Page 8 of Laying His Claim
Reluctantly, she stood, allowing the silky water to drip down her legs. She’d promised to join Kaiya in the kitchen as she prepared dinner. She looked down at herself, still marveling at this newly reawakened body of hers, amazed by the fact that she could walk on her own, run her own bath. Such seemingly trivial things, but things of which she was justifiably proud.
As she toweled off, she took extra time with the slightly faded scars on her arms and legs, souvenirs of her motorcycle accident, no doubt. There were just a few nicks and scrapes, but most of her skin was smooth, brown and unmarked, so she assumed that with time, the scars would fade. Except maybe for that weird one on her abdomen, which was neat and slightly curved, like a smile, as opposed to the others, which were scary and jagged. She’d asked her nurse about it when she’d first noticed it, back in the hospital, but had only been told that she’d had to have a minor surgery while in her coma. The nurse had said little more, and Jalissa hadn’t thought the scar was that much of a biggie if the surgery was necessary to save her life.
Jalissa dressed quickly, slipping a pretty rose-colored dress over her head, even though the high hem felt a bit revealing. Kaiya had done lots of shopping, and she was grateful for it, but many of the outfits were surprisingly skimpy with lots of bare midriffs and low necklines. She promised herself that when she had the time, she’d get herself some stuff that was more suited to her taste.
As she entered the kitchen, she realized that Kaiya was already there, busy at a large wooden chopping block, neatly slicing carrots with a chef’s knife. “Hiya,” Kaiya welcomed her cheerily.
“Hey,” Jalissa responded, feeling a bit awkward about staring around at everything. The tiled backsplash behind the brushed chrome stove and the array of kitchen gadgets seemed to be whispering to her. Everything about her second chance at life felt so new.
She listened as Kaiya chatted away, wishing she could help herself to a small glass of ruby-red merlot from the same bottle she was liberally pouring into her sauce, but being on her meds, it wasn’t a good idea. Just juice, then. “It’s quiet,” she commented.
“Lili’s upstairs, probably doing homework. TJ will sleep for a while yet.” Kaiya turned to stir her pot, humming to herself.
Jalissa felt a surge of admiration, almost a kind of longing, at seeing Kaiya so happy, so content in her role as wife and mother. She blurted, “What’s it like?”
“What’s what like?”
“This,” Jalissa waved her arms around, taking in the gorgeous home. “All of this. Being a wife, having a family, raising kids with a good man. You seem so happy!”
“I am happy,” Kaiya agreed. “It’s good to know that all that awful stuff is behind us.”
“What awful stuff?” Jalissa queried with a frown.
Kaiya paused. “Oh, man, of course you wouldn’t remember, even though you were so much a part of it!” She poured another generous dollop of merlot into her own glass, joking, “We’re going to need this when I tell you my story!”
They sat at the kitchen island on high stools while the pots on the stove bubbled merrily away and the aroma of rosemary chicken wafted out of the oven. She listened in fascination as Kaiya told her tale. How she had gotten pregnant as a teenager and how her parents had sent her away to shield their precious family name from the wagging of gossipy tongues. Then, as Kaiya’s story got darker, Jalissa felt a chill come over her.
“I’m so, so sorry you had to go through that!” Jalissa gasped.
Kaiya paused, resting her hand on Jalissa’s shoulder. “You were my rock through it all. Always there for me when I was grieved for the child I’d lost. And then when Tyler turned up in my life again, with his little daughter in tow, you protected me like a pit bull. You knew how badly seeing him again would hurt me.”
“What a nightmare! I don’t remember any of it, of course, but I’m glad I was with you; supporting you.” Jalissa shook her head. “To have a baby and not know it! Imagine that! What kind of monster would keep someone in the dark about that!”
Kaiya leaped up, grabbed her oven mittens, and hurried over to the stove. “I need to check on the chicken.” She couldn’t even look Jalissa in the eye.
“But didn’t you just—”
She was interrupted by a ruckus at the main door; two male voices raised, and… a baby crying? As if drawn by an invisible thread, Jalissa got up and walked carefully and steadily out to the front door, closely followed by Kaiya.
Tyler was standing just inside the foyer, and in the doorway stood Justin… holding a little boy in his arms. The men’s voices were low, but it was clear they were arguing.
“Remember what the doctor said. Now is not the time,” Tyler was saying.
Justin countered irritably, “Oh no? So, when is the time? Huh? When is the perfect time for something like—”
Jalissa was stopped in her tracks by the tableau before her, of Justin holding a baby in his arms as if he was born for it. If anything, he looked even more handsome, even more perfect. It was true what they said: a good-looking man was one thing, but place a baby in his arms, and he became irresistible!
Kaiya stepped forward, arms outstretched, cooing, and Justin immediately handed the baby over as if they’d done this a million times before. She leaned in and sniffed the top of his head, inhaling his sweet scent. Jalissa had grown used to seeing Kaiya holding TJ in her arms. She was the picture of a good mother. It was surprising and puzzling to discover that her friend’s maternal instincts extended to babies who weren’t hers. And, strangely, the tableau caused a rush of warmth to Jalissa’s heart, even though she hadn’t been around that many babies since waking up from the coma.
There was something about this one; something that pierced her to her very soul. Like a voice calling to her through the mist. She realized she was smiling like an idiot, just as gaga over the tyke as everyone was. “He’s gorgeous!” she enthused. “What a beautiful, perfect little baby! Whose is he?”
The silence following her unanswered question echoed through the house.
“Well?” Jalissa demanded. Everyone was staring at her, and she didn’t like that one bit. She turned to Justin as he retrieved the little boy from Kaiya’s arms, sure that she could see a resemblance between Justin and the child. Not just a superficial passing connection, but something real and undeniable. The baby had his same straight nose and facial structure. The only thing different about them was their skin tone and eye color. The baby’s were dark brown. The baby’s hair was dark brown and curly, Justin’s was straight and black.
The baby Justin had been holding when he’d walked in was his flesh and blood. His son.
The possibility was dizzying. It would mean that all the while she’d lain unmoving in a hospital bed, he’d been out there, fooling around and getting some other woman pregnant. Who was she? And was she still in the picture?
