If Only We Knew (12 page)

“It’s not—” Putting her fingers to his lips, she didn’t let him finish.

“It’s none of my business it’s between your wife and you.”

“Thanks for understanding.” He
clasped
her finger and kissed it. “I have t
o go home.” He got up and went
over to the bassinet. “You’re still awake! Goodnight,
papito
.” He bent and kissed his forehead. “He smiled at me.” He laughed and turned around.

Shannon
walked
to the door with Matt behind her. When she was about to turn the doorknob, he stopped her, putting his hand over hers on the knob and his other arm over her head, trapping her in with her face to the door. He
moved
down to her ear, and whispered. “Thank you for always being here for me,
Mamita
.”

Please don’t kiss me. I don’t think I can stop myself. No, I can’t.
“You’re welcome,” she whispered. He kissed her neck and
moved
away, letting her open the door.

“Adios.”

She hoped he couldn’t see the goose bumps he’d caused when he kissed her neck. “Bye.”

She closed the door, leaning against it, not daring to think about him. About
them
.

Shannon’s first day back at work almost didn’t start. She
stepped
into her office and the first thing she did was call the daycare to check up on Matthew.

“Ms. Jones, Matthew’s okay.” Briana, the day care manager, tried not to laugh.

Shannon
chuck
led
. “Just making sure. I’ll try to not call again, but I can’t promise.”

“You sound just like his dad. He called too, checking in on him.”

“Thank you—bye.” Shannon hung up. There was a knock on her door. “Come in.”

The human resources secretary came in holding a dozen pink roses. “Ms. Shannon, these came in for you.” Amanda set them on her desk. “Congratulations on your baby. He is beautiful. Mr. Johnston showed me a
picture. He’s
a proud dad. He looks just like him.”

Shannon knew she was just being nosy
, because earlier she overheard her talking in the break room about her situation with Matt, and how
Shannon
should be ashamed of herself
. “Thank you, Amanda. I have to get back to work.” She
continued
typing on the keyboard. Amanda walked out her office and closed her door.

She pulled the vase with the roses closer to her and sniffed them, smiling. She picked up the envelope, and took out the card.

Shannon,

Welcome back.

Thank you for the precious gift you’ve given me.

Te quiero mucho,

Matt

When she was about to put the card back into the envelope, a picture of Matt and their son dropped on her desk, making her smile. The baby looked more and more like his dad. His eyes were just a little lighter.

Matt’s office door was open. That way he could see what was going on in the branch. He sat in his office, behind his desk, just looking at his computer screen.
I guess she didn’t like the roses, just like Karen didn’t like her bracelet.
He could feel someone watching him, and he looked up to find Shannon. He stood.
Here it comes.

Shannon stared at him before
strolling
into his office. She got closer and pulled him into a hug and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for the roses. No one has ever sent me flowers,” she said with a big smile.

“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling back. “I thought you were mad when I didn’t hear from you.”

“Why would you think that? I waited until lunch because I just wanted to say thank you in person and give your branch something more to talk about.”

“It’s been that type of day.”

“Yes, it’s been that type, but I expected it. That’s what I get for sleeping with my married co-worker.”

“I wasn’t married at the time.”

“They don’t know that.”

“But we do, so who cares what people think? Let them think whatever they want.”

“I have to go back to work. Just stopped by to say thank you. It meant more than you know.”

“I hope you have a better day.”

“Oh, I will.” She walked out his office.

As he walked her out, he could see the way his employees stared at her and began to whisper to each other.
This will die down soon
.

He sighed.
I hope
.

It was Matthew’s first sleepover at Matt and Karen’s home. Matt was sitting on his love seat with the baby in his arms when his cell phone rang. Even before he saw the caller ID, he knew who it was. She never called the house phone. “Hi Shannon. He’s okay.” He
chuckled
into the phone.

“Don’t laugh. I was just checking in.”

“He’s fine,” Matt said, trying to sound serious. “I expected you to call. I remember
his first
day
at day
care. You called about ten times that day.”

“No I didn’t.” She laughed. “It’s different. He’s going to be away from me for two whole days.”

“Shannon, I promise to take care of our son.”

“I know, silly. You better not spoil him.
I bet you’re holding him right now.”

Matt looked at the baby in his arms and kissed his cheeks. “I’m not.”

“Yeah, right. I promise not to call you again today.”

“We’ll see, but I understand how you feel. It’s his first time staying with Daddy.”

“Well, since I have time on my hands, I should do something relaxing. Maybe go to the spa.”

“I think that’s a great idea.”

“How is Karen with him?”

He couldn’t tell her the truth,
which was
that Karen didn’t even look at Matthew. That as soon as he’d come home with the baby, she’d said she was going shopping. “She’s good. She just has to get used to him.”

“If you need anything, call me, promise you’ll call me.”

“I will. Bye,
Mamita
.”

“Bye.” She disconnected.

Matt looked at Matthew. “Mommy’s worried, but you’re with Daddy.” He tickled his nose.

There was a knock at the front door. Matt got up and with the baby over his shoulder, walked over and opened
it
.

“Looks who’s here, Matthew.
It’s your
uncle.” Matt moved out the way to let Andrew by. “Come in.”

Andrew walked in and closed the door behind him. “Give me my nephew.” Matt handed him the baby, and both of them
moved
into the family room and sat.

“You’re getting so big, Mr. Johnston,” Andrew said, playing with Matthew. “You’re my favorite nephew.” He kissed his cheeks.

“He’s your only nephew. Shannon is going to kill you for spoiling him,” he said, playing around.

“I just held him, but you, on the other hand, had him in your arms all day.”

“That might be, but I’m going to tell her it was you. I can’t help it. I don’t get to see him every day.”

“How do you feel having the baby here with your wife?”

“I wouldn’t know about my wife. As soon as I got here, she disappeared. But I feel wonderful having him with me.”

“Seeing him here with you makes me remember what you said a year ago about not wanting your baby living in two different homes, but he’s here and there, and you’re both great parents. I told you it could be done.” He looked at Matt.

“Why would you bring up that shit?” He put Matthew in his playpen.

“Because that’s why you married Karen, but it’s all turned around now. The things you wanted for your son are not what you’re getting. You married the wrong woman.”

“I didn’t plan this. It was out of my hands.”

Andrew got up. “If you’d have known about the baby before you got married, would you have still married Karen or would you have married Shannon instead? Technically, they were both pregnant. Matthew could’ve had a brother or sister.” He
observed
him. “The look on your face is priceless. You never thought about that.”

“No. Shannon would’ve told me no, and you know it. I don’t regret marrying Karen. She’s forgiven me and has accepted Matthew.”

“Has she?”

“Yes, she has.” he answered, getting aggravated.

“The first day you get to bring him home, where is she? If she forgave you, she needs to act like it. I know you’re getting pissed, so I’m going shut up. Just think of what I said. Your son shouldn’t feel like he doesn’t belong, the way we did when we visited Mom.” He
walked in
to the kitchen.

“I wouldn’t let that happen.”

“I know, just think about it. Okay, I’m done lecturing you. What do you have to eat?”

Four hours later, Karen came into the house with shopping bags in her hands. “Matt, I’m home.”

He ran out of the kitchen. “Shh, Matthew’s sleeping.”

Karen put her bags down on the floor,
ran
over to where Matt was, and kissed him. Matt pulled back. “That’s a good welcoming. I tried to cook dinner.” He looked into her hazel eyes.

“I ate already.” She pulled away. “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.” She
turning
and went up the stairs without even glancing at the baby.

Matt sat down by himself and ate dinner, feeling lonely even with his wife there under the same roof. He picked up the phone and dialed Shannon’s number without thinking about it.

She answered on the first ring. “Is something wrong?”

“No, just wanted to let you know he’s doing great. I didn’t want you to worry.” He didn’t want to let her know he just needed to hear her voice.

“Matt, I’m not worried he’s with you. I trust you.”

“
Mami
, Did you go to the spa?”

“No I just stayed home, relaxed and cleaned.”

Matthew started crying. “You hear our son? I need to go. Call you tomorrow.”

“Okay, bye.”

Matt fell asleep with Matthew on his chest. Shannon is going to kill me,
he thought when he woke up. He took Matthew upstairs to the guest bedroom he’d turned into a nursery. He placed the baby in his crib, kissed him, turned on the night-light, and walked to his room, stripping off his clothes on his way. He looked down at Karen. She was beautiful, her brunette hair up in a ponytail, and her skin was two shades lighter than his. He lay down beside her.

She turned to face him. “Hi, sweetie.”

Something was bothering him, and he needed to ask her. “Karen, you haven’t looked at Matthew all day.”

“I’m trying, Matt.”

“You call ignoring him trying? It’s not his fault. You said you were going to try and fix us. I care about you, Karen, but if you can’t eventually accept him, we should just stop here.”

“If it’s about today, I left so you could have some alone time with him. I will accept him. He’s part of you.” She began to kiss him.

He pulled away. “Karen, can you try to be more involved? I don’t want him to feel he doesn’t belong here, in our house.”

“I would never want him to feel like that.” She pulled him back into a passionate kiss.

He kissed her back with all the lust he was feeling. “I’ve missed you,” he said, moving over her, fully aroused.

“I’ve missed you, too.” She removed her top.

He kissed her neck, moving to her small, perky breasts, sucking and nibbling on each one of them. All of a sudden, flashes of the night with Shannon
came
back to him as he thought of the way his body had reacted to her when she touched him. He leaned up and stared into Karen’s eyes. When she stared back, there was something missing. He
slid
his boxers
off
.

Karen put her hands behind his neck and pulled him down for another passionate kiss. “Mmm, I miss those the most.” She moaned.

He opened her legs, grabbed his cock, and rubbed her pussy, feeling how wet she was. He was about to put his
dick
into her when Matthew’s crying came through the baby monitor on his nightstand. “Shit.” He grunted, trying to move off her.

Karen wrapped her legs around his waist and wouldn’t let go. “Don’t go, please, Matt,” she pleaded with him. “He’ll eventually stop crying.”