"Beast!" Someone called after him. "You know you don't want to leave us. And you damn sure don't want to leave her here where any old fool is going to be walking in watching her on that treadmill!"Christopher's steps faltered and he looked over his shoulder but didn't turn. Lem chuckled in satisfaction. "We'll do what you ain't willing to do."His chest felt constricted with barely contained rage. "I know what you're trying to do," he said after another pause. "But it ain't going to work. I made up my mind. I'm thinking about her and I'm thinking about our baby.""Baby?!" Someone yelled."Yeah. She's having a baby." He left the room and headed for the elevators that would take him to the Federal building. He didn't even hear TK until he spoke just behind him, having followed him out. Christopher almost swung on him, he was so wired with frustration. "Christopher."He frowned at the name. No one called him Christopher. He studied the big black man who had been much like a brothe
?Christopher surprised everyone when he entered the room a few hours later, totally unannounced. There were several offices in one room and when one of the ladies saw the giant bandaged man she shrieked and dropped the file that she was carrying and sent papers scattering along the floor.Christopher bent to help her pick them up and she gave him an embarrassed chuckle and apology. "Not a problem, ma'am." He said politely while handing her the papers. "Can you tell me where Miss Dalton's office is?"The woman pointed down a short corridor. He nodded and headed for Ashleigh's office. He passed Lance's first. He was leaned back in his chair and talking on the phone. He gasped when he saw Christopher and a big smile spread across his face. "Let me call you back, Gloria. Yeah, promise." He hung up the phone and hurried to greet Christopher, who held up his finger to indicate he not mention his presence. Lance nodded and followed him to Ashleigh's office. They passed Kendra's office. Sh
Several days later, as they drove down to Ft. Campbell Kentucky to have the last of the bandages removed, Ashleigh intertwined her fingers with his. She was scared, she didn't know what to expect. All she knew was that no matter what she would love him.They held hands as they headed for Dr. Singh's office and Ashleigh felt his grip tighten a bit. She knew that Chris was nervous and she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Dr. Singh didn't make them wait and they were surprised that a webcam was set up directly to Dr. Weitz's office. There were also several other doctors in attendance and Christopher was informed that he would be the subject of an article on severe cleft palates in adults.His response was an embarrassed shrug. "I never liked getting my picture taken but if it'll help others." Ashleigh noted that his country drawl was more pronounced and she had to fight not to run up to him and throw herself into his arms. Maybe she was a perv but she had grown accustomed to seeing h
Ashleigh slipped her hand in his as they walked out of the medical facility. She glanced at him and considered how wrong it was that she so desperately wanted to make love. Why did it feel a little bit like she was cheating on him? Would he be jealous if she…liked his face?Two women walked past them as they walked hand and hand to the car and both began squealing and giggling. They looked behind them and Ashleigh saw that the two grown women were almost tripping over their feet craning their necks to look at Christopher."He is so hot!" They were whispering and giggling. Ashleigh rolled her eyes and Christopher looked at her in surprise."Did you hear that? They said I was hot?""Baby," she heard herself whine. "Didn't I always make you feel like you were hot?" Crap, she hated the sound of insecurity in her voice. This was not a repeat of DeAngelo. Christopher wasn't waiting to bang every good-looking girl that passed him by. Christopher didn't want her to be his fluffy girl and s
Sharing his face with his family was like watching each of them open a valued present at Christmas. Christopher never realized how much his scars had so profoundly affected everyone until every single person that had come to his mom and dad's house cried tears of joy for him. His mother was shaking and she kept touching his face. His father shed tears as well, but mostly because he thought Chris was Walt. And he kept saying that he knew Walt wasn't dead, that his boy had come back. Christopher just buried his head against his father's chest and let him think that he was Walt.By the time they got home later in the evening, Christopher was emotionally drained. He dragged himself into bed but Ashleigh wasn't ready for sleep. She changed into shorts and a sports bra and then went into the workout room. Maggie yawned and hopped up on the weight bench and watched as Ashleigh got on the treadmill. It had been days since she had run but once the endorphins released into her system, she got l
The family reunion had been pushed back to allow Christopher's bandages time to be removed. But Uncle Ray was anxious to get it underway while all of the school age children were off for summer break, so the weekend after next was designated family reunion time. But before Ashleigh could even think about joining Christopher at his family gathering she knew that she had to rectify her own wrong in not formally introducing Christopher to her family. So on Saturday Ashleigh made plans for her own mini-family gathering. Her father wasn't able to fly back up so soon after returning to Florida but invited them down to spend a few days, an invitation that they readily accepted. Ashleigh's mom, having just made the trip, was unable to come back up but promised to return at Christmas, which just left her two sisters and their families. Ashleigh decided on Buca di Beppos for a family style dinner. Christopher didn't understand why she didn't want to have dinner at the house. He was willing to
Christopher stood and reached in his back pocket for his wallet while everyone stopped eating and talking to look at him. "Please excuse us but Ashleigh's not feeling well. The food just isn't sitting well with her." He tossed two hundred dollars on the table. "Please have desert on us." Ashleigh stood up and waved because she didn't trust herself to open her mouth. Everyone rushed to tell her goodbye and to make false promises to call and to get together soon."Pleasure meeting you," Christopher lied, and then they left. He put his arm around her when they were outside and felt her relax."I understand. I understand everything completely. Do we have to invite them to our wedding?" he asked, half joking.She shook her head. "Hell no. I don't owe them anything." She thought about how her sister, Darlene, hadn't even thought to invite her to her party. "Besides, they are probably sitting in there already talking about me like a dog." And they were.They were halfway home when Ashleig
Ashleigh met Christopher's other two siblings who lived out of state; a brother Gregory and his wife and children and another sister. She was nothing like Alma and she immediately hugged Ashleigh and exclaimed that mom and dad loved her. Her name was Beverly, she was single, spirited and had more freckles on her face than anybody she'd ever seen. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson arrived later that evening. Butch had driven and he gave her a hug that made her feel more welcomed than anything else. Mr. Jameson was tired from the trip so they got him fed and he lay down to rest in one of the bedrooms designated for him and Mrs. Jameson.They had a fish fry with corn on the cob from a neighboring farm. There was corn pudding and corn fritters. Christopher explained that corn and potatoes would play a huge part in their meals since Uncle Ray could get them free. But in addition there would be all kinds of farm fresh vegetables. Everything was delicious and Christopher didn't bat an eye when she pile