by Judy Duarte
“That’s a big company,” she said.
“We’ve been very fortunate. Within three generations, the company went international.”
She still didn’t understand how a relationship could work out for them. “But you said you were an executive in the corporation. How are we going to deal with the commute?”
“I just resigned from the board of directors.”
How could he do such a thing? “Why? I don’t understand.”
“Before the mugging, I had an almost-obsessive focus on the family business. But something happened while I was in Brighton Valley. I had time to relax, to enjoy life for the first time in years. To be real.”
She wanted to take credit for that-or for being a part of the good things that had happened on the ranch, but she knew better than to open herself up for disappointment. So she let her rational side answer. “Vacations can do that for people. The human body wasn’t made to work 24/7.”
“It was more than that, Betsy. When I was a kid, we had horses. And I secretly considered a degree in animal husbandry. But that wouldn’t have benefited my family. So I went to USC and majored in business, just like my brothers.
“After graduation, I went to work at the corporate office and made my own mark on the company. And the fact that sales improved remarkably after I initiated a few ideas of my own made me proud to be a part of a successful, family-owned business.”
If truth be told, it made her proud of him, too.
“But I’ve never really been happy or content. I thought if I just worked harder or put in longer days or made more money…” He clucked his tongue and slowly shook his head. “But it didn’t help. I was never as happy or content as I was on the ranch with you. You healed something deep within me, Betsy. Something I hadn’t even realized was damaged.”
She didn’t know what to say. He’d healed something within her, too.
He closed the distance between them and reached for her hand. “I love you, Betsy. Even if you don’t feel the same way about me.”
“But I do,” she said. “I was devastated when you left.”
“Are you kidding? You were so…”
“Professional? Detached? That’s how I deal with stressful situations, Jason. That’s one reason I refused to meet my mother. But you were right. Some people deserve second chances.”
A smile stretched across his face. “So does that mean you’ll give me-us-another chance?”
“Absolutely.”
Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him right there in the middle of the hospital lobby.
After a wonderful night spent in the guesthouse at the ranch, Betsy and Jason celebrated the first part of Christmas Day with her parents in Doc’s hospital room. When they arrived, her dad had carried in a miniature tree and set it near the window. And Jason brought in an armful of gifts that Betsy had purchased and wrapped ahead of time.
Of course, she didn’t have a package for Jason because she hadn’t expected to share the holiday with him. But his surprise appearance last night and his profession of love had been a prize beyond measure, and the lovemaking that had followed had been an amazing treat.
After Doc had opened his gifts-an iPhone, a new pair of pajamas, DVDs and a book on tape-he apologized. “If I would have known I was going to have a stroke, I would have gone shopping sooner. I’m afraid I don’t have anything for you yet.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Betsy said. “Jason and I didn’t get each other gifts, either.”
“Actually,” Jason said, “that’s not true. You gave me mine last night, when you agreed to give our relationship a chance. And I’ve got one for you.”
“You do?”
He reached into the lapel of his sports jacket and pulled out a checkbook and a pen. Then, using the table near Doc’s bed, he wrote a check.
“I’m sorry,” Betsy said. “We’ll need to get one thing straight. Cash doesn’t count as a present. And gift cards aren’t much better. You’re going to have to tear that up and start over. I want something that comes from your heart.”
“I think you’re going to like this one.” He ripped off the check and handed it to her.
When she read what he’d written, she furrowed her brow. “Pay to the order of Brighton Valley Medical Center? One million dollars?” She looked up in awe. “Oh, my God. What’s this?”
“Something to keep the hospital afloat until things turn around. And hopefully that means a well-deserved vacation for you.”
“A loan?”
“No, a gift.”
Betsy glanced at the check again. “I don’t know what to say.”
“A thank-you would work.” Jason eased closer and slipped his arm around her waist. “But a kiss would be even better.”
She laughed, then threw her arms around him and gave him just what he asked for, as well as a heart full of love to back it up.
Moments later, Jason’s cell phone rang and he stepped out into the hall to take the call. When he returned, he was smiling.
“Good news?” she asked.
“The best. Remember the accident I told you about?”
The one he’d caused when he ran the stop sign.
She nodded.
“My father’s golfing buddy has a wife who serves on a hospital board. And with her connections, they learned that the child’s paralysis wasn’t permanent. She’ll need physical therapy, but she’s going to be okay. And the newborn was released from the NICU a couple of days ago and was sent home. They’re all going to be fine, thank God.”
They had a lot to celebrate, especially the fact that the accident would soon become a thing of the past. There would be a settlement, but as long as there weren’t any permanent injuries, Betsy knew Jason was relieved.
“My mother wants to know when I’m going to bring you home to meet them,” Jason said.
Now that the medical center wasn’t in dire financial straits, Betsy would be able to schedule some vacation time. “I’ll see what I can do. New Year’s Day might be a little early, but I’ll put in a request for the first weekend I can get.”
John wrapped his arms around Betsy and drew her near. “So Merry Christmas, honey. A new year never looked so promising. We’ve got a lot to look forward to.”
He had that right. They’d both come to grips with the past, and now they could relish the present and look forward to a love-filled future.
Epilogue
Several months later, on a sunny spring day, Jason stood beside his brother David in front of the Brighton Valley Community Church, waiting for his bride to walk down the aisle.
They’d had a rehearsal last night, and he knew right where to stand and what to expect, but that didn’t make the waiting any easier. He was eager to see Betsy, to take her hand and marry the woman he loved.
It was nearing two o’clock, and the pews were filled with family, friends and colleagues who wanted to share in the special day. In a matter of minutes, Betsy would walk down the aisle, and they would start their lives together.
After the reception, they would honeymoon in Belize, then they would return to the ranch, where they would make their home and a raise a family. Thanks to Jason’s donation, the hospital’s financial woes were over, and Betsy could stay on the day shift and work a normal, forty-hour week.
As the organ began another tune to indicate that the processional would soon begin, Jason watched his brother Mike escort their mother down the aisle, followed by their father. Jason’s parents hadn’t understood his decision to move to Brighton Valley and buy Doc’s ranch, but they respected it. And they adored Betsy.
As his mom and dad took their seats, Barbara Nielson came next, wearing a beautiful green dress she and Betsy had picked out. Barbara couldn’t look prettier-or more delighted-as she rode down the aisle in a wheelchair decorated with gold ribbons and white roses. Jim Kelso stood behind her, maneuvering the chair. When they reached the front row, where she would sit, Jim helped her to her feet and get settled in
the pew. Then he pushed the chair to the side of the church, out of the way.
Once seated, Barbara glanced across the aisle at Jason’s mother. The two women smiled at one another, their eyes misting over.
Betsy’s biological family had been invited to the wedding and had taken a back-row seat. In spite of Betsy’s fears that meeting Carla would complicate her life, it had turned out to be a blessing instead.
Again, the organ segued to another tune, and Molly Mayfield started on her way to the front of the church, where she took her place as the matron of honor and looked out at those who’d gathered. When her gaze lit upon her husband, Chase, who sat in the third row with their daughter in his lap, she beamed.
As the wedding march began, Jason tried not to crane his neck, looking for Betsy. When he spotted her on her father’s arm, his heart skipped a beat.
Dressed in a strapless, full-length gown, Betsy was a sight to behold. Jason had attended a lot of weddings and seen many beautiful brides, but none of them would ever compare to his.
As their gazes met and locked, he had to tell himself to breathe.
Moments later, Pete Nielson handed his daughter over to Jason, and within minutes, they’d made their heartfelt, lifelong vows to love and cherish each other forever. Then, they shared their very first kiss as husband and wife-sweet and gentle and loaded with promise.
Jason thought his heart would burst with happiness as he led his wife down the aisle.
“You have no idea how happy I am,” Betsy whispered.
“I’ve got a pretty good idea.” Jason gripped his wife’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
As a camera flashed, his feet slowed, and he turned to her. “Thanks for taking a chance on me when I had no idea who I was.”
“It wasn’t hard to do. The only thing I didn’t know about you was your name. Your strength, your honesty, your integrity, were all there. All I had to do was open my heart and let you in.”
There, in the back of the church, he gave her another kiss-this one spontaneous and unrehearsed.
I love you, it promised. Today, tomorrow and always.
JUDY DUARTE
always knew there was a book inside her, but since English was her least favorite subject in school, she never considered herself a writer. An avid reader who enjoys a happy ending, Judy couldn’t shake the dream of creating a book of her own.
Her dream became a reality in March of 2002, when Silhouette Special Edition released her first book, Cowboy Courage. Since then, she has published more than twenty novels.
Her stories have touched the hearts of readers around the world. And in July of 2005, Judy won the prestigious Readers’ Choice Award for The Rich Man’s Son.
Judy makes her home near the beach in Southern California. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she’s spending time with her somewhat enormous but delightfully close family.
***
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