Chapter 39

Fourteen months later….

Over the past year, Baylee did what she intended. For the most part, she has stayed away from the Ashers. It wasn’t easy, but she made it a point to develop a co-parenting schedule with Niko that they have been sticking to strictly. She also made it a point to only speak to him if it was regarding Anola. It was working out pretty smoothly and they were both happily moving on.


About a year ago, she found out that he and Melissa had broken up. It was a shock. A friend saw him on a romantic date with another woman. She was devastated but she didn’t let it break her, she grew stronger.
She had forgotten who she was in all the regret she felt but remembered that day. Moving on from him completely was a piece of cake after that. She didn’t think about him and she wouldn’t even remember he existed if it wasn’t for Anola.


She stood in front of large French brown doors holding a red and white bouquet while waiting to walk down the aisle. The flower girls, Emmie and Jasmine, were first to go, and then the bridesmaids, and now it was her turn. The doors swing open and she gracefully plants her heels on the ground as she moves to the altar.

Up ahead of her, she sees her nervous-looking brother-in-law waiting patiently for her sister who was a shaking mess, holding her breath until she could marry her husband again.

Baylee finds her place at the side and looks out at all the waiting family and friends that filled the rows of the chapel.
Anola was in the front sitting on her dad's lap clapping.
She smiles and waves at her daughter.
Niko takes her hand and waves back. “Say, hi mom.” He orders.

She didn’t like it that he was here but he was invited so she would have to tolerate his presence. Plus it was nice for Anola to have both her parents at least for one day. Even her birthday was split into two parties.

Suddenly, she could feel someone staring at her. Her gaze shifts to the back row on the groom's side. A handsome man with dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and a black tux had his eyes glued to her. He smiles at her and she smiles back. His name was Edison and he was Jacob’s friend. Clarissa has been trying to set them up for a few months and she has adamantly refused. After getting a live view of him maybe she'll reconsider.

The music comes on suddenly and the large doors open again. This time Clarissa in her white form-fitting mermaid style dress had graced the room with her presence. She looked absolutely breathtaking. Tears of joy glistened in her eyes as she glided toward Jacob. He too became emotional upon seeing her and had to wipe his eyes dry.

He takes her hand and they pledge their love, respect, and gratitude to each other. By the time they finished, everyone was crying.



Later, after the guests were moved into the reception hall, they mingled and ate as they waited for the bride and groom. Baylee spots Niko standing in a corner giving his daughter water. She immediately goes to them and tickles her in her dad's arms. “Hey, my little munchkin.”

Anola stretches for her immediately and Baylee takes her. She goes off and mingles a bit, showing off her little girl.

Meanwhile, Niko waited for Anola to be passed back to him.
He found himself watching Baylee. She looked gorgeous. Her dress was mid-length, form-fitting, strapless, and red. Her hair was recently cut to hug her jaw and her lips popped with hot red lipstick. She turns and her almond-shaped eyes land on him. He would never be able to be around her and not admire her beauty.
She suddenly comes over to him and that’s when notices that Anola had her head down on her mother’s bare shoulder.

“She’s ready for a nap.”

“I’ll take her.” He puts her on his shoulder.

Just as Baylee turns to leave, he grabs her forearm and stops her.

“What?” Her brows furrow.

“Who was that guy?”

“What guy?” She pulls her arm free.

“The guy who distracted you from your daughter.”

She was stunned silent and couldn’t hide the squint of confusion in her eyes. He couldn’t possibly be jealous. He had moved on with his life. She heard not only had he been dating but he had been dating numerous women. Where was this coming from? They didn't discuss anything other than their child. “What is it to you?”

He clears his throat. “If you're gonna have someone around Anola, I’d like to be aware.”

She rolls her eyes. Well, if I have anyone around her, I’ll be sure to let you know first thing.” She walks away.



Later, after the first dance, speeches, and cake cutting, Baylee stood amongst a group of girls hanging out by the bar when out of the corner of her eye she noticed Edison approaching.
She turns to him with a confident smile and knowing eyes. “Hi there.”

“Hey…”

“What can I do for you?” She sips the straw of her fruity drink.

He extends his hand. “Care for a dance?”

She looks at his palm for a moment before setting her drink down and accepting it. “Sure…” She decided it would make Clarissa happy. She places her hand in his and leads him to the dance floor.

He tugs her close and wraps his arms firmly around her back. They rock back side to side together and then a conversation begins. “I’m not going to lie, I have your number, and had no intention of calling. I just have a lot of friends who want to set me up with their wife’s someone.”

“I see…well I’m not going to lie, if you had called me, it would have probably gone to voicemail.”

He laughs. “Maybe it’s faith that we met in person then.

She smiles. It was a hard-to-get kind of smile. “I don’t know if I would call it faith just yet.” She teases. She was liking him to her surprise.

They danced for a bit longer and then moved to an empty table where they continued a really good discussion. It lasted for over an hour before she was pulled away for the bouquet toss.

She stood in the middle of all the single women with her arms stretched out and caught the roses. She immediately thought about her new friendship with Edison. She even peeked over at him, still sitting at the table and watching her.

Niko comes over with an excited Anola who stretches for her mom immediately.

“Mommy got flowers.” She takes Anola and spins her in excitement. She felt overjoyed. Things were looking up for her after a rough year. She was over Niko, she just landed a huge contract work wise, and she had a one-year-old best friend to spend her life with.
Her sister remarried and was happy as ever, and her brother was having his second child any day now. Lola was also pregnant. They may not be friends anymore but she would always wish the best for her. The future was looking so bright, and maybe Edison was in it…

~~~


Later, when the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon and the guests pile into their vehicles Niko pulls her to his side as she is about to walk past.

“She’s getting cranky.” He states referring to their daughter resting on his shoulder. “Let me take you guys home.”

She nods. “Let me get my bag.”

“I’ll wait outside.” He notifies.

She gets her purse and when she goes out into the parking lot he was in fact waiting for her with Anola already buckled up in her car seat. She jumps on the passenger side and puts on her seatbelt. It was eerily awkward in the truck. They weren’t really around each other anymore. “Thanks for watching Anola for me.” She didn’t ask but it was nice not to have to worry about her during the night.
What was she thinking getting in his truck though? She didn’t even have that much to drink to blame it on the alcohol.

He nods and the awkwardness continues.

When they arrive, he jumps out straight away and unloads his sleeping little girl like he had somewhere else he needed to be. He follows Baylee to the door and waits as she unlocks it, and when she does, he briskly goes to the nursery. He gently lays Anola down and gives her a light kiss before cutting off the lights and closing the door.

Baylee steers right and goes into the kitchen. She decided she wanted tea and a hot bath before bed. She could see herself now, relaxing in the warmth, sipping on her cup, and finishing a sketch she’s been working on. The little pleasures in life were the best.

“I’m leaving…” Niko yells out as he zooms past the kitchen and makes a beeline to the door.

“Okay, thanks for dropping us off.” She calls out over her shoulder and hears the door shut.

She fills her kettle under the running sink and sets it on the lit stove. She opens the cabinet, grabs a mug that was the shape of a bear, and opens the fridge to get some milk. As she waits for the water to boil she leans on the counter and reviews emails on her phone. That's when she suddenly felt hands grab the sides of her back.

She gasps loudly and is spun around to come face to face with Nikolai’s fierce glare. He traps her in between the counter and himself. “Wha...”

“Enough.” He demands.

She didn’t get out her next sentence before he hauls her up against himself and crashes his mouth into hers harshly.

“Mmm...” She tries to push his firm chest but he only holds her tighter.

He engulfs her mouth even deeper.
His passion raged in his grip. He was taking without care and skillfully liquefying her.
Before she knew it, In a trance, her fingers curled around his neck and she was kissing him back. His flavor was so familiar and yummy. She felt like a bug being caught in the light. She drifts closer and closer knowing she was playing with fire… but who cares. This moment she was residing in was astronomical in comparison to reality. Her tongue unleashes itself and then it was she who was in control of the kiss. Her fingers stretched in his hair as she tugged him deeper Into her mouth. That was until the whistle from the kettle unexpectedly blared through their ears.

They break apart immediately. She turns her back on him and tries to catch her breath. She was flabbergasted at her loss of control and how all the feelings she had for him came flooding back.

He turns off the stove and moves the kettle while keeping her pinned by his assertive body. “Baylee…” He whispers.

“No…” she keeps her head turned away from his. “This is not happening… you’re jealous, right? Of Edison?”

He rolls his eyes. “Is that his name?”

“That’s what this is about? You see me with someone else and suddenly you want me…”

“Yes okay, seeing you with someone else drives me insane. I was jealous. I will admit that no problem… but don’t act like you don’t know what this is about…”

She shakes her head. “Let me pass.” She turns and tries to maneuver her way but he only gives her less space, not ample enough to turn even.”

“I’ve never stopped wanting to be with you.” He inches closer and stares into her eyes. “I have tried countless times to talk to you this past year, and time and time again you would find a way to avoid me.”

She glares at him crossly. “That’s a lie.”

“It is not.” He disagrees confidently.

“Tell that to all the women you’ve been dating.” She fires back.

“I could care less about any of them because
none of them were you.”

“Oh, you’re so full of it.”

His jaw clamps together. “Come on Baylee, you and I both know who is the one lying here. I haven’t dated anyone in almost a year, about the same amount of time you’ve been avoiding me. Refusing to speak to me about anything not regarding our daughter. I’ve played your cat and mouse game, I’ve taken my punishment, but enough. I think we’ve both suffered enough.”

“Let me go…” She demands weakly.

“Aren’t you tired?” He brushed the hair from her forehead. “Don’t you think we’ve spent enough time apart? Wouldn’t you rather just stop all the fighting and start life with me?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll end up in another man's bed?”

“Baylee…” he warns. “Enough…”

“Are you gonna act like you don’t have trust issues with me?”

“What trust issues? As far as I know, you haven’t lied to me, nor have you ever cheated on me. Look, that was all my jealousy… I know that now. I trust you. You would have known this long ago if you gave me the opportunity to tell you.”


Her resistance was low. She thought she was stronger than this, but obviously, she was jelly. She was beginning to realize that no matter how long they spent apart their feelings for one another wouldn’t fade, and so... was it pointless to fight it anymore?

“I didn’t sleep with any of them. When I was with those women, I thought of you, I compared them to you. I did a lot of soul searching and I realized how stupid I’ve been.”

Her eyes danced around the room. All of this was overwhelming. She didn’t know just how much she had been needing to hear these statements. She was so tired of having to mask her pain and love for him. She was so tired of not being with him. She just felt beat. The motivation to even keep fighting was gone.

He scans her eyes with softness and hope. “Say something.” He whispers and caresses her cheek.

She finally settles her attention on him and swallows. “Are you sure?”

His eyes momentarily close as his chest deflates from the tremendous amount of relief he felt. Like mountains being lifted off his shoulders. He presses his forehead onto hers. “What a stupid question.” He cups her cheeks and softly presses his lips on hers.

It was like instinct kissing him. She just loses herself.

“I love you.” He breaths and shifts his aim to her neck.

“Niko…” she whimpers out.

Hearing his name from her lips with need inserted was electrifying. He hikes up her thighs and wraps them around his back. He then carries her to the living room sofa and drops her on it with himself on top.
His mouth came down on hers like gravity itself, relentless pressure. He savored her taste and smell.

“Niko.” She pants. He had her in a daze

Things started getting hot. Clothes were being lifted, and hands were exploring. Then he unexpectedly rips away from her, sits up, and drags his fingers through his hair.

She was left catching her breath. “What’s wrong?” She rises.

He takes a deep breath and looks at her for a moment before saying. “I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and see regret in your eyes. I want you to be in love with me again before we do this.”

Her confused glare softens. She touches his face gently. “Silly man...I never stopped loving you.”

His brows furrow. “You’re just saying that. I saw it in your eyes this past year. It killed me.”

She simply smiles.“I wished so many nights my feelings for you would go away. But it’s impossible.”

He searches her features. “Yeah?”

“Yeah…” She confirms. “But maybe you’re right about taking it slow. Maybe we should date for a little while or something.” She shrugs.

“Don't torture me now. I didn’t mean that slow.”

She giggles. “Then?”

“How about I spent the night holding you, and we can talk about everything.”

She smiles. “That sounds perfect.”

Without warning, he stands and scoops her into his arms. He carries her to bed and holds her all night. She didn’t get an inch of distance from him.
~~~


The next morning, Baylee woke alone, but she knew already where Niko had gone. She rises from bed and goes to Anola’s bedroom. Sure enough, he was just finishing changing her diaper.

A new feeling suddenly came over her like a wave. It was a warm good sensation. A feeling that fed the soul. Then it instantly registered that this was their first morning as a real family. She wasn’t a single mother anymore.

He turns and notices her. “Oh...Say hi mommy.” He tells his little girl.

“Mama…” Anola yells.

She looks at her daughter's bright smile and it dawns on her, her baby girl is going to have a happy home. A real, whole, happy, family. Something she never had. The thought made tears of joy well up in her eyes. Happiness on a new level.

“Hey.” Niko sets Anola in her crib to tend to her. He pushes hair from her face and worriedly looks into her eyes. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I’m just... really happy.” She sobs.

“Come here..” He circles his arms around her and kisses the top of her head. “Get used to it my love, I’m going to make you this happy every day.”

She sniffles. “I don’t know if I can handle it.”

He laughs. “We’ll just have to figure something out.”


This was the beginning of a beautiful future ahead...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Clarissa and Jacob, Baylee and Nikolai, Sabrina and Nathan, and even Lola and Conner, all lived happily ever after…


The End...
~~~~~~~