Vanessa
I walked into the house with Emily in my arms, bringing her to the girl’s room at the end of the second floor. Putting her down on the bed, I kissed her forehead while she smiled with her eyes closed.
“I love you, Mommy,” she said in her sleep, bringing a smile to my face. But I didn’t want to get my hopes high. She could be referring to her biological mother, even if I had accepted to be like one for her.
Candice was already sleeping. The entire day took a toll on her, and she needed that rest. While they caught up on some snooze, I put a sweater on, walking outside, seeing Clay looking at the horses.
I noticed his shoulders were slumped, as if he was giving up, but I a
ClayI couldn’t stop laughing as Candice covered my daughter’s eyes while pulling her out of the room. Vanessa looked at me with her face as red as a tomato. It was funny to see how embarrassed she felt when Emily barged in to see us in bed together.We went to the bathroom and took a quick shower before we joined the girls for breakfast. It was an intimate moment, but not to that point.We lost all our belongings in the fire, and I was glad Vanessa kept all the girl’s things from Katherine’s daughter for Emily. She also surprised me with a box of men’s clothing.“What’s this?” I asked with my eyebrows raised.
VanessaWe arrived at the house, and while Clay and Emily got ready, I joined Candice and John as they prepared some snacks in the kitchen to enjoy a movie.They moved to the living room, and I sat next to Gabriel, kissing his cheek as he smiled at me, showing those beautiful brown eyes I always loved.“How is the most handsome boy in the universe, huh?” I asked, stroking his cheek before I paid attention to the movie. His smile was everything. He was full of life.A few minutes later, they both came down the stairs. Emily looked so adorable in her little dress and Clay was handsome in his dark trousers and white shirt with a tie.&n
ClayHow dare this woman dump that information on my daughter like this? She has no right, and telling her she’s her mother without consulting with me had my blood boiling.Emily looked at me with a confused stare. She hid behind me, holding my arm tight as a way of feeling safe.Kelly was a stranger to her, and it would be hard to convince her otherwise, especially since she found out about her own mother abandoning us for petty reasons.“Who is she, Daddy?” she asked, still hiding behind me. I picked her up in my arms and looked at her with a smile, hiding my anger towards Kelly.“She is the woman that gave you li
VanessaI didn’t wait for Candice to get out of the SUV when I was already at my door. John opened it as he heard us arrive. Without saying a word about what happened today, I hurried to my room.As soon as I made it upstairs, I locked the door, sliding down until I was sitting on the floor, hugging my legs against my chest as I put my head down on my knees.How could I fall for it once again? Why did I have to give my heart so fast, and why did I have to give myself without thinking?“You’re stupid, Vanessa. Forty years old and acting like a freaking teenager in love.” I scolded myself as I felt hot tears fall down my cheeks and on my arms.
Clay“Do you really have to meet her?” Vanessa whispered as we looked at each other with a sleeping Emily in between us. The morning sun had already snuck through the curtains.I looked down at my daughter, pushing a strand of hair away from her forehead as I smiled at her angelic face.“I have to. I need to know what she intends to do with my daughter,” I replied, holding her hand before I kissed her knuckles.“You said, your daughter.”“Yes, Vanessa. She’s my daughter, only. If Kelly thinks she can come back and pretend to be her mother after abandoning her, she’s very well mist
VanessaThe call concerned me. Not because he would be late, but I was curious to see what the sheriff needed him for.I put on a tank top, a pair of black leggings and some sneakers, asking myself if it was the appropriate outfit for horse riding as I paced back and forth, waiting for him to arrive.“If you keep walking in the same spot, you will leave a hole in the floor!” Candice shouted from the kitchen.Another strange thing about this is that she wouldn’t let me into my own kitchen, with the excuse that she was preparing something special for John. What could she be doing for her husband that I couldn’t even go in there?
Clay“Are you ready?” I called the girls from the living room as John and I, along with Gabriel, waited for them to get ready.The festival was today, and the kids were excited about it, especially Emily. This one was one of her favorite things to do, and she was looking forward to showing Gabriel around.They had both gotten acquainted and now considered themselves the best of friends.“Daddy? What’s wrong with the boy?” She had asked me the first time she met him. I explained to her his condition, and she understood he needed a lot of special care. Knowing how active she was, I had to remind her she needed to be careful when playing with or around him.
VanessaThe festival was colorful and fun. There were children running around to their favorite rides and elders waiting for the live music that I was sure would start soon.Emily was excited as she struggled to push Gabriel’s wheelchair, telling him of all the cotton candy and kettle corn they would eat.John offered to help her out, but she politely refused, saying she had it all handled. She was a sweet girl.I was feeling uneasy, seeing everyone’s eyes on us as Clay held my hand in his while we walked around the fairgrounds.“This is going to be so much fun. I can’t remember the last time I wen
ClayAs I sat there, leaning against the chair on our bridal table, I couldn’t help but admire the stunning woman dancing with my daughter. The way their dresses flowed as they twirled around on the dance floor had my heart and soul in total happiness.We had our first dance as husband and wife, but this was topping it. They looked beautiful.“Hello, everyone. Sorry to interrupt this amazing moment, but I wanted to say a few words to the bride and groom.” Candice’s voice was heard on the DJ’s microphone as she walked towards our table while Emily and Vanessa sat down, a big smile on their faces.Holding our hands, I kissed her before we heard the speech her best frie
VanessaFour months!Four months have gone by and I couldn’t be more excited. We finally brought back home our little bundles of joy last month and they looked so healthy and happy.Even visiting them every day at the hospital made me miss them. I had the need to wake up every morning and go straight to their bedroom just to see their sleeping faces before the sun snuck through their colorful curtains.They looked beautiful, and both had dark hair like mine. But they had hazel eyes like their father and made me fall in love with them even more.Our wedding didn’t take place the month after they were born, but
ClayI was almost home when I got a call from the hospital, letting me know about the altercation between Kelly and Candice in Vanessa’s room.Now I was here, holding her hand while Candice knitted with a frown on her face. I knew she still felt guilty.“Why don’t you go back home? I’ll stay here and maybe they’ll lend me some clothes so I can take a shower,” I said. She looked at Vanessa, who smiled at her, and nodded, knowing it was best if she did.I called Lorena and Katherine to stay with Emily and I would let them know when we would be home.Lorena wanted to visit her daughter, but it was bes
VanessaI wasn’t sure for how long I was out after talking to Clay, but when I opened my eyes and found myself alone in my room, panic rose. Looking around the place, I tried to search for him, but he wasn’t there either.My abdomen hurt, and it was sensitive to the touch, making me realize this is how my babies were born.My babies, where are they?I hit the button to call the nurse, fear creeping over me as the last thing I remembered was kissing them before they took them away.“Hello, Miss Harper. Glad to see you’re awake,” she said, walking in to check my vitals.
ClayI couldn’t believe it was happening again, and this time there was no turning back. The babies were either going to be born or lose their little lives.As I paced back and forth, I could hear the footsteps of the nurses going through the double doors, making me think the worst.The doctor arrived, and he quickly made his way through the same doors at the same time a nurse came outside.“We’re ready for you, Dad,” she said, urging me to the room and preparing me to be by Vanessa’s side. They put on some scrubs on me, a mask and a cap before gesturing to me to sit on a stool right next to her.&
Vanessa“Emily will be here any minute. Let’s get this going,” I said as Clay hung a Happy Birthday banner behind the table where the cake would be.The entire house was decorated nicely, with balloons all over the living room, confetti spread around the floor, which I would have to sweep later, and even the horses were ready with saddles to give the kids a ride.Clay had been working hard these past few months to get our business going.Yes, our business. Because now that we were going to get married, we would share everything.“Hello!” Candice walked in with a white box in her hands, putting it on the table
ClayVanessa’s Mom had been sent from heaven. She’s helped her when I’m not here and helped with Emily’s care as well.Months have gone by and now Vanessa was six months along in her pregnancy. Emily started her first grade and soon we would be celebrating her sixth birthday as well.Candice moved out to her house, and John had joined her not long after, which made her happy.One thing I still had in mind was Rita. Pete had given me news about her. As soon as they had evidence about her fraudulent transactions, they went to pick her up at her house, but she had fled.&ldquo
Vanessa“What are you doing here?” I asked, holding myself from hugging her. I have missed her, but I was also hurt that she didn’t even speak on my behalf when Dad fired me from the company. Clay held me by the waist, supporting me, and I was grateful because I needed it.“I came to see how you were doing,” she said, looking down at the already big bump on my belly. “But I see you’re doing well. How far along are you?”I looked down with a smile, rubbing my belly, before I looked back at her.“I’m still three months, almost four.”“Wow, you really are show
ClayI opened my eyes to see Vanessa sitting up, hugging herself and trembling. All I could see were her tears streaming down her cheeks, and that worried me.“Baby, are you okay?” I kissed her shoulder, her skin feeling cold.“I’ll be fine. It was just a bad dream,” she whispered as she slowly got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.I followed her, but didn’t dare go in, so I stood by the door and knocked.“Tell me, what happened?” I asked, expecting an answer from her. There was just silence, but I could hear a muffled sob coming from behind the door. Hoping it was unlocked, I turned the knob and walked in, seeing her sitting on the toilet with a tissue