by Dianne Drake
“And?”
“And I’ve been doing everything I can so that when I finally came back to you, hat in hand if that’s how I had to do it, you’d see the differences in me. I wasn’t good enough for you then. Maybe not even now. But I’m working on it. Trying new things where old things I’ve forgotten used to be.”
“Like working in a surf shop?”
“If that’s what it takes. I know there’s a lot I won’t get back, and I’m trying hard to come to terms with that. Some days are better than others. Occasionally I get so damned frustrated that all I want to do is go someplace and turn myself into somebody else. Like my surfer persona.”
“But you stayed?”
“Because I have to. Because I fell in love with the most wonderful, stubborn, and opinionated woman I’ve ever known, and to walk away from that would be the worst thing I could ever do in my life. I’m trying hard to fix myself for me, Lizzie. But it’s also for you. For a future where you won’t have to worry about me every minute of every day. For the time when I leave the house and you won’t have to pace the lanai and wonder what’s happening to me. You deserve that, Lizzie. We both do. But I’m the one who has to fix that. And I’m trying.” He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “I stayed because I want to prove myself to you. Prove that I’m everything you need and want.”
“You have been, Mateo. Every day since I met you. I mean, it hasn’t been easy, and I’ve some adjusting to do myself, but living all these weeks without you...it’s been miserable. I’ve been miserable. And that’s not how I want to be. Especially now, because I need an equal, Mateo. I mean, we can’t predict the future, but we can live for what we have today, and that’s what I need. I thought so at first, anyway. But then my need changed into something I wanted more than anything I’d ever wanted in my life, and I didn’t see you getting involved in that. In fact, you pushed me away.”
“Because I’m not sure yet who I am, and I still get frustrated when I can’t pull up a memory. I’m working hard at dealing with myself, but that still adds up to a lifetime of misery for you, and I don’t want that.”
“Not misery, Mateo. Not if you love someone enough. The way I love you. What I finally realized was that your belligerence is only your way of trying to hang on to the pieces of you that you remember. You’re fighting back.”
“And I’m scared, Lizzie. Scared to death. But having you there made things better. And my memory of that night in Afghanistan...” He pointed to his head, “I do remember it now. Every bloody detail. How my friends tried to rescue me and died. How I lost my best friend. How I laid there for two days before anybody found me. It’s not a pretty thing to recall, but it’s my memory, which means it’s part of me. And I’ve found other parts as well. Some good, some not so good. For better or worse, all of it me, though. And as these bits and pieces are returning, they give me something to hold on to. You give me more, though, and I want to earn my way back into your life. Unless I blew it too badly to fix.”
“You didn’t blow anything, Mateo. I think we were always just two people fighting to get through to each other. Sometimes succeeding, sometimes not.” She took hold of his hand and laid it on her belly. “And sometimes going farther than any expectation either of us had.”
“Seriously?” he asked. “You’re...?”
“Eight weeks along. Healthy and grumpy. Having some battles with my hormones.”
“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“Could be one of each...”
“I did all that?” he said, his pride obvious.
“It took two of us, Mateo. I did have a part in this.”
He laughed out loud. “And here I was thinking that being alone, while it isn’t good, isn’t as bad as I thought it was. I’m assuming you want me involved?”
“I’m wearing muumuus, Mateo. And eating everything in the house. Does that sound like a person who doesn’t want her baby daddy involved? Someone has to save me from myself—especially since for breakfast this morning I ate a whole mango pie.”
“The whole thing?”
She nodded. “Would have eaten another one if I’d had it.”
“Sounds to me like you’re going to need that muumuu.”
“Not as much as I need you. Will you come home, Mateo? The babies and I need you there. And, more than that, I want you there.”
In answer, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, while across the street Janis sat at an outside café with Randy, watching the whole thing.
“Looks to me like we’re about to lose one of our doctors,” she said. “I think our Lizzie is about to become otherwise occupied.”
EPILOGUE
AS WEDDINGS WENT, Lizzie and Mateo’s was a small, private affair. Janis stood up for Lizzie and Randy stood for Mateo. They were in the flower garden, surrounded by all the beautiful flowers her dad had planted. Definitely paradise in so many ways.
For the ceremony Lizzie held Robert, named for her dad, while Mateo held Margarita, named for his mother. The twins were six months old now, just getting to the age where they had their own opinions—which were sometimes a bit vocal.
“I think Robert needs changing,” Lizzie said.
“And Margarita seems like she’s hungry,” her soon-to-be husband responded. “Maybe we should take care of that before the ceremony begins, so we’re not interrupted part-way through.”
“Especially since we’ve waited so long for this.”
She looked back at the small crowd gathering, and at Janis passing out tiki cups full of whatever her concoction of the day was. No one was left without a tiki.
“I think Janis has everything under control for a few minutes.”
Lizzie and Mateo dashed into the house to take care of the twins, who’d become the center of so many lives since, for now, they went to work every day with Mateo. Not to the surf shop, but to the clinic they’d bought. He and Lizzie worked there full-time, loving the life, loving the work.
The clinic was busier than ever, with more and more patients coming through the door every day. The addition of a nursery was a blessing, as Mateo refused to be separated from his family, and now Dr. Lizzie Peterson-soon-to-be-Sanchez was a part of that.
Lizzie still had a way to go in not taking on the blame for her dad’s death, but Mateo was always there to help her through the rough spots. And she was always there when his memory lapses gave way to frustration.
“He’s going to be here today, you know,” Mateo said. “Since we’re marrying in his garden.”
“Sometimes it’s like I feel him here, looking after his flowers. He would be happy knowing you’re the one doing that now.”
She brushed a tear from her eyes and looked over at Mateo, who had a spit-up towel slung over his shoulder and was holding a baby who was happily indulging in a bottle.
“Guess I should feed Robert, too,” she said, tossing another spit-up towel over her own shoulder and giving him his own bottle.
And that was how they walked down the path to the trellis where they would take their wedding vows. A family of four. Everything Lizzie had never known she wanted. Everything she would ever need.
One husband, two children, and paradise.
The perfect life.
* * *
If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Dianne Drake
New York Doc, Thailand Proposal
Her Secret Miracle
Second Chance with Her Army Doc
Bachelor Doc, Unexpected Dad
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Healed by Their Unexpected Family by Karin Baine.
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CHAPTER ONE
‘SO, YOU’RE THE woman I’m about to impregnate? Nice to see you again.’
‘Hello, Mr Garrett.’ Kayla O’Connell shook hands with the man her brother, Liam, and his husband, Tom, had set her up with for this baby-making exercise.
So much for this remaining nothing more than a business transaction when one firm handshake, one touch from him was enough to make her weak at the knees. She would rather not have him involved in this at all. It would have been easier to do it with a stranger. Meeting Jamie at her brother’s wedding had been sufficient to rattle her.
‘Oh, Kayla, I would’ve thought we were on first-name terms by now. Jamie’s fine.’
Even though his slow, sexy smile had her transfixed, that smooth charm he possessed always made her nervous. It reminded her of her parents and the façade they’d used to put on for the rest of the world to hide the multitude of sins committed behind closed doors. He was easy on the eye, but he knew it, and took way too much enjoyment in the fact she blushed every time he came near her.
However, since he was Tom’s big brother there was no way of avoiding him. ‘Thanks for coming, Jamie.’
‘You know I’d do anything you asked. All you have to do is give me the word.’ He held her gaze a second longer than necessary, sending shivers all over her body at the underlying suggestion. What scared her more than Jamie’s blatant flirting with her was her reaction to it. But rather than admonishing him for his suggestive comments, she had to use all her strength not to give into the temptation he embodied.
‘We’re not doing this for me. It’s for our brothers and that’s who we should be focusing on.’ Kayla couldn’t take her eyes off him as he sat down in the chair opposite, loosened his navy and silver striped tie and undid the top button on his shirt, revealing that small patch of skin at his throat. The picture in her mind took on a whole new explicit nature, transporting the scene into a bedroom rather than a busy London café.
Clearly, her body had gone into panic mode about this surrogacy idea if she was fantasising about the father-to-be. Who, in ordinary circumstances, she would’ve run a mile from. Lately, she’d gone for safe guys, who never really lit her fire but she knew would never hurt her. Self-preservation after abusive parents and an ex-boyfriend who’d thought he could control her. Thank goodness she’d had her brother’s support in helping her realise Paul had gradually been taking over, manipulating her into doing what he wanted and leaving her scared to question him.
It had been a blow to realise she’d reverted back to that submissive behaviour she’d employed to keep her parents happy rather than face the consequences. Trust wasn’t something she gave easily, and Paul had taken what was left from her.
It was no wonder her relationships since hadn’t lasted, because she couldn’t bring herself to fully invest in them in case history repeated itself. She’d been content being single and not having to worry about anyone except herself. Kayla would go as far as to say she’d never get into another relationship again and certainly had no inclination towards starting a family of her own. That was why being around Jamie was so difficult. She might be attracted to him, but she also knew he was the type of man capable of breaking hearts. His brother had told her as much.
‘Of course, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s company too, does it?’ He reached across the table to take her hand and stroked his thumb across her fingers. She could only watch, dumbstruck, knowing she couldn’t give an answer without incriminating herself.
A shuffling by the table alerted her to someone else bewitched by her companion. The young girl carrying over his coffee hovered long after she’d set the cup down, openly staring at him.
‘Thank you.’ He turned on a full-watt grin that sent the waitress scurrying away again with a giggle. Jamie had that cheeky glint in his brown eyes Kayla was sure made most women swoon, although she knew he wasn’t the settling-down type either. That was one of the reasons he’d apparently agreed to do this. Kayla directed her thoughts back to the surrogacy, since that was the reason they were actually here.
‘So, I know you’re a respected GP in your practice, a partner. Tom told me you raised him after your parents both died, and you’ve said yourself you don’t want anything to do with this baby when it arrives.’ It wasn’t important how hot his skin felt against hers or that he’d ignored every other woman at the wedding, trying to capture her attention. For these purposes, all she needed to know was that he had brains as well as good looks and that he wouldn’t be hanging around driving her to distraction once his part of the deal was over.
‘That’s not as brutal as it seems on the surface. I’m happy to help the newly-weds start a family but I’m not interested in being a father myself. I don’t mind being the fun uncle, though. Do you have a problem with that?’ He cocked his head to one side, eyebrow raised as he tried to rile her. She wasn’t going to rise to it. Even if he was making sexy eyes at her, causing her to tingle in all sorts of places. Yes, she did have a problem with it.
Perhaps this had been a bad idea, but she’d thought they should at least discuss what they expected from this arrangement. In Jamie’s case, apparently that was nothing. He was primarily going to be the sperm donor. Perhaps with the odd appearance for birthdays and family get-togethers.
She couldn’t criticise when that was as involved as she wished to be in the baby’s life too. In her case, a loving auntie who was free to come and go as she chose. She was the surrogate, an incubator only for this baby, because any idea of family beyond her brother terrified the life out of her. Their parents’ tyranny had made her realise the damage a person could do to a child and she didn’t want that level of responsibility. Liam and Tom were two of the nicest men on earth and a child would be lucky to have them as parents.
‘Not at all. I was just checking.’ She sipped her herbal tea and wished the others would hurry up and join them to ease the tension.
She tried to forget their first meeting and how flustered she’d been around him. A matter he’d taken great satisfaction in and flirted with her outrageously until she’d demanded he stop. He obviously wasn’t used to women saying no to him, her request amusing him all the more. The truth was she’d been afraid of reacting to his advances when her body had been on fire for him after just a few suggestive comments. He wasn’t her type. Actually, she didn’t have a type because there wasn’t a man alive she was willing to trust.
Of course, their brothers had been blissfully unaware of their sizzling chemistry, so wrapped up in the happiness of their big day. When they’d proposed Jamie as the sperm donor for the surrogate baby she had agreed to carry for them, she’d been unable to find it in her to object to the idea.
‘I never thought my little brother would be the first to get married and have a family.’ He shook his head, the affection for his sibling shining brightly in his smile.
‘It was a lovely wedding.’ The grooms had spared no expense in sharing their happy day with their friends. They’d taken their vows in the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Toasted with champagne in the courtyard over the Meridian Line, where the east and west hemispheres met. Later, they’d had their meal in the Octagon Room under the stars. Those still standing had gone on to party in a nearby hotel, and booked rooms for the night. The whole day had been magical.
‘Amazing. I had concerns it might be a bit...cheesy but I suppose some might have called it romantic.’ He leaned across the table as he said it, reminding her of the telescope viewing she’d done with Jamie right there beside her. With him so close she’d been oblivious to anyone else in the room.
As the grooms’ family, they’d spent the majority of the day in close proximity but that was the moment she’d become aware of him. By that time of the evening, his per
fectly groomed hair had had its curl back and he’d had a shadow of a beard bristling over his once clean-shaven jaw. He’d shed his tux jacket and untied his bow tie so it hung loosely around his neck. It wouldn’t have taken much to tug on the ends and pull him in for a kiss. One she’d known would be hot when he’d been giving her his undivided attention all day. Thank goodness that had been the moment Tom and Liam had announced they were moving the party to the hotel and saved her from herself.
‘The food was good too.’
‘The first dance was my particular highlight.’ Clearly, he wasn’t going to let her forget their more intimate moments of the day.
That first dance, when Jamie had swept her up on the dance floor at the happy couple’s insistence they join them, had indeed been memorable. Those three or four minutes in his arms, their bodies pressed close together swaying in time to the music, had been heavenly. When he’d whispered in her ear, asked if she wanted to come up to his room, she’d almost agreed. Her hormones would’ve followed him across the dance floor and into his bed, but her head and her wounded heart wouldn’t allow it. That was when she’d known she’d had to stop his flirting with her and once the song had ended, she’d made sure to keep her distance from him. Until now.
‘It was good to see Tom and Liam so in love. They’re going to make great parents.’
Jamie sighed, perhaps resigning himself to the fact she didn’t want to be reminded of the chemistry they’d experienced that night. Something which apparently hadn’t dissipated since they’d last seen each other.
‘Tell me, Kayla, what is it you’re hoping to achieve by offering yourself up as a surrogate? You’re a midwife, aren’t you? Surely this isn’t a situation you would usually encourage?’ He lounged back in his chair, crossed his long legs at the ankles and made himself comfortable whilst he turned the spotlight back on her. It was a safer topic of conversation for her than the wedding night.