Chapter 6
Chapter Six
ALEX
I don’t bother dressing in my usual suit and tie before heading down to breakfast. I need coffee and the aroma of bacon sizzling in the pan is like a beacon to my stomach, signalling me down the stairs, or maybe it’s Merry that has me rushing to breakfast in my shorts and t-shirt.
My stomach grumbles, upset from the alcohol I drank last night and empty from all the extra calories burned during my workout. A smile stretches my lips, thinking of last night, then my grumbling stomach ties itself in knots as I walk into the kitchen and see her bright merry face.
She stops talking to Blanche as I approach the breakfast bar. Her gaze drifts over my casual clothing and she bites her lip.
I want to walk around the breakfast bar to where she sits, take her face in my palms and kiss her mouth, but I need to gauge her reaction to last night before I make a fool of myself in front of Blanche. “Morning.”
“Morning. About time you let yourself rest and sleep in,” Blanche says with her back to me as she cooks at the stovetop.
“Did you sleep well?” I ask Merry as I sit across from her at the breakfast bar.
She pulls the tie tight on her dressing gown around her waist.
Before Merry can speak, Blanche waves a spatula in Merry’s direction. “I said she must’ve had a good night’s sleep. She’s glowing this morning.”
Merry looks down at her plate, a blush creeping up her neck.
“Is that right? Must be something in the air. Last night was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages.” I give Merry a wink and then cringe internally. I’m like an awkward fucking schoolboy, not a grown man. This is my ex-wife. I should be able to go over there and kiss her if I want, but I don’t want Blanche to lecture me or my son to find out, for that matter. He’ll remind me why I’m not good enough for his mother and Blanche will remind me how low I was licking my wounds after she broke my heart.
“I think it was the eggnog.” Merry beams with a smile. The morning light catches her face, making her look even more radiant.
Blanche spins around and waves the spatula around again. “Maybe it was that wacky tobacky I found out on the patio this morning.” She looks between the two of us with a smile. “Hmm?”
“That was medicinal.” I hide a smirk behind my coffee. “For my back.”
Blanche gives me a sympathetic smile. “Was it stiff again last night?”
Merry chokes on her drink, spluttering and gasping for air.
Blanche pats her on the back. “Get it up, love.”
I lift the morning paper, hiding behind it with a silent chuckle, but wondering how I can get my ex-wife alone again, and more importantly, in my bed.
With today’s plans, that will not be an easy task. Spending all day with Finn and the groomsmen at the golfing resort and country club while Merry’s being pampered next door is gonna be torture.
“Are you all right, ma'am? You've gone as red as a tomato.”
Merry coughs again, then wafts a napkin in front of her face. “I’m okay. Just having a tropical.”
She was definitely tropical last night. She was fire.
I drop the paper onto the breakfast bar as the front door opens and closes. Turning around to the entrance of the kitchen, Finn and Shelly enter with beaming smiles on their faces.
Blanche immediately drops her spatula and rounds the island to wrap her arms around the two of them, just as she would when Finn was a child and came over for the holidays. “Have you eaten?”
“No, we came straight over, as we couldn’t wait to tell you after sitting on this news all day yesterday.”
Clapping her hands, Blanche spins on her heel. “I’ll whip up a couple more full English breakfasts.”
After what Merry told me last night, I already know what the news is. With the smile stretched across Finn’s face and the glow in Shelly’s cheeks, you don’t have to be a genius to know she’s carrying his child.
Merry’s eyes twinkle in the morning light that peers through the French doors. I remember her having the same sparkle in her eyes when we found out we were expecting. Though unexpected and under very different circumstances, we were happy nonetheless.
“Mum, Dad.” Finn takes in a deep breath and squeezes Shelly’s hand. “You’re gonna be grandparents.”
Merry’s already on this side of the breakfast bar, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations.” She wraps Shelly in a hug and kisses her cheek, too. “I’m so happy. Do you know how far?”
Shelly says, “After we did the test at home, Finn booked us in for a private scan this morning and, according to the measurements, I’m fourteen weeks, which makes sense why the dress wouldn’t fit.”
“Oh, sweetie.” Merry gives her another hug. “We’re going to have a summer baby.”
I rise from the stool and hold my hand out to shake Finn’s. “Congratulations, son.” Emotions settle in the back of my throat, making it difficult to speak, so I pull him close and pat him on the back. “You’ll make a wonderful dad.”
“Thanks.” He turns around to Blanche’s onslaught of pecks on his face as she gushes over his news.
I stand back, rubbing the ache in my chest. Most people learn how to be a good parent from their own, but I think all I’ve taught Finn is how not to do things. It’s going to take some time to build up a relationship like the one he has with his mother, but I’m gonna make damn sure this kid wants for nothing.
Marley widens his stance, holding the club in front of his face as if balancing his chakra. He takes a deep inhale, then exhales before swinging his arm back and hitting the ball. Whatever ritual he’s practicing seems to work as he’s beating us all my a mile.
Some of the younger ones are taking the golf less seriously, hanging back with the beers on the cart.
“Where are you travelling to next, Marley?” I stroll towards the ball and get into position to take my swing.
“We were going back to Europe, but with Shelly’s news, Celeste wants to stay here and put down roots again.”
I take my shot, knocking the ball onto the fairway. Can’t say I blame them. It’s exciting to know we’ll have a new family member by next summer. Knowing that this time I get to be the doting grandparent and not take any of the responsibility comes with its own rewards.
When Finn was born, Merry and I were very young, in our early twenties at the beginning of our careers, but we thought we could do it all and take on the world. While we were excited for a baby, it didn’t come without its anxiety and all the worries and fears that any new parent experiences. But a grandchild is a gift and comes with all the knowledge and confidence that I know how to do it right this time.
“Have you travelled much?” Marley asks as we walk down the embankment, pulling our carts.
“I’ve travelled a lot for business. Worked on several developments in Dubai, but I settled in Magnolia Point as I fell in love with the place. Since Merry and I divorced, it’s been the next best thing to a home.”
Finn catches up with us, shouting across the green, “We’re going for food.” He waves us over and we all pile into the golf carts scattered around.
As I climb out of the cart, I meander around the country club resort, peering into the large windows of the pool area, hoping I get a glimpse of Merry.
Finn strolls behind me, having the same idea as he waves to Shelly in the jacuzzi.
I scan the area. “Can you see your mom?”
Finn points to the area near the bar. “There she is.”
My breath catches in my throat as Merry turns around with a cocktail in hand. Her red swimsuit shows off every curve. Our eyes lock through the glass.
Her lips part as she walks from the bar towards the pool.
My eyes zero in on the deep V of her swimsuit, packing some serious scaffolding in there, as her tits would give any lingerie model a run for their money.
“What’s she doing?” Finn says, waving to get her attention, but her eyes are fixed on me.
My faint reflection in the glass stares back at me with a goofy grin, then a gasp as Merry walks straight off the edge of the pool, falling into the deep end.
Somehow she manages to keep her cocktail above water even when her head submerges beneath the surface.
Finn chuckles at the side of me, knocking my arm with his elbow. “I don’t think she meant to do that.”
Shelly climbs out of the jacuzzi and rushes to the poolside.
Merry’s head breaches the surface, a shocked expression on her face. She smoothes a hand over her slicked back hair, looking even sexier than she did when it was styled in waves around her face.
“Do you think she’s all right?” Finn says, watching his bride-to-be take the drink from her soon-to-be mother-in-law.
“She’s fine,” I say, knowing she’s more than fine. The woman I married has only got better with age, like a full-bodied, fine wine, aged to perfection. The label might be a little worn, but the substance is more delicious than ever.
After having a taste last night, I need more.