Frigid Affair(19)

I’d never expected to love someone this much again, but he’d stolen my heart. My little miracle would be named after the men in my life.

My son was born during a torrential downpour, go figure. I was in excruciating labor as they came to pick me in a four-wheel drive SUV, because I couldn’t drive myself. Ava was freaking out, especially when the local sheriff walked right into our house to get me. Once I got her calmed down, he helped me walk out to his truck, and then gave me a struggled boost into the passenger seat.

The ride was slow, rough, and petrifying. I pictured sliding in a ditch and giving birth while upside down. I imagined dying before I got to see his beautiful face.



My contractions were only two minutes apart when we finally arrived at the hospital. I remember my doctor coming out in her rain coat and rubber boots to wheel me inside. I knew I’d be frightened, but nothing could prepare me for what it was like to go through this alone.

I’d given up my friends a long time ago. It made this particular night bittersweet. A new life was coming into the world, but I wouldn’t have anyone to share it with, aside from the medical team. I wouldn’t have family coming in to visit me, or flowers delivered. I wouldn’t have a man by my side to see his son’s eyes open for the first time. He’d never know his father; something I longed to have back.

I cried during the entire excruciating labor, not only because the pain was unimaginable, but due to the fact that I was utterly alone.

Then I heard his wails and in that moment everything changed. My son was no longer within the safety of belly. Ready or not, he’d arrived into this brutal world and it would be up to me to keep him safe. The moment I looked into his eyes I knew I’d never let him go. I needed to spend every second with him in case something were to happen. I’d always remind him how much he meant to me, and never stay angry, no matter what he did to upset me. He had to know my promise to him was forever. I couldn’t allow history to repeat itself.

Christopher Charles. He’d carry those two names on, reminding me of all the reasons I hadn’t given up after losing them.





Chapter 7


In all the reading I’d done to prepare for Christopher’s arrival, I’d never learned enough to be an expert. I felt like I failed at everything. I attempted to breast feed, but he wouldn’t latch on to either side. I tried to get him on a schedule, but he still woke up at least three times during the night. I pumped milk and mixed it with formula, trying three different kinds, but he still got colic. Nothing I did could soothe my miserable baby.

After two months I was ready to move back to the cabin, but June had been so much of a help to me that I didn’t want to be far away from her. Even though she’d refused, I wrote a check out to cover my stay. I know she didn’t mind us being there, and they’d never been at capacity, but it was their business and nothing in life is free.

It was in that time frame when I heard from my neighbors, Bob and Eve. They’d come to check on the progress of their home, only to reveal something that left me with a lot of unanswered questions.

The moment they set eyes on Christopher they fell in love. Even they couldn’t get enough of him. They insisted on taking us out to the only restaurant in town.

After we were seated and placed our order, I noticed they were seeming to be uncomfortable about something. Bob folded his hands on the table, while his wife fidgeted. “Amantha, we need to ask you a question about the men that saved you from the fire.”

Right away I wondered if they’d done the math and figured out one of them had fathered my child. I wondered if I should have mentioned it was an old friend from home just in case the news they had was catastrophic.

I’d been right to worry.

“As you know, Eve and I had a lot of precious items lost in the fire. We kept certain things at that house because we knew there was less chance of being burglarized. Let’s face it, there isn’t crime where we’re located.”

I smiled, not really knowing what he was getting at. “We don’t even have visitors. No one wants to come that far out.”

“What Bob is trying to get at…,” Eve interrupted. “I don’t even feel right asking this, but did you happen to notice any of them carrying large bags out of the home?”

“Bags?” I didn’t understand. I wasn’t playing stupid. I honestly didn’t get what they were asking me. “I was unconscious when they arrived. I’d gone in to get as many of your things as I could salvage. One of the men pulled me out. I woke up in the yard.”

“So you don’t remember seeing anything strange? You didn’t notice anyone down the mountain the day before? Ava didn’t bark?”

“Why are you asking me this? If something was strange I would have told you first. I woke up to the smell of smoke and did everything I could to get into the house before it was too late.”

Eve reached across the table and took my hand, while Christopher cooed in his safety seat, surprisingly in a good mood, instead of being miserable. “Sweetie, we’re not implying you did anything wrong. The insurance company gave us a hard time about some of the items they never recovered. Since we couldn’t be here because the weather we were hoping you could shed light on some things. Do you remember that large marble centerpiece we kept on the dining room table?”

It was hard to miss. It was about two feet tall and all white. It was the figure of a man on a bucking horse. I’d commented on it several times and they’d hinted on it being extremely heavy and outrageously expensive. “Yes, of course.”