A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) (6 page)

Every conversation usually ended with one of her parents asking, “Have you seen or talked to Nick yet?” Summer knew her parents were hinting at if she’d told him about the pregnancy. Her response was always the same, “No, I haven’t.”

She never explained to her parents why she kept the baby a secret from Nick. She’d been too ashamed to tell them she had gotten pregnant by a man who made it clear he had no desire whatsoever to be a father. Summer innocently discovered this when he told her about a situation which occurred years ago with a woman he ‘thought’ he loved. The woman played Nick, making him believe he was about to become a father. When it was discovered he wasn’t the father, he set out to ruin the woman for humiliating and making a fool of him.

After he shared that bit of information, Summer just had to know, “What would you do if a woman told you she was pregnant by you again?”

Summer was only curious; she hardly had any plans on becoming a mother before marriage. She was somewhat taken aback when he stared at her with his jaw clenched and eyes cold as ice. “I’d tell her to flush it.”

After an awkward second of silence, he added, “Don’t find yourself pregnant…at least not by me.” His warning was unmistakable. He didn’t want to have anything to do with children.

During their early days of dating, Summer read several business articles about Nick. She wanted to know everything about him. She’d learned he was shrewd and ruthless in his business dealings. Nick was referred to as a sheep in wolves’ clothing because of his ability to be charming one second, and then cut throat the next. Many of the articles reported such characteristics were the reasons why at the age of thirty-seven he was one of the wealthiest, self-made African American men on the east coast.

Summer witnessed his wrath once after he learned a trusted employee embezzled $350,000.00 over a two-year period. Nick told her then, he only gave a person one chance to cross him. So if and when they did, they’d better make it good, worth their while.

Nick made sure the federal prosecutor filed every charge allowable by law against the man.

Vigorously, Summer rubbed her arms from the chill that ran through her as she thought about Nick. Without meaning to she’d crossed him. She had gotten pregnant and God help her, decided to keep the baby. With all her heart she believed if she’d told him right away he would have demanded she have an abortion. He had told her as much. Heaven forbid if she told him now, he’d think she was trying to trap him into marrying her or worse yet, giving her a large sum of money to avoid a paternity suit. Summer had known Nick long enough to know how his mind worked. He could think the absolute worst of someone when he wanted to.

As Summer sat thinking, a strong emotion weighed heavy on her…fear. Part of Nick’s ruthlessness was attacking a person’s most vulnerable spot. Summer loved children. Whenever Starr babysat her niece and nephew Summer volunteered to help keep the adorable toddlers entertained.

Even though Summer wasn’t pleased with the whole single mother thing, she would love her baby enough to be both mother and father to it. If by any chance Nick believed she had crossed him he’d strike like a cobra at her weakest spot. As much as she loved him an overwhelming sense of fear chocked her. Nick could never find out about the baby…ever.

Brrrg! Brrrg!
Brrrg!

The loud ringing of the phone snapped Summer out of her reverie.

“Hello?”

“Hi baby.”

A huge smile broke across Summer’s face. “Hi mommy, how are you doing?”

“The question is ‘
how are you
, Miss Summer?’ Ava called me, told me ‘bout you passing out at work. Baby, why didn’t you call us?”

Summer groaned. Ava had a big mouth; she couldn’t hold water sometimes to save her life.

“Mommy, I’m all right, my hemoglobin was a little lower than normal. I’m feeling much better now.”

Summer was trying her best to sound convincing as not to worry her mother.

“All right baby, but the next time you better call me and your daddy. You hear me?” Her mom’s tone was firm but loving

“Yes ma’am, I promise.”

With that out of the way she and her mother talked. They caught up on the latest as Summer padded back and forth with the cordless phone from her bedroom to the bathroom. She was getting everything set up to take a nice relaxing bath. Lately her lower back had been bothering her, probably from how the baby was laying. Which she didn’t understand since the little munchkin moved all over the place, all the time.

The conversation flowed nice and easy. Summer kept her fingers crossed hoping her mother wouldn’t ask about Nick. She hadn’t seen nor heard from him in months. Doubt she ever would, at least no time in the near future.

Thank goodness, her mother never asked about Nick. Before hanging up her mother told her Ava might stop over to check on her since Starr was away at a conference.

“Okay, mommy, I’ll keep an ear out for Ava. Tell daddy I’m sorry I missed him and I’ll call later.”

“Bye baby.”

“Bye mommy.”

Finally adjusting the water temperature, standing in front of the mirror piling her hair on top of her head with hair pins, Summer couldn’t wait to soak her sore back. Before she stripped out of her clothes she started to call Ava to tell her not to come over. “I just want to be alone tonight.” With any luck she wouldn’t see Ava until Sunday morning at church. But just in case, she left the bathroom door slightly ajar to hear the doorbell.

Lighting scented candles, strategically arranged throughout the room, Summer turned off the light before easing down into the soothing water. She didn’t know what smelled better, the rose scented candles or the lavender bath salts she added to the water. Whichever it was totally relaxed her. Taking baths always reminded her of Nick.

The first time they made love she was a virgin. Nick had been gentle with her, yet she still was sore and swollen. Wanting to ease her discomfort he drew a bath for her in his Italian marbled Jacuzzi. When he returned to let her know her bath was ready she attempted to walk

to the bathroom.

“No, Beautiful, I’ll carry you.” As he lifted her in his arms, Summer tucked her head in the crook of his neck. She couldn’t believe how he was taking such good care of her.

Although her heart ached over losing Nick, memories like this one caused her to smile. Things with him from the beginning were always good. That’s why for the life of her she couldn’t comprehend his logic for ending their relationship.

When the baby moved Summer shifted her attention to her belly. She placed her hand on her stomach and rubbed a soft circular pattern as she closed her eyes and hummed a lullaby. This usually calmed the baby’s movements.

She was definitely having a Calgon moment. Moments like these, reminiscing about Nick and his ability to be tender was giving her a glimmer of hope.
Maybe if I call his office he’ll speak to me and then I can tell him. He’ll understand.

As Summer daydreamed pleasant thoughts of the man she still loved, her eyes closed and she drifted between deep relaxation and sleep.

Summer’s eyes popped wide open at the sound of a loud, obnoxious doorbell.

“Great timing, Ava.”

Turning off the ignition, Nick had second thoughts now that he was outside of Summer’s house. The clock on the interior of the Benz read 10:05 p.m. Glancing up at her bedroom window, the lights were on. She was home. Summer was a homebody; she was probably reading a book or watching television.

Hesitating for a minute, he swung the car door open, stepping out heavy-footed. The day had been trying. Negotiations had not gone as expected with the textile company. It was going to take longer to add this one to his collection.

Nick had no business here. He was not in the best frame of mind, but he’d put off going to see Summer long enough. He’d been in town for over two weeks now.

Taking long purposeful strides, he made his way to her front door. Extending a long finger, he rang the bell.

Gingerly, Summer rose from her sitting position in the tub. Reaching for the towel quickly drying herself off, she grumbled, “Ava, why are you bugging me now?”

Snuffing out the candles Summer clumsily quickened her pace. Reaching on the back of the door for her thick pink terrycloth robe she donned it as she searched for her slippers.

Surveying the room,
where are my slippers?
Deciding to forgo her search because Ava was ringing the doorbell like a madwoman, she left the bathroom in a hurry.

Holding on to the banister to keep from falling, Summer was really going to
wring Ava’s neck!
Didn’t she know her big belly got in the way these days?

Nick became increasingly aggravated. What was taking her so long? The thought crossed his mind she had someone in the house with her. He clenched his jaw, balling his large hands into fists at the thought of another man touching her soft, delicate body the way he’d been privy to.

He’d spent restless nights tossing and turning in bed remembering how her petite body felt beneath his. How he had to position himself just so to keep from crushing her with his weight. Imagining her with someone else in such an intimate way made him see red. This time Nick didn’t ease up off the doorbell.

When her foot hit the last step, Summer swore,
this girl has lost her ever-loving mind.
Waddling over to the door, snatching it open she began tearing into Ava.

“Girl, are you cra−”

Immediate disbelief, panic, terror, and then fear overtook Summer as her heart begin to wildly pump in her chest. Her first instinct was to slam the door shut, and pray he’d go away.

Nick must have sensed what Summer was thinking, her reaction to him was frightening to say the least. Her facial features transformed from one of annoyance to fear within milliseconds. Quickly, he wedged his foot in the doorway and with one strong arm pushed the door open before she could shut it.

With all her might she tried to close the door. But her body and the little life in her womb betrayed her. Her arms suddenly had no strength as she pushed against the door that wouldn’t

budge. A sudden sharp kick to the ribs left Summer gasping for air, and releasing her hold on the

door sending her awkwardly stumbling backwards.

Stalking forward while simultaneously slamming the door shut with his foot, Nick couldn’t believe his eyes. He had to be seeing an illusion, a vision, or a dream.
This can’t be.

Summer jumped and took a step back at the sound of the slamming door. Advancing another step toward her, he wore an incredulous expression as his eyes roamed her from head to toe. He couldn’t believe it. Summer was pregnant! Pregnant!

Retreating back another step, Summer’s mind was racing.
Maybe I can make it to my bedroom if I run fast and lock the door and then he’ll leave.

Nick was terrifying with his bulging eyes, flaring nostrils, and pulsating jugulars. Never before had he responded to her with such a crazed temperament.

Summer’s mouth suddenly became dry, she wanted to swallow, but couldn’t. Wanted to say something, but no words would form in her brain to leave through her lips. Remembering she didn’t have any clothes on under her robe, self-consciously she gathered the front near her breasts with one hand.

An evil smirk marred Nick’s features.
Always the modest one, I guess that changed. Little tramp went and got herself knocked up
.

Again, Nick advanced to close the distance between them. As Summer lifted her right foot to take another step back, he barked, “Don’t you dare move another inch, Summer Jackson.”

Startled by his outburst, Summer let her head drop as the tears she fought to keep from falling, fell one by one.

“I see you’ve been busy, Miss Jackson.”

Nick’s tone was cold and sarcastic as he closed the distance between them. He didn’t care she was crying. He did care however, she’d met someone and gotten pregnant while he couldn’t look at another woman, let alone bed one.

He continued his insult through clenched teeth. “Didn’t take you long to let some punk crawl between your legs.”

Summer was appalled at how Nick was speaking to her. Jerking her head up, attempting to give him a disgusted glare, she backed down from the daggers he threw at her more than the harsh words he spewed slapping her in the face.

“Nick, what are you talking about?”

“You know damn well what I mean. I go away for five months and come back to find you pregnant!”

Finding courage she questioned, “Did it ever occur to you I was pregnant before you left?”

He rubbed his hand across his face and spat out in disbelief, “What are you saying, Summer? Are you trying to tell me it’s my baby?”

Tears that momentarily dried begin to spill again. Summer could not stand to have Nick look at her with such anger in his eyes so she averted her gaze to the other side of the room focusing on a picture that hung over the mantle. “Yes,” she whispered.

Frustrated, he grabbed Summer by her upper arms and forced her to make eye contact with him. His grip was so tight she winced at his touch. The space between them so oppressive she felt his hot breath on her face.