The Unexpected Choice (17 page)

 

 

The courtroom was cold and sterile, much like Stacey found the hospital room to be where Rachel had been born. Cameron still hadn't come in yet, and Joey sat next to her bouncing his leg so fast she was getting annoyed.

Rachel squirmed in her arms, and she fought to keep her happy.

“I think I'll take her outside. She's getting restless,” Stacey said, feeling a bit overwhelmed. They went out to dinner sometimes with Rachel, but it had never been necessary to keep her quiet.

“I'll take her,” Ms. McCrary said behind her in a hushed whisper. Stacey hadn't been sure if her mother-in-
law w
ould come, but she was glad she had. It was nice to have a friendly face there.

When Rachel was out of the courtroom, Joey gently took Stacey's hand and kissed her fingertips. “Thank you for coming, Stace. It means the world to me.”

“I did what any decent wife should do.”

“Maybe so, but it doesn't mean I appreciate it any less.”

Stacey nodded silently and squeezed his hand. “It's what love is, Joey. And I've meant it every time I've said I love you.”

Only for her, the feelings also came with the choice.

Joey didn't say anything and before long, Cameron was ushered in. Her blue eyes honed in on Joey immediately, looking sad and a bit lost. Then, her gaze landed squarely on Stacey's.

At first, Stacey wasn't sure what to do. She almost pulled her grip away from Joey, but he tightened his hold
,
and she sensed he needed her touch then. Whether it was a touch he wanted from a friend or his wife, she might never know, but she did know she couldn't deny him.

Cameron offered her a wan smile, void of any emotions and sat down, keeping her back to them.

Joey rubbed his fingers across the back of her hands. When she looked at him, she saw his gaze was centered across the room, at nothing in particular. What was he thinking? What she wouldn't give to know right then.

“Mamamamama!” Rachel's voice called out just before the hearing was about to start.

Stacey turned and smiled as Ms. McCrary brought Rachel in. The second she took her baby girl, it hit her like a punch to the gut. Cameron had just witnessed everything. And not only that, the first time she'd seen her daughter since the day she was born, she was calling another woman her mother. Stacey's heart hurt
for
her. But she didn't feel guilty.

Turning slowly, she saw Cameron watching them with huge tears in her eyes. Not knowing what to do, she sat down next to Joey again. Rachel laid her head on her chest and shoved her thumb in her mouth. Stacey wasn't up to speed on how she should behave, so she decided not to act any different with Rachel than she had since day one. She wanted Cameron to see Rachel was in good hands.

Stacey just didn't want Cameron to think she'd been replaced, even if Rachel didn't know the difference.

As the judge came in and the hearing started, Stacey frowned at Cameron, huddled with her lawyer. Something in her gut told her it wasn't good, especially when they both turned and looked at her holding Rachel.

She and Joey exchanged looks, but eventually he shrugged and turned his attention to the judge.

They soon learned Cameron's parole had been granted, and she would be released from prison immediately. The judge then set the custody hearing for the following week. Until then, she wasn't allowed to see Rachel.

It all happened so fast, Stacey wasn't sure what to make of it. She did have enough presence of mind to realize they had one week to make sure Cameron couldn't hurt Rachel. One week. After so many months with the baby she'd come to know as her daughter, it came down to the next seven days to prepare her for an introduction to her biological mother.

When Stacey was honest with herself, there was no way a judge wouldn't grant some sort of visitation for Cameron. And even worse, she wasn't sure what would be best for her little girl. Should she know the woman who gave birth to her? Stacey needed to think on all this and pray. God would give her the peace of mind she needed to get through the next few days and coming months.

“Well, I guess that's that,” Joey said, standing and watching Cameron exit the room. She didn't even look back as the door clicked behind her.

“A week, Joey. In one week, it'll be over, and we can quit wondering. We'll have answers then. And we can learn how to deal with them.”

Despite the fact she felt worlds apart from her husband since he'd revealed his lies, she still leaned into him when he wrapped his arms around her. “We'll deal with it together, no matter what, Stace. I love you.”

Stacey's world crumbled all over again.

****

Would Stacey leave him? Joey wanted to believe she wouldn't. Needed to believe she wouldn't. But when push came to shove, he just didn't know what their outcome would be once Cameron was in their lives again. She'd always been the pink elephant in the room with them, but he was determined to make the next seven days the best he'd spent with his family yet.

“Let's go away together, Stace,” he said the next evening. “Just you, me and Rachel. Let's go to the beach and spend our days playing in the sand and eating seafood. I want us to be together as a family.”

“We've been together as a family for a while now, Joey,” she said as she folded a onesie.

“I know. But I also know we're both feeling the pressure of next week's custody hearing. We need a few days away.”

“I'm game for anything you'd like to do,” she said with a small smile.

He still didn't feel like they were back on even ground. It was all his fault, like he hadn't apologized enough or done enough to make her understand how much he regretted his bad decisions. And not only had he made poor decisions, they'd also had very little time together as a couple since they'd gotten married. After all, Rachel had been born only a few days after they'd said their I do's.

“I've made reservations for us. Will you come with me?” He stood and walked over to her, taking the onesie and putting it in the right pile.

“Yes.”

“Look at me, Stace.”

She did as he commanded but said nothing.

“I love you so much. You've done a lot for Rachel and me. You're the most amazing person I've ever known.”

“There were some selfish motivators in there, too. I got to have the family I've always wanted.”

“Either way, there's very little I could do to ever repay you.”

Stacey studied his chest for a moment and then smiled. “I don't want you to repay me. Just love me.”

With a smile, Joey kissed her nose. “I do.”

“Love me even when things get tough.”

“I will.”

“Love me enough to always tell me the truth.”

“Deal.”

Joey took her face in his palms and ran his thumb along her cheekbone. His wife was the most beautiful woman to him. Not just physically, although there was plenty of physical attraction, but her beautiful heart was enough to challenge Mother Teresa for Woman of the Year. He wasn't sure when it had happened, but he'd come to discover he needed Stacey in a way he'd never needed Cameron, or his mother, or any of his friends.

Stacey balanced him in a way he couldn't describe. She gave his life purpose and made him want to be a better person. Along the way somehow he'd screwed up and hurt her deeply, but through it all, his heart had never waivered. She was the woman he wanted to be with.

Slowly, giving her time to pull away, he lowered his mouth to hers and claimed her lips in a kiss meant to show her how much he truly loved her. Their lovemaking had never been wild or reckless, but this kiss surpassed anything they'd ever experienced together.

Finally, they were getting somewhere.

 

 

The cool spring evening brought back memories of Stacey's childhood with Joey and the evenings they spent together in their early teens. She remembered on nights like this how they'd sat behind his parent's barn and talked about anything and everything. One night stood out in particular.

“What do you want in a wife one day, Joey?” she'd asked him, hoping against hope she might be the one to win his heart.

“I want her to be beautiful. To love life.
For me t
o be the only man that'll ever be in her life. Big boobs. Those are a must.”

Stacey grinned as the balcony door slid open and Joey's arms came around her. He pressed a soft kiss against her temple. His fingers brushed her hair to the other side despite the ocean breeze.

“I'm glad we got away for a few days,” Joey mumbled, placing hot, open-mouth kisses on her neck.

She didn't realize she'd groaned out loud until Joey chuckled in her ear. “I'll never get enough of you.”

“I hope not,” she whispered. She let Joey have his way with her right there on the balcony, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Afterward, he settled her in his lap and ran his hands up and down her arms, warding away the chill.

“There's something about you lately…” he began, seeming to need a moment to think of what he was trying to put a finger on.

She stayed quiet and waited. He didn't disappoint.

“You've changed since we got married. Even more than I realized, I think.”

Stacey smiled against his warm chest. “I know what I want in life now.”

“Tell me.”

The arrogance that was Joey filled his words, and she remembered a time when it was as much of a turn on as it was a turn off. Now she didn't mind it a bit.

“I want you. I want Rachel. I want our family.”

Joey squeezed her closer and exhaled. “When Rachel's a little older… maybe in six months or a year or so… I want to have a baby with you.”

Stunned
he was still thinking about their future
, Stacey sat straight up and looked into his eyes. It was dark on the coast, but she could still see his expression. Gone was the arrogance and now uncertainty filled his gaze.

“Are you sure? It means you'd be tied to me forever.”

“Aren't we already?” His fingertips trailed her jaw and traced her lips as she watched him.

“I mean if you decide …”

“What's it gonna take to make you understand I'm not going anywhere? I'm not going to decide to leave you. I love you.”

And there were those words again. The words she had no doubt he meant, but it was clear he didn't understand. She kept hoping and praying she would be able to be the example of love to him to realize even when things weren't perfect, she'd still be there. He was still hanging on to the newness of their relationship, the
feeling
. But what about when those feelings went away? It was inevitable that they would.

“Will you still love me if I gain eighty pounds when I'm pregnant?”

His smile was brilliant against the night. “I think I'd love you even more because it would be my baby inside you.”

“And when I get cranky and you can't live with me anymore?”

“I'll build a house next door.”

With a giggle, she slapped his arm playfully and settled her head on his chest again, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat.

“I mean it, Stace. I said I do, and I meant it. I want us to move past whatever this is between us and live our lives together.”

Stacey exhaled. “Lying to
me
is a pretty big deal, Joey. I'm still processing. I forgive you, but I still need time to process.”

“If you forgive me, what's left to process?”

“The hurt. The anger. Convincing myself you didn't do it to hurt me.”

“You know I wouldn't hurt you on purpose!” He sat upright, taking her by the shoulders and looking her directly in the eye.

“Logically, no you wouldn't. But I
am
female. I tend to be a little irrational sometimes.”

“I wish I could say if I could take it all back, I would. But I learned something important during those visits with Cameron.”

Again, Stacey waited for his epiphany.

“I never really loved her. Well, maybe in some small way I did, but the connection I had with her wasn't what I thought it was. Mostly just a firewall to keep me off the trail of secrets. Just an illusion.”

“And that makes you sad.” Stacey could hear in his voice. He couldn't deny it.

“Yeah, it does. And I'm sorry if it hurts you, but I don't think anyone goes into a relationship with someone expecting it to end. And we conceived Rachel. I certainly didn't expect it to end the way it did.”

“Do you wish things were different?”

“In some ways, sure. But all the ways I do are superficial and part of an illusion she created. Do I wish things were different with us? Absolutely. Only because I wish I could go back and start with you and never been in this whole mess to begin with.”

“It's gonna get a lot harder before it gets better.”

“I know. Cameron won't give up custody
,
and she'll fight just to see me lose.”

“But I'll be here the whole time, Joey. Even if a judge decides Cameron should have her all the time, I'll be here to pick up the pieces. And we'll make the best of the situation we have.”

Slowly, Joey's hands slid down her arms
,
and he took her hands in his, looking out to the rolling ocean. The only thing they could see was the white foam of each new wave hitting the shore.

“Would you have married me if Rachel hadn't been part of the bargain?”

Stacey grinned. “Probably not.”

Joey's gaze darted to hers.

She laughed. “I would have married you if all you had to offer me was a cardboard box and an overpass. Rachel was just a bonus.”

“You're a great mom. A great wife. It doesn't get better than you. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you for my mistakes with Cameron.”

Stacey closed her eyes and brought her forehead to his. “We both have a lot of insecurities about this marriage,” she said with a sigh. “But we'll work it out. If nothing else, we're friends. And friends is more than most people have.
A smart guy told me once.
”

“
He was a genius
.”

“Let's take Rachel down to the beach tomorrow and build a sandcastle. Go get some seafood by the dock. What do you say?”

“I think it sounds perfect.”

“You know what else sounds perfect?” Joey asked. He stood and brought her with him.

“What?”

“Holding you all night and waking up to you in the morning.”

“You're a sap.”

“Guilty as charged.”

They slipped back into the room where Rachel was quietly sleeping in her crib and crawled into bed together. Despite the lies and all turmoil their eight month marriage had been through, one thing was clear as Joey fit his body against her back and looped his arm around her.

They fit together perfectly.

****

“No no! Rachel! You don't eat the sand!” Stacey explained as she tried to stop the chubby fist from succeeding in its venture.

Joey laughed at the sight even as his heart warmed. Maybe he had turned into a sap, but he had a good reason. Who wouldn't sap away with a beautiful wife and a kid so cute he couldn't stand it? He was a blessed man, and he never wanted to forget it.

“Rachel!” Joey called, trying to get his daughter's attention before more sand became the object of her attention. “Look! Let's build a sandcastle!”

Her yellow bonnet blew in the ocean breeze, lifting at its ends. Her blue eyes looked up at him as she patted the bucket he overturned.

“Yes, baby girl, pat the bucket! We'll get the sand out and build a castle for Daddy's princess.”

When he lifted the bucket, the sand held its shape… for all of five seconds. Before he knew it, Rachel had dived in, destroying his eighth attempt to build a castle.

Maybe she was a bit young for this kind of escapade? Across from him, Stacey sat in her shorts and tank top, muffling her laugh.

“Go ahead. Get it out.”

Stacey threw her head back and laughed a loud, joyful laugh. “She's impossible.”

“She's eight months old,” he said, feeling the need to defend her.

“And you're an amazing daddy. Pretty determined, too. I would have given up seven buckets ago.” Rachel let out an ear-piercing squeal and clapped her hands together. Joey flinched but scooped her up and planted a kiss on her sandy cheek.

“Love you,
Itsy Bitsy
,” he said. She promptly put a soggy, sandy hand on his cheek and smeared it across his skin. Then she leaned forward with open lips and gave him her typical baby kiss.

His heart melted. He'd build her a thousand sand castles to knock down if it was what she wanted.

The click of Stacey's phone warned him he had been captured.

“I think I'll frame this one.”

Joey put Rachel down and crawled over to Stacey and puckered his lips. She gave him a small peck and grinned. “What?”

“I love watching you with her.”

“Ditto. Guess we're both pretty smitten with each other, huh?”

Stacey gave him a careless shrug. “Most days.”

“What happened to the cardboard box we could live in?”

“I just meant it would be less for me to clean up when you came home from work.”

“Oh yeah? I think you'll pay for that!”

He tackled his wife on the sand and tickled her. Stacey's loud guffaws caused him to laugh and before he knew it, Rachel was squealing and laughing with them.

After a thorough kiss, Joey pulled Stacey up and helped her brush the sand out of her hair. “It's been a perfect day, M
r
s. McCrary. This vacation was just what we needed.”

For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Joey didn't know what she was thinking, but he was grateful for every moment the three of them had together. He'd watched Rachel grow for eight months now, seen many of her firsts, and with all that threatened, he wanted to hold on even tighter.

“Love you,” he whispered.

“Love you, too,” she whispered back.

Her gaze snapped to Rachel just as his did. A big fistful of sand was headed straight for her mouth.

“NO!” they exclaimed in unison, diving toward her hand.