The Journey Home(54)
Author: Kelly Elliott

I was stunned into silence. Monica placed her hands on her hip and looked at me like she was my mother, waiting for me to confess what I had done wrong.

The saleslady returned. “Well, it looks like the jeweler can make both of Maddie’s gifts, as well as the charm for your daughter.”

“That’s wonderful,” I said. “Can he have the two done in time for Valentine’s Day?” I asked as Monica patiently stood there, eavesdropping.

She nodded and gave me a thumbs-up. “He loved the idea of custom work and said he would start as soon as possible to get these done by the end of the week. But we would have to charge extra for rushing them.”

I shook the saleslady’s hand. “That’s completely fine, I understand. You have no idea how happy this makes me.”

She slid a piece of paper across the counter and I filled it out as she took the sand and seashells and placed them, along with the drawings, inside a large, clear envelope. She stapled the receipt to the bag and gave me a copy.

“Be sure to leave a good contact number so that we can notify you when these are ready to be picked up.”

I slid the paper back to her, thanked her and turned to Monica. She was trying like hell not to smile. “Have coffee with me?” I asked as she smirked.

“You’re lucky I like you,” she said. “Come on, there is a new, darling little coffee shop that just opened around the corner.”

I followed Monica out the door. We walked along in silence until we reached the coffee shop. I ordered a black coffee while Monica ordered a green tea.

“Cale?” Monica asked as we stood in line waiting for our order.

“Yeah?” I turned to look at her. She had tears in her eyes and I felt my heart drop. “What happened? Monica, what’s wrong?”

The one tear that quickly escaped her eye had me wanting to track down Jack and beat his ass. If he’d hurt her again, I was going to kill him. Monica and I both startled when the girl behind the counter screamed our names. “Find us a seat,” I said to Monica, “and I’ll grab these.”

Monica found a seat and sat down as she wiped tears from her eyes. A million terrible things were running through my mind.

I set her tea down and smiled weakly at her as I sat down. She looked away and closed her eyes. When she turned back to me, her tears were falling freely. I reached across the table and took her hand in mine.

“Who do I have to kill?”

She let out a chuckle. “No one. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I can’t keep my feelings under control. It’s just, well, I just can’t believe it. I mean…”

She was beginning to talk in circles. “Monica, take a deep breath and let it out. I can’t understand a damn thing you’re saying.”

Monica took a deep breath. “Cale, you can’t tell anyone. I mean no one. If you do I’ll hang you from a tree by your nuts and take a baseball bat and beat you like a piñata.”

I leaned back some and frowned. “Um…I’m not sure I really want to know now, Monica.”

She grabbed my hands, pulling me closer. “Do you swear to keep this between us? I’m freaking the hell out. I’m experiencing emotions I’ve never experienced before. Do. You. Swear?”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure if I feared for my life, or if now I was just curious as hell about what had her acting like this.

“I swear, Monica.”

She closed her eyes, smiled and opened them again. Something was different about her. She seemed to be…glowing.

She swallowed and bit her lip before saying, “Cale, I’m two months pregnant.”

I SMILED AS Cale walked through the door. “Hey!” I called out.

He gave me a weak smile. “Oh, um, hey.”

From the look on his face, I could tell something was wrong instantly. I stood up and walked over to him, checking on Lily, who was fast asleep in her playpen.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I stood on my toes to kiss him gently on the lips.

“I um…uh…nothing.” He looked away and I couldn’t help but smile. I used my finger to turn his face back to me.

“You’re a terrible liar, Cale Blackwood. Spill it.” I raised an eyebrow at him.

He shook his head. “What? No, I mean. I just got done picking out your Valentine’s Day gift that’s all.”

He slipped his hand behind my neck and pulled me in for another kiss. His tongue seeked entrance to my mouth and I easily granted it access. Soon, we were both lost in the kiss.

“Maddie, I want you,” Cale whispered, his lips caressing the delicate skin behind my ear.

My whole body came to attention as I let him take control. Barely, I said, “Yes.”

Cale pulled my shirt up and over my head. In one swift movement, he pushed my bra up and sucked on one nipple while his fingers pulled and twisted the other. I threw my head back and called out Cale’s name.

“Maddie, I want to make love you,” he said. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he picked me up and carried me to the sofa. “I want to bury myself inside of you and stay there forever.”

“Cale,” I whispered as I felt the love igniting between us. “I love you so much.”

He kissed along my neck and up to my lips, saying, “I. Want. You. So. Badly.”

My breathing picked up as Cale pulled off my pants and panties. He slipped his fingers inside of me and I could feel my body pulling him in. It never ceased to surprise me how he made my body come to life. He gently moved his fingers in and out of my wetness as I felt my orgasm begin to build. I grabbed a pillow from the sofa and moaned into it as my orgasm took control of my body. Before I even recovered, I felt Cale push inside of me. Our bodies became one and I dropped the pillow and looked into the eyes of the man I would forever love. Cale moved slowly in and out as I placed my hand on his cheek. He smiled and I felt tears building in my eyes as we experienced this strong emotional connection.

Cale pushed in and moaned as he poured himself into me. “Maddison, I love you so much,” he said, and I wrapped my arms tightly around him.

I couldn’t say how long we lay on the sofa wrapped up in each other as I watched Lily sleeping soundly.

I ran my finger along Cale’s arm and smiled. “So are you going to tell me now what’s wrong? I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with you going and buying a Valentine’s Day gift…although I’m curious about that, now.”

I felt the vibration in his chest as he laughed. “You know me so well, Maddie. There is nothing I can hide from you.”