Mind Games
Page 28
Their first trip to Italy had been special. A time when they both had struggled with and come to terms with the loss of a loved one, and then, eight months later, they honeymooned in the same location. That was when they decided to buy a new home and fill it with the rustic memories they cherished. She looked at the painting of herbs and bottles filled with oils and the tapestry pieces gracing the walls, fondly remembering the authentic extravagances she and Derrick indulged in while on honeymoon.
“Baby, I’m home,” Derrick sang out.
She loved that at least a few nights a week he made it home for dinner at a normal hour. Her father’s arrest had happened over a year ago, and she still pinched herself to remind her that her life with Derrick was real. She sprinkled seasoning over the vegetables, twisting the top of the pepper grinder they had brought back from Italy.
Some good did come after her father’s immediate and miserable trial, where Sparrow had to testify against him. News had spread quickly about Dr. Derrick Sloan’s Mobile Health Clinic RV, and several doctors stepped up, contributing time and money that allowed Derrick to start two more “Health Clinics on Wheels,” the name given by the press. With donations pouring in, Derrick limited his practice as a concierge doctor. He and Sparrow, with the help of a terrific agent and detailed editor, wrote a book, chronicling Sparrow’s dysfunctional childhood and her father’s unscrupulous treatments. The proceeds funded a philanthropic trust supporting the psychiatric needs for patients of Dr. Theodore Von Langley who had come forward and survived his mind games.
Derrick plucked a tomato from his plate and popped it into his mouth. He pulled the bottle of wine from the ice bucket and did a double take. He went into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Sparrow, sliding his hands up and down her tummy.
“Mmm. That smells delicious. Baby carrots, baby peas, braised veal chops, non-alcoholic wine. Am I sensing a theme here?” he asked, caressing her stomach.
She turned in his arms with tears in her eyes.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d catch on or not.”
“Oh, baby, we’re having a baby?”
She nodded, and the tears hanging from her lids fell down her cheeks.
“I know we said we wouldn’t rush it, but Sparrow, don’t be afraid. You are going to be a terrific mom. You’re nothing like him.”
She sobbed against his broad chest. “Are you happy?”
“Of course I’m happy.” He picked her up and spun her around in a slow circle. “We will make terrific parents.”
“Well, someone in the universe must think so, because we’d taken so many precautions. I was certain I wouldn’t get pregnant until I was ready.”
He set her down on her feet. “This is our new beginning. Come on, let’s call your mom and tell her the good news. I still can’t believe she’s an ambassador traveling to all these foreign countries in need. Her life is so fulfilling, but she’s chomping at the bit to be a grandma.”
Sparrow laughed. “Well, she feels like she missed out on my childhood.” She pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss, and then leaned back against his arms. “You’re right. This really is a new beginning for all of us. It’s our legacy. Yours and mine.”
About the Author
MJ LaBeff is an American author best described as the girl-next-door with a dark side. She’s drawn to writing suspense novels, featuring complicated characters and twisted plot lines that will keep readers turning page after page. When she’s not writing or plotting her next novel, MJ enjoys reading, running, lifting weights, and volunteering for the American Cancer Society. She lives in southern Arizona with her husband, Jeff, and their three big dogs Buddy, Sammy, and Sampson.