Page 38 of Fighting For Light
“You’re showing now,” he whispers as if it’s still a secret that I’m pregnant.
“Yep,” I mumble.
He grabs the dress a little tighter to see the bump through my clothes. “It’s so little,” he says.
I chuckle and slide my hands over his. “It won’t be long until I’m all belly,” I grumble. I’ve been going back and forth between being excited about what’s happening and struggling with the changes happening to my body. I understand it’s good, and thereis a reason for all of this. But when Kai looks at me like I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, I don’t feel so bad about it.
“You’ve had a glow to you lately, you know that?”
I shrug and lean back into him. “It’s probably because I’ve been sleeping for ten hours every day for the past few days.”
He rubs my stomach again, so gently, almost like he’s in awe. “You need it,” he says softly.
“Do you think your mom will still like me?” I ask.
He grins and slips his fingers through mine. “Yes, gem, she loves you already, okay?” I shift nervously on my feet.
“Yeah, okay,” I mumble. He lets go, and I wish he was still wrapped around me. He makes me feel like everything will be okay, like I can be a great mom. I don’t want to be anything like my mother. She failed me in so many ways. I realize she did her best, but she took me from Dad, always spouting off about how he wouldn’t give things up for her. She sure spent his money, though. Regardless, I learned lessons from her. I learned what not to do.
20
Kai
Cordi has been fidgetingin her seat since we left the campground. I’ve tried to calm her down and tell her there is nothing to be scared of, yet nothing worked. Mom has always liked Cordelia, and now that we’re getting married, I think she likes her even more.
I glance at Cordelia’s dress again. The baby bump is hardly there, but knowing Mom, she will know something is different. I swear Cordi is evenmorebeautiful. She has a radiance about her even when she’s grumpy, hungry, or tired. I like it on her. It makes me wonder what I can do to help her keep it…like another kid. I shake my head at the thought. We haven’t even had our first date yet.One step at a time there, Coldwell.
Mom picked a nice beach-front restaurant I’d imagine is impossible to get into, but when you’re Esmarie Astor-Coldwell, everyone jumps. Our wealth didn’t come from my father, it came from Mom, and we know how to invest it. Which certainly helped when she somehow took back the eight hundred million of the one billion Astor fortune. My father got around all the red tape, including the prenup my grandfather set up, and took all ofit. I still don’t know the details as to how she got it back. Some things are better left unknown. Regardless, she was smart and built it again.
The conditions to our trust funds were cut and dry, becoming the three accounts our father couldn’t touch. My brothers and I each have one, but neither of us can use it until we’re married. The only exception is to invest it in order for it to grow. My grandfather wanted us to learn through investing, and we have. We’ve all done well. Now that I’m getting married, I’ll be able to use it to secure Cordi and our future kids for three lifetimes on top of what I earn professionally. The moment Cordi and I sayI do, I’m going to make sure her name is on that paperwork and my will. If anything ever happens to me, she will never have to worry.
I pull into the main drive for the five-star hotel. Stopping at the valet, I put the car into valet mode and type in my code so they can’t get into anything other than turn on and off the engine. Cordi’s looking out her window, staring at the beautiful lighting of the hotel. I grab her hand before opening the door and lift her knuckles to my mouth. “You’ve got this, gem. You look beautiful.” Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles softly.
“Promise?”
“Always,” I murmur. She nods, and I drop her hand and circle the car to help her out. We walk hand in hand through the hotel’s main entry towards the restaurant. The smell of steak wafts into my nose, and my stomach grumbles.
“I did not dress appropriately enough for this,” she mutters.
“I like what you’re wearing,” I say, and she rolls her eyes and holds my hand tighter. I didn’t think twice about my own attire because I couldn’t care less if it was appropriate or not. My white linen shirt is unbuttoned, the way Cordi likes it, and black dress pants with loafers. It’s not my usual uniform of jeans, t-shirts, or athletic shorts, but for Mom, I try a little extra.
The hostess leads us to our table. We’re a few minutes early, and knowing my mother, she will be on time down to the minute. I set the flowers I grabbed for her on the table and hold Cordi’s hand, helping her into her seat. “Is this okay?” I ask, and she nods, making herself comfortable.
I sit next to her, and a waiter comes to ask us for our drinks. Cordi orders lemonade, and I get the same. I don’t like to drink around Mom. Hell, the extent of what I drink normally is beer. Dad drank a lot, so I’m careful.
Cordi traces the edge of my button-up to my thin gold chain. I focus on the way her touch feels on my skin. “I like this shirt,” she says quietly.
“I guess it’s my new favorite shirt, then.” Her palm flattens on my chest over my heart, and I briefly put my hand over hers. Our eyes lock, and my heart beats a little harder because of her. A few seconds later, I see my mother, with her bodyguard, following behind. Her caramel hair is up in a French twist, like how she always styles it, and she’s wearing a pair of unwrinkled white silk pants and a sleeveless, ruby silk shirt tucked into the waist. Her pearl and diamond necklace with studded ruby earrings sparkle in the light, and like always, people stop to look at her as she glides over to the table. I immediately get to my feet and hug my mother’s small body to mine. Clarence nods to me, and he leaves for the bar to wait.
“Mom,” I grunt, emotion thick in my throat.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve missed you so much,” she says, hugging me with surprising strength and kissing my cheek. Her fingers touch my hand, and she slips a small velvet box into it. While still hugging her, I drop it in my pocket, then pull her chair out for her to sit.
Instead, she rounds the table and hugs Cordelia. “Cordi, you sweet girl. It’s wonderful to see you. I’m so happy to hear thegood news of your nuptials!” Cordi smiles, glancing at me over Mom’s shoulder. I wink as Mom lets her go.
Cordelia sinks back down in her seat, and I scoot Mom closer to the table. “Thank you, honey.” I sit next to Cordi and hold her hand in mine on the table as Mom glances at them clasped together. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you two to finally figure this out,” she says, looking between us.
“I’m sorry?” Cordelia asks.
