Page 34 of Her Kensington
I stare at her sincere face as everything I was feeling slowly washes away. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little excited about the prospect of being a dad again, but the fear of losing the chance overruled that. The pain of having my kids taken away from me pulls at my heart.
Falling down on to the bed, I let out a sigh, trying to get my head together.
Summer places her tiny palm on my forearm. “Harrison, I’d never take your child away from you.”
“It’s easy to say that. I never thought Rebecca would do it to me, but look at us now.” A thought hits me. It’s something we’ve not discussed before. “Do you want kids?”
She’s silent for a couple of seconds. “One day.”
Nodding at her, I can’t help disappointment settle in the pit of my stomach. As scared as I was a moment ago to find that box, I thought maybe I was getting my second chance to be a proper dad.
“One day,” I repeat. My tone must express my thoughts because she soon turns to me.
“Yeah, one day. We’ve got plenty of time for that. I’ve got things I want to do first before becoming a mom.”
Smiling at her, the thought of her swollen with my baby fills my head. Pulling her to me, I wrap my arms around her shoulders and breathe her in.
I thought I’d lost her tonight. I thought my stupid actions had put pay to what had been the most incredible thing in my life for such a long time. She may not forgive me for what I’ve done right away, but she will eventually. She just told me she wants kids one day, so it’s all got to be fine. Right?
Laying us both down on top of the bed, I hold her to me.
I had no idea how I was going to find her, but when Danni suggested I check to see if any transactions had been made on Summer’s credit card, I couldn’t help but think it was genius. Although if Summer really was running, I had a suspicion she would be smarter than that. And I was right. There was nothing from any hotel but there was a cash withdrawal. Once I found the location I was able to pinpoint a couple of hotels in the area and all it took was a little sweet talking of the receptionist downstairs and I soon found out where my wife was. It was too easy, something I’m sure Summer wasn’t too happy about when I first started banging on her door.
“I’m still mad at you,” she whispers and I can’t help but laugh.
“I don’t doubt it. You have every right to be.”
“You lied to me. I married you, moved my life halfway across the world for you, and you didn’t have the decency to tell me the truth about your life and who you are.”
“You know exactly who I am,” I argue.
“You’re a dad, Harrison. That’s a huge part of who you are, and you never told me.”
I flounder for the right words but there aren’t any. “I’m sorry,” is all I can come up with. “I really want you meet them properly.”
“Do they know about me?”
“Of course.”
A little laugh falls from her lips. “I guess I should be happy about the fact I’m important enough for you to mention me to them. I presume they knew I had no idea they existed?”
“I didn’t outright tell them that—”
“I bet she did,” Summer says, interrupting me.
“Why is she so intent on ruining my life?” I groan.
Summer shrugs against me but she doesn’t offer up an answer.
I must drift off to sleep. I’ve no idea what the time was but after the stress of the afternoon, it felt too good to have her in my arms. When I wake, I’m alone in the bed. Opening my eyes, I find the only light in the room is coming from a little lamp over in the corner, and staring down at the desk with a pencil in her hand is Summer. As I watch I allow the soothing sounds of the lead running over the paper relax me.
Her hair is pulled back from her face and she’s still wearing the same t-shirt and skirt she has been all day. She’s fucking beautiful.
Her phone lighting up distracts her and she picks it up before smiling down at it. I’m hit with a pang of jealousy that I’m not the one making her smile like that.
After typing a quick reply she places it back on the desk and resumes whatever she was drawing.
I watch her for the longest time, totally lost to her. But my need to touch her soon becomes too much and I slide from the bed.
