STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (35 page)

   
“
All rise,
”
the pastor intoned. 
“
Let us pray.
”

    After church, Alex and Gwen invited everyone to the Country Club for brunch.  Many members stopped by their large table and Alex dutifully introduced the newcomers to their friends.

    Mona said,
“
Dad, hurry up and eat before the next member descends.
”

   
“
Good idea,
”
he said scooping a large bite of scrambled eggs.  He swallowed and said,
“
What's on the agenda today?
”

   
“
Dirk and I are going to the Hudson river and rent canoes.  Anyone else interested?
”

   
“
I am,
”
Angelica said,
“
and so is Cray.  He's getting a pot belly from these massive amounts of food we've been consuming and I refuse to marry a man with a pot belly.
”

    He laughed.
“
Guess that means I've got to row, too.
”

   
“
Of course, darling, I  don't have a weight problem.  I'll sit back, relax and give you encouraging words.
”

    Cray didn't have a hint of a pot belly, but he said,
“
I'm hurt.  I thought you liked my soft round belly.
”

   
“
No, I like your soft, round lips.
”

    He brushed his lips against hers. 
“
I like yours, too, and the other soft round parts of you.
”

   
“
Let's keep this G-rated,
”
Mona said and the group laughed.

    Birch and Darja said they'd go canoeing and so did Lake and Ladd.  The parents didn't seem interested in strenuous activity.

    Bekka said,
“
Sounds great, but I'm in surgery tomorrow at seven.  Freddie and I are heading back to the city when we finish here.
”

    As Freddie drove them towards New York City, he said,
“
Sweetheart, tell me which option you prefer from our meeting with Lake.
”

   
“
I dislike the idea of being away from you, but it seems that applying for a K-1 Visa makes the most sense.  Even if it takes a minimum of four months, I arrive with the intention of marrying a U.S. citizen and once I'm here it sounds like a green card will be forthcoming with no problems.
”

   
“
Yes, I concur.  Is there a chance you'll change your mind?
”

   
“
No.  Will you?
”

   
“
Sweetheart, five years ago when I turned thirty I decided I wanted to marry and raise a family, but deciding and doing are miles apart.  Until I met you, I put that thought on the back burner and didn't consider it.
”

   
“
Do you worry that this is happening too fast?
”

   
“
Do you?
”

   
“
No.  I'm sure we'll have our ups and downs while we're learning more about each other, but I'm also sure we'll work through any aggravations.  We should probably wait a couple of years before starting a family, but here again, I don't want to wait.
”

   
“
Bekka, I'm an only child.  My mother gave birth to a stillborn, but that doesn't count.  I'd like to have more than one child, but since you're the one bearing them, it's your choice.
”

   
“
I worked in obstetrics for eighteen months.  I recognize the pain of giving birth and sometimes it's terrible for the mother, but think of the reward.  I'd like four.
”

   
“
That's the number I thought of, but I don't want to influence you.
”

   
“
I'm thirty-two.  We should have them fast.  If I have them close together, do you think I could have a baby-sitter until they're at least out of diapers?
”

   
“
We'll hire a nanny for each one of them,
”
he said.

   
“
No, absolutely not.  Freddie, I'm adamant about that.  You and I must raise our children, not hired help.
”

   
“
I'll be a good father, I promise and you take charge of hiring the help you need.  If you want us to spend our time raising the kids, then we'll hire a housekeeper and cook.
”

   
“
There's something else.
”

   
“
Tell me.
”

   
“
I'd rather not raise our children in the city.  Kids need wide open spaces to run and explore and they need pets and lots of friends their  age.  I don't want my children sent away to boarding school, either.  Can we do that?  How does that affect your job?
”

   
“
The moment you're pregnant, we'll find a house you love in a neighborhood you love with kids, grass, dogs, cats and don't forget a swing set and a tree house.  I can direct my business from a home office as easily as going to the city.  You and our children are my top priority.  Oh and no boarding school.  We can send them to public school or private school, whichever you think is best, but they come home every night, sit around the table and we'll help them with their homework.
”

    She laughed and said,
“
Let's go to your place and get me pregnant.
”

   
“
Are you serious because there's nothing I'd like better.
”

   
“
You like the idea of bareback,
”
she said teasing.

   
“
Never did that, but I understand it gives a whole new meaning to making love.
”

    
“
Are we being impetuous?
”

    
“
I guess.  It depends if you want to be showing in your wedding gown.
”

   
“
I don't care about a wedding gown, but I do want to be your wife.  Freddie, I love you.
”

    He swung the car into a roadside rest, shut off the engine and took her in his arms. 
“
Bekka, I love you.  To think you had to travel thousands of miles and if Cray and Mona weren't my friends, I wouldn't have met you.  It can't be a coincidence.  I will love you until my last breath and then I'll continue to love you and watch over you from afar.
”
 

    He kissed her with so much passion she moaned and when he released her, she said,
“
Let's go home.  I need to have you on me, in me with no barriers.
”

    The Phillips and Andersson siblings spent a glorious afternoon on the river canoeing.  They held races and Mona cried foul when her brothers Lake and Ladd won each time.

   
“
It's not fair because you have two strong men rowing while the rest of us are a mixed couple.  Everyone knows that men have more brute strength than women, but women are smarter.
”

   
“
More cunning, sneaky and conniving, too,
”
Ladd said causing an uproar among the women.  Mona stood up in the canoe ready to do verbal battle.  Dirk saved them from tipping by hauling her down on the seat while he worked hard to keep the balance.

    Dirk said,
“
You were saying what about women being smarter?  That was a dumb ass stunt you pulled, Mona.
”

   
“
My brothers rile me.
”

    He laughed. 
“
That's obvious, but hold your temper.  I don't relish taking a swim in the Hudson River in May.
”

    Freddie dropped off Bekka at the hospital at six the next morning.  She kissed him and said,
“
I'll call you when I'm finished and done checking the kids when they're out of recovery.  It should be mid afternoon since there are five scheduled today.
”

   
“
Okay, sweetheart, good luck.  I love you.  Don't tire yourself.  It's my baby too that you're carrying.
”

   
“
You rascal.  Do you really think I can get pregnant after one try?  Not likely.
”

   
“
Three tries, sweetheart.  Three fantastic, wonderful, heart-pounding tries.  I love you.
”

    Bekka called him at four that afternoon. 
“
Hi.  No need to hurry.  I took a cab home.
”

   
“
You're at our place?
”

   
“
Yes, I told you I'm home.  This is my home, too, isn't it?
”

   
“
It is indeed until we buy a rambling house with lots of yard and fill it with our kids.  I believe the first one is on its way.  How do you feel?
”

   
“
Tired.  Ready to collapse.  Exhilarated.  Joyful.  Madly in love, but I doubt I'm pregnant, so I suggest we keep trying multiple times until I leave for the place of my birth.  My real home is with you.
”

   
“
Bekka, I love you so much.  I'm leaving the office now.
”

   
“
I'll be in the shower washing off the hospital grime.
”

   
“
No, wait for me.  Will you wait?
”

   
“
I will if you'll give me a massage after we shower.
”

   
“
Done.
”

    Freddie walked in the door of his condo and detected her subtle fragrance, realized she showered without him.  He rushed to their bedroom and found her stretched out on the bed naked with her arms above her head, her full breasts thrust toward the ceiling and her hips twisted in a seductive pose with one leg bent.

   
“
Don't be angry that I showered.  I'm ready for you, but I do have one request.
”

   
“
Anything, sweetheart.
”

   
“
Take off your clothes and join me.
”

   
“
Is it normal for the masseuse to be naked?
”

   
“
It is when I want you to start the massage from the inside out, darling.
”

    His clothes fell in a heap on the floor and he joined her in bed, kissing her with deep passion, his tongue setting a pace that her hips soon followed.  He moved to her breasts, laving, nipping, sucking. 
“
Your breasts are so perfect for suckling our children.
”
  His mouth moved lower until he knelt between her legs.

   
“
As much as I love what you do to me, I can't get pregnant that way.  I'm so ready for you.
”

   
“
Yes and delectable, too.
”
  He entered her with slow, sure strokes while he kissed her.

    Afterward, he held her, kissed her and told her of his undying love.  She fell asleep with a smile on her face.  He eased from the bed, placed the sheet over her body and tiptoed from the room, taking a casual set of clothes from his closet.

    More than an hour later she woke, noted the time, used the bathroom, wrapped a robe around her naked body and wandered to the living room.  She found him in the den watching the stock market channel.  He rose and embraced her. 
“
Do you feel better, honey?
”

    She grinned and kissed him. 
“
I do.  It must be the massage that put me to sleep.
”

    He chuckled. 
“
They're known to do that.  Our dinner should be here any minute, so your timing is great.
”
  The doorbell rang.