The Journey Home Read online

  “Oh my,” I whispered.

  Andre chuckled. “It’s just a house, Maddison.”

  I turned and looked at him. Andre had more money than he had sense. He showered me with gifts, which made my mother fall in love with him immediately. Of course, my father didn’t trust him, and I struggled with my feelings as well. I wasn’t a girl who needed to be bought, and it bothered me that Andre thought I was.

  The wooden doors opened just as we reached the top step. Andre’s mother pushed past us, practically running into the house. As I stepped into the foyer, the sounds of my heels walking on the marble floors echoed across the large entryway. A grand staircase stood in front of me and I gasped at the size of the place.

  “Andre, as much as I disagree with your…ways, I’ve arranged for you and Maddison to stay in the west wing. Your grandparents won’t be back from Paris until tomorrow. I have you set up in two adjoining rooms, but, as far as they are concerned, you are behaving like a gentleman.” She turned and shot me a distrusting look. “And a lady.”

  Andre threw his head back in laughter as my eyes widened in disbelief. “Yes, Mamma. When they return, I promise to keep my hands to myself. Come, Bella. Let’s play before we are thrown back to the old days when men respected a woman’s virtue.”

  He grabbed my hand and pulled me along the long, massive hallway. When he pushed open the doors to one of the bedrooms, I gasped yet again. The massive headboard was leather, and the room dwarfed the giant, king-size bed. There was also a desk, two dressers, a wardrobe and a lounge chair.

  The doors shut and Andre took me in his arms and spun me around.

  “Fucking hell, your scent has been driving me mad all day.”

  He began to undress as I stood there and smiled. I truly enjoyed being with Andre. He took care of my needs and gave me anything I asked for. He was an okay lover, always putting me first—but he lacked something I couldn’t put my finger on.

  “We’re taking a bath, Bella,” he whispered as he reached behind me and unzipped my dress. The fabric pooled at my feet and I stood before him dressed only in a cream-colored lace bra and matching panties.

  I felt the tightness in my core as his eyes raked over my body. “You’re perfect. Your curves could drive a man insane.”

  I smiled and looked away, my cheeks burning from embarrassment. The last time I’d seen Zoey, she’d made sure to tell me I was at least ten pounds overweight.

  Andre took my hand and led me into the massive bathroom. The shower was in the middle of the bathroom and wide open. To the right was a smaller room that held the toilet and bidet. To my left was a giant spa-style tub. I moaned ever so slightly as I thought about soaking in a hot bath.

  Andre dropped my hand and walked over to the tub, turned it on, and adjusted the water temperature. I stayed silent. I wasn’t sure how I felt about doing this with Andre’s mother in the house. She could walk in any time she wanted to.

  “Andre, your mother?”

  He smiled. “Is a pain in my ass. She won’t be bothering us, Bella. I promise.”

  He approached me and placed his hands on my shoulders, turning me around. He unhooked my bra, letting it fall. As he reached around me, he cupped both of my breasts and moaned as I arched my head back and rested it on his chest. He ran his hands all over my body before he moved them down to my panties. He slid my panties off as he placed soft kisses along my body. There was no doubt that Andre knew how to turn me on.

  “Turn around, Bella.”

  I turned as he crouched down and pushed his face into my folds as he threw my leg over his shoulder. I closed my eyes and leaned against the tub, trying to enjoy the feel of Andre’s tongue as it dipped into me. I opened my eyes and watched him.

  What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I have the urge to tell him to stop?

  Andre pulled away and stood up. He helped me into the tub and sat across from me, positioning my legs to where I was spread wide open to him.

  “Your pussy is my one of my favorite things to look at on your body. I want to bury myself so deep inside you that you forget everything but us.”

  I smiled as I felt the heat between my legs. Finally. Time to forget.

  “Maddison, no one can hear you in here. I’m going to make you come so fucking hard, you’ll be screaming for me.”

  I licked my lips. I needed this. Images of Cale had been running through my mind since we saw the old man drawing in the square. I needed to erase him from my thoughts, and the only way to do that was with Andre.

  “I’m ready,” I whispered.

  Andre grabbed the removable showerhead and turned it on. The moment the water hit my clit, I dropped my head back and touched my breasts.

  “Does this feel good, Maddison?”

  “Yes,” I said, barely able to whisper.

  The warm water hitting my sensitive nub was pushing me to the edge. “Fucking hell, you look good,” Andre said.

  “Andre,” I whimpered as my build up began.

  “That’s it, Bella, let go and come for me.”

  My orgasm hit fast and I let out a scream. I closed my eyes and called out Andre’s name over and over again as my insides pulsed again and again. When I finally came down from the orgasm, I closed my eyes and focused on controlling my breathing.

  Cale making love to me on the beach popped into my head. I snapped open my eyes and looked at Andre. I need more. I need to forget him.

  I climbed on top of him and sank down onto him. “Bella, I need a condom.”

  “Hurry,” I panted lifting off him.

  Andre reached for a condom and stood up to quickly roll it on.

  I’d never been so brazen in my life with how I was acting, expect for the night with Cale.

  Andre pushed his fingers inside me and worked my body up again. I sank down on him and moaned, hungrily.

  “I need to fuck you, Andre. Then I need you to fuck me. I need it rough, and I need it hard.”

  He smiled as he grabbed me and held onto my hips as I began to ride him. Water sloshed around us as I came again. This orgasm had my whole body quivering. I called out Andre’s name and rode him as hard and fast as I could. Andre pulled me off of him and jumped out of the tub. He picked me up and carried me out the room where he took my wet body and placed it over the back of the chair.

  He pushed my legs apart and slammed his dick inside me. I screamed, just a little. He didn’t bother to ask if I was okay, which kind of bothered me. He grabbed my hips and gave me exactly what I asked for: a rough, hard fucking. Andre had never been so rough with me before—he was more of a gentle lover. This was exactly what I needed, though.

  “You turn me on so fucking much, Maddison,” he said. “I like this side of you.”

  I dropped my head back. “Harder,” I pleaded. “I need it harder.”

  As soon as my orgasm hit, Andre let out a moan and we came together. He slowed down, but kept his dick inside me as he began kissing my back.

  “Bella,” he said, “that was amazing. I’m falling in love with you, baby.”

  I closed my eyes as he pulled out. I stood up and faced him. Smiling, I tried to think of something to say back. If only I could tell him I was falling in love with him, too. I cared for him very much, but love him? No. I didn’t love him…at least not yet.

  If only my heart didn’t belong to another man.

  “Come, Bella. Let’s rest for a bit.” Andre wrapped a towel around me and dried himself off. I rubbed myself down with the towel and followed him over to the giant bed. I crawled in and faced away from him. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. When his breathing finally steadied out and he fell asleep, I allowed my tears to silently fall. Nothing would ever push Cale from my thoughts. No matter how hard I tried, he wouldn’t leave my memory…or my heart.

  Images of Cale and Zoey together ran through my mind. I hadn’t spoken to Zoey since changing my phone number, and the guilt of ignoring her was beginning to eat away at me. But I just couldn’t take list
ening to her talk about her and Cale anymore.

  With no tears left to cry, I felt my body relax. I settled in for a few minutes of sleep.

  I WALKED INTO the house and looked around. Zoey wasn’t waiting for me in the living room like I’d expected her to be. I’d driven around for a few hours after my plane landed, because if I’d come home knowing what I know, I’d have unleashed it on Zoey.

  Jack was calling Monica to tell her everything he had found out from Zoey’s cousin.

  I walked into the den and found Zoey sitting there. She looked up at me and smiled. When I didn’t smile back she placed her hand on her stomach. She didn’t look good. Her face was pale, and she seemed weak. As much as I wanted to scream at her, I had to think about her health and the baby. My mind flashed back to the last doctor’s appointment I’d been to with Zoey.

  “YOU BOTH KNOW how incredibly hard this pregnancy is on Zoey’s body,” Dr. Richards had said. “And on the baby. I need you to start taking it easy, Zoey.”

  Zoey had glared at her doctor as she fumbled with her purse. “I am taking it easy.”

  Doctor Richards sighed then, raising an eyebrow at Zoey. “Do you have someone coming in to help her around the house?”

  “Yes, of course I do,” I’d said. “Especially when I’m out of town.”

  He’d shaken his head. “Zoey, we may have to start thinking about bed rest soon.”

  “What? I already have no life. No. Not an option.”

  I’d wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. Instead, I’d calmly listened to Doctor Richards as he explained—again—why this pregnancy was so dangerous.

  “Zoey, your heart is growing weaker the further along you get. I need you to think about what is happening to your body and be mindful of it. You will be on bed rest, and if that means admitting you to the hospital, then that is what we’ll do.”

  At that point, Zoey had looked away and stared out the window. She didn’t utter a single word for the rest of that day.

  “ARE YOU OKAY?” I asked.

  She nodded. “I hate being pregnant.”

  I walked over sat across from her. “You wanted this.”

  She looked away. “I’m so sorry I did this to you.” She shook her head, then looked back at me. “I wanted you, but for all the wrong reasons.”

  I inhaled deeply. Was she finally going to tell me the truth?

  “What were your reasons?” I asked.

  She looked into my eyes and grinned. “It doesn’t really matter anymore. I thought I would finally win. But, in the end, I lost everything and she still won.”

  I knew in that moment she was talking about Maddie. She took in a shaky breath and slowly let it out. “May I ask you something, Cale?”

  “Of course you can.”

  She began chewing on her lip. “Do you love me? I mean, at one point during this relationship, have you ever loved me?”

  My heart dropped. Do I lie to her? Do I keep living this lie or finally put it all to an end?

  I let out a breath and decided to end this now. “Zoey, I know the truth.”

  She tilted her head and looked at me. “What do you mean?”

  “I know the only reason you went after me was because you knew about the night Maddie and I spent together. You did all of this to make Maddie jealous didn’t you?”

  Zoey slowly shook her head. “How did you…how did you find out?”

  I was about to answer when the phone rang. Zoey attempted to get up and answer it but I beat her to it. “I got it, Zoey.”

  I took a deep breath in and let it out quickly before answering. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Mr. Blackwood?”

  “Yes,”

  The female on the other end of the line cleared her throat. “Mr. Blackwood, this is Doctor Richards’ office. Zoey was supposed to come in this morning, but she never did. Doctor Richards told Mrs. Blackwood that she needed to be admitted to the hospital for the rest of her pregnancy. She’s to be on mandatory bed rest. She said she would go home to pack and would return this morning to be admitted. Did she tell you this?”

  I closed my eyes and shook my head. “No. I wasn’t aware of this.” I turned to Zoey. “Zoey? Zoey!”

  “Mr. Blackwood, is everything okay?”

  I ran over to where Zoey was now slumped on the ground. “She’s fainted or something. Oh God! Zoey?”

  “Mr. Blackwood, I’m calling 911 right now.”

  My hands shook as I checked for a pulse. “Okay. Please tell them to hurry.” I couldn’t find her heartbeat. “I can’t find her heartbeat. Oh God. Please tell them to hurry up.” I dropped the phone and cried.

  “Please don’t do this to me, Zoey. Please…oh God! Zoey please!”

  I SENT A text to Jack to let him know I was on the way to Mercy Hospital with Zoey. I wasn’t sure what was going on. All I knew was they were barely getting a heartbeat.

  “The baby? What about the baby?” I asked.

  The paramedic smiled weakly at me. “We’re doing everything we can, sir.”

  Minutes later, I was standing alone in a waiting room, pacing back and forth. I’d called and left a message with Zoey’s parents and my own. Every time the door opened, my heart would drop.

  I sat down in a chair and buried my face into my hands.

  “Cale?”

  I looked up and saw my mother and father standing over me. I jumped up and I prayed that, for once in my life, my mother would act like a mother.

  “Mom,” I swallowed hard “Zoey’s heart wasn’t beating very strong and I don’t…I mean…no one has told me…” I attempted to hold back my tears, but terror shot through me.

  My mother opened her arms and reached out. I walked into her embrace and sobbed. She held me close, and I felt my father put his hand on my back.

  “Shh, darling,” my mother said. “Take a deep breath. They’ll both be fine.”

  I let out sob after sob as I pictured them trying to get Zoey’s heartbeat going.

  “I overheard them say that the baby was in distress and they would have to get her out as soon as possible. They said to prep for an emergency C-section. Oh, God. Why didn’t I just lie to her? Why didn’t I just tell her I loved her? I did this. I brought it all up and caused her to…”

  My mother held me even tighter. “Cale, stop this. Calm down, darling.” She sat down in a chair, and I sat next to her. My father sat on the other side of me. He grabbed my hand and held it tight.

  We sat there in silence. My parents didn’t even ask me what I’d had been talking about earlier. They both knew I didn’t love Zoey. I’d told them both about Maddie, I’d told them about the night we shared together. My mother had even put two and two together and figured out that Maddie’s father was Mr. Powers of Powers Communication, but she’d still agreed that I needed to “do the right thing” and marry Zoey.

  The doors opened and a doctor came striding out. He looked straight at me. “Mr. Blackwood?”

  I jumped up along with my mother and father. “Yes. That’s me.”

  He came over to me and extended his hand. “I’m Dr. Philips. I was the OB on call when your wife came in. You have a very healthy baby girl.”

  My mother placed her hand over her chest and began to cry. My father let out a deep breath.

  I closed my eyes and whispered, “Thank you, God.” I opened my eyes and asked Dr. Philips, “Zoey? Is she okay?”

  Dr. Philips swallowed hard but turned as Dr. Richards walked through the doors.

  I reached out and shook Doctor Richards’s hand. “Dr. Richards. How is Zoey? Is she okay? Does she know about the baby yet?”

  Taking a deep breath, he looked into my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Cale. The pregnancy put a terrible strain on Zoey’s body as it fought to keep her kidneys and liver working. Along with the pregnancy, her heart just couldn’t keep up anymore. We tried everything we could, but…Zoey’s gone.”

  My legs felt like they were about to give out on me. I shook my head and whispered
, “No. No. Oh, God, no…”

  My father grabbed me and led me back to the chair. “Cale, sit down. Breathe, son. You have to breathe.”

  I closed my eyes. All she’d wanted to know was if I loved her. Why hadn’t I just lied? Oh God. I did this,

  I did this.

  I WRAPPED THE sweater tightly around myself as I walked along the path. It was early June, and the temperatures in Tuscany were still chilly—especially in the morning.

  “Buongiorno, Maddison.”

  I turned to see Jessica standing there with a huge grin on her face. She was a beautiful girl who’d just started working for Andre’s grandparents. Her strawberry blonde hair fought for attention in the glow of the morning sun. Her smiled made me giggle. Andre had told her to make sure I had everything I needed, which meant that Jessica was following me around like a puppy, constantly asking me what I needed.

  “Buongiorno, Jessica. I don’t need anything, but thank you.”

  She shook her head. “No, telefonata importante.”

  My heart started beating harder in my chest. I’d made sure to text Andre’s cell phone number to Monica, along with the number to his grandparents’ house.

  “An important phone call?” I wasn’t sure why I was asking. I knew that was what she’d said.

  “Sì, es Monica.”

  I quickly walked toward her. “Show me where the phone is, Jessica. Please.”

  She nodded and turned on her heels, walking back into the house. She pointed to the phone on the table. I ran over and picked it up.

  “Hello? Monica? Are you okay? My parents?”

  “Maddie, your parents are fine, I’m fine. I have…um…can you come home?”

  I felt my heart start to race. “Why? What’s wrong?”

  Was Monica crying?

  “Cale needs you, Maddie.”

  “What’s happened? Monica, you’re scaring me.”