Twin Surprise for the Single Doc

by Susanne Hampton

  Claudia frowned at him while she scrutinised his face. His expression was severe. His jaw appeared more pronounced. ‘I’m just saying perhaps you could explain it properly. Have your peers explain it again. Franny’s obstetrician could sit down with your mother and tell her the truth. It would have been near on impossible for your mother to pick up the telephone and speak with him. But you could facilitate that conversation. Make her see reason. Would that be so hard for you to do?’

  ‘It’s too late. They’ve moved on with their lives.’

  ‘It’s never too late. No mother moves on from a child.’

  ‘I’m not so sure.’

  ‘I am. I couldn’t imagine a day without Thomas and Luca in my life. I would travel to the end of the earth to be with them and you should do the same for your nephew. You’ve chosen to give up without a fight.’

  ‘Fighting is overrated.’

  ‘Not in my books. I need a man who will fight for family.’

  Patrick stood up and crossed back to the doorway. His face was taut as he knew at that moment exactly how Claudia felt.

  Claudia sat staring ahead. Her heart was aching with the reality that had just been spelt out to her. ‘It’s been a long time and your mother would probably be stronger now. Don’t you think you owe it to her to let her know what really happened? I would want to know.’

  ‘Claudia, let it go.’

  ‘You mean let us go?’

  He rubbed his clenched jaw. Claudia noticed his eyes suddenly looked tired, almost battle-worn as he spoke. ‘The choice is yours.’

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  PATRICK STIRRED FROM a tortured sleep the next morning, knowing that his every reason for waking up was gone. Claudia had left. She had grabbed her belongings and caught a cab. She’d told him where she would be staying if he changed his mind and wanted to talk but he left the slip of paper by the bed. He had no intention of calling. She was right—she deserved to be with Harriet. Family was important to her. He had learned to get along on his own for a long time. He missed his mother and his brother-in-law and wished with all of his heart some days that he could be there to watch his nephew grow up. But he couldn’t. The wounds had healed on the outside and he didn’t want to rip them open by travelling home.

  It was better to let her rebuild her life back in the UK. She would settle in quickly and no doubt move on.

  She would forget about what they’d shared in time and someone else would take his place.

  But he wasn’t sure he would ever move on.

  Claudia had brought more joy and happiness into his life than he had dreamt possible. She was everything he could wish for in a woman and more. And he had let her walk away.

  He had never felt so empty and it filled him with regret to walk away from Claudia but there was no other choice. What she expected from him was impossible. How could he face his family again? Where would he start? Would the blame still be there? The desolation in his mother’s eyes—so empty, so blank, so lost and hurt by him that he could never go back. He just couldn’t. It was better to leave the past behind.

  When he’d discovered she had left that morning he had tried to push what they had shared from his mind but, waking on the second day, it became a reality. And he could no longer ignore the way he felt. A cloud had moved over his world and it was suddenly a much darker place, devoid of everything he had come to love.

  Glancing around the room, his eyes came to rest on the bedside table, where the framed photos of Thomas and Luca were resting. It was the first time she had reached out to him and let him into her world. He now knew how difficult that had been for her but she had fought her doubts and insecurities, and waded through the hurt, to let him know that he meant something to her and the boys.

  Next to the photographs was the note she had left—and her pearl earrings.

  A rush of memories assailed his mind.

  The day they’d met in the elevator. How beautiful he’d thought Claudia was and how he’d quickly discovered her looks were matched with her feisty spirit. She was a strong woman on the outside but inside she was filled with love. That day he had witnessed the level of that love for her sons and, weeks later, experienced first-hand her capacity for love when she’d shared his bed.

  And he had let her leave.

  Perhaps she was right. He had taken the easier option. But that suited him. He had adjusted to the values in the city. At least that was what he would have to tell himself. He climbed from bed and headed for the shower. He had the day off and no idea how to spend it. Claudia was gone and he couldn’t visit Thomas and Luca. He had to become accustomed to life without them and that wouldn’t happen if he tried to reach out to them even one last time.

  After a quick shower, he dressed in a polo shirt and jeans and, looking for something to occupy his mind, he decided to head to his practice. His hair was still wet and he was unshaven but he knew he wouldn’t be seeing anyone at that hour. There had to be some paperwork to finish, reports to finalise and mail to check. Anything to stop him rethinking the decision he had made.

  As he entered the garage he looked at the SUV that Claudia had been driving and made a mental note to call a dealership and trade it in. He didn’t want to be reminded of what he had lost every time he saw the car that he now considered to be hers.

  There was little traffic that early in the morning and he was at work in less than ten minutes. The cleaner was leaving as he pulled into the undercover car park; they acknowledged each other with a wave before the young man climbed into his van and left. Patrick took the stairwell to his first floor office. It was empty and quiet. So quiet that his own thoughts were almost deafening. He wished the cleaner had stayed so the sound of the vacuum could drown out the doubts that were pounding inside his head.

  He rifled through the papers on his desk and then noticed the pile of mail that his receptionist had sorted and put aside as not urgent. He hadn’t looked at it for a few weeks but he trusted Anita would have brought anything important to his attention.

  He read them one by one but nothing brought even a hint of enthusiasm to him. There was an invitation to attend a benefit for the Screen Actors Guild at the Beverly Wilshire; an invitation to drive a new luxury sedan that had arrived at a dealership in Santa Monica; a bi-monthly magazine from the Cosmetic Surgeons of America and numerous professional association offers and advertisements. It was all as he’d expected.

  Then he spied a gift certificate from an expensive women’s store on Rodeo Drive; it was only three doors down from his practice. He picked up the beautifully presented certificate and noticed it was for a sizeable amount. He wondered if they had made a mistake sending it to him, then he froze. This was the same store where his receptionist had ordered some pyjamas and toiletries for Claudia all those weeks ago. But why would they be sending him a gift certificate? It was far too generous to be a thank you in return for his business. He turned it over and found a note on the back.

  Dear Dr Spencer

  Miss Monticello insisted that she repay the kindness of the ‘anonymous’ customer. We did not reveal your details; however, she insisted that she provide a certificate of equal value to you. We hope a lovely lady in your life can enjoy shopping in our store in the near future.

  Warmest regards

  Camille and staff

  He closed his eyes and dropped his head back to look up at the ceiling. He knew he had to be the most stupid man in the world. She still had no idea that he had sent the parcel. She’d just wanted to repay a stranger. She could have just walked away but she had so much pride and honesty she had found a way to return what she didn’t feel in her heart was hers. In a city of people who were only too willing to take, Claudia wanted only to give. And he knew she would have struggled to have covered the cost. She had so little money but she still did the right thing. She never let her values sl
ip or chose the easy way out.

  She’d fought so hard to bring her boys into the world. She never gave up on who or what she loved, no matter what obstacles she faced.

  Claudia was an amazing, wonderful woman and he had just let her go.

  She had dropped her walls, despite all the disappointment she had endured; she had let him into her life and her heart, and how had he repaid her? He had been as cruel as the father of her children. Perhaps even worse, he berated himself, because he knew what Claudia had been through. And she had allowed him to become a part of her babies’ lives.

  His head was upright as he stared at the door. His jaw flicked with mounting fury. At himself and the lies that had changed his life. He drew breath and filled his lungs, and suddenly felt adrenaline rush through his body.

  He wouldn’t let it happen again. Walking away from a life with Claudia, Thomas and Luca was not what he wanted to do. Not now, not ever. He wasn’t sure he deserved them but he knew he wanted to fight to have them in his life. The thought of the boys’ birth certificates having no father listed made him want even more to be the father figure in their lives. To guide them and to love them. If Claudia would let him, he would willingly take on that role. Forever.

  He knew that meant reconciling with his family, no matter how difficult that might be. Perhaps time had healed some wounds, perhaps not. But Patrick wasn’t about to base his future on assumptions. He would visit and see first-hand. And if they didn’t want him back, then he would accept it but he wouldn’t run away. He wanted a life back in London with Claudia...if she would have him.

  He threw down the certificate and raced from the office. He had to prove to Claudia that he would fight for her and her boys and their future. He would do whatever it took. It was time to take a stand.

  There was just one thing he had to do before he left to find her—he had a flight to book to London.

  * * *

  Claudia had packed her suitcase and left it by the door for the concierge to collect as she made her way to the hotel lobby to check out. Her tears had finally dried. She told herself firmly that Patrick Spencer would be the last man she would waste precious tears on. She would concentrate on raising her sons and forget about any other love. Her boys would be enough to fill her life and she knew they would never let her down. And, more importantly, she would never let them down. She would be there for them and give them everything they needed, growing up. And she hoped one day as grown men each would find their true love and she would be happy for them.

  With a sigh for what might have been, she approached the reception desk.

  ‘Good morning, Miss Monticello, are you checking out today?’

  The young woman was dressed in a corporate charcoal suit, tortoiseshell glasses and a pleasant but predictable smile. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek chignon.

  ‘Yes, I am. Can you please add a bottle of lemonade I took from the minibar to my credit card along with the room charges? I was staying in Room 303.’

  The receptionist checked the computer screen and handed over the account.

  Claudia passed over her credit card then tucked her hair behind her ear as she stood waiting for the card to be processed. She felt for her pearl earring, the way she always did when she was nervous. But it wasn’t there. Her hand switched to the other ear. That one was missing too. She hadn’t even thought about them for two days. Her head had been filled with thoughts so much more demanding of her time than her jewellery. She suddenly remembered she had left them on the bedside table. Patrick’s bedside table.

  ‘Are you looking for these?’

  Claudia spun around to find a dishevelled Patrick standing behind her, her earrings in his outstretched hand.

  ‘I would like to speak with Miss Monticello in private,’ Patrick told the young woman at the desk, now looking at both of them. ‘Do you have a room available?’

  ‘The business centre has some private meeting rooms,’ the receptionist told them, adjusting her glasses. ‘You’re more than welcome to use one of those.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Patrick replied, glancing around the lobby and spying the business centre.

  ‘There’s no need to thank her; we won’t be using the room,’ Claudia retorted, shaking her head in defiance. ‘There’s nothing I need or want to say to you, Patrick. I’m leaving today. We’re over.’

  ‘There’s so much I want to say to you and I’d like to say it in private.’

  With a look of discomfort Claudia felt certain was due to the potential for a situation to play out in her lobby, the receptionist interrupted. ‘As I said, you’re both more than welcome to use any of the meeting rooms and at this hour they’re all free.’

  Patrick led the way and crossed the lobby foyer with long purposeful strides and waited by the door of the business centre for Claudia’s response. In silence she begrudgingly walked up to him. With each step across the large Mexican-inspired tiled floor of the lobby, the ache in her heart made her more resolute in her decision to end this meeting as soon as possible and never see Patrick again. She was angry and hurt in equal proportions that he had made her so vulnerable. She would hear him out then leave before she weakened and let her heart tell her what to do. She couldn’t live her life with a man who had such different values to her own.

  He softly closed the door behind them. ‘I’ve got so much to say to you, Claudia, and it begins with an apology.’

  ‘There’s no point. I don’t want an apology.’

  ‘But you deserve one. I should never have let you walk out of my life and I apologise for that. I’ve been the biggest fool and you were right. I need to fight for what’s important. That’s you and my family. Claudia, I don’t want to lose you and I’ll do whatever it takes for us to be together, if you’ll let me.’

  ‘What do you mean if I’ll let you?’ she demanded. ‘What are you telling me?’

  ‘I want a life with you and your sons.’

  ‘I can’t stay here in LA; I told you that.’

  ‘I know that and I wouldn’t want you to stay here,’ he said, taking her hands in his. ‘I want to come home with you. I want to go back to London and do what you made me realise I should have done years ago. I want to set things right with my family. At least try to anyway.’

  Claudia didn’t pull her hands free as her expression turned from confusion to something closer to joy. ‘Are you really serious about that?’

  ‘I’ve never been more serious.’

  ‘But why now? What’s changed in two days?’

  ‘I had time to think. Time to miss you and realise it’s something I should have done a long time ago. Because I don’t want to lose you or the boys.’

  ‘And when are you planning on doing this?’ Her voice did not betray the happiness she felt building inside. She did not dare to allow herself to believe he wanted a life with her, only to be disappointed again.

  ‘As soon as I can sell the practice, I will move home to the UK permanently. You’re right, my first love has always been obstetrics. And I can do it. I can honour my sister’s life and her bravery by bringing more children into the world, not trying to forget what happened.’

  ‘You really want to go back to what you had before?’

  ‘It won’t be exactly what I had before. So much has changed, but I will deal with everything if I have you in my life.’

  ‘This is a huge commitment to change everything about the life you lead. It’s a big adjustment.’

  ‘And it’s one I need to make.’

  ‘Then I will see you when you arrive,’ she said, hoping with all of her heart that it wasn’t an empty promise. She had become a realist and knew it might take time to sell the practice. In that time he might change his mind.

  ‘You will see me sooner than that. I’ll be travelling with you in about four hours’ time,’ he told
her as he looked at his watch. ‘You’ll need help with the boys on the long haul flight...and to settle into your home.’

  ‘You’re travelling from LAX to Heathrow with me tonight?’

  He pulled the airline ticket from his back trouser pocket. ‘If you’ll let me.’

  Claudia smiled in return and immediately felt herself being pulled into Patrick’s strong embrace and his lips pressed tenderly against hers. He pulled back for a moment to look lovingly into her eyes.

  ‘I love you, Claudia Monticello, more than I ever have or ever will love anyone and more than I thought possible. You’ve given me the reason and strength to fight for what I want. Don’t doubt, even for a moment, that you’re my reason for waking up every day because that is what you’ve become. I don’t want to live without you and if you’ll marry me you will make me the happiest man in the world.’

  Tears of happiness welled in her eyes as she nodded. ‘Of course I’ll marry you, Dr Spencer.’

  EPILOGUE

  ‘DADDY!’ CRIED THOMAS and Luca in unison as they ran to greet Patrick.

  Thomas was a little taller than Luca but they both had mops of thick black hair and smiles as wide as their chubby, and slightly ruddy, little faces.

  ‘How was your first day at school?’ he asked as he scooped both of the boys into his strong grip, resting one child on each hip as they wrapped their little arms around him. ‘Did you enjoy it?’

  ‘I like it home with Mummy and you better,’ said Luca and he nestled his head onto Patrick’s broad shoulder.

  ‘Me too, Daddy,’ Thomas agreed. ‘But there’s a turtle in the classroom so it’th not too bad.’

  ‘Yeth, I like the turtle very much.’ Luca lifted his head from Patrick’s shoulder and chimed in. ‘I think I might ask Father Christmas for one.’

  ‘And Mummy got some of your favourite toffee from the lolly shop today too,’ Thomas exclaimed. ‘The special one with the yummy chocolate all over it.’