by SUE FINEMAN
“Sick bastard,” Donovan muttered.
Through his visions, Steffen had seen horrible things happen to other people, many times innocent children. Now someone he loved was hurt, and he hurt right along with her. Steffen felt full and empty at the same time. His heart was filled with love and compassion for Ginny, but the baby they’d created together was gone. Their son never had a chance.
Hannah asked, “Steffen, did you know this would happen?”
“No. I can see a lot of things, but there’s always so much going on at the same time I miss other things, important things.” He waved toward the desk. “There are two ghosts by the desk, a young woman holding a tiny baby. Another woman is whispering in my ear, trying to get my attention, but if I listen to all the voices inside my head, I’d go crazy. I can block them out or concentrate and only see or hear one person at a time, but I’m not God. I can’t possibly tune into everything all the time.”
Hannah squeezed his hand. “I can’t imagine what that must be like.”
A nurse walked out of the back calling, “Steffen Marchand?”
Steffen jumped to his feet and rushed over.
“Detective Kane would like to see you before she goes to surgery.”
Ginny lay on the narrow bed in a small cubicle. A bottle of blood hung beside the bed and dripped life-saving fluid into her veins. Steffen leaned down to kiss her and wipe the tear streaks off her face. “How are you doing?”
“Steffen, the doctor wants to do a D and C, but if the baby is still alive—”
“Honey…” He shook his head. “The baby’s spirit has gone back to heaven.”
Tears filled her eyes and spilled over. “I’m so sorry. I know how much you wanted a family.”
“We’ll have a family. It won’t happen this year, but we’ll have a family.”
The nurse came in. “Kiss her goodbye. She’s going to surgery now.”
Steffen kissed her gently and whispered, “I love you,” then a man and woman in green scrubs wheeled her out of the room.
<>
As Ginny drifted to sleep in the operating room, her thoughts were on the baby she didn’t want in the beginning. But things had changed, and she’d grown to like the idea of being a mother. If she hadn’t fought her abductor, he wouldn’t have kicked her and she wouldn’t have lost Steffen’s baby. Her baby.
Their son.
She woke in the recovery room. Her mother stood by her side, talking quietly with the nurse. Mom had always been there when Ginny needed her, and in spite of Dad’s busy career, he’d always been there, too. Like she’d be there for her children, if she ever had any.
“The doctor said there’s no permanent damage,” Mom said. “You should still be able to have babies, if you want them.”
That was what Steffen wanted, but Ginny came in contact with dangerous people every day. What if she got pregnant again and lost another baby? She should set Steffen free to find himself another woman, one with a safer profession.
Ginny closed her eyes and felt herself being wheeled out of the recovery room. Mom walked by her side. “Steffen is waiting upstairs. Dad and the boys are here, too.”
She expected her family to be here. As bossy as the boys were, they’d always been there for her, especially Charlie. He teased her when they were growing up, but he also took his big brother duties to heart. When Tommy Watson pushed her off her bike, Charlie sent him home with a black eye, and when she needed coaching in baseball so the neighborhood boys would let her play, Charlie practiced with her until she could throw, pitch, and hit as well as any boy in the neighborhood.
After the nurses settled her in the bed, her family came in with Steffen. One look at his stricken face and she wanted to cry. She had her family, but aside from a mother he hadn’t seen in years and an uncle who exploited him, he didn’t have any family.
Would he ever forgive her for losing his baby?
Her brothers all hugged her, and so did Mom. Dad looked guilty, and she knew on some level he blamed himself for not knowing Henry Pollanski would come after her.
“I should have known about Pollanski.”
“I don’t blame you, Dad. If I hadn’t fought back, he might not have hurt me.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on it.”
No, she wouldn’t either. She’d reacted on instinct, trying to save herself from being knocked out and kidnapped. Or killed. She didn’t know at the time who the man was or what he intended to do to her, so she fought back.
Ginny wanted some time alone with Steffen, so after a few minutes, she sent her family home. The nurse came in and fussed over her, then Steffen sat by her side, gazing deeply into her eyes. Reading her mind? “Ginny, honey, I’m so sorry this happened, but you’re a strong woman, and if you want more children, you’ll have them.”
“If I want?”
He squeezed her hand. “I know you didn’t plan to get pregnant.”
No, she didn’t, but Steffen loved the idea of having a family, and she felt like she’d let him down. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over, and the next thing she knew, he was lying on the bed with her, holding her while she sobbed.
<>
After a week with her parents, Ginny and Steffen moved back to her house on Honey Creek. She still felt tired and weak, but she needed to get away from Mom’s fussing. She had to get on with her life and stop wallowing in self-pity.
Phoebe called that afternoon, and Ginny steered the conversation away from herself. “Tell me about the wedding.”
“We’re getting married in Judge Tolbert’s chambers Friday evening, seven o’clock. I bought a pretty white dress. It’s not fancy or anything, but I’m not a fancy person. Roland is wearing his best suit. You’ll be there, won’t you?”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t miss your wedding, Phoebe. Where are you going on your honeymoon?”
“Roland tried to get tickets for a cruise, and they were sold out. It’s disappointing, but there’s not much we can do about it except postpone the honeymoon until October.”
Ginny glanced at Steffen. “Have you ever been to Florida?”
“Years ago, my parents took me to Disneyworld. Someday I want to take Roland there.”
Steffen nodded. “I’ll have Jerry make the arrangements. One week? Two?”
Ginny mouthed the words Thank you and asked Phoebe, “How much time does Roland have off work?”
“Two weeks. Why?”
“Because I just figured out what to give you for a wedding present.”
<>
After the ceremony, Roland stood in the judge’s chambers gazing at Phoebe. There were other people there – Donovan and Hannah Kane, Ginny, Steffen Marchand, and three people from work – but he couldn’t take his eyes off his beautiful bride. She wore a simple white satin dress, her something new. She’d borrowed Ginny’s pearl earrings and carried a bunch of white roses tied with a blue ribbon. On her right hand, she wore her mother’s rings, her something old. They might not have had a traditional wedding, but she had everything else covered.
Donovan snapped pictures, then they all went to Roland’s house for a small reception. Hannah had handled the food and the wedding cake, and Phoebe had taken care of the flowers. Everything went well except for the honeymoon trip. He hadn’t realized he had to book the cruise so many months in advance.
At the house, Donovan toasted the bride and groom. “To Phoebe and Roland. May their marriage last at least as long as Hannah’s and mine, and may their love last for an eternity.”
Hannah handed Roland a certificate for a two-week car rental in Florida. Baffled, he asked, “What’s this for?”
“For your honeymoon, of course,” she replied with a smile.
Ginny told them, “You’re leaving tomorrow afternoon, and your plane tickets will be waiting at the airport.” She handed him a card with the flight information.
Steffen handed Roland a map. “This shows how to get from the airport to my house on the beach. Disneyworld a
nd Epcot are an hour or two away. Enjoy your honeymoon.”
Phoebe’s eyes glowed with happiness, but Roland was too shocked to react. These generous people had given them a honeymoon. “I never expected this.”
Ginny kissed him lightly on the lips and hugged Phoebe. “Don’t forget to pack your bathing suits for the pool and comfortable walking shoes for Disneyworld.”
Marrying Phoebe had been the best thing Roland had ever done. He knew Phoebe was disappointed her parents couldn’t be here for her special day, but the Kane family and Steffen Marchand had made it a day to remember. They’d given them a gift they’d remember for the rest of their lives. The perfect honeymoon.
<>
The next day, Steffen had just finished sorting the laundry when Julie called. “Are you still interested in buying a house?”
“Yes, I am. Do you have something else to show me?”
“Actually, I do. A house just came on the market I think you’ll like. It’s a more traditional plan with all the bedrooms upstairs and a big playroom over the garage. It’s listed for a million, five hundred thousand.”
“Old, new?”
“The house was built in the forties, but it’s been remodeled since then. The setting is absolutely beautiful, acreage overlooking the river.”
“Sounds nice.”
“It is. Andy designed the last remodel. That was three years ago, before the seller’s husband passed away. The house is still occupied, but the seller is gone this afternoon if you’d like to see it.”
“Absolutely.”
They made arrangements to meet at the house, and Steffen ended the call. “Ginny, do you feel like looking at a house today?”
She shook her head. “You go ahead. I’m going to take a nap with Boomer.”
“Okay. I’ll pick up something for dinner on the way home.”
She’d been pulling away since she lost the baby. He thought at first it was grief, then he realized she was giving him a chance to end their relationship and find himself another woman. As if he wanted anyone else.
Minutes later, he pulled off River Road into the driveway of a big stone house overlooking the river. Julie was right. The setting couldn’t be better, and the landscaping was a work of art, with winding paths through banks of colorful flowers, an arbor covered in grape vines, and a pretty fountain.
Julie pulled into the driveway behind him and unlocked the front door. “This house was built for the seller’s parents. Although it’s been remodeled, they tried to keep the character and charm of the original house. The roof and windows were replaced recently, and so were the heating and cooling systems.”
“Why are they selling?”
“The man passed away two years ago. It’s too much house for the woman to maintain by herself.”
“No kids to help her?”
“No. Her daughter lives in California. They’d been keeping the family home for their son, but he was killed in Iraq.”
They walked inside, and Julie pointed. “Formal living room on the left, formal dining room on the right.”
“Beautiful dining room.” The furniture was really nice.
Steffen walked past the wide, curving staircase in the marble entry. The family room was straight ahead, and an open counter on the right separated the room from the kitchen. The kitchen had granite countertops and newer appliances, but the dark wood cabinets and overall design matched the rest of the house. “I like this. I love the wood floors.”
“They’re original.”
A round alcove much like the one in the Kane home on Livingston Avenue would be a perfect place to put Carolyn’s grand piano, and windows covered the back wall of the house to let in the view. A gazebo perched on the edge of the bluff overlooked the river.
Beyond the kitchen and breakfast room, a second set of stairs led upstairs. Beside the laundry room, a half-flight of stairs led down to a mud room, four-car garage, and a small back porch. “Good place for a cat door.”
Julie smiled. She pointed to a door to what Steffen thought was a closet. “The basement is this way. It hasn’t been updated in at least a generation, but it has potential. Andy designed a remodel, but they didn’t get around to doing the work before the man died. They used it mostly for a storm cellar and storage, and the furnace is down there.”
Steffen walked down to see. Cheap wood paneling made it dark and uninviting, but it definitely had potential.
They walked back up to the main floor and then on up the back staircase beside the kitchen. Half a flight up, they found a big playroom with unfinished attic space beyond. Julie said, “They’d planned to put a media room in the attic at some point.”
Four good-sized bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, were located another half-flight up. The master suite was huge, with a well-designed bathroom that included a bidet, a spa tub, a separate shower, two sinks, and a huge walk-in closet. Ginny would love it.
Julie said, “There’s another big closet off the hallway you can use for off-season clothes.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” he muttered. Who had that many clothes?
On their way down the main staircase to the entry, Steffen said, “I guess I could convert the formal living room to a study.”
“Oh, I forgot to show you the library. It’s behind the living room.”
A short hallway between the living room and family room led to a big library complete with built-in cabinets and a fireplace. A door in the back opened to a small porch that overlooked the river. Steffen grinned. “Perfect. If we put French doors on the family room and dining room, I can meet with people here without them invading the private areas of the house.”
Julie checked the listing. “All the ceilings on the main floor are ten feet. Most of the newer homes have fancy ceilings, the master on the main floor, and the other bedrooms upstairs or in the basement, but if you plan to have kids, you’ll want the nursery near the master.”
Steffen nodded. “How much did you say the seller wanted for this?”
“A million, five hundred thousand. It’s a good price, Steffen. The land alone is worth nearly that much.”
From what he’d seen so far, he had to agree. “How long has it been on the market?”
“Two days, and she’s already had two offers.”
Steffen stood in the family room window and looked out at the sloping green lawn and the meandering river beyond. “No pool?”
“No, but the house sits on three acres, so there’s plenty of room to put one in.”
“Someday maybe.” He cocked his head. “Can I build a guest house?” He had to put Phillip somewhere, and he didn’t especially want him living in the house.
“I don’t see why not.”
Steffen knew this wouldn’t be on the market long, and he didn’t want someone else to buy it. The house felt like home already and he hadn’t bought it yet. Looking over at Julie, he said, “Offer what she’s asking, cash, contingent on inspection. And ask the seller if she’s interested in selling any of the furniture.”
Julie asked, “Do you want Ginny to see it first?”
He shook his head. She wouldn’t be happy about him making a decision like this without her, but he didn’t want to wait. “Let’s do it now, before someone else buys it.”
“Okay. I’ll go back to the office and prepare your offer. Give me a half hour or so, then come by and sign the papers. I’ll take it from there.”
Steffen spent the next half-hour walking around the property, then drove to Julie’s office. Minutes later, he signed the last page of the offer. If the seller accepted his offer, he’d bought himself a house.
He left Julie’s office feeling hopeful and picked up Ginny’s favorite Chinese food on the way home. A celebration dinner. His cell phone rang as he walked in the door.
“The seller accepted your offer,” Julie said. “Assuming everything goes well with the inspection, you’ve bought yourself a house.”
“Fantastic! What about the furniture?”
> “She said if you want to come by and walk through the house with her, she’ll give you a good price. Let’s get the inspection out of the way first.”
Now all he had to do was come up with enough cash to pay for the house and convince Ginny to marry him.
The house was nice, but it wouldn’t be a home without her.
<>
Long after Steffen went to sleep that night, Ginny lay awake, thinking about the house he planned to buy. Apparently he still expected her to live with him. To marry him and give him children. But she wasn’t sure she wanted to get pregnant again. Losing the baby tore her into little pieces, and she couldn’t risk losing another one.
Slipping quietly out of bed, she walked downstairs. After college, she lived in the apartment over the garage behind her parents’ home. Buying this place, renovating it, and living here gave her a sense of peace. She called it her hideaway, a place she could come to be alone.
Growing up, she used to search for a quiet place to get away from her brothers, her parents, her grandfather, and Uncle Trevor, the uncle who wasn’t really an uncle. The house was a big one, but there were so many people around and so much going on. As the only girl, she was expected to be Mom’s little helper. And the boys were always on her case about something.
Tears filled her eyes and spilled over. She should be happy a wonderful man like Steffen Marchand loved her and wanted her to be a part of his life, but the thought of being chained to any man for the rest of her life frightened her, especially a man who could read her mind and plant thoughts in her head.
Without the baby, Steffen had no reason to marry her, no reason to stay in River Valley. So why was he buying a house here?
She walked upstairs to the bedroom and gazed at the gorgeous man sleeping in the bed. A stream of moonlight softened the strong lines of his face and she knew whatever else happened, she couldn’t walk away from him. She crawled in bed beside him and touched the scar on his shoulder. Henry Pollanski could have killed him, and she would never have known how all-consuming love could be.
He stirred and threw his arm over her hip, possessing her in his sleep. Claiming her as his woman. Just weeks ago that would have disturbed her. Now she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more.
