A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) (24 page)

Summer nodded her head in agreement. After all the pain and suffering she’d gone through, she was sure she would never forget it either.

“You want to hold your first grandbaby?”

“Yes, but let me go get your daddy first. You know how impatient he is. Probably out there complaining ‘bout what’s taking you so long.”

Summer’s mom left the room quickly returning with her husband.

“There’s my princess.” Summer’s dad announced loudly with a smile in his voice as he went to his daughter with outstretched arms.

“Hey daddy.”

Summer held the baby in her mother’s direction, prompting her to take him. She wanted, no, needed her father to hold her. It had been so long since she’d been in his arms.

As soon as her mom took the baby her dad held her in his strong arms making her feel safe. The moment her head hit her father’s shoulder she started to weep.

“What’s the matter princess?” Her father’s deep vibrating voice soothingly caressed Summer, making her almost forget about Nick, his funky attitude and the fight they had earlier.

“I’m just glad to see you and Mommy.” Summer said as she clung to her father.

“Princess you know the minute they cleared that runway we’d be here. We would have been a lot longer getting here if that Nick fella hadn’t chartered us a jet.”

Summer’s father smoothed her hair, stroking the long strains as he talked. Summer felt like a ten year old again as her father called her by her childhood name and stroked her hair. Usually she cringed every time her dad called her princess; after all, she was a twenty-six year old woman. However, for the moment she allowed herself to go back to that safe place when she was a child and her daddy could make anything better.

Something her father said made Summer break the embrace. She must have heard him wrong.

“Nick chartered a jet for you and Mommy?”

“Humph, at least he was good for something.” Nita snipped wrinkling up her nose.

“Now Nita behave yourself,” James chided.

Ignoring her husband’s chiding, Nita waved him over to her. “James, come look at your grandson.”

Going over to stand by his wife who was sitting on the bed, a bright smile lifted to his eyes. “Princess, he is a handsome little guy.”

“Thanks Daddy. I think so, too.”

“Mmm, he sure is.” Her mother agreed, then quickly added in the next breath, her face twisting as if she tasted something sour, “He must look like the daddy.”

Summer’s smile faded as she shot her mother an exasperated look. “Mommy.” Summer loved her mother dearly, but she was wearing on her nerves already.

“What? I only said he must look like his daddy. He looks nothing like you, Summer.”

“Nick, mommy. His name is Nick. And yes, my son looks just like his daddy.”

“I know his name and watch your attitude missy. I’m still your mother.”
Thinks she’s grown just because she had a baby. She ain’t too big for me to take a switch to her yella behind.

Summer rolled her eyes at her mother the second Nita shifted her gaze back to the sleeping infant in her arms.

Defending Nick came so naturally to Summer it scared her. Even after their run in earlier that morning, she felt devotion for him.
Lord, why can’t I shake this man?

The tension in the air was obvious. As always, James acted as the buffer between mother and daughter as he smoothly changed the subject.

“So princess, what are you going to name this little guy?”

“I haven’t decided yet Daddy. What do you −”

Just as Summer was speaking Nick knocked on the door and without waiting for an response he strolled into the room as if he had a right to.

He grimaced when three set of eyes landed on him. Twice in one day his impulsive behavior made him appear rude. Rudeness wasn’t his intention, he was anxious to see and hold his son again. Anxious to see Summer again.

As Nita roamed Nick over from head to toe she thought,
hmmm, he definitely is handsome, I see how my baby feel for the ‘ole scoundrel.
Nita struggled to keep from smacking the man who turned her daughter’s life upside down.
I just want to hit him one good time.

James initial thoughts as he appraised Nick were completely opposite from that of his wife’s. James understood what it was like to be a man unsure of commitment. Sizing Nick up James believed,
he ain’t all that bad of a man
.
Just need to stop running, settle down and do right by my princess and her boy.

Nick offered his hand to James, Summer’s father first. He could tell her mother wasn’t too pleased with his presence. “Nick Stiles, glad to meet you, Sir.”

“James Jackson, same here. I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Stiles.” James facial expression was unreadable as to whether what he had heard was favorable or not.

“Please, call me, Nick.”

As he was speaking, he released James’ hand then proceeded to offer his hand to Nita.

The resemblance between Summer and her mother was striking. Both women were petite, shared identical facial features and had long, thick beautiful hair. The only contrasting feature was their complexion. Summer’s caramel coloring was like that of her father’s, whereas Nita was a rich medium brown.

Nita glared at the large hand as if it were a rattlesnake. Reluctantly she accepted the proffered hand that refused to withdraw. Nita’s indifference didn’t faze Nick one-way or the other.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Jackson. I see where Summer gets her beauty from.”

Nick couldn’t resist displaying his charming trademark smile followed by a playful wink.

Nita rolled her eyes refusing to smile at Nick’s flirtatious behavior and devastatingly handsome smile.
Lawd a mercy, would you look at this fresh boy trying to flirt with somebody.
“Mmm hmm.”

Summer shot daggers at her mother. Nita returned a look that said, “What?”

James also shot her a warning look that said, “Woman, don’t start.”

Nita rolled her eyes at her husband. Not wanting to upset Summer further, she decide to make an attempt to be civil.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Thanks, Mr. Stiles for getting us here to see Summer and our grandbaby.”

Though she didn’t like Nick, she was grateful she and James were able to get to their daughter as soon as they had. If it hadn’t been for him, more than likely they’d still be at the airport in North Carolina waiting for a flight.

“Please, call me Nick. It was no problem. I know Summer wanted you here with her and the baby.”

As much as Nita wanted to dislike him, Nick’s smooth velvety voice held sincerity as he spoke of Summer and what she’d wanted. Maybe there was more to this story than she knew. She made a mental note to talk to her daughter when they were alone.

The next hour passed with Nita and James getting acquainted with Nick. Summer sat on pins and needles as her parents practically interviewed him as if he was applying for a position with the FBI. She watched as Nick answered every question without flinching.

The interviewing was going well until Nita went for the jugular. Summer nearly choked on the water she was drinking when her mother stared Nick dead in the eyes and asked, “Are you married and do you have any other children?”

“Mommy!”
I can’t believe her!

“Nita.” James firmly warned his wife through clenched teeth.

Nick chortled.
This woman is off the chain.

Nita lifted a perfectly arched brow at Nick.
What’s so darn funny?

“I assure you Nita, I’ve never been married and no I don’t have any children. Except for the
one
you’re holding.”

Smiling at her grandbaby, she brought her gaze back to Nick. “Are you sure ‘bout that, Mr. Stiles?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good.” Nita all but snapped before she went back to cooing at her grandson.

James and Nita Jackson were like night and day. Their temperaments were complete opposites. James was easy going and laid back.

Nick expected him to be overbearing and threatening considering he’d impregnated his daughter without the benefit of marriage. Summer had told him how her parents reacted to her pregnancy. Therefore, he was surprised her father was so pleasant.

Nita, however, was out spoken and opinionated. Nick was acutely aware she wasn’t fond of him. The only time she expressed any semblance of kindness was when he’d mentioned the untimely death of his mother.

Nick smiled on the inside; grateful Summer had inherited her father’s temperament. If she’d been anything like her mother, they would’ve never made it beyond the first date.

As the conversation flowed, Nick concluded he and Summer were opposites as well. She was soft, gentle, easy going, patient, kind and understanding. And he tended for the most part to be harsh, abrasive, uncompromising, unforgiving and explosive when angry. The only time he allowed himself to be different was when they were together. Kevin often teased him about how Summer had transformed him into a
nice
guy. At the time he viewed this as a weakness, rather than an evolution of becoming a better person.

No one in the room noticed as he felt the internal turmoil eating away at him. For so many years he had allowed his egotistical ways to rule him and every aspect of his life. Whether it was his personal or business life, it didn’t matter. Always needing to be in control he never cared how he captured or maintained it. For once in his life his need to control may very well have destroyed the one special relationship with a woman, other than his mother, that would have given him true fulfillment.

Breaking into his thoughts, he heard James announce, “We better get going. I think we’ve stayed long enough.”

Summer didn’t let her apprehension show about being alone with Nick. She didn’t want a repeat of their exchange earlier that morning. She could tell he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. She wasn’t in the mood for his “we need to talk Summer” speech.

After her parents left, Summer took small painful baby steps in the direction of the bathroom. Nick watched as she all but dragged her feet as she walked into the bathroom, closing the door. When she came out she slowly made her way over to the bassinet to look at the baby. Soon as the infant started to squirm, she immediately picked him up. So what if she was spoiling him, he belonged to her.

Summer gasped when she felt herself being lifted. Automatically, she leaned her head against Nick’s chest and inhaled his scent as he carried her and the baby the short distance to the bed. With their faces mere inches apart, lips almost touching, eyes locked on each other, Nick told her, “You look like you’re in a lot pain.”

He was close, too close. He was making her dizzy. Making her head spin as his words came out in a deep husky whisper. She had to say something, but what? Out of nervous habit

she bit her bottom lip before she spoke. “I am. He has broad shoulders like his father,” she whispered keeping her eyes locked with his.

Leaning further in, he whispered against slightly parted lips, “Sorry.”

When he covered her mouth with his, Summer further parted her lips allowing him entry.

The kiss was gentle, sweet. Breaking the kiss, he eased her down onto the bed. For the first time in weeks, she hadn’t looked terrified or uneasy, but rather content as she gazed into the tiny face of the infant. There was no way he or anyone else would ever take their son from her. Nick wanted desperately to tell her that, but couldn’t. His threats had been so severe; she wouldn’t believe him. He would have to show her he could be trusted.

“He makes you happy doesn’t he?”

Summer lifted her gaze to meet his. The sweetest smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Yes, he does.”

She wanted to tell him that they could be happy together, too. That they could start over with their son. But before the words could come out she reminded herself that she was letting go of her love for him. So instead, she asked in a small voice, “How about you Nick? Does he make you happy, too?”

Nick chuckled. Summer frowned. What was so amusing?

“Yes, Summer, he makes me happy.”

“Then what’s so funny?”

“Nothing, other than the fact we keep referring to our son as he or him.”

“Oh.”

“Have you come up with any names yet?”

“No. Have you?”

Summer wasn’t even about to tell him the day he threatened to take their son she’d stopped thinking about names. Her main concern was how she was going to keep her baby.

“Nah, not any names for a boy anyway. I was hoping you had a girl.”

Tilting her head to the side to get a better look at him, she asked, “Why did you want a girl?”

Should he tell her the truth? That he didn’t want a son that possibly one day may grow up to be hard and callous like him. As much as Nick hated to admit it, so many of his unbending ways were just like those of his father’s. That’s why they never got along; they were too much alike. Three generations of male stubbornness was a bit too much. No way was he about to admit that truth to the mother of his child. Admit that she had nurtured for nine months in her body a potential stubborn jackass with the likes of his father and grandfather. He was determined to teach and show his son a different way. He purposed in his heart he would teach his son that hardness and cruelty did not make you a better man, only a lesser one. Even if it killed him, he would change the error of his ways to become an example to his son. He would teach him that being slow to anger, having patience, love, and understanding are characters that made a good man.