Invitation to Love (22 page)

“I’m
glad. Mummie, can we call Michael daddy?”

Her
eyes widened. “What?”

“He
asked me and Remi if we want to. He said he loves us, and wants to adopt us. He
told us to think about it.”

“When
did he say all of this?”

Rachel
shrugged. “Before we went away to Aunt Nora’s.”

“I
see,” she murmured.

Before
Karen came back into his life. Does he still mean it? She willed her tears back
as she looked at them. How can she tell them that he may have other plans now?
That soon they’ll be going back to Nashville to live without him? No—let him
tell them. Let him break the news why they’re no longer going to be a family,
and why he can’t be their father.

“Is
it all right, Mummie? Can we call him daddy?”

The
yearning in both pairs of eyes had her gathering them in her arms and holding
them close. “If it means that much to you—yes.”

During
dinner that night, the girls talked eagerly of their first day of school tomorrow.
Afterwards, they cleared the dining table then she took them upstairs to take a
bath. They watched at a little TV, went over the rules of conduct once more,
then she sent them to their rooms to get their clothes ready. They practically
bounced all the way upstairs. She turned the television off in the living room,
and was on her way to check on them when the doorbell rang. Her spirits lifted
somewhat at a friendly face for once.

“David,
come on in.”

“Hi,
Taryn.”

“Michael’s
not here,” she closed the behind him.

“I
know. I came to see you.”

“How
nice. Come on in,” she walked ahead of him into the living room, hoping that
his visit would cheer her up some. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Okay,
I guess. The question is, how are you?”

Her
brows crimped. “What do you mean?”

“I
heard about Karen. Raven told me.”

She
glanced away to hide the soreness that caused. “I’m sure the entire office has
heard she’s back by now.”

“I’m
sorry, Taryn,” he stepped closer, his mouth set in a pitiable smile.

“Why
are
you
sorry?”

“Because,
of what you must be going through right now. Raven told me that  Karen has he
sights on getting Michael back. Did you know that?”

“I—I
guessed as much.”

“Do
you think he’ll go back to her? The way Raven’s going in, it looks as if he
will.”

“Don’t
know,” she shrugged. “Of course, if The Great Raven says it.”

“Taryn,”
his touch on her arm coaxed her to look up at him. “What would you say if I
told you how I feel about you, and want you to come away with me?”

The
question hit her so hard, she reeled back. His hands came up and steadied her.

“Are
you all right?”

“Yes,
I’m fine. David, you can’t mean that.”

“I
do, Taryn. I’ve never been so serious about anything or anyone in my life.
You’re special. I saw that from the moment I walked into Michael’s office that
day. Now, it looks as if there may be a chance for us.”

“A
chance?  Why would you think something like that? There can be no chance, or
anything between us. Surely, you must know…”

“Why?
Because, you’re waiting for him to decide? Hoping he’ll come back to you?”

“David,”
she turned away.

He
took her by the arm and turned her back around. “Karen came into the office a
few days ago. Ever since then, he’s been leaving every day around noon. You
know as well as I do where he’s going—and who he’s with.”

She
blinked at the tears forming.

“Taryn,”
he stroked her cheek. “Come away with me, you and the girls. Let me save you
from the grief he’s been putting you through.”

She
could see his offer was given in all sincerity, and his knight-in-shining-armor
is a well appreciated gesture. “I couldn’t possibly…”

He
jerked her hand against him, causing her to gasp. “Taryn, please,” he implored
before seizing her mouth in a desperate kiss.

She
struggled loose and pushed him back. “David, what are you doing?”

“Don’t
you understand what I’m asking?” he reached out for her. “I’m willing to give
up everything—for you.”

She
slapped his hand away. “Well, don’t. And I think you’d better go.”

“Leave
my Momma alone,” Remi came running into the room and began pounding on his leg
with her tiny fists.

David
stood back with a bewildered look to his face. Remi ran to her mother and
locked her arms around her waist.

Taryn
put her arms around her and comforted her. “You’ve obviously got the wrong idea
about us. Just go. Please.”

He
stood dazed with his hand to his head. “I’m—I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.” He
swung around and walked out.

“Are
you all right, Remi?” she knelt down to her.

“Did
he hurt you, Momma?” her eyes were welling with tears.

“No,
he didn’t, thanks to you,” she pulled her in her arms and hugged her. “Now,
let’s get to bed.”

Rachel
was standing at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes wide with fear. Taryn hugged
her and took them back up to their rooms. After reminding Rachel of the
excitement of tomorrow, she finally got her settled down enough to sleep. She
then took Remi to her room and helped her get under the covers.

“Remi,”
she pulled the sheets over her and sat on the side of the mattress. “You can’t
tell Michael what happened tonight. O.k.?”

“But,
why? David should be punished for what he did.”

“He
didn’t really do anything, honey,” she smoothed at her curls. “He’s sorry, and
it won’t happen again. Michael’s got a lot on his mind, right now. We don’t
want to upset him, do we?”

Remi
reflected a little bit before moving her head from side to side against her
pillow.

“Promise
me you won’t tell him.”

“I
promise,” she exhaled after a thoughtful pause. Taryn bent over and kissed her
on the cheek. “That’s my girl. Now, try and get some sleep. You have a busy day
tomorrow.”

She
went back downstairs to start the dishwasher, and put the rest of dinner in the
refrigerator. As she was turning off the back lights, she pondered over what
Michael had once stated. He was right about of couple of things: David’s attraction
for her, and how she had been feeding it unintentionally by being too friendly
with him. She admits his attraction, but would have never guessed he felt so strongly
as to jeopardize his career for her.

She
was strolling down the hallway and was almost to the stairs when the front door
opened and Michael walked in. She could have kicked herself for having been so
slow; She’s usually in the safety of her room by now. He stopped short at
seeing her standing there. She wanted to race upstairs, out of his way, but his
eyes held her rooted.

“Taryn,”
he shut the door.

“Michael,”
she peered down at the briefcase in his hand and wondered why he even bothered
to carry it around. Does he really believe he’s fooling her? “Just coming from
the office, I see.”

His expression
hardened as he walked close to her. “Are the girls in bed?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t
tomorrow the first day of school?”

“Yes.”

“I
rearranged my schedule so we could all go together and meet their teachers.”

She
was almost moved by that, but then remembered him and Karen—together. “Really,
you don’t have to. I’m sure there are other places you’d rather be.”

“Where
I would like to be is with them on their first day…” he stopped, closed his
eyes, and stood silent for a moment. “Do you want to take everything away from
me?”

She
could see she’s ridden and bucked his patience to the limits from that worn
anger in his eyes. So, she gave up and mumbled. “We leave around eight.”

He
grazed passed her and mounted the stairs, leaving her standing there in wounded
silence long after he turned the corner. A lone thought urged her to just turn
out the lights, and go to bed. She wandered into the living room, only to find
herself slumping to the sofa. How can he accuse her of taking everything away,
when he’s the one about to destroy the life they began by going back to Karen.
She blew hard—trying to think is becoming difficult. Every part of her is
tired, and her head is thumping. She rose to get something for her growing
headache when she heard footsteps beating down the stairs. She braced herself
as he marched toward her.

“What
was David doing here?”

She
swallowed hard. “What did Remi say?”

“Never
mind,” he stepped closer. “Just tell me what he was doing here.”

“Nothing,
Michael. He heard about Karen and was concerned.”

“Was
he now.” His eyes darted up and down the length of her. “Did he ask you to go
away with him so he can protect you from my betrayal? I see,” he hissed when
she didn’t bother to answer. “Did he touch you?”

The
question chilled her stiff. Reasoning warned her against answering that. “What’s
the point in…”

“Tell
me,” his voice thundered through the house, causing her to flinch. “Did he
touch you?”

She
held her hand up to calm him. “He didn’t mean anything by it.”

“The
hell he didn’t,” his bruised gaze studied every inch of her face. Finally, he
swung around and stormed for the door.

“Michael,”
she called just as he grabbed the doorknob.

He
stood for a spine-chilling second before turning to glare at her.

“Where
are you going?”

“Where
do you think?”

“Why,
Michael?” she walked half-way to him. “Since Karen’s been back, you’ve had
nothing to do with me. Everyone knows you’ve been seeing her. And, now you’re
ready to go after David for a harmless kiss that meant nothing to me? That’s
rather hypocritical, don’t you think?”

He
tilted his head to one side and regarded her with a look so close to breaking
him, she shuttered. “Damn you,” he whispered and slammed out.

“Michael,
wait,” she rushed to the door.

“Momma.”

She
halted in her tracks and looked over to Remi and Rachel standing a few stairs up
holding onto one another. She charged toward them, and lifted Remi to the
floor. “You told him, didn’t you?”

“No,
Momma, I didn’t,” she shook her head wildly. “I didn’t tell him, honest.”

“Don’t
lie to me, Remi. You promised you wouldn’t.”

“But,
you didn’t make me promise, Mummie.”

Taryn
looked up to view the frightened figure, tears ready to fall, her small hands clutching
the hem of her gown.

“David
did a bad thing,” her voice trembled. “And, you always say bad people should be
punished for what they do.”

Her
displeasure instantly yielded to overwhelming warmth. Just as they tried with
Colin, Remi and Rachel were protecting her the only way they knew how.

Taryn
held her arm out. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Rachel
ran down, and she huddled them to her. It took some persuasion, but she finally
got them settled back in their beds, and talked them into getting some sleep.
But, sleep was the last thing on her mind. Visions of Michal going after David
kept her pacing the living room floor. Michael was livid, to say the least. If
she had David’s number, she’d call him right now and warn him. The pacing was
getting to her, so she curled up on the couch and just stared at the huge,
black screen of the TV. Why did he get so angry because David was misguided and
kissed her? He has Karen. Is it pride in what others might think if word of it
ever got out? After all, they’re still married; And ,there’s still that image
he has to portray in front of his clients. If the papers ever found out about
their troubled marriage…

Just
then, the front door opened. Taryn stood quickly to her feet and waited. When
Michael entered, she exhaled a sigh of relief that he was in one piece. Except
for his shirt being stretched out of place, there were no signs of bruises anywhere.
He didn’t even look her way as he closed the door and headed for the stairs.

“Michael,”
she hurried to him.

He
stopped half-way and turned around.

“I—I
was worried.”

“For
whom? Me or David?”

His
sarcasm stung, but she let it pass. “What did you do to him?”

“What
do you think I did, Taryn?” was his bitter response. “He approached my wife
with foolish thoughts of her going away with him. And he touched her. He’ll be
out of it for a couple of days. Maybe, his landlord will find him and ship him
back to his family in Australia.”

Despite
that ring of anger surrounding him, she wanted to go and put her arms around
him, and confess her love. (And yet, it’s not her he wants to hear it from, is
it?) She wrapped her arms around herself and tuned away from that gleam of
triumph in his eyes.