They completed the journey to the park in silence. Nicky’s excitement was in high gear. He was so impressed with the Sponge Bob ride that he didn’t notice Trace’s silence or the quiet tension threading through Diana’s husky voice.
Trace smiled and laughed with Nicky but ignored Diana. After taking advantage of each ride at least twice, they retreated to a restaurant for dinner. It was a simple dinner and a solemn affair, but Nicky chattered away. After dinner and just before the park closed, they watched the display of fireworks. Diana wanted the night to end so she could curl up in her misery. Her words earlier had created a wide rift in their fragile relationship. She knew she’d implied she hated him, but she was angry and she wanted to hurt him. Then why can’t you tell him that?
The driver pulled up to the private airstrip outside of Gatlinburg. Due to the lateness of the hour, Diana had assumed they would stay over and fly back in the morning.
“I thought we might spend the night,” she said.
“No,” he said and stepped out of the car with a sleeping Nicky in his arms. Looking at Nicky with his arms wrapped around Trace’s neck caused a sudden lump in Diana’s throat. The touching scene filled her with a fresh anxiety. On the plane, he gently laid Nicky on the bed and came to sit beside her on the sofa. Even with her eyes closed, she felt his intense look as she waited for him to speak, but he cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her soft, trembling mouth. Her eyes flew open. “What are you doing?” she asked, surprised at the butterfly softness of his touch.
“What does it feel like I’m doing? I’m helping you relax.”
“I don’t need to relax. I’m already tired.”
“Well, go ahead and sleep.” He continued to stroke her cheek.
“Don’t.” She jerked away from his touch.
The next thing Diana knew she was plastered against him. He stared at her mouth for a moment and finally kissed her. It was a possessive and hungry kiss. Just like that, all the bad that had transpired between them disappeared. He explored her mouth with the determined intimacy of a man seeking to claim what was his.
Diana was drowning, but she didn’t care. She encouraged him, arching into his body, letting her hand trail under his shirt and through the silky black hairs on his chest.
When he released her mouth, she was weak, her breathing a quick, raspy sound of abandonment.
“I like making up,” he said with certitude, sending a rush of heat down her spine. “Do you still hate me now?”
Diana moved out of his arms. “We can’t keep doing this. It solves nothing.”
“I don’t see why not. You want me and I certainly want you. And we’re going to be married soon.” He claimed her mouth again and then released her. “I can’t stand too many more cold showers.”
“Really?”
“I haven’t touched or wanted another woman since the moment I saw you again. I promise to keep my vows.”
She remained quiet.
“Do you doubt me?” Trace gave her a long, unflinching stare.
Could she forget the past? She wanted to. He wanted them to be a family. To have that, she needed to forgive. A shiver ran down the length of her spine. Diana wrenched her eyes away from Trace, wanting to give not just the right answer but an answer that would make the past go away. She wanted him. That she knew for sure, but she didn’t want to lose herself in the process.
What if she gave him her heart again and he trampled it? Did she really want to take another chance with him? She swallowed and cut off her painful thoughts and made a decision that would change her life. “No, I believe you’ll keep your vows.”
Diana heard his breath slowly release. She hadn’t realized how important her answer was to him. Genuine relief glinted in his eyes. “We both made mistakes. It’s about the present and where we go from here.” He inclined his head. “Do you agree?”
“I want to try and make this work,” Diana said.
“I do, too. We’ve both said some hurtful things to each other. For my part, I apologize. I want to be a real father. I want to be able to take Nicky to school, and be there when he comes home. To teach him how to play baseball, pick him up when he scrapes his knee. I need to be the one to tell him its okay for little boys to cry because it makes them stronger. The only way I can do that is for us to be together. It might not be a good basis for marriage, but I know people who have started marriages on less and now have solid unions.”
Amazed at Trace’s private thoughts, she fought hard to hold back the tears that threatened to escape. The old Trace would’ve never let anyone see this side of him. He’d personified the strong, silent type. He hadn’t been one to give flowery speeches or to say things to appease.
“What did I say to make you cry? I hope there’s at least a happy tear there,” he said with a crooked smile, trying to lighten the seriousness of the moment. “I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
The tears clogged her throat to the point where she couldn’t speak for a moment. “You’re serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. All the pain and hurt is in the past. It has no place in our future.” He took her face in his hands. “I really want this to work, but I need you to want it also.”
“What triggered this new Trace?”
“You did,” he responded. “I looked past the harsh words and anger and remembered the Diana I first met, and then I looked at who you are now. You’re still furiously loyal to your friends, dedicated to your job, concerned for your employees, and a lioness when it comes to protecting your cub. I saw you hadn’t changed that much. I’m willing to take a leap of faith, Diana,” he persisted softly. “Will you take it with me?”
Although she wasn’t in his arms, they sat close to each other on the sofa. She moved to create space and stood. She couldn’t think when he was near her. He also stood and watched as she paced back and forth.
“I’m asking you to marry me—not demanding, but asking,” he said quietly.
She stopped pacing and turned toward him. There was no hint of arrogance on his face, no twisted smile on his lips, no sign that he held the winning cards in his hands. Here stood a man she had loved most of her adult life.
“All right,” she responded. “I’ll marry you.”
His response was immediate and gentle. With a graceful movement of his long body, he gathered her in his arms. “Thank you, Diana.” He sighed.
She gave him a puzzled look. “Why are you thanking me?”
“I know it isn’t easy for you to trust me. But I’m glad you do.”
* * *
They spent the rest of the weekend in a timeless euphoria. The following week, while Nicky enjoyed being the center of attention, they relaxed together after dinner in the family room. Nicky lay on the floor coloring and drawing pictures while Trace leaned against the sofa with his laptop balanced on his thighs. Diana lay propped against pillows on the sofa reading the latest Mary Higgins Clark novel. Trace had given her a four-carat pear-shaped diamond in a cluster of smaller diamonds set in platinum a couple days ago. She hadn’t expected an engagement ring, but Trace had ignored her protests and slid it on her finger.
“Trace, do you want to see my picture?” Nicky asked as he scrambled to his knees. He scooted beside Trace and leaned against the sofa, mimicking Trace’s position.
“Of course,” he said and set aside his computer. Taking the picture in his hands, he gave Nicky his full attention. “Nice picture. Who are all these people?”
Pointing to each person, Nicky explained, “That’s Poppy, Mommy, my daddy, and me.” There was a hush in the room. Diana sat up, swung her legs off the sofa, and knelt beside Nicky.
She cleared her throat. “Honey, you mean Poppy, you and me?”
“Mommy, I had to put my daddy in the picture.”
“I don’t understand,” she said, clearly confused.
“Poppy told me one day my daddy would come. I put him in the picture so I wouldn’t forget.”
“Nicky,” she said slowly, “when did Poppy tell you this?”
“On my birthday.”
“That was almost a year ago.” Shock was evident in her voice. “What else did he say?”
“Poppy said he was taking care of me until my daddy came. He told me he lived far away and built big buildings for people. He said my daddy would come one day soon, but until then we had to keep it a secret. I was going to ask you to help me write him a letter, but Poppy said not to because it might make you sad.” His little lip trembled. “I don’t want to make you sad, Mommy.”
“Oh, honey. I’m not sad…not sad at all.” She wrapped her arms around him.
“Since Poppy is gone it’s not a secret anymore?” He gave her an innocent look, his beautiful brown eyes wide and searching. “Mommy, can we write my daddy and ask him to come see me?”
That simple question brought Trace out of his shock. All this time his son had been waiting for him. He felt his world shift. Somehow, John had instigated this day. He had divided Raven’s Nest between him and Diana knowing it would bring him back to Asheville.
Trace struggled to compose himself and failed. He closed his eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to escape. He lost the battle. The tears flooded his cheeks unhindered and formed drops at the end of his jaw. His heart released the raw pain that he had hidden so long ago. For once in his life, he didn’t want to be strong.
“I’m your father, Nicky. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to come.” His voice was strange even to his own ears.
“You’re my daddy?” Nicky said, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Yes, I am.”
“I prayed you would come.”
Trace cleared his throat. “I’m here now.”
“Are you going to stay?”
Trace’s hands trembled as he gently took Nicky in his arms. “Yes. I’m going to stay. I promise to never leave you.”
“I’m glad. Can I call you Daddy?” he asked.
Trace swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. “It would make me happy for you to call me Daddy.” Tears swelled again in his eyes. He cleared his throat. “Your mother and I are getting married. You’ll see me every day. Is that okay with you?”
“Yippee! I can’t wait to tell Billy my daddy came home.”
Trace looked questioningly at Diana.
Diana swallowed and said, “Billy is his best friend. They are in the same class at school.”
“I see. Well, you certainly need to tell your friend.”
Nicky pushed out of his father’s arms. “Where are you going?” Trace inquired.
“I’m going to tell Luca and Rosa.”
They watched him run from the room. There was a long silence after his departure. Trace stood and placed the laptop on the table. He moved to the French windows and looked out. He stood there a moment. He wanted to laugh and cry. He hadn’t realized until now how nervous he had been. His son had accepted him. He released a deep breath.
“Trace, I didn’t know John told Nicky he wasn’t his father.” Trace remained silent, letting her continue. “John always wanted me to tell you about Nicky.”
“John knew Nicky was mine,” he stated.
“Yes, he did. When I found out I was pregnant, I went to him asking for help leaving town, or at least a transfer to somewhere where you wouldn’t look for me. You were head of acquisitions. The chance of you visiting a small branch was slim. Of course, he knew something was terribly wrong. I finally broke down and told him the story. He begged me to tell you, but I refused. He tried to pressure me. He even threatened to tell you himself. I became angry and told him to forget about helping me, that I would go where no one would find me. In my state, I meant it. He suggested marriage to give the baby legitimacy and to keep me in Asheville.”
“Your parents…”
“I couldn’t let my parents know. I was practically living with you. They raised me to be different. I had already disappointed them enough.”
“You never told me how your parents felt about us.”
“Don’t get me wrong. They liked you. As long as I was happy, they were happy.”
“Why couldn’t you tell me you were carrying my child, Diana? You and I had been together an entire year. Help me to understand this,” he persisted.
“I was humiliated and hurt.”
“Humiliated? Hurt?” he questioned. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
“Diana, what the hell is this? You keep talking in riddles.”
“Lisa Davenport,” Diana shrilled at him.
He looked at her perplexed. “What about Lisa?”
“You were sleeping with her while you and I were lovers.”