With Jenny out of town for the weekend at a photography seminar, Marie and I have the penthouse to ourselves. I’d decided to take her out to one of my favorite restaurants out in Jersey City. It’s a good choice because even though New York is a big town, you never know who you’re going to run into. Jersey is far enough from home that the chances of going unrecognized are far higher.
“Dinner was delicious,” she says demurely, glancing over her shoulder.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” I can’t take my eyes off of Marie. She’s always been beautiful, but tonight, she reminds me of a beauty queen, like she could be a contestant for Miss Universe. I move the curvy brunette’s hair to the side and kiss the back of her sweetly scented neck. She giggles and pushes me off of her playfully. The moonlight does her justice, illuminating her goddess-like exterior in the darkness of the night. After a night of sharing light conversation and dessert by the water, I’m ready to get her home for some alone time.
I race through traffic, trying to make it back to Manhattan. It’s the end of the semester, and Marie and I only have a few more nights together before she goes back to France. That thought makes my heart plummet. What the hell. How can this be happening? I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in years … no, decades. And now, she’s going away and taking it all from me?
So I vow to treasure what time we have left. This weekend should be something special. It’s the first time we’ve had the apartment to ourselves and the last weekend we get to spend together. I don’t want to waste a second of our valuable time together. She places her delicate hand on my shoulder. “Thank you for tonight, Chris. This was the best date I’ve ever been on.”
“I promise you’ll remember this night for the rest of your life,” I kiss her soft, delicate hand. In a short amount of time, Marie and I have fallen in love. But now, the deep affection we’ve developed for each other is being ripped away. The injustice stings, and I vow again to make the most of every moment.
But a smile creeps over my face as I unlock the door to our home, anticipating Marie’s delighted shock. I need her to know that no matter how far away she is, my heart will remain true to her. She gasps at the sight of the rose petals decorating the hardwood floor. “You did this for me?” she asks.
“Of course. Anything for you,” I rumble while popping open a bottle of champagne to fill two flutes with the bubbly. Jenny comes home first thing tomorrow morning. I never thought I’d say this, but I wish my daughter would stay away so that Marie and I could have more time together. The sweet brunette takes a delicate sip.
“The bubbles tickle my nose,” she giggles.
“You’ll get used to it,” I rasp. The tight red dress hugging her body is driving me crazy. I start to get a hard on, but then I notice the sadness in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” I ask. I hold her in my arms to comfort her.
“I’m sorry, Chris,” she sniffles. “This whole weekend has been perfect. Don’t mind me.” I gather her face in my hands and stare into her caramel eyes.
“Tell me what’s wrong, sweetheart,” is my gentle command.
“It’s just,” she sobs. “I’m sad that I have to leave you.” A tear streams down her cheek. I gently brush it away with my thumb as a lump develops in my throat. I understand her sadness. It’s the same sadness I’ve been carrying around for weeks now.
“What if we never see each other again?” she asks in a broken voice.
“Don’t say that,” I reply gruffly. Of course, Marie might be right, but I can’t let her know that. Because even after she graduates, it still might not be acceptable for us to be together. After all, the beginnings of our romance weren’t exactly permissible. And what will my daughter think? Jenny would find out that her dad’s been sleeping with her best friend this entire time, which is sure to crush her. How we’ve managed to keep it from her for this long is beyond me, to tell the truth. A few times, I was certain she heard our passionate love making, but my daughter never seemed to notice. She’s had her head in the clouds with Jake in the picture, and thank God for that.
So yes, for the last six months, Marie and I have hidden our romance from everyone in our lives. I’ve had to pretend to be nothing more than a father figure to her, even though it kills me to do so. She weeps as I hold her in my arms. “I don’t want to leave you,” she says in a broken voice.
“I don’t want you to go,” I murmur while kissing her forehead. I can’t live without her in my life. I need to be with her, and suddenly, an idea pops into my head. It might be crazy, but at this point, I’ll do anything to save what we have. “Don’t go.”
“What?” she looks up at me with confusion in her eyes.
“Stay here in New York with me.”
She shakes her head. “Chris, what about my family? And school?”
“You can visit them whenever you want. Just say the word, and I’ll have you on the next flight to France, as long as you always come back home to me. And you can graduate from Bradford with Jenny.”
Marie’s looking at me like I’m crazy.
“But what will Jenny say? And how will we explain to her and the school why I’m staying here for another semester? Can I even stay for another semester at Bradford? Is it possible?” I hadn’t thought that far ahead, to be honest. This was a spontaneous suggestion in a moment of inspiration. But she’s right. It would be suspicious for Marie to stay another semester because what possible grounds would she have for staying?
“We’ll figure it out together,” I say gruffly. “Don’t worry.”
“Chris.” Her eyes fill with doubt. “I don’t know if this will work. I don’t want Jenny to find out and hate both of us. No one will accept our relationship, and I don’t want to ruin your reputation either.”
“Screw my reputation. All I care about is you. We can break the news to Jenny after you both graduate. We haven’t done anything wrong; we’re both adults.”
Marie sighs. “We’ve been lying to her, Chris,” she says gently, and she’s right. If Jenny finds out the truth, the betrayal will be enormous.
“We’ll have to make her understand somehow.” I seize her small hand in my big one. “Marie, I won’t live without you. I can’t. I’ve been living with blinders on for decades now, and I can’t put them back on. Not now, not ever again. I don’t care what society thinks about our relationship. I love you, and we’ll make this work somehow, sweetheart,” I desperately vow.
“Chris,” she mewls before kissing me. “I love you too, and I want this to work so bad.” We gaze into each other’s eyes, completely oblivious to the world around us. Nothing else matters except her.
But then, a blood-curling shriek penetrates the glittery haze.
“Dad, what are you doing?!” Jenny’s scream breaks our gaze. Fuck! What is she doing here? She was supposed to be gone all weekend, so what is she doing back so soon? The shock and horror in her eyes breaks my heart as my daughter literally crumples to the ground.
“Jenny!” Marie screams. I rush over to my daughter and cradle her body in my arms. “She’s fainted!”
“Jenny, wake up.” I gently tap her cheek to rouse her, but she’s out like a light. Guilt turns my stomach as my daughter lies unconscious in my arms. What have I done? Oh fuck.
And now, there’s no way I can hide the truth from Jenny anymore. She knows. And even worse? Seeing Marie and I together put my daughter into such a state of shock that she fainted, completely dead to the world. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I’m on the brink of losing both of the women in my life … so what do I do now?
Chapter Fifteen
Marie
Jenny lies motionless in Chris’s arms, and I can’t help but feel like it’s all my fault. None of this should have happened. Not that first kiss, and not our final date. If I hadn’t crossed the line, Mr. Jones would never have kissed me that first night. But I didn’t know! I didn’t know this would be the outcome of my innocent crush, and now, Jenny’s absolutely devastated.
Her father shakes her gen
tly, trying to wake her. I want her to be okay, but I dread the moment when she does wake up. She’ll probably call me a whore or a slut for sleeping with her father. That’s how I would feel if I were in her place. Plus, there’s no way she’ll ever agree to letting me stay here for another semester. She’ll probably pack my bags for me and drive me to the airport herself. Panic overwhelms my frame. I’ve lost my one true friend here in America, all because I fell in love with her father.
“Chris, what are we going to do? She’s not waking up.”
He gently nudges her again. “Wake up, sweetie. Come on.”
“Did she hit her head?” I ask, my voice rising uncontrollably.
“No, I don’t think so,” he rumbles, his eyes fixed on his daughter’s expression. She looks like she’s sleeping peacefully, and then suddenly, there’s a flutter of lashes. She’s alive! We both let out a gust of air, feeling relieved.
“Jenny, can you hear me?” her father asks gently.
Slowly, she sits upright.
“Yes,” she moans, holding the side of her head. “Ouch! What happened?” My panic subsides. She doesn’t remember.
“You fainted,” I say. She stares at me for a bit and then looks back and forth between Chris and me.
“Are you two a thing?” All of my hope dissipates. Oh no. She does remember. My mouth becomes dry, and my eyes fill with tears.
“Please, Jenny, it’s not what you think.”
My friend eyes me with contempt.
“Then what is it?” she asks sarcastically. “Do host fathers just lovingly kiss the girls staying with them? Because I’m not dumb or blind.”
“Of course not,” I begin, but then I’m cut off by Chris.
“It’s not her fault, Jenny. It’s mine,” Chris says sternly. “If you’re going to be mad at anyone, let it be me. I’m older, and this is on me.”
But Jenny won’t listen.
“How long has this been going on?” my friend demands. I lower my head in shame. I can’t get the words out. I can’t tell Jenny I’ve been making love to her father since the very first week I got here. “What’s going on between you two? Tell me now,” she demands. I can hear the outrage in her voice.
“We’ve been sneaking around behind your back this entire time,” I confess, my voice breaking slightly. “I’m so sorry.”
Chris takes the reins again.
“Jenny, I’m sorry you had to find out this way, but Marie and I are in love.”
“In love?” she sputters. Jenny seems like she’s in utter disbelief. My stomach turns as I think about the hate that must be festering inside her chest.
“Yes, we’re in love,” he says firmly, his blue eyes calm, cool, and collected. “And we plan on spending the rest of our lives together.”
The statement hangs in the air heavily, the room silent. My heart races, but it feels like time has slowed down. Is this true? Will we be together? It seems like his daughter is pondering the circumstances.
“Are you sure?” she asks slowly, eyeing us askance. “You know that a lot of people are going to be really hella pissed if they find out.”
“I know,” says Chris calmly. “But it’s nothing that we can’t overcome. Bradford, Marie’s parents, and all of those folks have valid concerns. But it doesn’t mean that Marie and I shouldn’t be together.”
Jenny’s still skeptical. “But what are you going to say? How are you going to explain this?”
A seed begins to blossom in my chest. Because now, Jenny’s words make it seem like there’s an “us” against “them,” and that she’s squarely with us on the “us” side. Could it be that Chris’ daughter might be okay with this?
The alpha male nods.
“I haven’t thought of a solution quite yet,” he says calmly. “But I will. We will. Together.”
It’s unclear who the “we” refers to. Is it just me and Chris, or is it me, Chris, and Jenny? But my friend nods slowly.
“Well, if you’re happy, then I guess I can live with it,” she says carefully. “I haven’t seen you really happy for so long, Dad. And the other women you dated? Well, that’s better left unsaid. I guess if this is how it’s meant to be….”
Her voice trails off as I grab her in a tight hug.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice muffled with emotion and feeling. “Thank you for being happy for us. That means the world to me.”
Chris pats his daughter gently on the shoulder too.
“I’m glad you’re interested in my happiness, sweetie,” he says wryly. “I didn’t know you cared.”
And once she’s disentangled herself from me, Jenny snorts, pushing her brown hair back.
“Of course I care, Dad! I know that it’s usually you taking care of me, but I care about you too. So if this is what makes you happy, then I say go for it.”
Mon Dieu, this is such a turnaround! I blink back tears of joy. I’m grateful that Jenny’s had this change of heart, and I pull her to me in a hug once again.
“Thank you,” is my fierce whisper.
She laughs then, a joyous, lighthearted sound.
“So, are you going to be my stepmom now? Is that how this works? Yuck, that sounds weird,” she says drolly, making a face.
And I pull back, astonished at the thought. Marriage never occurred to me, but yes, I guess if I married Chris, I would technically be her stepmom. It sounds strange, but at the same time, also oddly okay. I would love to be a part of this family unit in whatever way, shape, or form that I can.
Chris surprises both of us then.
“We haven’t discussed that quite yet, Jen, but yes, I think Marie would make a wonderful stepmom, wouldn’t she? And I think she would make a wonderful mother, too,” he says with a heated look my way. Suddenly, I know that Chris knows. Because just this morning, I took a pregnancy test in my private bathroom, and it came back positive. I was shocked and surprised, but most of all elated. I would have a baby to remind me of this man always, even if I hadn’t yet worked up the courage to tell him.
But now, it’s not a problem at all. I can tell from the fierce look in my man’s eyes that he wants this child and that he wants me. He’s going to make this work because I’m not just an exchange student anymore … I’m the love of his life and the mother of his child.
Epilogue
Marie
Seven months later …
My textbook slips out of my hand and hits the ground with a thump. I try to bend over to pick it up, but my protruding belly stops me.
“I’ve got that for you, Miss LeTour,” the doorman says cheerfully while bending over for the book. He hands it to me. “You’re looking absolutely radiant today, ma’am.”
“Thank you,” I say with a smile. I never thought I’d be considered a ma’am, but then again, a lot of things have happened that I never expected.
Elmer smiles cheerfully while holding the large glass door open.
“Please, give Mr. Jones my best regards,” he says respectfully.
“I will. Have a great day,” I say with a gentle smile. And with that, I’m off to the elevators. It feels right to be here, publicly acknowledged as the lady of the house. But it hasn’t been easy. At first, my relationship with Chris was a shock to everyone, and I mean everyone. A love affair like ours was viewed as scandaleux. After all, what kind of exchange student ends up dating her host dad? My parents hopped on a plane from France, and the Bradford administrators wanted me to move out immediately.
But we remained steadfast. Nothing we had done was against the law, and Chris drew the line.
“I’ll put her up in a hotel room, if that’s what you want, but she’s carrying my child,” he said sternly. “She goes nowhere, least of all on a plane.”
And to our grateful relief, gradually, the shock died down. Sure, there was some vengeful gossip at first, but they always find something new to latch onto. After all, in New York, there’s always something more scandalous going on, whether it’s the latest financial scam or sexual haras
sment dust-up.
So now, we’re accepted as a respectable couple in our community, believe it or not. We no longer have to hide our relationship from anyone, and we are able to wear our love on the outside for all to see.
Plus, I love being pregnant with our daughter because she makes me glow from the inside out. But I’m always exhausted. After a long day of class, I just want to rest with my feet up while paging through my textbooks. Chris has made this dream come true as well. I’m taking courses at a community college here in Manhattan, with the goal of becoming a professional botanist one day.
The lights are on when I walk into the penthouse. It’s quiet. Chris should still be at work, and Jenny is away at school in California. She’s studying photography at one of the top art institutes in the country, loving the California weather and especially loving the California boys. She’s been on a ton of dates since school started and has really established a new life for herself. She calls once a week to check on us, and she’s extremely excited about the baby. Let’s just say, Jenny can’t wait to have a sibling, even if she’ll be almost twenty years younger.
I cautiously walk down the hallway with my hand on my belly.
“Chris?” I call out tentatively.
To my surprise, a low rumble replies, “I’m in the bedroom.”
“I thought you were at work,” I say as I lumber into the room.
But the surprise is on me. He stands in the middle of our room holding a bouquet of deep red roses.
“Oh honey, they’re beautiful!” I gasp.
“For my gorgeous girl,” he says, those perfectly-molded lips reaching for mine in a kiss. I place his hand on my stomach as Chloe kicks. She must be getting chills from her daddy’s kisses too. He presses his lips against my stomach, sighing blissfully.
“I can’t wait to meet you, baby girl,” is his low rumble. “Daddy loves you already.”
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