Free Pieces of Me by LaShawn Vasser Page B

riddle.
     
    Now it was Nicole’s turn to be shocked. “People don’t get married because they’re pregnant anymore Davis. We’ll figure out a way to co-parent this child.”
     
    “I told you on the island that family is the most important thing in the world and that I keep my promises. I will never let a child of mine grow up with a part-time father.”
     
    Davis had never looked more serious. Maybe she could reason with him. “Davis you never made any promises to me. So…”
     
    Davis cut her off “The promise is to my unborn child. I will be a full-time father. It would be ideal if he or she had both her parents but….”
     
    Nicole jumped off the sofa, “Davis Chatham are you threatening me? Are you saying you’d take my child away from me if I don’t marry you? You can’t be serious?”
     
    “I’m dead serious. I’m going back to the States for business at the end of the week. We can get married then; or not. The decisions yours but I’ll need to know by tonight.”
     
    “You ruthless bastard, how could you?”
     
    “You knew I was a ruthless bastard when you let me make love to you.” Davis opened the door to leave “Tonight, I need an answer tonight Nicole.” Then, he walked out the door.
     
    There was no decision to make. He hadn’t left her with any options. He had so much money and power. How could she fight him? How was it possible to love and hate someone at the same time?
     
    Dana came back into the room “How’d it go? I didn’t get to see him leave.”
     
    “He’s threatening to take my child away from me if I don’t marry him. I can’t believe it. You couldn’t make this stuff up even in a bad romance novel.”
     
    “Maybe, this isn’t all bad. You are in love with him.”
     
    “Dana a marriage to Davis would be the worst kind of prison. I love him but he doesn’t love me. I would die a little every day.”
     
    “Are you sure he doesn’t love you? I mean he came here today just to see you.”
     
    “I’m positive. He’s still in love with Anne. He came here today to ease his conscience or probably something close to it.”
     
    “What are you going to do?”
     
    “I don’t have a choice.”

Chapter 13
     
    Davis was in his bedroom standing in front of the mirror trying to get his tie right. His hands were shaking so badly that he almost decided not to wear one. He couldn’t remember being this nervous when he married Anne. He really needed to close that chapter of his life. He’d made his choice. Plus, Nicole deserved to be the only woman on his mind on their wedding day. The knock on his door shook him from his thoughts.
     
    “Are you decent? If not, I’m coming in anyway.” Jane walked into the room. For a second Davis had to remember that it was Jane and not his mother. She was the spitting image of her. He looked as different as night and day from Jane. He looked more like their dad. He was darker with jet black hair and Jane was fairer with beautiful blond hair. The only physical trait they had in common were their emerald green eyes. They got those from their dad.
     
    “Here let me help you with that. You never could tie a decent bow tie.”
     
    Davis dropped his hands and let Jane take over “Thanks. I bet you never thought you’d be coming to another one of my weddings.”
     
    “Honestly, big brother…I didn’t. But, I’d always hoped you find someone who would love you to the moon. Did you…find her…I mean?”
     
    “That kind of love doesn’t exist.”
     
    “Really, is that why you’re so nervous that your hands are sweating? You’ve never been able to hide anything from me so don’t start now.”
     
    “I’m nervous because I want to do the right thing. My marriage to Anne was supposed to be until death do us part. We all know how that ended. Who knows, if things had been different, maybe it could have still ended up that way. Did you know that Anne and I were recently considering a