Tess shook her head. “He had his lawyer draw up an agreement for joint custody and child support if DNA proves the baby is his. He doesn’t trust me, and that makes love impossible.”
“But why? How could he not believe in you? You’re the most honorable person I know. Besides Jamie, of course. What’s wrong with him?”
“He wants no part of love.” A tear trickled down Tess’s cheek.
“Coldhearted jerk.” Carla’s eyes blazed and angry red blotches covered the fair skin of her face. “I’m going to hurt him—”
“No. He has a very good reason for feeling that way.” Tess told her friend everything. “He never promised to love me and hasn’t done anything wrong. The mistake is mine.”
“Well, that really bites. And I can’t even be mad at him.” Carla put her glass on the coffee table, then reached over and squeezed Tess’s hand. “What can I do?”
“Same as you always have. Be my friend.” That did it. The sobs she’d been holding in fought their way out as tears spilled down her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands and let all the pain come out while her friend held her.
“It will be okay, honey. I promise. You’re not alone. Not ever.”
Tess had no idea how long the storm lasted but eventually there were no more tears left to shed. No offense to her friend, but it was a lot more comforting when Leo held her while she cried. Guess that was over, too.
She brushed the wetness from her cheeks and tried to smile. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be silly. You should have told me sooner, you know.”
“Yeah.” Tess nodded. “But it was hard. I hope you never have your heart broken, but if you do, I’ll return the favor and hold you while you cry.”
“Are you kidding? I’m never going to fall in love ever again.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said. Famous last words. And isn’t that attitude a violation of the matchmaker code of conduct?”
“The business is about facilitating meetings for people who are looking for someone. The love part is up to them. Or not. My background in psychology is helpful. From reading profiles, it’s a tool in pairing up people, but there’s no way to predict what happens face-to-face. It’s a job and I needed one badly after what happened with you know who.”
“Good for you moving past all that. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about you being an idiot, like me—” Her voice broke. “Damn hormones.”
“Go into the bathroom and wash your face,” Carla ordered. “Put a cold compress on your eyes. That was an ugly cry. You’ll feel much better. No argument. Go.”
Tess did as instructed and went to the bathroom right off her bedroom. She splashed cold water on her face, then wet a cloth and wrung it out before pressing it to her eyes. It did make her feel better. After a while she started to feel guilty about leaving her friend alone for so long. But before she went back out, it would be prudent to use the facilities.
When she sat, something on her panties caught her eye and she gasped. “Oh, God—”
There was a knock on the door, followed by Carla’s voice. “Are you okay in there?”
“I’m bleeding, Carla. The baby...”
* * *
Leo left his lawyer’s office and went straight back to Patrick’s Place. Annabel had obviously gotten through to him pretty fast because the four hockey fanboys were still sitting in the same booth. He waved to them on his way past. Another time he would chat them up, but he was a man on a mission. He needed to find Tess ASAP.
He scanned the crowded bar area, the filled-to-capacity lounge, where a baseball game was on, and then the dining area. There was no sign of her. To get a better look, he walked closer, making sure he hadn’t missed any corner. He hadn’t and was surprised she wasn’t here. Every night she poured drinks or visited with customers and worked harder than anyone. Because this investment was personal and emotional for her.
It was possible she was still avoiding him, but she wouldn’t do that at the expense of her business.
“Brandon.” He stepped up to the bar, where the young man was standing.
“Hey, Leo. I thought you were gone. It’s been a busy night. I think you’ll really be happy when you see the—”
He held up a hand. Wow. Did everyone think he was only about business? “Take a breath. I’m not here to check up on you.”
“Okay.” He smiled a little sheepishly. “How are you?”
“Been better. Is Tess around?”
“I haven’t seen her for a while. Come to think of it, the last time I saw her was when you were in here before. I think she went upstairs then.”
“She didn’t tell you she was taking the rest of the night off?”
“No.”
Leo knew she would have so she must be in her apartment. “Thanks, Brandon. By the way, you’re doing a great job and when we open the second location of Patrick’s Place, you’re my first choice to manage it.”
“We’re expanding?”
“If things keep going the way they are—yes.”
Brandon smiled broadly. “That’s great news.”
“See you later. I’m going to talk to Tess now.”
“Okay, boss.”
Leo headed for the hall and took the stairs two at a time. He knocked on the door and moments later it was opened. By Tess’s friend Carla.
He smiled at her. “Hi—”
“Leo, thank God.” She pulled him inside and was surprisingly strong for a small woman.
“What’s up?”
“It’s Tess.”
The woman was clearly shaken, and fear sliced through him. “Where is she?”
“In the bedroom. I—”
He didn’t wait for the rest and hurried past her. Tess was stretched out on the bed with her eyes closed. She looked small, fragile and tense. He moved closer and said, “Tess, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes popped open. “Leo, I’m bleeding. It shouldn’t be happening—”
“Okay.” The fear got bigger but he forced calm into his voice.
“Carla made me lie down.”
“Good.” He knelt beside the bed. “But I think you should be looked at.”
“I’ll wait and see if it stops. I’ll call the doctor—”
“Carla can do that and let her know you’re at the emergency room.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m taking you to the hospital. Now.”
She caught her top lip between her teeth and then nodded. “I’ll get up and—”
“No.” He stood, then scooped her into his arms as gently as possible. “I’ll try not to jostle you too much but this is the fastest way.”
She was scared. He knew that because she didn’t protest. He really, really wished she was arguing with him right now.
He met her gaze and tried to look more reassuring than he felt. For her sake. And the baby’s. His baby. “Here we go. You ready?”
“Yes.” She put her arms around his neck and hung on.
He carried her through the apartment, and Tess told her friend where to find the doctor’s number and to call the answering service right away. Leo asked her to let Brandon know he was closing up tonight. He didn’t want Tess to worry about it.
At the car he set her on her feet in order to fish the keys out of his pocket, hit the fob to unlock the doors and then opened the passenger side.
When he started to lift her again she said, “I can handle this.”
Five minutes later they were at the hospital’s emergency entrance, and he found a parking space close to the automatic doors. This time he ignored her protest that she could walk and carried her inside to the check-in desk. The staff got her into an exam room right away, then shooed him into the hall while they got her hooked up to monitors.
The door opened again and he was allowed ba
ck in. Tess was in a patient gown and the machines were rhythmically beeping. He was going to believe the sounds meant all was perfectly normal. She was still pale and scared, but looked a little calmer.
Leo pulled a chair over and sat. “What did they say?”
“Nothing. I’m waiting for the doctor. She’s here for a delivery. Isn’t that lucky?” Her mouth trembled and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so scared. My baby—”
“It’s okay. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Is it? You don’t know that.”
“You have to believe, Tess.”
“Really? How can you even say that to me with a straight face?” With shaking hands she brushed the wetness from her cheeks. “You’ve never believed this baby was yours.”
“It’s mine,” he said firmly.
“You don’t have to say that because I’m in the ER. Don’t you dare feel sorry for me.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth.” He took her hand and held it in both of his. “And you’re wrong. I believed from the beginning that this is my baby.”
“Oh, please.”
“It’s the truth,” he insisted. “Deep down I knew it because Patrick Morrow’s granddaughter was raised to be scrupulously honest. But after what I went through, I was trying to protect myself and denial was the best I could do.”
Her face softened. “Then why make me sign those papers?”
“You said you love me and I went into survival mode again. Fight-or-flight.”
“Then you get a gold star for that. Because you did both at the same time. An awesome multitasker.” There was a little sass back in her voice.
“That’s me. Overachiever at the worst time.”
“Why worst?” she asked.
“It’s the last thing I should have done. Because I love you.”
“You have a very funny way of showing it,” she scoffed.
“What can I say? Lack of a positive male role model. Except your grandfather. He showed me what love looks like.”
“Me, too,” she said sadly.
Leo nodded. “I have a sneaking suspicion that he was pushing us together.”
“What?”
“He knew a lot of people who could have invested money in his business but he picked me. I think somehow he knew I was in love with you even then.”
“He picked you because...” She stopped when his words sank in. “What? Are you really saying you love me?”
“I fell in love with you the first time I saw you.”
She looked skeptical and had every right. “That’s a very romantic thing to say. But—”
He put a finger to her lips to stop the words. “No buts. It’s the truth and everything is going to be okay. We’ll get through this together.”
“Men always say that but don’t mean it.”
“I promise I mean it.”
The door opened then and Dr. Thompson came in. She was wearing blue scrubs and a white lab coat. He felt better that she was here even though she threw him out of the room to examine Tess.
Leo paced the hall like a caged tiger. Or expectant father. It felt like a lifetime before the doctor let him back in. She was very reassuring and told them it wasn’t unusual for spotting to occur. But she had no doubt that the baby was absolutely fine. Tess was to stay off her feet and take it easy for a few days, and Leo intended to see that she followed the doctor’s orders.
After she was discharged, he drove her home and insisted she go straight to bed. Then he fixed her something light to eat and made sure she ate it.
“Is there anything else you need?” he asked.
“No.” She smiled. “Thanks for everything. You should go home and get some rest. You must be tired.”
“I’m not. And I’m not leaving.” He sat in the chair near the bed and put his long legs up on the ottoman.
“What are you doing?”
“I told you we’re going to get through this together. I’m settling in for the night.”
“Why?”
“Clearly I have my work cut out for me to prove that I mean what I say. But I will prove it. And after I do, I’ll convince you to marry me.”
A sweet smile curved the corners of her beautiful mouth before she sat up in the bed. “Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” She patted the empty space beside her in the bed. “Because, as you know, I love you. Very much. And I would never let my fiancé sleep in a chair.”
Happiness and relief poured through him as he slid in beside her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. “This was the worst and best day of my life.”
“Oh?”
“Our baby is fine. You love me. And we’re getting married. A personal hat trick.”
“I love it when you talk hockey to me.” She snuggled close and rested her cheek on his chest. “And now you can do it for the rest of our lives.”
That was the game plan.
Epilogue
Tess stood in the doorway of the baby’s nursery and watched Leo holding their little girl. Leonore Patricia Wallace. The sight of her handsome husband—Leo “The Wall” Wallace—so gentle and sweet with that tiny bundle of pink preciousness, was too everything for words. She pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her jeans and snapped a picture. This was something she’d done countless times in the month since she gave birth. And every single picture was priceless.
Leo looked away from the baby and smiled. “Hey, Mrs. Wallace.”
“Hey, Mr. Wallace.”
Her heart was so full of love for this man, she was afraid it might explode. Many times over he’d convinced her that he was there and they’d see things through together. He’d been the best coach ever during labor and delivery. He was her rock, her love, her heart. And she was his. She remembered when this house was barely furnished, but not anymore.
“I love this room,” she said, looking around.
“Me, too.”
They had chosen not to know the sex of the baby and had decorated in gender-neutral colors and theme. The walls were cream with white trim. Framed prints of animals—pudgy hippos, elephants and giraffes—were on the walls. The chest of drawers that also served as a changing table was cherry wood, as was the crib. Not that Leonore would use it for a while, what with the cradle in the master bedroom. Both she and Leo wanted the baby in their room until she was bigger.
Tess came closer and studied the tiny girl peacefully sleeping in her father’s arms. “I think she has your chin. I love that little indentation.”
“Mine or hers?”
“Both.”
“She definitely has my disposition,” he said proudly. “Mellow and serene.”
Tess couldn’t make a comparison since this was her first baby. But Leo had been through this before, a seasoned pro at this whole infant thing. She was wondering how he was feeling about it.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yes.” He looked up at her and seemed to know what she was thinking. “I will always love Chad and hope that he’s healthy and happy. That his parents are good to him and he grows up well. But the emptiness I had inside for so long was gone the day you married me.”
“Yeah. That was a good day.” As was every single one since.
Their wedding happened not long after the night he’d carried her into the emergency room. After that, he was in a hurry not to waste time, but would have waited if she’d wanted to do it after giving birth. Have the dress, reception—the whole nine yards. Tess didn’t care about anything except him and their baby.
They’d closed Patrick’s Place for a night, found a minister and taken vows in front of close friends. No family, at least not living and breathing relatives. She was convinced her grandfather was there, watching over them, happy that the two of them had be
en smart enough not to blow off his matchmaking efforts.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
The discomfort of birth had faded and she was tired, what with having a newborn and being up at night. But she’d never dreamed happiness this complete was possible.
“I’m so good, it’s scary,” she said. “I have everything I’ve always wanted. You. Our baby. A family.”
“I feel the same way.” The baby started squeaking and squirming, so he shifted her to his shoulder.
Sometimes Tess still felt awkward doing that, but he was confident and sure of himself. His big hands were exquisitely gentle with their tiny human.
He smiled up at her. “It occurs to me that we’re rich in family.”
“How do you mean?”
“Think about it. There’s you, me and Leonore. Then we have our Patrick’s Place regulars.”
“Yeah.” Her gaze slid to the stack of baby gifts still in the corner of the room from all of their customers. Sitting on top of the pile was a small pink helmet, a gift from Josh and all the guys on the team. “And we have our hockey family.”
“Exactly.” He stood when the baby started to fuss and handed her to Tess. “That’s her hungry cry.”
“How do you know the difference between that, the one when her diaper needs changing and the general one when she’s bored and needs to be held?”
“It’s a gift.” He shrugged.
“You’re going to make me look bad. If you had the right equipment I’m sure you would feed her, too.”
“I would go to hell and back if it meant my daughter would be happy,” he said.
She kissed the small cheek, then smiled at him. “You are the baby whisperer.”
“I’m a very lucky man.”
“You didn’t feel that way when I first told you I was pregnant.” She laughed, remembering that conversation. And everything that happened afterward. “Maybe we should have named our little peanut Cupid.”
“Because she brought us together.” He put his arm around her shoulders, hugging them both.
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