Deborah Mello - Hearts Afire

Katrina was married to Matthew Stallion of the renowned Stallion family out of Texas. The couple had two children: seventeen-year old Collin from Katrina’s first marriage and their new baby, Matthew Jacoby Junior, who would soon be celebrating his first birthday. Their oldest brother, Mason Boudreaux, was married to Matthew’s younger sister, Phaedra, and the couple had already been planning the perfect time to conceive their first child. They had been watching the moon and stars and taking fertility advice from their sister Kamaya, and Maitlyn fathomed it would only be a matter of time before they’d be making their big announcement. Babies were suddenly becoming quite the rage between the two families. But Katrina had just mentioned something about the oldest brother, John Stallion, and his wife, Marah...something about them not being able to have any children.

Katrina released a loud sigh. “I swear, Maitlyn. I’ve been talking to you for ten minutes and you haven’t paid attention to a word I’ve said!”

“Yes, I was,” Maitlyn professed. “I just—I...” she stammered. She then swiped at a tear that had rolled down her cheek. “Donald didn’t want kids, but he didn’t bother to tell me that until after we were married. When it became an issue between us he went and had a vasectomy without even discussing it with me first.”

“He didn’t tell you?” Katrina gasped.

Maitlyn nodded. “Donald did a lot of things he didn’t bother to tell me about.”

Her sister shook her head. “Maitlyn, why didn’t you tell any of us? We’re your family, and if you had just opened up, you know we would have been there for you.”

Maitlyn shrugged. “I know. I just...” She trailed off as she shrugged her shoulders. The words had caught in her chest as she struggled not to cry. She couldn’t begin to explain how she felt. As the second child and the eldest girl, she was the one who was supposed to be there for her siblings to depend on. If they had been aware of her failings, how could they have trusted her to be there for them in their times of need?

Katrina tapped the documents on the table. “Well, that phase of your life is done and finished. Leave the past behind you. You need to live your dreams now!”

Maitlyn nodded as she forced a smile. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. “So, what were you saying about Marah?”

“Marah and John found out that they can’t have kids. She has some kind of uterine abnormality that will make it difficult for her to carry a child to term.”

Maitlyn suddenly struggled again to fight back her tears. “That’s so sad,” she said. “They seem so happy together, and the last time I talked to her she said they were really trying to have a baby.”

“It is sad,” Katrina agreed. “But they’re handling it well. Marah was telling me that they’ve discussed adoption and surrogacy and are considering their options. But neither of them seemed overly concerned. And when you consider that John’s already raised a family, you can better understand why it might not bother them as much. After all, John was seventeen and his youngest brother, Luke, was just six when their parents died. John stepped in to take full responsibility for his brothers.”

“But what about Marah? How does she feel? It has to bother her, right?”

“Sometimes when she’s babysitting Jake, I can see the sadness in her eyes. She says that between running the ranch and her business that she barely has time to take care of herself let alone a baby, but you never know. Right now, they’re taking some alone time in Paris, so we’ll see what happens when they get back.”

“She’s going to miss having kids,” Maitlyn professed, her voice dropping to a low whisper. “I know I do.”

Katrina tossed her a slight smile. “Having children is still an option for you. You deserve to be happy, Maitlyn. It’s time you looked forward to what’s ahead for you. You don’t need to worry over your past anymore.”

Maitlyn nodded her head. “I know.”

“I’m going to tell you like I told Marah and like Mommy has always told all of us. Trust in whatever plan God has for you.”

Before Maitlyn could respond, her father’s booming voice resounded from the doorway. The two women turned to see Mason “Senior” Boudreaux making his way into the room. He cradled Katrina’s young son in his arms. The baby was laughing heartily as drool flooded down his chin. Senior tickled his chubby folds, and the baby laughed again. The sight of them made both women laugh.

“Me and baby Jake were trying to stay away from all your girl stuff. Men can’t get no kind of peace in this house!”

“Stop your fussing,” Katherine admonished as she moved in behind them. She reached to wipe the baby’s mouth with the corner of his bib.

Katrina cut an eye toward her big sister and smiled. “So, where is Mattie going, Senior? What’s the big surprise?”

Senior met his daughter’s curious gaze as Maitlyn stared at him past her sister’s shoulder. “Should I be scared?” she questioned.

Senior laughed as he blew bubbles against the baby’s cheek. “I would be. That’s a whole lot of water you gone be on!”

“Water? I don’t understand—” Maitlyn started.

Katherine clapped her hands together excitedly. “Senior is sending you on a cruise. You leave at the end of the week,” she exclaimed.

Katrina jumped up with excitement. Completely stunned, Maitlyn came to her feet, as well. “A cruise? I can’t do a cruise,” she stated.

Senior passed baby Jake to Katrina. He took a deep breath as he moved to stand in front of his oldest daughter; then his hands gripped her gently by the shoulders. “You can do a cruise, and you will do this cruise.”

“But, Senior, I have to work! I can’t just—”

The patriarch held up his index finger and shook it in her face. “You need some time away, Maitlyn Rose. You’ve had a rough year. Your mama and I have been watching you take care of everyone but yourself. Between managing Guy’s career, cleaning up Darryl’s messes, handling Kamaya’s business and everything else you do for your brothers and sisters, not to mention your other clients, you haven’t had any time for you. And that stops right now.”

“Your father’s right,” Katherine interjected. “With everything Donald put you through, this will be a great opportunity for Maitlyn to rediscover Maitlyn. You need to do you a Stella!”

Katrina suddenly laughed out loud, her eyes wide with amusement.

Maitlyn looked confused. “Stella? What does that mean?”

Katherine rolled her eyes. “Go get your groove back, baby.”

Color flushed Maitlyn’s face as understanding washed over her.

Senior reached for his grandson again and moved back toward the door. “Come on, Jake. Told you we men can’t get a minute of peace with all these women in the house,” he chimed as they disappeared from view.

Katrina laughed again. “Mama, I think you embarrassed Senior.”

Maitlyn nodded as she sat back down. “I know you embarrassed me!”

Katherine fanned a hand at her daughters. “You know your daddy better than that.” She dropped down onto the seat beside Maitlyn and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“And I don’t know what you’re embarrassed about. That well has been dry for too long,” she teased. “It’s time you go get yours, baby. That’s all I’m going to say.” Katherine leaned in to kiss her daughter’s cheek. “Go get yours!”

Shaking her head, Maitlyn smiled ever so slightly as Katherine and Katrina both laughed out loud.

* * *

Standing in front of the full-length mirror that hung from the closet door, Maitlyn held up two dresses, flashing one and then the other in front of her lean frame.