Chapter 24
If anyone had told me that a day would come when I'd receive the most shocking words that would render me speechless and immobile, I wouldn't have believed it. But guess what? Today is that day. First, I listened to Dora’s confession, mindful that I'd already made a confession of my own to Dean.
When she admits the child is hers, it's like a punch to my gut.
I knew it! Something was off, and this is it.
Dora had met someone else and even had a child.
She just admitted to the child being conceived out of love.
There's no hope for me. That is, until Dean demands to know the father of her child.
I didn't want to listen anymore, but I was too heartbroken to move.
So, I sit there as she names me. That's when my entire world comes to a standstill.
We made a child together. We have a child…
conceived out of love. Does that mean what I think it means?
Wonder, fear, amazement, all of these emotions slam into me one after the other.
I have a child. Dora had my child… but she hid him from me.
The thoughts swirl in my mi nd as I load the suitcases, bags of toys, and baby supplies into the trunk of my car.
I'm so glad Dean is here to hear all of this because he takes charge.
He phones his parents and secures a private aircraft for our return.
Once the ladies are secured in the car, he grabs my hand. “Let me drive. You're in no condition. We’ll stop by your hotel first, grab your bags, and then catch our flight.”
I manage a grateful nod, “Thanks, man!”
Once more, I am shaken by the truth — I'm a dad. The incredulity of my new life hits me as I settle into the car for our drive. Shame for my stupidity engulfs me. How can I blame Dora for keeping our child from me when all I ever did was belittle her and make her feel unwanted?
Shame glues my tongue to the roof of my mouth as Dora tries to talk to me on the way to the airport.
How do I even begin to apologize? What do I say?
How do I say it? Will she believe me? These tumultuous thoughts keep tumbling in my head, keeping me quiet, even when we reach the McLean mansion.
Thankfully, I’d remembered to send a brief text to my parents, instructing them to meet us at the McLean mansion, regardless of how late in the night it was when we landed in New York.
Amid the squabbling and yelling over Dora’s foolish decision, and the part Merry and Gina played, I remain silent.
What more can I say? Marybeth is crying about Dora’s betrayal and Mamma is consoling her.
The three ladies sit on the couch facing the entire room, heads bowed low, shoulders sagging, and bodies trembling.
The baby, on the other hand, is left asleep in a cot.
Up until now, I still haven't seen my child’s face.
A wave of amazement washes over me again. I have a child. Just as I'm quietly swelling with pride, Mr. McLean’s voice rings out loud and clear, with so much authority that the room grows still, allowing in the sounds of the night.
“Now, Dora, the deed has been done. You did what you thought would protect you.”
Marybeth tries to interrupt, but her husband stops her, “Hush love… Dora, who is the father of your son?”
Silence descends upon the room, and I watch as all eyes settle on Dora.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Dean’s lips twitching with suppressed laughter and Lenny poking him in the ribs, asking him to share the joke.
I mentally shake my head, glad to be of some amusement for Dean at such a time as this.
I glance towards the direction of the culprits just as Dora clears her throat.
She seeks me out from across the room, and when her gaze meets mine, she opens her lips to announce without so much as a quiver in her voice, “My son’s name is Dylan Prime… Cole is his father.”
I clench my teeth and stiffen my stance, waiting for the storm to come, but it doesn't. Rather, what I hear are cheers and screams of delight. And one cry of anger from Dylan.
“I knew it …”
“You were right …”
“We’re sharing a grandchild …”
The sentences run over each other, and I can't tell who says what. In a matter of seconds, I'm pulled into hugs, handshakes, and back claps.
“Such good news!” My father declares with a flourish, hugging my crying mother to his side. I glimpse Marybeth rocking Dylan and cooing to him. I shake my head in amazement as Mamma joins her. It seems as though they've been waiting for this to happen. Which is quite a shock.
Too stunned by what was happening to even begin to understand, I decided to take advantage of the light-hearted atmosphere.
Turning to face the room, I enunciate clearly to everyone’s hearing, “I have a request. May Dora and I be excused to talk in private?
I haven't had enough time to digest this news, and I need to talk things over with her before you all ask for the next step.”
Not a single refusal or objection is raised.
Marybeth suggests we go up to Dora’s old bedroom, finally drawing Merry and Gina into hugs of gratitude.
I tail Dora out of the room as she leads me to her childhood bedroom.
Shutting the door quietly behind us, I close my eyes and lean on the door, exhaling as the tension that's been building in my stomach escapes through my nose.
“Cole…” My eyes fly open as I meet Dora’s gaze.
Lines of rage are etched into her face. My heart spasms in my chest. How do we get back from this?
How did I almost ruin three lives because of my cowardice?
A child conceived out of love… Her words ring in my head, and I let my guard down.
I allow my emotions to show on my face, becoming fully vulnerable with her in this room.
“Dora, I've been such a coward. The worst kind.” A shocked gasp escapes her lips, but I forge on. “That my cowardice could force you to have our baby, and keep him a secret from me, from your family, all these months…”
My heart breaks as she begins to cry. Whether her tears are from pain or anger, I can't tell.
I only know that I want to be the shoulder she cries on.
I'm at her side in two strides, pulling her resisting body into my arms to comfort her.
The soft bed sags under our combined weight and I begin to whisper to her, words I can't even decipher.
“I’m sorry. I've been such a fool. A blind cowardly fool.
I don't deserve this…you…or our child. It may have taken me a few months, years even,to finally take this bold step, but baby, I promised you that I will always come after you… Did you doubt those words?”
From beneath her tear-sodden lashes she looks up at me in confusion.
She flinches as I push her hair behind her ears, the same way I had done on the night she turned sixteen.
I lower my lips to her resisting lips. “Please…” I whisper, the tears heavy at the back of my throat.
I continue to kiss her, pouring all my emotions, fears, and joy into the kiss.
Slowly, her resistance melts away. When she begins to moan, groping at my neck, I pull back.
There's so much I need to say to her before desire fogs both our brains.
“I have a lot of confessions to make,” I state in all honesty. I gingerly take her hands in mine, blow out a shaky breath, and then begin.
“Dora, since you turned twelve, I've had an insane crush on you.” Her shocked gasp doesn't deter me, I continue.
“But I was twenty, with more experience in the ways of the world. I was so ashamed because how could I be attracted to a child? I felt like a pedophile. So I buried the crush. That shame and the pact I made with Dean when we were twelve caused me to bury my feelings.”
Dora cuts in, her voice sharp with curiosity. “What pact?”
I smile and rub my itching fingers against her lush lips.
Her nearness is driving me crazy, but I have to lay all my cards on the table before giving in to my sexual urges.
“Dean and I made a pact never to fall in love, date, or marry each other’s sisters.
My sister's death made it quite easy for Dean to keep the pact because she was gone forever. But you didn't make it easy for me.”
Dora begins to worry her lower lip with her teeth, looking nervous, “Dora, trust me when I say this, you are irresistible. I'd have to be dead, blind, and noseless to ever find you unattractive.”
I can tell that my words shock her because she looks away and whispers. “You don't have to lie to me …”
I grab her chin and tilt her face towards mine.
“Baby, I'm not lying. Everything about you turns me on. I can barely control myself when you're around. Which was why I kissed you on your sixteenth birthday. Dancing with you had aroused me so much. I even told Dean that I’d beat your so-called boyfriend to a pulp if he showed up.”
Dora chuckles. “If only you knew! There was no boyfriend. I was just saying it to cover up the fact that I was single when most of my friends were dating at my age.”
I shake my head at the workings of the female mind.
“The night I kissed you, I was ready to do more than just kiss you.
I needed to get my libido back under control, so I went searching for someone I could have sex with.
I'm not proud of it, but that was the only option I saw back then.
The girl I picked wouldn't stop bringing you up, so I said what I said in my defense.”
I stroke her chin in apology. “I didn't want her to think I had feelings for you. Dean would kill me after your parents were done with me. So, I tried to stay away after that incident. Keeping my distance. Sticking to a particular female body physique so no one would even guess I was falling madly in love with you.”
A sad smile sits on her face, and I give her a quick peck on her forehead. “That is until Dean shoved you right in front of me. You are so intelligent and beautiful, I just couldn't resist. I had to have you, even if it was once. Just to maybe get you out of my system.”