AUTHORS NOTE: Another two for one today! Enjoy!
CHAPTER 43
I look around the table at everyone eating and enjoying their food. We had all descended on the Red Lion and Maisie had exuberantly told my father and grandmother that it is quite simply the best place to eat. My mother had text Christopher and my siblings had also joined us here. I look at my father and my mind goes back to the very first time I was here when I had persuaded a very reluctant Eva to go out with me. My thoughts back then when we came here after she had chosen this pub, and how I had visualised my father in a place like this. Then it made me almost laugh out loud but seeing him now he has dispelled those thoughts of snobbish derision.
Admittedly, he and my grandmother don't look as comfortable here as my mother and Sandra do but the fact they are here and making the effort to join in is not only gratifying but also very much appreciated. I am pulled from my thoughts by Maisie speaking to me.
"Daddy" she says and immediately the murmuring around the table ceases and all attention is on her.
"Yes Maisie" I say as I smile lovingly at my daughter. My daughter! I have considered this little girl mine for some time but today she is officially mine and that thought fills me with untold unadulterated joy.
I am officially this wonderful little girls' father. I glance at Eva and more specifically the slight swell of her stomach which although is practically negligible at this moment, I know is there. To me there is no difference, Maisie is as much my daughter as the unborn baby Eva is currently carrying and as such, I look upon that unborn baby as my second child. It is at that moment the gravity of my life now hits me with the force of a wrecking ball. I am 24 years old. I am a CEO of a successful company and I am a father of two. My life is now a million miles away from the abject hell I was in just a few months ago. Eva had confided in me how she felt like she was numb and just mindlessly sleepwalking through life… merely existing each day and doing what was needed to be done to simply exist and get on with it and I realise that I was exactly the same. Now though, now I am living life to its fullest and I am loving it.
"Daddy, after dinner can we go to school and tell the school that you are my real daddy now and that my name is now Maisie Cross?" she asks.
I glance at Eva again and then nod in agreement. "Of course, we can" I say. The very idea filling me with an enormous sense of smug pride. Although I have this feeling that Maisie will be doing most of the telling.
oooOOOooo
After a delicious lunch I say goodbye to my parents and grandmother as they are going to be going home to Manchester now. I thank them once again for coming and supporting me in court today and once again they tell me it was their pleasure. I also say goodbye to my siblings and they offer their own congratulations to me for officially becoming Maisie's father.
They all hug Eva and thank her for having such a positive influence on my life and as the cars disappear, I feel an odd pang in my gut of something I can't place. I realise that I am going to miss them. Eva seems to notice my shift in mood and wraps her arm around my waist.
"It's ok" she mutters quietly and I turn to face her with a smile and once again her simple words have righted my world and centred me. My place is here with my family and I lean down and kiss Eva on the lips.
"I was just surprised by the reaction and feelings I felt at seeing my father's car disappear" I say.
Eva smiles and rubs my back reassuringly. "I get it. You have a brilliant relationship with your dad now so it's inevitable that you are going to feel it and miss him when he leaves" she says.
I look towards the road my father's car has just driven down and shake my head. "I just can't believe we wasted so much time… my grandfather's toxic domineering attitude ruined my whole family and everyone is only starting to realise that fact now" I say sadly.
"Talking of domineering arseholes…" she says hesitantly and then pauses.
I turn to look at her questioningly and wait for her to elaborate.
"Dominic Stanton wrote to me" she says.
"When?" I ask.
"Last week" Eva states nervously and she lowers her head almost embarrassed by that fact.
My eyebrows rise in surprise at this and I wonder why she didn't say anything before now.
"Why am I just hearing about this now?" I ask and Eva smiles.
"We had far more important things to deal with, namely Maisie's birthday and the court case. He is irrelevant and so I didn't want him taking up any thinking time which could be used for more important stuff" she says with a grin.
I can't help but smile at that, nor can I fault Eva's logic on the matter. I am also certain her choice of words, calling him irrelevant is a nod to what was said when we met him the last time. I am also certain she will tell me all about it when we get home but my priority at the moment is going to the primary school and informing them that I am now officially Maisie's father. Something which I think is also top of Maisie's to do list.
"Come on daddy, let's go to school" she says as she pulls on my hand.
We pull up at the school and make our way to the office and as soon as we walk in Maisie steps forward and blurts out her news.
"My name is Maisie Cross now because the court said daddy is my real daddy" she says and the receptionist beams at her.
"That is wonderful news Maisie" she says warmly and then she turns towards us, "Do you want to come through" she adds as she presses a button which releases the lock, allowing us entry into the main part of the school.
We make our way to the office and as we do so Valerie Langham appears with a big smile on her face.
"Hello, I heard what Maisie said" she says and with that Maisie steps forward and repeats the news that her name is now Maisie Cross.
We fill in the paperwork needed to alter Maisie's name on the register and I glance up as I sign it. "We don't have Maisie's new birth certificate yet. I am assuming you will need to see it once we have it?" I say and Valerie nods.
"If you wouldn't mind, by rights we really shouldn't be filling in this paperwork without seeing it. However, as we know this has been on the cards for a while, I think we can bend the rules a little".
I nod in acknowledgement at that, "My solicitor told me we should have it within a couple of days so as soon as we do we will bring it in" I say.
"That's absolutely fine" Valerie says with another smile.
After Maisie has retold her story of her day in court and how she had asked the court to let me be her real daddy we leave and Eva assures everyone that Maisie will be in school again tomorrow. As we are leaving the office Maisie's teacher appears and smiles widely at us.
"How did the adoption hearing go?" she asks politely.
"Daddy is my real daddy now, the court said yes and my name is Maisie Cross now" Maisie says brightly.
Miss Moore's smile gets even wider and she offers her own congratulations and tells Maisie that she will see her tomorrow.
We make our way home and as we pull into the driveway, I feel an odd sense of complete contentment. I have confronted and overcome my past. I have grabbed my life by the scruff of the neck and changed it beyond all recognition. I look up at my home. The house I had bought with the hope that I could persuade Eva to make a home here with me and she has done more than that, she has become my entire world. I turn to look at her, and I just take a moment to gaze at my beautiful wife. She is still so young and has known more than her own share of heartbreak and bad times. I just want to protect her and not let anything hurt her again. She has realised quite recently that its ok to dream and have ambitions and as I think about that I feel a twinge of guilt at the fact she is going to become a mother again much sooner than she had planned for. But she won't have the same experiences she previously had, I will make sure that she can still realise her dreams and fulfil her ambitions. This time she will have all the support and love she needs.
I am also not too naive to realise that as soon as Nathan hears about the court ruling, he may try and cause trouble, but until he is released there is very little he can physically do from prison. We will face whatever he throws at us when he is released but that is a problem for another day and I vow here and now it is an issue which Eva will not have to face alone.
Right now, I want to know what that arsehole Stanton said to her. I know Eva said she would ignore him if he wrote to her but the fact that she has mentioned it, albeit several days after the event tells me something about it is bothering her. I am also wondering why now. It has been two months since we went to Bristol to meet him, why has he suddenly emerged from the woodwork again?
"Are we going inside or do you just want to sit here staring at me all night?" Eva says which pulls me from my thoughts and I smile at her sarcastic comment.
"I'm allowed to look at my wife, aren't I?" I respond with equal sarcasm which makes Eva smirk at me.
We go inside and Maisie heads off to her room to change and play while I lead Eva into the living room.
"Right, show me the letter" I say with no preamble.
Eva looks at me questioningly and then realises what I am referring to. "What letter…? Oh you mean the one from Dominic," she says and she moves towards the cupboard and pulls out an envelope and without a word she hands it to me.
I take it from her and watch her reaction as she moves away. "Do you want a drink or anything?" she asks as she moves into the kitchen.
"No thanks, I'm fine" I say as I open the envelope.
I look down at the neat precise handwriting and I roll my eyes. Doctors are stereotypically notorious for having bad handwriting but this is so neat and exact it reminds me of the man himself, up tight and totally controlled. I sit down and start to read.
Dear Mrs Cross (those opening words makes me roll my eyes again, I can't believe that he actually formally called her Mrs Cross, this woman is his granddaughter for god's sake! Surely it wouldn't kill him to write the word Eva?)
After our less than cordial meeting recently I have been trying repeatedly to contact you with no success. (I smile at that, as I recall Eva blocking his phone number and I wonder if he has spent the last two months repeatedly trying to call her). I am not accustomed to people blocking my attempts to contact them. (I snort out loud at that one. I bet you're not, as you like to be the one to be in charge and making the decisions, you don't like it that Eva has taken that control from you!) I find your attitude to be quite disconcerting. You were the one to initially approach me. You and your brother behaved appallingly at our initial meeting and it seems you continue to behave inexcusably. (My eyebrows rise at that, as I can't believe the nerve of the man trying to lay the blame of their car crash of a meeting on Eva). I find myself having to write to you to arrange another meeting with you. I will meet you in Bristol where I met you before, and that is outside the cathedral on Saturday May 25th at 10am and I want you to bring your daughter with you this time so that I can meet her.
I stop reading as I can't read any more of this crap. Eva comes in and grins at me.
"Piece of work, isn't he?" she says brightly as she nods at the letter.
I shake my head, "Please tell me we are not going?" I say and Eva lets out a loud laugh.
"Erm no, I thought that would be a given. I'm not wasting another second on that man, he can want! I'm not going anywhere and there is no way on earth I am introducing Maisie to him" she says defiantly.
I smile and hold up the letter, "What are you going to do with this?" I ask, and Eva wordlessly holds out her hand for the letter.
I hand it to her and watch as she tears it up into a number of small pieces and then she walks over to the waste paper bin and drops them in it with a flourish.
"That's what I think of that" she says after a moment. I walk towards her and wrap my arms around her and she quickly responds. I feel her arms around my waist and her hands sliding steadily up my back. I move my hand to her behind and pull her close, pressing myself against her as I feel myself starting to get hard.
Eva grins as she feels me against her and she looks up at me, "later" she says. She has barely got the word out of her mouth when Maisie comes hurtling into the living room with a book.
"DADDY!" she squeals. I reluctantly pull away from Eva, I am willing my arousal to quickly go down, which thankfully it does.
I smile at my daughter, "Yes Maisie" I say and she comes closer and waves her book at me.
"Will you read this book with me?" she says.
"Of course I will" I say as I take the book from her and glance at it. Maisie grips my hand and pulls me towards the sofa and as I sit down, she climbs on to my knee. Then to my surprise Eva tells her to move.
"Maisie, let daddy go and get changed first. He is still wearing his best suit and he's not had chance to change yet. Once he has changed, he will come back and read with you" she says.
I glance down at myself. I had totally forgotten I was dressed the way I am. I guess that is what being a father is all about. My daughter comes first no matter what.
Maisie reluctantly nods and climbs off my knee. I quickly stand and go and get changed, I'm not surprised when Eva follows me upstairs. She gives me a heated look as she unbuttons the waistcoat part of my three-piece suit, and then she reaches for my tie and loosens it.
"Carry on like this and I won't be able to control my actions" I murmur to her and she grins wickedly.
"Call it a lesson in self-control" she says.
"Who for? As you appear to need it as much as I do" I retort. I know she is teasing me and I'm loving every minute of it as I know what she is doing is letting me know what I can look forward to later on when Maisie is in bed.
She stands on her tip toes and after pressing a kiss to my lips she whispers in my ear, "Later" she says. Then she pats my arm, turns and walks out of the room leaving me feeling incredibly uncomfortable.
After a few moments I return downstairs to an impatient Maisie who is hopping around with her book.
"Here you are" she exclaims as I walk into the living room.
I grin at her and sit down on the sofa and I have barely sat down when Maisie is clambering on top of me.
"Let's see the book then" I say as I hold out my hand for it.
"Daddy?" Maisie says hesitantly as she places her book in my hand. The way she says it pulls my attention from the book to her as she sounded so serious.
"What is it?" I ask.
I watch as she reaches for my t shirt and starts pulling it and playing with it and it sets me on edge wondering what the matter is. Maisie is silent for a few moments and then she hesitantly starts to speak.
"Daddy… you know how you told me that mummy was going to have a baby?" she begins and I nod. Remembering the evening when we had sat Maisie down and told her that Eva was pregnant.
"Yes" I say warily, hoping to god that this isn't the start of the where do babies come from question".
"You said that mummy was having a baby and that you had helped her make this one" she says and I nod.
"That's right, I did say that" I say. I perceive Eva has walked quietly into the room and is listening to what Maisie is saying.
"Will you… will you love this baby more than me because you helped mummy to make this one?" she asks in a small voice and I feel my heart lurch violently at her words.
I feel like I've just been dosed with a bucket of cold water. I had hoped that the adoption would ease any fears Maisie may've had but it appears it has just brought them into sharper focus.
"No Maisie not at all. I am your real daddy now. I love you with all my heart and that won't stop or lessen when the new baby comes. I will love the new baby, but I will only love the new baby just as much as I love you. I won't love him or her more than you because I just couldn't do that. I am your daddy and you are my daughter Maisie. You are my little girl". I pause and watch her face and as she thinks about what I have said she smiles and I hope she is reassured by it.
Then her face grows really dark, "What happens if other daddy comes back?" she almost whispers fearfully.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her tightly to me.
"I promise you Maisie, if he comes back. I say if because he is in prison at the moment and cannot hurt you while he is in there. Do you understand that?" I pause and she nods.
"Yes… but he was in prison before, but he came out and he hurt mummy" she argues.
"I know he did. But things are different now. You and your mummy are with me now, mummy is my wife and you are now my daughter. There is nothing he can do about that and if he comes and tries to cause trouble, then he will end up going back to prison again" I say hoping I am reassuring her. But it has brought it home to me that Nathan isn't going to be in prison forever and when he does come out there will be a very high probability of him wanting to cause trouble for us. I make a mental note to speak to Tez and Vic about this as while I don't want to cause any trouble or start anything. I want to be reassured that should we need help it will be forthcoming.
"Ok" Maisie says and she turns to see Eva coming closer and sitting with us.
"Nathan isn't anything to do with us anymore. He is nothing to us. He is no longer your daddy. Gideon is your daddy now. That is why we went to court today to make it all official. Daddy asked the court if he could be your daddy and they said yes so that is all you need to know, he is now your real daddy, not Nathan" she says firmly.
oooOOOooo
Later on that evening…
"Is Maisie ok?" I ask as Eva comes wandering into the bedroom.
After I had taken her to bed and read her a story, Eva had made a point of going in and making sure she was no longer worrying about Nathan.
Eva nods, "I think so, she fell asleep so she isn't worrying too much now" she says.
I turn towards Eva, "I haven't given her any indication that I would love the new baby more than her have I? I know I am excited about it and I can barely keep my hands off your stomach now that you are beginning to show… but, I would hate to think that had unnerved her somehow?" I ask nervously.
Eva smiles at me and shakes her head before she comes to sit down next to me. She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. "No, you haven't. You have been wonderful with her. I can't fault you, you are a brilliant dad so stop worrying. I think this was more about the fact she was worried about what would happen if Nathan came and tried to spoil things as they are now and I think we have both reassured her that we won't let him do that. Legally he has no claim to her now, and with his track record surely something will be put in place when he is eventually released?" she looks at me questioningly and I nod thoughtfully, before wrapping my arm around her and pulling her closer to me.
"I would assume so, but I am going to ask Charles to keep a check on him and arrange to have adequate legal protection in place for you and for Maisie for when the day comes that he is released. I am also going to have a chat with Tez and Vic. That night Rob took me home to Manchester back when we first met, he and Mark both said that they could quite cheerfully have killed Nathan for what he did to you. Rob in particular took it quite badly as he is your godfather. So… and I'm not suggesting anything illegal here, but I was intending on speaking with Tez and Vic to check and should Nathan try anything when he is released that there maybe other avenues which we as a family could explore to dissuade him from doing it".
I wrap my arm around Eva a little tighter and urge her even closer. She readily comes closer and she looks up at me.
"Don't let this bother you Gideon. We will deal with Nathan as and when… right now I have other things on my mind" she lets her hand slide slowly down my body and towards my groin. I go from semi to stone immediately and she grins as she feels it and brazenly strokes me.
I moan as I respond to her touching me. I close my eyes and shiver as her fingers continue to explore me.
"Fuck… Eva" I hiss.
We have both showered and are ready for bed. Eva looks at me carefully as she straddles me and pushes me down on to the bed. I willingly go wondering what she has planned for me tonight. She has been teasing me all afternoon hinting to the things which we are going to do tonight.
"I want to try something different tonight with you" she whispers in my ear and I swallow hard and nod.
"Ok" I say as I watch her and I run my hands over her, stroking and gently caressing her.
"If you feel uncomfortable, or don't like what I am doing say something and we will just make love" she says and I begin to wonder what she has planned.
I nod and she smiles reassuringly at me, "Lie back and relax and just enjoy this" she says seductively and then she moves and starts planting a line of sweet kisses on my lips. She moves lower, to my neck and to my chest. I shiver as I feel her tongue touch my nipples and she licks them before moving on, peppering kisses on my chest and stomach. It begins to dawn on me where she is heading and what her intentions are. I have never had oral sex before and the thought unnerves me a little. But this is Eva… she is my wife, she loves me and she won't do anything which will hurt me. Unpleasant thoughts of my uncle forcing his dick into my own mouth suddenly fill my head and I close my eyes tight and ruthlessly try to will them away. Eva notices my change in demeanour and pauses.
"Gideon talk to me" she whispers.
I shake my head, "It's nothing, I just remembered something… something unpleasant, I'm sorry" I say.
"Eva stops and works her way back up my body and holds me. "Do you want me to stop?" she asks.
I shake my head, "No… it's just, I figured out what it was you were planning to do, and for some reason it made me remember a time when my uncle…" I stop and shake my head.
Eva grips me tightly and just holds me, "It's ok" she says gently.
"He tried to force his dick into my mouth" I whisper, and as I tell her the myriad of memories bombarding me start to fade and I feel myself beginning to relax.
Eva nods, "Do you want me to try again or do you just want me to stop?" she asks.
"I want this" I say immediately, "Your touch… your love it banishes the memories of what Hugh did to me, I really want this" I say.
Eva nods and watching me carefully starts again, slowly kissing her way down my body.
When she reaches my boxer shorts I am pitching a large and obvious tent in them and she grins at me.
"Lift your hips for me" she whispers and I obediently lift my hips upwards as she pulls down my boxers and takes them off. "Tell me if this becomes too much for you" she says as she moves lower.
I nod and watch her as her head disappears between my legs. The next thing is, I feel her lips on the head of my dick. I shut my eyes tight and let out a small gasp.
"Ok?" she asks and I nod, unable to articulate any coherent words.
She must see me and she starts to pepper my dick with kisses, the next thing I feel is her tongue licking me from root to tip and I let out a loud groan, as the sensation of it drives me insane with lust. My hips instinctively thrust upwards and then as I do this she swallows me.
"Fuck" I hiss and I feel my hands reaching for her head. I grip her hair as she begins to move, slowly at first as she licks my dick and runs her lips up and down the shaft, sucking on me. Her hands work the lower half of me which she can't fit into her mouth and she continues to lick and suck.
I realise I am moving with her and thrusting gently into her mouth. I am mindful not to thrust too hard and choke her, but I am slowly being bombarded with an overwhelming overload of sensation.
I feel my orgasm building. I feel myself swell in her mouth. She feels it too and it encourages her to speed up a little. The effect is immediate. My balls draw up and I explode.
"Shit, Eva… I'm coming" I hiss as I erupt in her mouth. I worry wondering if I should've said something sooner and given her the chance to move, but she swallows and takes everything that I give her. I feel her lick me clean and then she presses a small sweet kiss to the head before she looks up at me almost triumphantly.
"Did you like that?" she asks and I nod.
"That is a stupid question Eva… that was amazing" I say breathlessly as I slowly come back to sensibility.