Page 114 of The Unwanted Wife

“He told you?” Her brow furrows.

I shift my weight from foot to foot. “This is going to sound strange, but the only way I’ve gotten through the last year is by talking to him.”

“You spoke to him?” She blinks. “I don’t understand.”

“Was it a figment of my imagination? Probably. Did it feel real to me? Very much. It felt like he was communicating with me. Like he was giving me the courage to keep going. And he hinted that he’d met someone special.” I laugh. “I thought that was definitely me being wishful in my thinking, but meeting you now, I realize he was trying to let me know, in his own way, that life goes on.” I look down at the sleeping Arrow, so does she. “And he told me to take care of you, too.”

“I wish he’d had a chance to see him—” She swallows. “I should have told him he mattered to me before he left, but I thought... I thought... Maybe it was just a hook-up for him, since he didn’t indicate otherwise. And then I found out I was pregnant. When I didn’t hear back from Ben, I assumed he didn’t want anything to do with me. I was saddened, but my hands were so full with Arrow, it's what kept me going. Later, I received the money from Ben’s survivor benefits. It didn’t feel right to keep it, but I knew I had to do it for Arrow.” She bites the inside of her cheek.

“He put you down as his next of kin, and he’d only just met you. So, he must have felt a connection to you.” I swallow. “Do you think”—I turn to Nate—“do you think he had an inkling of what was coming? That he wasn’t going to be around much longer, and that Luna would need the money?”

“Perhaps. It’s possible his intuition directed him to do so something…” Nate turns to Luna, “I also think it’s possible that he saw some of your messages, and knew you and the baby would need help, so he left all the benefits from his being a Marine to you.”

“But if that’s the case, why did he take his own life? Shouldn’t he have been motivated to live for his child, if not for me or Luna?” I cry.

Nate squeezes my shoulder. “I think he was so caught up in his own personal hell, he couldn’t tell things apart. I think he was so depressed, even the prospect of having a child to return to couldn’t penetrate whatever space in his mind he’d retreated to. I don’t think he was thinking clearly when he”—he swallows—“when he took his own life.”

“I should have reached out to you earlier.” Luna’s chin trembles. “I should have told you about Arrow’s existence, but... I... I wasn’t ready. It was all too much for me.”

“Understandable. I was shattered to find out about Ben. I couldn’t face the reality of it until a few days ago, and I was his sister. I can only imagine how broken-hearted you must have been to lose the father of your child.”

She releases my hand and clasps her fingers together. “It... wasn’t easy. Nate came to inform me of Ben’s death. He tried to keep in touch and help after that, but I didn’t want anything to do with him. I knew about you, of course”—she jerks her chin in my direction— “but I wasn’t ready to meet anyone from Ben’s past. It was all I could do to take one day at a time and focus, first on my pregnancy and then, on the baby. Once Arrow was born, everything changed. As soon as I felt strong enough, I contacted Nate and told him I was ready to meet you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Luna and Arrow but?—”

“She made you promise.” I smile at him. “I’m glad you’re a man of your word, husband.”

His features soften.

He wraps his arm about me. I reach up to kiss him, when Arrow starts crying. Both of us turn toward him.

Luna picks him up. “Hey, baby, did you have a good nap?”

Arrow stares at her with big blue eyes. Eyes so like Ben’s. And his features. And that shock of jet black hair. I draw in a sharp breath. “Oh, my god, he looks so much like Ben.”

“He does.” Luna holds him out. “Would you like to hold him?”

59

Nathan

“This Sunday lunch is a tradition?” Quentin looks around the packed table with a mixture of trepidation and awe and a touch of disdain. It’s the first one he’s attending since he joined the Davenport Group.

“It’s something Arthur insists on.” I wrap my arm about my wife and pull her closer. In all honesty, the last place I want to be is here in Arthur’s house, giving up an afternoon where I could be making love to my wife, in my bed, in our house, and with the prospect of a lazy weekend again. But since I’m sitting next to her, and able to hold her through the next few hours, I’m not complaining.

“The old man thinks this is the best way to foster a sense of family between us.” Knox snorts from his other side. “Little does he know; some differences can’t be solved by breaking bread together.” He’s referring to the fact that Ryot is nowhere to be seen since he walked out that day after his run-in with Quentin.

On the other hand, Knox and Quentin are sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at the table, sharing a meal, which goes to show Arthur’s idea might have some merit. Of course, it also has something to do with the fact that Knox accepted my offer of becoming the Deputy CEO. It puts him on a level playing ground with Quentin. Besides, it’s a short jump to being the CEO, which Knox is keenly aware of. Given how eager he is to take on more responsibilities, it serves me well. I plan to keep reasonable hours and be home for dinner every night so I can see my wife’s gorgeous face and support her in every way possible as she builds her business. Which means, Knox can cover for me in instances when I won’t be around… Which is going to happen more frequently. Doesn’t mean I’m going to shirk my responsibilities, but I’m going to lead a more balanced life. A child’s cry splits the air.

Summer begins to rise to her feet to attend to the baby in the pram placed at one side of the table, but Sinclair stops her. He urges her to keep eating, then moves over to take the baby in his arms.

“Why is it such a turn on to see a man in a suit, who runs a billion-dollar business, take his child in his arms to soothe the baby?”

“Hold on, you better not be implying that you’re turned on by someone other than me.”

She nods, then turns to me. “I mean, I’m not turned on by him, but by the picture he makes.” She blushes. “I only have eyes for you, baby.”

I look into her eyes, losing myself all over again in those pools of green. Then, because I can’t stop myself, I bend and press my lips to hers. She moans, and I deepen the kiss. I pull her closer, slide my arm down to her ample butt and—someone clears their throat.

---