by Leslie Kelly
Chase pulled the truck up to the emergency room entrance at the hospital, turned in his seat and took Claudia’s hand.
“I guess we’re just destined for adventure, sweetheart.”
She smiled weakly as he leaned forward to brush a light kiss on her temple.
“I think I’ll settle for a little domestic tranquility after this,” she replied. “I’ve had enough adventure.”
“Ahh, Claudia,” he whispered, “life with you will always be an adventure.”
Claudia woke slowly, confused for a moment at the unfamiliar roughness of the starched cotton sheets rubbing against her skin. She blinked her eyes rapidly and glanced around. Long shadows crisscrossed the tile floors of the private hospital room, as the early evening sun shone through the vertical blinds. Several large bouquets of flowers stood on the tables near the bed, and Claudia smiled as she remembered receiving one particular arrangement, from Andrew Worthington's sister, Jenny. The entire family had been so distraught to learn of Andrew's duplicity two years ago. Chase and Claudia had been so relieved when Jenny and her husband had stepped in to take over Monarch Construction, and Claudia had formed a strong friendship with the other woman.
“I guess I actually did fall asleep,” she murmured aloud.
Chase had urged her to get some rest earlier in the afternoon. Michael had been born at six-thirty in the morning, about fifteen minutes after they’d arrived at the hospital, and Claudia had been too excited to relax all day. Melanie had called half a dozen times, wanting every detail of the labor since her own baby was due in just a few weeks. Chase had spoken to Ryan, telling him what to expect from a woman in labor, and laughed when Ryan told him the adoption of their son Bradley the previous summer had been the easier way.
Claudia had also called her mother to tell her of Michael's birth. They'd spoken a few times in the past year, ever since Claudia—with Chase’s support and encouragement—had first extended the olive branch and reached out to her distant family. With each conversation Claudia felt more warmth between them. It wasn't the kind of mother-daughter relationship she'd ever want with her own child, but it was more than she'd expected.
Finally, at around three, Chase insisted that she let him walk the baby down to the nursery so she could sleep. Remembering her last hospital stay, Claudia knew she would later be grateful for the nap. She would keep Michael in her room throughout the night, and when the baby’s cries to be fed didn’t wake her, the nurses shaking her to take her blood pressure or temperature surely would. At least, that’s what she remembered of her brief stay after Sarah’s birth.
“Sarah,” she gasped aloud, remembering suddenly that Dorien had promised to bring the child to the hospital after dinner to meet her new brother.
Sliding her legs gingerly out the side of the bed, Claudia carefully stood. She wasn’t too sore, luckily, and felt a lot better than she had after Sarah’s birth. Pulling on her robe which lay draped over a chair, she slowly walked out of her room toward the nursery. A young nurse smiled and nodded as she passed the desk, but for the most part the hall was quiet and deserted.
Rounding a corner, Claudia stopped when she saw Chase staring into the plate glass nursery window, holding Sarah tightly in his arms.
“See Sarah? There he is. That’s our little Michael,” Chase said softly.
Sarah leaned her face forward and pressed her forehead against the glass, staring at the few babies in the nursery. Claudia watched as she frowned and looked up into Chase’s face.
“Baby cwyin,” Sarah said firmly.
Chase nodded at her and replied, “I think he’s getting hungry. Would you like to take him down to Mommy so she can feed him?”
“Pizza?”
Chase’s soft laughter drifted over as he said, “No, Michael can’t have pizza yet. When he’s a little bigger, you can introduce him to pizza...and lots of other wonderful things. Like...blowing bubbles outside on a summer evening, and chasing butterflies, and taking your shoes off to walk in the stream.”
“Swings?” the toddler asked.
“Oh, yes, swings that go high enough that your feet can almost touch the clouds, just like we have in our back yard,” Chase answered. “You and Michael will always have each other, he’ll always be your little brother, and he’ll always love you, just like Mommy and Daddy will always love you.”
“I love dat baby,” Sarah said with a stiff nod, causing a red-brown curl to fall across her forehead. Claudia bit back a smile as her daughter blew at the hair and gave her head a hard shake. Still silent, she felt tears come to her eyes as she watched Chase lift his strong fingers to deftly brush back the curl with a father’s gentle, loving touch. She nearly felt the contact as he traced Sarah’s chubby cheek with his fingertip, then bent forward to give her their traditional butterfly and Eskimo kisses.
“And I love you, Daddy!”
“Daddy loves you, too, sweet angel,” Chase assured her as he drew her higher into his arms so she could give him a tight hug.
Claudia felt the tears falling down her cheeks at the tender scene she’d just witnessed. How foolish she’d been to ever question Chase’s ability to love another man’s child. This man was capable of immense love. A deep feeling of gratitude washed over her with the knowledge that she and her children were the ones receiving it, and would every day as long as they lived.
Life was good. So very good. And with a broad smile on her face, Claudia walked toward her husband and their children, ready to move forward with the family she’d always dreamed about.
THE END
Did you enjoy this sexy-but-tender romance from Leslie Kelly? Then be sure to watch for COMING HOME, Leslie’s next exclusive e-book-only release, coming soon! For information and updates please visit Leslie’s webpage at:
http://www.lesliekelly.com