Romance Me (Boxed Set) (22 page)

“Um, better than you by the way it sounds.” His mother’s concerned tone penetrated the long distance.

“I’m on my way home.” He changed his own tone to mask his sadness. “I should be home by tomorrow afternoon. I’ve got a layover in Atlanta, but I’m on my way.”

“That’s great news,” she squealed. “I’ve missed you, and I’m not the only one. I hear you and Lisa have gotten to know each other better.”

“Yes, Mom. And you were right. We do have a lot in common. It’s time for me to come home and tell her about my past. If she still wants a man who could abandon her, then I’m willing to move forward.”

“If you’re not ready, it’s fine. But if you are, then let the past go.”

“Believe it or not, I had. It’s just…” he glanced around, “I saw a baby today and well, it was difficult.” Eric rubbed his chest with the palm of his hand, trying to loosen the tightness. “I’m ready to start dating someone. I’ll always remember what happened, but I’ve forgiven myself for Mary Lynn. The baby part is a little more difficult, but hey, I don’t have to deal with that yet. And I think Lisa will be understanding and not mind taking things slow. Perhaps someday I’ll want to have a child, but right now, I still feel like I’d make an inadequate father. I guess you were right about that, too. Everything happens for a reason. God’s giving me a chance to find love and heal slowly before I move forward, and I’m ready to do that.”

Silence filled the line.

“Mom? You still there?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice sounding further away than before. “Eric?”

“Yeah?”

“I think you should come see me first, before you go to Lisa.”

“Boarding flight 876 to Atlanta, Georgia, USA,” the announcer called over the PA. “Boarding flight 876 to Atlanta, Georgia, USA.”

“Sure, I’ll come straight to the store to see you. But I’ve got to go now. They’re boarding. Love you.”

“I love you, too, son.”

He hit
end
and ambled to the boarding line. Finally, he was going home. He’d hold Lisa in his arms, and something inside told him she could heal his heart, and he’d heal her right back. They were brought together, like his mom said, and things could go slow, and they would just be together.

The tightness in his chest faded as he walked down the gangway. For the first time in several years, happiness drove the darkness away. Yes, he was ready to be with Lisa. For once in his life, everything seemed to be working out.

Chapter Twenty-One

Lisa stood in the center of her living room, eyeing the sharp-cornered glass-topped coffee table, the hardwood floors, exposed outlets, glass figurines, and other dangerous objects. A toddler wouldn’t last a week in her home. She sighed, glancing at the empty boxes stacked in the corner.

All night she’d prayed it had all been a dream, that the doctor had made a mistake, or that the entire pregnancy never even happened. Her head and body ached from crying and begging God to help. But it was all true, and if she was going to be a mother, it wasn’t about her anymore. She’d tell Eric the truth and move on with her life, focusing on the babies.

She gathered several odds and ends that were heavy and breakable and placed them on the glass table. Good thing she worked in an antique store. She’d need some new furniture. Standing at her picture window, she took in the landscape. Not a bad place to raise children, with the trees, open land, and friendly people.

Knock. Knock.

Lisa drew her gaze from the sunrise peeking over the mountain in the distance and went to her front door. She eyed a deliveryman on her porch, holding a beautiful floral arrangement in front of his face, then reluctantly turned the lock and opened the door.

“Good morning, ma’am.” His thick, southern accent eased her tension.

“Good morning. Are those for me?”

“Are you Ms. Mortan?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then, yes. They’re for you.” When he lowered the flowers, offering them to her, she got her first glimpse at his crooked teeth and scruffy face, but his smile was endearing. “The gentleman who ordered these was adamant you receive them before work this morning.” He shuffled between feet.

“Really? Well, thank you. Oh, wait here a second.” Lisa snatched her purse from the table in the entryway. “Here.” Lisa took the flowers from him and he took his tip. “Thanks again.” With the glass vase heavy in her arms, she kicked the front door closed and made her way to the kitchen table.

The scent of fresh lilacs filled the room with a pleasant, sweet aroma. A small envelope protruded from the end of a long clear plastic fork, addressed to
Beautiful.

Sliding her finger under the sealed paper, it popped free and she pulled the card out.

I can’t wait to see you. It’s time for us to move forward. After all the talks we’ve had and time we’ve spent together, I’m ready to tell you everything, and I’m ready to listen. I know we’ll only be closer. Trust me with your heart. I won’t break it. Eric.

A tear slipped down her cheek. If only he knew the truth and still wanted her. No man could ever love a woman carrying another man’s baby, no, two babies. Or could he?

The front door flew open and wind gusted through the hallway into the kitchen, chilling her to the core. She raced to the entryway. When she rounded the corner, a man in a suit was standing in the doorway. Not just any man. Mark, and he looked angrier than she’d ever seen him before.

“You told me you terminated the fetus,” he growled. He crossed the threshold, his fists clutched at his side.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around her belly. “Listen, I don’t know how you found out—”

“You’re not real bright, are you? Where do you think the insurance company sent the doctor bill?”

Silently, she cursed herself for such an epic mistake. After forwarding her mail to the shop, changing her address for every credit card and bank account, she’d forgotten about updating her health insurance. “You don’t have to worry. I don’t want anything from you.” Backing into the sitting room, she rounded into the kitchen and snatched her car keys from the counter. The familiar furrowed dark brow, pressed lips and twitching jaw warned her to protect her unborn children. He’d only grabbed her arm last time, but she didn’t want to find out how far he’d take it this time.

He advanced and she cowered away from him, trying to put the dining table between them.

Mark sighed, running his hand through his hair, and retreated to the sofa. “I’m sorry I grabbed you. Don’t run. We need to talk.” He glanced at her, his face softer but still accusing. “You lied to me.”

“I couldn’t terminate—”

“Not just about that,” he shouted, “about everything. We had an arrangement. Neither of us wanted children, ever. Remember? We are not fit to be parents.”

Lisa took a cautious step toward him. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Mark. And I agree that we weren’t meant to be parents. That’s why I came here. I wanted to find a good home for our child.”

Mark shot up. “No. The system doesn’t work.” He lifted his sleeve. “You know how awful it is in foster care.” He pointed to the faded cigarette burns on his forearm. “You see this? It’s what a foster dad does when you don’t take out the trash.” He yanked down the collar of his expensive shirt, popping off one of the buttons. “This is what happens when you fall asleep watching television.” More burn marks dotted his neck and collarbone.

“I knew how you felt about foster care, that’s why I was finding a family to adopt the baby.”

“Adoption’s no better. No. I won’t put a child through that. You have to terminate. And I’m here to make sure you do.”

“I don’t understand. You’ll give millions to children’s charities, but you want to kill your own child?”

Mark advanced. “That’s different. Those children are already here. We don’t have to add to the problem. Why are you making this so difficult? Just end the pregnancy and then we’ll both be free.”

“Free? Is that all you care about?” Lisa shouted at him for the first time in the two years they’d been together.

He stopped, his eyes wide, and his mouth dropped for a second before he recovered. “You’re not going to trap me like my mother did my father. I’m not going to work myself into an early grave just to have you toss that child out when the money stops. I won’t do it.” His lip curled into a snarl.

“And I won’t ask you to. I promise, I won’t,” she said, standing her ground. “I’ll keep the baby and I won’t ask for a dime. I’m not your mother.”

“Liar.” He advanced again, his jaw tight, his face crimson.

This wasn’t going to end like last time. With his extra foot of height and twice her weight, she knew that, at best, she’d walk away with a few bruises. But at the worst, the babies would be harmed.

Mark lunged and snatched her arm. “Give me the keys,” he snarled. “You’re not going anywhere but to an abortion clinic.”

Obediently, she dropped the keys on the floor. When he bent down to retrieve them, she snatched the bowl of fruit off the counter and crashed it over his head. Then she bolted from the kitchen, down the hall, and out the front door. With no cell phone, coat, or shoes, she raced through the neighbor’s yard and down the back alley to the main street.

Every inch of her body shook with fear and cold. Her feet crushed something sharp. Glancing down, she spotted blood on her toes, but still she didn’t stop. Her legs continued to move, as if by their own will. She pumped her arms and sprinted between bushes. Crossing the next street, cars squealed to a halt, but she just kept running. With no real direction, only one word pounded in her head.
Protect
.

Lisa halted at an intersection and looked behind her. There was no sign of Mark. Oh, God. Did she seriously injure him? Had she overreacted?

A familiar car rolled to a stop in front of her and she stumbled back with a gasp.

“Darling, what are you doing out here dressed like that?” Cathy Mitchell leaned over the passenger’s seat. “You’re going to catch your death. Get in.”

Another car turned onto the street, the luxury vehicle sticking out amongst the dirty trucks and SUVs lining the curbs. Lisa hopped in the car.

“What’s going on, dear?” Mrs. Mitchell asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Lisa swung around, peering through the back window. Mark’s car was getting closer. “Drive. Just drive.”

Mrs. Mitchell grasped the steering wheel. “All righty, hon. Calm yourself. Where to?”

“I…I don’t know. Just drive.” Lisa wrung her hands and turned back to face the front. “To the store. To main street. There’s lots of people there.”

“Okay, dear.” Mrs. Mitchell slid the gearshift into drive then turned the corner, heading to Main Street.

“Hurry. Please,” Lisa begged, catching a glimpse of Mark’s car in the side mirror.

“You want me to step on it?” Mrs. Mitchell shot her a sideways smirk.

“Yes.”

Mrs. Mitchell smashed the pedal to the floor and they flew through multiple side streets, cars slamming on their brakes to avoiding hitting them. The woman belonged in movies as a stunt car driver. They took a turn so sharply Lisa thought two wheels would come off the ground.

“I’m sorry I got you involved in this,” Lisa muttered.

“Oh, dear. Don’t be. I needed a little excitement. Besides, don’t you know? I like to be in the middle of everything.” Mrs. Mitchell winked then cornered sharply again at the bakery before squealing to a stop in front of the antique store. “You’ll be safe here.” She slid her cell phone from her pocket and started dialing. “Go on inside and get yourself cleaned up.”

“What about you?” Lisa asked, swinging around to keep an eye out for Mark.

“Don’t worry, we lost him. Oh, and I’ll be fine. Trust me.” Mrs. Mitchell shooed her out the car.

Lisa gave her the best smile she could manage. “Thanks,” she said, but the woman was already lost in her phone call, no doubt recounting Lisa’s strange behavior and whatever gossip she wanted to share. Lisa sighed. It was time. The truth needed to be told before gossip could spread. That was what Dr. Hendricks and Judy had encouraged her to do.

Maneuvering out of the car, her feet burned in protest. Her back ached and her stomach cramped. She mounted the few steps to the front door before she saw Mark’s car turn onto Main Street. Her gut clenched tight as she hurried into the store. She needed a moment to think, to figure out what to do.

The bell jingled above the door and Judy appeared by the register. Lisa’s belly knotted tight and the pressure down low became so intense she thought her insides would fall out. She took two steps then spasms clenched her back tight. Crying out, she fell to the floor.

“Eric!” Judy yelled.

Eric?

Through the pain ripping her pelvis apart, she heard shuffled footsteps into the main room. Blood pooled around Lisa’s knees and she doubled over, tears pouring down her face. “Oh, God. No.”

A commotion sounded outside. The door swung open and she caught a glimpse of red and purple. “The store’s closed,” Mrs. Mitchell’s voice carried inside before it shut again.

“It’ll be okay.” Judy wrapped her motherly arms around Lisa and rocked her. “Eric, call an ambulance.”