Authors: Jaime Whitley
“Goodnight, my sweet Delilah,” I say, before placing a kiss on her head. As I’m pulling away, I feel her hand grab mine.
“I think I’ve always known deep down that you would come back to me. That’s why Miles and Delilah are so happy together. You’re my Miles,” she mumbles, with her eyes closed quickly falling back asleep. I take this as my cue to go and as I’m closing the door, I let her words sink in. She knew I would always come back to her. Well guess what baby, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere and I will make our family happy.
Chapter 19
Lilly
Two weeks have passed since Silas has found out about Ezra. I’m happy that he is still around and am surprised at how active he is in his life. It was cute how nervous he was the first night Ezra spent at his place. I would receive a text almost every hour with updates on what they did and Silas asking permission if they could do something else. I almost texted him and asked if he wanted me to come over, but chose not to. He needs to learn on his own, and he most certainly does not need my permission. He is his father and as long as he isn’t taking him bungee jumping, I know he is left in good hands.
With Silas taking Ezra out more frequently, I’ve had a lot more free time to write. I’m almost done with my latest book and even have notes going for new ones. Ever since Silas came back into my life, I’ve had so many story lines running through my head. Megan likes to call him my muse and I’m starting to think she is right. I don’t know what it is, but whenever he is around, inspiration flows through me. It’s late morning and I’m about to have my coffee and do some writing. As soon as I open my laptop my phone goes off.
Silas: Hey, can you come over right away?
My heart suddenly starts running a marathon as my mind starts to think the worst. Did something happen to Ezra? Is he okay? Does he need to go to the hospital? All my worst fears start running through me as I change out of my pajamas into acceptable clothes. My hair is in a messy bun, but I can’t be bothered to fix it. Right now I need to get over there and see what’s wrong.
I rush across town, not caring if I’m speeding and I make it to Silas’s house in no time. I don’t bother taking the keys out of the ignition as I rush up his driveway. Not bothering to knock, I push open the door and fly into his house like a bat out of hell. Looking around franticly not sure where to go, I see Silas and Ezra on the floor playing with Legos. Ezra has a big smile on his face and Silas looks over at me with his eyebrows draw together as concern washes across his face. Getting up, he rushes toward me and grabs my hand that is over my chest.
“Is everything okay? Lilly, your heart is beating a mile a minute, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” he questions rather quickly, looking over my body for any signs that I might be hurt.
I’m still looking back and forth between him and Ezra trying to figure out what the emergency could have been. Everyone looks okay and no one seems to be hurt. I calm my erratic breathing and let out a sigh. Bringing my attention fully to Silas, he is searching my face, waiting for an answer.
“I got your text and I figured something was wrong. I got here as fast as I could.” I place my hands on my legs, leaning down trying to catch my breath.
“Here, why don’t you sit? I’ll grab you some water,” he walks off to the kitchen as I straighten myself up.
Looking around his house, I’m surprised at how clean and organized it is. You would think for a single man, the place would be filled with empty beer bottles and clutter. Instead, he has all types of art and pictures displayed on the walls and nice furniture making it feel very homely. Silas returns with a bottled water and hands it to me. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” taking a seat next to me he rubs my back in a soothing manner. “So back to your frantic arrival, if there was something wrong I would have called you. I know I’m new to this parenting thing and all, but I wouldn’t send you a text message if he was hurt.”
“Now that I’m sitting here and I see everything is okay, I think I might have overreacted a little.” I’m feeling a little embarrassed at how I just burst into his house like a crazy woman. “I’m sorry I didn’t knock.” Silas has an amused look on his face, and I can see he’s trying to keep his lips from turning up into a smile. Smacking his arm, a huge grin breaks out on his face before he lets out a laugh.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. It’s just you look adorable when you are panicked. The way you burst through that door was kind of hot.”
“Well I’m glad you think so. Just wait, one day you will be on the receiving end of those calls and it will scare the life out of you,” I assure him. “So what’s the urgency of me stopping by?”
“When I asked you if I could spend the weekend with Ezra you said yes.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” I’m still lost as to what’s going on.
“No, not at all. It’s just you didn’t mention anything about it being your birthday today. Did you really think I would let you spend your birthday without our son?”
Surprised and a little taken back I ask, “How did you know today is my birthday?”
“Ezra asked me if I got you a present. I wasn’t sure what you needed a present for until he told me what today is. Why didn’t you just tell me? I would have just taken him for the night instead of the weekend?”
“Silas, I’ve had two wonderful birthdays with him. I couldn’t take a day away from you when you’ve already missed two and a half years of his life,” I say, shrugging my shoulders, I want him to know that it’s really not a big deal and I don’t mind.
“Happy birthday, Mommy!” Ezra yells, as he wraps his arms around my neck hugging me. “I draw you this,” he hands me a card made on craft paper. I open it and there is a picture of three stick figures surrounding what looks to be a cake.
“This is perfect buddy, I love it,” I give him a kiss on the head.
“There’s more, Mommy! Close your eyes.” I raise an eyebrow as I look to Silas who winks at me.
“You heard the little man, close your eyes,” Silas instructs.
I close my eyes and I can hear their feet shuffling across the tile floor. I’m rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet, anxiously awaiting their return. I never thought I was being called over here for my birthday. I can tell when they entered the room again because Ezra is giggling and Silas is shushing him. They count to three and I open my eyes. Immediately the boys start to sing happy birthday while Silas is holding a cake lit with candles in front of me. My cheeks rise as I break out into a huge smile, completely shocked that they baked me a cake. After they are finished singing, Ezra tells me to make a wish. I stare deep into Silas’s eyes for a moment and for once in my life, wish for something I truly want. Him.
“What did you wish for?” I can hear the curiosity in Silas’s voice when he asks.
“I can’t tell you because then it won’t come true.” I’m being sarcastic with him, but whether that is true or not, I still wouldn’t tell. I don’t know when the last time I wished for something and desperately wanted it to come true. We all have cake and Silas pops a bottle of champagne open. I raise an eyebrow while eyeing him as he pours two glasses.
“What?”
“It’s a little early for champagne, don’t you think?”
“No, we’re celebrating. Besides, haven’t you ever had a mimosa for breakfast? I can add some orange juice if it’ll make you drink it,” he teases. Taking the glass I hold it up to my lips to have a taste. Before I can drink it, Silas pulls the glass away from my lips. “A toast, to an extraordinary writer and the beautiful mother of my child.” He releases my hand, clinking his glass to mine. Silas drinks his champagne, never breaking eye contact. I remain still locked in his stare as his toast replays in my mind and fills me with the hope for my wish to come true. I quickly snap out of it, bringing the glass to my lips and letting the liquid cool the heat building in the back of my throat.
“Ezra, what do you say we take Mommy out for lunch and spend the day with her?” Jumping up and down saying yes, he runs away to look for his shoes.
“You don’t have to do that, really, all this,” motioning my hands to the champagne and cake, “is more than enough.”
“I insist.”
I wait for Ezra and Silas to get ready to leave and we head out for lunch. Silas was horrified when he found out I’ve never been to PF Changs, so naturally that is where we went. I have to admit their food is amazing and their lettuce wraps are to die for. Their drinks aren’t half bad either. Ezra tells me all about the day he had with his dad yesterday, and the enthusiasm pouring out of him melts my heart. I’m glad to see the two of them bonding so quickly, but at the same time, I feel a little jealous. This is where the fear that Ezra won’t need me as much comes in. I know it’s silly, but I can’t help it. It’s always been just me and him, and now it’s the three of us. I don’t even know if I can call it that since we don’t have too many family outings. I’ll have to talk to Silas and see if he is comfortable doing that.
Once we finish lunch, we head back to Silas’s so I can grab my car and he can return to his weekend with our son. Once we pull up, we head inside, and as I’m about to say goodbye to Ezra, Silas asks what my plans are for tonight. After telling him that I was going to spend it taking a bath and reading a book, he insisted I call Megan and see if she can watch Ezra so he can take me out. Megan of course said yes, so now I have a date and nothing to wear. I say bye to Ezra and Silas so I can head home and start to get ready for dinner.
Once I get home, I shower and put a little extra effort into how I look for tonight. When I asked Silas where he was taking me, he would only tell me to dress nice. I found a black cocktail dress that still had the tag on it and chose to wear it with my nude heels. After throwing make up on, I give myself a final look over and decide this is as good as it’s going to get. I have put more effort into getting ready for tonight than I have with all the past dates combined, so if he doesn’t like it, dinner will be over real quick. The doorbell rings and I adjust my dress and walk to the door, opening it.
“Wow, you look …” he starts, but stops talking.
“Choose your words wisely, Mr. Harper,” I joke, but inside I’m a wreck. I want to be the only person he sees, and the fact he isn’t speaking is making me a little worried.
“Well, that’s the thing. Words can’t even begin to describe how you look tonight, or do you justice for that matter,” he leans in and kisses me on my cheek. His lips linger for a moment and I take the moment to take in his smell. He smells just like I remember from our one night together and I’m being flooded with memories of that night. As he leans back, he hands me the roses that he’s been holding and reaches out his arm for me. We lock arms and leave for our evening out together.
***
Dinner is going well and we’re having a great time. We are at a family-owned Italian restaurant, but it is very upscale. The lighting in the restaurant is all chandeliers and candle light, giving it that romantic feel. They have a man who plays the piano and a man who plays the violin creating slow beautiful music together. I think this restaurant just became my new favorite place. We exchange stories all evening about life, work, and I fill him in on everything Ezra. Silas is so easy to talk to and has a way of making you just want to open up to him. At some point during dinner, he grabs a hold of my hand on the table and holds it until we had to let go to eat. We split some dessert and head back to my place since Megan is watching Ezra at Silas’s. The whole ride back to my place, I’m a ball of nerves. I’m not really sure what’s going to happen, but I do know what I want to happen. I sent Megan a text when we were leaving, asking her if she was able to spend the night. If I have my way tonight, I’m going to be unwrapping the best birthday present ever in a couple of minutes.
With trembling hands, I unlock the door, we head inside, and I offer Silas a drink. Instead of answering me, he closes the distance between us. His arms reach out and pull my body into him, pressing me against his chest. As he is staring into my eyes, I can feel my breath pick up the longer I’m pressed against him. He is staring at me and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, bringing his lips to my ear.
“That’s better, your face is too beautiful to be hidden behind your hair,” he whispers into my ear. He pulls away, and my brain is so fuzzy, I can’t speak. Luckily he isn’t waiting for a response as his lips come crashing into mine. What starts as a heated kiss turns, into a slow and sensual one. “Lilly, I want to give you a birthday present.”
“Really, right now? Do you think it can wait? What you’re doing right now is good enough for me,” I plead, causing him to laugh.
Cupping my face with his hands, he says, “I want to give you me, all of me. I don’t know how you feel, but ever since I saw you again, I knew I had to have you. No one will ever measure up to you and I’ve always known that. Now that I have you back in my life, I’m not willing to risk losing you. So if you will have me, I want to give you myself as your present. I will be the most unselfish boyfriend, lover and father. I will cherish you like you were meant to be. Please take my heart, Lilly, because it always belonged to you and it always will.” I’m frozen, still staring at him in shock as his hands leave my face, grazing their way down my arms. This is something I’ve wanted since seeing him in the bookstore. I feel the same exact way and I would be stupid to turn him down. I now have a new found love for cake and candles.
“Silas, I’ve felt the same way since I saw you again. I will gladly take your heart and anything else you want to give me. But, you have to take mine in return and promise not to break it. I don’t think I can handle you disappearing from my life for a second time.” I clasp my hand in his locking our fingers together.
“I promise.” Picking me up and carrying me through the house toward my bedroom, I let out a shriek of happiness.
He places me down gently and tells me to turn around. I do as he says and he unzips the back of my dress, trailing the zipper with kisses. As he reaches the end of the zipper, I shrug my arms, letting the dress fall and expose my breasts. Silas’s hands that are resting on my hips begin to slowly push the dress down and I step out of it.