The Right Bride

Chapter Forty-Nine


CAMERON STOPPED IN the double doorway and stared at the beautiful woman asleep on his bed. Wearing a white sundress, she looked like an angel sleeping on the blue and white bed cover. On her side, her dark hair spread back from her face and over the pillow. The outline of the brace on her knee keeping it straight showed through her dress. Her arm lay across her belly, strapped into the brace around her waist keeping her shoulder in place. He walked to the side of the bed at her back and saw the bruises on her shoulder the dress didn’t cover. He hung his head, eyes on the floor, mind locked on the past, wondering how he could be such a fool.

Sensing his presence, she tried to turn to him, but whimpered in her sleep when she hit her bruised shoulder on the bed. She turned her back again and made a sound of displeasure. He stepped around the bed and sat beside her. They’d both been through too many sleepless nights over the last week. Pale skin, dark circles beneath her eyes, she needed her rest, but he needed to talk to her and make things right. This mess had gone on far too long. His fault completely. His to make right.

He traced his finger along the curve of her cheek and over her ear, tucking her hair back from her beautiful face. With a soft touch, he swept his fingertips along her hurt shoulder and down her arm. He rested his palm on her hip and squeezed gently.

He’d missed her. Everything inside him ached to hold her and kiss her and promise her . . . everything and anything.

First he owed her an apology. Then he’d beg, because no matter what, he wasn’t letting her leave this bed without agreeing to put him out of his misery and marry him.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open and stared up at him. He looked down into her soft green eyes, far too serious and weary for his liking.

“Did you get that woman out of my house?”

“Yes, sweetheart. I did. I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened over the last two months.”

“You should be.”

“I am. God, Marti, I’m so damn sorry.” He squeezed her hip and made her gasp. “You’re in pain. Do you need something? How can I help you?”

“Stop. I’m fine. My back goes into spasm. The muscles are sore. The doctor said it’ll get better.”

“What about the baby?” He moved his hand down to her belly and covered his child.

She placed her hand over his. “Our baby is just fine. There’s no more spotting.”

“You were bleeding,” he said, frightened. She’d been through so much without him. He kissed her forehead. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry I didn’t come to you in the hospital and take care of you. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you were on the stairs. I’m sorry for everything. I’m so damn sorry.”

“I don’t want to do this.”

The finality in her voice and blank face scared him even more.

Please God, don’t let her want to leave me. I can’t bear to lose her now and live without her.

“Do you love me?” Her soft voice sounded unusually shy.

Marti didn’t like the scared and worried look on his face. She didn’t want to listen to him tell her he was sorry. She knew he was. Most of what happened was because of his guilt over Caroline’s death and his need to be a good father. Who could blame him for that? She had a lot more compassion for him because she knew what it was like to wish for a mother and father. He wanted the best for his baby. Knowing that, she forgave the rest. She loved him and wanted him and was ready to move on to being happy with him.

“I love you so much. More than anything. I want to spend my life with you and raise Emma and our baby and as many more babies as you’ll give me,” he said. “I want to wake up with you every morning and have your face be the last thing I see at night. I want to learn everything about you. I’m pretty sure it’s going to take the rest of our lives, because you’re an amazing woman, and every day I learn something new about you. I want to marry you and have you adopt Emma as your own. I want her to have the mother she’s always wanted. And that’s you, Marti.” He slipped off the bed and knelt on one knee beside her. “Martina Fairchild, please marry me, because I can’t live without you.” He slid the rings onto her finger and kissed them in place. “Please say yes.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and her gaze locked on the three rings.

“Emma helped me pick them out. I knew they were perfect when she said they looked like rain in the moonlight.”

“They’re beautiful.” She laid her hand on his chest and admired the diamonds twinkling on her finger.

“I’ll never forget making love to you in the rain. I saw the painting and it was like a punch in the gut seeing the lonely bench in the moonlight with the rain pouring down. I don’t want you to remember it that way. Somehow, some way, I will make everything up to you, sweetheart. I want to make a thousand happy memories with you.”

“That’s all I ever wanted. You’re all I ever wanted. You and Emma and our baby.”

“You have to believe me. After everything that’s happened, you have to know I always wanted you. I didn’t want to turn my back on you, but I wanted to give my children what I never had, a whole family. I thought I owed them that after what happened to Caroline.

“You are the most amazing mother to Emma. I would have been the same kind of father to the baby. I can’t tell you how relieved I am we’ll never have to deal with Shelly again. I have the proof. I’ll show you she isn’t pregnant.”

“I don’t need the proof.”

“No, you already knew she lied about the pregnancy.”

“I don’t need the proof because I trust you.”

“And I didn’t trust you,” he said and lay his forehead to hers.

“I don’t believe that.” She brushed her lips to his in a soft sweet sweep of her mouth over his. “I think you wanted to do the right thing, and you got caught up in trying to be there for the baby and trying to hold onto me too. You thought you couldn’t have both, so like a good father you chose the baby. I understand. That’s why I came back today. I could have sailed away with our baby and let go of an amazing dream to punish you for everything that’s happened. I’d rather have the dream. I’d rather have you and a life with Emma and our baby.”

“I’ll give you the world if you say you’ll marry me.”

“You already know I’ll marry you. But if you need to hear me say the words. Yes, I’ll marry you. Anywhere. Anytime. I already have the world.”

“Your ship.” He looked up at the amazing painting of Marti standing on the bow of her ship looking up at the moon and stars he’d hung above the fireplace last night. From the bed, he’d stared at the painting all night wishing for her.

“No. You.”

Wish granted. He smiled, happier than he’d ever felt in his life. Everything was going to be all right now. Actually, it was perfect.

He kissed her gently and ran his hand over her face, mapping her beautiful features. Her green eyes watched him, and in those eyes, he saw the world, his world.