Chapter 27 #2
A smile touched her lips. “Amy Marie was a beautiful child, Zane. She had Down syndrome, though. It was as if I had committed two cardinal sins in my husband’s eyes.
Not giving birth to a boy—and producing a special needs child.
Brady washed his hands of us, telling me that he wanted a divorce.
I was mentally and physically exhausted, and then hearing that was the worst moment of my life. ”
White, hot heat seared through Zane, and he said, “I want to kill him.”
“He’s not worth it.” Kylie sighed. “I put aside my anger toward him a long time ago. It used up far too much emotional energy, and my daughter needed me. Fortunately, I still had a well-paying job, with good insurance. The doctors let me know that Amy Marie would have certain health issues throughout her life, mostly with her heart. I was strong enough to tackle those on my own.”
She hesitated a moment. “And then the cancer came.”
Kylie began weeping silently. Zane pulled her to him, not knowing how else to comfort her. She cried for several minutes before pushing away, brushing the tears from her cheeks.
“Leukemia is a tough disease. It took so much out of her. It was impossible, trying to tell a child who had just turned a year old that she had something eating away inside her. I took a leave of absence from work. Spent every waking moment with her, not to mention sleeping in her bed with her. Those last few months, I barely left the hospital.”
She swallowed. “In the end, her heart simply gave out, just as the doctors had warned me about at her birth. The treatment which would most likely have been successful with most other children was simply too much for her heart. I lost my little girl, Zane. The brightest light and my reason for living. I was filled with so much hurt and pain. Broken beyond repair.”
Kylie shook her head sadly. “I came home to the Bay to put myself back together. To try and heal. I needed to be in the loving arms of my family, the very family Brady had isolated me from. I asked them to never mention Amy Marie to me—or anyone else. Everyone in town knows I came home after a nasty divorce, but none of them know I had a child. Brady did a real number on me, and I hadn’t seen my family in a long time.
After our divorce, I asked to come home and work for Mayfield Charters.
I begged my parents not to share anything, even with their friends. The family respected my wishes.”
“You carried a heavy burden, Kylie,” he said, tears in his own eyes.
Her gaze met his. “That’s why I told you that I never wanted a husband or children. I couldn’t imagine opening my heart and loving again, as much as I had loved Amy Marie.”
She gave him a lopsided grin. “You changed a lot of my thinking, though. I began to trust you. Even love you. When we babysat Kevin and Keira? I saw how good you were with children. It made me want a child again.”
Kylie stood. “You’ve restored my confidence not only in myself but my faith in others.
I want to live again. Love again. I want to have more children.
I know I can’t control what happens in the future.
I might lose one again, but I have so much love in my heart.
I want to give it to you, Zane. I want to build a life with you. A family.”
She crossed her arms protectively. “You know everything there is to know about me now. No more secrets.”
Zane came to his feet and met her gaze. “You are the strongest, bravest, kindest, most loving woman. I would be blessed to have you in my life. On any terms. I want to marry you, Kylie. I can’t promise you a neat, simple life. That picket fence in a small town dream.”
“That’s never been my dream, Zane. I always wanted to soar. Even if it meant leaving the Bay for good.”
Her words reassured him. “I want us to be partners in every way imaginable. If Dad offers you a position at Wagner Enterprises, take it. If you want to. If you don’t feel it’s the right fit, there are plenty of opportunities awaiting you in New York.
I can talk to him about cutting back some on my traveling, but I—”
“Don’t do that,” she insisted. “I would love to have a job where I could work remotely, at least part of the time. I’m eager to see the world, Zane.
I’ve lived in such a tiny pocket of it for so long.
Why, this is my first trip to New York. I was so inspired by your grandparents that I applied and received my passport.
I can’t wait to go places around the world. With you.”
He stood and then dropped to one knee. Taking her hands in his, he said, “You are the love of my life, Kylie Mayfield. I want to spend every moment of the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Tears misted her eyes as she smiled at him. “Yes. Yes! I love you, Zane Wagner. Now that I know you love me? You’re never going to get rid of me. We are two halves of the whole that we’ve both been searching for, even if we had no idea we were looking for someone.”
Kylie was right about that. He had been a man adrift, completely focused on work because his personal life had turned into such a disaster. Yet fate had brought him to her in a place that meant the most to them both. He rose, giving her a tender kiss.
Breaking it, he said, “I guess we need to let you hear the rest of Dad’s pitch and see if he offers you something you can do when you accompany me on the road. We also need to share our good news with him.”
Zane kissed her again. “We’re a team, Kylie. Team Wagner. Now—and forever.”