between her legs. Looking down, she saw blood.
~~~~~~~~~~
AFTER HIS MEETING, ALEXANDER decided to stop and get sunflowers for Olivia. It was August twenty-fourth, after all. Why break with tradition? Instead of having Martin cart him around, he let him have the day off, hating to ask someone to work on a Sunday when he could easily walk to the office. After the meeting, he strolled through the city streets of Boston, love overwhelming his heart when the vision of Olivia’s pregnant frame flashed through his mind. Stopping at a flower market, he grabbed a beautiful sunflower bouquet before making his way back to his penthouse.
As he approached the front door of his apartment building, he reached into his pocket, suddenly realizing that he had left his cellphone on the nightstand. “Crap,” he said, running to the bank of elevators and pressing his code for the penthouse. He hoped Olivia hadn’t needed anything while he was gone.
When the doors opened, he ran out of the elevator and up the stairs to the bedroom. Olivia was nowhere to be found.
And on her side of the bed was a pool of blood.
“Shit!” he exclaimed, grabbing his cell phone, seeing several missed calls, mostly from Kiera. “FUCK!”
With shaking hands, he called her.
“Alex!” she shouted, answering the call. “You left your phone at home!”
“Don’t you think I know that?! Where’s Olivia?”
“She’s here at M.G.H. Her placenta ruptured. They had to knock her out. You need to get here. They’re getting the baby out.”
“Fuck! I’ll be right there.”
He ran down the stairs and scrambled into an elevator, willing it to move faster. Within thirty minutes, he pulled up out front of M.G.H., rushing to the labor and delivery floor to find out what was going on, the entire time thinki
ng about how nothing good had ever come out of August twenty-fourth.
“Alex!” Kiera shouted when she saw him run through the doors leading to the registration area.
“Kiera! Mo! What’s going on?” he asked nervously, his expression changing when he saw their calm, smiling faces.
She beamed. “You’re a daddy, Alex. Come on.” She grabbed his hand, walking him down a long corridor as he tried to process the fact that he was a father. “Olivia is still knocked out. They had to give her general anesthesia and perform a C-section. She’s a little small considering she was born about three weeks early, but baby and mommy are fine.”
“Damn it. I missed it.”
Kiera laughed. “We all did. No one could be in the room with her. They kicked me out, too.” She stopped in front of a door and gently pushed it open. A nurse sat feeding a bottle to a tiny pink bundle, looking up when she heard the door open.
“Are you the daddy?” she asked.
Alexander’s heart beat faster. Holy crap. I’m a daddy. He simply nodded his head, speechless for the first time in recent history.
“Good. Then I’ll let you do this so she can start to bond with you while Mrs. Burnham sleeps it off.” She got out of the rocking chair and Alexander sat down. “Everyone is okay. It was scary for a minute, but Mommy and baby pulled through wonderfully. May I introduce your daughter.” She placed a small bundle in Alexander’s arms and he held his daughter for the first time, rocking her as she drank from the bottle.
“Am I doing this right?” he asked.
The nurse smiled. “You’re a natural.”
He looked down at his daughter. She wasn’t even an hour old and she already had a full head of dark hair. She kept her eyes closed as she nursed. He rocked back and forth, feeling overwhelmed with love for his Olivia and the little person that they created through their love.
~~~~~~~~~~
OLIVIA WAS DREAMING THE most wonderful dream when she started to hear soft singing. She fluttered her eyes open, staring at comforting pink walls. She gazed over at the far corner of the room where the green-eyed boy sat rocking a little pink bundle, singing a slow version of Isn’t She Lovely. She smiled at how perfect everything was.
