Never Say Forever

In her eyes, he can do no wrong. And that’s just delightful to see. He’s setting the bar very high for any man coming into her life, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

“Well, the place we got him from doesn’t do refunds.”

“Did you get him cheap?”

“No, I don’t think so,” he says with a chuckle. “At least, the cost didn’t come cheap for your mother.” Our eyes meet then as he glances my way, his expression brimming with love. Our new baby boy was born five short days ago by emergency C-section. Totally unplanned. Totally loved. We hadn’t exactly practised safe sex for most of our relationship, leaving it to fate, I suppose. But when your heart is so full and you’ve promised your husband you’ll consider a houseful of kids, and you really are no match for the sweet-talking beast, you can’t ever regret anything.

We married shortly after arriving in France in the garden of Remy and Rose’s beautiful chateau, nestled between the mountains, the Mediterranean and Monaco. My dad gave me away and though Lulu was ecstatic in her role of flower girl, she held my hand as we’d walked down a verdant green and flower-draped aisle. Mum had cried. Rose, too. And Rocco had dashed about after the first new addition to our family; Mimi, Lulu’s new puppy. Although, I think at that point she was planning on calling him Trevor.

“You’re sure you didn’t get him cheap?” Lulu asks again. “He’s very wrinkly.”

“You know we didn’t buy him, Lu. Your mommy and I made him with love.”

“You mean S-E-X.”

I’m definitely not interrupting this little tête-à-tête.

“Lulu Hayes, where are you getting your information from?”

“Well, I didn’t ask Siri, if that’s what you mean. I saw lions doing it on Animal Planet. Babies come from rubbing butts! Oh, look, Daddy, he’s opening his eyes.”

“So he is. And he’s looking at you.”

“Hello, little baby. I’m your big sister,” she whispers with a touch of awe. “His eyes are blue, like yours and mine.” Her little head swings around as she lays her little hand on his cheek.

“They’re blue for now. But Mommy says they might change.”

“I don’t think so. He’s going to be just like me and you.”

I watch as a range of conflicting thoughts flicker into existence in Carson’s expression before fading away. What’s left there is love. Just love. Carson is Lulu’s father in every way that counts, including legally, thanks to the French courts. He’s not yet her adopted father, but her guardian. But it’s only a short matter of time until we can rectify that. The paperwork is already in place.

I suppose there will always be a chance that Simon might decide to fight us for access to Lulu, but Carson assures me that won’t ever be a problem. It might seem wrong to many that we choose to fight lies with lies, but I don’t feel one bit of guilt about it.

It seems Simon had been trying to join Ardeo for years, though his application had never been approved. But that didn’t matter because the guys there made it look like he had, all of them offering to swear they’d seen him attend. In lurid detail, if it ever came to that.

If he was going to blacken Carson, then they’d do the same. In public. In courts. Whatever it takes. The ammunition helps me sleep better at night, anyway.

We didn’t run away from New York. At least, I don’t think so. I’d moved there to learn about business and ended up learning a lot more about myself. Mine and Rose’s plans for a clinic are still going ahead though it will no longer be exclusively for women, but for families instead.

We’ll help them all find their self-worth.

“Look! He’s holding my hand,” Lulu whispers delightedly, her hand reaching into the bassinet. “You know, Daddy? I don’t want to send him back.”

“You’re sure?”

“I think we should keep him. He’s my baby, you said.”

“Absolutely,” he says, enveloping her in a hug. “I’ve got all the baby I need right here.”

The pair tiptoe out of the door, though it isn’t long before Carson is back holding a bottle of water and a couple of painkillers.

“Did I say thank you for giving me a perfect family?” he says, crossing from the door to the bed.

“Only about ten times today.”

“Well, thank you again.” His lips brush my head, allowing me to inhale his scent before he seats himself on the edge of the bed.

“Open wide.” He waggles his eyebrows comically.

“Ha. Good try. Don’t you know I’m indisposed?” I answer, pushing myself up on my elbows. His expression creases in concern until I’m settled when I get the saucy answer I’d anticipated.

“But not at this end.” He pops two tiny white tablets on my tongue as I poke it out to receive them. “No rubbing butts for at least six weeks. Those were the doctor’s orders. He didn’t say anything about rubbing mouths.” His eyes are dark and smoky as he angles his head, brushing his mouth over mine.