Friday afternoon Deanna met them after school. For the first time the five of them were out together in full view of everyone, the fact that they saw her with his kids was evidence enough to prove that they were a family and that she was his wife.
The first thing they looked for was a gift for Camilla and then they walked around the place looking in shop windows and buying things the kids wanted. Deanna picked out some ties for him and he finally approved a dress for the birthday. Jonathan walked along with his siblings, amazed and happy. They didn't have many outings like that.
-Don't wander too far," Deanna warned them.
Daniel couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed a family walk so much, maybe when Emily was still alive. The more he watched them, the more he fell in love. She opened her heart to her three kids with no ulterior motives, no attempt to use them to soften him up or convince him. For a moment he imagined what a son of Deanna's would be like, but immediately dismissed the idea... for now.
Why not, why not want everything from her? It was too early to think about such things, but at least he could be a little indulgent with his imagination. Would Deanna think so too? Surely not, she wanted to finish her career and take the plunge into singing as a professional. Maybe later on. He would support her in her dream, her voice was magnificent and her future bright, he was convinced she would do more than well. What if she started traveling trying to achieve her dream? It was well known that lyric music performers used to travel the world to perform on many stages. Could he be separated from her for so long? "You're thinking nonsense, that's a long way off," he said to himself.
Daniel smiled to himself, he couldn't believe the scenes his mind was returning to him thinking about her. He wondered since when did he plan ahead for a lifetime, not even as a teenager had he ever had those kinds of thoughts. Deanna definitely changed a lot more things in him than the obvious.
- Dad, can we get something to eat? I'm hungry," Naomi told him.
- Of course, we can have dinner somewhere tonight. Let's take advantage of the fact that we're already here -
- How about pizza? - Deanna asked.
- Yes!
- I know a great pizza place a few blocks from here, they make the best pizza in town. What do you say? -
They never had pizza for dinner, the meals had to be balanced and nutritious. But this time, Daniel didn't want to ruin the mood. As they were leaving, a female voice was heard behind them.
- Daniel? What a coincidence! -
- Beverly, how are you?
- Good, what a nice surprise, how have you been? -
- Very well, thank you, and you? -
Jonathan tugged Deanna's hand and she reached down to see what he needed.
- I see you're with your family -
- Yes, we went out for a while. Let me introduce you... Deanna - She stood up.
- Your wife -
- Yes.
- Nice to meet you - Deanna said.
- Pleasure, my name is Beverly
- Deanna - And she held out her hand and she took it.
They stayed talking for a few more minutes while Dean watched her. A very pretty and sophisticated woman, you could tell she was a distinguished person. Very well educated, not at all like that woman from their first date at the restaurant. Wow! She was more similar to the picture she had seen of Emily in his office, surely that's what the children's mother would have looked like. How different she was from herself, could she ever be like that? Beverly looked more like a wife to Daniel, they shared the same background, the same social place. She had all the class she lacked. Actually, Daniel didn't mind all that Beverly naturally possessed, in fact, Emily was only perceived that way on the outside. But indoors her spirit was not bound by "social norms".
They said their goodbyes; Beverly would also be at Camilla's birthday. She watched them leave; Deanna carried the little one in her arms and he guided her with one hand on her back. Apparently the rumors that they couldn't get along weren't entirely true. Her youth was showing through, but her attitude was correct. And she had a connection with his children. Funny thing about life, Beverly had hoped to have a chance to win him over and then overnight, a younger woman had taken him out of circulation.
Well, it was a stage all men went through wasn't it? When that marriage dissolved she would be the first to "comfort" him. She just had to be more patient, how could a little girl like Deanna compete with someone like her? She was at the peak of her professional career, she was sophisticated, elegant, educated and on the same level as Daniel. A marriage to Daniel was not a game, it represented a huge endorsement for any woman, more so for one like her who had the right contacts and knowledge to use that endorsement.
Deanna was strangely quiet and taciturn for a while. In her head she kept questioning herself. But Daniel realized why, as the pizza arrived at the table he took a slice and began to eat directly with his hand. Seeing him, Deanna relaxed a little and smiled at him. She was grateful to him for trying to clear her doubts.
- It's delicious, aren't you going to eat? - asked Daniel.
- Yes," she said.
Those little details were what kept her by his side. That aspect of his personality was the one she liked the most, because it made her feel special. A man with his imposing temperament could be that sweet when he put his mind to it. She was sure that underneath all that armor there was a totally different being, she had already had several glimpses of him. Of course he had conquered her with all that he was, with those obvious differences in his way of being; with that natural elegance of a gentleman who didn't need to force anything and with that impulsive rudeness that burst out when he couldn't control himself or what he felt.
- You shouldn't compare yourself to anyone, Deanna - He told her when they were back in the house, drinking tea in the kitchen.
- I don't... -
- Good, because you are you and that's what I like most about you -
- But I can't help thinking about it either, you know? That woman was a better match for you -
- And with you a younger man matches you and yet here we are -
- I never thought of it that way. I don't see your years...
- And what do you see? -
- Mmmmm... let me think about it... I see a very handsome and gentlemanly man, when you want to. A detail oriented and a wonderful father... As well as elegant and interesting... - I'm not all of those... -
- I'm not all that...
- To me you are...
They were both betting on this relationship, they were sure of what they felt and yet there were still some shadows lurking. They still had a long way to go and, anyway, they had gotten their hopes up for each other in a very short time. All that remained was to seal their relationship with the passion they obviously shared. But for some reason it was still dragging on, and not for lack of desire. Daniel's skin crawled at the thought of her and Deanna could melt completely. Maybe not rushing was necessary, maybe they needed to reach a breaking point so that the shock would be huge.
Daniel couldn't take it anymore, he felt he could go crazy and after the argument with Harry he knew the time had come. He had to make her his woman completely, claim her as his own and leave his mark on her skin. And in order to do that he asked Susan to stay with the kids at his house after Camila's birthday party. He wanted to be in a quiet place with her, to have all the time in the world without anyone interrupting them. To make it perfect, just like their fake wedding night was not.
What he didn't know was that Deanna had made the same resolution; all that flirting, those imperceptible touches, the shared kisses did nothing but add to the emotions in her body and heart. She was convinced it was what she wanted and she wanted it badly. She was going to provoke him to the limit, she was tired of waiting. For her it was the most normal thing in the world to express with her body what she felt and so she lost her modesty and set herself free. She wondered if that same overpowering temperament with moments of anger and lack of control that Daniel had would be repeated in intimacy. She hoped very greedily that it would.