Page 42 of Without You
“You called me sweetheart,” she said. More tears spilled from her eyes, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand.
“Yeah…?” He didn’t understand what she was getting at.
“I’m the only one you call sweetheart…right?”
He’d never really thought about it before, but that was true. Chelsea was his princess, and other women he called babe or baby, assuming he used an affectionate name for them at all.
“Yeah. Because you’re the only one. You’re my sweetheart.” He brushed a thumb across her cheek and wiped away a fat tear that fell.
“I’m not upset. I… I heard the new song for the album. It’s about me, isn’t it?” Her tear-filled eyes searched his. She asked the question, but she feared the answer.
“Yes, but it’s not for the album. I’m not going to release it.”
“I want you to release it. It’s beautiful.”
He studied her for a moment and then took both of her hands in his. “Did you really listen to the words? I meant everything I said. I’m nothing without you. Nothing.”
She gave him a watery smile. “About what you said last night, before you fell asleep…”
Terrence shook his head. “We don’t have to talk about that. I needed to say those things to you for me. I needed you to know, that’s all.”
“Well, I have something to say to you, too.”
He braced for the words about to come out of her mouth.
“You’re right, you don’t deserve me. You were awful to me.”
He didn’t react.
“But I want to be with you. I turned over everything you said in my head and considered all we’d been through. Losing our first child. Our marriage. Your career successes. Everything. And then this song...I...I believe you. Maybe I’m crazy, and I hope this isn’t a mistake, but I want to try again.”
Terrence couldn’t breathe. He wanted to be happy but worried she was giving him another chance for the wrong reason. “If you’re doing this because you feel sorry for me, don’t.”
“I didn’t say that because I feel sorry for you. I said it because… When things are good between us, they’re really, really good, and you make me happier than anyone else. You take good care of me, and you’re an excellent father. I want to be with you, and I want to be with you because I love you. You have my heart, too, Terrence. You didn’t take good care of it before, but I believe you will now, and I’m willing to take a chance on us.”
“And you forgive me?” he asked thickly, voice shaking.
“Yes, I forgive you.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before he flung his arms around her and lifted her from the floor in a tight bear hug. She laughed, cupping the back of his head with both hands and wrapping her legs around his waist. She dropped soft little kisses to his nose and cheeks.
Terrence looked deeply into her eyes. “You won’t regret it. I promise. I love you so much. Thank you, thank you for giving me another chance. I won’t screw it up this time, I promise. I’ll be the best husband you could ever have. I’m going to love you so much and so hard. I’ll show you every day. You gon’ be sick of my ass.”
“I can’t wait,” Charisse whispered.
“Yeah, baby!” He bellowed, tossing his head back.
She laughed, her grin broad and bright. That was the same look she wore on their wedding day—as if she’d snagged the biggest prize. But he was the one who’d snagged a prize.
“You’re stuck with me now,” he said against her lips.
Then he kissed her. Hard.
Epilogue
Terrence sat on the side of the pool writing in his notebook. Sunglasses shielded his eyes as the Hawaiian sun doused his family playing in the pool. Almost a year had passed since he and Charisse reconciled, and the ensuing months exceeded his expectations.
They got married in the gazebo on the newly landscaped grounds of the house, in a small private ceremony that included only close family and friends. Martha attended with her new beau but remained skeptical about them remarrying. Terrence was still working on convincing her that he was worthy of her daughter, but he was up to the challenge.
