The Unexpected Choice (12 page)

 

 

The next few weeks went by in a sleepy haze as one day ran into the next. Rachel might have been small, but she was mighty when she was hungry or dirty. Stacey had fallen into a nice routine, but she was exhausted.

Exhaustion didn't cover the powerful emotions of loving someone. Rachel was just as much her child as she was Cameron's. She might have come from Cameron's body, but Stacey was the woman raising the baby, and she was determined to do it well. So far, so good. Rachel was on a predictable schedule — thanks to the aid of several books on sleep training. She was already sleeping about six hours at night.

Because Joey was back at work, she tried to make sure he didn't get up with her much during the night. Even so, he wanted to get up on the weekends and watch her. Stacey admired how easily fatherhood came to him. She enjoyed Rachel, but sometimes she felt like a pretender. Joey was vocal about what a natural she was, and she was learning slowly but surely. It was just not as fast as she'd hoped.

It was Friday
,
and Joey's mom had offered to take Rachel for the night so they could catch up on their sleep. When Stacey saw her crossing the street to come get the baby, she felt relief wash over her. Rachel had been fussy most of the day, and she hadn't sat down, save a handful of times. When was the last time she'd eaten?

Ms. McCrary chirped a hello as she pushed the door open and clapped her hands together when her eyes landed on Rachel.

“Warning, she's a fussy pants today.” Stacey handed the baby over and promptly plopped on the seat behind her.

“A fussy pants? No way!” The woman bounced, and Rachel immediately calmed and studied her grandmother's face. The string of coos and nonsense coming out of her mouth made Stacey chuckle.

“She's a charmer.”

Ms. McCrary looked her over for a split second. “One of those days, huh? You look exhausted.”

“I am.”

“You know, I could come over more and help you. It's not like I'm busy now that I've retired. If you're having a bad day, at least bring her to me for a couple of hours so you can recoup.”

“That's okay. This is what I signed on for. But you know you're more than welcome to visit her anytime.”

She continued bouncing even though Rachel's eyes were drifting shut. “How're things between you and Joey?”

“Good.” She smiled when she thought of her husband and his amazing patience. “He's wonderful.”

“You're pretty great, too, ya know.”

“I just never want him to regret his decision to marry me. I love Rachel as much as he does now.”

“You think he would divorce you and take her away if you guys were in a fight?”

“No.” Stacey waved a dismissal hand in front of her. “We just rushed into things. I don't want to overwhelm him with my neediness.” In a classic gesture, she pushed up her glasses and sniffed.

“You're not needy. You're the most selfless person I've ever met, Stacey. How many other women would want to do this for a friend?”

She looked down with a frown. “You know he's more than a friend. I love him.”

“And he loves you. He'll see that eventually. That boy has loved you since you had pigtails and were riding a tricycle.”

Stacey smiled, knowing the words were true. But was it enough? How did Cameron play into all this? What if she ever came back?

“I know he does in his own way,” Stacey admitted. It felt good to say it out loud.

“Did he tell you he has to go to court next week?”

She nodded. “Yes. DHR is coming to check our home situation on Monday, too.”

Ms. McCrary's mouth fell into a grim line. “I know you'll pass with flying colors. I already see a huge change in Joey, and I know you and Rachel have played a huge part in helping him grow up in the last few
weeks
.”

Stacey looked outside to the brilliant fall colors. It was almost Halloween. Then the holiday season would come upon them full force, and she'd finally get to experience what it was like to be part of a real family. Not that Papa hadn't given her enough. But ever since her parents had died, she'd missed the camaraderie between family members. A gaping hole had been torn open and never quite filled the same way after they'd died. Papa could only do so much in his old age.

“Do you have her bags packed? Of course, I know where you live if I need something.” She laughed at her own joke.

Stacey rolled her eyes. She stood up again, her back and feet screaming at her. “They're in her room, let me get them.”

When she returned with the bags, her mother-in-law already had Rachel strapped in the car seat sound asleep.

“I would love to know how you do it.” Stacey sighed, looking at the sleeping beauty.

“It's not something you get until you're past your child-bearing years. Mine never did this, either. I guess you could call it a grandmother skill.”

The two women grinned. “Thank you for taking her tonight. It'll be nice to get a good night's sleep.”

“And for you and Joey to have a night alone. I know having a baby four days after getting married isn't typically ideal.”

“No, but we're dealing. We fit each other in where we can.”

“That's not a great way to start a marriage,” she said sternly.

“I know. When she's a bit bigger we'll have more time.”

Ms. McCrary studied her then turned. “Just call me when you guys wake up in the morning. I'll keep her as long as you need me to.”

Stacey stood in her living room and looked around. Bottles everywhere. Rolled up dirty diapers she needed to throw away were strewn strategically by the bassinet. With a sigh, Stacey resolved to do some power cleaning before Joey came home from work. She knew if she sat down, she'd be gone in thirty seconds flat.

****

Joey was looking forward to a night alone with Stacey. It would be their first since Rachel was born. Joey was starved for his wife, and he planned to make good use of their time alone.

Walking in from a long day at work, he immediately noticed the smell of cleaning supplies and frowned. She was cleaning? The house was already spotless. Sure enough, as he glanced around, he saw the dishes were done, the table set, dinner in the oven and heard the golden silence, save some scrubbing coming from the bathroom.

He found Stacey on her knees, gloves on, wielding a toilet brush.

“Hey, Supergirl.”

She smiled her knee-melting smile and rolled her eyes. “I knew if I sat down I'd be out for the count.”

“Isn't that the goal of Mom taking her?”

“Well, it needed to be done. And I don't want to just sleep tonight. Although it is on the agenda.” She cocked an eyebrow at him, and he was pretty sure there wasn't another woman on this planet who could look sexy while scrubbing a toilet.

“How long until dinner's ready?” he asked, sweat beading on his forehead. It had been days since he'd enjoyed his wife, and he was ready to get to the good stuff.

“About an hour.” Replacing the toilet brush and flushing, she removed her gloves slowly as she stalked over to him.

Her short shorts gave him enough of a view to leave his mouth watering. He loved her legs, loved them even more when they were wrapped around his waist. Her hair was in that messy updo he loved so much, with little spiral tendrils escaping and teasing her temples.

“An hour, huh?” He swallowed down some air at the look in her eyes. Sheer naughtiness.

“Mmm-hmm.”

When she reached him, she wasted no time wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing his neck. She trailed kisses up to his ear and finally whispered, “C'mon, Superman, let me show you how to fly.”

During dinner, Joey had a hard time keeping his hands to himself.
J
ust when he thought Stacey couldn't surprise him anymore after a dinner filled with excessive touching and heated looks, she went and proved him wrong. Cameron had been the aggressor many times, but up until a few hours ago, Stacey had been content to be submissive. But not that evening. She'd used him for pleasure, pleasured him and then told him exactly what she wanted after dinner. He'd been shocked little Stacey Ingram could be so explicit, but he was happy he'd never have to guess with her.

She slanted her green eyes his way. “Will you stop it? We've got all night.”

“Uh, I don't know about you but I plan to sleep at least part of the night. Mom would be disappointed in us if we didn't take her up on her offer.”

“Your mother would be tickled pink we're making good use of our time. It was probably part of her plan anyway.”

“Regardless. We're both exhausted.”

“Agreed. But I do miss the little booger.”

“Knowing she's just across the street helps me. I get the best of both worlds. You and knowing my baby is close by.”

Stacey took a bite of her roll and then set it down. She took his hand in hers and looked away.

“What is it?” he asked, suddenly alarmed. She'd gone from a minx to a shy little kitten, her eyes never quite meeting his.

“I just want to say something.
Give me a minute.
”

“Go on.” He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let go. He hated to see her so unsure about saying something to him.

She fidgeted for a moment and finally those green, soulful eyes looked into his. “I love you.”

It was probably the last thing he expected to hear. She clearly misread the intake of air on his end.

“I know you don't love me, okay? I
know
it. But I just want to tell you I love you. Maybe I can love enough for the both of us, but either way, I don't want to hide it anymore. Not that I
ever
could.” Again, her eyes cast downward. “I've loved you since we were little. And now? Being married to you and helping you raise your daughter… it's a little surreal. I love who you are on the inside. I love how you make me feel. And I love how we are together. At first I was a little confused about things and maybe even a little resentful, but now I know things happen for a reason. Rachel has a mother now. And I have a life I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.”

Joey stared at her in disbelief. Did she really think she wasn't worthy of marriage? “Stace…”

“You don't have to say anything. I don't really
want
you to say anything. I just want you to know I love you. That's all.”

Joey exhaled and studied
their
fingers. He wanted to say it to her. How
long would it take for him to be certain
? He'd married her. He'd asked her to raise his daughter. He'd made love to her.

“Stace?” The lump in his throat choked him. He prayed he wasn't about to make a horrible decision.

“Let me get this table cleaned off and we can get back to business.” She snatched her hands from his and gathered their plates. But Joey was too quick for her.

“Sit.”

She did as she was told, the plates making a loud clang against the wooden table.

“Stacey.”

“What, Joey?”

Now he knew why she could never look at him during the important conversations. The insecurity had the power to undo him if he let it. He didn't want to read her rejection or her doubt of his next words. She might love him, but would she believe him?

He concentrated on a speck in the wood grain
on the table
and frowned. He felt a headache coming on from the tensed muscles and he rubbed his forehead for some relief.

Finally, as if the weight of the world had drained from him, he looked up and said it. “I love you, too, Stacey.”

Silence.

And more silence.

Chancing her fury, he cocked an eyebrow at her and saw tears had welled in her eyes. He wasn't sure if they were happy tears or angry tears.

“I love you, Stacey,” he said again, wondering if she'd even heard him.

“I heard you…” She looked past him and blinked slowly, pushing the tears out of her eyes and down both cheeks simultaneously. She cleared her throat. “Are you sure?”

“I think so.”

“You think so or you know so?” Her intense study of his face made him feel like a slide under a microscope. He knew she would be able to see everything.

“I know so. I've loved you since we were little kids, too.”

“How do you know you love me?”

Joey let out a quick exhale and smiled. Leave it to a woman to need an explanation. “I just do. You bring out the best in me. I feel like a teenager again when I'm with you. And you're my best friend. Always have been.”

Stacey grinned, seemingly satisfied with what she saw in his face. “That makes me really happy, Joey. More than I could ever tell you.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and swiped at the tears.

“Please tell me those are happy tears,” he said, lifting her chin with his index finger, forcing her gaze to meet his.

“Of course they're happy tears. I never thought I'd hear you say that to me.”

“There's nothing about you I don't love, Stacey. I love your lips…” He kissed her mouth. “I love your neck and the way you put on just enough perfume to entice me.” He placed an open mouth kiss on her neck. “Come to bed with me, Stacey. Let's make love.”

Stacey's hands came up and framed his face. She reverently touched his lips and his jawline, her fingertips soft and inviting. “I'd like that,” she whispered. Her quirked lips undid him. In less than two seconds, he swept her up into his arms and carried her down the hallway.