CHASING TROUBLE

After days of this bliss, both Nicholas and Caroline had to catch up on neglected work. It was a good thing being a department head, but even better when the company owners were now your soon to be husband and father in law. After her own work had been taken care of and nothing of any urgency needing her attention, Caroline left Charlie napping under the watchful eye of his nanny and set off with the butler to decide where to house her family and the other guests who would be staying with them for the wedding.

When she returned to check on Charlie, he wasn’t in his room. She was about to call Seema when she turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and then Nicholas appeared with Charlie in his arms.

“I didn’t know you were back,” Caroline said with a smile which he returned.

“Yeah, we were looking for you,”

They left the room and walked in silence. When they reached the stairs, he caught one of her curls in his fingers. “My father is here. I’m going to have a chat with him. Do you want to join us?”

She shook her head. “You go ahead. I’m going to take Charlie for a swim.”

“Okay.” He cupped her cheek and placed a tender kiss to her lips before kissing their son’s head. “I’ll join you when we’re done.”

Caroline carried Charlie to the nursery armchair and sat him on her lap. She rubbed her cheek over his soft head and then she stared at her son. Charlie stood himself up on her lap and bounced, gurgling away happily. “What would I do without you?” she said, putting her mouth to his cheek and blowing on it, making him laugh manically. She blew another raspberry on his cheek and savored the musical sound of his laughter.

She realized that she was happy. Being here with Nicholas and their son made her extremely happy. Because there was no point in denying any more that she loved him. She had always loved him. And, though he might not recognise it as love and might never say the words, he loved her too. She knew it in her heart.

She shifted Niki higher. His head drooped. She kissed his sleeping face and gently laid him in his cot. Their swim could wait while he napped.

Making sure the baby monitor was working, Caroline crept out of the nursery and went in search of the man she loved.

__________

“Everything is in hand?” Frank Connelly asked his son.

Nicholas nodded.

“Good. I’m glad you came around to my way of thinking. When I remember the amazing time and marriage… The love I had with your mother…”

Nicholas knew where the conversation was going and he was in no mood for it. He had no time for conversations about love at the moment. The only emotion he would allow himself to feel was love for his son. In two days he would marry Caroline and he’d know that, whatever happened, his son would always have his love and protection.

He had a drink of his coffee. In no mood to hear another lecture about how his parents were meant for each other so he and Caroline should be the same.

“Marriage will protect you and protect your son.” Frank continued, “Remember that. But take it from a man who knows- a miserable wife makes for a very miserable life.”

“We won’t be married long enough for me to make her miserable.” The hackles of his crawling skin rose at the look on his father’s face. “Why are you looking at me like that? A temporary marriage was your idea.”

“I know.” Frank sighed. “But I didn’t think you’d actually take that comment seriously. Besides, that was when I thought selfishness had stopped her telling you… And me about your son. I didn’t know-”

“The decision has been made,” Nicholas interrupted curtly. An image of Caroline’s beautiful face shining up at him with that softness in her eyes… He banished it swiftly. Damn it, his guts were cramping. His heart felt like it was tearing. “A year of marriage is the most I can live with.”

This was what sentimentality did to you. Made you doubt yourself. Made you imagine feelings that didn’t exist.

The cramping in his guts was a form of guilt, and unnecessary guilt at that.

He hadn’t promised Caroline forever. That was one lie he’d never told her.

“Time might change your mind,” Frank said, his expression sad.

“No. One year and then I file for divorce.”

If time was going to change anyone’s mind it would be Caroline’s when she’d spent long enough time with him. He swallowed the burn of nausea rising up his throat and again banished the image of her beautiful face from his mind…and that softness he so often saw in her eyes that, if he’d been a man who inspired love, he could almost believe was the look of love.

_________

Caroline backed slowly to the stairs, covering her mouth tightly to stop the scream from escaping. When she reached the top of the stairs she flew down the corridor to Charlie’s room. She closed her eyes and pulled in a breath before she opened it. Checking that Charlie was still sleeping, she hurried to her bedroom, grabbed her phone and called her sister.

Elsa answered on the third ring. “Hi, big sister! How’s it going?”

“I’m sorry to bother you Elsa, but I didn’t know what to do or who else to call,”

This time there was panic in Elsa’s voice. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing.” Yet. “But the wedding’s off. I can’t marry him.”

“What’s happened?”

“I’ll tell you later. But for now, I need to leave… This house… This town in fact. I’m going over to mom and dad’s. I’ll tell you everything when I get home.”

Her real home. A home filled with people who loved her. “Do me a favor and don’t tell Mom. I don’t want her to worry. I’ll tell her when I get there,”

“You’re scaring me.”

“I promise it’s nothing to scare you. He’s not hurt me, I swear.” Not physically at least, she thought.

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

“Okay…I’ll keep in touch.” Elsa said before she reluctantly hung up.