Learning to Forgive (10 page)

Chapter Ten

“So
you’re going away?
For how long?”
Chris asked.

“I
don’t know, son. I’d be happy to spend the rest of my life there,” David said,
watching Molly pull the suitcases into the hall. He stood in the study talking
with his matchmaking son. “How are things with Erica?”

“Fine.
Her sister is living in her old
apartment. She had a rough life, but Trent is helping her. They seem to be
hitting it off.
Trent and Elizabeth.”

“Good.
I’ve never seen that boy with a woman. I hope it works out for everyone,” David
said. He was nervous. This was the first time he’d be completely alone with his
wife. How did he prove to her he loved her? Saying the words was a damn lot
easier than actually doing it.

“Are
you nervous?” Chris asked.

“How
do you know?”

“Dad,
just because I’m younger than you doesn’t mean I haven’t been in love. Think
about it. You know Molly. You’ve been married for twenty-five years. You loved
her before now, and you know her. Don’t over-think everything.”

“I
can’t believe I’m taking advice from a boy I use to change nappies on.”

“Bad image, Dad.
Bad image.
Besides, I’m the one with the experience. Learn
from the pro.”

David
mumbled over the line. He couldn’t believe he was taking advice from his son.
It was weird, and he didn’t like it. He was an old man for crying out loud. Surely
he’d be able to win Molly on his own.

“Who’s
driving you?”

“Blaze
sent someone over.”

“Good,
the last thing we need is for you to have a heart attack because of road rage.”

Molly
stood in the doorway, smiling at him.

“I’ve
got to go now, son. Molly is waiting, and if I don’t get a move on she’ll start
glaring.”

“Good
luck, Dad. Oh and don’t forget protection. I always wanted to say that to you,”
Chris said, chuckling.

David
felt his cheeks go bright red. He tried to reply, but his son had already hung
up.

“I
take it from that look Chris has been cheeky.” She walked into the room, moving
toward him. David admired the sway of her hips. Age had done nothing to her
natural sensuality. She always looked good.

Molly
fiddled with the collar of his shirt.

“Yes,
the boy has always been cheeky,” he said.

“He
takes after his father. Besides, you shouldn’t be taking tips off anyone,
David. You are the original Sinclair.” She winked at him then kissed his cheek.

He
laughed, loving her saucy behaviour.

“We
better get going. I want to have a great deal of time looking around the
cottage.

“Good.”
He leaned down, brushing her lips across hers. David felt her shiver. He
wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

She
gasped, her eyes dilating.

“Even
after all this time, I’ve still got it,” he said.

Molly
went onto her toes to whisper in his ear. “You never lost it.”

Before
he could ask her anything else, she pulled away, taking him with her. She led
him out of the house. While she climbed into the back of the car, he took one
last look at the house.

For
the first time he didn’t feel bound by an old curse or prediction. He wasn’t
destined to love only one woman. Isabella was merely the first woman he had loved
and married. Molly was the woman who owned his heart. He locked the door then
placed the key in his pocket.

He
didn’t think he would be coming back.

David
climbed in beside Molly. Then the car pulled out of the driveway, and they were
on the road. There was a space between them. David reached across the seat
taking hold of Molly’s hand. She turned to look at him with a smile playing
along her lips.

“Thank
you for this,” she said.

“Don’t
thank me, honey. You deserve it.” David watched her yawn. She hadn’t gotten
much sleep last night. “Lie down, sweetheart. You’ll need your strength for
when we get there.”

“Are
you sure?”

“I’m
sure.”

David
held her close as her head rested on his leg. Her eyes closed, and within
seconds she was asleep. His wife had had a stressful few days. He played with
her hair. Unable to stop the memories, he recalled the time he had almost lost
her.

****

Twenty-two years ago, John’s birth

David
didn’t know how long she’d been inside the maternity ward. He’d gotten the call
in the middle of a business meeting that Molly had gone into labour. It was a
month early, and he couldn’t think straight. Because of the lateness of his
arrival he hadn’t been allowed inside. Malcolm had stopped by to see him, but
he didn’t have any jurisdiction in maternity.

“I’m
strictly cardiology, mate. I can talk to someone, but you’re best to wait it
out.”

“It’s
bad, right? I mean, she wouldn’t be in there all this time if it wasn’t bad?”

“I
can’t tell you that, David. I’m not qualified in this field. Molly is strong.
She’ll deliver you a beautiful baby, and everything will be fine,” Malcolm
said.

“I
can’t do this again. What if I lose her? I won’t be able to do this. She means
the world to me.”

Malcolm
patted his shoulder then was called away. David stood waiting in the hospital
waiting room. When he could stand it no longer he walked outside to have a
cigarette. He rarely smoked, but there were times when he needed the nicotine
to help him relax. Molly hated it and scolded him every time he smoked.

He
knew he shouldn’t be smoking. What else was there for him to do? David stared
at the sky wondering if fate could be cruel enough to take away his wife. Molly
meant more to him than anyone else. He would gladly die in her place.

“Excuse
me, are you David Sinclair?” A lady dressed in a nurse’s uniform approached
him.

“That’s
me.” He put the cigarette out then moved toward the nurse.

“The
doctor would like to see you now,” she said.

David
followed behind her. His heart was pounding. The tears he’d kept at bay were
threatening to spill over.

The
doctor was flicking through some forms as he approached. David didn’t recognise
the guy.

“Is
my wife all right?” he asked.

“Molly
is doing fine. There was some bleeding that we had to stop, and she’s
exhausted. I’m keeping her inside in case of any problems.”

“Is
she okay?” he asked. The words the doctor was saying meant nothing to him.

“Molly
is okay.”

“Can
I go and see her?”

“Yes.”

The
nurse showed him through to the room. Molly looked pale, and her eyes were
closed as he walked in.

“She’s
been very brave. This little guy was a tough one.” The nurse looked at her
chart.

“Was
she in a lot of pain?” David asked.

The
nurse hesitated.

“Please,
just tell me the truth.”

“We
didn’t have time to give her anything for the pain. It was all natural, and
with it comes some pain. Most women forget about it after.”

“She
looks so pale,” he said, stroking a lock of hair off her forehead.

“She
lost a lot of blood as this was a prolonged birth. Her water’s broke, but her
labor
didn’t continue. This can cause infections and many
problems. We had to force the
labor
to continue
because her waters had broken. Your wife survived the
labor
,
Mr. Sinclair. We’ll monitor her and your son for the next few days to make sure
there are no other problems before they can go home. We’re giving her vitamins,
and everything should be fine. She asked for you,” the nurse said.

“She
did?”

“Yeah,
she was stubborn at first. She tried to hold it in, and then she had no choice.
She was shouting for you.”

“You
should have got me,” he said.

“I’ll
leave you alone.”

David
didn’t leave her side. He’d organised for a neighbour to have the children
while Molly was in the hospital. She didn’t wake up, not even when their son
started screaming. The nurse came in as he refused to leave her side.

“Don’t
you want to hold him?” she asked.

“Not
until she wakes up. She always wanted to hold the babies first.” It was a lie
he spoke but one he was sticking to.

Molly
woke up later the next morning. She smiled at him even though she still looked
tired.

“Hey,”
she said.

“Hey, yourself.”

“I
did it. We’ve got another boy.”

“You
did it, baby. No more babies after this.”

The
smile disappeared off her face. She turned to look at their son who was finally
asleep.

She
nodded her head. “Yeah, no more babies.”

****

After
she agreed with him, David had known how close she’d been to dying. John had
been a tough baby and one that had almost taken her life. She’d lived and loved
that boy dearly. He stroked her hair as he watched the passing scenery. She was
his whole world. Losing her was not an option. He’d not touched her for several
months after she had given birth to John. Touching her would drive him crazy.
Even now, stroking her hair made him want so much more.

“Sir,
you might want to wake up your wife. According to the directions we’ll be there
in twenty minutes,” the driver said.

 
David nodded then began shaking her. “Wake up,
honey.”

She
mumbled curling into his leg. He chuckled then woke her up slowly. Molly opened
her eyes staring up at him.

“We’re
almost there,” he said.

The
moment she sat up, looking out the window, David missed her contact. He wanted
to glare at the driver for taking the small bit of pleasure he was getting.
“We’re here already?” she asked.

“You
were asleep for a good few hours. I forgot how adorable you were when you
snore,” he said.

“I
do not snore.”

“I
know you don’t.” He chuckled.

When
he recognised the main road to where the cottage sat, David began to get
nervous. What if she didn’t like it?

His
hands shook as the car moved slowly toward their destination. Molly was looking
out of the window. He saw the happiness in her eyes.

“It
already looks beautiful, David. We can go for walks along the forest and around
the country.”

She
loved to walk. It was one of the few pleasures they both enjoyed.

“We’re
here,” the driver said, pulling up outside a secluded cottage.

Molly
gave a squeal and then opened the door. David followed her out to the cottage.
The sun was still high in the sky.

“This
is perfect,” she said.

The
driver came around to open the trunk of the car. Once their suitcases were out,
David looked around waiting for the agent to present the key. He hadn’t gotten
a key with all the reservations in place. The key had been given to the company
who he’d employed to keep the house up to scratch.

Molly
went through the gate then began looking around the garden. David took the time
to watch her.

“Your
wife seems to like it, Mr. Sinclair.”

“I
know. I bought this place for her.”

The
driver nodded his head then remained silent. David felt his phone vibrating in
his pocket. He ignored the call. Nothing was important to him. He wanted to
spend the short time he had watching her. Seeing Molly happy was one of the few
pleasures he got in his life.

The
female agent pulled up against the kerb. She got out then walked up to where he
was stood. David recognised the flirtatious smile and shook his head. Money
welcomed everyone.

“Hello,
Mr. Sinclair. I’m Nancy, and I’ve been asked to show you around.”

Molly
was by his side within seconds. “That won’t be necessary, love. We can show
ourselves around our own home.”

“I
was told to show you around. I was instructed to make sure Mr. Sinclair gets
settled in,” Nancy said.

“Sweetheart,
I own this cottage. I’m more than happy with finding my own way around. Tell
them thank you for their thoroughness,” David said.

The
younger woman went beet red, sputtered, then handed over the key. “If there is
anything you need, let me know.”

David
watched the woman leave feeling Molly standing possessively at his side. He
chuckled as he turned to her. “Jealous?” he asked.

“Of her?
Please.
She’d only want you for your money.”