He was just about to ask one of the nurses to phone the ED when Zoë walked through the door. She smiled at him, such a brilliant smile that his fears evaporated. Opening his arms, he smiled back at her. ‘Come on, then. What are you waiting for? I thought you’d deserted me in my hour of need.’
‘Hour of need?’ Zoë chuckled as she sat on the bed and let him enfold her in a hug. ‘There’s been that many people here to minister to your every need, you’re in danger of being spoiled!’
‘Ah, but they weren’t you. And that makes all the difference.’
He kissed her hungrily, glorying in the fact that she kissed him back just as eagerly. They both sighed when they drew apart and Ben laughed.
‘We needed that, didn’t we?’
‘I definitely did.’ She smoothed his cheek with a gentle hand. ‘I love you, Ben Nicholls. Did I tell you that before I went AWOL?’
‘I’m not sure.’ He pretended to consider the question. ‘You did mention something along those lines, but I was a little hazy from all the drugs. Maybe you should tell me again. And again. And again…’
She pressed her fingers to his mouth, effectively silencing him. ‘I love you. I made a big mistake by pushing you away and I intend to make up for it, if you’ll let me.’
‘I understand why you did it, Zoë. You were trying to protect me and I’ll always cherish that thought.’ He kissed her hand. ‘I understood why you’ve behaved the way you’ve done when I realised how close I’d come to dying.’ His voice caught. ‘The thought of your suffering was more than I could bear.’
‘Don’t! I can’t bear to think of anything happening to you, my darling. It’s harder for those left behind. They have to deal with their grief as well as the loss of the one they loved. But you’re getting better, Ben, and I give thanks for that.’
‘And you are, too.’ He captured her hands. ‘Your treatment is going to work, Zoë. I know it will.’
‘I feel really hopeful, too.’ She placed his hand on her stomach, seeing his delight when the baby moved. ‘This little one is going to grow up with both a mummy and a daddy to love him or her.’
‘Zoë!’ Words eluded him so Ben settled for the next best thing, or maybe the very best thing: a kiss.
Zoë sighed blissfully as she snuggled against him. ‘I’m sure we shouldn’t be doing this. You’ve had major surgery and you need to be careful.’
‘It’s the best medicine in the world, not to mention the biggest incentive to make a speedy recovery.’ Ben kissed her again. ‘I love you too, Zoë. I tried not to love you but I failed miserably. I gave you my heart two years ago and it’s been yours ever since.’
‘Oh, Ben, I wish—’
‘No.’ He kissed her softly on the lips. ‘No regrets. It’s the future that matters now, not the past.’
‘That’s exactly how I feel.’ She kissed him again, only drawing back when she felt him wince as the stitches in his side tweaked painfully. She stood up, shaking her head when he protested. ‘There’ll be plenty of time for all that when you’re better.’
‘Is that a promise?’
‘Yes, if you want it to be.’
‘You know I do.’ Ben looked up at her. ‘I want a lot more than that, too, Zoë.’
‘Then why don’t you tell me what you want?’ she said softly.
‘You. Will you marry me? Will you live with me for ever and ever and let me love you? Will you make me the happiest and proudest man in the world?’
‘Yes, I will.’
She smiled at him, her face alight with love, and Ben’s heart swelled with happiness. Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed her palm then closed her fingers over the spot where his mouth had touched. ‘Sealed with a kiss, my love. You can’t go back on your promise now.’
Zoë leant over and kissed him. ‘I shall never go back on it, Ben. You and I are going to spend the rest of our lives together.’
One year later
‘Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding while we toast the bride and groom.’
Zoë looked at Ben and smiled. They had just been married in a civil ceremony held in the garden of a hotel on the banks of Lake Windermere. All their friends and Ben’s family had been invited and she could see the delight on their faces as they stood up for the toast. Heather and her husband Archie were there, too, looking blissfully happy, and Ross and Gemma, who appeared equally thrilled with life. It was obvious that both couples were very much in love.
Ross was acting as Ben’s best man and now he held his glass aloft.
‘To the bride and groom. May they have many happy years ahead of them.’
Zoë’s heart brimmed with happiness as she looked at all the smiling faces before her gaze moved back to the two people she loved most of all. Ben was holding their daughter and once again she was struck by the resemblance between them. At almost nine months old, little Serena Katherine Nicholls was the image of her adoring father, with her dark curls and huge hazel eyes. Zoë knew that she would never get over the wonder of giving birth to this perfect little human being.
Thankfully, her chemotherapy hadn’t harmed the baby in any way and Serena had been given a clean bill of health, much to their delight. The fact that Zoë had also been told the previous week that there was no sign of her cancer returning was another reason to celebrate. She had the best incentive in the world to look forward to the future now—a gorgeous baby daughter and an equally gorgeous husband.
‘I love you,’ she whispered, leaning over so that only Ben could hear her.
‘I love you, too.’ Ben kissed her hungrily then grinned when a cheer erupted. He dropped a kiss on the baby’s head, handed her to Zoë and stood up.
‘I just want to thank you all for sharing our very special day. I don’t think I need to tell you how much today means to me. I feel like the luckiest man in the world to have such a gorgeous wife and daughter.’
He helped Zoë to her feet. Raising his glass, he turned to face her. ‘To my beautiful bride and my equally beautiful daughter. Thank you both for making me so happy.’
Zoë laughed as everyone applauded. It was a moment to treasure, and the best thing of all was that she knew there would be many more times like this to come. She, Ben and Serena had a lifetime of happiness ahead of them.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3181-2
THE DOCTOR’S BABY BOMBSHELL
First North American Publication 2009
Copyright © 2009 by Jennifer Taylor
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