Page 38 of Finding Love in the Clouds

Holding Sophie against his chest, he stroked her hair down her back, waiting for the tears to subside enough to talk. It didn’t take long.

Sitting up straight, Sophie wiped her face dry with the tips of her fingers before saying, “Sorry. I think I have been stressed about this for a while, and your kindness sort of overwhelmed me. Andy, we need to talk.”

“Okay. Do we need to talk before or after you give me an answer to my question? Because, before you say anything, Soph, I want you to know that it doesn’t matter. You know me. When I love someone, I’m all in, and I don’t let go easily. Well, I don’t let go at all. We already loved each other before all of this. I may not have realized the depths of my affection before this trip, but I think you did. I am slow sometimes, ask my brothers, but I always get there in the end, and when I do, it counts. You are well aware I have baggage in my past, and you loved me regardless; I will do no less for you. Whatever it is, we will get through it. I love my brothers, and they are very broken people. You are much more together than they will ever be. Trust me, whatever you have to say, it will be alright,” he assured her, squeezing her fingers gently when he really wanted to hug her close.

“Andy, I do love you... and I want to be your lady so badly. I agreed to this fake relationship because I thought it would be the closest I ever got to being with you, but now… it seems impossible for so many different reasons,” Sophie admitted, taking a deep breath to stop a new wave of tears.

“Nothing is impossible. Whatever it is, we will figure it out together, and if the two of us can’t figure it out, I have four brothers and a sister who will jump at the chance to try. They love you and want you to be a part of our family. Talk to me, Sophie,” he pleaded, feeling her pulling away from him without giving him a chance.

Sophie decided the time for hesitation was over. This would be the beginning or the end; either way, she was a firm believer in riding the wave life sent you and not whining about it.

“Andy, what are your thoughts on children?” she began, diving right in.

“Children?” Fernando echoed, not expecting that to be the first concern on her mind.

“Yes, children. I have never heard you talk about them. Do you want them? Do you even like them? You always have to pick out the gifts for your nieces, so where do children fit into your future?”

“I like children. I love playing with my nieces. I never really thought about kids. I always assumed I wouldn’t have any because I don’t have time for a family. I’m just now trying to wrap my head around making time for a woman. If we have children, that would be fine; if we didn’t, that would be fine, too. It’s not like we’re getting married tomorrow. We have time to figure all of this stuff out, right?”

“No, not really. If we are going to date, I know you. I know us. We will be doing it with our eye on the prize. If we start, we will have every intention of finishing at the altar unless it becomes obvious that we aren’t compatible. So, before we decide to throw our friendship awayon a whim that may not work, you need to understand some things and decide if it is where you see your life going. So, kids are optional. You don’t have strong feelings either way. Am I understanding you correctly?” Sophie pushed.

“Yes. I can honestly say I will not feel incomplete without a child. I would be more nervous to have one, honestly, because I just don’t see where the time would come from.” Fernando removed his fedora and scrubbed his head with his free hand before replacing it, noticing that his answer didn’t seem to make Sophie feel any better. “Soph, you’re killing me. Just spit it out already.”

Sophie saw his anxious behavior and wanted to have mercy on him, but she couldn’t see how any of her revelations would make him feel better. Taking his hands in hers, she looked deeply into his eyes, “I can’t have children. If you decide later you want a child, I won’t be able to give one to you. You will not be able to have a biological child with me, ever.”

Fernando sighed deeply and chuckled, “Is that all? You scared me! It’s fine. It really is fine. Like I said, I don’t need children, and if we decide later down the road that we do, there is always adoption. I know firsthand how many great kids there are wasting away in children’s services in need of a loving and caring home. I will be perfectly happy adopting one or a dozen of those someday. Come here.”

He took her in his arms and breathed in her delicate scent, grateful that it was over. He could imagine how difficult it was for her to share that with him and how many other men, especially those with such immense wealth, would have walked away at not being able to propagate their dynasty. He was not that kind of man.

She held him close for a moment, then pulled back, needing to see his face. “There’s more.”

Fernando intertwined their fingers and looked into her stormy grey eyes. “Okay, let’s have it before I have a heart attack.”

“I have a son.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

If a city bus had plowed into the back of his Maserati, he wouldn’t have felt more whiplash than he did from this conversation, but he wasn’t struck with terror or repulsed, just… surprised. “A son? But I thought you said you couldn’t have children?”

“I can’t. Not anymore. There were complications with Javier’s birth and… The doctors said I will never be able to have another child.” Her eyes swam with tears, and he pulled her forward, gently kissing her forehead, “What happened?”

“My uterus ruptured, and I almost bled out. They had to do an emergency hysterectomy and remove it to save my life. Javi was delivered early and was fine after a short time in the NICU, but I will never be able to give my husband his own child. Any man who marries me gets an instant family. Now, what do you think about children?” Sophie asked, looking down at their joined hands, willing him not to let go.

“Before I ask any more questions or you reveal any more secrets that are going to rock this boat and my life plan, let me ask you one. Do youknow what the FK in FK Media Group stands for?” Fernando asked, lifting her chin so he could see her eyes.

“Isn’t it Fernando Knight?” she asked, confusion wrinkling her brow. As his personal assistant for the past four years, she should definitely know this.

“No, actually. That is what everyone assumes it means, but if you look at my business papers and letters of incorporation, you will find that it stands for Finders Keepers Media Group. You see, I have this deep-seated need down in my soul to keep whatever it is I find worth having. Any psychologist worth their salt would attribute it to my abandonment, and I wouldn’t try to disagree. So far, I have primarily collected people. It started with Colin McKenzie, and as his family grew, my collection grew. Then, my BBC brothers joined the collection. For a long time, that was enough. I was satisfied. I found my family, and I was keeping them no matter what. Without realizing it, you joined the ranks of people I don’t plan to let go of. That day in the watch shop, I found you. But it was your choice to work for me. To like me. To like the job. To stay. But, when you did… I decided that you were worth keeping. Now, with the help of my family and this trip, I have come to understand that I don’t just want to keep you as apartof my found family; I want you tobemy family. At some time later down the road, after I have had the proper opportunity to woo you, I will propose and fully expect you to agree to be my wife. Nothing has changed. I wasn’t expecting children, and I still don’t know how that will work with my schedule, but now I will have a son. As you said, I will get the whole package with you, an instant family. It’s like opening a cereal box and finding a toy inside, one you really want and didn’t know until you saw it.”

Sophie started laughing, and his insides tickled like little butterflies with feathers on their wings were taking flight in his belly. “What isso funny? I thought we were having a very serious moment,” he huffed, taken aback.

“You just compared my baby boy to a cereal box toy! How could Inotlaugh at that,” Sophie defended, not even trying to hide her mirth.

“Okay, not my best word selection or choice of analogy, but I haven’t exactly had time to think through this; cut me a little slack. Do you believe me, though? I’m serious when I say I will love your child as my very own. You will never have to worry about that.” His demeanor conveyed the conviction in his heart; he meant what he was saying, but Sophie couldn’t take it as truth until she saw them together. His initial reaction warmed her heart. Yes, he was surprised, but his heart had remained open.

“Now, are you ready to answer my question? Will you be my lady, understanding that I intend for a short courtship and swift wedding?” Fernando asked, wriggling his eyebrows as hope radiated from his eyes.

“There’s more,” Sophie whispered, wishing she didn’t have to do this, not now, not ever. In her heart, she feared that this would be the true breaking point. Given all that he had said about his family over the past few days and what she already knew about them, she didn’t see how it could be any other way. He was a good man, and there was only a small chance he would reject her and Javi, but this… this was going to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

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