Clay
As I was fixing the pipe on the Landon’s shower, Lucy came into the bathroom with a smile on her face, carrying a jar of sweet iced tea. She served some in a glass and sat it on the sink, smiling at me shyly while putting her hair behind her ear.
“I wanted to thank you for not pressing charges against me, even though I probably deserved to be arrested. But it means a lot that you forgive me and that I can move on,” she said, her eyes full of hope as I sat up and grabbed the glass with the delicious sweet drink.
“I forgive you, Lucy. But like I told Mark, I can’t have you anywhere near me or my family. Including Vanessa.”
She nodded, understanding my request. &ld
VanessaIt was such a wonderful evening. Clay had really gone above and beyond to make this a moment to remember.As we sat there, him against the pillows, while my back was pressed against his chest, both our bodies naked under the extra blanket he brought, we finally enjoyed our now cold dinner.“Thank you,” I whispered, turning my head to the side and rubbing my nose against his jawline. “It was a beautiful proposal.”Clay chuckled, rubbing my arms as I cut a piece of the steak and fed it to him, watching his Adam’s apple bob while he swallowed it.“I’m the luckiest woman in the world.&rdq
ClayI paced back and forth, waiting for any news about Vanessa and our babies. It was frustrating not to know anything as they worked with her there.My phone buzzed, and Sarah’s face appeared on the screen. She made sure to put her picture there, making me chuckle at her insistence the other day when we were celebrating the victory in the court hearing.“You need to have me on your phone so you remember who your beautiful sister is,” she had said, making Vanessa laugh, almost choking on her food. I loved that crazy girl.Hitting the green answer button, I put the phone in my ear, taking a deep breath so I didn’t brea
Vanessa“Here we go. Slowly,” Clay said as he helped me up the stairs.“Love, don’t exaggerate. I can go at a normal pace.” I chuckled, but he was not having it. His serious expression said it all.“You almost lost the babies, and it’s not the first time you find yourself and them in danger. So, I apologize for worrying.”He sat me down in bed, taking my shoes off and helping me lay back before tucking me under the blanket.I smiled, knowing that with him, I wouldn’t have to worry about being unhappy, but I had to be careful about making him upset. This side of Clay was not to my liking, and he was right to feel this way.He’s a
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
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
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“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
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.&
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