The Surrogate (Clearwater)
Page 5
“Sure, from time to time. To get out of the city, away from it all. It sounds like Heaven but that means starting all over, and positions like yours don’t come up often. Most small towns want family doctors not pediatricians.”
“So if something came available, would you be interested?”
“Michael, what’s this all about?” Jessi inquired before her brother could answer.
“Let him answer and I’ll explain. I promise.” He kissed the top of her forehead and looked back at James.
“Maybe if it was a good fit.”
“I want to offer you a job. Now with twins due any day to have another doctor in the office to share the workload and hospital duties would be a blessing. It would give me more time to spend with Jes and the girls. It would also keep you close for Jes. You’ll be able to play a bigger part in your nieces’ lives.” When James started to speak Michael added. “Just think about it, that’s all I’m asking.”
James laughed. It was deep and full of life. “I was going to say I’ll take it. I’ll need time to give notice in Denver, but it would be perfect.” He rose from his seat and walked across the room to stand by the window. “The other night when we were on our way back from the airport and you stopped to pull that lady out of the snowbank. I realized this was the type of place I wanted to be. No one would have done that in Denver. More importantly, Jessi is here. We’ve always been close and to think of her gone… Well, she’s all the family I have left.”
“Oh, James.” She tried to rise, but didn’t have the momentum to get up. “Damn stomach always in the way.” Finally able to get up, she went and hugged him.
“Last night, I looked to see if there were any openings for a pediatrician in the area. I’d change my life, to stick close to you and be a part of my nieces’ daily lives. I don’t want to be the uncle they only see once or twice a year.”
“I’m sorry. I never meant for this to change your life. I thought you loved your job,” Jessi told him.
“None of this is your fault. I want you happy and Michael does that for you. He’s a good man. I couldn’t have picked a better one for you.”
“Thank you. Jes is an amazing woman, I’ll do my best to make sure she’s always happy.” Michael came up behind her, placing his arms around her until they slid overtop hers on her stomach, before steering the conversation back on track. “So when can you start?”
“If you’re serious I’ll call tomorrow and give my notice. My contract says I need to give thirty days, so I’ll need a month to close things up back in Denver before I could start.”
Michael nodded, excited about the possibility of working with his former medical school roommate and best friend. Back before they went their separate ways that had been an unstoppable team. His father always told him work to live not live to work and that was exactly what he what he wanted to do.
“You’re really going to move here?” Jessi asked, her voice holding a touch of surprise.
“Why little sister, the way you ask that, someone might think you wouldn’t want me intruding on your happiness,” James teased.
“It’s not that. I mean I’d love you close. I’m just surprised. You’ve worked so hard to establish your own clients and now you’re willing to give it up?”
Michael spoke up. “Sometimes it’s more about living your life, than working it away. James was a mess when you were studying abroad. If it weren’t for medical school and the long hours, he wouldn’t have known what to do with himself. Now he’s back in almost the same position and he doesn’t want to miles to separate you both.”
“He’s right,” James agreed. “Thank you, Michael. I truly appreciate this opportunity.”
“We’ll finalize the paperwork and get you hospital privileges before you leave. In the meantime, we have a party to attend. You’ll get to meet some of your future co-workers.” He ran his hand on Jes’s stomach. “You still up for the party? We don’t have to stay long but I promised I’d stop in.”
“Who doesn’t love a good Christmas party? I’m fine, but are you sure the weather’s okay?”
He kissed her neck. “It will be fine. The plows were busy getting the roads cleared this afternoon, and I doubt we’ll be there long enough for this to do any real accumulation. We’ll keep an eye on the weather. If it gets too bad we can leave. The hospital isn’t that far.”
“If you say so.” She didn’t seem convinced.
“For a woman who lived in Denver all her life you sure don’t like to go out in the snow, do you?”
“It’s not the going out in it. I’d gladly go win a snowball fight against both of you again. I just don’t particularly like driving in it. I guess working from home all these years has spoiled me.”
Michael and James laughed, until James finally gained enough control to speak. “Dear sister, next year I’ll challenge you to a rematch for you cheated on that particular snowball fight you’re remembering.”
“I’ll take you on now and still win.” She tried to slip out of Michael’s embrace as if to go to the door.
Michael pulled her back against his body. “Oh no you don’t. You’re pregnant and so not having a snowball fight this year.”
“Party-pooper.” She nestled her head against his shoulder.
He might be just that but he wouldn’t let his fiancée run around in the snow with only a week before she was due. He hoped the girls would wait another few days to give them a chance to get married before they came into the world.
* * *
The hospital Christmas party flew by without a hitch. Jessi met Michael’s co-workers and James mingled easily with his future co-workers. Everyone welcomed him on board with eager enthusiasm. Things were coming together for Jessi better and faster than she ever imaged. Taking a seat at one of the tables, she arched her back trying with all her might to take the strain away, but nothing seemed to work.
“Maybe a backrub would help?” Michael came up behind her, laying his hands on her shoulders, gently rubbed her shoulders before he worked down the back that wasn’t pressed against the chair. “How is tomorrow evening for us to get married?”
She laid her hand on his. “Tomorrow? How did you manage that?”
“Father Donavan does rounds most night to see his parishioners and anyone else who might like a visit. I caught him as he was leaving. Does that work for you? I know you wanted to do it before the twins were born, and who knows when they might decide to make their arrival. Hopefully they’ll hold off another day.”
“Tomorrow’s perfect. I’d marry you now if I could.”
“Don’t think I didn’t think of that. But we can’t get our marriage license until in the morning, and Father Donavan has other commitments, he’s squeezing us in tomorrow as a favor.”
She rose from the chair to stand before him, her hands in his. “Tomorrow will be soon enough. I can’t wait to be your wife. I love you.”
“I love you too.” He wrapped his arms around her.
The girls kicked as if they could feel her excitement, and she wondered if the inside of her body was one large bruise from her active daughters.
“I’ll love when they kick. It’s almost as if they’re telling me to get away from their mother,” he teased, his hand glided along her stomach to feel their kicks.
“They’re excited about their daddy.” She placed her hand over his, and moved it to the other side to feel their other daughter, the one with a seriously powerful kick. “Our girls are excited we’ve worked things out.” They weren’t the only ones excited about the way things were turning out. In under two weeks she’d have the family of her dreams and she couldn’t wait.
Chapter Eight
Epilogue: Two months later
Jessi grabbed the baby monitor and quietly eased her way out of the room, leaving Kari and Kami to sleep. She was exhausted, but today James was joining her and Michael for lunch. Not wanting to miss it, she’d forgo a nap with the girls.
Outside the door she found James at
the stairs. “Tell me I’m not too late to see them.”
“I just put them down, but you can look in on them if you’re quiet.” She eased the door open and let him step in.
“Can’t I just hold one of my nieces?”
“No!” She nearly cried with the thought of one of them waking so soon. They were good babies but it seemed like when one woke the other did too. “You can see them later. Now let’s go eat before they wake up again.”
Downstairs, her husband, Michael had just stepped out of his study. “Tessa’s daughter Rosalie is having allergies issues again and has been taken to the hospital. I need to go.”
Jessi had come to think of Tessa as a close friend over the last few months. Learning different motherhood tricks from her had been a blessing. “Go. Let Tessa know if she needs anything to call me.” She hoped her friend wasn’t alone dealing with a sick child. Months ago she wouldn’t have thought twice about someone dealing with it alone, but now a mother herself she realized the stress of seeing your child sick. She hoped Tessa’s husband, Cameron, or Jordan and Chloe were with her.
“I can go,” James offered.
“You can come with me. We might have to run some more tests. This sounds more like it could be a food allergies,” Michael told James before he turned his attention back to her. “Jordan’s with her, but I’ll let her know of your offer. Are you sure you will be okay alone?”
“I’ll be fine. Cathy’s here if I need any help, you know how she loves those girls. Go take care of Rosie, she needs you now.” She took a step towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He pressed his lips to hers.
After years of solitude, Jessi finally had the man she always loved and two beautiful girls to show for it. There was nothing better than that. Waiting proved she could have her very own happy every after.
Marissa Dobson
Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you’re never done learning.
Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn't until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with.
Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night.
Her writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) are always around to listen to her bounce ideas off them. They might not be able to answer, but they are helpful in their own ways.
She love to hear from readers so send her an email at marissa@marissadobson.com or visit her online at http://www.marissadobson.com.
Other Books by Marissa Dobson
Tiger Time
The Tiger’s Heart
Tigress for Two
Night with a Tiger
Storm Queen
Snowy Fate
Sarah’s Fate
Mason’s Fate
As Fate Would Have It
Learning to Live
Learning What Love Is
Her Cowboy’s Heart
Half Moon Harbor Resort: Volume One
Passing On
Reaping Good Time
Restoring Love
Winterbloom
Unexpected Forever
Losing To Win
Christmas Countdown
The Surrogate
Clearwater Romance: Volume One
Secret Valentine