Under the Midnight Stars (21 page)

The bathroom door opened again.“Colt, I’m sorry if I caused any trouble. Is she okay?” Miranda’s voice filled the room.

Brielle leaned against the stall breathlessly, wiping away the tears. “Can you both please get out and give me some privacy?” Her voice quivered.

She bit her lip to keep from sobbing. It was too good to be true. All of it. It didn’t matter now how much she and Colt loved each other. He had a duty to be a father to his son now. And it was obvious that he was still smitten by his son’s mother, and she by him. It’d be just a matter of time before they were married and raising their son together. She heard the bathroom door squeak open, and then close. Feeling completely alone, she covered her face with her hands and cried.

Colt stood in the dimly lit wood-paneled hall outside the ladies room, staring in disbelief at Miranda. Though the shock of having had a son for the past decade without the slightest hint was still overwhelming, anger slowly began to take over.

“Why in the hell did you wait eleven years to tell me that I had a child?”

Miranda sighed regretfully. “I’m sorry, Colt. I just didn’t see how it would’ve done any good to tell you. You lived in Dallas. You didn’t love me anymore. Plus, you were only sixteen — I didn’t want to burden you with a child.”

He clenched his jaw. It took every ounce of control to get his point across without raising his voice from a whisper. “What in the hell does not loving you or living in another town have to do with me being a father? It was my right to know! I can’t believe I missed out on ten years of my son’s life because I didn’t love you! He’s my son too — I
think.
”

Her eyes turned to angry slits at the insinuation. She too, maintained an angry whisper to keep from shouting. “He
is
your son! Don’t tell me you don’t see the resemblance!”

“All I see is that you kept something of the utmost importance from me for over a decade. You lied to me. How in the hell am I supposed to trust anything you say?”

“I didn’t lie! I just didn’t want to burden you. You had your whole busy life in the big city to live. And I was just …
ashamed.
I was sixteen, for crying out loud. And how was I even gonna tell you? You didn’t give me an address or even a phone number. You just completely cut me out of your world.” Her eyes swelled with bitter tears.

Colt sighed to ease his irritation. He felt like a jackass. It was obvious by the unshed tears in her eyes that Miranda Briggs still had feelings for him. And why wouldn’t she? She had given birth to his child and had raised a part of him for the past eleven years.

“I’m sorry. I know you weren’t being malicious. I’m sure you had your reasons. I just wish I would’ve known. It was a huge shock to know that I’ve had a son all this time. It still is. I had a right to know.” His voice was much more calm and subdued. “But I’m going to have to request a paternity test. It’s the logical thing to do.”

She nodded and crossed her arms. “I can’t say that I’m not offended, but I understand.”

“Mom, are we going?” Junior entered the hallway, exasperated. “It’s hot out in the car.”

Miranda looked at Colt and shook her head ever so slightly. “Not now, please.”

Colt nodded his agreement. He looked at the boy, seeing bits of similarity. He definitely had his mother’s darker shade of brown hair, but retained Colt’s eyes and smile. He was sure if they were standing side by side, there’d be no doubt.

“Nice to meet you again, Junior. Sorry I kept your mom so long. We’re old friends.”

“It’s all right.” Junior smiled. He looked at his mom.

“Okay.” She ruffled Junior’s hair. “I’m in the phonebook, Colt.”

“I was in the phonebook too,” Colt added casually.

Miranda paused as her eyes bore into Colt’s. Without another word she lowered her head and walked away with Junior.

“Dammit!” Colt whispered through clenched teeth as he watched them disappear around the corner.
Colt, you are such a dumbass!
He shook his head at himself and opened the bathroom door.

Brielle was at the sink. She popped a breath mint into her mouth and splashed cold water on her swollen eyes.

Colt pulled a paper towel from the dispenser and handed it to her.

Her chin began to quiver. She bit her lip and took the paper towel. “I know — you still love her and you have to give your relationship a chance for the sake of your son.” She sucked in an unsteady breath.

Colt felt awful for leading her to believe that he could so easily toss her aside. He quickly closed the gap between them and gently guided her shoulders to face him. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

“No, Brielle,” he whispered incredulously. “I love
you.”
He gazed deeply into her pink swollen eyes, feeling like a jackass for having caused her so much undue pain.

“You do?” she whispered while trying to suppress another hiccup of a sob.

He placed both hands on either sides of her face and softly brushed her tears away with his thumbs. “With all my heart, baby,” he whispered and enveloped her in a secure hug.

She squeezed him tightly.

He released her to see if the pain was gone from her eyes. “How do you feel?”

“Much better.” She smiled slightly.

The door opened and a plump elderly woman walked in. Her eyes widened when she saw Colt. “My word!” she gasped and hurried out of the bathroom.

Brielle snickered through pursed lips.

Colt chuckled lightly. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” He wrapped his hand around hers and led her back into the diner.

They ignored the prying eyes around them. He fished two twenties out of his wallet and handed them to Mimi as they passed by her.

“No.” Mimi shook her head. “Lunch is on me.”

“Thank you, Mimi.” Colt shoved the money into his pocket and wasted no time in leaving the diner. For him, telling Brielle how much he loved her wasn’t enough this time. He led her straight to his truck and drove her home.

The drive home seemed to last longer than usual. The morning’s events had taken an emotional toll on Brielle — Colt could see it in the darkness surrounding her eyes. That, and she was unusually silent.

“You haven’t said much. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“I’m okay. I guess I’m just trying to absorb what just happened.” Mouth closed, she gave him a quick smile.

She wasn’t fooling him. He could see the sorrow in her eyes. Hell, he was still in shock over the whole situation himself. It would take more than an explanation and saying
I love you
to mend her heart this time. “I understand. I’m still trying to absorb everything too … And I’m sorry to put you through all this. The last thing I wanna do is hurt you, Brielle.”

“I know, Colt. I’m okay. Really. I don’t even feel sick anymore.” She turned her head to stare out of her window.

He didn’t believe her. But he welcomed the quiet this time. It lowered the chance of an argument erupting before he had an opportunity to make things right again in the only way he knew how at the moment.

As soon as he parked his truck in his driveway, he got out and hurried to open her door for her. Then he scooped her into his arms and headed for the front door.

“Colt, what are you doing? I can walk, you know.”

“I know.” He gazed into her eyes and planted a tender kiss on her lips.

Her melancholy suddenly extinguished, she welcomed his loving kiss.

Reluctantly, Colt pulled his lips from hers just long enough to open the front door and carry her upstairs to the privacy of his bedroom. Then he gently set her on her feet and slowly undressed her as he planted soft kisses on her lips, her neck, and her bare shoulders. He didn’t know if making love to her could mend her heart, but from the way she shuddered and broke out in goose bumps, he figured he was well on his way. By the time he was finished showering her with kisses they were both naked in each other’s arms, their clothes strewn on the floor about their feet.

“Don’t ever doubt my love for you, Brielle,” Colt whispered huskily before he bonded his lips to hers in a deep loving kiss. Then he continued to show her just how much he loved her…

After the throes of lovemaking, Brielle snuggled against Colt’s bare chest. “Colt?” she whispered.

“Yeah?” He opened his eyes.

“I love you,” she whispered wholeheartedly.

A huge grin crossed his face. “I know you do.” He rolled on top of her and kissed her passionately. Though he was exhausted from their lovemaking only moments before, at the creamy feel of her naked flesh beneath his and the sweet taste of her silky tongue, his manhood awakened again.

Feeling his erection at the base of her womanhood, Brielle instinctively spread her thighs. Her heart, her body, the moist walls within her, yearned for more of his love.

Carefully, Colt thrust himself deep into her, sending a surge of pure pleasure through both of them. He pulled out and plunged into her again, strongly, slowly, over and over, until their mounting ecstasy peaked, simultaneously throwing them both over the edge. Together, they lay breathlessly until the waves of contractions dissipated.

Colt raised his head from the crook of her neck and kissed her softly. “I love you too, Brielle. And nothing will ever change how I feel about you.”

She bit her lower lip to suppress her smile. “Okay. I’ll hold you to that promise.”

“You better,” he warned playfully as he kissed her again.

“What do you mean, Colt has a son?”

Jack let the ax fall with a thud, leaving it jutting upward from the oak round. He turned and faced his sister, hands on hips, chagrined. “It seems like his past is full of a bunch of bull crap that just keeps breaking your heart!”

Brielle sat on a hay bale in the doorway of the barn. She stared out over the pasture, watching as the breeze gently blew the soft, knee-high grass toward the late afternoon sun. “Don’t get mad. He just found out today. He’s at the hospital right now getting a paternity test to make sure.”

“Don’t get mad? Are you serious? You’re my sister. How in the hell can I not be mad right now?”

She looked at him knowingly. “I saw him, Jack. He looks like his mother, but he looks like Colt in ways too. Colt’s his father. I’m sure of it.” She frowned.

After a moment of staring at her, Jack’s angry face softened. He sat next to her and nudged her shoulder with his. “Sorry, Brielle… You never know — maybe the test’ll turn out negative.”

“I doubt it.”

She didn’t know what the future held for her and Colt, but she’d always envisioned falling in love, getting married, and bearing a child with the man she loved. Their first child.
Ever.
Having children outside of marriage, with other people, wasn’t part of her plan. But who was she kidding? Today’s world simply didn’t revolve around traditional values. She’d just have to try to conform to contemporary normalcy.

“It was a little bit of a shocker, but I’m okay. Colt still loves me. And I love him. Nothing’s changed … much,” she added glumly.

“Y’all are pretty serious. Are you gonna get married?”

His unexpected question made her feel like a bashful little girl on her first day of kindergarten. “I don’t know.” She shrugged her shoulders. “He hasn’t asked me or anything.”

He smiled with awe at her modesty. “Don’t worry, Brielle.” He placed a protective arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “Colt’s crazy about you. If he has a son then so be it. You’ll both work it out — learn to work it into your relationship. You’ll see.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. He’d always had a positive way of easing all of her fears. She loved her brother. She couldn’t imagine life without him.

“Thanks, Jack. I really needed to hear that. I think if Mom were here she would’ve said the same thing. You’re tough as nails like Dad was, but really logical like Mom. You just seem to have an answer for everything. You really know how to make me feel better.”

He chuckled slightly. “Right back at ya, big sister.” He tightened his arm around her shoulder, giving her a loving squeeze. “Right back at ya.”

Just then his cell phone rang. He retrieved it from his shirt pocket. “It’s the station. Are you gonna be okay?” He stood, staring down at her with uncertainty.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Be careful.”

“Always.”

She watched as Jack sprinted to his car and drove away. Just then another pang of nausea hit. She rushed into the house via the back door, into the kitchen, and down the hallway to the guest bathroom. After vomiting until her stomach cramped and her throat burned raw, she trudged up the stairs to the sanctuary of her bedroom and flopped down onto her bed. Before she knew it she was fast asleep…

Colt put his arm around his son. Together, they sat on a boulder beside the creek, fishing poles in hand, catching up on years of memories.

“Dad.” Junior looked innocently into his father’s eyes. “Are you gonna marry Mom? She still loves you, you know. We can all be a family. A real family. Please, Dad, just give her a chance … Just give us a chance.”

Colt smiled at his son. “I can’t just leave Brielle… Brielle… Baby…”

“Brielle… Brielle… Baby…” Colt whispered as he shook her gently.