The Doctor’s Secret Baby
Page 19
“You have Cal.” Sophia put her glass on the table and moved forward.
“No, I don’t.”
“I beg to differ. He was there for you while you were going through that whole thing with the breast lump.” She tapped her lip in thought. “And the time he stopped by after a bad day at work. That’s proof of—something.”
“Oh, yeah?” Em sniffled. “What would that be? He came to see Annie.”
“He came to see his family. You. And Annie, too. But mostly you. You’re his people. Whether he knows it or not, he cares about you.”
“C-caring is a lot different from being in love with,” Em pointed out, far too rationally considering this emotional meltdown.
She’d thought the pain of childbirth was a challenge but this soul-deep ache was far worse. Cal’s past had broken something inside him and it couldn’t be fixed. Her past had broken something in her that wouldn’t let her risk his rejection and now he’d require a lie detector test to verify her honesty. If only were the two saddest words in the English language.
When two fat tears slipped from the corners of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, Sophia swore in the most unladylike terms and gathered her close. “I’m going to give Cal Westen a piece of my mind.”
“It won’t do any good.”
“It will do me a world of good,” Sophia protested.
“How?”
“He needs to take his share of heat.”
“He didn’t do it on purpose.”
“I don’t care. There should be some payback for being the one who holds you when you cry over him.”
Em laughed and cried and counted herself one of the lucky ones even though her heart was breaking. What had she done to deserve such unwavering friendship?
She also had her daughter. If she listed the pros and cons of her life, it would be heavy on the positive side. Maybe one of these days the pain wouldn’t go so deep when Annie was with her father and Em was on the outside with her nose pressed up against the glass, looking at what she’d always wanted most and had let slip through her fingers.
It was the beginning of September and the thermometer was still registering in the triple digits but Emily couldn’t wait for fall—Halloween and dressing Annie up in a costume, Thanksgiving and turkey. Christmas with presents and watching her daughter rip into them. She and Cal were going to have to figure out which of them she was going to spend the holiday with—just like a divorced couple with a child, except they’d never been married.
She’d just put her little girl to bed and was trying to figure out whether to mop the kitchen floor or clean out the refrigerator when there was a knock on the door. Her heart jumped because it was unusual at this time of night. But the thought that Cal might have stopped by really got her ticker kicking.
She peeked through the peephole and tried not to feel disappointed because Patty stood there. After opening, she said, “Hi.”
Jonas was behind his fiancée. “Sorry to bother you. It’s getting late, but we couldn’t wait to tell you.”
“Okay,” she said, standing back to let them in.
Patty was practically vibrating with excitement. “We’re moving out.”
Em turned the deadbolt. “Really? Are you sure that’s a good idea? Waiting just a little while would let you guys save some money and with the baby on the way—”
“The place we’re getting won’t cost us much,” Jonas said. “And it’s a house.”
“I don’t understand.” Em crossed her arms over her chest. “Is there some kind of housing grant or a program I’m not aware of?”
Patty looked at her guy. “It’s called the Cal Westen housing plan for teen parents with initiative.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Dr. Westen bought a house and is going to let us use it for twenty-five dollars a month until Jonas finishes school and gets a good job.”
Em could feel her jaw drop as she stared at them. “I don’t know what to say.”
“We thought he was kidding,” Patty said. “He wasn’t, and said we should consider it part of the Westen wedding gifting.”
“His words,” Jonas added. He put his arm around Patty. “So a week from now we’ll be married and have a house. With a yard for the kids.”
“That’s wonderful.” Em smiled at them. “I expect to be invited to the housewarming.”
“You’ll be the second person on the list,” Patty told her.
“Dr. Westen is first. He called me earlier but Patty wanted us to tell you together and I just got off work.” Jonas grinned. Actually he hadn’t stopped since the door opened. “We have to get back because Lucy’s watching Henry, but we wanted to share the good news.”
Em walked them to the door. “This is wonderful. I’m so happy for you guys. Really.”
“Me, too.” Patty hugged her. “It’s just like you said, Em. Things have a way of working out.”
For some, Em thought after she’d closed the door. Others were destined to make mistakes and live with the fallout. And that was possibly the most pathetic thought she’d ever had. No time like the present to stop feeling sorry for herself. Before she could figure out how to do that, there was another knock. Patty and Jonas probably forgot to tell her something.
She opened the door and Cal stood there. Her heart kicked up again and it would be a miracle if he couldn’t hear it. “Hi.”
“Hey,” he said. “Can I come in?”
She didn’t remember him saying he was going to stop by and that’s something she wasn’t likely to forget, what with being in love with him and all. That meant this wasn’t planned, which meant—“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah. I just needed to see you.”
“Annie, you mean,” she clarified. “You wanted to make sure your daughter is all right.”
He shook his head. “I meant you.”
Wow. “I’m fine, and so is Annie. She’s asleep, but you’re welcome to see her. Anytime.” She stepped back so he could come in.
“Thanks, Em.” He walked past her and into Annie’s bedroom where he pulled the light blanket over her chubby legs. After dropping a soft kiss on her forehead, he followed Em into the living room.
She twisted her fingers together. “Actually I’m glad you stopped by. There’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”
“Me, too.” He frowned and folded his arms over his chest. “You first.”
“I was thinking that Fall is just around the corner. Now that all your legal rights as her father are in place, I thought we should decide how to divide up where Annie spends the holidays.”
“I don’t want to give up any time with her.”
Em’s stomach knotted. “Silly me for thinking anything had changed simply because you decided to help Patty and Jonas with housing.”
“They told you?”
“Just a little while ago. It’s very nice of you, by the way.” She wanted to hate him, but couldn’t manage it.
“I didn’t do it to be nice.”
“Oh?”
“I’ve been lucky with my relatives, so I’ve taken some things for granted. Lately it’s come to my attention that the definition of family is more than just the people who share your DNA.” He looked down at her. “Those two kids feel like part of my family.”
That capacity to care was just one of the many things to love about Cal Westen. How she’d misjudged him.
“You’ve really changed your tune from the day you wanted me to turn my back on Helping Hands and this neighborhood because it wasn’t the right environment for Annie.”
“Yeah.” He looked uncomfortable. “It turns out I learned a lot from your next-door neighbors. Jonas showed me what it means to ‘man up’ and quit running away.”
“He’s a good kid.”
“So is Patty,” he agreed. “With a little support they’ll have a great start to building their future.”
“Yeah.” It’s what she was trying to do. Move on. Not easy, but she’d pulled off h
ard stuff before. Which brought her back to more hard stuff—the fact that Cal didn’t want to share his daughter for the holidays. “Now that you know about Annie it won’t be easy to not have her on a holiday, but we have to agree—”
“I’m not finished yet.”
“Oh.” That was too bad because she so wanted this painful face-to-face to be over.
“I’ve made so many mistakes with you.”
“You have?” That got her attention. He had it the moment she’d seen him in the doorway, but now he really had it.
“I tried to forget you when you dumped me.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. “I understand now. You had no reason to believe that the man who was renouncing commitment would treat you any differently than your mother.”
Em stared up at him, hoping this wasn’t a dream. “So you’re not painting me with the liar’s brush anymore?”
“You have the purest heart I’ve ever known.” He stared at her. “You take responsibility for your actions and would do anything for the people you care about. When Patty ran away you’d have moved heaven and earth to find her. I wish I had half your heart.”
“You do, Cal. What you’re doing for those kids is extraordinary.”
“It’s selfish. I did it to get your attention. To show you I understand the meaning of commitment. And to get you to give me another chance.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The first time I saw you, I fell in love with you. Then you broke things off. It wasn’t about who walked away first, it was about you taking my heart when you left. That hurt more than anything and I didn’t ever want to feel that way again. So I dated. A lot. As Rhonda so eloquently put it, I got older but the women I went out with didn’t.”
Em really didn’t want to hear about other women in his life. “You don’t need to tell me this.”
“I need to tell it.” He rested his hands on his lean hips. “The day you walked back into my life, I fell for you all over again and it scared the crap out of me. I used anything and everything to push you away. Believe me, I know what an idiot I’ve been.”
Em had never expected to hear any of this from him and joy surged through her. “Cal, I don’t—”
He held up a hand to stop her. “I promise to never let you down again. And I’d like it very much if you’d marry me, but I understand if you can’t bring yourself to believe in me.”
“I—That’s really—Wow, you don’t beat around the bush, do you.”
“Not when I want something.”
“You want me?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah.” There was a question in his eyes. “Do you love me? I understand if you can’t.”
“If I said no it would be a lie.”
“So that’s a yes, no?” he asked.
“It’s a yes, yes.” She started laughing and he gathered her into his arms.
The corners of his mouth curved up and love sparkled in his eyes. “You’ve set a high bar for honest and straightforward, so it would be best to start our life together on a truthful note. I would never understand or accept a no to my proposal. I’d already planned to just hang around until you changed your mind. I’m not willing to lose you again because I’m too much of a coward to take a chance.” Intensity hummed through him. “Marry me, Em. Make me the happiest man in the world. Give me the family I’ve always wanted.”
“How could I say no when that’s everything I’ve always wanted?” she asked, trembling with all the feelings that were too big to put into words. It seemed too simple, and at the same time completely right. “I love you so much, Cal. There’s nothing that would make me happier than marrying you.”
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly before saying, “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“And I’m just going to hold you.” She slid her arms around him and rested her cheek on his chest. “On one condition.”
“Anything.”
“Do I have to move into your house after we’re married?” she asked.
“I was sort of counting on you and Annie living with me.” He held her away from him and met her gaze. “You’re worried about Helping Hands.”
“Yes, but I think I know someone who’d be perfect for it.” It was so wonderful how well he understood her. “You haven’t met Sophia yet, and when you do she might be a little hostile at first. She’ll get over it.”
“If you like her I’ll like her,” he promised.
“I know you will. And she doesn’t know it yet, but this apartment is going to be her new home.” Em looked around and knew she would miss this place. “I hope it brings her as much happiness as it’s brought me.”
“And me,” Cal said.
Then he lowered his mouth to hers again and took care of showing her all the tenderness and love she’d longed for her whole life. The only thing that could make her happier was a brother or sister for Annie. Another baby for her and the doctor would make life just about perfect.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3568-1
THE DOCTOR’S SECRET BABY
Copyright © 2009 by Teresa Southwick
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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