Page 36 of Secret Baby
"Belle's here. He's talking to her."
Clara's chin trembled. Then she ran to her bed. "This is a bad day."
"No. Tomorrow is just you and me." Vicki fixed the blankets as her daughter climbed into the bed. "It's going to be great."
Clara grabbed her hands. "Vicki, don't leave me. I love you."
Her heart beat so loud, and a smile grew on her face. "Let's read that book of yours, princess."
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As the moon rose higher in the sky, Clara snored lightly, and Vicki placed the book back on the shelf. After she cleaned the room, she turned off all the lights. Then Vicki tiptoed outside and stuck to the wall. With luck, Colt and Belle were done. Vicki held her breath and headed straight to her bedroom. As she neared her bedroom door, she heard Belle say from the patio area, "You cannot believe the mother's sob story. This is all to stop you. Don't let that happen. We'll be fine in D.C. or anywhere."
Vicki opened her door. Her face was hot. Had she heard herself referred to as "the mother"? She had a name. She turned around and locked her door.
There was nothing she could do. She'd never break up another's relationship. She'd never want anyone to do that to her, so she had no say in what he did with Belle. Colt's voice wafted through the walls: "I don't think we should get married, Belle. Our lives are too different, and I’m not moving to Washington. Clara deserves to grow up here, on the farm, where I was raised."
Vicki's heart caught in her throat. She had no right to hope, but her pulse ached for Colt to be with her again too.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Colt massaged his neck as he gazed at Belle while they were still in the living room, and wished he could end this conversation. His brief almost-kiss with Vicki the moment Belle walked in on them still shook his memory. He stared at Belle, with her brown hair, blue eyes, and demanding personality. If he married her, then he'd never feel as he did right now.
Belle told him, "The wedding is being planned by the best people I could hire."
He had agreed to the marriage because Belle asked often, and agreed they'd figure out a middle ground. His gut had never liked his decision, and he had no more arguments with himself. Belle deserved someone who could love her unconditionally.
Belle continued, "It's going to be a beautiful affair, attended by senators."
Colt set his jaw. Belle was always good to have at his side, but Vicki made his heart stir in ways he hadn't thought possible. He'd walked around half dead for years, and now he felt complete. This was his home.
"Everyone gets cold feet." Belle shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Don't worry about this."
"Can we go on the patio?" He placed his hands in his pockets. He'd prefer no one overheard this conversation. Belle deserved someone who thought of her as his home and belonged in his world. She stared at him without a word. Heat rose in his face. He'd do the right thing.
"Sure." Belle smiled like she'd won their argument and assumed he'd make it up to her. His shoulders slumped, as he had to tell her the truth now.
She followed him to the door, and said, "We should go to bed, honey, and we'll discuss it tomorrow."
He turned to meet her eyes and then shook his head. Marriage was supposed to be the start of a family, and the petite blonde had brought laughter back into his life. Neither he nor Belle were prepared to compromise on the life they wanted once the military ended. She had to know that.
As he held the door for her, Belle squeezed his arm as she passed and then took a seat. Then she told him, "You're moody tonight. In Washington, I brokered a major deal with two competing weapons manufacturers to produce a prototype at no upfront cost, with specs desired from the army corps of engineers."
"That's great." Colt couldn't sit, so he paced in front as he stared hard at her. His heart raced as he prayed he didn't hurt Belle too much. "I'm happy your life in D.C. is on the move. You want that."
"We want that." She leaned forward like she wanted to take his hands and ask him to sit. He leaned away and tugged his fingers free. Her eyebrow arched, and she shrugged. "Come sit with me."
He glanced at the seat. Perhaps they should both sit. He had no idea how Belle would react to what he had to say. Finally he slid into the seat across from her and folded his hands. "I don't think we should get married, Belle. Our lives are too different."
Belle's face went white. "Collins, doubts are normal before a wedding. Let's calm down. I won't make you put on a suit and tie, if that's the big worry."
She referred to him with his last name, like they were in the military still. It was another glaring difference between Belle and Vicki. It felt like steam rose through him. He brushed his hands on his face and covered his mouth for a moment. Belle had prepared herself for a battle. He'd seen her do this before. She was a great friend to him. In another life, he'd have agreed, but he'd spend his life as he'd spent the last few years, half dead. "Belle, our marriage would never have worked. When we were planning a mission, we always had an exit strategy in place. We discussed how to survive, but I don't want my life to be about survival and getting to the top. Clara deserves to grow up happy, secure, and loved."
"Plenty of families are happy in the D.C. area, Colt. Why won't you consider her education a benefit for moving?"
His entire body stilled. Clara deserved the life he could provide her, where the earth and the oranges gave her a sense of belonging. He stared out into the orange groves. "This place is my home. It's where I belong."
Belle's voice softened. "Is this about Victoria?"
