Page 57 of Loving Mister Stratford
She cared not one bit that he was a filthy mess from his journey or that he reeked of sweat and horseflesh, she felt as if she might shatter if she didn’t touch him that second—she was already on the edge of tears as it was. Dr. McCullom had cautioned her that the pregnancy might make her emotional reactions quite extreme, but she doubted he’d had this degree of drama in mind.
Hesitantly, her hand cupped the back of his head and her fingers gradually began to stroke his tangled hair.
“You left me, Simon,” she whispered. His shoulders tensed and his arms gripped her a little tighter, telling her he was listening.“I needed you and you weren’t here. I have done everything in my power to respect your work and your wants throughout this marriage, but I have wants, as well. I am a person, just like you, and, while I may not be as brilliant or as accomplished as you are, I deserve some concessions, to.” His head nodded against her once.“What I require from this marriage is a husband who is there for me. I don’t expect you to remain affixed to my side at all times, but I must know you are coming home to me. To us.”
They sat like that in silence as Simon clutched her to him with a desperation just shy of discomfort, and Odette running her fingers through his sweat-damp locks. Gradually, the tension began to leave his body and he relaxed into the embrace. He half-laid upon her rather than simply holding her to him as if he was afraid she might float away if he didn’t weigh her down in place. They sat there for several long minutes without a word passing between them, each seeming to savor the nearness of the other after long weeks of separation.
Finally, Simon heaved a sigh and turned his head to look up into her face. Odette’s fingers stalled.
“How long have you known about the baby?” he asked softly.
“A few weeks,” she replied, matching her tone to his. Odette weighed her words carefully before continuing to describe the fainting spell she’d experienced while shopping with Lily and Meredith, and then the care Dr. McCullom had provided in the aftermath.
“Why wouldn’t you send for me?” She felt his muscles begin to stiffen in equal measures of indignation and concern, but she was quick to reassure him.
”Because there wasn’t any serious cause for concern. Please believe I would have written or someone would have sent for you if there were any true problems.”
She recognized in the grim line of his mouth that he didn’t care for her answer, but he understood it. She could tell he knew it was his fault she felt she’d come to such a decision.
Then, for the first time, it seemed he realized where he’d laid his head. His eyes bore into her abdomen as if he could see the soul growing within. One of his hands released her back and moved to cover the spot at which he stared, but he froze as if too afraid to touch her.
Odette’s lips tilted in a whisper of a smile as she covered his hand with hers and pressed it low on her abdomen just where the swell was beginning to show. The doctor had told her the baby’s movements would become stronger and more noticeable as the weeks went on; a part of her was confident it knew its father was near.
Simon’s hand was so large and firm against her—oh, how she’d missed his warmth these past weeks…how she’d craved his nearness with something akin to mourning. And now he was kneeling before her, holding her, touching her reverently, and it made her dare to hope he’d missed her as well.
An overwhelming surge of affection and contentment washed over her, but her heart skipped a beat when Simon next spoke.
“I never thought I’d be a father,” he murmured so softly she might have fooled herself into believing he hadn’t spoken…had she not seen his face. Her heart splintered at the sight of tears glistening in his stunning eyes, but it broke entirely with his next words:“Odette…I’m terrified.”
Her own vision began to swim as she clutched his palm to her abdomen. It took her several tries before she could form any coherent words.“It’ll be alright. I’m afraid, too, but I’m told most new parents feel these trepidations—Lily said as much.”
He shook his head, interrupting her reassurances.“I’m afraid this child will be…like me.” His eyes screwed shut, his brow furrowed in agony.“I spent my whole life wondering why I didn’t fit in, why the other children didn’t share my interests. You know I have difficulties connecting with people—even to this day I have precious few friends willing to tolerate my idiosyncrasies. I wouldneverwish this fate upon my offspring.” He opened his eyes and his unnervingly-earnest gaze met hers, stalling her breath.“That's why I left. You don’t deserve to be viewed as an object of pity because of your marriage to me. I figured the more distance I put between us, the better, because I hoped you might have some semblance of normalcy in my absence.”
Hot trails of tears carved unchecked paths upon her cheeks as she cupped his beard-roughened face in her palm.“I couldn’t give two figs about normalcy—nothing in my life has been remotely normal…I’d rather have you, Simon.”
Simon couldn’t believe his ears as Odette continued speaking.
“I hope our childis, indeed, like you, because then he will be brilliant and driven, infinitely sweet and thoughtful in his own way. And, besides,” her full lower lip trembled;“he will have your guidance, which will be the best blessing of all. I know this child will love you as much as I do.”
Unable to resist any longer, Simon straightened and pulled Odette into his arms to kiss her as he’d been dying to do for every second since he’d left her side. He savored the familiarity of her soft curves against his body and, with more than a little male satisfaction, looked forward to learning how they would change in the coming months as her body swelled with his child.
He clutched her to his chest, pressing every inch of her against him that he could as she wound her arms around his neck and met his lips with each bruising kiss. Despite his exhaustion and the aches in every one of his muscles, he needed her with every fiber of his being. He needed his wife.
“I love you, Odette,” he groaned in between furious kisses.“I’ll never leave again, I swear it.” His hands roamed downward to cup her lush bottom through her skirts and press her pelvis flush with his. Her gasp sent chills of lust down his spine, but he remained coherent enough to remember her delicate condition.
Panting, he tore his lips from hers and pressed their foreheads together.“Do you think…that is, it won’t be harmful if we—”
She giggled in that delicious husky way of hers and shook her head, catching his meaning.“The doctor said it wouldn’t be harmful to…indulge a little.”
“In that case,” he began with a wolfish grin;“I think it’s time we return home.” He caught his wife beneath her knees and at her back and held her high to his chest as he stood. He loved her laugh of surprise. He loved the way she trusted him. He loved how she felt against him. He lovedher.
He began to stride from the room as Odette wrapped her arms around his neck.“But I simply refuse to get into bed with you until you bathe.” She wrinkled her adorable nose in exaggerated disgust.
A loud bark of joyous laughter escaped his chest—the first such occurrence in months.“Don’t worry, I’ll have a bath.” His eyes met hers; the fire she no doubt found there made her lips part in anticipation.“And then I plan on making love to my beautiful wife who—beyond all reason and common sense—loves me…and I fully intend to do so again and again until she either regains her sanity or neither of us can move…whichever comes first.”
With only a little difficulty, Simon was able to open the door without having to set down his wife. Sure enough Simon’s siblings and their spouses were mingling in the hallway, attempting (and failing) to appear as if they hadn’t been listening near the door and then scattered once they’d heard his footsteps. He ignored their questioning looks and allowed Odette’s shy wave to be their only farewell as he quickly strode down the hall and bounded down the stairs, leaving his family in their wake as they kissed and laughed together, savoring the newfound lightness in their souls.
Epilogue
