The Promise Pact (Promise to Love Book 1) (19 page)

Max looked around the entire garden and breathed in all its beauty. The sweet aroma of life blossomed around him. The garden was hardly recognizable, it truly was a different place than when they first arrived.

An array of colors, plants, people and foods were sprouting up everywhere, it was a site to behold. No one would believe that just a few months back, this plot of land was an uncultivated piece of dirt filled with weeds and shrubs. Although there were dozens of people there today, Max knew it was he and Kaya that had created this special place with their hands. He was proud of them. He glanced over in her direction he saw the pain etched on her face.
Baby, I’m so sorry!
I just can’t do what you’re asking me to do.
Kaya’s earlier words replayed themselves in his mind over and over, “I’m pregnant with your child.” Pregnant! He wasn’t meant to be a father. It was something that he knew from a young age. His parents had been the worst role models, he wouldn’t even know where to begin to be a parent. He looked at Kaya again. He wanted to hold her and let her know everything would be okay but couldn’t because he wasn’t sure.

“King Max, I see you,” a familiar voice shouted interrupting his thoughts as she ran towards him. Anne’s game of “peekaboo” was cut short when she fell over a shovel and tumbled to the ground. She shouted in agony when she landed, more out of embarrassment than anything else. Max ran to her and scooped her up while Kaya moved towards them cautiously.

“You’re okay, pumpkin,” Kaya said brushing the leaves off her leggings. She kept her eyes fixated on Anne.

“Yes, but I think I need a very special treat to make me feel better.” Max rolled his eyes playfully and then kissed the knee she was holding. He cradled her and they all sat down near a nearby bench. Anne nestled her face close to his chest. She yawned deeply. Kaya spoke, “Looks like someone needs a nap,” she said stroking her red locks. Minutes later she was sleeping.

“You’re great with her,” she said keeping her eyes on Anne. Why couldn’t he see they were all meant to be? He was punishing himself and he didn’t have to. She wouldn’t allow him to fail at his fatherly duties. They would make it, all of them.

“Kaya, I don’t know exactly what to say,” he said looking at the woman he loved. “You know, I love you dearly, I want you to be my wife but I don’t think I would be a great father to our child. It’s not in the cards for me.” He said looking down to make sure Anne was still napping.

“Max honey, you would be a great father. Just look at you with Anne. She adores you. The three of us need you. ”Kaya said placing her hand on his face.

“The three of us, I don’t understand,” he said with a puzzled look on his face.

She kept her distraught eyes on him, and spoke again, “Anne, the baby and me.”

What the hell was she talking about? There was no way he was taking on two children! Was Kaya out of her mind? Had the new baby caused her judgment to be skewed? Didn’t she know he was practically raised by a nanny, only seeing his parents on holidays and one week out of the summer? Sure, he had called in some legal favors so Anne wouldn’t be placed into another foster home but adopting her had never crossed his mind,
or had it
? His head was spinning and he wanted to ditch this part of the conversation for sure. He couldn’t think of Anne back in the arms of someone who would abuse her but he also couldn’t agree to take on that amount of responsibility.

“Kaya, are you listening to yourself? This can’t work.”

“Max,” she uttered his name but nothing else. She was extremely disappointed in his comments. She knew taking on this role would be difficult but how could he place her back in a home when he could build her a million homes? Didn’t he care about anyone but himself?

Kaya straightened her back, gathered her strength and spoke, “Look, there is no way that I’m going to allow her back into the system. Period. Did you see her standing on the street ringing a bell in the freezing cold?” Her words forced the horrible image to resurface in his mind. “If something like that were to happen to her again, she would be lost forever. I am going to adopt her Max, give her a place to call home. I know it’s a long, tedious process but I’m ready. Someone has to give her a chance, but most importantly love. I don’t have much but what I do have is hers. ” Tears were falling from her eyes but she remained composed.

“What? You just told me this morning that you were pregnant, now you are going to adopt a child? Kaya, are you thinking rationally?” He shouted sternly in his law voice.

She breathed deeply then grabbed his hand, held it tightly and encouraged him saying, “Don’t be afraid Max. You will be a great father and husband. I just need you to believe in all of us, but most importantly yourself.”

“Kaya, I don’t want this. There isn’t anything you can say to make me change my mind.” His words ripped through her like a speeding bullet. She couldn’t keep trying. He’d made up his mind. It was pointless to keep discussing the matter. She reached over, grabbed Anne from his protective embrace, pulled her into her arms and then stood.

“Fine Max, but I have one more favor to ask.” She didn’t wait for a response. Her words continued, “I need a lawyer, a good one to help me through the long adoption process. It’s the last thing I will ever ask of you. I promise I will not burden you with this anymore.”

Then she turned to walk away but stopped.

Kaya needed to do what was honorable and bring closure to this situation for once and for all. She didn’t want fifteen more years of pain and heartache to follow her. She turned around, with Anne nestled close to her chest and proclaimed, “I will always love you Max King. I have since I was 17 and nothing will ever change that. Goodbye!”

And as quickly as she had come back into his life after years of separation, she was gone. This time he feared it might be for good.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

There was so much to learn about adopting a child. Thankfully, Max had kept his word and hired the best adoption lawyer South of Broad Street, Robert Jeffery Kingsley to solidify the proceedings. Mr. Kingsley said the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, a uniform law enacted in all 50 states, clearly opened the door for Kaya and Anne to become a family. Since Anne didn’t have any living parents, the courts wouldn’t require parental surrender documents. Although this would expedite the process, it would still take a long time. According to her lawyer, the paperwork would take almost a year but eventually Anne could be all hers. Of course, Mr. Kingsley also suggested having a foster parent watch over Anne so she could return to NY, but Kaya adamantly refused. Something would work out.

***

The beach home wasn’t the same. Kaya walked around the empty dwelling and all she could see, smell and think about Max. At night, she would cry and breathe in his sweet scent from the sheets, sheets they had once made love on. The pain was real and raw but it also was helping her get through. She needed to be there for Anne. Luckily, Angela had rearranged her schedule and agreed to stay on for a few more days, Kaya was unbelievably thankful.

Kyle had also agreed to stay until the end of the week to finish the garden while Kaya searched for a new job. She had taken on so many new responsibilities and was grateful for the support of her friends.

The opening of the garden was quickly approaching and Anne was beside herself with excitement. Every day she would pray that King Max would return before the opening but Kaya knew Anne was wasting her time. She didn’t have the heart to tell her that he wouldn’t be returning and that her magical fairytale ending would be shattered.

Kyle had remained in contact with Max. By day three, Kaya knew they were speaking daily. Kyle’s strange questions and odd little notepad were a dead giveaway that he was providing Max with updates and reports on everything. However, Kaya wasn’t interested in knowing any of the details of their conversations. The only fact she knew was that he was gone.

Kaya’s morning sickness continued, making it nearly impossible to leave the beach house most mornings. No matter what she consumed, she couldn’t keep it down. Her face, once full of life, was now bleak and full of gloom, unless Anne was around.

***

The sound of the doorbell startled Angela, who was busy dressing up her new niece in the latest designer kid ensemble. By the second annoying buzz, she sprang to her feet, with ribbons in hand, and pulled it open.

It was Kyle.
Damn him to hell
.

No matter how many times she saw Kyle Parker, she simply couldn’t get enough of him. He stood at the entrance of the beach home looking fabulous as always. She rolled her eyes and directed him in. The way he strolled through the den, with all of the confidence in the world, caused her head to spin. But she wasn’t in the mood to stroke his male ego today, she was caring for two people whom she loved dearly.

As far as she was concerned, he could keep his not-so-subtle sexual glances to himself today, they weren’t going to work on her anymore.

“Hi Angie,” he stated in a deep, sultry voice.

“Hi yourself, what are you doing here? I thought you were finishing up the final touches to the garden,” she inquired.

He flashed his pearly whites and strolled deeper into the small beach house. He looked perfect in his designer navy blue blazer, blue jeans, and a winter cream scarf perfectly tucked around his neck. From the moment she saw him, she knew he was up to something. Anne hopped over to him, dragging her new dress on the ground, “Uncle Kyle. Uncle Kyle.” She was putty in his hands.

“Anne don’t drag your dress. Ahh,” Angela pleaded with frustration in her voice.

“It’s just a dress Angie. Don’t worry too much. How’s Kaya?” he asked flopping on the couch and keeping his eyes glued to her perfect face.

“I don’t know. Kyle, the whole situation is taking a toll on her. I know you are talking to Max every day. Can you please talk some sense into him? He needs his family.” She explained, yet she knew Kyle wasn’t about to betray the trust of Max.

“We should stay out of it Angie. If they want our help then they will ask,” he said trying to change the subject. Covertly, he was already doing exactly what Angela was requesting. When he returned to New York in a few days, he was going to have a man to man talk with Max and force him to see what was in front of him. But Max was in pain. He was afraid of failing Kaya and that fear was eating away at his very soul.

“I think if they were to sit down and talk about this whole situation like adults, Max would realize he’s making a huge mistake. She’s doing what’s right here and he’s acting like fool, don’t you agree?” Angie wasn’t letting up that easy. She would speak her peace. She didn’t care if he wanted to hear it or not.

But Kyle did agree. What Kaya was doing was one of the most admirable things anyone could do; adopt a child into a clean, stable, loving and comfortable household. Oh, how he had prayed for someone to show he and his brothers the same kindness when he was young. His own mother had willingly signed he and his siblings into the foster care system when he was seventeen years old. His three younger brothers were only 8, 10, and 11 at the time. Kyle had promised to look after them but his promise hadn’t been an easy one to keep. The unthinkable acts of violence he endured in three different homes in less than three years, had left him emotionally unavailable to anyone who tried to get close. This included Angela. His eyes drifted to Anne. She was lucky to have narrowly escaped the same type of upbringing. He shook off the thoughts in his mind but Angela could sense his pain.

“Let’s get out of here today and give Kaya some downtime to think.”

Angela wasn’t keen on spending time alone with Kyle. The last time they were by themselves, he almost kissed her and she didn’t want that to happen again, or did she? But he was right, Kaya needed some time to think and when it came to her best friend she would do just about anything to help her.

“What do you have in mind,” she asked with excitement in her voice. Afterwards, she quickly changed her tone afraid he would think she had let her walls down.

“Just trust me Angie. I know it’s not easy for you but I think you and Anne might really enjoy this. Can you do that, just once?” He was expecting her to toss her hands in the air and brush off the entire idea. Instead, she smiled and hopped to her feet.

“Okay, Mr. Rich, show us what you have in mind but we are two tough critics, so you better make it good.” He stood quickly, stuck somewhere between shocked and happy. Angela had agreed to a day alone with him, or partially alone, and he was going take whatever he could get. He immediately proceeded to help her get Anne ready for the day, before she changed her mind.

It took them much longer than expected to get her dressed and tidy up the house. Anne, in a short period of time, had acquired dozens books and toys. Her massive doll house, which was delivered anonymously, took up almost half of the den. Practically daily she was received items from a generous anonymous donor, but they all knew who it was.

Before they left for the day, Angela went to check in on her best friend who was still asleep in bed.

“Kaya, Kaya, are you awake?” Angela whispered into Kaya’s ear.

“What’s wrong?” Kaya replied looking around in panic.

“Lie down, there’s nothing wrong. Kyle, Anne and I are going out for the day. I’ll have my cell phone on if you should need anything.” As Kaya sunk back into the sheets, Angela placed a small kiss on her forehead. She allowed her to drift off but not before whispering, “He’s coming back. I promise.”

***

Max was miserable. Ever since he had returned to New York his mind was on Kaya, the baby and Anne. He wanted to believe he was doing the right thing by letting them go and giving them a life without him, but why did he feel so bad. Why did he see her face in everything he saw, touched or ate?

Everyone at the law firm, was on pins and needles around him. When he wasn’t barking orders at the staff he was tucked away in his office working on files. Even Ruby, his sweet assistant couldn’t seem to get through to him. His clothes were disheveled and he didn’t look like he had eaten any food for days. His heart was broken, and he finally understood what Kaya felt on that fateful night he left her standing alone at the bus stop. Max had a broken heart.