Chapter 37
FOUR YEARS LATER
Marley
Charlie and I spent the day in Central Park and had a picnic with the kids.
“This is nice.” I smiled as I lay my head in Charlie’s lap while the twins chased each other and played.
“It sure is. I can’t believe they’re going to be five years old in a few weeks,” he said.
“I can’t either. They’re growing so fast.”
“Do you regret not having any more kids?” he asked.
“I will admit there was a time or two where I started to get baby fever, but then the twins would start fighting and screaming, and that feeling flew out the window.”
“Same for me.” He chuckled.
“Before you know it, they’ll be teenagers and then off to college.”
“I don’t even want to think about that, Marley. I won’t ever be ready to let them go.”
“Daddy, Ashton hit me.” Ashley ran over and cried.
“No, I didn’t. She’s lying,” Ashton said.
“You’re lying!” Ashley pushed him down.
Ashton started crying. I lifted my head and looked at Charlie.
“You were saying?” I arched my brow.
“Right. Maybe college can’t come fast enough.”
We calmed the children down by giving them a snack before packing up and heading home. As we walked through the park, I stopped when I saw a familiar face sitting on a bench.
“Charlie, is that?—”
“Yep. What’s he doing back in New York?”
I took hold of Ashley’s and Ashton’s hands and knelt before them.
“Kids, do you want to play a game?”
“Yeah!” Both children exclaimed.
“See that man sitting on the bench by himself?”
“Marley, don’t,” Charlie spoke.
“Yeah, Mommy,” both children said.
“I want you to run over to him and yell ‘Daddy.’”
“Marley—”
“Shush, Charlie. Go on, you two. We’ll be right behind you.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Charlie whispered.
“Having a little fun.” I grinned.
Ashley and Ashton ran up to Troy. The look on his face was priceless, and I wished I had my phone out.
“Marley?” His eyes widened as I approached him. “What the hell?”
“Language in front of your children.” I smiled. “I’m happy you’re back in New York. Now, we can go to court for all the back child support you owe for the last five years.”
“These are not my kids!”
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” Ashton jumped up and down.
“Stop that!” Troy stood up. “Listen, Marley. I’m broke. I have nothing to give you. You look very familiar to me.” He looked at Charlie.
“Chicago airport,” Charlie said. “About six years ago.”
“That’s right. You were the guy sitting next to her in the airport and the plane.”
“Listen, Troy. The twins are mine, not yours. Marley was just playing around with you. And I will admit that what you did by lying to her and telling her you were single to get her to sleep with you was wrong. Not to mention the crap you pulled with your ex.”
“They’re not mine?” Troy asked.
“Do you not understand English?” I cocked my head.
“Wow, Marley. Who the hell tells a man they’re the father when he’s not? That’s just pure evil.” He shook his head, walked away, and then turned around. “You are one evil woman.”
“You’re no fun,” I pouted, glancing at Charlie.
“Let it go, babe. Let it go.” He hooked his arm around me and kissed the side of my head.
“Daddy, Mommy’s not evil,” Ashley said.
“She can be when she wants to be, sweetheart.”
“You are going to pay for that, Stone.” I smacked his chest.
“Promise?”
Twelve Years Later
Marley
When they graduated, Charlie and I took the twins to Paris for the summer. They were planning on backpacking through Europe together, and I was all for it since I’d done it when I was their age, but Charlie wouldn’t let them. He had planned this trip well in advance, which allowed me not to schedule any major events while we were gone. While we were sitting on the patio of the beautiful home he rented us for the summer, sipping wine and eating cheese and crackers, Ashley walked out holding a boy's hand. I immediately placed my hand on Charlie’s arm to keep him calm.
“Mom. Dad. I’d like you to meet Luca. Luca, these are my parents, Charlie and Marley.”
“It’s so nice to meet you. Ashley has told me so much about the two of you.”
“How old are you?” Charlie asked.
“Dad!”
“I’m seventeen, sir. Can I just say that I’m a huge fan of your video games?”
“Are you now?”
“Yes.”
“Luca is a genius at coding and developed his own game, Daddy.”
“You did?” Charlie tipped the glass to his lips.
“It’s really no big deal. I just did it for fun.”
“And how and when did the two of you meet?” Charlie asked.
“I met Luca at the fruit stand. His parents own it. I went to pick up an orange, and they all started falling.” Ashley smiled. “We’re going out. Come on, Luca.”
“Where are you going?” Charlie asked.
“To dinner.”
“I will make sure to have your daughter home before her curfew,” Luca said.
“I’ll be watching,” Charlie spoke.
“Mom!”
“Go on and have a nice dinner.” I smiled. “What is wrong with you?” I cocked my head at Charlie.
“You don’t see anything wrong here, babe?”
“No. She’s almost eighteen and is interested in a boy in Paris. I think it’s cute. And he seems like a really nice boy. Besides, you should be flattered.”
“Flattered? Why should I be flattered?”
“Because she picked a boy who reminds her of her Daddy.” I grinned.
“I don’t trust him.”
“You never trust any of the guys she’s dated the past couple of years.”
“Exactly! And look at what they did to her.”
“They did nothing to her.” I laughed. “She broke it off with them because they weren’t good enough for her.”
“Hey, you two.” Ashton walked out, looking as handsome as ever. “I’m going out.”
“Where are you going, son?” Charlie asked.
“I met this girl the other day, and we’ve been talking. I’m taking her on a date. Can I borrow your credit card, Dad?”
“Sure, son.” He reached into his wallet, pulled out his credit card, and handed it to Ashton. “Who is this girl?”
“She’s great and so beautiful.”
“Have a good time and be safe,” Charlie said.
I sat there and glared at him.
“Oh, by the way. I saw you met Luca. He’s a really great guy, Dad. You don’t have to worry about him. I’ll see you two later.”
“Seriously?” I said to Charlie.
“What? He’s a man. It’s different when it comes to Ashley.” He took out his phone and pulled up her location.
“Give me that.” I grabbed his phone from his hand.