Til Debt Do Us Part (Married At Midnight #4)

Chapter 28

Twenty-Eight

Dare

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," I gripe.

Talia is busy herding the children from Hope House out of the bus onto the sidewalk in front of the children's science museum. She rolls her eyes at my complaint and gives a soft laugh.

"Poor Dare. Won't anybody think of the billionaires? They have to be constantly coddled and entertained."

"Very funny."

I give her a sour look, but I can't be angry. The weather outside is unusually sunny and the sky a brilliant shade of robin’s egg blue. Leaning against the bus, I casually look over the excited children and the Hope House volunteers that are gathering near the entrance to the museum.

Talia helps Solana out of the bus. "Long time, no see! Where have you been hiding?"

She tickles Solana gently on her belly. The little girl beams and dissolves into giggles.

"We're going to see all the sciences!" Solana crows.

"We sure are," Talia replies. She gestures to me. "Do you remember Dare?"

Solana's laughter subsides and she looks at me, thrusting her hands behind her back and peeking at me coquettishly. "Yeah..."

"We're all going to have a blast today. Now go line up on the sidewalk with the rest of the kids so we can head inside!"

"Okay!" Solana shouts. She takes off with a level of energy reserved for children alone, exaggerating the effort it takes to reach the line of kids and then playacting tiredness.

"That kid is something else," I say, my lips lifting at the corners.

"She's really great." Talia takes my hand as one of the volunteers does a quick headcount and then we all file inside the big brass double doors.

As we enter the building, I can't help but be impressed by its elegance and grandeur. The walls are lined with stunning works of art and sculptures, while a sparkling chandelier hangs from the ceiling. Talia leads the group through the main hall before finally stopping in front of a large door.

"This is it!" she announces, pushing open the door to reveal an impressive view of the two-story science museum packed with interactive exhibits. Everywhere I look, there are clusters of kids climbing all over dinosaurs, building an arch out of huge foam blocks, playing with dams in a large maze made with flowing water, and sitting inside a tiny movie theater.

A few of the children in our group scream. I laugh but I get it; full of bright colors, wacky sound effects, and thrilling textures, this place is made for nonstop fun.

The children rush in excitedly, eager to explore their new environment. Only Solana hangs back, seeming to have difficulty choosing between all the activities. She grabs Talia's shirt, her huge brown eyes taking in the entire room. Talia kneels down and looks at the little girl.

"What should we explore first?" Talia asks.

Solana's brow knits. "I don't know. I don't want to miss out on anything."

"Maybe you should start in one corner and work your way around the exhibits," I suggest. I point at the water maze. "Maybe you should start over there? The water looks cool."

Solana turns her wide brown eyes to me.

"Will you come with me?"

Her question makes something in my chest tighten. "Yeah. Of course. Maybe we can persuade Talia to come, too."

Talia stands up, twining her arm with mine and leaning her head against me briefly. "Lead the way, Solana."

Solana takes the lead, her little hand grasping tightly onto mine. I can't help but feel a sense of protectiveness over her. It's a foreign feeling, but one that I can't seem to shake. As we approach the water maze, Solana's eyes light up with excitement. She runs ahead, eager to play in the cascading water. I follow closely behind, watching her intently. Talia joins us a moment later, her eyes filled with wonder as she takes in the exhibit.

The sound of the rushing water gets louder as we approach, but it only adds to the excitement of the moment. Solana jumps and splashes , laughing and squealing with delight. I can't help but feel a warmth spread through me at the sight of her joy. Talia stands off to the side, her arms wrapped around herself, watching us with a small smile on her lips.

"Come on, Talia," I say, reaching out my hand to her. "It's not every day we get to have fun like this."

Talia hesitates for a moment before taking my hand and stepping into the water. Her gasp of surprise is music to my ears as the cool water splashes up onto her toes. Solana jumps up and down, coaxing Talia to play with her.

I take a deep breath and smile. I’ve been a little apprehensive about being around so many children. But as I watch Solana and Talia lift and lower gates to start and stop the flow of water in the river, I can’t help but feel my anxiety melting away.

This isn't so bad.

Scratch that. This is something that I could get used to.

When Solana tires of the water maze, I point to the next exhibit twenty yards away. "How about we go over there to check out the dinosaur exhibit? It looks pretty cool."

"Yeah!" Solana shouts. "Let's go! Let's go! Hurry!"

"We are right behind you. You go ahead," Talia calls. She looks at me with a smile and shakes her head. "She's going to be so tired after we leave here."

I slide my arm around her waist and amble over to the earth sciences exhibit. Talia smoothes her hand over her belly with a gentle smile. When we get to the exhibit, Solana and another boy are busy climbing on the back of a small brontosaur.

"Look at me and Nathan!" Solana calls. "We're going into prehistoric times. Right, Nathan?"

"Right!" the boy shrieks. "We have Dino-Power!"

I start to pull back from Talia, but she flings her arms around my waist.

"Just another minute," she whispers. "This is comfortable."

She's right. It is comfortable. Being with her seems to make everything else disappear. The only thing that matters is her and the way she makes me feel. It's like a whirlwind of emotions that I can't control, but I don't want to. Not now, not ever.

This newfound sense of recklessness and lack of emotional control feels dangerous, but I refuse to put the brakes on. It seems doomed, like it can't go on for very long... but I'm testing that theory today, it appears.

Talia kisses my cheek and pulls away. She walks over to a messy arts and crafts area with a huge banner encouraging visitors to get their hands dirty.

"Look Solana," I call to her, pointing to the bags of plaster, clay and tools. "We can make our very own fossils!"

Solana slides off the brontosaur and hits the ground with a thump. She bounces back up and runs to where I stand, assessing the situation. Her friend Nathan is hot on her heels.

"Whoa! Cool! I'm going to make one, too."

I scan the directions printed on the wall.

"That's a great idea. This seems pretty simple. Here, let me hand you each the stuff you will need."

"Woohoo!" Solana exclaims, eagerly grabbing the supplies in her arms. Nathan follows with his supplies and we move to an open space on the floor.

"Alright," I say, mixing together some plaster and clay for Solana and Nathan. "Let's press this into your molds."

I guide Solana's hands as she presses down. Beside me, Talia kneels down and does the same for Nathan.

"This is so neat," she tells him. "This will make a really cool souvenir."

"Yeah!" he says, his excitement evident.

As I watch Talia work with Nathan, I can't help but feel a sense of pride. She's so good with children, and it's clear that Nathan trusts her. I'm glad that Talia brought me along today, even though our relationship is so complicated.

After we finish making our fossils, we wander around the museum. Solana and Nathan run ahead, giggling and pointing at the exhibits. Talia and I walk slowly behind them, taking in the displays.

"You know," Talia says, breaking the silence between us. "You're going to be an amazing dad. You have done a really good job today with Solana and Nathan."

I look at her, my brows rising. I'm a little taken aback.

"You think so?"

She nods. "Yes, I do. You have a kind heart and you're great with kids. And I can tell that you care about them."

I feel my chest swell with pride at her words. I never thought of myself as father material, but hearing Talia say that makes me feel like maybe I could be.

"Thanks," I say. I shake my head and shrug. "I have a lot to learn, but I'll do my best."

Talia smiles at me, and her expression softens. It's moments like these that make me forget everything else - the lies, the secrets, the mistrust. It's just Talia and me, and the great unknown expanse of the future.

After hours in the museum, the group heads out back to spend the rest of the day in the park attached to the museum, lounging in the sunshine. Though it's still windy and cool outside, the kids don't seem to know it.

We eat bagged lunches of peanut butter and jelly and apples. The adults have found spots under the dappled shade of the tall pine trees.

Solana and Nathan are running around, giggling and playing tag. Talia and I are lying side by side, soaking up the meager warmth of the afternoon sun.

Suddenly, Solana stops in her tracks and turns around. She runs back towards us and falls to her knees in the grass next to Talia. Talia raises her hands, ready to ask what's going on. But Solana snuggles up to Talia's baby bump, talking to it like it's an old friend.

"Hi baby," she coos. "Guess what? Talia said we can go on a trip to the zoo soon! I can't wait."

Talia laughs softly and strokes Solana's hair. "That's true. I did say that."

Solana looks at Talia, wrinkling her nose.

"How long until the baby gets here? Will it be here when we go to the zoo?"

"Uhh..." Talia stammers.

I sit up. "No, not quite yet. The baby won't be here for a few more months."

Talia flashes me a grateful look. I grab her hand and squeeze it.

"That's not fair." Solana makes a pouting expression. "I want to meet the baby."

"Solana!" a girl bleats from two hundred yards away. "Come play hide and seek with us!"

Fast as lightning, Solana is on her feet and dashing away. I watch her go, shaking my head.

"That kid is crazy."

Talia makes a soft sound and presses her palm against her belly. Her expression is puzzled.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

She shakes her head and moves her palm a few inches up. "I don't know. I think... I think I can feel her moving."

Talia grabs my hand and presses it against her stomach. Sure enough, I can feel a soft fluttering sensation beneath my palm. Talia's eyes widen and she looks up at me in wonder.

"It's the baby," she whispers.

I feel a lump form in my throat and my heart swells with emotion. This is my child growing inside her. Our child.

"It's amazing," I say, my voice choking with emotion. "Absolutely incredible."

Talia nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know. It's hard to believe that there's a little life inside of me."

I brush my thumb gently over the back of her hand, lost in thought. Despite the circumstances that brought us together, I can't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe at the life growing inside Talia. It's a reminder that, even in the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty in our lives, there is still something pure and beautiful.

Damn. I do everything right, this could really be life-changing. I know that things between Talia and I are far from perfect, but maybe we can actually make a family for our baby.

Loving, caring, supportive. The kind of family that I never had.

I kiss the back of Talia's hand and she looks up at me, her expression softening. For a moment, everything feels suspended in time, as if we're the only two people in the world.

But then, the sound of a car horn blaring outside jolts us back into reality. Talia jumps, startled.

I sit up straight and pull my arm away from Talia. My heart races as Felix's gaze shifts between the two of us with a knowing smirk. I clasp my hands together, desperately trying to keep a composed exterior.

"Uncle Felix," I say, voice strained. "What brings you here?"

"I called your personal assistant. He told me you were here." Felix takes a step forward and crosses his arms over his chest. "I have some news about deep sea drilling." He turns to Talia and smiles. "It's always nice to see you, Talia."

Talia nods politely and brushes a few blades of grass from her pants. "Hello, Felix."

"You two look like you were just caught fucking in the park or something." Felix shifts his gaze to me and chuckles. "She's really got you by the balls, huh?"

Talia flushes a particular shade of maroon and clears her throat. "I'm going to go check on the kids."

She gets up and beats a hasty retreat to the other side of the park.

I give Felix a glare. "What is so damn important that it couldn't wait for me to get home, Felix?"

Felix continues to look at me for a few moments before he seems satisfied with what he sees. He shifts his attention back to the business at hand.

"I received a call from one of our partners in the drilling project," Felix says, his tone serious. "They've hit a snag. We need to invest more money to keep things moving forward."

I let out a frustrated groan. "How much more?"

"About fifty million," Felix says with a wince.

"What??"

"I know, it's a lot," Felix says with a shake of his head. "But we need to keep the project moving forward. If we don't pay some very important people, the project is dead in the water."

I nod slowly, my mind spinning with possibilities. I take a deep breath and look at Felix. "I had lunch with Remy a few days ago," I say.

Felix's brow furrows in concern. "How did that go?" he asks cautiously.

I sigh heavily, a mixture of anger and frustration bubbling in the pit of my stomach. "We had a heated argument about whether I should be CEO or if Burn should be promoted instead." I pause before pushing forward, needing to get it all out in the open. "Remy threatened to name Burn CEO if I didn't agree to his demands."

Felix runs a hand through his hair as he takes this information in. "That doesn't sound good," he finally says, sighing heavily.

"No," I agree grimly. "It's not." I frown, trying to think of some way out of this mess without having to make an enemy of Remy.

Felix nods, understanding the situation. "We have to find another way," he says thoughtfully. He pauses for a moment, thinking before continuing.

"We need to start making contacts with some private banks that finance huge loans like we would need for the project. I know a few people who can put us in touch with the right people." He looks at me expectantly.

I hesitate, not sure if I'm ready to take on such a risk. "Are you sure about this? What if it all goes wrong?" I ask reluctantly.

Felix nods firmly. "I know it's a risk, but we have no other choice. We can't let Remy bully us into doing something we don't want to do. We need to take control of the situation." He pokes his bottom lip out. "But if we are going to get a loan, you'll have to be the front man for our interests. I can do all of the footwork, but you will have to sign all the documents for the loan. My cache is blown with the banks. They won't give me a cent."

My eyes narrow on Felix's face. "I don't suppose that's a story I want to hear, is it?"

He shrugs a shoulder and looks unrepentant.

"Some other time, maybe."

I grimace and shake my head. "Why did I even ask?"

Felix chuckles, but the sound is devoid of humor. We both know that he is not someone to fool around with.

He turns away like he's about to leave. Then he pauses and turns back to me.

“You and Talia are pretty lovey-dovey all of a sudden, huh? It makes you look weak. I'm not surprised that Remy is choosing your brother over you. If I were in your shoes, I would cool it on the kissy-touchy shit until my dad is dead.”

I square my shoulders and hold his gaze, refusing to be cowed. My tone is as warm as arctic ice.

"Any other thoughts, Uncle Felix? Or are you ready to scurry along and secure our venture and loan?"

He looks like he wants to say something else, but instead he just walks away.

I stand there, my mind spinning like an out of control top. Felix's sneer sticks with me and his words thunder through my skull.

"You two are pretty lovey-dovey."

As much as it pains me to admit, he may be right. I have grown used to being my grandfather's golden child. But now that Remy has sensed weakness in his potential heir, I have to consider that there could be real competition. The thought makes my gut twist uncomfortably, a reminder of what I am up against.

Is Felix right? Maybe I should pull back from Talia just a little while I still have Remy's eyes on my back.

Later that evening when I finally head to bed, I'm still thinking about it. Talia is still up, reading with her small bedside light on. I kick off my shoes and rip my shirt over my head, then wrestle off my pants.

Talia arches a brow when I lie down beside her. She folds down her page to mark her place in her book and then puts it aside.

"You're awfully quiet tonight. Is everything okay with your drilling project?"

I wince. "Yeah. It's just complicated. These things always are."

She nods and curls up against me, settling her face against my chest and drawing circles with two fingers on my ribs. Her touch is warm and relaxing. I could easily turn this moment into a night of hot sex by capturing her hand and kissing her deeply.

But I don't. I'm too keyed up for that. The words lovey-dovey are still ricocheting around in my head. I stare at the ceiling, trying to think of the best words to tell my wife that we have to tone down our affection in public.

"Dare?"

I screw up my face. "Yeah?"

There is a moment's hesitation.

"Can I tell you something?"

"Uhh, sure." I run my tongue over my teeth.

Talia takes a deep breath. I'm not sure what she's going to say, but when they come, her words stop me dead in my tracks.

"I think I might be falling in love with you," she says, her voice so soft that it's just above a whisper.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck.

Of course it would be tonight of all nights that Talia decides to throw caution to the wind and declare her love for me.

Fuuuuccccck.

It's been too long since she stopped talking. I know that she's waiting for a response. I just can't come up with words to say that will satisfy Talia but not sound too...

Lovey-dovey .

"Dare?"

"Yeah. I heard you."

Talia lifts her head, looking at me with a tiny frown.

"Did I speak out of turn?"

This is killing me. The look on her face and the neediness in her eyes are killing me. I'm hearing her voice when she told me she needed me... and then the sound of Felix's voice trying to drown her out.

Weak.

I clear my throat. "I feel something for you, Talia. There's no use denying that. But I don't want to put labels on our relationship. Love is... it's too messy and complicated. Christ, I loved Daisy. Look at how that all turned out! I don’t want that to happen again."

It's partially a lie, mixed up in a fragment of what feels awfully close to the truth.

She picks up my hand and kisses his palm. "I know how you feel, even if you won’t say the word. I can be patient with you. I... I just need you to tell me that I'm not crazy. I need to hear that you feel it, too."

"Don't put words in my mouth," I warn. "You can't just go around making up assumptions about what's going on in my head."

Talia looks at me like I'm a venomous viper who's just attacked her. She scoots away, creating space on the bed.

"What?" she asks, as if perhaps she misheard somehow.

Words just leap from my tongue. I can't seem to stop myself from twisting the knife even though the victim is my soft-hearted wife.

"Men don't like when you tell them what they feel," I argue, feeling imperious. "And they don't like being smothered, either. Maybe because you grew up without a father figure in your life--"

Her eyes widen. I stop mid-sentence, but the damage is already done. She gets up, sweeping the river of copper hair out of her face.

"Talia--" I try.

She shakes her head, her face contorting. "I'm going to go sleep in the guest bedroom with Aunt Minnie."

And as my punishment, I get to watch her dash for the door, looking for all the world like a woman fleeing her execution.

"Fuck!" I shout. I flop back on the bed, arms splayed wide.

That is not how I wanted to end an otherwise perfect day with my wife.