Remington's POV Part 2

I cast a side long glance over at Trent.
He was feeling bad enough without me adding to it with my snarky attitude.
Maybe I would see a doctor if my cold didn’t clear up. I just wanted to get all my shows over and done with first.
When I apoligised, Trent sighed, his eyes hollow with misery and regret.
‘I sure made a mess of things.’


All the could ofs, should ofs, and would ofs, would never bring Helen back to us.
It was no use letting him continue to beat himself up over it.
‘At least Helen doesn’t act like she’s on any drugs.’
I’d been around users long enough to know the signs and symptoms. Drugs made me sick.
‘She does seem reasonably healthy and the success doesn’t seem to have gone to her head.’ Trent agreed.
‘I’m a bit concerned about her weight and of course what ever trouble she’s having with Harris.’
He couldn’t say that last bit without a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
‘I was more worried about the way Newman reacted to our Lanie.’ I confided.
‘He won’t come anywhere near her.’ Trent replied stanchly. ‘That’s a promise.’


‘I think I should tell him who she is.’ I decided, equally determined. ‘Lanie’s mother may have been afraid, but I’m not. I never have been. I also want to let him know there is no way he’ll ever be allowed near her.
Trent gaped at me like I’d gone mad.
‘What good would that do? It might give you a moments satisfaction, but do you really think Newman will just slink away quietly and allow us to raise Lanie in peace? The first thing he’ll do, is go crying to the press. We’ve had enough scandal to last a lifetime. How do you think Lanie would feel to learn her true parentage from the tabloids? I can tell you from bitter experience that Lanie will be the one to suffer most. There’s no reason for Newman to know the truth, but Lanie does need to be told.’


‘I want to tell her Trent, but I’m not sure how she’ll react. Mary was adamant that Lanie would be told the truth, but we decided to wait until she reached her teens. She would have at least more life experience to understand why her mother would....’
‘When I was finally let in on this little family secret.’ Trent interrupted me. ‘Mary promised me she would tell Lanie sooner. Lanie has a right to know the truth. I think she’s plenty old enough to understand.’
I don’t think Trent ever really forgave me for keeping such a big secret from him.
I didn’t tell him the truth about Lanie until we moved into this house.
‘I will tell her Trent.’ I quickly promised him. ‘She’s still too young yet.’
I suddenly felt very tired. We’d argued about this many a time since Lanie moved in.


I decided I didn’t want to think about it now.
Trying to distract him, I pulled him close.
‘Mmmm nice.’ Trent melted easily into my embrace.
I really thought I had him.
‘However; we still need to decide just when we will tell Lanie the truth.’
I swallowed back my irritation. He acted like it was going to be so easy for me to explain the murky details of Lanie’s birth.
I never wanted to cause her shame or embarrassment.


I refrained from asking him if he were ever going to tell Roberta the truth. Trent felt our situations were different. I didn’t know if I agreed.
Roberta and Lanie had both been raised by good decent men that weren’t really their father.
I felt that both girls were better off not knowing.
Dagmar claimed that she wasn’t sure who the father was, while Lanie’s father....
‘Hey,’ Trent gently reassured me. ‘I told you from the moment Lanie became part of our lives, that we were in this together. I will be right there when you tell her the truth. I will also be there to help pick up the pieces if need be. We’re a strong family unit, we’ll only grow stronger if we stop all the lies.’


Lanie was still too young and innocent.
I at least wanted to wait until she was a teen.
I also never told Trent that Lanie had questioned her parentage long ago, when she first started wondering where babies came from.
Trent would be furious if he knew I didn’t tell her then.
I never wanted Lanie to act out like Roberta was doing. It would kill me.
I knew Lanie would be freaked out enough to know who her father was, but there were other things to consider as well.
‘Trent, I don’t want Lanie to hate her mother.’
Trent’s dark eyes flashed, he had no sympathy for her.
He also couldn’t hide his jealousy. As far as Trent was concerned Lanie was our child.
I thought it was wrong for him to judge and condemn Lanie’s mother, but I couldn’t help but love Trent for loving Lanie so much. Mary also felt that Trent would be a positive addition to Lanie’s life. Once Trent and I finally moved into this house, Mary thought it was time to let the two meet.
Trent and I were supposed to spend our holiday with the family for the first time that Christmas.
A freak car accident changed all our plans forever.


‘I miss Mary so much.’ I blurted out. ‘She would have known what to say.’
Trent took my hand in his.
‘You’ll find the words, Babe.’
My sister had always been my best friend and confidant.
They say that grief passes with time. The sharpness of it may ease away, but you never stop missing those you loved. If only I could talk to my parents again or see my sister’s beautiful smile one more time. At least she died with the man she loved. Neither had to go on without the other.
‘Remington.’ Trent suddenly looked contrite. ‘We don’t need to talk about this now. I just freaked when you said you were going to tell Newman. Promise me you won’t. If anyone needs to know the truth it’s Lanie.’
Trent was right, I was being foolish. I would get a moments satisfaction of seeing his face when I told him everything, but never thought much about what would happen next. I’ve always been much too impulsive.
I was not afraid of Newman, but the thought that he might come after Lanie made my blood run cold. He would go right to the press crying foul. He'd play the victim, crying his crocodile tears to get the public on his side and turn them once again on me.
What was I thinking?
If I did tell him, I really could lose Lanie forever.
Trent and I grew silent lost in our own thoughts.
It just felt nice being close and listening to the crackling of the fireplace.
Trent had his faults and I mine, but I could no longer imagine life without him.


‘I hate to break away, Darling, but that bed upstairs is calling to me. Unlike you, I need my beauty sleep.’
Trent reluctantly broke away and helped me to my feet. He tried to conceal his concern.
‘You do need your rest. Tomorrow, I also want you to start drinking plenty of fluids other than coffee and diet soda. Try some juice. It has vit....’
I rolled my eyes and cut off the medical lecture.
‘Yesssss, Dr. Thornton.’
‘You are the most stubborn, exasperating....’
‘Just kiss me, Fool.’

*********

‘I’ll be right up after I put out the fire and rinse out our cups. I also want to check our little one.’
‘Should I wait up for you?’
Trent laughed.
‘Who are you kidding Mansfield, you’ll be sound asleep by the time I get up there.’
I laughed too. He was right. I was nodding on my feet.
I fully intended to sleep until noon tomorrow.
‘Sweet dreams.’ Trent called up after me, as I headed for the stairs.
I turned to look at him one last time.
I was really a very lucky @#$%!. I had it made. I had my dream job, my dream house, my dream man, and the best child any father could ask for. I was truly blessed.


Coming Soon: Trent's true feelings toward Lanie's mother revealed.