Innocence of Love (35 page)

Calvin walked to the window, screwing up his nose trying to think what he had done, or maybe it was her hormones with feeding Kacey.

A few minutes later Sophie came out the room. He turned around to stare at her, keeping her back toward him. “Sophie,” he said, keeping his voice low, not wishing to think he was in a foul mood, even if his blood pumped furiously around his body.

“Sophie,” he said again. Clearly ignoring him. “Sophie,” he raised his tone.

“What,” she raised her voice back.

“What the heck is the matter with you? Why are you behaving this way towards me? When I went in the bathroom you were fine, and when I came out and you were like the wicked woman…”

“Go away,” she scowled at him.

“No, we need to talk about whatever is bothering you. Now come and sit down and talk like adults and sort the matter out, I cannot deal with tantrums, especially when I have no idea why,” he highlighted walking toward her. He stood feet away her dressed in jeans and baggy T-shirt.

“Fine, and I’m not throwing a tantrum,” she told him. She hurried to the couch where she threw her bottom into the seat and folded her arms, sulking.
She’s in a foul mood!

He felt part one was successful, now he needed to get to the culprit. He immediately sat on the coffee table moving the tea and toast so he could sit opposite her. Their knees only just touching as she turned them both to the right, so they didn’t touch. Her body language was distant, he sensed he was in for some serious fun.

“Okay, what is bothering you?” he asked sighing.

He watched her shrug her nose the opposite way. “Okay…so clearly I have done something wrong and you don’t wish to share it with me, only I am having a serious problem with this. I am engaged to you, we’re going to be married, get a house, have a family and one thing we need to truly start on is informing one another when there is an issue. Because, I cannot mind read. I’m only a bloke and to be honest, I cannot be bothered to play guessing games. So tell me what is troubling you and we will resolve it, even if it’s nothing trivia, it doesn’t matter. I love you,” he reminded her, wanting to reach for her hand, but they were tightly wrapped into her chest.

“Sophie, please, let’s be adults.”

She turned finally, giving him an evil glare; if looks could kill he would be stone dead. “Are you cheating on me?” she said loudly.

“What…are you crazy, only been together six days, jeez, woman,” he scoffed.

“Be honest with me, Calvin, were you in a relationship before I drifted into your life and ruined it?” she snarled.

“What?” he said stunned not believing what he heard. “You have not ruined my life, and no, no I haven’t been in a relationship for years. Yes, I admit I had casual sex, but that was it and that would have been about Christmas time. I’m far too busy to be messing around,” he stated.

“Don’t patronise me, Calvin, I have my daughter to think about,” she said as he watched her glance over to the pram.

“I’m not. I wouldn’t do that. If I didn’t wish to be with you I wouldn’t. I am here, you are here because I love you, and I was not in a relationship before you. Where has this come from?”

“So who is Veronica?” she gritted her teeth.

“A friend, why?” he asked, unsure how on earth she knew about that woman. He hitched his brows not being sure what on earth was going on.

“So why has she called you?” she queried while staring harshly at him.

He reached into his jeans pocket and produced his phone, needing to make sense of the story. He swiped his finger across the screen he went into his call log and saw a call from Veronica the same time he’d been in the shower.

“She called you gorgeous said she wanted to know why you dumped her on Sunday evening? And why you haven’t returned her calls all week,” Sophie added.

He lifted his head to look at her saw her pouting her lips and screwing up her nose like he had been caught.

“We were meeting for a drink, but I cancelled,” he told her truthfully.

“So where were you going when I turned up with Kacey? Ruined your plans did we?” she snarled.

“No you didn’t, and I was going to the local shop to get a bottle of wine, well I was and changed my mind. She has been after me for years, and keeps trying to get into my life,” he informed her.

“Ah right, so why the hell you seeing her, when she’s chasing you and why were you going to see her before bumping into me?” she gritted.

“No, Sophie, you’re getting this wrong. She’s a friend, we socialize together and that is it.”

“Have you ever shagged her?”

“No, never and never would, but she isn’t one to stop trying,” he said, not being sure if he was adding fuel to the fire.

“So you were going out with her to socialize after I had turned you down?” she roared.

“No, yes…no. Sophie, I had no idea what your plans were you didn’t show up and therefore I presumed you were not interested in me…look I needed a drink, it had been one hell of a weekend again.”

She interrupted, “Sorry to make your life hell.”

“Sophie, you’re blowing this all out of proportion,” he added not wanting to go around in circles, he loved her and wanted to be with her. “Look, I have tried for months to make you see how much I love you, but still you kept building walls so I couldn’t get near you. I am sorry, I made arrangements to go for a drink with Veronica, but I cancelled her before you arrived, I realized you were all I wanted and I would fight…please, Sophie, we need to talk to one another as without it we don’t have trust and we need that, please this last week has been the best, well apart from working late to make sure we got up north yesterday. We have so much to look forward to, so let’s. If you have an issue, please come to me…and you to me,” he exclaimed, reaching for her hand.

She glanced up at him, seeing her hesitating thinking about what he had just proposed.

“So you haven’t done anything with her and it was only to have a drink?”

“Yes, that was all. I swear to you. I was…I was lost in thoughts of you and wanted to try and get you out my mind, not nastily, but to try and blank you for a short while, it killed me, Sophie, in here,” he told her hitting his chest beside his heart. “You were all I could think about, it was like you invaded my heart and soul and never going to leave. I was upset you hadn’t turned up…only you did,” he said smiling at her while she gazed into his eyes.

“And you didn’t return her calls.”

“No because I had better things to be doing, she pesters me and gets on my nerves.”

“She called you gorgeous.”

“Always does, it’s her tone for creeping and hoping one day I would change my mind about her.”

“And Veronica, who is she exactly?” Sophie asked him keeping strong eye contact.

“Just a friend, nothing more and nothing less, you have nothing to fear with that woman, she just likes her chances with me, only never going to happen. I had mentioned her to you, when you asked about why I didn’t fancy her…remember? I seem to think it was the time when walking the Shambles and then…well bumped into Tim.” He lowered his head.

“Oh her?”

“Yes.” He smirked. “Now, are we okay?” He reached for her hand. She accepted he held it tightly.

“Yes…sorry…it’s just the way she put it.”

“Yeah, no doubt woman picking my phone up and thought, right, let’s add the knife,” he winked at her. “She can be a handful.”

Calvin wanted to make sure all was good with Sophie, before he called Veronica back and gave her hell and hell he would give.

****

Sophie stared into his eyes wanting so badly to believe him, but memories of Rob came haunting back, leaving her feeling like a nothing.

“You swear, you haven’t done anything?” she asked needing to know.

“Sophie, I swear on my life I haven’t and never will I touch that woman. She isn’t my type, she has tried for years to try and get into my life and each time I have pushed her away. She means nothing, zip zap, nothing. I love you,” he claimed, staring into her eyes. “You and Kacey mean everything and I want to share my future with the pair of you, and maybe in time, I could adopt Kacey and make her my own daughter,” he chimed when she stared at him shocked at what he just announced.

“You want to be Kacey’s father?”

“Yes. I would love to be.”

“But she isn’t yours.”

“I know she isn’t mine biologically but I’ll bring her up like she is my own. It’s up to you whether you tell her the truth that I am not her real father, but I would sure as hell like to be, if of course you will have me? I was thinking once we got married and then we can set up a real family home, at least then Sabastian can be close to his sister and have a house to stay, and play and do all the things he wishes, not only that but he will be with his family…before you jump in, no I am not planning on taking him away from Caroline or Mike,” he announced.

Sophie was pleased he added that bit in, finding it really sweet that he would wish to be in Kacey’s life that way. She had wondered a few times what would happen, about his involvement with Kacey.

“You don’t have to be the biological father to bring her up as one of your own,” he added. Sophie took her time to digest the information.

Kacey started crying. Sophie stood having so much to think about. She picked her up taking her back to the couch with her to try and feed her again. Delighted her daughter this time took.

Calvin went and got her a drink and some fresh breakfast with her stomach growling.

Once baby fed and Sophie had been fed and watered. Calvin sat close talking to her, getting a few issues cleared up. She wanted to trust him, but after everything she’d been through surely it was understandable her feelings were judgemental. She needed to admit Calvin was the best thing for her, he didn’t care about her past, who her daughter’s father was, all he cared about was showing and giving all the love he had. She craved to take it all and run, but feared she wouldn’t get far enough before falling flat on her face.

Her heart felt relaxed. She looked forward to the future. She explained about Rob and how he treated her, before and during her pregnancy.

“But he’s not a true man. No man should treat a woman that way. He clearly had no respect or care for you or your unborn but then, maybe I was brought up with a different attitude. I don’t know his past and don’t really care I have met many people who have turned their lives around, because they wanted to. Anyway, we need to be making tracks to see Sabastian and I have already mentioned to Mum to invite your father for late tea, so we can make our announcement,”

“Are you sure you want to marry me?” Calvin burrowed his brows glaring at her. Sophie knew that look…Of course he wanted to marry her or they wouldn’t be here preparing to announce their engagement to the parents.

Calvin leaned toward her kissing her on the lips.

“There is nothing more in this world that I wish for.”

“I bet Dad will be pleased,” Sophie told him and giggled.

“I’m pretty certain they all will, well my dad knows, but he hasn’t mentioned anything to Mum, he’s good at secrets from her, especially when arranging birthdays and their wedding anniversary. She is terrible as ears dropping.” They laughed. “It’s funny he gets his secretary to arrange everything so Mum isn’t suspicious. Then when she finds out she goes crazy.”

“They have a special relationship,” Sophie added.

“Yes, they do. Very relaxed and never expect much of each other, well accept from Father when working but his company is his world I have never seen him loose the plot, a few times, but all behind closed doors.”

“Do they argue?” she asked, thinking back to her parent’s when they would often have disagreements.

“Not that I have seen, but that’s not to say they haven’t…just not when I have been around and not only that this house is big enough to have a fight in the opposite side of the house and I wouldn’t hear a damn thing.” He chuckled.

Sophie smiled agreeing with him. “But then,” she added. “Isn’t the making up the best bit?” She winked at him.

“In that case I’m going to fight with you every day.” He hitched his brows back.

They were all soon in the car ready to head for York. Sophie had her stomach in knots, unsure how Sabastian would take the news about Mummy and Daddy getting married, she guessed time would tell. Nevertheless, she was certain it would be fine and worrying for nothing.

The journey didn’t take long until they arrived at their house, seeing a large modern new build house, with a large driveway and a well matured established front garden. They were about to knock on the door when Sabastian immediately opened it, seeing his brightly lit face, making her heart melt.

“Hello, Mummy and Daddy,” he called out, making it feel extra special.

Sabastian led the way into the house taking them through while Sophie carried Kacey in her arms. They arrived into the large kitchen diner seeing Caroline and Mike kindly greeting them with large smiles.

“It’s so good to see you both,” Caroline kissed Sophie on either side cheek.

“Same to you.”

“I hope the journey up north wasn’t too daunting for you,” she added.