The Midnight Groom (Last Play Christmas Romance Book 4)

by Taylor Hart

  Cam helped her get strapped in. “You still loving this?”

  She put her fist into the air. “Heck yeah!”

  He laughed. Then his face went blank. “Go Storm,” he muttered.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I thought we were past lying,” she said, throwing his words right back in his face.

  He shrugged. “Go Storm—it’s something Kat and I used to yell when we were excited.”

  “Go Storm!” she yelled, smiling.

  He grinned. “Always.”

  The guy in charge came to help them along the platform. Luckily, they could go together. “You can hold hands on this one if you want,” the guy said.

  “No,” she said quickly. Already she had too many feelings for this man; hand-holding would complicate them further.

  “Yes,” Cam said, keeping her hand. “What? Are you afraid I’ll slow you down?”

  She laughed, and her heart fluttered as she looked down the path. “Okay.”

  The guy gave them a shove, and then they were flying, yelling, and laughing. Isabel saw the crazed elation Cam’s face. This is fun! I’m actually having fun!

  Midway through, a bird came out of nowhere and almost hit Cam in the face. He yanked his hand back and hit the bird.

  They spent a minute in stunned silence before they laughed harder. As they reached the end of the line, both she and Cam were whooping and hollering.

  “I cannot believe you punched that bird. I’m telling PETA.”

  “It would have broken my jaw.”

  Both of them erupted into giggles.

  That was how it went, platform after platform, for the next two hours. She and Cam were just in sync and found everything funny. They kept talking about him punching the bird. Later, a monkey jumped at him and nearly hit him, which freaked her out. Cam laughed so hard that he complained his gut hurt.

  By the end, she felt stiff from laughing and her cheeks were sore. She said as much as they sat in a little café next to the zip line and ate paninis and chatted.

  “I know,” Cam said, beaming. “I haven’t laughed this much …” He paused, and his face fell. “Ah. Never mind.”

  She relaxed back into her seat and smiled at him. “It’s okay, Cam. It’s not like … I don’t know, we’re not trying to hide how messed up we are, right? We’re just friends.”

  Slowly, he nodded. “Right.”

  It kinda got weird again, and she didn’t know what to say.

  They finished lunch and walked out, her using his shoulder for support.

  “I have an idea about how we could help you with your healing.”

  The way he said healing gave her pause. “What do you mean?”

  He stepped down one of the café steps and said, “Hop on.”

  “I thought we were just going to take an Uber back to the ship.”

  “We have time, and there’s this hill up here I thought we could check out. It looks out over the jungle.”

  She still hesitated. She didn’t know what healing tactics he was talking about.

  “Come on, trust me.”

  She gave up, hopping on his back.

  He took off, and as always, she was amazed at the strength of this man. He wasn’t worn down a bit by carrying her around. She marveled at the muscles she felt every time he moved. She’d been trying not to think about them too hard.

  There was a trail up ahead past the zip line, and it opened up so a person could peer down a cliff. A bench seat perched near the edge, and Cam carefully put Isabel down. They sat and rested, staring out at the jungle view.

  “So,” he said, turning his ring around his finger.

  “You do that when you’re nervous,” she said, trying to deflect from whatever “healing” techniques he had in mind.

  He stopped, looking down at his hand. “I do?”

  “All the time.”

  Tugging his hand back, he exhaled. “You touch that necklace when you’re nervous.” He said it like he’d called checkmate.

  This surprised her. “I do?”

  He nodded. “Anyway, I told you that I’ve been forced into therapy, and one of the things Dr. Houston tried with me was just telling me to talk to Kat.”

  “Okay.”

  “I didn’t do it. The talking. But anyway, I was thinking that I’m going to walk a ways down the trail and give you some time, and I thought …”

  “What? You didn’t do it?”

  “No, but I think it would be good for you. Look, I think it might help to talk to Sam. Tell him you miss him and possibly talk to Rick.” He shrugged. “You can hate on Rick if you need to.”

  Anger surged through her. “What? Here?” This was crazy.

  He put up a hand. “Listen. I … sometimes, when things are just trapped in your head and you feel like you’re going in circles, it helps to talk it out. At least, that’s what they tell me.”

  She knew what he was saying was true, but she was still pissed. “You’re giving me advice on something you haven’t even been able to do?”

  He pushed himself to his feet. “Those who cannot do, teach.”

  That made no sense.

  “Some of the best coaches in the NFL are the ones who sucked at playing.” He flashed a grin. “That’s why I knew I was never meant to coach. So I bought the team.”

  “You’re being an idiot! And now, you’re just bragging because you’re a billionaire bragger!”

  He laughed.

  She liked his laugh. Liked him. It was annoying, because she didn’t want to like him.

  “Just—” He began backing up. “—try it. I’ll be back in fifteen.”

  “Wait!” she called, wishing she could run after him. He didn’t stop. “I hate you!”

  “Sorry!” he said from a distance.

  She sat, staring out at the jungle of Honduras, and thought about what Cam had said about Sam. She’d talked to her son, of course, but not Rick.

  Her heart raced. “Rick,” she whispered.

  Nothing.

  This was stupid, and she wished she could just run down the trail, but she couldn’t. Cam had stranded her here on purpose, that jerk.

  She might as well try again. “As you know, I’m pissed as hell at you. I’m pissed at myself too. And I miss Sam.” Tears fell down her cheeks. “So much. I even miss you sometimes, and it ticks me off. I mean, I miss the non-jerk parts of you.” She snorted and wiped at her tears.

  With a sigh, she considered how Rick might have felt. It was the first time she’d thought about his perspective. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry about that day. I wanted to just have a space where I could tell you without Sam right there. But we lost him. I want you to know I’m not sorry I wanted to divorce you. I’m not. You deserved it. But you didn’t deserve to lose your son. To lose … your life. I’m so sorry.” She bowed her head.

  For a long time, she was quiet. Her grief bubbled and rose until it could no longer be contained, and she threw back her head and yelled. Cam might be able to hear her, but he’d probably be happy his stupid plan was working. She remembered how she’d bent over Sam and tried to do mouth-to-mouth when the paramedic had said, “He’s gone.” She’d refused to give up. Finally, they’d pulled her away from her son.

  “I tried to save him, Rick. I did. And I know you did too.” She reached for the locket that Rick had given her for their one-year anniversary. When she opened it, she stared at a picture of Sam’s smiling face. “You gave your life for Sam, and I think …”

  Cam had told her Alicia wanted him to do. Isabel knew it was time for her to do it.

  “I think I’m ready to forgive you. And to forgive me.” More tears fell. “Rick. Sam.” She whispered their names.

  A chill rippled across her skin, followed by a surge of warmth, and she knew they were there. She knew it like she’d always known God was real when they’d talked about it in Sunday school and she’d said her prayers by her bed at night. She hadn’t said those prayers for a long time. />
  She bowed her head and cried harder. “Thank you, Lord. And I’m sorry. I’ve been mad at you. Please take care of them. And please help me to forgive Rick and forgive myself.” She didn’t know how long she had her arms wrapped around her middle and she was praying in her mind.

  “Isabel.”

  Her eyes flashed open, and she was startled to see Cam next to her. “What time is it?”

  “You’ve been here an hour. We have to get back to the ship.” He reached out to her.

  She hesitated to grab his hand, still a bit mad at him.

  “We can’t do it alone, Izz.”

  “Is this another thing you’re telling me and not doing yourself?”

  He hesitated, and she wondered if her words upset him.

  “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  She still didn’t respond.

  “Midnight.”

  “What?” She quickly asked, confused.

  “I find myself walking the streets most nights at midnight and it’s hard because … it still doesn’t help me.”

  She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  He put his hand out again. “I’m here, Izz. I’m here and I’m ready to walk with you … even if it’s at the darkest, hardest hours.”

  Warmth filled her. She took his hand, and he pulled her up.

  “Don’t ever do that again.”

  He nodded.

  She threw her arms around him, hugging him. “And … thank you,” she whispered.

  Saying nothing, he just held her.

  Chapter 16

  At dinner, Cam noticed how easily Isabel and his sister got along. After they had all eaten and watched a special Christmas Eve musical performance, his nephews had left with their friends and his sister had moved closer to chat with Isabel.

  Isabel guffawed at Alicia’s latest anecdote. “That is not true.”

  Alicia laughed. “Yes, Cam seriously thought I could put a curse on objects.”

  “You really did?” Isabel asked him.

  Naturally, he remembered Kat and that dang belt buckle she’d thought he’d put a curse on. “Yep.” He grinned. It was hard to be a normal person sometimes, he reflected, and live in the moment and still treasure his wife.

  As Isabel and Alicia laughed and swapped more stories, Craig scooted his chair next to him and leaned in. “I like her.”

  It surprised Cam that Craig had even offered this up. It was not his style to get involved or say much. Ever. Cam picked up his water and took a sip. “She’s been a good friend.”

  Craig shot him a skeptical look, but Cam didn’t respond. Luckily, Craig wasn’t the kind to push.

  People were up and dancing. Cam turned to the singles’ group table and saw Dave, the Hawaiian T-shirt guy who Cam kinda just wanted to trip or something for the fun of it. The guy was seriously mauling another girl as he danced with her. Unlike Isabel, this woman didn’t seem to mind dancing with an octopus. Cam got up and wandered over to a drink table, just hoping he might have a chance to trip Dave.

  Alicia appeared next to him. “You don’t like that guy, do you?”

  Cam had never been able to hide anything from his sister. With a laugh, he told her about the other night when he’d been pawing at Isabel and how Isabel had threatened him.

  That sent his sister into giggles. “She did not!”

  “She totally did.”

  They laughed about that for a while, and then Alicia sighed. They just stood by each other, watching the dance floor. Cam’s eyes trailed to Craig and Isabel. Craig had scooted over and was chatting with her.

  “I really like her,” Alicia said. “Even more than I thought I would.”

  “Me too,” he admitted.

  Her eyes met his. “It’s okay to like her, Cam.”

  He averted his gaze and realized he was playing with his wedding ring. Izz had been right: he did do that a lot. “We’re friends.”

  “Good. It’s nice to have friends.” She put her hand on his arm, and he knew they weren’t done talking. “I know Kat was like …” Tears misted into her eyes. “Your perfect love story. She was what Mom was for Dad.”

  He thought of how his father had been stubborn about never marrying again. Emotion scraped at the back of his throat. “Don’t—”

  She put up a hand. “I just want you to know that I think it’s okay to have two love stories in a lifetime, Cam.”

  He didn’t respond, his eyes now on Izz. She was laughing at something Craig said. She was stunning. “I’m not saying I don’t like her.” He didn’t know how to explain what he felt. “Or that I could have liked her in a different life, a different situation, because the woman is pretty spectacular on all counts.” He met Alicia’s eyes. “But you’re right. Kat was my perfect love story. My only love story.” He nodded, feeling more certain about this.

  Alicia threw her arms around him. “I love you, little brother.”

  “I love you, too.”

  When Cam pulled back, he saw a crazed-looking guy scrambling toward Isabel. “Hey!” he called, his voice frantic. “My wife’s in labor. She said I should come get you.”

  She stared at the man, openmouthed.

  Cam realized this was the man from the first night he’d met Isabel. The one who’d been ticked off at her.

  “Labor?” Alicia asked the man incredulously.

  “Labor! We need you!” the man pleaded with Isabel. “Dr. Foreman is having a panic attack. Please!” The man ran his hand over his face. “This is my fault. I pushed for her to come on this cruise.”

  Isabel turned to Cam, smoothing back her hair and looking composed. She put her hands up. “Cam, I’ll need you to carry me to the infirmary. Quickly, please.”

  * * *

  Cam wouldn’t have believed what he was witnessing if he weren’t here. Isabel was delivering a baby, and his sister was holding the woman’s hand.

  The doctor sat in a chair next to him, freaking out. “I’m not a baby doctor. Honestly, I haven’t ever delivered a baby. We’re heading to port, but we won’t arrive for a half an hour.”

  The pregnant woman screamed, and Isabel sat in between her legs with a hand on the woman’s knee. “You’re doing great, Karen. Breathe. The contraction is almost over.”

  Another scream, and then Karen relaxed.

  Cam shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I don’t need to be here.”

  “No,” Isabel said sharply. She glanced at the doctor, who looked like he was hyperventilating. “You take care of him.”

  Cam did what he was told and stood by the doctor, grateful he didn’t have a view.

  Peter, the woman’s husband, was gripping Karen’s other hand. “What can I do?”

  “You just hold her hand and look pretty, Peter. Me and Karen have got this.” She smiled kindly at Karen. “Right?”

  Karen smiled back, taking short breaths. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

  Isabel reached in and was doing something under the sheet. “You’re crowning. I think this next push will be the one, Karen. You’re doing so, so well.”

  “Ah.” Karen moaned. “I can’t do it.”

  Alicia leaned in. “Breathe. In-two-three, out-two-three.”

  Karen obeyed, which wasn’t surprising either. Most people did, including him.

  Another contraction hit Karen, and she screamed.

  Then, bam! It happened so fast. Isabel leaned in and pulled up a baby, an elated smile on her face. “He’s beautiful.”

  Karen laughed and held Peter, who was crying and laughing with her.

  The doctor sprang into action, going to Isabel’s side. It was like the delivery had shaken him awake. “Alright, good job.” He picked up some scissors. “Dad, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?”

  * * *

  Cam waited in the hallway next to the infirmary, leaning back against the wall. Once the baby had come out, the doctor had started acting like a doctor again, and Cam had decided he was no longer needed.

  It’d been roughly hal
f an hour, and all he could think about was the way Isabel had lit up with such joy when she’d held the baby. Warmth buzzed through his chest, and he felt like the Storm had just won the championship. Go Storm. He sighed and once again thought of Kat and the child they would have had.

  “Hey, bro.” His sister stepped through the door and slugged him in the shoulder. “You were great in there.” She pointed finger guns at him.

  He laughed at her antics. “Obviously, you’re all worked up.”

  She leaned against the wall next to him, her silver prom dress all disheveled and her hair a mess. “That was amazing.”

  “Yes.”

  “I know what you said, Cam, but Isabel’s a keeper. You both have tragedy in your past, but that woman …” She grinned. “She’s clearly made of metal. You can see it in the way she took over. She didn’t let the doctor’s confusion bother her. She was amazing.”

  “I’m still not going to have a relationship with her.” Even if he wanted to, he almost added. But he didn’t. He wasn’t.

  His sister patted his cheek. “I know. I love you, bro. I know you don’t need me to be proud of the way you’ve stepped up and helped her, but I am.”

  He nodded. “Thanks.”

  She glanced at her phone. “Merry Christmas, Cam.” She hugged him. “It’s almost one.”

  He let out a light laugh. Was it that late already? “Merry Christmas, sis.”

  She tugged back. “This is going to be a good year for you.”

  Cam wasn’t sure he believed her, yet he felt more hopeful than he ever had. “And for you. Jon is already dating and driving. You’ll have Sadie Hawkins to look forward to next.”

  She snapped her fingers. “You’re right!”

  He laughed even more, feeling like they were both on the same high. Game high, he used to call it when he had played. Heck, he still got game highs when he watched the Storm win.

  His sister waved at him and took off down the hall. “I’ll see you in the morning. Isabel said we’re doing the beach after the Mayan ruins.”