The Bachelor by David Dower (read along books TXT) 📖

properly woo men, Zach.”

Zach was looking tortured. He knew how Angelica chased Philip Strindberg around a long time ago before she met her husband. And he had spent years in the same university as the woman to prove that as well.

Henry chuckled, “Don’t take my wife’s words seriously, man.”

“No one’s going to marry my daughter,” Zach said seriously.

“Who’s marrying who?” Liam asked as he entered the room, munching on an apple.

“Anya and Philip,” Angelica answered, standing up. Henry stood up just as instantly, holding her by the arm. She snapped her head at him, “Really, honey, you’re acting crazy. I can take care of myself.”

“You’re pregnant,” Henry pointed out.

“I’m a doctor, remember?” she arched her eyebrow. “I’m going to find Anya and make some small talk.”

“What are you going to tell her?” Henry and Zach asked at the same time.

“Relax. I’m going to tell her marriage can wait,” she winked at Julianne and walked off.

“I’m coming with you,” Julianne said, walking past her husband.

“Me too,” Cass nodded her blond head and followed, leaving her husband alone.

“Count me in!” Chanty cried out as she entered the room with her son Willie, now ten, behind her. As she passed Liam, she gave him a sweet smile and said, “Willie’s having a problem with the bike.” And then, all four women disappeared up the stairs.

Zach gave out a heavy sigh.

Philip chuckled. “Man, you’re worn out.”

“If your daughter tells you she wants to get married, what would you feel? Oh, wait a minute, your son’s the one she wants to marry,” he said sarcastically.

“If she’s serious, will you consider handling the business alone rather than leaving it all for Liam to handle? After all, it will be our children’s future,” Philip chided, talking about the merged business of the Astor and Strindberg family.

“My daughter’s not marrying anyone.”

“Don’t take that seriously. They’re just children,” Henry uttered when he noted Zach’s irritated look.

“Anya really wants to marry Philip,” Willie spoke up.

Zach, Henry, Philip, and Liam turned to him.

“What? She’s been talking about it since she was like three.”

“No, not going to happen,” Zach shook his head.

“Okay, come on, big guy. Where’s that bike?” Liam asked, throwing his apple on the table.

“Outside,” Willie answered and the two of them went out.

 *****

“You can’t take her seriously, really, Zach, you’re over reacting,” Julianne told him later that night.

“She’s only six!” he couldn’t help but say.

“She’s six and she has a lot of things she wants to do. It doesn’t mean she’s going to do them now.”

“So you’re okay with her marrying?”

“When she’s old enough, yes.”

“Jules, she’s six.”

“She’s not going to marry now,” she pointed out.

“She’s not going to marry ever.”

Julianne laughed and pulled her husband closer. They were lying in bed talking. “She’s going to do whatever she likes when she’s older. You’re not going to stop her. She’s as hard-headed as you.”

He was silent for a long time. Maybe he was taking this too seriously. “You’re right,” he finally said with a sigh.

Julianne smiled and gave him a kiss. “I enjoyed today.”

He smiled. “I don’t really know if your new friendship with Ange, Cass, and Chanty is going to be good for us, your husbands. You’re one hell of a bunch of ladies.”

“We’re awesome, aren’t we?” she chided.

“You’re awesomer,” he uttered.

“That’s not even a word,” she frowned.

He shrugged. “I coined it.”

His wife laughed and gave him another kiss. “I love you, Zach.”

He smiled. “I know, Jules. I love you too.”

 *****

When Zach crept out of the room later that night, he left Julianne deep in sleep. A lot has happened since that day they found out they were having a girl. He was not disappointed at all because deep in his thoughts, he was hoping for a girl as well.

He opened his daughter’s room and found her blanket on the floor. He smiled, walked in, and picked it up. Gently, he spread it over her small body and bent down to plant a kiss on her forehead. She stirred but didn’t wake up. She was smiling in her sleep and he wondered what she was dreaming about.

I’m hoping it’s not a six year old wedding, he thought.

Sure that everything was good and that his daughter was safely tucked in, he made his way back to the master’s bedroom.

 They had waited until Anya was born and he made sure that Julianne was back to normal and he persuaded her to marry him in a simple ranch wedding. In the six years of Anya’s existence, she was showered not only with her parent’s love, but by her grand parents’ as well.

But of course, Jules was always there to make sure that it didn’t go into her head. Zach was glad for that because he was ready to give almost everything for his daughter. Jules was the one who told him what was enough and what was not, otherwise, they would have a spoiled rich girl for a daughter.

His wife tried to find her father, but she failed. From time to time, Zach thought of how it might feel for her to have that missing part in her life. That’s why he always made it a point that Julianne don’t doubt his loyalty and commitment.

He climbed back to bed and pulled his wife into his arms. She snuggled against his chest in a sleepy daze until finally she was back to her deep slumber.

There was nothing better than having a great family like the one he has. He would never go back to his old life, not for the world.

He had everything he needed that he never thought he could have. Imprint

Text: David Dower
Editing: David Dower
Publication Date: 01-31-2016

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