Reed’s Reckoning Novel – The pain is excruciating. Thinking the drugs were supposed to help was wrong. I’m pretty sure my abdomen is going to explode; ripping me apart from the inside out. I fall back against the bed in exhaustion and relief. My mind only half registers when Dr. Adams announces, “It’s a boy!” I look over to see tears in Luke’s eyes. His head is going back and forth between my baby and me in disbelief. When he finally catches my eyes, he smiles widely. “I knew you could do it. Sweet girl, we have a boy,” he whispers and hugs me gently. I sob into his shoulder and let the last eight months go. It may have been inferno, but there’s a healthy baby boy that needs me now. I have to be strong.
“Okay, Mom, you ready to meet your son?” a nurse asks beside me with a bundle in her arms. I reach out and take him. As soon as my eyes land on him, I sob. He’s perfect. “Do we have a name for this handsome little guy?” she asks. “Yes, Davis Luke Williams.” Luke’s expression is full of love and adoration. He rubs Davis’s head lightly and tears fall down his face. “I’m honored,” he rasps. “No, it’s me who’s honored. You’re my best friend; I could never do this without you by our side. Thank you.” I say softly looking at the perfection in my arms. “Ari, we’ll fill out the birth certificate for your records. Who should we name as the father?” Not looking at Luke or my grandma, who is watching me across the room in her wheelchair crying, I answer. “There is no father. Just me.”
3 Years Later Ari Focus Ari! I tap the pencil against my head so hard I’m sure there’s a mark. I have a huge presentation tomorrow to the Bank President that could mean a promotion. But I can’t concentrate. It’s been two weeks since Davis ran into Reed on the beach. Luke knows Reed recognized him but thinks that he was able to get Davis away in time. My mind races thinking about how it c ould have been me that ran into Reed chasing our son down the beach. The thought makes me physically ill. If you put the two of us next to each other, there’s no denying who Davis belongs to. I’ve always felt he was a spitting image of Reed, but he has my smile. Looking at the clock for the tenth time since lunch, I close down my laptop and pack my things.
If I’m going to be useless, might as well be useless at home. It’s too early to pick Davis up at daycare so I decide to go for a run. Living near the beach in Florida has many perks. But in a few weeks, it’ll be too hot to run in the afternoons so I need to enjoy it while I can. Also, it’ll help me clear my head and hopefully get my presentation straight when Davis goes to bed. Pulling into my driveway, I notice a car across the street I don’t recognize. The driver is reading through something and doesn’t look my way. I make a note to myself of the model of the car so I can watch out for it. I change into my running clothes and stop by my Grandma’s house to let her know what I’m doing. She’s in the back working on her garden. Grandma Katy is more than my family; she’s also my best friend. She knows what happened at the beach and she’s been worried about my mental state and me.
When I came home to Fernandina Beach after my junior year pregnant and single, she never once judged me. She was with me every step of the way during my pregnancy until she had a stroke a month before Davis was due. Luke practically moved in with us to help with both of our care. She met Reed a few times when we were dating and thought highly of him. Even though she didn’t agree with my decisions regarding Reed and Davis, she never interfered. “I’m going for a run. Then once I pick up Davis, I thought I’d make us all dinner. You in?” “Sure. Aren’t you home a little early?” “Yeah, my mind is spinning over the presentation tomorrow and I needed to get out. I’ll go over my notes later tonight.” “Have fun, I’ll walk over around six.”
“Great, before I go, did you notice a strange car across the street?” “Yes, he’s a handsome man that works for the city. He came by to do a land survey.” “Oh, okay, that makes me feel better.” I wave and take off my normal route. When Davis finally falls asleep after reading him three books, I get my notes, a glass of spirits, and go to my porch. This is my favorite place in my house. I’ve worked hard to make it my sanctuary. Flowerpots filled with seasonal blooms cover every space possible. A bistro set sits on one side while a swing takes up the other. I spread my stuff out and run through the presentation in my mind.
After having Davis, I stayed home and resumed classes at the local college. It took me a year longer than planned, but I graduated with a Finance degree and started working for the bank immediately. I’ve worked my way through several positions, but tomorrow I’m going after a job that could launch my career. With a few years under my belt, I could be considered for a vice president role. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, considering I never thought I’d be a single mom working on her career alone. When Reed and I were together, he asked me to follow him wherever the NFL drafted him. He was a year older than me, and we talked about me changing schools when he landed in a new city. But that never happened. Seeing him dredged up feelings I pushed away a long time ago. Even with the briefest glance at him on that beach, he was gorgeous.
His body was more toned and his hair longer, his muscles were much more defined, but he was still the Reed I remember. Tall and tan with light brown hair and mesmerizing crystal eyes. His eyes could penetrate right through me, making my defenses dissolve. This man had once owned every beat of my heart. Even with the distance between us, I could see his aqua blue eyes staring into me. After all this time, the gaze had an effect on me I couldn’t explain. But then again, I look into those same eyes every day in my little boy. My phone rings and I see it’s my crazy best friend calling for my daily check in. Luke and I never go a day without talking. I’ve tried to step back after my talk with grandma, but he won’t hear of it.
We haven’t mentioned it since that day, but I know he’s worried about me seeing Reed. He was with me four years ago when Reed shattered my heart. “Hello, honey,” I greet Luke. “Babe, how’s my favorite girl tonight?” I smile at his usual question. “Oh, you know, kicking hip, taking names, ready to move up that corporate ladder tomorrow.” “Let’s hear it; I’ve got all night to help you nail this thing.” There’s a soft noise behind me, but when I turn around, there’s nothing or no one there. I sip my spirits and proceed to go through my presentation with Luke. He gives me pointers that boost my confidence. By the time I go to bed, my nerves are settled and I’m prepared to rule the boardroom tomorrow. Reed fills my dreams, but instead of being devastated, these are pleasant memories. I wish I could hate him, but a piece of my heart still belongs to him. It always will.
Reed Jesus! Just hearing her voice on the phone had my shaft hard. She still has the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard. I used to ask her to help me study just to hear her read my notes back to me. Because of her, I aced almost every test my senior year. She definitely raised my GPA. When she mentioned the big presentation, I couldn’t find it in myself to surprise her last night. Even with the thick envelope in my hand that gave me every detail of her life for the last four years, and the proof I have a son, I didn’t want to hurt her chances at impressing her boss. I sat back in the shadows and listened to her on the phone for an hour talking to Luke. Now, I’m standing at her door, hoping to God that she lets me in. The shadows through the windows let me know she’s home. I knock and wait. When she opens the door, her face goes from happy to complete shock. Tears fill her eyes and I reach out to steady her arm when she sways. “Reed,” she barely whispers. “Arianna, we need to talk.”
“Wha-wha-what are you doing here?” she asks. “Well, that’s a very loaded question. Where should I start? Maybe with the fact that I have a son living in this house that I just learned about, or maybe the fact that you ran out on me pregnant and kept it a secret. There’s a lot more Ari, but let’s start with those two.” She regains her composure and her expression turns angry. Fire shoots from her eyes and she hisses at me. “You have some nerve. How dare you?” She’s angry? No way. She doesn’t get the right to be angry. After the trash she’s pulled, I’m the one livid. “How dare I? Shouldn’t that be my line? How dare you?” She doesn’t get a chance to answer because a little voice from the other room calls, “Mommy!” I look over her shoulder and see him standing there in Batman pajamas, staring at us in the doorway. His eyes are wide and curious, and he’s holding books in both hands. “You pwomised two.” Her lips turn up in a fake grin and she nods her head back to him.
“Of course, go get in bed and I’ll be right there.” He looks at me one more time and then runs across the room, disappearing behind a doorway. “Reed, now is not a good time. I’m not really sure why you’re here at all considering what you did to me.” “I’m not leaving. We’re talking tonight. You go do what you need to and I’ll wait.” Rage flares in her face but she doesn’t argue. She moves aside and motions for me to come in. I step inside and the smell hits me instantly. Her fragrance hangs in the air and my thoughts go back to my apartment all those years ago. Memories flood me and I have to shake my head to clear my mind. “I’ll be back in a little bit.” She turns to walk away. “Ari.” My voice is firmer than I mean it to be. When she looks at me, her eyes are shining with tears and I feel a tinge of guilt. “What’s his name?” “You know, don’t you?” “I need to hear you say it.” “Davis Luke Williams.” My gut clenches and I hang my head. She shuts the door behind her.
When my breathing is under control, I look around the space and see pictures everywhere. One that catches my eye is of Grandma Katy, Luke, and Ari in the hospital. Ari is holding our little boy, and he is dressed in a Florida State University onesie. Pain fills me and I decide to find the kitchen and a well-needed spirits. When she comes back into the living room thirty minutes later, I’ve had a chance to look at every picture documenting my son’s life so far. He is the spitting image of both of us. It’s been four years since I’ve laid eyes on her in my apartment, but she is still breathtaking. Her long dark hair now has highlights and the green of her eyes still reminds me of bright jade. “What are you really doing here, Reed?”
She glares at me and pours herself a glass of spirits. “I told you.” “Reed, you can’t just show up like this, maybe we can set up a lunch or something when Davis isn’t right down the hall.” “Davis, really Ari? Could you give me any more of a kick to the gut?” “This isn’t about you!” “Okay, then let’s start with how you could keep him from me!” “Keep him from you? I got your message loud and clear. You didn’t want us!” “What are you talking about?” “It was pretty obvious by the posse you sent to breakup with me.” “Stop! What do you mean ‘the posse I sent to breakup with you’? I didn’t breakup with you!”