So that’s it? No way in hell was Cory about to let the father of her unborn child walk out of her life just like that. This relationship was worth fighting for. Their marriage was worth fighting for. She refused to let him go.
“Adrian, wait!” she called. It was more like a frantic scream actually. Kind of like the one that had grabbed his attention at the police station. Cory’s shout stopped Adrian dead in his tracks.
“There’s somebody else … I need to tell you about,” she said.
“There’s somebody else in the picture,” she said louder when he didn’t turn around. “Everything has changed, Adrian. That’s why I can’t let you go yet. I can’t let you off the hook so easily.”
This time Adrian turned around. “What did you just say?”
“I said I’m not letting you off so easily. I didn’t go through two years of misery for naught.” Cory was standing at the bottom of the steps now. “And I don’t believe in divorces, by the way.”
Cory removed the shawl draped about her shoulders. “I’m having your baby, Adrian,” she blurted out. There, she said it. Now, she didn’t know what to expect. Cory hoped this wasn’t going to be another episode like when she had foolishly blurted out her love for him the very first time. Or the long silence that followed thereafter. They had never discussed having children in their short time together. But why shouldn’t they have children? That was the norm after marriage. And this was a normal marriage founded on love, right?
“You don’t want a divorce? Wait a minute … what did you say after that? I thought I heard you say … .”
“I’m having your baby,” Cory finished for him. “Look at me, Adrian.”
• • •
Then Adrian really looked at her. The shawl was gone. He noticed the round protrusion of her belly which used to be her flat stomach. A place he would normally shower with kisses. He just figured it was the weight gain she was complaining about these past two weeks. So that was why she had that shawl draped around her like that. That was why she had looked so different. Cory was pregnant all the while?
Adrian thought it was probably because he hadn’t seen her over the last couple of days and that his mind was playing tricks on him. But Cory did look different. She was glowing. Her cheeks were rosy. Her skin was more sun-tanned and radiant than ever. Her breasts amazingly fuller under the black and white tankini she was wearing. Adrian had figured the island of Tobago most likely did this to her, the sun-tanned and rosy features. Her grandmother’s cooking would have helped with the rest. He was still dumbfounded to say the least.
“What’re you saying? How did this happen? When did it happen, Cory? You were on the pill, weren’t you?” Adrian asked.
“Yes, but I sort of forgot to take them. Okay, I really skipped three days but then I took them afterwards … I guess that didn’t work out,” she laughed nervously.
Adrian shook his head. Only Cory would do something so completely nuts like that. But how wonderful that she did. Adrian bolted down the steps now.
“Why are you so crazy, Cory?” Crazy. Beautiful. Sexy. What else could he possibly ask for? He placed his hand on her rounded tummy, thinking of his child growing inside her for the first time. He had waited a really long time to hear these words. “You’re really pregnant?”
“Yes. I took a test.”
Adrian just stared.
“Well, say something, Adrian. Do you want this baby or not?”
“Cory, I’m sorry. I’m still in shock, baby,” he grinned. Adrian had come here in hopes of her forgiveness with little expectations for anything more. He didn’t have much hope that she would still want him back. But Cory didn’t want a divorce. And to top it all, she was pregnant with his child. His head was spinning. He was so deliriously happy.
“Of course I want this baby, are you crazy? Cory, there’s nothing more I’d like than for you to have my child. But are you sure about this?”
“Adrian, look how fat I am.”
“You look so beautiful, baby. But what about us, Cory?”
“Well, I’m surely not going to raise my child as a single parent,” she smiled. “Adrian, I’m so sorry for all those mean things I said to you. I love you so much.”
“Baby, I’m so crazy about you,” Adrian shouted as he gathered her into his arms. “Have been since I first saw you. You completely made my New Year. Then after I saw you screaming your head off at that police station again, it just sealed it for me. I love you, Cory. And I’m not going to let you go ever again.”
Adrian kissed her madly. Passionately. He had his wife back and a baby on the way. His baby, finally. With the woman he loved more than anything. An enormous feeling of joy washed over him. Cory felt so good in his arms again. He thought of Collin. Somehow, it was he that had brought Cory and him together and Adrian owed everything he now had to his brave soul. He held her. She held him. They held each other for what seemed like an eternity on the beach.
“You actually came after me,” Cory finally whispered against his chest, breaking the beautiful silence between them.
“Hey, I wasn’t going to give up on us without one last fight.” Adrian kissed her on her forehead. “I would have pursued you to the ends of this earth if I had to, Cory.”
“Really?”
“You better believe it, baby.”
Cory smiled up at him. “Could I ask you something, baby?” she asked.
“Sure, anything.”
“How many kids do you want?”
“What?” Adrian exclaimed. “What kind of question is that?”
“Could you just answer it please?”
“Alright. Well, after I met you I decided that five was good enough for me.”
“Five?” Cory questioned in wide-eyed amazement.
“Yep. Do you have a problem with that number?” Adrian joked.
Cory burst into laughter. “I don’t actually. That’ll make my grandmother really happy, though.”
“Great. Just as long as she doesn’t get any crazy ideas of coloring their hair purple or anything like that.”
Cory cracked up again. “So what now, baby?” she asked.
“Well, let’s see. I told you everything. You forgave me. You’re having my baby. I missed you like crazy. So I suggest we go home now.”
“Mmmm, home. That sounds real good to me.” But neither of them could move from the beach. “Adrian, promise me one thing first.”
“What’s that, baby?”
“No more secrets between us.”
“Look at me, Cory,” Adrian pulled away to look her in the eyes. “Do I look like I’m crazy to you? That’s it. No more secrets between us, baby. No way am I putting you through this again.”
Things were finally looking up. It felt good to finally get everything out and tell Cory the truth. And to think he came so close to losing her.
“Okay, good. Now, let’s go home, then,” Cory cheerfully announced.
“Wait. First put this on,” Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out her wedding ring.
“My ring,” Cory smiled.
“And baby, please don’t ever take this off again,” he chided.
“Sir, yes, sir,” Cory saluted. Adrian slipped it on her wedding finger once more.
“Now we can go home, baby.”
Cory and Adrian walked back to the house hand in hand. They could finally leave behind the turbulence and darkness that once threatened their love right there on that empty beach.