She glanced at the calendar next to her desk and noted the date.
February 14.
She’d gotten through Christmas and New Year’s without a boyfriend. She could get through Valentine’s Day without one.
As though to remind her that she wasn’t alone, the baby in her abdomen kicked. A little feathery kick, but a kick nonetheless. She smiled.
“Just you and me kiddo. We’ll get through this just fine.”
She ducked back into her work. A couple of minutes later, a movement at the door caught her attention.
She looked up and blinked.
Samuel.
Holding a bouquet of red roses.
She sat back and stared at him, then blinked again to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating.
“I have a delivery for Miss Danielle Worthington.”
A smile played at the corner of her lips. “Did my father send you?”
He smiled then. “No. As a matter of fact, these are from…” He shifted the bouquet. “Let me just check the card.” He looked at the attached envelope. “They’re from a mister Samuel Johnson. Do you know him?”
“Hmm.” Her lips curved into a slight smile. “I believe he’s a pilot from Dallas.”
“Oh no,” he said. “That’s not the same person. This is Samuel Johnson, flight instructor, of L.A.”
She frowned at him. “There must be a mistake. The only one I know works for my father.”
“Nope,” he said. “This one lives right here in L.A. Um. Can I come in?”
“Of course,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking.” She hit save on her computer and slid it aside. “Are those for me? Really?”
He looked wounded. “And who else would they be for?” He set them on the desk, the silver vase glittering in the sunlight streaming through the window. “They’re yours if you’ll have them.”
“It’s impolite to refuse a gift.” She leaned forward and sniffed one of the perfect rose buds. “Even if it is Valentine’s Day.”
“Is it Valentine’s Day? I wondered why there was such a long line to buy flowers today.”
“Ha. Ha.”
He shrugged. “It seems we have a tradition. Birthdays. Valentine’s Day.”
“You missed Christmas.” She pointed out.
“You weren’t in the office,” he said.
“And neither were you.” Nor did you answer your phone even after I found your number on my cell phone statement.
“I’ve been off the grid for a while.”
She decided to let his statement go. She wanted to see how he planned to play this out. “So how are you feeling?” She asked. “After the crash and all.”
“The doctors released me.”
“Both you and my father were very lucky. They said it was system failure.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it. It was all due to your father’s skill and experience that we came out basically unscathed.”
“If you call a concussion unscathed.”
“Considering the circumstances, I do.”
She studied the red rose buds for a moment. They were high quality flowers. Her mother had taught her how to discern quality. “So, really, what brings you here? I’m not expecting my father.”
“Your father has nothing to do with my being here.”
“How did you get away? He drives a hard bargain with his pilots.”
“Right.” She wouldn’t tell him she’d asked her father about him and already knew that. “I have a mandatory one hundred twenty-day moratorium on flying.”
“For the concussion?”
“Yes. And I also quit my job.”
She scoffed. “You did not.”
“I most certainly did. Ask him.”
She glanced at her phone. “I’m not going to ask him.”
“Cause then you’d have to believe me.”
“Of course I believe you. You’ve never lied… to… me.” She said the last words slowly, realizing that those were the words she should have said to him three months ago.
“And I never will.”
She nodded. Trust. Something that he had earned, despite her reluctance to give it. “So, you’re visiting.” She wasn’t quite sure what he was telling her.
“I think we need to talk,” he said.
“Right,” She stood up and gestured to the day bed across the room. It was perfect for naps, but now it seemed, it was good for entertaining. Next to the day bed was a crib with pink blankets.
Samuel stopped halfway across the room and stared at the crib with a silly grin on his face. “It’s a girl,” he said.
Danielle smiled as she ran a hand along the now unmistakable baby bump. “Yes. I had to know.”
They sat on the day bed, and she wondered where to begin. He looked good. She’d stared at his photo enough to memorize every line on his face, but he was even more handsome in person. When he looked at her, his eyes twinkled with a light that couldn’t be captured in a photo.
It seemed he already knew what he wanted to say. “When I saw you in Alabama, I knew I had to do something. Whatever it took to be with you.”
His words were like a warm balm settling over her soul. “Samuel…”
“Even if you hadn’t left Houston, I didn’t want to live like that. I didn’t want to live apart and only see you on weekends. You deserve more than that.”
“Even that’s more than most people have.”
“Maybe so. But it isn’t for us.”
She knew exactly what he meant. They weren’t just a romantic couple. They were best friends. They wouldn’t be one of those couples who only saw each other in the evenings or weekends for dinner. They were part of each other’s daily lives. Or had been until she’d disappeared on him. “I guess I knew you would find me.”
“You knew I could.”
“And hoped you would.” Words she hadn’t even admitted to herself. Until now. Seeing him here, it was even more clear how much she’d missed him.
“So,” he continued. “I did quit my job with Skye Travels.”
“You really quit?”
He nodded. “I really did.”
“Wow. My father didn’t say anything.”
“I asked him not to. To let me tell you. And I didn’t tell him until two days ago. I waited because I wasn’t sure how long he could keep it from you.”
She waited for him to say more. He took her hand and wove his fingers through hers. “Danielle, I’ve moved to L.A.”
“But your home is in Houston. Your family. Houston is in your blood.”
“I’ll get a stronger plane.”
She thought about her father and how she hated that he lived so far away – in Alabama, but he worked in Fort Worth and visited her often here in California. There were perks to being a pilot, but not an unemployed pilot.
“What will you do?”
“I’m an instructor.”
“I know. You said. But I mean for a job?”
“It is a job. A job that will allow me to be home in the evenings in time to make dinner and take care of you.”
She stared at their hands linked together. A flight instructor. Still a pilot. She sighed. “I think I might have mentioned that I don’t date pilots.”
“Danielle. Seriously? Surely we’ve gotten past that. Give me a chance.”
How could she not? She nodded.
“Will you let me take you flying?”
She laughed. “Flying is all you pilots think about.”
“True. But there are some people I’d like you to meet.”
Chapter 61
Samuel sat next to Danielle at Pappa’s Burgers, squeezed in between his two grandmothers.
“I’m so glad we finally get to meet you,” Veronica Johnson said to Danielle.
“It’s nice to meet you all, too.”
“You’ll come back to the house with us after lunch, won’t you? We’d like to spend time with you.”
Danielle glanced at Samuel. He shrugged.
He wasn
’t having to say much today. Everyone was focused on Danielle. They were so excited he’d finally brought a girl to a family function, they practically had them married off.
“Have you set a wedding date?” His older sister asked from across the table.
Danielle had the deer-in-the-headlights reaction for only a fraction of a second. He was probably the only one who saw it. “No,” she said, keeping the smile on her face. “We haven’t talked about that.”
He’d warned her that they would be invasive – in a loving and accepting way. He squeezed her hand. It was so very nice to have someone to share his family’s intensity with.
His younger sister chimed in. “You’ll get married before the baby comes?”
Samuel scowled at her. He hadn’t told anyone that Danielle was pregnant. When she glanced at him, he shook his head.
He could see her thoughts whirling as she decided the best way to go with this. “There’s plenty of time before July to figure everything out.”
He heard his mother and father whispering from his left. “A baby?”
“Did you know about this?”
His mother beamed. “Another grandchild.”
“Like you don’t have enough.”
His mother elbowed his father. Then when there was a lull in the conversation, she said loud enough for Danielle to hear. “Welcome to the family, dear.”
Danielle flushed and squeezed Samuel’s hand.
Then their food arrived, and as the server distributed their plates, the conversation moved to other things. Preschools. His brother’s new job. With such a big family, there was lots to keep up with.
Danielle relaxed a little and smiled at him. “I tried to warn you,” he whispered.
“And I wholeheartedly appreciate that.”
He chuckled. “I guess you’ll believe me next time.”
“Believing and experiencing are a leap apart.”
Chapter 62
Danielle and Samuel were swept away to his grandparent’s house along with the rest of the family after lunch.
“Can I show you around? Samuel asked.
“Sure.” The rest of the family settled into the living room and spilled into the kitchen. The house was full of large windows with an open floorplan. He led her around to the parlor.
“It’s a pretty house,” Danielle said, looking at Samuel.
“Let’s take a break from the family for a few minutes.”
“Okay.” Thank goodness. She hadn’t wanted to say anything. Everyone was being so very kind. It was just such a big family. She was a little overwhelmed.
He took her hand and pulled her into a hug. “Are you happy?”
“Of course.” She pulled back and his lips went to hers.
“Let’s sit.” He nudged her toward the sofa.
She turned to sit and stopped. Her thoughts froze. There was a teddy bear there on the sofa. A teddy bear that looked like Pappa, the one Samuel had given her.
In her fit of anger, she’d left him at her apartment here in Houston. She’d called the movers and the apartment office, but no one had seen him. She’d kicked herself a hundred times for leaving him behind in anger.
Maybe everyone in the family had one of them.
She sat next to the teddy bear and couldn’t resist picking it up. “This looks like…”
The bear had a pink ribbon tied around its neck. “Pappa.”
She ran her hand along the ribbon that was looped through a ring. She lifted the ring. It was a glittery diamond.
“Samuel,” She turned, the bear in her hands. “Is this…?”
He was on his knees with a grin on his face. “Pappa and I have something to ask you.”
She held her breath.
“Danielle.” He took her hands. She inhaled raggedly.
“Is this my bear?”
“Yes. It’s your bear. Your bear and I want to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
He squeezed the bear’s paw. And the words “Will you marry me?” came from the bear.
He slipped the ribbon off the bear and held up the ring. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she breathed, going into his arms and into a kiss.
After a few minutes, she asked. “How did you get Pappa? I thought he was lost.”
“I went to your apartment the day you moved out. The movers told me you’d left. I couldn’t just leave him.”
“Samuel, I called everybody looking for him.”
“Then I’m glad I rescued him.”
“I am too.” She got off of the floor and sat on the sofa, pulling him with her. She pressed the bear’s paw and giggled. Pappa had learned to talk. Then, with her expression serious again, she turned back to Samuel. “Are you sure? You’re taking on some serious baggage.”
“Hey. I knew about the baggage before you did. Surely that counts for something.”
“True. I’m not sure what that says about me.”
“I think it means we’re an awesome pair.”
“We do work well together.”
“I was thinking more like we play well together.”
She flushed. “We play well together, too.”
“So,” he said, “since you said yes, I don’t have to help you slink out the back door. Everyone’s waiting out there.”
“They knew?”
“Don’t even try keeping something like this from my family. All it takes is for one person to have a suspicion, and suddenly everyone is all over it. I think they have cake.”
She laughed. “Then let’s not keep them waiting.”
And together, they went out to announce their engagement to his family.
Chapter 63
With family living in Alabama, Texas, and California, and two pilots in the family, choosing a wedding location hadn’t been easy.
It was Samuel’s younger sister who first suggested a destination wedding. “Danielle’s dad can fly us anywhere. Why wouldn’t we take advantage of that? I, for one, wouldn’t mind getting away for a few days.”
Mrs. Johnson admonished her daughter for bringing it up, but the idea took on a life of its own and Savannah said almost the same exact words as Samuel’s sister.
Savannah and Noah voted for the mountains in Colorado. Samuel’s siblings wanted New Orleans. Samuel and Danielle were thinking a warm Florida beach.
But when Claire’s doctor restricted her from flight travel, they went with the Long Beach Museum of Art with its beautiful view of the ocean at sunset.
The wedding was outside on a perfect April afternoon. It was a family-only affair. Nonetheless, her mother hadn’t been able to resist small details like a white carpet for her to walk down the aisle on and rose petals scattered everywhere.
Samuel, Noah, and Grayson all wore tuxes – Danielle’s soon-to-be husband, her father, and her stepfather. Danielle smiled at the sight of the handsome men in her family.
As they waited for their cue to walk down the aisle, Noah pulled Danielle aside. “Danielle. You know you don’t have to do this. Between me and Savannah and your mother and Grayson, we’ll help you raise the child. You’ll have plenty of help.”
“I’m not worried about that, Dad.”
“We can stop now. It isn’t too late.”
“I thought you liked Samuel.”
“I do like Samuel, but I want you to be sure. Not to feel like this is a train you can’t stop.”
“You couldn’t pull me off this train if you tried.”
Her father kissed her on the cheek. “Okay then. If he ever hurts you, you tell me, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Dad.” She laughed. “I love Samuel. I want to marry him.”
“Is everything good?” Grayson asked as they came back to stand in their places.
“Everything’s perfect.” Danielle hugged her stepfather.
Samuel stood waiting as her two fathers walked her down the aisle – one on each arm.
Danielle wore white – an empire A-Line floor-length weddi
ng gown. It was sleeveless, but the skirt had mounds of tulle with layers and beading. She didn’t hide her pregnancy, but she didn’t accent it either. Unless she placed a hand beneath her stomach, it wasn’t evident. For something blue, she wore flat Superga sneakers in blue. For something old, she wore a diamond necklace that her grandmother gave her, and for something borrowed, she wore a little homemade ring that her father had made for Savannah in college, but never had the chance to give to her.
When they reached the front of the aisle to stand in front of the priest, Danielle stood next to Samuel and the rest of the world faded away.
He had become so very dear to her. The way his lips curved up at the corners when he looked at her. His eyes that focused on her and only on her. The way their hands seemed to magnetically snap together when they were close.
Then there was the way he seemed in-tune to the nuances of her mood and to know her every need before even she did.
She was only content when he was near. She could no longer imagine a day without him in it.
When he said “I do,” he said the words softly, only for her, leaning forward with his lips almost touching her cheek.
Then when the priest paused and looked at her, she said “I do” before he even said the words. It didn’t matter what he said, what the words were. She wanted this man for the rest of her life.
Then Samuel leaned her back, Hollywood-style, and kissed her. Though she instinctively put her arms around his neck, his arms around her back were strong, holding her secure. Seconds ticked.
It wasn’t until everyone started clapping that he set her back on her feet and grinned at her.
And just like that, she was Mrs. Samuel Johnson.
Chapter 64
Danielle woke Samuel in the middle of the night. At first, he thought he was dreaming. “Samuel?”
“Samuel.” She shook him this time.
He sat up in the bed, his heart racing. “What?”
“It’s time.”
She was already sitting up.
“Now?”
“Now.”
“I need to send your mother a text.” That was the plan, he’d send a text to her mother, and she would start the chain reaction that would send everyone to meet them at the hospital.
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