She wanted to curl back into his embrace where she was content, safe, but most importantly she’d found something she had been missing—love. What they had was special, almost perfect. It was more than she could have ever asked for. He was amazing with her daughter. Love. She was falling in love with him. Her heart fluttered until she thought it would fly away.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He nuzzled closer to her and pressed his body along the length of hers.
“‘Morning.”
She glanced at him, grogginess still clinging to his features, his eyes half open. Her daughter’s soft giggles drifted down the hallway from the living room.
She sat up against the headboard and glanced down at her thin white tank top. “I left my sweater in the living room.”
“There’s a robe on the back of the bathroom door, or you can take one my shirts.”
“I’ve got a better idea, why don’t I just stay in bed?” She slumped back down again, her head on the pillow.
He teased his fingers along the curve of her hip. “I think we can keep ourselves busy in here.”
“What about Destiny?”
“There’s always Greta. They’re supposed to make cookies this afternoon together.” He kissed her shoulder.
“Tempting, but I can’t do that to Greta. When Destiny is feeling better she’s got a lot of energy.” She slipped out of his embrace and scooted to the edge of the bed. In doing so, she caught a glimpse of the alarm clock. Eight twenty-three in the morning. “I can’t believe I slept this long!”
“I can, after last night.” He smirked at her. “Tonight I plan for act two.”
“Act two? I thought we had that around midnight.” She rose out of bed, the cool air on her bare skin sending goosebumps racing along her body.
“I can’t get enough of you, so I don’t care what act it is, I want you now, tonight, and always.”
She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. “Mommy duties now, but in a few hours it will be nap time and I’m sure we can find something to occupy our time.” She grabbed her jeans and bra before padding off toward the bathroom to get freshened up.
“I’ll be ready,” he called after her just as she shut the bathroom door.
She spun toward the mirror, laid her clothes on the counter, and caught a glimpse of herself. Her cheeks were blushed with a healthy glow; the dark circles that had been a constant feature were suddenly gone. It was amazing what a bout of lovemaking and a good night’s sleep could do for a person.
But it was more than that. There was a glisten in her eyes, a smile that wouldn’t dissipate, and her heartbeat fluttered every time she and Brian touched. She knew she was in love.
Chapter Eleven
The weekend went by much too quickly for Brian, and Monday morning arrived in a blink of an eye. Not only was he back to work at the hospital but it was time for Destiny’s first treatment. His stomach roiled every time he thought about it. He had rearranged things so he could be with Nora and Destiny for the first treatment. It was likely they wouldn’t notice any of the unfortunate side effects right away, but at least he’d be there for support and comfort. He cared not only for Nora but also for Destiny, and he was determined to be there for them. If there was anything he could do to help them through this journey, he would do it.
“Doctor West.”
He turned at the sound of his name and found Nancy stepping off the elevator. “Hello, Nancy. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to say thank you. I don’t know what you did, but you got Nora and Destiny a place to stay so they could get out of this hospital. I don’t understand it, but somehow the few days away from here gave Nora a brighter outlook. She’s doesn’t seem as gloomy and fearful as she was before. There’s a smile on her face, and Destiny is giggling. They’re like totally different people.”
He wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t mind anyone knowing that Nora was staying with him, but he wasn’t sure how much she wanted everyone to know. “Being able to get away from the stress of the hospital can do a world of good for all of us.”
“You seem in a rather chipper mood yourself.”
“I am.” He smirked. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have one more patient to check on.”
“Very well.” Nancy eyed him for a moment longer before stepping away and allowing him to go about his business.
It was obvious she was suspicious, but he didn’t owe her any explanation. They were friends, but they weren’t overly close. He’d tell her eventually, along with the rest of the world. The one person he did want to tell before rumors circulated the hospital was his brother, Jason. He needed to know before the Valentine’s tea party that he had promised to take Destiny to, because that was sure to get the gossip mill started.
Deciding his patient could wait a bit longer, he turned to the door leading to the staircase to head down one floor to Jason’s office. He might be able to catch him there before his next surgery. The last thing he wanted was for Jason to confront him about Nora in front of others, or for the Valentine’s tea party to get back to him before Brian had a chance to explain.
“I was wondering when you’d show back up to work.” Jason strolled down the hallway from the opposite direction, and headed straight toward Brian.
“What?”
“I knew you were at the cabin this past weekend and you were with them.” Jason opened the door to his office and nodded for Brian to follow. “I see you haven’t decided yet that you need to stay away from them.”
“Just the opposite.” He stood with his hands in his pockets as Jason took a seat behind the desk.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m taking Destiny to the father and daughter Valentine’s Day tea party here at the hospital. I thought you should know because once I do there will be nothing to keep the rumors from spreading.”
Jason leaned forward, his hands clasped on top of the desk. “You’ve got to be joking. Have you even considered what this will do to Nora or Destiny? You’re giving that little girl hope of getting a father, when there’s no way you can be that for her.”
“Who says I can’t?”
“What?” Jason pushed forward as if he was going to stand before he thought better of it.
“Don’t look at me like that. Nora is special, unlike any woman I’ve met before.” Warmth spread through him just from thinking about her; that smile of hers lit the darkness within him. He glanced at his watch—twenty minutes until he had to be downstairs with Nora. “If she’ll allow me, I’ll be there every step of the way. I’m going to be at Destiny’s first treatment in just a little bit.”
“What do you know about being a father?”
“What did you know about being a father until you adopted Faith?” Brian countered.
Jason shook his head. “This is different. This isn’t like a new baby, you’re taking on a six-year-old child.”
“It’s the same thing, and I’ll learn. Anyway, we’ve taken to each other fairly well already. This isn’t just about Destiny. I’m committed to Nora and they come as a package. I would hope you’d understand and be supportive. With Destiny’s treatment, Nora has enough on her mind. I don’t want the next gossip hitting the hospital to be that you’re against what’s happening with us. She doesn’t need that, nor does the gossip mill.”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut and you can do what you want. I can’t say I’m happy with this, not only because she’s Jim’s wife, but because of the child’s condition.”
“She’s a widow,” Brian corrected.
“The point is still the same. She married Jim. Now you think you can step into his shoes?”
“I think nothing of the kind.” Brian inwardly steadied himself; it would do no good to raise his voice. Then the rumors would really fly. “Jim isn’t here and there’s no reason Nora and I can’t be happy together. There’s nothing to feel guilty about. If you died, would you want Liz to eventually move on and find someone who made
her happy?”
“This isn’t about Liz. It’s about you. Damn it, Brian I want you to be happy.” Jason scooted his chair back away from the desk.
“Then why can’t you be happy for me?” Brian wanted to turn on his heels and go anywhere but here. They’d always been close, but this distance between them over Nora was driving him crazy.
“Is this what you really want? Wouldn’t you be happy with a nice nurse, or one of Liz’s friends? She could set you up again—”
Brian leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk. “No. I’m tired of the matchmaking sister-in-law. Nora is who I want, we make each other happy. Come for dinner and see us together.”
“Liz said if you’re happy then I should be happy for you, but I can’t help but think you’re getting in over your head. You already take work home with you, and you don’t know how to distance yourself from the hospital. You let your patients get under your skin while you try to cure everyone.”
“That makes me a good doctor,” Brian reasoned.
“True, but it also stresses you out. It’s not the same with me, I fix them in the operating room, and the rest of you have to deal with their daily needs.” Jason shook his head. “What I’m trying to say is that taking problems home with you is one thing, but taking on a woman and her sick child is another.”
“Do you even realize how heartless that sounds?” Brian straightened his back, shocked that his brother would say such a thing.
“Heartless, maybe…but I’m trying to look out for you.”
“Then do us both a favor and don’t. I love Nora and…” All of a sudden, he realized what he’d just said.
Jason leaned back in his chair and smirked. “That’s what I wanted to hear you say.”
“What?”
“Nora has enough going on in her life. If you aren’t serious about her and Destiny, you don’t deserve to be there. She doesn’t need more stress, and that little girl doesn’t need to be devastated in the middle of the biggest fight of her life. I fought you on this because I wanted to find out how serious you were. If you were going to leave them at the first sign of trouble, then it needed to be now.”
“You did this to see if I was serious about them? Who put you in charge?” Brian couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Shouldn’t Jason have already known Brian better than to think he’d just disappear on Nora and Destiny?
“Liz was pissed when she found out, but Nora was the most important thing. I also wanted to remind you that no matter how hard you try, Jim will always be there. He might be dead, but he’ll be a ghost in her past and there will be times she’ll think about him. Are you ready for that?”
“How could she not?” Brian stepped back and lowered himself onto one of the chairs. “Jim will always be there for both of us, but I’m okay with that because I love her, and I think he would be happy about it, too. Every time I look at Destiny I can see Jim in her. She has his fighting spirit within her, and that’s why I know she’s going to make it through these treatments.”
“What makes you think he’d approve?” Jason raised an eyebrow at him.
“He’d want Nora happy, to know that she and Destiny are taken care of. There’s no reason she shouldn’t love again, or that Destiny shouldn’t have a father figure.”
“She might not have met Jim, but she knows the man in the picture by her bedside is her father. How are you going to handle it when she asks about him? And before you ask, I peeked in on her and Nora when I first found out who she was and I saw the picture of Jim by the bed.”
“I’m going to be up front. There’s no reason she shouldn’t know what a good man her father was, that he died to keep her safe. I won’t try to be her only father, but I’ll try to be there for her.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “If it ever gets to the point that Nora and I have children of our own, there will be no differences in how they’re treated. Even if things don’t work out between Nora and me, I’ll still be there for Destiny as long as Nora allows it. There are stories I can tell her about her father that Nora can’t.”
“You’re okay with being second?”
“I’ve always been second.” Brian eyed his brother.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ve always been first when it came to our parents. They’ve been more proud of your accomplishments as a doctor than they ever were with me. I might be the oldest but they hold more pride that you’re a surgeon than they’ll ever have with me just being a doctor.” There was no disappointment in his words; it was a fact. Brian had accepted it long ago and though he was always striving to meet his goals, to accomplish things in his career, he no longer set out to please his parents, for that was one place he’d always fail. Now he lived life on his own terms, doing what made him happy and fulfilled him.
When Jason remained quiet, Brian leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “I see you won’t deny it.”
“Mom wanted us both to follow in her father’s footsteps. When you chose to become a pediatric cardiologist, she was disappointed, so there’s no reason to deny it. But to say I’ve always been the favorite isn’t true.”
“Continue to live in the world of denial.” Brian slapped his hands on his thighs and stood. “I won’t stop you, but don’t expect me to join you.”
“What are you going to tell Mom?” Jason asked before Brian could open the office door.
“Nothing, at least not yet. This is my life and she wouldn’t approve anyway, so I’m not even going to try.” Brian took hold of the door handle. “She’ll find out soon enough. I’m bringing Nora and Destiny to Faith’s birthday celebration.”
“Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”
“Good idea or not, I’m doing it. They’re a part of my life, which means they’ll be in attendance for family events. Mom will have to understand that, and I don’t think she’ll make a fuss, not on Faith’s special day with everyone there.”
“Let’s hope not.” Jason rubbed his temples.
“If you’d prefer I not attend…”
Jason shook his head. “No, we’re family. Dad will be there to keep Mom in check, so it shouldn’t be too bad, though I wish you’d tell them before the party.”
“If it comes up.” He half-heartedly committed, and opened the door.
His mother would still be a problem later, but right now he couldn’t worry about it. He needed to get downstairs to be with Nora and Destiny. That was his priority, not pleasing his parents. Those days were long gone. Thankfully.
Chapter Twelve
The treatment had gone better than Nora could have hoped for. Destiny was showing some discomfort, mostly an upset stomach coupled with exhaustion, but it had been better than the previous treatments she had gone through. Still, all Nora could do was stand by and watch. Thankfully Brian had been by her side, holding Destiny’s hand as the procedure started. He’d massaged her back as they were forced to wait to see what happened, and the tension built within her. It had been more than she could have hoped for to have someone by her side.
Now she was standing in the doorway to her daughter’s temporary room in Brian’s house, unable to take her eyes off Destiny’s sleeping form. Afraid that if she’d look away, even for a moment, things would get worse. The fear of the unknown was almost paralyzing, stealing the breath from her lungs, making her stomach roil.
“You can’t stand there all night.” Brian laid a hand on the small of her back.
“Just watch me.”
“Nora, you know this is unreasonable. She’ll call for you if she doesn’t feel good.”
She leaned back against him, sinking into his embrace. “I can’t help but feel that if I look away even for a moment, everything will go wrong.”
“That’s not how this works. You’ve been through this before; you know the symptoms might not come right away.” He pressed his lips to her temple, laying a kiss there. “She’s a fighter, just like her mother.”
“I think she gets that from
Jim.”
“That too, but don’t discount yourself. You’re full of fight and strength. Destiny sees that and she’s not going to give up.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’ve had a long day and need to rest.”
“With a week’s worth of treatments, back and forth to the hospital every day, it’s going to take a toll, but I can’t sleep.”
“You haven’t tried.” His hand slid over her hips. “Let’s go downstairs, have a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and talk.”
“Nora.” Greta stood at the top of the staircase with a box in hand.
“Everything okay, Greta?” Brian asked.
Greta stepped closer, holding out the box to Nora. “I thought this might help ease your worries.”
“What is it?” Nora took hold of the box but didn’t open the lid.
“Baby monitor. I thought you might use it to give you peace of mind that Destiny is okay,” Greta explained.
“Thank you.” She lifted the lid. “No matter where I am in the house I’ll be able to hear her if she needs me.”
With a smile, Greta nodded. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Nora watched the older woman walk away before she glanced up at Brian. “You have a gem there.”
“She’s great. I don’t know how I’d keep this house looking so well without her.” He took the box from her. “Do you realize you looked away and Destiny is still resting peacefully?”
She glanced back at her daughter, still sound asleep, looking almost lost in the middle of the large bed. Nothing bad had happened when she’d looked away, but it didn’t ease the worry that something was going to happen.
“I’ll plug in the monitor and then we’re going downstairs.” He slipped past her and strolled deeper into the room while she stood frozen in place.
Instead of just standing there, she went to tuck Destiny in and feel her head for any fever. All the while telling herself she was going to be okay. Her little girl had beaten cancer before and she’d do it again. She wasn’t about to let Destiny give up, and in order to help her fight, Nora had to keep her fears in check. She couldn’t let the panic of the unknown paralyze her, or continue to rob her of much needed sleep. Whatever the future held was going to happen one way or another and Nora had to be at her best to help her daughter.
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