(Tara's POV)
“Pizza, everyone!” Samantha came inside with two large boxes of pizza. She tiptoed going to the living room, trying not to wake up her son, and carefully placed the boxes in the middle of the table. Eric tossed the fifth toy he wrapped on the side and lay down on the floor.
“This is insane,” He groaned, watching Matthew and Blake as they continued gift wrapping.
I pursed my lips as I watched the two as they seriously wrapped the toys. Matthew tilted his head and smiled smugly at Blake. He seemed to be enjoying the task, while Blake cursed every time Matthew finished one.
I have no idea what Matthew is up to or what he is trying to prove to me. He had completed ten, and Blake had wrapped just nine. Eric was the one who usually competes with him, and he now got frustrated for being slow.
Samantha opened the box and took one slice, and she winked at me. I stood up
(Tara's POV)A smile curved my lips before I opened my eyes. I covered my face with my hands, and I giggled as I felt the heat in my face. We have shared a perfect and wonderful night. I placed my hands in my belly, smiling sweetly and dreamily for my little Blake. His... or her, I giggled again, well his life will be perfect. My baby has the best dad in the world. I slowly opened my eyes and got up in bed. I sighed and then chuckled as I stared at the nightwear that I never got the chance to wear. The smartphone Samantha said was also there. I was all-smiling as I stood up, walked naked in his room, and went to the bathroom.The good thing about having photographic memory is remembering every detail of our lovemaking last night. Even after the shower, my face is still red, and I feel hot, wanting to see him again, loving the idea of having him inside me, claiming me as his.But first things
(Tara's POV)“My God, Tara,” It was Samantha who ran to me when she saw the blood trickling through my palm to the cream-colored carpet. “I told you not to use the cutter,” She said, crying. I was unsure, though, what her tears were for.When I realized the blood was coming from the cut in my hand, I closed my eyes and exhaled a sigh of relief. I fidgeted for a moment, wanting to burst out laughing. I was convinced for a second that I had lost my little Blake. It would have been unbearable.I must have gripped the cutter hard that I did not notice it wounded me in my palm. She went to me and helped me get up. Her tears kept rolling in her cheeks, and she held my hurt hand as she led me to the stairs.It was funny to think that I could not even feel the pain from the cut in my palm. A bitter smile curved my lips as I stopped. I turned my gaze at Samantha. Her eyes were puffy from cr
(Blake's POV)I look at the giant Christmas tree in front of me. Here at home, mom made sure she had her interior designer set the yearly decorations at home, including this tree. Last night, as Tara stood in front of the penthouse's Christmas tree, she excitedly shared with me how they decorate their Christmas tree at home. I swallowed hard, remembering her. How I loved watching her tell me the story, sitting beautifully near the tree as she arranged the gifts under it, and suddenly I wanted to put ornaments in this tree with our happy memories, too.It was then that I realized that it was supposed to be a perfect moment you have with your family, setting up the tree and decorating it while you talk of your happy times together. I took a deep breath, sipping on the glass of wine Mom gave me. If I were given a choice, I would need something strong to make me forget now. After meeting Tara, I r
(Blake's POV)How do you fake a smile? How do you show everyone that you are okay?The weather was perfect, soft clouds were moving in the blue sky, and the temperature was just right. It was not hot, but not chilly. This was a good time for walking on the shore, snorkeling, or my favorite, scuba diving.Matthew and Eric didn’t need an explanation of what had happened. They did not need to ask where Tara was. Showing up with Sadie today could spell out what happened to us like you have to analyze and conclude everything by yourself. Or maybe Samantha had already filled them up with what had transpired yesterday.She was so mad at me, and it was all my fault. She allowed me to go to Australia alone, hoping I would have the guts to break up with Sadie, to break our engagement.“What kind of woman would ask you not to contact her for three long years just because you will be a distraction?
(Blake's POV)“Are you sure you have no other plan except work?” Sadie asked as we all walked to the parking lot.Matthew takes a look at his wristwatch before nodding. “It’s only four,” He answered as he followed Eric.“Matthew, no car?” Samantha called when she noticed his car was not there.“Can’t you see it, Samantha? It’s invisible,” He joked, laughed at her, and then he shook his head. Samantha sneered at him, then focused on looking for her car key. “I didn’t bring a car because I was hoping to visit Nana Shea, but something came up,”She nodded and then tossed her keys at him. “Drive my car, then.”I raised my eyebrows. “How will you go back home?”She frowned at me. “Key,” When I furrowed my forehead, her lips pouted as she pointed to the key I was hol
(Blake's POV)“What’s this, Blake?” Sadie’s eyes were wide, and they glinted with anger. “First, in the car, and now she’s telling me to sleep in this room and not yours?” She hissed at me. “I know she doesn’t like me, but-”I held the doorknob and twisted it to open. “I’m sorry, Sadie, but Samantha’s just following my orders,” I said, walking inside the room. “Look at the bright side, Sadie. This room is way better than spending the night in the hotel,”She rolled her eyes, then looked at the bedroom. She closed the door. “I can’t understand her... nor you...” She tugged my arm to sit in the bed, and I did, thinking she would sit beside me. Sadie stood in front of me, taking off her clothes.“No work for you today, Blake,” She said, unclasping her bra and tossing it on the floor.
(Blake's POV)As soon as I stepped foot in the airport, I could feel the weight in my heart. It has been six months since I left the country, pretending to everyone, to Sadie, that my business trips were unavoidable. I was well aware that I was unjust to her, but it would be even more unfair if I claimed to be in love when I was no longer sure.The bright morning sun shone happily in the sky. Its sunlight shimmered on the crowd, bathed the surroundings, and its warm light promised excellent weather for any occasions ahead, but my heart seemed to have been overcast with dark clouds, and it had never stopped crying for months. Now that my heart is quiet and calm, I think I could face Sadie without comparing her to Tara. It was like I developed my mantra that my brain had to remind my heart every day that Sadie was my first love, my forever love.Matthew greeted me at the airport, but we were quiet until we reached
(Blake's POV)It has been half an hour, and all I did was stare at the pieces of paper on my table. They usually have guides when you buy puzzles, but these were torn into pieces, crumpled, and two papers mixed. I could imagine her anger when she saw Tara’s things in my bedroom.I took a deep breath, thinking about how I could possibly put them together.My head raised when the glass door opened. “I told you, Sam, I don’t want anyone disturbing me today... and that includes you!” I snarled, almost banging the table with my fist. But Samantha is Samantha. She never listened to me at times, especially in this situation. “We know you’re a puzzle expert, Blake, but this isn’t your ordinary puzzle,” Samantha explained as she wiped her tears. “There’s a nice story behind these drawings.” She said, taking half of the papers and walking to t
(Tara's POV)It was a bizarre dream, but I could not remember where I was, except I was walking endlessly on the bridge with Clarice when I heard Bree calling me. When I stopped walking, Clarice seemed to understand. She smiled at me and nodded. I must have walked far because it took me time to reach the end, but I heard them talking about me every day. I listened to Bree as she read stories and sang to me. Whenever I heard Blake’s voice calling me to wake up, telling me how much he loves me, I would run.This morning, Bree woke me up with her song, but I couldn’t open my eyes. When I could finally open my eyelids, it was the god-like face of my fiance that my eyes first laid on. I feasted my eyes on him and thought of the day I saw him at the office with Sadie. It hurt me, but my heart was telling me how much he loved me, and that was enough for me to give us another chance. I closed my eyes again and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of Blake and Bree on the island. Their loud chats
(Blake's POV)It has been a week, but Tara remained unconscious. Jerome would use the term sleeping whenever Bree is around. He is always careful of his words, especially when my daughter’s almond-shaped eyes turn round at words she hardly understands.Fear still crept into my heart of losing her, and the only consolation I have that she would wake up one of these days is that her ventilator support was already taken away. She could breathe without the support of the machine, but when I asked him why she was not waking up, he explained many medical reasons. My heart has one explanation, though. Tara was giving up on me, and what scares me is hearing the words coming from her that she didn’t want me in her life.I watched Bree as she reads her book to her Mom. Her voice has become my alarm sound in the morning. She would sing to her and read her a story. After Stella or Gianna fed her breakfast,
(Blake's POV)For how long I was staring blankly at nowhere, I did not know. My heart was aching much that all I wanted was to be with Tara, but I went out of her room because I felt dying, seeing Tara in her bed, still unconscious, and the beeping of the heart monitoring machine was driving me nuts.I lost the entire day with Tara when I woke up in one of the hospital rooms. I yelled at every nurse who came, hating they put me to sleep. What if Tara woke up and asked for me? No doctor, not even Jerome, could calm me down. Then Nana Shea came into my room, surprising me.“Blake,” She called my name, and I saw myself like I was a little child again. I cried and held onto her when she came to me.“Get a grip, Blake! Tara and Bree need you right now,” Nana Shea said, wiping my tears. “Unless you calm down, they won’t allow you to see Tara. You don’t want to scare Bre
(Blake's POV)Before my eyes could open, the corners of my mouth lifted already. As she snuggled closer to me and held on to me tighter, I felt to be the luckiest man in the world. I kissed her forehead before getting up from the bed slowly. I watched Tara, and with her uneven breathing, I now felt guilty for tiring her out last night. I kissed her shoulder and moved out from the bed slowly, letting her rest.Humming La Vie En Rose, I went down and started picking up our clothes I tossed anywhere last night. Bree will be coming home soon, and I didn’t want to explain why our dresses, especially the underwear were everywhere around the house.When I heard Bree and Jem entering the house, I still had our clothes in my hands, and I had to put the clothes on the couch because Bree ran to me excitedly. I crouched down and opened my arms to her.“Daddy!” She beamed and kissed my cheeks.
(Tara's POV)Slowly, my eyelids opened, and the morning sunshine greeted me. I rolled to my bed and realized I was alone, but my lips curved a sensual smile as I remembered what happened last night.“Show me that good sex you’re saying a while ago, Kitten,” He whispered in a raspy voice as we entered the elevator. His lips curved a playful smile as he pinned me to the wall and kissed me passionately.I never thought that those simple words would turn him on.I grabbed the sheets of my bedcovers, biting my bottom lip now as I recalled how I kissed him with lust and love. I was too angry with Sadie that another side of me came out of my body and soul.“You’re mine, Blake!” I uttered, kissing him and biting his earlobe as I whispered those words. “Every part of you is mine!” I said as I took off his tuxedo and opened the buttons of his dress suit.
(Tara's POV)Being rich must be tiring, I said to myself as I looked around. The beautiful gown I was wearing today, including the shoes and accessories, could feed a family, or maybe an entire community for a week already.The pledges of the guests tonight were overwhelming, and surely the institution benefitting it would be thrilled. They have already exceeded the needed fund of the group for the charity they were supporting. Before I met Blake, all these were only part of my imagination existing only in movies and novels we used to read. Being here made me realize that two worlds were created—one for the rich and one for the poor. Yet one thing is needed to survive in both worlds. You have to be strong.“Shall we dance?” Blake asked, extending his hand to me.I smiled, feeling the relief of finally having Blake with me. He had been busy talking with many people tonight.
(Tara's POV)I stopped by the door, admiring Blake in his black tuxedo. He was too gorgeous that I wished to be selfish tonight, not wanting other women to look at him. “Just to remind you, Blake, this is a charity event, not your wedding yet,” Samantha grinned as she reminded him while fixing his bow tie. Samantha looked beautiful in her red gown with elaborative lace embroidery from top to bottom. Men would surely ogle at her as her long gown was designed with a high-cut halter neck and sheer side panels, but she kept on telling me I must be ready because cameras would be on me today, eyes of every guest would be fixed on me because of curiosity.She tapped his chest and turned him around to see me. She giggled when Blake opened his mouth, but no words came out.I shrugged, smiling sheepishly as I walked to him. “Samantha made me wear this,” I said, blushing.
(Tara's POV)Blake kissed me with a mix of anger and love, but he stopped when I started touching him. It was as if he was burned with my touch, and when he saw me panting after that breathless kiss, his face went pale. His eyes suddenly were in a panic that he got up immediately and helped me sit.“Are you okay?” His eyes were round, and I could recognize the panic and fear overwhelming him.My eyes narrowed, and I looked at him. “I’m okay,” I said, still panting from the kiss.“Can you breathe?” He asked, now pacing in front of me, which he didn’t know stresses me now.“You’re overreacting, Blake,” I uttered as I took my clothes and started getting dressed.He shook his head. “I told you, we won’t do anything until I talked to your doctor until we have you thoroughly check and-”I stood up, now feeli
(Tara's POV)Samantha had brought me a long list of wedding planners she knew, and all I had to do was select the best one. We were about to go back to the office to talk about the charity event we would be attending when Blake startled us as he stormed inside and went straight to the bedroom.“What happened?” Samantha asked, standing up.I shook my head, leaving the magazines and papers on the center table, and we went upstairs.The door was opened wide, and as we stepped inside the bedroom, I could hear movements in the bathroom. My heartbeat was getting crazy at first, but I felt it stopping when we heard Blake screaming in anger.When he came out of the bathroom, his face was red, his eyes were flaring in anger, and he was breathing heavily as he threw everything in his hand. My eyes widened, and my body quivered as I recognized the things he threw in front of me. I gasped when I sa