She could only pretend to be calm. “Real good. Remember the driver I lost?”
“You mean the one Ross stole?”
Glancing up at him, she couldn’t help thinking how much she’d missed that smile. “Turns out Ross is a lousy boss. So, Bruce is back with me.”
“Excellent.”
When they reached Seventh Avenue, she started for the front door.
Trent grabbed her hand, the simple touch sending shivers dancing up her arm. “Think maybe we could go to my apartment? The balcony, of course.”
“Okay.” She followed him up the stairs, feeling as though her emotions had been tossed in a blender. Would he try to take Austin? Was he back for the rest of the summer? Had she ever held a place in his heart?
Outside the French doors, Hayden loomed before them and the alpenglow painted the Amphitheater a golden orange.
“Have a seat.” He gestured to the green plastic lawn chair, the chaise long since returned to Gran.
“I prefer to stand, thank you.” She latched on to the railing, her gaze trained on the view.
He moved beside her. “I have something for you.” He held out a folded piece of paper that looked like a check.
She took hold, then opened it.
“Twenty-five thousand dollars!” Quickly scanning the sidewalk below, she prayed no one had heard her. She tempered her voice. “Are you crazy?”
“No more secrets, Blakely. Ross told me you’re losing business.”
“What? No, I’m not.”
“You’re not?” He looked surprised.
“No.”
“But he said he offered to buy you out.”
“Because Adventures in Pink is his stiffest competition. If anyone’s in trouble, it’s him.” She refolded the check, this time in quarters and held it out to him. “So I don’t need your money.”
He pushed it away. “I owe you more than that in child support.”
“Then put it in a college fund for Austin.” She held it out again. “Like I said, I don’t need your money, Trent.”
He grabbed hold of the check along with her hand. “Then what do you need, Blakely?” He stepped closer.
She tried to tug free, but he held fast. “I don’t need anything from you.”
He took another step, eradicating what little space remained between them. “How about the truth? Why I didn’t tell you I was leaving.” His face was mere inches from hers.
She swallowed hard as the aroma of his aftershave invaded the space around her.
“Yes, I had commitments in Albuquerque. Yes, it was going to be hard to leave Austin. But then I realized I was in love with you. And let me tell you, sweetheart, you’re one woman who’s impossible to forget.”
Her breathing intensified as his dark gaze bore into hers. If he thought she—
“I’m back, Blakely, and I’m back for good.”
She struggled for air as his words rang in her mind. Back. For good? “What about your practice?”
“I’ve closed the door on my life in Albuquerque.” He let go of her hand, only to seize her around the waist. “You and Austin are the only things that matter to me.” He smoothed a lock of hair away from her face, his touch sending waves of pleasure throughout her being. “I love you, Blakely. And I don’t care how long it takes—I intend to prove myself worthy of your trust.”
She could melt into a puddle right there. If she weren’t so stubborn. “What if I don’t love you?”
He grinned. “Well then I’m just going to have to change your mind.”
Before she could even form a response, he kissed her. A kiss filled with conviction and love. A kiss that erased any lingering doubt. She loved him.
If this was just the beginning, sign her up for a lifetime.
Epilogue
Blakely placed the lid on the last file box. The audit was complete and Adventures in Pink had passed with flying colors. More important, she survived, thanks to Granddad’s impeccable record keeping...and Trent. The man was her rock, her best friend and the love of her life.
She lifted the white banker’s box, carried it outside and placed it with the others in the bed of Trent’s pickup. Tugging her cable-knit cardigan around her, she admired the shades of gold, orange and crimson that blanketed the mountainsides. Despite the midday sun, a chill had descended on the valley. Snow had already fallen in the higher elevations—enough to close both Black Bear and Imogene Pass. It appeared as though things were setting up for a long, hard winter.
“Are you ready, Mom?” Austin barreled around the pumpkin topiary situated at the corner of the blue building. Trent, who wasn’t far behind their son, had a notable spring in his step. Thanks to the retirement of another doctor, Trent was now a permanent fixture at the clinic in Ridgway, and he loved every minute of it.
“You bet.” She was a little taken aback by her son’s enthusiasm. “But you do realize we’re just going to the storage unit, right?”
“Yeah.” He giggled as he opened the back door and crawled inside.
“He’s in an exceptionally good mood today,” she said as Trent moved to the passenger door. “You don’t suppose he’s got something up his sleeve do you?”
“Austin? Nah.” Trent opened the door and waited while she climbed in. “Are you looking forward to our date tonight?”
“I am.” What wasn’t there to like when he whisked her away to Montrose for a romantic dinner? It was a rare event that made her feel special and gave her the opportunity to indulge her feminine side. “I even bought a new dress.”
“Good.” He leaned closer. “Because your legs are too amazing to keep hidden under jeans all the time.”
Her cheeks flamed as he closed the door. Guess he’d approve of the high heels she got, too.
Trent fired up the engine and threw the truck into Reverse. “Say, would you mind if we made a little pit stop first?”
“No. What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing.” So he said, but that mischievous grin on his face told her otherwise.
But she didn’t press him any further, opting instead to remain silent as he wound through the side streets of Ouray.
That is, until he drifted to a stop in front of a large Dutch Colonial built during the height of the gold rush. The home was beautiful, with its gabled dormers, large front porch and intricately carved woodwork; it also was one of Blakely’s favorites. The one that had captivated her interest from the time she was a little girl when she and her mother would take walks around Ouray and daydream about the old homes.
“What are we doing here?”
Trent pulled the keys from the ignition. “I thought we might have a look-see.”
“Cool.” Austin bounded out of the backseat before she could get her door open.
She knew Trent had been looking for a house, but this...
“It’s got four bedrooms—” Trent led them up the walk “—two and a half baths, and look at this yard. Plenty of room to play catch. Right, Austin?”
“Sure is.” Their son hurried up the concrete steps.
“I’ve always admired the rounded bay windows.” Blakely took in the structural elements.
“That’s why I love these old homes. Builders nowadays don’t pay attention to those small details that can really make a house stand out.” Trent slid the key into the lock, then ushered them inside the empty house.
Dark, hand-scraped wood floors shimmered throughout the first level.
“All of the millwork is cherry and is original to the house.” Trent shut the door and directed his attention to the living and dining rooms that flanked the foyer. “Of course it’s been updated, so the kitchen cabinets are all new.”
“Can I go upstairs?” Austin gripped the wood banister at the far end of the foyer.
&n
bsp; “Sure. I expect you’ll be spending a lot of time here, so you need to look at everything. May as well pick out a bedroom while you’re up there.” Trent motioned Blakely farther into the home as Austin thudded up the steps.
“Nice-size great room.” She admired the beamed ceiling and stone fireplace. The rustic touches were a pleasant contrast to the formal rooms at the front of the house.
“Wait till you see this.” He moved to one side, revealing the biggest kitchen she’d ever seen.
“Wow.” Joining him, she smoothed her hand across the pale gold granite atop the island. Sage-green cupboards had a tea-stained glaze that not only highlighted their bead-board fronts, but also gave them an aged look. Like they’d been with the house all along. “Somebody did a good job selecting cabinets that held true to the character of the house.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Trent hadn’t stopped grinning since they arrived.
Over the next forty-five minutes, he walked her through each room, showing her every detail of the magnificent structure. His excitement was hard to miss. However, she couldn’t help thinking that this was a lot of house for a single guy.
Finally, they returned to the kitchen—definitely, her favorite room—while Austin continued to explore.
“Well, what do you think?”
“It’s really nice, Trent. Really nice.” In fact, the old house was every bit as beautiful on the inside as she’d imagined it to be from the outside.
“But...?”
She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “It’s big. I mean, wouldn’t you feel like you were rambling around?”
“I suppose.” His gaze skimmed the great room. “It was definitely built with a family in mind.” He paused. “So, I guess it’s up to you.”
“Me?” She stiffened.
Trent turned on his heel and dropped to one knee. Then, in what seemed like slow motion, he reached into his jacket pocket and smiled up at her. “I love you, Blakely Daniels. You are my treasure, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to fill this house with lots of kids. Our kids.” He opened the black velvet box, revealing a brilliant princess-cut diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds. “Will you marry me?”
Afraid she might fall over, Blakely latched on to the island. Trent knelt before her, offering to make every dream she’d ever had come true. And oh, how she loved him.
Fighting back tears, she cleared the emotion from her throat. “When you say lots of kids—” she narrowed her gaze “—just how many are you talking about?”
He shrugged. “Two more. Ten more. Whatever you like.”
She laughed. “I think ten would be a bit much. However...three might be just right.”
He lifted a brow. “Is that a yes?”
“That is a resounding yes, Dr. Lockridge.”
“All right!” Austin leaped down the stairs with a thud as Trent placed the ring on her left hand. “I told you she’d say yes, Dad.”
“You knew about this?” Mouth agape, she looked at their son, knowing his dreams were coming true, as well.
He bounded toward them. “Uh-huh. So did Gran.”
“And we pulled it off.” Trent high-fived the boy and turned back to Blakely. His smoldering expression sent her heart into overdrive. “Now if you’ll excuse me, son. I seriously need to kiss your mother.”
Blakely wove her fingers through Trent’s dark curls and tugged him closer. “I love you.”
“Aw, man. Are you guys gonna do that all the time?”
She gazed into Trent’s root beer eyes, so full of love for her and their family.
“I certainly hope so, short man. I certainly hope so.”
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
I fell in love with Ouray, Colorado, the first time my mother-in-law introduced me to the small alpine town where her parents homesteaded in the 1920s. Located in southwestern Colorado, Ouray is known by many names—the Switzerland of America, the Gem of the Rockies, the Ice Climbing Capital of the U.S., and the Jeeping Capital of the World. The former silver and gold mining town is as rich in history as it is in beauty.
It was on my first hike up Portland Trail, as I stared out over the Amphitheater, that this story was conceived. In the years since, God has taught me that although things in life may not always go as I planned, all things really do work together for good. We hear that verse so often that it sometimes seems cliché. But, like Trent and Blakely, I’ve learned firsthand just how true it is. Life brings us hardships and we experience things that make absolutely no sense to our human minds. But beyond our comprehension, God is at work. While we’re focused on that one piece of the puzzle, He sees the big picture and knows exactly how every piece fits together.
If you’d like to experience Ouray for yourself, Bob and Brandy Ross at Switzerland of America, the little blue building on Seventh Avenue, will be happy to set you up with a Jeep rental or take you on a scenic tour of the San Juan Mountains. And if you’re in need of a place to stay, Ted and Betty Wolfe at the Comfort Inn will take good care of you. Just tell them all I sent you.
I hope you enjoyed The Doctor’s Family Reunion, a story of trust, second chances and true love. Please feel free to contact me via my website, www.mindyobenhaus.com or you can snail mail me c/o Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.
Mindy Obenhaus
Questions for Discussion
In the story’s opening, Blakely’s world has been turned upside down—literally. Have you ever felt this way? How did you react?
Ross Chapman causes Blakely a lot of grief. Have you ever had someone in your life who was a thorn in your side? How did you deal with them?
Gran continued to pray for Trent because he was Austin’s father, despite the fact that he’d hurt her granddaughter and married someone else. Have you ever felt led to pray for someone, regardless of circumstances?
Blakely’s friend Taryn doesn’t pull any punches. She is brutally honest with Blakely. Have you ever had a friend who wasn’t afraid to be honest with you?
Trent achieved both of his dreams. Then he felt trapped. Have you ever had trouble trusting God?
Although Blakely worked with her grandfather for years, she found the administration side of Adventures in Pink overwhelming. Have you ever felt you’ve been given more than you can handle?
Blakely found herself pregnant and unwed at a young age, yet she made the choice to keep her baby. Have you ever known someone in that situation? What struggles did they face?
Although he never knew it, Blakely’s grandfather affected Trent’s life by being a godly example. Has there been anyone like that in your life? What did they mean to you?
Blakely had reserved one of her apartments to use as a studio, but she gave it up for Trent. Have you ever given up something that was important to you because you knew it was the right thing to do?
Trent signed off on the building with Scott because he was a man of his word, yet he felt God tugging him in another direction. Have you ever ignored God’s calling? What happened?
Blakely was betrayed by Trent and hesitated to trust him again. Have you ever encountered a situation where you needed to take a second look at someone and learn to trust them again?
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.
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Prologue
Gracie Wilson stood in the center of a Sunday school classroom at the Bygones Community Church. Her friend Janie Lawson adjusted her veil and again wiped at tears.
“You look beautiful.”
“Do I?” Gracie glanced in the full-length mirror that hung on the door of the supply cabinet and suppressed a shudder. The dress was hideous and she hadn’t picked it.
“Of course you do. You look like a fairy princess.”
Gracie groaned. “Is this another height joke?”
Janie hugged her tight for one second. “Not at all. You look beautiful. And you look miserable. It’s your wedding day. You should be smiling.”
Gracie smiled, but she knew it was a poor attempt at best. The frown on Janie’s face confirmed it. She exhaled and looked again at her reflection in the mirror. Janie was right; a bride shouldn’t look sad.
“Gracie, what’s wrong?” Janie walked up behind her and peeked over her shoulder so that their reflections stared back at them.
“Nothing. I’m good.” She leaned her cheek against Janie’s hand on her shoulder. “Other than the fact that you’ve moved one hundred miles away and I never get to see you.”
What else could she say? Everyone in Bygones, Kansas, and probably for miles around, thought she’d landed the catch of the century. Trent Morgan was handsome, charming and came from money. She should be thrilled to be marrying him. Six months ago she had been thrilled. Five months ago she’d still been happy.
But then she’d started to notice little signs. She should have put the wedding on hold the moment she noticed those signs. She should have slowed down and not worried so much about what everyone else would think. And when she knew for certain, she should have put a stop to the entire thing. But she hadn’t. Because once the wedding wheels had been put in motion, she hadn’t known how to stop it all from happening.
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