CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
Bran
I had a pretty vivid imagination as a kid. I could take a cardboard box and it would become a train one minute and a rocket to Mars the next. And when I was done playing, coming back into reality, didn’t bring any disappointment about the real world.
Oh sure, I might've been upset that I had to quit playing to go eat dinner or do a chore, but I didn't feel like I wanted to live in my world of make-believe.
Tonight, as I sat at the dining room table having a delightful conversation with Anne, I realized that I was living in a make-believe world. It seemed like Anne and I were family, the way we ate dinner together or enjoyed an evening watching TV.
A child we had made together grew in her belly.
Everything about the way we lived felt real and I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to live in the real world where once this baby was born, Anne would leave us.
I continue to hold on to the belief that over the next few months she would come to feel the same and want to stay with us. But I had to accept there might be a point in which I would have to lay all my feelings out for her and hope that she didn't squash my heart like a bug.
"Did you buy the known world today?" she asked as she wrapped her lips around the baby carrot cooked to the perfect sweetness.
I shifted in my chair as my dick twitched at the sight of her lips, knowing they were just as sweet as the sauce on the carrots. "Not the known world. But the opportunity to buy a winery was presented to me today. I'm very much intrigued. What do you think?"
Her eyes flashed with surprise for a moment, as if she was astonished that I’d asked her opinion. "It does sound intriguing."
"It's up in Northern California, which can be a nice place to visit if you want to get out of the traffic of Los Angeles."
She nodded.
"But these grapes are grown a little bit closer to the coast. I need to do more research about that."
Anne perked up. "Oh, I've heard that coastal wines are growing in popularity."
I tilted my head, studying her, wondering how she knew that. "Are you a wine connoisseur?"
"Not since I lost all my money. And now because of the baby I can't. But I do enjoy a good glass of wine."
In my mind it was settled. I would buy the winery.
Then I had to remind myself again that I wasn't going to be living in this world of make-believe with Anne forever. Did I really want a winery if Anne wasn't with me to enjoy it?
She wiped her mouth with her napkin and set it on the table. "I've been overwhelmed and extremely grateful for all your generosity."
I tried not to frown because I didn't like the idea of her talking like she was thankful for my hospitality.
"I got you something in return. Granted, I used the money that you paid me, but hopefully you'll enjoy this." She handed me a small black box.
I looked at it and then at her. "You don't owe me anything. As you said before, a baby is priceless. What you're giving me is beyond what I could give you."
She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. In fact, she looked down. Sometimes I wished I could read her mind.
I opened the lid and found a gorgeous gold watch. I took it out of the box to study it closer. It looked old and yet I could tell by the features that it was new. I searched the face looking for a brand-name. "This is amazing. What is it?"
"It's one-of-a-kind. I designed it and arranged to have a watchmaker create it."
My gaze shot to Anne, surprised she would do something so special for me. It also filled my heart to overflowing. It was a wonder she couldn't see it pumping hard underneath my shirt.
"This is the most amazing gift I’ve ever been given."
This time, her smile reached her eyes. She was clearly pleased with my response. She got up from her chair and came over, leaning over to show me the various things the watch could do.
Unable to help myself. I pulled her onto my lap, holding her close as we tested out the various features. Then she helped strap it to my wrist.