I took a deep breath as I watched Zac’s car pull into the driveway. A few minutes passed before the passenger’s side door opened and Taylor stepped out of the car. I watched as he brushed his hair back out of his eyes and took his suitcase out of the back seat and headed towards the front door while Zac backed out of the driveway.

I hurried from my seat by the window in the living room to the front foyer to meet Taylor as he entered the house.

“Hey,” he smiled when he saw me. He sat down his suitcase as I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought his mouth to mine for a long kiss.

“Well, hello,” he grinned as I buried my head into his chest.

“I missed you,” I said as he rubbed my back gently.

“I miss you too,” he replied. “Where are the kids?”

“With Heaven and Jessica,” I replied, lifting my head and looking up into his eyes.

“Oh?” he replied with a look of curiosity.

“I wanted us to have some time alone,” I replied. “There are some things I need to tell you.”

“Okay …” he said slowly.

“But first you go take a shower and freshen up while I finish fixing dinner, okay?” I said.

“Yeah, sure,” he nodded before he picked up his suitcase and headed upstairs.

I went to the kitchen and busied myself with finishing up dinner. I checked the lasagna before I started putting together the salad. I was so nervous that my hands were shaking. I didn’t know how I would ever make it through dinner. I wasn’t one bit hungry. All of my thoughts were focused on telling Taylor what I had found out at the doctor’s office.

I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Taylor said as I glanced over my shoulder. He gave me a soft kiss on my lips before pushing my hair out of the way and kissing me softly on the neck. I closed my eyes for a brief moment and let out a soft sigh before I turned around and wrapped my arms around his torso.

“Tay, I love you,” I whispered.

“I love you too, baby,” he replied as he wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close.

I just stood there with my head resting against his chest listening to the sound of his breathing. I just wanted to stay there in his arms forever, but I snapped back to reality when I heard his stomach growl.

“Oops,” he laughed. “I guess my stomach really knows how to ruin a moment, huh?”

“I guess so,” I smiled. “Oh, well, I think dinner’s ready anyway,” I commented as I went over grabbed the potholders that Hannah had made for me at school and took the lasagna out of the oven.

“It sure smells good,” he commented.

“Thanks,” I smiled as I carried the lasagna over to the table, where I had already set out the plates and silverware.

We sat down and ate quietly as Taylor told me about his trip to California.

“… so this girl was flirting with Zac like you wouldn’t believe and he wasn’t going with it,” Taylor explained. “She spent half the night flashing him her best smile and trying to get him to look down the front of her shirt, and finally I guess he had enough of her antics and brought up Angelina.”

“Oh yeah?” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, and the second she heard the word ‘girlfriend’ she changed her whole demeanor. She sat back and didn’t say another word,” Taylor laughed.

“And who was she again?” I asked.

“The sister of the drummer for the band. Her name was Keri, I think,” Taylor replied. “I’m not even sure why she was there.”

“Probably trying to up her groupie status,” I commented, rolling my eyes as I sat my fork down on my plate and wiped my mouth with a napkin.

“Yeah, probably,” Taylor said, shaking his head. “So, what was it you wanted to tell me?”

“Um … well …” I said, trying to find my voice as I rung my hands nervously.

“Hey,” Taylor said, reaching across the table and taking my hand. “How about you go wait in the living room and I’ll clean up some of this and then we can talk?”

“Okay,” I nodded, glancing up to meet his eyes. “Thanks,” I whispered as I stood up and went into the living room.

I sat down on the couch with a heavy sigh and stared at my hands as I tried to clear my head. I couldn’t believe how pathetic I was. I couldn’t even form a sentence without sounding like a sputtering idiot. I shook my head and closed my eyes. I let my head drop back against the couch and thought about absolutely nothing as I waited for Taylor.

Finally I heard Taylor’s footsteps down the hall and raised my head and opened my eyes just as he walked into the living room. He smiled at me as he walked over and sat down beside me on the couch.

“So, what’s up, Ede?” he asked with concern in his voice and curiosity in his eyes.

I took a deep breath as I took his hand in mine. “I hope you don’t get mad at me …” I began.

“Uh-oh,” he said as he nervously as he combed his fingers through his hair. “Anything that starts out like that is usually followed by something serious.”

“Yeah, I know,” I agreed as I cleared my throat to continue. “The doctor’s office called the other day …”

“Oh …” he said slowly. “So … the results are in?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “And I couldn’t wait until you got back, so I just went ahead and made an appointment to see the doctor.”

“So, you know … who … I mean, if I’m …” he trailed off

I nodded and bit my lip nervously. “Are you mad at me for going without you?” I asked.

“Well, I wish you would have waited so we could have found out together … but I guess I can understand,” he said slowly. “So … am I … am I their father?” he asked.

I looked up and my eyes met his as mine filled with tears. He looked at me pleadingly. I could see the pain in his eyes – the pain of uncertainty.

Finally I found my voice and pulled him into a hug. “Yes, you’re their father,” I whispered into his ear.

I heard him gasp as he pushed me away and looked at me with wonder. “What? Really? Are they sure?” he asked in disbelief.

Finally a smile broke out across my face and I nodded. “99.999% certain.”

“Oh my god,” he said with a sigh of relief. “I thought for sure that you were going to tell me that they weren’t mine,” he said commented. “How could you do that to me?”

I let out a tearful laugh. “I don’t know. I guess I was just so worried that you would be upset with me for going without you.”

“Oh, god, I don’t even care now,” he laughed as he pulled me back into a hug. “Too bad we don’t have the papers with the results. I’d frame them.”

I laughed as I pulled away from him. “We do have the papers. I made the doctor make a copy so I could show you,” I smiled.

“God, I can’t believe this,” he laughed as he leaned in and kissed me gently but firmly on the lips. After he pulled his lips from mine, he rested his forehead against mine and stared into my eyes. “I love you so much,” he said as his eyes glistened.

“I love you too,” I smiled as I kissed him once again. I parted his lips with my tongue and explored his mouth as I ran my fingers through his soft hair. He rested one hand on my hip while he slid the other underneath the back of my shirt and rubbed small circles over my back.

He moved his lips from my mouth down to my neck. “Tay,” I moaned softly.

“Yeah, baby?” he mumbled as he continued to kiss my skin.

“Let’s go upstairs,” I whispered as I pushed him away slightly so that I could stand up. I took his hands in mine and pulled him up off of the couch before practically dragging him upstairs to our bedroom.

“Someone’s in a hurry,” he grinned as I began to kiss his neck and unbutton his shirt.

“Shut up,” I giggled as I pushed his shirt off and watched it land in a heap on the floor. “I’ve missed you,” I reasoned as I brought my lips to his once again.

“Mmm…” he moaned. “I’ve missed you too, and I’ve missed this,” he commented as he reached for the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head before pushing me back on the bed. I pulled him back with me and began to unbuckle his belt. I grunted my frustrations as I tried to get the stupid thing unfastened. He laughed as I struggled a moment longer before he finally sat up on his knees and unfastened it quickly and pulled it out of the belt loops and flung it to the floor.

“Better?” he asked as he balanced himself over me.

“Yes,” I nodded as I began to unfasten his pants.

I wanted him so badly. I couldn’t believe that it had nearly been a year since my own husband had made love to me. For so long my pregnancy and the rape and not knowing who had fathered my children had stood in the way of me allowing myself and Taylor to be intimate, but now that I had the answers, all I wanted was for Taylor to make love to me.

Once all other articles of clothing were discarded, Taylor kissed me firmly on the mouth before leaning away and looking into my eyes. “Are you sure you’re ready for this, baby?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered. “I need this.”

He smiled softly as he entered me, filling me up perfectly. I gasped softly as I stared into his heavenly eyes. He took my hands and clasped our fingers together as he began to move within me slowly.

For the last year it seemed as though my whole life had been a wreck. All of the pieces of my life were like a puzzle that had been scattered all over the place, but finally all the pieces were beginning to come together. And this seemed to be the missing piece. And now for the first time in so long I actually felt whole.

Just having him inside of me and holding me close made me feel like everything was right in the world even if it was just for the time being.

“God, I love you,” I murmured as I lifted my head and brought my lips to his as he continued to move slowly within me and I rocked my hips to meet his movements.

“I love you, too, Eden,” he whispered as he closed his eyes and moaned softly. I could feel a swarm of electricity building in the pit of my stomach. I thrashed my head from side to side as Taylor continued to rock his hips until we both came together. He collapsed on top of me as I moved his sweaty locks away from his face and kissed his temple before we both drifted into a blissful slumber.