Learning to Forgive (14 page)

“Now,
I think you owe me lunch.”

“Where
do you want to go?”

“I
think anywhere will do.”

David
led her away from the cemetery. The love inside him was more powerful than
anything he imagined.

“You
forgave me,” he said.

“Yes,
I’ve forgiven you plenty of times over the years.”

“I
don’t know how you did it. It feels good.”

She
chuckled. The sound filled him with such warmth. The rest of the day he spent
with Molly as they walked around the streets picking up gifts for their
children. He’d never been with her like this, and he enjoyed every second of
their time together.

For
many hours they sat contemplating how their lives were going to go. When they
finally got home, David watched as she put the decorations up around their
house. They were only putting up a few baubles as they were driving down to
Chris and Erica’s at the weekend.

David
wished he knew what the future held for their boys. He wanted them to find as
much happiness as he had gotten. They were curled in front of the roaring fire
with a cup of hot cocoa.

“Do
you think Trent will be sweet on this girl?” he asked.

He
felt Molly freeze by him. “I think Trent will surprise you along the way.
Please, if he does, will you accept everything he has to say?”

David
frowned, turning toward her. “What do you know?”

“Nothing that I’m willing to share.
Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”

“I
promise, Molly. I love my boys no matter what.”

“Good.”

He
sat staring at the flames thinking about another fire and another Christmas
many years ago.

****

Fifteen years ago

“Are
the children in bed?” Molly asked as he walked into the sitting room. Christmas
day had come and gone. All three boys had been exhausted. It was one of the few
Christmases that David enjoyed. Molly had taken them all by storm with a stand-up
dinner with lots of treats to keep them warmed up. She stood in front of the
roaring fire, wearing the red robe he’d bought for her.

He
wondered if she was wearing everything he’d bought for her.

“They’re
asleep and out for the count.”

She
nodded her head.
“Merry Christmas, David.”

“Merry Christmas.”
He moved
closer seeing the pulse at the base of her throat pound in her neck. “You’re
nervous.”

“I’m
not nervous.”

“You
know, you never got me a present this year,” he said, stopping when he stood in
front of her.

“That’s
because I’m here for you to unwrap.” She licked her lips looking every bit as
cute as she did sexy.

“You’re
my present?” he asked.

“Yes,
do you want to
unwrap
me?”

“Nothing
would give me more pleasure.” He opened the sash holding the robe together. It
fell open revealing a beautiful red corset that pushed her breasts up and
pulled in at the waist.

His
cock went instantly hard. He’d never seen anything so beautiful. The corset
attached to a pair of stockings, and she wore the smallest pair of knickers
he’d ever seen.

“Is
this all mine?” he asked, teasing a nipple.

“Yes.”

She
gasped, her head falling back onto her shoulders exposing the line of her neck.
David pressed a kiss to each full mound loving the feel of them against his
face. Her warm scent filled his head. Her robe fell in a heap on the floor as
he cupped her waist bringing her closer.

“You’re
all mine,” he said.

“Yes.
Always.”

He
pulled her large breasts out of the bodice so they spilled over the top. “Come
here,” he said, moving backwards to sit on the centre of the couch. She
straddled his lap, and he took full advantage of her swinging breasts. David
suckled her nipples feeling them harden at his touch.
Always
so responsive.

She
cried out, loving the feel of him touching her.

“I
want you, so much,” she said.

I
know what you mean,” he said.

David
sucked each of her nipples until they were hard peaks. He couldn’t bring
himself to remove her corset. He unzipped his jeans, pulled the length of his
cock out,
then
pressed the tip to her entrance. She
cried out when he plunged inside her tight, wet cunt.

Her
fingers dug into the flesh on his shoulders. With the fire roaring in the
fireplace behind her, David took her pleasure and gave his own as well. There
was no stopping the passion that had ignited between them.

He
loved this woman with his whole heart. She gave him everything without
expecting anything in return. For that, he would love her for the rest of his
life.

****

David
came out of the memory with a smile. Christmas night he hadn’t gotten any sleep
and neither had Molly. There had been no end to their burning passion. Even
now, as they sat together, he felt a stirring in his groin.

“You’re
thinking about that Christmas all those years ago,” she said.

“How
would you know?” he asked.

“Because I’m thinking the exact same thing.”
She stared up at him blushing.

“I
think we should go to bed early, don’t you?” he said.

“I
would love to. I need my beauty sleep.”

Together
they walked up the stairs into their bedroom.

Chapter Fourteen

The
journey to Chris and Erica’s house had been a relatively calm one. Blaze had
sent a driver down for them.
Molly been nervous about another
woman cooking Christmas dinner.
She’d done it for so many years that the
stress had seemed too hard for a younger woman. However, the dinner was hot,
and everyone looked happy. Molly glanced around the dinner table. Erica had
done a fantastic job. The turkey was beautifully cooked. She saw David was talking
with Trent and Ben down the table. Ben was a friend of Erica’s. Turning her
head slightly, she saw Elizabeth was staring between Ben and Trent. So the
other woman
had
noticed the tension rising between the two men.

When
Trent left the table to get more gravy, Molly excused herself and followed him.
Trent was pouring some of the brown liquid into a jug.

She
folded her arms staring at him.

“What’s
the matter, Mom?” he asked. She heard the smile in his voice. Molly knew she
could never stay mad at any of the boys for long. She loved them too damn much
to
even think about punishing them.

“Ben
seems like a nice boy,” she said.

“He
does.”

Molly
saw his hand shook on the pan as he spoke. “Elizabeth is wonderful. How are her
classes going?”

He
spilt the gravy over the side. She watched him curse, and then Molly helped him
clean away the mess. His hands were shaking.

“How
do you know?” he asked.

Molly
stared at him. He looked pale like he was going to throw up. “Keep it together.
It was no great secret, Trent. I’ve known for some time.”

“Does
Dad know?”

She
shook her head. “I’ve said you’d surprise him at some point, and I’ve asked him
to keep it together. I’ll sort your father out. You, boy, need to know what you
want from life. Elizabeth doesn’t need this, and from the look at Ben, neither
does he.”

Trent
licked his lips. “Why do you know so much?”

“Because I’m your mother.”
She patted his cheek then moved back into the dining room. Trent followed
behind, looking sheepish.

David
rose in his seat,
clinking
his glass. “I want to make
a toast. I know we usually do this before the meal, but I’ve never been one to
do things right. So, bear with me.”

Molly
sat down chuckling. David rarely made speeches at dinners. She wondered what he
had to say.

“This
year has been a bit of a roller-coaster of a ride. Blaze, your divorce and then
finding your love for Cassie—I’m so happy for you to finally know what it means
to be in love.” Blaze raised his glass. She watched the eldest as he stroked
Cassie’s hair. The love between them was shining for the whole world to see.
“Then match-making Chris has finally found his woman. I have to say, son, I
thought you were a meddling one, and I was right, but you’re happy. I love
seeing my sons happy.
Each and every one of you.”

David
cleared his throat. She knew he was struggling not to cry. Molly stayed in her
seat hoping he’d get to finish what he wanted to say.

“Life
can be unbearably cruel. It will knock you down and make you wonder why you
even bothered with it. I know what it is like to have the ground fall from
under my feet. Twenty-five years ago, a beautiful woman entered my home looking
to take the position as a nanny. My first wife had died unexpectedly, and I
needed someone to care for them. She was smiling as she walked into the house.
I could see there wasn’t a care in the world. When my three boys came into the
study, they surrounded her. Nothing they did fazed her.”

The
rest of the table disappeared around her. It felt like the only two people in
the room were she and David.

“I
changed the job description to a live-in situation. I never wanted her to go. I
fell for her instantly. Soon, we were married, and she was expecting our very
first child. I treated this woman appallingly because of a secret inside myself.
She came to me at the beginning of this year with a divorce. The woman I’d
secretly loved all my life wanted to end it. I’ve never been
so
scared as the moment she was going to leave me. With the help of my sons and, I
think, fate that woman is sitting with us today. Molly Sinclair, you’re the
love of my life. Never will a day go by when I don’t tell you, to your face,
that I love you.
Merry Christmas, darling.
Without
you, I don’t think we would all be here around this table.”

Tears
had filled her eyes. Blaze and Chris raised their glasses. “To mom,” they each
said.

“To
Isabella,” Molly said, raising her glass.

The
dinner went without a hitch. Her heart felt like it would beat out of her
chest. She’d never felt so much love before in her life.

When
the dinner was finished and the night had worn on, David and Molly disappeared
to their room. They sat on the end of the bed, holding hands.

“That
was a beautiful speech,” she said.

“I
meant it, Molly. You’re the reason I’m here and able to look at all my boys.”

“You
should give yourself more credit.”

“No,
Molly. This is all you. There is something I’m going to ask you, and please,
don’t refuse.”

“What’s
the matter?” she asked, concerned for him.

“Will
you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

“I’m
already your wife.”

“I
know. I want us to get married again. Let us renew our vows.”

“I
never needed a fancy wedding, David. I only ever needed you and those magical
words that you’ve spoken to me.”

David
pulled her into his arms. “Please, do this for me.”

“I’d
do anything for you.”

****

In
the
new year
they renewed their vows. All of their
children sat in the church to witness their coming together. Molly wore a cream
dress that went down to the floor. David wore a lovely tuxedo. The ceremony was
short. All of their friends had come out for the big day. Tears filled Molly's
eyes when David presented her with another ring.

The
priest said their vows, and they spoke the words. Afterwards, David took her
away to their special cottage. It was the best honeymoon present she’d ever
gotten. She lay in bed with David’s arms wrapped around her thinking about how
powerful forgiveness was.

She
looked over her life with David and knew she wouldn’t change a thing. All the
heartache and pain had been worth it for the way she felt at that moment.

“You’re
still awake,” he said, tightening his hold around her.

“I’m
just thinking. I thought you were asleep.”

“You’re
tense. Tell me what you’re thinking about.” He opened his eyes staring at her.

“Forgiveness and our life together.”

“They
do go together.”

He
kissed her lips pulling her close.

“I
wonder what the future will bring for us,” she said, snuggling in close.

“Well,
I predict marriage for Trent, John, and Luke. Hopefully plenty of grandchildren
to keep
us feeling
young.”