*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
"I can't wait to give Zoey this present tonight after the office Christmas Party," I say as I finish wrapping up the special gift Dean and I decided on giving Zoey tonight on Christmas Eve to tell her she's going to be a big sister. We put an ultrasound picture, big sister shirt, big sister necklace and a stuffed animal for her to give to the baby when it's born into a box and I wrapped it up.
"She's going to be excited," says Dean with a smile as I tie the red ribbon. "She's wanted this for a while."
"I feel like she knew before we even knew because other than that I have no idea how she got the idea to wish to be a big sister for Christmas."
"It all kind of works out," he says with a smile. "I mean she did ask Santa for a baby brother or sister looks like she's getting her Christmas Wish."
"Yeah," I say with a smile. "I'm excited for our first Christmas together. I think Zoey is going to be really excited the most about being a big sister that tomorrow morning won't really mean anything to her. She's only been asking for this one thing."
"I hope she likes her one of a kind Zoey Girl Dolls," he says with a smile. "I went through a lot to make sure she got one for Christmas before we even release the line to the public."
"I'm sure she will love having a Zoey Girl Doll," I smile. "They're her dolls that she inspired to create. I think she's going to love it," I say before I stand up from wrapping the gift to go put it under the Christmas tree. "What time are we going to the shelter tomorrow?" I ask.
"I was thinking about around noon," he answers. "I want to serve a Christmas lunch and a Christmas dinner to the residents of the shelter. Then I want to hand out the gifts we bought for them and the care packages we put together for them. I want them to have a good Christmas."
"I'm sure they're going to enjoy Christmas the best that they can at the shelter. I'm sure the kids are going to love it though," I say with a smile. "You're amazing you know that? All the work that you do for the homeless and the women and children that were once abused, you do so much. I'm sure they are all very grateful for you. What made you do what you do?"
"You already know my story. I grew up in a rough neighborhood, had a rough childhood sometimes I didn't even know if I was going to make it to the next day. I always promised that if I made it big I would give back. I wanted to help people like someone helped me," he says. He's so passionate about his time at the shelter and giving back to those in need. He spends all week working in the corporate world which I think he loves and enjoys but I think his true joy, his true love is helping people and giving back. He loves his Saturdays at the shelters feeding the homeless and doing whatever he can to help them. I love that the most about him, his giving spirit and his love for humanity. A lot of people in his position aren't as giving as him or as humble as he is. He's rich in not only his bank account but his heart. And being in a shelter before and living out on the streets I am willing to give back just as much as he is. I'm grateful every day for the life he has given to me. I could still be in a shelter and Zoey could still be in foster care but fortunately I met Dean 3 months ago almost 4 months ago and my entire life changed. I never thought it would change like this but I am grateful for Dean every day. "I'm going to get ready for tonight," he says.
"Okay, Baby," I say with a smile before he kisses my lips softly and walks into the bedroom as I walk to put Zoey's special present under the tree.
DEAN's POINT OF VIEW:
I am sitting on the bed in mine and Journey's bedroom in the New York Penthouse as we spend the next couple weeks there before we go back to Connecticut to live in our home there for the rest of winter. I sit looking at the ring I had made for Journey to give to her tonight. I smile at how beautiful it is and how it shines in the light as Zoey comes into the room. "What's that, Daddy?" she asks pointing to the ring.
"Zoey, can you keep a secret?" I ask her.
"I can, Daddy," she says with a smile, zips her lips and throws away the key. "I won't tell anybody anything," she says making me smile.
"Good," I say, "because this is my special Christmas present for Mommy. Isn't it pretty?"
"It's beautiful," she says with a smile. "It's like a princess ring."
"Because your mommy is my princess," I say with a smile as I sit her on my lap and we look at the black and white diamond ring together. "You know how the princess in the story finds her prince and they get married to live happily ever after?"
"Yes," she says looking at me with her beautiful blue eyes. "Are you going to marry Mommy?" she asks me.
"I hope to," I smile. "I want to ask her tonight if she will marry me. What do you think? Do you think she will say yes? Do you want us to get married?"
"Yes, Daddy," she says with a smile. "Ask her!"
She encourages me to ask Journey to be my wife. I have the perfect moment planned and the perfect way to do it planned. I plan to sneak away from the office Christmas party and take a nice walk on this brisk December night to one of my favorite places just to ask her to be my wife. "I think I'm going to," I say with a smile.
"Good, Daddy," she says. "Daddy, can we go see that big Christmas tree again tonight?" she asks.
"Tonight mommy and I have a party to go to so we won't be able to go tonight but I'll tell you what tomorrow night after we leave the shelter we can all go as a family to see the big Christmas tree. How does that sound?"
"Good," she says with a smile. "She will say yes."
"You think so?" I ask.
"She loves you, Daddy. You Prince Charming," she says making me smile.
"I hope I am," I smile back at her before I kiss the top of her head. "I love you, Zoey."
"I love you, Daddy," she says as she hugs me tightly and I hug her back.
"Daddy has to get ready. I will see you later," I say putting her down on her feet. She tells me okay and skips out of the room giving me time to get myself ready for the party.
LATER THAT NIGHT:
My driver opens the door to the SUV and helps Journey out of the backseat as I follow behind her. I link our elbows together and make our way through the crowd outside my office building and the paparazzi taking pictures of us as we enter into our building. Journey has learned to deal with the fame of dating me. I have tried my best to keep everything about us private but in my life that's never possible. She handles it well and takes it in stride. "You look beautiful," I say to her with a smile as I kiss her cheek softly. She's dressed in a beautiful white dress with a white fur trim at the bottom of her knee length skirt, her curly hair is wrapped up into a low bun and she has gold hoop earrings in her ears. She has on a pair of black heeled boots that come up to her knees and she looks absolutely perfect. She will look even more perfect by the end of the night with the black and white diamond ring on her finger after I propose to her.
"Thank-you," she says with a soft smile as I place my hand on the small of her back. "You look handsome yourself," she compliments me on my khaki pants, red and white plaid shirt and red sweater vest with my hair slicked down and controlled. "You clean up pretty nice."
"I'm always cleaned up nice. I thought you liked me in jeans and a t-shirt."
"Oh I do, Baby but I prefer you in your casual but not too casual clothes. I love when you wear khakis and I love that little sweater vest you look so cute."
"Thank-you," I say before I kiss her lips softly. "How are you feeling? Are you hungry?" I ask.
"I'm feeling all right," she says, "not so nauseous anymore but not really hungry."
"Okay. Let me get us something to drink," I offer as I walk over to the table to get us each a glass of punch before we go around greeting everyone at the office party. Many of my employees brought their families to the party so it was nice to meet their wives and children even some of their parents. "I want to welcome everyone and their families to the annual company Christmas party. I hope that everyone enjoys the night and enjoys the two week vacation that starts tonight to spend with their families. I want everyone to enjoy their holidays and take the time to spend it with those that you love," I say to everyone before Journey and I enjoy a little more of the party.
"So this is what your Christmas party is all about?" asks Journey as we walk around the office.
"Yeah," I say, "nothing over the top. It's just a way to gather everyone together and they usually bring their families along to celebrate Christmas together. I enjoy meeting everyone's family. Some of these people have worked for me for years," I say.
"And you gave them a two week vacation," she smiles at me.
"Well, I wanted two weeks off to enjoy time with my beautiful girlfriend and my daughter. I think we have some celebrating to do but we'll celebrate later and not to mention time to move back to Connecticut into that beautiful house of ours."
"You know I was thinking," she begins. "What if we just stayed here in the city in the penthouse?"
"You want to stay in the penthouse?" I ask. "I thought you loved Connecticut?"
"I do love it but I love the city life more. I love the penthouse. I love New York. Zoey loves New York and I know how much you enjoy being able to go to your shelters on Saturdays and Sundays as well as how much you love going to your office here. I want to stay in the penthouse."
"We moved out of the city to keep you safe from Cody."
"Cody is going to find me no matter where we are. There is no secrecy, Dean. You know that and I know that we might as well be happy with security and in the penthouse. There's just something about New York that I love maybe because I'm a country girl and have lived in the country most of my life but I love the city life."
"Me too," I say with a smile. "If you want to stay in the city we can stay in the city."
"Thank-you," she says with a smile. "Plus I have some new ideas to offer."
"New ideas huh?" I ask before we are interrupted by Roman.
"Hello, Stranger," he says as he jumps into our conversation.
"Stranger?" I ask. "Seth and I have been calling you for weeks now. You haven't answered or returned any of our calls. I thought you fell off the face of the Earth."
"I've just been a little busy lately," he says, "it looks like you have too." He looks at Journey. "Hello, Journey. I don't think we have been formally introduced."
"So you don't remember asking me out and me telling you no?" she asks making me smile.
"I remember giving you my number. You never called me," he says with a smile.
"So we've been formally introduced and I ripped up your number. I had no reason to call you."
"Your loss," he says with a shrug.
"Nope I'm good," she says making me hold back a chuckle. "I got something better," she says wrapping her arm around my waist. "But I am sure you weren't too heartbroken. I'm sure you had another female lined up. I didn't want to be another notch in your belt."
"I hope you're happy with him," he says looking at me.
"I'm very happy with him," she answers with a smile. "Enjoy the party," she says before she pulls me to move along with her and I follow her without saying bye to Roman. "I'm sorry but he's an asshole. I don't trust him."
"He's not an asshole he's just not used to hearing the word no from a woman."
"A lot more women should say no to him you know to deflate his ego just a bit. He's not God's gift to women I promise," she says.
"This pregnancy is making you feisty," I say placing my hand on her stomach. "And I like it."
"I'm glad," she says with a smile.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" I ask.
"In late December?" she asks. "Don't you think it's a little too cold for that, I don't have a jacket."
"I have an extra jacket in my office. I'll go get it for you and then can we take a walk?"
"Yeah," she says with a smile. "Where are we going?"
"We're going to see the Christmas tree," I answer her.
"Okay," she smiles.
"Wait right here, I'll be right back."
"Okay," she says before I make my way to my office to get my extra jacket for her to wear so we can take a walk. It's cold but not too cold. It doesn't feel like a December night more like a night in March as the winter thaw arrives.
I walk into my office and over to my closet to get out a jacket for Journey. I pull it out and shut the door before I pull the ring out of my pocket. I smile as I look down at the black and white diamond ring. I start to get butterflies in my stomach thinking about proposing to her. I turn around to see I am no longer alone in my office. "What are you doing here?"
"I warned you," says Cody. "I warned both of you. I want my wife and daughter back they don't belong to you."
"She doesn't love you, Cody," I say putting the ring back in my pocket. "You made her life hell. She spent the couple years running from you. Just divorce her and sign your rights to Zoey away. You don't have to make this complicated."
"You're making it complicated, Ambrose. I want my wife and I want my daughter. All you have to do is let them go and I'll be out of your life forever. Just give me what I want."
"Never," I say. "You'll have to kill me first."
"Well," he says pulling a gun from his pocket and pointing it at me. "It can be arranged. Give me my wife, Ambrose."
"No," I say as the gun is aimed right at me. "She doesn't love you."
"She does," he says, "she has always loved me."
"At first but then you hurt her," I say eying the gun. "You hurt her, Cody. She doesn't love you. You have to let her go and let Zoey go. Let them have a happy life. I will give you anything. I will give you money to disappear and let us be happy. Tell me how much money you want."
"Shut up," he says snapping. "Don't play games with me. Give me back my wife."
"Cody, for what? So you can hurt her again?" I ask. "If you love her like you say you do you'll let her be happy with me," I say as his hand starts to shake and I see the sweat pouring from his head. "Cody, just put the gun down and we can talk about this. We can work this out. Like I said, I will give you any amount of money. You can go anywhere in the world start a new life but just leave Journey and Zoey alone. Let them be happy."
"Do you think I'm stupid?" he asks with his voice cracking and he sweats profusely. "I'm not stupid."
"I didn't say you were, Cody. I just think that Journey wants to be happy with me. I promise I will take good care of her and Zoey. Please just put the gun down."
"Her name isn't Journey and her name isn't Zoey," he snaps surprising me that Zoey's name isn't really Zoey. I just always assumed but if Zoey isn't her real name that explains how she was put into foster care without Cody being made aware because Journey has been calling her Zoey since she left Cody when she was a baby. It all makes sense now. "She always wanted to name her Zoey. I hate that name. It means life. I have always hated that name. My daughter's name is Skyla. I want my daughter and I want my wife."
"Cody," I say keeping my eye on the gun he's getting nervous. "Please."
"Shut up," he says nervously. "You're taking everything from me. My wife, my daughter, everything you're taking everything from me. I'm going to take you from them and she will have no choice but to come back to me."
"Cody," I say but it's too late and he pulls the trigger and a gunshot rings out. I fall to the floor as the bullet hits my chest. I grab onto my chest and see the blood on my hands. I feel it pouring out of my chest and I feel myself fading the room around me goes dark and in the distance I hear footsteps run off everything is black…..
*A/N: What did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.