The Running Series Box Set: Books 1-3

by DeLaine Roberts

  The green monster hit me again, this time taking my breath away. I accidentally dropped the can of chili I was holding for the Frito pie. Tears stung my eyes.

  Yes, I was happy for her, but filled with my own jealousy. So much so, I felt the same splotchy redness creep up my skin like a slithering, evil snake.

  Why everyone, but me?

  I picked up the can of chili and placed it on the counter. With my back still to my husband and guests, I uttered words of excuse and quietly disappeared upstairs to the master bathroom.

  “You okay?” I heard Harrison through the door.

  “Yes. My stomach hurts.”

  “We both know what’s going on.”

  I opened the door and came out. The opportunity to fix my make-up hadn’t presented, so I was a mess to say the least. I grabbed my make-up bag and tried to repair the damage.

  Harrison pulled my hands down from my face and embraced me tightly. “Are you ready to call Pamela yet?”

  “I’ve been thinking about a surrogate.”

  “What?” He pushed back from me, his eyes searching mine.

  “I want you to have your own child, and a surrogate is the way to go.”

  “Oh baby, is this what has you so upset? God, do you know how much I love you? With or without a child, I’m happy with you.” He held me close and tried his best to comfort me.

  Finally, I pulled away. “I need to apologize to our company.”

  We went back downstairs and sat down in the den with them. I apologized, explaining my condition, and the situation we were trying to figure out.

  Kaci felt bad for upsetting me, but it wasn’t her fault and seriously wasn’t her problem. It was a big decision to have a child, period. While we had money to pay for any option we chose, money couldn’t prevent failed fertility treatments for surrogates or failed adoptions for that matter.

  Let’s face it, when it came to matters of the heart, it didn’t matter how much money you had.

  “What are your plans?” Harrison asked her.

  “We want to get married Valentine’s Day at Logan’s. That’s where we met and where I feel the love of my family. Will you give me away?”

  “And serve as my best man?”

  “Wow, double duty? Absolutely.”

  “Monica, will you be a bridesmaid with Shae?”

  “I’d be honored. I guess there is a double bridal shower in the works with a baby shower to follow,” I said with a subtle laugh.

  “I suppose so,” she said with a sheepish smile.

  We discussed plans and she asked me to sketch a dress for her. I was more than thrilled and grabbed my pad. Before the afternoon was over, we had her dress sketched and had all of her wedding plans down on paper.

  “I’m sending a copy of this dress to Bianca to see if she can do the finishing. I’ll let you know what I hear.”

  Frito pie on a cold, winter day was just right for friends, conversation, and football. Kaci asked Harrison if she could buy the bar back.

  Harrison reminded her the contract said she could at any time and that he would draw up the contract and get it to her by the end of the week. Regarding the penthouse, she’d already moved out, had everything steam-cleaned, and left the key with Vinnie. She and Luke were very happy, and I was thrilled for them. Harrison acted like a nervous father with a daughter going off to college. He wasn’t in control, and he didn’t know how to react.

  With our guests gone, I found myself counting the glass tiles in the backsplash while doing the dishes.

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  “They’re not even worth a penny. They’re evil and full of jealousy.” I tried to laugh and make a joke at my own expense.

  “Not possible,” he said, as he wiped the tear away from the corner of my eye. “I know what would cure your blues.”

  “Hmm, you do?”

  “Yes, get your leathers on, and let’s go for a ride.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  The calendar was full with designs to do for work, doctor appointments with Nadia, and a meeting with Pamela. Nadia had narrowed her decision down to two couples and would be meeting with each couple and Pamela. As I studied their profiles again, I felt their desire to have a family and their pain… I knew it all too well and it was gripping to say the least.

  Nadia met me at Pamela’s office. When I walked into the lobby, I saw her sitting on the sofa, playing with her phone.

  “You look beautiful. How’s the little man?”

  “He’s killin’ my bladder. Do you know I have to get up every two hours to pee?”

  “Well, the doctor did say he’s dropped, and you could have him a couple of weeks early.”

  “Dropped? There’s nowhere else for him to go, except out. Geez.”

  We both laughed.

  The interviews with the couples were harder than I ever thought they would be. Both of the couples would make great parents to Nadia’s baby and fully understood the reason for her decision, both signed confidentiality agreements for non-disclosure and agreed to maintain her privacy. She had a tough decision on her hands that no one could help her with.

  The traffic on the way home gave me time to think about my own situation. Not only was I going through this with Nadia, but if Harrison and I chose adoption, we would very well be in the same situation. My heart was wrapped in chains and held by concrete in a hundred feet of water. I didn’t know what to do.

  My phone rang and Harrison’s voice came over the speakers in the car. How did he always know when to break up the wars in my mind?

  “Hey, princess, do you want to come to the bar?”

  “Sure, I’m a couple of minutes away.”

  When I got to the bar, I found Harrison in a great mood, with Max running around like crazy. It was open mic night, so the craziness didn’t get started until after dinner for the most part. With Harrison’s iPod playing music through the speakers, we set up the stage, and he stopped and danced with me, very free spirited-like.

  “You’re in a great mood?” I teased him.

  “I wanted to talk to you.”

  “I’m listening?”

  We stopped dancing, and he searched my eyes. “Were you serious about a surrogate?”

  “I’m seriously considering it. Why?”

  “Because I’m really ready to make some changes. Starting with this place. Instead of selling it back to Kaci per our agreement, I’m going to gift it to her as a wedding present. Which will mean I’m free to go back to work full time. With you working from home, we can really think about a family.”

  “You don’t waste any time.”

  “Never.”

  “Okay, let’s do it. I’ll make the appointment. It’s a process that won’t happen overnight. You realize that, and there’s hormone injections and…”

  “I’ll do anything to get in your pants.”

  He twirled me to the music and laughed while I squealed.

  He signed over Logan’s to Kaci and gave her the key followed by a long embrace. We loaded Max in my car, and I turned around to look for his car.

  “How did you get here?”

  “Tate.”

  “Oh, so you’re hitchin’ a ride?”

  He turned up his thumb. So cute.

  It was going to take some getting used to seeing him in dress clothes again every day and even more so, the business travel.

  Nadia called and said she wanted to come out to the house and talk to us about the adoption. We weren’t going to be able to help her make a decision, but if talking through the process helped or supported her in any way, we could certainly do that.

  I started dinner and almost had it ready by the time she got to the house. We sat down to eat, and I noticed her picking at her food.

  Crap. I’d fixed salmon, and she was told by the doctor to avoid it during pregnancy. I felt like an idiot.

  “I forgot about fish, Nadia. I’ve got chicken. I’ll be right back.”

  She grabbed my hand and stop
ped me. “Don’t. I’m not hungry anyway. Please sit. I want to ask you and Mr. Harrison something.”

  I sat back down in the chair and studied her face. I couldn’t imagine what was disturbing her. I gripped her hand. “What’s wrong?”

  “Would you and Mr. Harrison adopt my baby?”

  There was a pause as Harrison and I looked at each other, taken aback in complete shock.

  “Yes,” we answered together.

  I looked to my right at Nadia and then to my left at Harrison. He nodded and then hugged me before getting out of his chair and hugging Nadia.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked her.

  “I’m sure. I think the reason I couldn’t pick the couple is because you two are the right parents for my baby. I trust you will give him a life he deserves and will love him like your own.” She wiped away her tears, and I tried to wipe at mine, but they kept coming.

  The three of us hugged for the longest of time before we sat back down and tried to finish dinner. Stunned, I couldn’t eat. My body trembled from all sorts of emotions. I experienced the swing from excitement to terror.

  I noticed Harrison couldn’t quit smiling. He told her about the decisions he had made and that he wouldn’t be at the bar anymore and would be back working with mergers and acquisitions again at the firm.

  “How can we thank you for this gift?” I asked her softly.

  “You can love him with all your heart. Give him a wonderful life.”

  “Do you have a name that you like?” Harrison asked.

  “I like Chase. It means strong, but you pick the name.”

  “I love Chase. Chase Brooks has a nice sound to it,” I said.

  “I love it too. Chase Brooks, my son.” Harrison wiped at the corner of his eye.

  “Chase, it is,” Nadia said with a sweet smile. She leaned back in the chair and rubbed her belly. Then she took both of my hands and placed them with hers.

  I felt the baby moving and cried harder.

  What a day.

  We spent the rest of the evening going over her plans and the calendar. She was going to call Pamela and have the papers drawn up for the adoption. She also wanted to meet with the two sets of prospective parents and explain to them her decision in person. She knew both couples were going to be very hurt. I think from our own experience she could see both sides of the situation more closely.

  The doctor wanted to see her every week because the baby was carrying so low. She asked if Harrison could join us and see the ultrasounds.

  Of course, he was thrilled.

  We looked at the room next to the master bedroom that I hadn’t decorated yet. I’d left it empty, thinking I might make it into my studio if Harrison was going to be using the office more. Happy that it was empty, I had a fresh canvas.

  I got Nadia settled in the guest room, and when I joined Harrison in bed, I couldn’t close my eyes from excitement.

  “Someday, huh?” he asked as he pulled me close.

  “Amazingly beautiful.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  A house full of women should’ve been more than Harrison could handle, but nope, he had to be right in the middle of everything. He kept rearranging the seating and tasting the food.

  “I know you need to take the bike out or something. Maybe go pick up the new pictures for your office, so we can hang them tomorrow.”

  “You’re just trying to get rid of me,” he playfully pouted.

  “No, I’m trying to protect the appetizer counts.” I laughed.

  “Well, I can’t help it. I’m eating for two.”

  I tossed a dish towel at him, but we both laughed and I couldn’t keep from smiling. Nadia was giving us…make that, trusting us, to be the best parents to her baby. We had promised her we would keep it quiet and not make any announcements. Whatever she wanted, we were willing to do. She’d decided to stay with us until the baby was born and help me pick out things for the nursery and baby layette. She wanted a jungle themed room, and I was happy to accommodate her wish. I liked the idea too.

  Shae and Kaci were going to make beautiful brides. In fact, Bianca had delivered Kaci’s dress to the house that morning. When Kaci arrived before the shower, I took her to the guest room, where the dress was hanging, and she couldn’t quit squealing and jumping up and down.

  I worried she was going to disturb the little baby and had to settle her down. The gown fit her perfectly, and we were admiring it in the floor mirror when Harrison walked in with Shae. Both of them couldn’t stop complimenting the dress, and Harrison pulled me aside.

  “You have talent. Why don’t you consider opening a studio for bridal couture?”

  “Because I can’t sew.”

  “Can’t you hire someone?”

  “Well, yes, I suppose I could, but what about—”

  “Shhh. Whatever makes you happy. I see all of your doodle books, and I know you have talent. You can be a mom and work if you want. Whatever you desire. It makes me happy to see you fulfilled and content.”

  He knew me too well. He knew I needed to be around people. I couldn’t be a loner any more than he could, but I wanted to wait until after Chase was born to make any decisions. Besides, I had a great thing going with Bianca. Perhaps we could do a side business together? My designs, her finishing, since she didn’t have a bridal line. It wouldn’t compete with anything in her current designs.

  There were boxes, piles of tissue paper, and gift sacks everywhere. Most of the girls who attended were friends of Shae and Kaci from their sorority. Quite a few were getting married themselves, so wedding bells were certainly ringing.

  They had my wedding album out, looking at our photos. I had to explain the photos taken at Harrison’s firm and the mishap that had happened. I was finally able to laugh at the events. As long as I lived, I’d never forget the look on Harrison’s face when he realized I hadn’t gone to the courthouse and filed my papers.

  “If you’re wanting a destination wedding, Capri is certainly at the top of my list. It’s a fascinating place to visit. Just be sure and do your homework about getting married in a foreign country.”

  “I’ll second that,” Harrison added.

  “I already told them about what happened to us.”

  “You mean the heart attack you gave me.”

  “Yep, that one.”

  With the ladies gone, Luke and Graham came by to help load up all the gifts in his truck. The girls had scored the mother-load of gifts for the kitchen and the bedroom. If it wasn’t naughty nighties, it was blenders.

  I’d enjoyed watching them with their friends, bantering back and forth. The other ladies shared quite a few wicked stories about my new friends. I’d learned a lot. Kaci didn’t share with her friends the news about the baby. She wanted to wait away until she was further along, so she held on to one secret at least.

  While I was putting away the dishes, I saw the most recent envelope from Victoria’s husband. I pulled it out and accidentally got a paper cut. The envelope may have cut me, but the situation had taken a razor to Harrison’s heart and whacked it to pieces. Slowly, he was putting it back together. He deserved closure, and I had an idea about how to get it for him. I put the envelope in my briefcase and went upstairs.

  I took a seat beside Harrison on the sofa in the man-cave. We were alone with the house quiet and clean again. He’d just started watching a comedy about a woman stealing a man’s identity. It was hilarious.

  We stretched out on the sofa together and laughed repeatedly. It was so comfortable to be with him and in our happy place. I laid there entangled in his arms and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, but the changes that had come about in a few short months had rocked my world.

  “Did you think about the penthouse?”

  “I still think it’s your decision.”

  “Okay, we have a buyer with a great offer, so we’ll sell it.”

  ***

  I got up early with Harrison and went on a morning run before making him br
eakfast while he got ready for work. We were both excited about getting into a new routine.

  After he left, I got ready and went in to Chicago to pick up the baby bed and bedding we’d ordered. It was a strange feeling to be doing all of the decorating without actually having a baby or even any papers, but I had faith.

  The lady at the shop was full of questions, which made me a bit anxious. I knew a baby was a fun time for most people, and she was only trying to be friendly, but it was still a bit unnerving. I explained we were doing a private adoption and tried to get her to shut up.

  Back in the car and headed home with our baby stuff, my phone buzzed over Bluetooth. Harrison was calling so soon? “Hey, baby. Missing me already?”

  “I am. Can you come to the office?”

  “Sure.”

  I entered his office and found him all smiles on his first day at work. After he kissed me, he reached behind me and shut the door. Then he kissed me passionately again, this time without the opportunity of an audience. When he pulled away from me, I was dazed.

  “Pamela wanted to see us. Nadia is on her way.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing that I know of. We’ll know more in a few minutes.”

  We met Nadia out in the firm’s lobby and went together to Pamela’s office. I couldn’t keep from fidgeting. When Pamela presented the adoption papers to all of us, she went over the specifics of the agreement per Nadia’s wishes. The contents of the agreement was everything we had discussed, except Harrison had asked that a stipend for Nadia be inserted.

  Nadia cried when Pamela explained Harrison and I would be covering the rest of her schooling and she would be able to finish her medical degree. The release of visitation and all rights were explained.

  While I was very happy about the gift she was giving, I crumbled on the inside over the gift of life she was giving up. I reached over to her lap and gripped her hand.

  “You’ll sign here for the adoption process to start. A home study will be ordered, as we discussed, and once the baby is born, the judge will sign the official adoption after the fourteenth day. Nadia has fourteen days to change her mind after the baby is born,” Pamela instructed.