Destiny by chance: A Contemporary Romance Fiction Novel (26 page)

Jessie opened the door and smiled.  “William!  What a pleasant surprise.  Come on in.”

“Sorry to bother you like this.  Bill anxiously stepped through the doorway; his hands shoved into his front jeans pocket.  “Is Charlie around?”

She walked ahead of him and waved her hand, pointing toward the recliner.  “He’s on his throne, as usual.”

Charlie looked up, saw it was Bill and smiled.

“Can I take you up on that drink now?”

Charlie turned off the television with his remote and sat up, slowly adjusting the old recliner to an upright position.  Carefully he rose, his neck still in a brace from the accident just days before.  He cast a glance at his wife, who took the hint.  She leaned over and kissed Bill’s cheek before walking back to their bedroom and closing the door.  Charlie walked into the kitchen, reached into the cabinet and took down the half-full bottle of Weller and two shot glasses.  “What are we celebrating?” Charlie quipped, noting the seriousness in his nephew’s eyes.  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually had a drink with him.

Bill rested his hands on the counter as he contemplated what to say, how to say it.  Then he sat, his eyes on the small glass between his fingers.

“Just say it, Son,” Charlie encouraged him.  “Get it off your chest.”

“Dad said that you couldn’t ever talk about what you did for a living because of
what
you did for a living,” he began, looking up at the unshaven man.

Charlie narrowed his eyes.  “You’re not going to ask me to kill somebody are you?”

Bill toyed with his glass and chuckled.  The thought momentarily sounded good. 
Momentarily
.  He looked up at Charlie.  “I want to know how to disappear.”  The words hung in the air, as he downed the entire glass of whiskey. He gasped, made a face and set it down hard next to the bottle.

Charlie furrowed his brow, looking into Bill’s eyes.  “You almost sound serious.”

Bill sighed and looked the old man in his eyes.  “I was served today.  Justine wants joint custody with Sydney.”

“How’s that possible?  She’s not been around since she was, what, six months?”

“Four.” Bill rubbed his temples.  “Then I got a call from my attorney.  She’s also requested a blood test, claiming that Sydney’s not—” his voice cracked, then he dropped his head to his arms suddenly and wept.

Charlie didn’t know what to do.  Since 9/11, he’d never seen another man cry.  Slowly, he downed a second glass, then walked around the counter and patted Bill on the back.  Bill raised his head and wiped his tears, drawing in a deep breath.  He downed the small glass of whiskey, slamming the glass on the counter by the bottle.

“This won’t help, Son.”

Since Bill’s father had passed away almost ten years ago from a massive heart attack, Charlie and Jessie were his only family besides his mother.  He and Charlie had been extremely close.  His father’s sudden death had been devastating for all of them.  Now he was coming to his uncle, as he would have gone to his father.  Bill looked into his eyes.  “I don’t know what to do.” 

“Running away won’t help, either,” Charlie insisted, as he poured less into Bill’s glass and pushed it to him.  “I’m sorry to ask this, but is it possible?”

Bill took the glass and looked into it again.  “After we…” he began.  “She went to Italy for a month with her mom and her Aunt Jean so that she could have…” he struggled to say the words.  Then he looked into Charlie’s eyes again.  “I know she’s mine,” he said emphatically.  “I know it, with all my heart.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” Charlie held the glass up to his nephew, then knocked back the glassful.

“But how do I tell her?  How do I tell Sydney, after all this time, her mother wants to see her?  And then I have to explain that they have to take her blood.  How am I going to explain
that
?”

“Do you have to?”

Bill stood and began to pace.  “She’s nine.  She’ll figure it out,” he added sarcastically. 

Charlie didn’t take offense to his outburst.  “So, you go home, and you talk to her.  You said it yourself.  She’s a smart girl.  She’ll figure it out.  If Sydney were still just a baby, then I’d say the gloves go off and go for the throat.  But she’s nine.”  “How you handle this will not only be a testament to your role as a father, but a testament of your faith.”  He put the cap back on the whiskey bottle.  “You fight, but you do it silently, behind the scenes, so to speak.  Like the
Wizard of Oz
.  ‘
Don’t pay attention to the man behind the curtain.’ 
You can go crazy pulling the knobs and levers.  Talk to the attorneys and judges, whatever you have to do.  But on the outside, keep it calm, and
she’ll
be fine.”

“I’m worried about
me
,” he chuckled, as he sat back down.  “What if I…” he began again, his eyes moist.  “I can’t,” he mused, struggling to finish.  Bill shook his head.  “I can’t lose her.”

Charlie reached over and put his arm on Bill’s.  “You’re not gonna lose her son,” he reassured him empathetically.  “You fight like hell for her.  For
her
, son.  She’s
your
daughter.  You know what’s best for her.  You fight for
her,
” he encouraged his nephew. 

Bill pushed the shot glass back to Charlie, as he stood.  Charlie walked around the counter and put his arm on his back as he walked him to the door.  “You’ll do the right thing.  I know you will.  You’re a good man.”

“I don’t feel like a good person right now.”  Bill shoved his hands into his pockets again.  “Right now, I want to kill my ex-wife.”

“Understandable emotion,” Charlie agreed.  “But then, Justine wins.  And none of us wants that.”

Bill shook his head, then looked into Charlie’s worn face.  “Thank you, Uncle Charlie.”  Bill forced a small smile. 

Charlie clapped his hand on his nephew’s shoulder and squeezed it.  “You’ll be okay, Son,” he promised with a sigh.  “And if you need anything, you know you can come by or call anytime.  We’re here for you.”

Bill nodded.  “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Son.” Charlie pulled his brother’s youngest son to his chest, as he had done when he was a young man.  Charlie watched Bill walk away, waving to him as he climbed into his car. 

His wife joined him at the door, her hand on his shoulder as she looked around him.  “He gonna be okay?”

Charlie exhaled.  “I hope so.  For that little angel’s sake, I certainly hope so.”

Destiny walked down the stairs carefully, so as not to slip on the wooden steps or the carpet that ran down the middle of the staircases.  Her hand slid down the polished wooden banister that curled at the bottom of each floor.  She didn’t remember setting the alarm, and she didn’t mind the exercise, but she wasn’t looking forward to three flights of steps up and down this late at night.  All the guests were already asleep.  More importantly, Sydney was asleep.  Sydney had become worried when her father wasn’t answering his phone and worked herself into a sobbing mess, concerned that something had happened to him. 

There was a light on in the kitchen that she didn’t remember leaving on. Many times guests came down to help themselves to drinks or snacks that were left out, and, most times, they were less conscious of turning the lights off.  Destiny walked to the porch and turned on the light.  She narrowed her eyes but didn’t see Bill’s CR-V in the driveway with all the other cars there.  She checked the alarm, and it indicated there was a door open.  She turned off the porch and kitchen lights and began checking all the doors in the house.  When she was sure that they were all closed and locked, she checked the alarm again. 
Hmm.

She hesitated, then, slowly walked to Bill’s room.  She drew in a deep breath and knocked softly.  She waited a moment and put her ear to the door.  She started to knock, but instead turned the knob and opened the door.  She knocked lightly again, as she stepped inside.  “Bill?”  She listened.  There were no sounds beyond the door.  Destiny stepped into his room and shivered from the cold.  There was no lump on the bed.  She drew her robe tighter around her and walked to his outside door.  It was unlocked and open.  She looked out over the moonlit gardens, the light fully revealing the beautifully landscaped and manicured lawns.  She turned and a shape startled her.

“Jesus Christ!! You scared me.”  Slowly, quietly Bill emerged from the shadows.  “What are you doing out here?  It’s freezing.”

Bill stepped to her and she could see his eyes shimmering through the darkness.

“Are you okay?”

Bill reached forward, to her face.

She gasped at his touch.  “Your hands are like ice!”

Bill cupped his hands and blew into them and then rubbed them together before moving his hands to her face again, taking her cheeks with them, brushing them with his thumbs.  Destiny felt her face drop into his grip.  Bill took another step toward her and held her face in both his hands.  His eyes beckoned her, pleaded with hers.  Destiny stepped to him, her eyes locked onto his.  Slowly he pulled her against him and kissed her gently.  Then harder.  She could taste the alcohol on his breath, but she didn’t care.  Bill’s hands slid from her side to the curve of her back as he held her tighter.  Overcome by the passion of the moment, Destiny felt herself melt into his arms, but he held her up.  He hungrily pulled her nearer, his mouth wide, his tongue exploring, savoring.

Destiny stepped back, breathless and gasped, her gaze still on him.  She pressed herself against him again, her hands taking his face, pulling him to her.  When they parted again, Bill looked down at her.  Her robe had loosened in the fray and hung open.  Under it, she wore a thin nightshirt and cotton night pants.  He looked down at Destiny, her body visible through the thin white material in the moonlight.  He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him.  She was stunning.  She was perfect.  Bill could see her bosom rising and falling with every breath.  He closed his eyes and kissed her again, his hands moving inside her robe, squeezing her to himself.  It was all too much to bear.  Her mouth moved to his neck, nibbling on it.  Bill dropped his head back.

Destiny side-stepped slowly, pulling Bill with her as they kissed frantically.  She felt her robe fall from her shoulders.  Or was he pulling it off?  She didn’t know.  She didn’t care.  She just knew that she wanted him to make love to her, to hold her and never let her go.  Destiny looked down, her hands moving to his soft flannel shirt, unbuttoning it as fast as she could manage. As they stepped inside the door, Bill pulled it closed behind him, his lips never leaving hers.  They neared the bed, her robe now in a heap on the floor.  He turned, tripping over it and they both fell together onto the bed, laughing.  They lay on the bed, looking at each other, their laughter dying down.  Bill wriggled onto the bed beside her, his body pressed against hers. 

Suddenly, he wanted to take his time.  His hand moved slowly over her shirt and up to her face.  He slowly leaned over and kissed her, ever so gently, his lips traveling down her chin, then her neck.  His hand tentatively made its way back to her stomach, his hand sliding inside her shirt.  Bill felt Destiny’s warm skin tremble at his touch.  His hand traced her stomach and around to her bare back, pulling her closer.  His kisses became more passionate as his hand moved to her shoulder.  He pulled her as close as he could, squeezing her tightly.  He looked up, just for a moment—a mere fraction of a moment.  Only it was a moment too long, as his eyes rested on the framed photo at his bedside.  Bill stopped suddenly, his forehead dropping to hers, his breath hot and hurried against her face.  “I can’t,” Bill said in frustration.  “I’m sorry.”

Destiny lay there, her breathing quickening with each beat of her heart.  She looked up at him, confused. 

Bill slowly pulled away and sat up on the side of the bed and dropped his head into his hands.  “I’m sorry.”

Destiny felt her fortitude fail, and she quickly slid from the bed.  She softly sobbed as she slipped back into her slippers and grabbed her robe.

“Destiny!” Bill grabbed for her arm.

But she was already rushing down the hallway, pulling her robe on as she went.  Destiny tried to maneuver the stairs, her tears blinding her.  She slowed, her chest heaving with her sobs, as she tried not to cry out loud and wake the guests.  She held her hand over her mouth as she climbed the third flight and rushed into her room.  Then she fell onto her bed and sobbed profusely.  She felt embarrassed.  Humiliated.

Suddenly, there was a light knock.  Maybe if she ignored him, he would go away.  The tap came again.  The door creaked open, and she realized in her haste, she failed to lock it.  “Go away,” she managed to whimper.  Then she felt him lean on the bed beside her.

“Destiny,” Bill grabbed for her arm.

She rolled away from his touch.

“Destiny, please,” he pleaded.  “It’s not you.”

Destiny rolled over and glared at him, reached behind him, grabbed a handful of tissues, blew her nose, and wiped her face.  She finally stood and looked down at him.  “I knew this was a mistake.  I’m sorry.”

Bill gently took her hand.  “Destiny, please,” he begged, until she sat beside him on the bed, sniffing.

“I want to explain something to you.”  Bill slid to his knees before her to ensure she was looking at him, still holding her hands in his.  “I want you more than you know,” he said.  “Maybe more than I should,” he continued, as she finally faced him.  And I didn’t want to stop.  I
wouldn’t
have stopped,” Bill assured her.

“Then why did you?” she asked, mystified.  “We’re two consenting adults.  And I
was
consenting,” she said, blowing her nose.  “I put myself out there; I trusted you.”

“That’s exactly right.  You trusted me,” he reiterated.  “And you have to trust me now.  I want you more than I’ve ever wanted any woman.  I love you more than I’ve loved any woman.”

“But?”

“But suddenly, I saw Sydney.” Bill climbed from his knees and sat beside her again.  “And I was suddenly ashamed.  How would I want someone to treat my little girl?” He tilted his head toward her.  “Would I want some guy to treat her the way I was treating you?”  He looked away, embarrassed, shaking his head.  “God, the fact that I’m even thinking about that already is disturbing on so many different levels.”  He turned back to her and drew in a deep breath.  “Point is if I want that for my daughter—if I want someone to respect her and love her and wait for her until he marries her, shouldn’t I do the same?”

Destiny wiped her eyes once more, chewing on what he said.  “So, it wasn’t me?”

Bill chuckled.  “Oh, God, no,” he assured her, turning and hugging her.  “I love you.  I
want
you.  Some things are obvious,” he added, looking down at his lap.  She followed his stare, then looked back up at him, blushing, a small smile crossing her lips.  “I can hide some things, but…” he said, shrugging; eyebrows raised.  “So, it’s
definitely
not you.  It’s all me.”

Destiny fell back onto her bed, and Bill fell back beside her.  “I guess snuggling is out of the question.”

“Snuggling, kissing, petting, being in the same room.” Bill turned to smile at her.  Slowly, his fingers reached across and gently took her fingers.  As he glanced down at their hands, he added, “Holding hands is permitted.”

“Oh, thank God!” she exclaimed.  “I was starting to think we were going to have to have sex without actually touching at all.”

He looked up at the ceiling.  “Somehow, this is going to be harder than I ever thought it would be.”

“So, what happens now?” she asked, rolling onto her side, and leaning on her elbow.

“If we get married tomorrow, Sydney will be in bed by nine, ten at the latest.  We can finish this conversation tomorrow night, at say,” he looked at his watch.  “Ten-o-one.”

Destiny smiled down at him.  “There’s a hearing on my civil suit tomorrow.”

“Darn it!” He rolled back onto his side, and leaned on his elbow as well, looking at her like he had an epiphany.  “If there’s court, there’s a judge, right?  We can ask for an adjournment and then he can marry us in chambers.  We’ll ask him to excuse us for, say,” he looked at his watch again.  “Five minutes.”

Destiny laughed.  “Five minutes?”

Bill raised his eyebrows and looked up.  “It
has
been, uh, how old is Sydney, and then add six months?”

Destiny laughed again and took his hand.  “So, is this you proposing?”

“Just proposing a means to an end,” he sighed, looking into her eyes.  “No, this is not me proposing.  When I propose, it’s going to be right.  It’s going to be perfect.”  He sweetly smiled, reaching for her shirt.

Destiny immediately held up her hand to create a barrier.

Bill narrowed his eyes.  “You’re going to make me pay for this, aren’t you?”

Destiny grinned.  “Absolutely.”

Bill rolled onto his back again, staring upward.  He sighed.  “Why does life have to be so complicated?”

“Life is messy,” she agreed.

“Justine requested a blood test, saying Sydney might not be mine,” he said weakly before looking over at her.

“Oh, Bill!  No!”

“Yeah.  How am I supposed to tell Syd?”

“Do you have to?”

“Well, they want to do a blood test on her and me.”

“No, Bill.”  Destiny was pensive for a moment.  “You can fight it.”

“Yeah.  Dale said I could, but then I’d be in default of a court order and could be arrested.  And then what would happen to Sydney?” he asked looking at her.  “And in the end, he said, I’d still have to do it.”

Destiny thought for a moment.  “Tell her that she has to have it for school.”

“Lie?”

“Absolutely,” she insisted.  “Then she’ll never have to know why.”

“Unless…” he began.

Destiny’s hand moved to his chest, then to his face, and she turned him to face her.  “She’ll never have to know,” she smiled sweetly.

Bill looked down at her hand.  “What happened to the protective barrier?”

“Pity touch,” she grinned.

Bill rolled back to his side, his hand moving to hers.  “
And
she has a sense of humor, too.”

“It’s part of the chastity training.”

Bill’s smile grew.  “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He stood and looked down at her, eyeing her from head to toe and back.  He contemplated what he was walking away from and shook his head.

“Good night,” he said, walking to the door.  He opened it and stepped outside, then reached in and checked the doorknob and the lock.  He looked back up at her.  “I suggest you lock this.”

“I’ll be fine,” she offered. “I trust you.”

“Lock the door,” he reiterated.  “
I
don’t trust me.”  He disappeared through the door and pulled it closed behind him, wriggling the doorknob for effect.

Destiny smiled to herself, pulling the pillow to her chest and hugging it.  She could feel his hands all over her, his tongue in her mouth, his breath on her neck.  Suddenly, she heard the doorknob rattle again, and her eyes popped open.  She slid off the bed and walked to the door.  It rattled again.

“You there?” Bill whispered against the door.

“Right here.” 

“I needed to tell you…” he murmured, hesitating.  “I
am
going to propose to you, Destiny.  In a way that you deserve.”  Destiny’s hand went to the knob.  “And I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me.  Showing you that I love you more than life itself.”

“I love you, too,” she said through the door.  She felt the knob turn slightly in her hand.  If she let him in, she knew she wouldn’t let him leave.  She heard him sigh, and then he wiggled the doorknob one more time.