‘Great, isn’t it?’ Sav nodded. ‘I’m sure any other family would break out in a cold sweat at the thought of having both sets of in-laws living with them for a while, but it’s worked out wonderfully, hasn’t it? Your dad’s looking really well.’
‘We’re all looking really well,’ Isla agreed, standing up and fixing her sarong then staring down at her daughter, nestled against Sav’s bronzed chest. ‘Who does she look like Sav?’ Isla asked for the hundredth time as they both gazed at their creation.
‘Well, she’s got my hair,’ Sav mused, ‘Luke’s ears, Harry’s suspicious eyes and I reckon she’s got Casey’s smile.’
‘What about me?’ Isla pouted, but inside her heart soared. Casey’s name peppered the conversation so much more easily now. ‘There’s surely a bit of me in there—I am her mother after all!’
‘Nope.’ Sav shrugged. ‘I can’t see it. I guess I’m just going to have to trust you on that one.
‘Now, on to more serious things. We’ve got four babysitters lined up so how about you and I take a wander down to Señora Casta’s tonight, try some of that fish we caught, have a bottle of sangria…?’
‘Sounds wonderful,’ Isla sighed.
‘Great. I’ll go and put Sophia down for a sleep then have a shower before you hog it.’ A slow lazy kiss found her lips and she revelled in it. Revelled in his strong arm around her shoulders, that delicious full mouth exploring hers as their baby snuggled between them.
‘Dad!’
An indignant wail from inside broke the moment, and Isla sat back down as Sav went in to break up whatever had broken out, watching idly as the postman cycled up then made his way over. Already familiar with Isla’s appalling lack of Spanish, he spoke in broken English as Isla stared up at him, shielding her eyes from the low sun with her hand.
‘Dr Ramirez.’ He held out a parcel. ‘I need…firma.’ He held out a pen. ‘Dr Ramirez, he need…’
‘He’s in the shower,’ Isla said apologetically. ‘Maybe I can help.’
And the poor postman must have thought she was the most emotionally unstable, labile woman in history because as she took the pen her eyes filled with tears suddenly, her lip wobbling as the words came out. She was realizing, not for the first time, how different things could have been, the fragile world they’d inhabited for a while, and how proud and happy she was to be able to say what came next.
‘Maybe I can help,’ she started again, accepting the parcel and lifting the pen to sign.
‘I’m Dr Ramirez’s wife.’
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5815-3
EMERGENCY: A MARRIAGE WORTH KEEPING
First North American Publication 2005
Copyright © 2005 by The SAL Marinelli Family Trust
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Emergency--A Marriage Worth Keeping Page 15