by Taylor Hart
Apparently, Isabel was in charge of the family schedule now. He grinned. “Sounds good.”
Just at that moment, Isabel came hobbling out. Cam was impressed at how much pressure she had on her ankle. Adrenaline was a powerful healing agent.
She grinned at him, humming in satisfaction. “Wasn’t that just miraculous?” Her eyes fluttered.
“You were incredible,” he said, hugging her.
She leaned into him, then pulled back. “I was not anything. It’s never about the doula. It’s always about the baby and the mama. The child and mother are the ones having a transformation. I just get to have a small part in it.”
He didn’t agree—she was freaking amazing—but he didn’t want to argue with her. “Merry Christmas.”
Putting a hand on her chest, she smiled wider. “Oh, wow. This is the best.”
Another round of chills rushed through him, and he wondered if he really could move on. Could he really have hope and all of those things that his sister and therapist had been talking about? “Are you ready to get on?” He began turning to assume the piggyback position.
But she grabbed his shoulders and leaned in, gently pressing her lips to his. “Thank you. For this. For carting me around. And because it’s Christmas. I think this is the first Christmas I’ve been able to think about something other than my own problems.” She blinked, and tears beaded in her eyes. “Another child was born tonight.” She swallowed. “A baby in a manger. The whole reason we celebrate this holiday.”
Goose bumps prickled on Cam’s arms. “You’re right.”
She let out a light laugh. “Christ’s birth must have been miraculous, don’t you think? I’ve often thought of poor Joseph, delivering that little baby, and the love and adoration he must have felt for both mama and baby.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Cam was blown away by the thought and felt tears mist into his own eyes.
“I forgave Rick. Did I tell you that?”
He was still blindsided by all of this. “No.”
She nodded, her eyes fluttering. “And I forgave myself. And after just delivering that child and feeling close to heaven, I think maybe anything’s possible.”
Cam wanted to believe she was right. They stood there, staring into each other’s eyes.
Then she sniffed. “Could I get a ride back? I think it might be time to turn in.”
Chapter 17
The sound of knocking woke Isabel with a start, and she jolted to a sitting position, looking at the neon clock on the side of the bed. Ten? “Ahh!” She shoved the covers off and stood on her good ankle, then maneuvered with more care on her hurt one. It was feeling a bit better.
“Isabel!” She heard Cam through the door.
She jerked the door back, noticing he was dressed in casual wear—swim shorts, a Storm T-shirt, and flip-flops. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
To her surprise, he pulled a present from behind his back. “Because it’s Christmas, and I thought you might have had some healing yesterday, so I thought you might be okay with skipping the Incas.”
She wanted to protest, No, I have to do the list! But his words sank into her heart, and she sucked in a breath. He was right. Yesterday had been amazing. “Okay, we stay, but we need to go check on mama and baby.”
His smile widened, and it didn’t hurt that the shirt he was wearing was one of those stretch shirts that showed off his muscles. She couldn’t help but think of that kiss last night. She was sure she was turning red.
His smile went to her eyes like he could read her thoughts. “It was a good kiss.”
Embarrassed, she laughed. “I wasn’t thinking about that.”
He laughed too, and then his lips turned down. “The timing in life, right?”
She wasn’t sure how to respond.
Not giving her a chance, he shook his head and gestured to the present. “Are you going to open it?”
The present was in an island-style wrap, and it made her smile. “Come in.” She led him into the room. “I don’t have anything for you,” she apologized.
He leaned against the wall by the bed, watching her. “Billionaire, remember? What could you possibly get me?”
“True. What do you get the guy who could literally buy anything? Hmm, a small island?”
“I already have one.” He shrugged.
She grunted. “I hate you.”
With a laugh, he said, “Open it.”
A thought occurred to her. “I’ve seen you ride into Storm Stadium on your helicopter too, haven’t I?” She’d always wanted to do that. “Man, I would love to go for a ride in a helicopter.”
“I’ll take you up when we get back. Open the present, woman.”
How had she made a friend who could promise her a helicopter flight like it was a ride to the gas station?
Carefully, she undid the wrapping paper. When she opened it, she was surprised to find a T-shirt, clearly from the gift shop. It read, “Honduras gave me back my life.”
“I love it.” She pulled it to her chest and met his eyes. “It’s true.”
He smiled at her. “There’s a Storm T-shirt in there too. I always travel with garb.”
She laughed and tugged it out of the box. “Thank you. You’ve given me so much on this trip.” How could she ever thank him?
He shook his head. “I haven’t done much.”
“Cam, the whole ‘leave me there and make me talk it out thing,’ that was impressive.”
He withered beneath the compliment and looked away. “No.”
She didn’t know why, but she felt tentative around him all of a sudden. But she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Can I hug you?”
He didn’t say anything, and they stood there for a moment before he moved towards her and held out his arms.
She fell into him. Even if she wasn’t sure what had started between them, she knew it was more than friendship. At least on her part.
He held her for longer than normal, and she let him.
“I’m a mess right now,” she said in his arms.
He gently wiped the hair off her forehead. “No, you deserved a rest after what you did last night.”
For a second, she didn’t know if he would kiss her or not. She hoped he would.
He pulled back. “Why don’t you get changed, and we can go check on the baby.”
* * *
“Little Isabel is so cute!” Isabel exclaimed.
Karen had the glow of a new mom. She sat in a wheelchair, the one Isabel no longer needed.
“We owe you so much,” her husband said. He tugged out his phone. “What’s your address? We’ll send some money.”
“Please, no,” Isabel insisted. “It was such a pleasure.” Gently, she put her hand on baby Isabel’s head. “You have no idea how much this meant to me.”
Karen’s eyes misted with tears, and she waved her closer. “Let me hug you. We’re getting off here and flying home.”
Peter waited and then hugged her, too. “I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you that first night.”
Isabel shook her head. “I’m so glad it all worked out.”
Cameron shook hands with both of them before they climbed into the helicopter. He and Isabel watched the little family disembark from the landing pad, waving each time they turned back.
“You’re crying,” Cam whispered, putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into him.
It startled her to realize she was. “I just feel—I …” How did she describe it? “For so long, I’ve thought about how I couldn’t save them. Couldn’t save anyone anymore. But every time I deliver a baby, I feel …”
“Forgiven?” Cam offered.
The word surprised her. “I think so. And hopeful.”
Cam fully embraced her, wrapping her in his strong arms. “Hope is a good thing.”
There was so much to this man. She wasn’t sure she would have ever recognized that depth if they hadn’t been on this crazy cruise ship together. “Th
ank you.”
He pulled back, and she saw moisture pooling in his eyes. “No, thank you.” He gestured to the other passengers. “It’s Christmas. Should we go meet my family at the waterslide pool? My sister is pretty insistent we meet them at some point.”
Part of her wanted to refuse human interaction, but the other part, the part that had delivered a baby last night and hugged Karen and put her hand on baby Isabel, nodded. “I’d like that.
After changing into their swimsuits and locating the boys, she found herself pushing Cameron into the pool, much to the delight of his nephews, who whooped and hollered and went for the jugular, trying to hold Uncle Cam under the water.
Of course, they couldn’t, and he attacked with a vengeance. “Ahh!” he growled like a grizzly bear unleashed after being stuck in confinement.
The boys shrieked, and Isabel found Alicia standing next to her with a huge grin on her face. “I haven’t seen him this relaxed since … everything that happened.”
Turning to meet Alicia’s eyes, Isabel felt another jolt of hope, and yet it still felt stupid and early and not really possible.
Just at that moment, Cameron looked at them, smiling. “Get in here, women! You guys are next!”
Craig sailed past them, cannonballing into the pool.
Both of the women laughed, and Alicia said, “Put your stuff down, because that’s our cue.”
Isabel found herself doing just that and rushing after Alicia. Both of them jumped in and yelled, “Cannonball!”
The rest of the day was just as much fun. After the pool, they all showered and ate lunch from the sandwich shop on the deck, listening to Christmas carols and commenting on how unlike Christmas it was to be on a cruise ship, but they all loved it.
When she found herself gathered with the family in Alicia and Craig’s room, reading the story of the Savior’s birth together and participating in the gift exchange, she was overwhelmed with how it felt to be part of a family. She was even more overwhelmed when Alicia handed her a little box. “I’m sorry,” Isabel said. “I didn’t get you anything.”
Alicia waved a hand. “Please, I wanted to.”
Inside lay a copy of Persuasion. Isabel was touched, and moisture pooled in her eyes “I don’t know what to say.”
Alicia hugged her. “You know it’s a famous love story about good timing.” She leaned in and whispered, “At some point, you’ll both be ready.”
Isabel knew she was blushing, and she glanced at Cam. He was busy talking about some video game he’d gotten the boys. She wanted so much with him, and she wasn’t sure if she would get it. For now, she was overwhelmed by the love this woman had, not only for her brother, but for everyone around her. “Thank you.”
It was almost dinnertime, so they all agreed to change and meet in the dining room. Isabel was ready when the knock came. It felt strangely natural that Cam would show up, looking so dang sexy. He’d trimmed his beard, and he wore brown slacks, a red shirt, and a black jacket.
“Festive,” she commented, nervous about wearing the red “Christmas dress” her sister had insisted she pack.
Cam’s eyes drank her in from top to bottom, and he let out a low whistle. “The dress matches the hair.”
She blushed. “My sister made me pack it.”
“Of course she did.” Cam winked at her. “I like it.”
She wished that things were different, that this could be more than it was. To distract herself, she pointed to her flip-flops. “Still can’t manage the high heels, but it works.”
Cam looked down and then hurried back to his place to change his shoes. “We gotta match. We don’t want Hawaiian shirt to think he’s got a chance.”
This made her smile. Did he care if Dave thought he had a chance with her? She wanted to know so badly, but having been in his spot for five years, it wasn’t fair to rush him. Even with the clock ticking away on their chances together, the decision to move on had to come from him.
When they got down to the dining room, the whole thing was decked out for Christmas. There was a Christmas band, and the staff was dressed up in red shirts and black pants. It was amazing. They got seated, and everyone wanted the lobster tips. They laughed as they cracked and ate them, and they all fell into easy conversation, talking excitedly about Karen and Peter and baby Isabel.
The boys were already texting their friends and trying to find excuses to leave. “Mom, Dad, we only have two more nights. Can we please go hang out?” Jon begged after eating only one dessert.
Alicia sighed. “Fine. Go! Don’t hang out with your family. Hang out with girls for Christmas.”
The boys bolted.
The adults laughed, and Isabel loved how easy it was. Everything felt so easy with all of them. Part of her realized that she’d wanted this for so long. She needed normalcy.
There was more easy conversation between them, and then Craig asked Alicia to dance. She was out of her chair before he finished asking.
Cam grinned. “I don’t suppose the ankle feels good enough for that?”
Isabel shook her head. “Naw.”
“Glad that ankle is doing better, though.”
With all the hubbub of the birth the night before and then today, she’d limped on it, but it was still a big improvement. “I don’t think it had anything to do with an ex-football player hauling my butt around the past couple of days.”
The side of his lip turned up, and he waved a hand in the air. “Ah, it was all about the workout. I told you that.”
It almost felt like he was flirting, but he wasn’t. No, maybe because it was just that he wasn’t as broody as he used to be.
“Would you want to come to my room and watch one of those Christmas flicks you’ve been talking about?” he asked.
Her heart skipped a beat. He was acting nervous. It was cute. She hesitated.
Surrendering, he put up his hands. “We’ll just get in cozy clothes and watch the movie.”
It sounded heavenly. She smiled at him. “I thought you weren’t a Hallmark movie kind of guy.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I’m changing.”
Nervous butterflies pulsed through her, and she thought of how it would feel to kiss him with his facial hair this way. She imagined it would tickle as his lips brushed against hers. “I’d love to watch a movie.”
Chapter 18
It’d been a long time since Cam had asked a girl to watch a movie with him. He hadn’t dated since Kat, hadn’t even thought about it. Even though he still wasn’t comfortable with the idea of dating, he was excited to hang out with Isabel. No expectations, no commitment, just two people helping each other heal.
Both of them changed, and then he made some popcorn in the little microwave.
“Oh, they have it! I’ve been wanting to watch this movie—The Christmas Girlfriend. Dang, I just love the Snow Valley stories.”
Cam shrugged. He had no idea what she was talking about, but he was happy she was happy.
They settled onto the couch but found out quickly there wasn’t really a good way for her to prop her ankle, so they ended up on his bed with pillows under her foot, behind them, and around them. Cam felt the energy between them, the attraction. Truth be told, he’d been fighting that attraction on a deeper level ever since he’d watched her deliver that baby last night. Which was crazy—delivering a baby wasn’t exactly the most romantic thing, but somehow, it had felt like a perfect pass.
“Spill it, Cruz,” she said partway through the movie, stuffing popcorn into her mouth.
He loved the way this woman treated him like a normal person. It was the way his wife used to treat him, the way his sister treated him. Like a man. Like a friend. Like … He hesitated.
She picked up the remote and paused the movie. “I can hear you thinking over there.”
He let out a light laugh. “Fine. I was just thinking that you delivering that baby last night was almost like watching Will Kent throw the perfect pass into the end zone in Storm Stadium.”
&
nbsp; With a slow smile, she said, “Really?” She loved her profession, but she wasn’t cocky. In fact, she was right. She treated the whole experience like a gift from God, like a calling.
Gently, he put his hand over hers. “You are born to deliver babies. I think it would be awesome for you to finish school and become that doctor you talk about. The one who combines Eastern and Western medicine.”
Tears misted in her eyes. “Really?”
“And I think your son would want that for you.” He squeezed her hand.
She swallowed. He could tell she was struggling to keep control. Before he knew it, she was leaning into him, staring at his lips.
His heart raced. “I want to move into this next step with you, I do, but …”
She leaned back, piercing him with her deep green eyes. “It’s fine,” she said in a disappointed tone.
His heart ached with the desire to move past the friend zone with this woman. “Wait.” He gently cupped the back of her head, pulling her into him.
Their lips met. Fire exploded through him as she linked her arms around his neck and pressed her body flush against his.
He didn’t know how long he kissed her, but he found himself pulling back again, more guilt filling him. “I’m sorry, I want to do this.”
She put her hand on his shoulder. “Cam, I think we need to wait.”
He met her eyes. “You do?”
Scooting to the edge of the bed, she stood, careful not to put all her weight onto her hurt ankle. “I do.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
She put up her hand, and a kind smile spread across her face. “I know, Cam. Truthfully, I’ve found so much healing with you on this trip, and I want you to know how grateful I am for that.” Her voice broke.
He took her hand. “Me too.”
Tears misted in her eyes, but she sucked in a long breath. “I think your journey still has more to it. And I don’t know where that leaves us, but …” She shook her head. “We only have one more day tomorrow, right? Then we go home and back to …”
“Real life,” he said. He hated the sound of it, not wanting to go back to reporters and his idiot players and the PIs. The thought made his heart race again. How many days had he not checked the emails? Two? That junkie feeling hit him, the one that made him want to go check immediately.