Before Sunrise Read online

  “Stop it, Kennedy.”

  “It hurts so bad. And God, Angie, I think I might be pregnant. I’m so scared I can’t even bring myself to take a test. If I am, I’ll lose him. I know Liam. This would be the final straw.”

  “I will get a test. You can take it with me.”

  “No. Not yet. Too soon. I have to wait until the weekend at least. I told Phil to give me a few days. I need a few days, okay?”

  “Hey, all right, I understand. We won’t take the test yet. But Kennedy, regardless, Liam is your destiny. He’s back because of his love for you. You need to celebrate that. Stop beating yourself up and get out there and fight for your guy. How many times have you told me how much you love him, what he means to you? How you wanted this chance? I know you aren’t going to waste it on second-guessing yourself.”

  “He looked so good.” Kennedy laughed through fresh tears. “Even when Liam’s angry he’s…he’s just my guy. He called me last night and his voice…Angie, I’m telling you I got my head in the clouds half the time.”

  “I know. I got word Tony was back and the two of them showed up, I was just blown away. I mean, he looked like the same old Liam—”

  “Wait. Exactly when did you see him? After he left here?” Kennedy asked.

  “I-I—”

  “Angelina, you knew?”

  “I can explain.”

  “How long? You let me plan to have a kid with Phil and you knew he was alive for the past three months?”

  “No. No, Kennedy. I just found out the night Tony came home. He walked through my door like it was the most natural thing. He and Tony damn near threatened me not to call you. I told him he had to see you within 24 hours. I wouldn’t keep this from you.”

  Kennedy sighed. “I need to go.”

  “Kennedy. Listen to me. I would never—”

  “I’ll call you back.”

  She hung up the phone, and it rang again. “Hello!”

  “Mrs. Flanagan-Freeman this is WSSV News Channel 3. We’re wondering if you would like to give a statement on the miraculous return of your hus—”

  She hung up.

  “Mommy? Why are you sad again?” Mackenzie watched her curiously.

  Kennedy forced a smile. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m not. No baby, I’m not.”

  The phone rang again. Kennedy groaned. She picked up the handset to turn it off and saw the number was the Marriott Suites. Her stomach cramped. She answered quickly. “Hello?”

  His deep smoky voice was what she needed to hear.

  “Liam? Is that you?”

  “Morning, Kay. Did I wake you?” he asked, but she could tell by his tone he really didn’t care if he had.

  “No, I’m awake.”

  “Okay. Um, are you alone? I mean is Phil there?”

  “No, Liam, he’s not.” She couldn’t help it. She smiled.

  “Is Mac up?”

  “She’s right here. She and I were hoping that maybe you would join us for breakfast.”

  When he didn’t respond she quickly added, “Just us.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “We would, too. It’s been a long time since I cooked for you. I can make you anything you want.”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Liam, come over, okay? Let me cook for you. Please.”

  “I’m on my way.” He hung up.

  Kennedy grinned at her daughter. “Mackenzie, come here.” Mac skipped over. “You remember your daddy, from heaven?”

  “Yes, mommy.”

  “He’s coming over. He wants to have breakfast with us. Is that okay?”

  “I guess.”

  “What is it, baby?”

  “He’s mad at you. He said he isn’t, but he is.”

  “No, no sweetheart, it was all a big mistake. He isn’t angry with me, and you know what?”

  “What?”

  “He’s so excited to have seen you. That was him. He can’t wait to come over. He really wants to get to know you most of all.”

  “Think he’ll want to come in my room and play with Fishie?”

  “Definitely.”

  “And color with me, too?”

  “I’m willing to guess he will color all day with you.”

  “Really?” Her eyes went wide.

  “Let’s get dressed. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  ***

  Kennedy turned front to back, and then back to front. She’d spent so much time in the mirror, she’d forgotten her main goal should be to get breakfast prepared. One final check of her makeup. She found it almost perfect. She wished she could find her rose lip-gloss. She settled for the clear. Her green tea dress hugged her waist nicely and complemented her legs. She put on a new pair of three-inch sandals to give her calves an extra lift. Though it was a summer dress, she figured it would work since they’d be stuck inside.

  When they’d first started dating, her summer dresses were his favorite. She had a closet full, from remembering how she felt in them, thanks to Liam’s desires. Scanning every detail of her attire, she frowned at the one imperfection. The only thing she couldn’t change was her hair. She had no time to blow it out the way he preferred. Instead, she ran a bevel iron through it until it hung in loose layers past her shoulders.

  “How do I look, mommy?” Mackenzie appeared. She turned in a full circle, causing the hem of her yellow dress to swirl. Kennedy smiled. She was a perfect vision of their love.

  “Can mommy put your hair up in a bow?”

  “Yes.” She nodded.

  “Come here.”

  Before she could gather Mac’s locks in her hands she heard the doorbell.

  “Uh oh. It’s daddy-from-heaven,” Mackenzie said.

  “Yes it is. Let’s go greet him.”

  “But my hair?”

  “I think he’ll like it like this.”

  “Okay.” Mackenzie took her mother’s hand and pulled her out of the room. Kennedy tried not to be nervous. But her legs felt stiff and her stomach heavy as granite. She descended the stairs with Mackenzie leading the way.

  “Coming!” Mackenzie called out.

  Kennedy took in a deep breath and prepared herself again for a proper greeting. She opened the door to a roar of shouting from the press. Liam lifted his gaze to meet hers and all others but three of them ceased to exist in her world. She held her breath as his eyes gave a long perusal of her attire. She waited. Waited. Waited. He just stared at her.

  “Hi, daddy-from-heaven,” Mackenzie said.

  His gaze shifted to their child and Kennedy could breathe again. Liam leaned down to Mackenzie and cupped her chin. “Hello, beautiful.”

  “You like my dress?”

  “I love it.”

  “Come in, Liam.” Kennedy noticed how the press had worked up to a mob-like frenzy with his appearance. They were shouting and hollering from the street. There were now six uniformed men standing at attention, with legs spread and hands behind their backs. Kennedy hoped their formation blocked at least some of the view from the front door.

  Mackenzie pushed out past her mother. She frowned, and then blinked in curiosity at the flashing bulbs and shouting reporters. Liam quickly ushered his daughter back into the house. Kennedy waited for him to glance her way, but he didn’t. She tried not to take it personally, but it hurt. She closed the door and locked it. Liam walked the best he could. He followed Mackenzie, who pulled him to the living room. She talked to him a mile a minute.

  Liam seemed totally engrossed in his daughter’s tale, oblivious to Kennedy hovering behind them. Disappointed, Kennedy stepped down into the living room. “So I’m going to start breakfast. Any special requests?” she asked, letting hope color her voice.

  “Whatever you make is fine,” he said dryly, barely looking up.

  “Pancakes!” Mackenzie said. “I’m not hungry though, had cereal,” she told her father. She clutched two of her favorite books. She handed them to Liam. Kennedy pressed her lips together. She wanted to say more. At the ver
y least, to be included. But she couldn’t mistake the coldness she felt from him. Giving up for the moment, she retreated to the kitchen.

  Liam looked up in time to see her turn on her heel. He cut his eyes away and released the tightness in his chest. Even now, he couldn’t look at her without feeling twenty-two again and hopelessly in love. Kennedy was more beautiful than he remembered. How could that be possible? Nothing in his memory could replace the real thing. Her perfume, a powdery freshness, lingered in the room and he kept inhaling, wanting to catch another deep whiff of the scent. When she’d opened the door earlier, he’d been stunned by the sight of his girls. They were breathtaking.

  “Will you read to me?”

  “Sure. What’s this?” Liam asked, setting his cane down.

  “The Girl with the Blue Ribbon.” Mackenzie grinned. “It’s my favorite. My other daddy reads it all the time. Mommy too.”

  Liam bit his tongue. He looked up into Mackenzie’s wide, expectant eyes and the ball of anger forming seemed to dissolve. “Well, let’s see what I can do. Come here.”

  He lifted her to his good knee. She smelled so sweet, like baby lotion. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. She giggled, and dimples appeared. Just like her mother. Mackenzie reminded him of his little sister as well. Her voice, mannerisms, all of it came back to the point of overwhelming him. He opened the book and tried to read through the pages. As she pointed out her favorite parts and helped him read parts she’d obviously memorized, he settled into his first real meeting with his little girl. It gave him hope.

  Kennedy spent the next thirty-five minutes meticulously preparing everything to Liam’s liking. She even made his favorite biscuits from scratch. Perspiring with nervous energy, she set the table. On her second trip to the kitchen to retrieve the breakfast meat, she turned to find Liam standing there.

  “You didn’t have to cook all this food, Kay.”

  He stared directly into her eyes. And this time it was a look she knew. God, she wished he didn’t stare at her that way. Her cheeks flamed, her nipples tingled, and she felt her skin warm all over. She tried to pretend she was unaffected. But she kept staring at his lips and licking her own. She wondered if the passion would be the same with him. Kennedy remembered how intense and demanding he’d been as a lover. Their marital bed had been a safe haven for them both. A place where they connected, body and soul. The things she shared with Liam, she never gave to another man. Would that matter to him now? To know that there still remained parts of her that only he touched. If only she could be with him physically. What she would give to have him pull her hair and take her forcefully until all the doubt and insecurities were burned away.

  “It smells good.” He’d mistaken her silence for something else.

  She smiled up at him. “I told you. I wanted to feed you, the way I know you like.”

  A small, sly smile lifted the corner of his mouth. He would cook for them the night before he’d been called away. But before sunrise she’d cook his breakfast and wait for his return. He’d wolf down his food as she gave him a rundown on her week while he was gone. Then he’d lift her from the table, throw her over his shoulder sometimes, and the things they did…well he wouldn’t let her out of bed until sunset.

  He walked toward her. He took the dish from her hands and placed it on the counter.

  “I thought of you all night. Of us.”

  Kennedy couldn’t speak. Her throat went dry and her tongue thick in her mouth. Liam’s irises seemed to dissolve into the calmest shade of blue.

  “Where is he?” he asked, his voice tight and firm.

  “Who?” she gulped. Her brain went to mush with him so close.

  “Phil,” he spat, as if the name tasted sour on his tongue.

  “I asked him to leave.”

  “Why?”

  “Because.”

  “Because what, Kay?”

  “Because I didn’t want him here.”

  “Was he in your bed last night?”

  She shook her head no.

  Liam frowned. “So he’s gone for the day?”

  “No. He moved back on base. He’s gone.”

  To her relief, she saw the hard, angry lines around his eyes and mouth soften. He looked down at her the way he had so many times before and she thought her restraint would snap like a rubber band and she’d gush out all her fears and needs in one breath. But she needed to remain calm. Strong. “I’m so happy you came this morning. I thought about you all night, too, Liam.”

  Liam touched the side of her face, a brush of his fingers over her cheek so light it tickled her down to her toes. He leaned in and kissed her. Kennedy lifted her chin to bring her lips fully to his and she floated on their very first kiss in five long, painful years.

  “Eww! What you doing? Stop!” Mackenzie screeched behind them. Liam’s head shot around. Mackenzie glared at her father first, then her mother. “Why are you doing that to my mommy? Why did you kiss her? Mommy? You kiss daddy! Not this daddy.”

  “Mac….”

  Mackenzie turned and ran from the kitchen. Kennedy’s heart dropped. This was one of her many fears, hurting Mac. How could she tell Liam she wanted space and time to adjust for her and Mackenzie, and then hope for more every time he entered the room?

  “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset her.” Liam’s voice was choked with emotion.

  “It’s okay, she’s confused. She saw us kiss last night, and argue. We need to explain to her what’s going on.”

  “Explain what, Kay? That we were married first? That Phil is not related to her? That you’re my wife? How do you explain that to a four-year-old?”

  “I don’t know.” Kennedy put her hands to the sides of her head. “But I will talk to her.”

  “No. Let me be a father. At least let me try. I’m the one confusing her. So I should try.”

  Kennedy grabbed Liam’s hand. “I…we can do it together, okay? I’m her mother and she needs me. She needs us both. Right?”

  He hesitated. His gaze lowered to her touch. She needed him to agree to be a team. The moment passed, but she noticed his guard lowered a bit. Liam would have to learn that she might be weak for him, for their love, but Mackenzie would always be her baby and she’d protect her from all of them if she had to.

  Liam gave her a single nod. Together they walked out into the living room. Mackenzie sat on the sofa with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs to keep them in place. Her face was pressed into her knees.

  Liam went to her left and Kennedy to her right. They sat on either side of her. Slowly, Mackenzie lifted her head and looked at Liam. She reached for her mother instead. This, Kennedy knew, must pain him. But he sat there with patience and understanding in his eyes.

  “Mackenzie. Can you look at me?”

  She did.

  “I want to apologize to you.”

  “Pologize?” she repeated.

  “Yes.” He smiled. “I kissed mommy without your permission. I’m sorry for that.”

  “Only my daddy kisses her,” Mackenzie said with a forced warning in her voice.

  Kennedy bristled and braced for Liam’s reaction. But he only smiled softly. He extended his hand to Mackenzie to ask her to come to him. She looked up at her mother. Kennedy nodded that it was okay.

  Mackenzie crawled across the separating sofa cushion and Liam placed her on his lap, wincing as if pain shot from his knee to his hip. “I’m your daddy too.”

  “Daddy-from-heaven, not my real daddy.”

  “No. I’m your real daddy. I was never in heaven, sweetie. I was just waiting for my chance to meet you.”

  “’Cause you a hero, and heroes can’t be killed. That’s what the twins say.”

  “Not sure if I’m a hero. But I am your daddy, the daddy who helped mommy create you.”

  Mackenzie’s eyes were round as saucers. She looked back at her mother. “He made me?”

  “He had some help.” Kennedy laughed softly. “We made you
together.”

  “How?”

  “Ah, well…that’s a long story.” Liam stumbled.

  “Then who is my other daddy? He made me, too?”

  “He’s the daddy that came when I had to go away. He wanted to be there to take care of you, too.”

  “I don’t get it.” Mackenzie frowned.

  “I’m not sure I do, either.” Liam smiled. “I’m just daddy, okay. I’m your real daddy and I love you. I also love your mommy. I know that’s confusing. Having two daddies all to yourself. But sometimes the things adults do don’t make sense.”

  Mackenzie nodded as if she were wise enough to get his meaning.

  “Good, because I have no plans to go away again. I’m here to stay.”

  “I want you to stay. I’m glad you came.”

  Liam snorted against Mackenzie’s neck and she squealed. Kennedy stifled a smile. She thought about Eric’s warning that Liam needed professional help to deal with his anger, that they only had weeks before the military would want to put him in some think tank to help catch the people who had stolen him. Did Liam even know of these plans? Kennedy had hoped all he truly needed was their love. She listened as Liam charmed their daughter, watched him as he fell head-over-heels in love with her. Within five minutes he had her hugging his neck and agreeing with every word he said. She even said he could kiss mommy if he wanted to.

  “Do it now, daddy from heaven. Give her a kiss.”

  Liam locked eyes with Kennedy.

  Kennedy felt her throat grow dry. She looked at him, then her daughter, not sure how to respond. For a brief, uncomfortable moment she considered making the first move. After all, their kiss had been so fleeting, and it had been five long years. Nervous energy spread a tingling sensation through her palms and her breath came out in uneven puffs. Liam smirked. Could he tell what she wanted? Of course he could. He always could.

  “I’ll kiss mommy, don’t you worry about that.”.

  Crisis averted, they decided to have breakfast. And Liam’s face, the way he grabbed at the biscuits over and over again, made Kennedy so happy. They both talked to Mackenzie, not to each other, but she caught Liam staring after her. If she rose to go to the kitchen to get jelly or butter, his gaze followed her every step. If she helped Mackenzie by cutting her breakfast meat, he watched her. All of this she pretended to ignore. Mackenzie grew tired of the visit first. Having eaten two breakfasts and talked herself out, she began to yawn and complain of being sleepy.