Bittersweet Chocolate (37 page)

The silence continued and she couldn’t restrain herself any longer. Laughing, she prodded, “Well, Matthew?”

“He’s white!”

“No shit, Sherlock. What was your first clue?”

“Marissa, he’s white.”

“So you said. What’s your point?”

“You’ll sleep with a white man, but not with me?”

She shook her head. “Matthew...Matthew. It’s a new day, a new age. Martin Luther King, Jr. freed all of us, remember?” Matthew had tapped her last nerve. “So get a goddamn grip,” she retorted. “Whom I sleep with isn’t any of your business. If what happened back in the day still bothers you, that’s not my problem.” She stormed out of his office, hadn’t taken more than two steps when she heard Matthew swear, and a loud thump against the wall or doorjamb.

“What did he want?” Tristan asked.

“He told me you were Caucasian. Imagine my shock. Why didn’t you tell me?” She chuckled and stood on tiptoe to kiss his mouth.

“Honey, don’t take his attitude lightly. The way he looks at you, he still wants you. Whatever took place between you back when, he isn’t over it.” He stared down at her, sexy turquoise eyes probing. “If he gets out of line, I’ll handle him.”

“Tris, forget Matthew. Only have one week before my leave begins,” she reminded him. “I can handle the dumb ass.”

“I know you can handle yourself, but what about the babies? It’s no longer only about you.”

“Okay, you’re right. If he gets out of line, he’s yours.”

Despite his irritation, the corners of his mouth twitched. He knew her too well, and she’d given in too easily in an attempt to placate him.

“I mean it, Marissa. Don’t take any risks with yourself, or the babies. You don’t know the man anymore.”

That was true. She should have told him everything about Matthew before. It was too late now. Tristan had become too hyper about her pregnancy. Unless it became critical to her or the babies’ welfare, she’d handle Matthew in her own way.

He did say Marissa.

She let out an exaggerated groan. “All right, I promise I’ll let you handle everything.”

An irritated sigh escaped him, a sure indication he doubted her sincerity.

The last week became a strain, despite keeping contact with Matthew to a minimum. She enjoyed verbal combat more than most, but he’d become predictable. Even so, his mere presence had begun to annoy her. She made a point of keeping busy with Megan to avoid him.

First day of leave, a Doberman rescue agency contacted her. They had two red Dobies―one male, one female from the same litter, and they wanted to place them together. The dogs were eight months old.

“If you’re interested, Mrs. Corbett, a representative will come to your home to check out the living conditions for the dogs,” the woman explained.

Marissa agreed.

Two weeks later, she and Tristan picked up their new dogs. She fell in love with them, the moment she saw them, but Tristan seemed overwhelmed. “Tris, they’re perfect.”

“Uh, they’re a little on the large size, aren’t they?” He warily eyed the dogs. “Weren’t we getting puppies?”

“We did.”

She had learned everything she could about the dogs in the two weeks since the agency had first contacted her. Cropped, docked, and housebroken, the agency had arranged all the necessary shots before they released the dogs. Her out-of-pocket expenses were for the costs of the shots, spaying, neutering, and their boarding. Satisfied with her choices, she only needed to obedience train them.

“I’m so happy, Tris, it’s scary.”

“Well, it’s time you had some happy in your life.”

“We should start looking for a larger house. I want everything settled before the twins arrive.”

He nodded. “How do you feel about hiring a housekeeper? I want you to have help after the babies are born.”

“I’ve thought about it, but I’d hate to give up our privacy.”

“We can afford a house big enough for the housekeeper to have her own living quarters. I’ve seen floor plans with a bedroom or two on the first level behind the kitchen area. Let’s look for something like that.”

Nearing the end of her seventh month, they found a suitable home in the Victoria Hills section of Riverside, in an excellent school district.

The house had six bedrooms, four and a half baths, three-car garage, and huge eat-in kitchen. Four bedrooms were on the second floor, with two sharing a bath. The other two bedrooms, on the first floor, were located behind the kitchen, one she decided she’d turn into a den for Tristan, with a pullout sofa for guests. The other one had its own bath and was ideal for the housekeeper, allowing him or her to have private quarters.

Marissa made inquiries at several employment agencies that handled domestics and found the perfect candidate for housekeeper. Not only was the woman a competent housekeeper, but also a good cook. Nearing the end of Marissa’s eighth month, they had settled into their new home with a housekeeper, Kate Summers.

Just in time.

* * * *

Damn it, she moved before he had a chance to get to her.

Considering she was pregnant, he should have planned for that eventuality. Hell, she was in a newer home, might be harder to get into, but that wouldn’t stop him. It had taken too long to have this chance to get even, and it came with a bonus, her family. He’d start with them. It would give him a great deal of pleasure to see her suffer first.

All he had to do was wait, watch, and look for any vulnerability in their security.

* * * *

Marissa had split her time between training the dogs and preparing the nursery. With Kate’s help, they had managed to put together the perfect setup. There were two maple colonial-style cribs and a daybed, all with identical bedding to match the nursery theme of the drapes. Kate had insisted on a rocker and it had the same pattern on the cushions. After falling asleep in the rocker several times, Marissa had been grateful for Kate’s persistence.

To finish off the décor of the room, she had been adamant about a Bathinette and a dressing table. She wanted everything to be within easy reach, no running back and forth to the bathroom.

The cribs flanked a recessed window with a built-in window seat. Two matching colonial dressers stood sentry in the corners next to each crib. The table next to the rocker held a large glass based lamp with the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme exhibited inside the glass. The pail was a nightlight.

While putting the final touches on the nursery, adding stuffed animals and pillows to the window seat, Marissa went into labor. The first pain startled a cry from her before she could control it. The dogs, JC and CJ, who were always nearby, jumped to attention.

* * * *

Tristan heard her cry out and arrived seconds before Kate. One look at her and he could tell she was in severe pain. “Rissa, is it time?”

Breath escaping in short, panting puffs, teeth clenched, she gritted out, “I...think...so.”

“Kate, call Doctor Carey.” He scooped Marissa up in his arms. “Tell her we’re on our way to the hospital and meet us there.”

“Certainly, Mister Corbett, and don’t forget her suitcase,” Kate called out.

They arrived at the hospital and everything was ready for Marissa. Three hours passed before Doctor Carey joined Tristan in the waiting room.

“You have two fine, healthy babies. First is a boy, weighing five pounds eight ounces. The second is a girl weighing five pounds. That’s very good for twins,” Doctor Carey said. “I’m not expecting any problems with either of them.”

“What about my wife?”

“Marissa is fine. The surgery took a little longer than expected, so she’s a bit weak, but doing okay.”

“Thank you, Doctor. May I see her now?”

“Marissa and the babies are being cleaned up. A nurse will be out shortly to take you to see your new family.”

“Thanks again, Doctor.” He shook her hand.

“Hi, Daddy, congratulations!”

Tristan whirled around to see Vi standing in the doorway. “What, are you psychic?”

“No, Kate called me.” She raised a questioning eyebrow. “An oversight on your part, huh?”

“Sorry, we were pressed for time.”

“I heard. How’s the little mother, and what do we have?”

“Well, Auntie Vi, we have a boy, five pounds eight ounces, and a girl, five pounds.”

“Oh my, one of each.” Vi grinned. “Is everything okay, and when can we see them?”

“Everything is fine, and I’m waiting for a nurse to come get me.”

Vi walked over and hugged him. “Thank you.”

“Thanks, for what?” He returned her hug.

“I’m thanking you for being the one Marissa needed in her life.”

“You are quite welcome, and thank you.” The nurse arrived at that moment and showed them to a room down the hall. Marissa lay propped up on pillows, looking refreshed but sleepy. She smiled at him and Vi as they entered the room.

“Hi, you two, have you seen the babies?”

Tristan bent and gave her a quick kiss. “No, they’re being cleaned up. How are you, Rissa?” He rested his hand on her cheek and she pressed her face against his palm.

“I’m tired.”

Vi cleared her throat. “Should I leave?”

Tristan grinned. “No.”

“Marissa, have you thought of any names?” Vi asked.

“Yes, but Tristan and I need to talk it over.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. Our son’s name is Korey Graham Corbett, and our daughter’s name is Kristen Alexis Corbett.”

“But...” Tears sprang to Marissa’s eyes. “Thank you, Tristan.”

* * * *

Before she actually cried, the nurse arrived with the twins, and Marissa became alert, gazing down at the two infants in the small portable cribs. She didn’t try to pretend they didn’t look old and wrinkly. Both had a head full of dark, corkscrew curls, but Caucasian features—narrow-bridged little noses with pinched nostrils. Complexions were a smooth even blend of her golden-honey and Tristan’s alabaster skin tones. Wrinkles aside, she thought they were beautiful, and she wanted to hold them, but felt too weak.

Tristan and Vi crowded around, and he picked up the infant wrapped in the blue blanket and held him cradled in his large hands. “He’s so small.”

“Maybe you’re so big,” Vi teased.

“What color are their eyes?” Marissa asked the nurse.

“It’s odd,” the nurse said. “But your son has hazel eyes with little gray/green flecks, and your daughter’s eyes are difficult to describe. They’re sort of a green/blue combination.” She turned and stared at Tristan. “Actually, her eyes are similar to yours. But the colors could change as they get older.”

Marissa and Tristan looked at each other and started laughing.

Vi sighed. “Okay, let me in on the joke.”

“Too complicated to go into right now, we’ll tell you later,” Tristan remarked, still chuckling.

The transition had been easy. Maybe too easy.

Two months after the births of the twins, everyone had settled down in the Corbett household. The unlocked door incidents at their former residence forgotten, until that morning.

Kate had returned from grocery shopping, and found the front door ajar. She went searching for Marissa, who was asleep in the nursery. The babies were in their cribs, and the dogs, beneath the infants’ beds, came to attention when Kate entered the room.

“Marissa.”

She opened her eyes and blinked into the light, disoriented.

“When I came in a few minutes ago, I found the front door ajar.”

Marissa bolted upright. “Kate, I haven’t been downstairs.” Goosebumps tripped up her arms. “I’ve been with the babies all morning. Did you check to see if anything is missing?”

“Yes, I checked, but nothing has been disturbed. Should I call the police?”

“No, let’s wait and talk to Tristan first.” She hesitated to explain further, until she noticed Kate’s worried expression. “Kate, before we moved here, we were having a problem like this at the other house. We changed the locks, and with moving, getting the dogs, the babies’ arrival, we never thought about it again.”

“Hmm.” Kate frowned. “It’s strange the dogs didn’t start a racket.”

“They wouldn’t, unless someone approached me, or the babies. Both dogs have been in the nursery with me all morning.” She drew her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Well, maybe it’s nothing. I went out through the garage, so I didn’t think to check the front door. Maybe Mister Corbett didn’t close it securely when he left this morning.”

“That’s a possibility,” Marissa remarked, knowing it wasn’t likely, because Tristan usually left through the garage.

* * * *

Tristan arrived home to a subdued household. Thinking something had happened to the twins, he took the stairs two at a time and found Marissa in the nursery, calmly finishing the babies’ baths. He tried to relax since she didn’t appear upset, but he needed reassurance.

“Trust me, the babies are fine.” She soothingly caressed his back while he looked down at the twins.

“But Kate seemed so quiet. If it’s not the babies, what happened?”

“Kate found the front door ajar when she returned from shopping. I hadn’t been downstairs. Tris, I think it’s happening again. We should have been more concerned before.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m not sure, but the dreams, the phone calls.”

“Given your past history, you think it has something to do with the people you knew back when?”

“Back in the day, people I knew with a grudge against me could be a long list.” She sighed. “Yet I can think of only one person who’d believe he deserved retribution, and would be stupid enough to follow through with it.”

“Joel.”

“Oh yeah, I did some serious damage, and it would be just like him to have bided his time,” she pointed out. “To even the score, his timing couldn’t be better. I’m happy again.”

“But it’s been over fifteen years since that happened.”

“Tris, come on, you’re from West Virginia. Are you telling me you’ve never heard of people carrying a grudge this long? Revenge never ends...”