Rushing downstairs a smile crosses my face as I remember when Soren made everyone breakfast. Since then? Nothing.
The two security guys are sitting there finishing off the last of the coffee they prepared. I guess we’re not important. Oh well, I’ll pick something up on the way or more likely from the vending machine.
Giving mom and dad a kiss on the cheek we all pile into our respective vehicles and prepare to leave.
That’s when I see it. A Hummer parked horizontally at the end of the driveway, blocking it. And the man leaning against it, in a suit looking like a million bucks, is Soren. And he’s holding a bouquet of roses.
Dad’s car is the first one to stop. He comes rushing out and moves quickly toward Soren. “I thought I told you not to show your face around here,” he says, pointing at him.
My security detail throws our car in park and the two guys make their way out to back up my dad.
It gives me the perfect opportunity to follow behind them, without them noticing.
The men are all shouting and threatening Soren but he looks as cool as a cucumber. Clearly, dad has warned my security detail about him and his background because while they are willing to get within about three yards of him, they’re hesitant to step any closer. Smart guys, because Soren is a deadly weapon all by himself, with just his hands.
“Stop!” I yell, tired of hearing all this bickering, as I race up to the scene.
My dad tries to stop me but I manage to maneuver around him, heading straight to Soren where I throw myself into his arms. Tears roll down my cheeks as I feel the overwhelming sensation of home…being in his arms.
“Give her back,” Rick says, also not wanting to get too close to Soren, who hands me the flowers.
I smell them and a big smile washes over my face.
“Let’s talk about this, Rick.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Give her back or I call the cops.”
“She’s an adult. There is no ‘giving her back’. She’s free to make her own decisions, although it would be a lot better if we could talk through this, get everyone on the same page.”
“I’m warning you, Soren. You’re trespassing and my men are authorized to shoot.”
“Shoot a decorated Navy SEAL veteran on a senator’s property? Yeah, that’s gonna go down about as well as a turd in a punch bowl.”
I laugh at the analogy, and surprisingly the security guards crack up too.
My mom slides up next to my dad, putting her hand on his arm. “Let’s hear what he has to say first,” she says, trying to calm my dad.
“Thank you, Gwen,” Soren says. “What I have to say is simple. I love your daughter. I’ve started a small but already thriving business. It’s enough to give her the lifestyle she deserves, and it will only get better.” He pauses. “This isn’t fleeting and it wasn’t expected. I promise you. It just happened, and when it did it did in a way that there was no denying it. This is…forever.”
My mom smiles and dad mumbles something to himself.
“And I’m pregnant!” I announce, causing my mom to faint and my dad to catch her as she goes down.
We rush to my mom’s side and Soren fans her with the flowers. Surprisingly it works. She starts to come back to.
“You’re…?” she mutters.
“Yes,” I nod, smiling wide. “I’m pregnant.”
With my mom okay, I turn back to look at Soren, his face expressionless. “Soren?”
He puts some distance between us, walking away slightly. Is he…leaving me?
“Told you,” Dad says, confirming my worst fears. My entire body starts to shake. I want to run after him but I don’t want to pursue someone who doesn’t want to be with me of their own choosing.
Suddenly he leaps into the air, pumps his fist, and yells, “Hooyah” followed by a, “Fuck yeah! Hell yeah. A dad. Dad to my dream woman’s child. Life couldn’t get any better.”
He runs back to me, grabs my face with both hands, and kisses me hard.