“Don’t be, honey. We’re right here. You’ve got the best doctors in the best hospital.”
Her head rolled from side to side. “I don’t mean that. What if the wrong people adopt my baby?” Tears gushed out of her eyes. “I don’t want it to grow up like I did.”
“It won’t, honey. Remember what your counselor said? There’s a wonderful couple just waiting for your baby.”
Max’s arm tightened around her shoulders. Ecstasy to agony, she thought. That was how this night was going.
“I know, but I don’t know them. I wish you and Max were going to be its parents.” Her whole soul implored them with her eyes.
Gaby couldn’t talk.
“Remember when we went to the beach?” The orderlies started to move her out of the room on the gurney. “You said you were getting so old you’d probably never have a baby. And then you cried? If you’d met Max sooner, you could have had my baby. Maybe it’s still not too late!”
The room echoed with those words as she was wheeled away.
“Oh, Max…”
Gabriella twisted in his arms and began to sob. She tried to stop the flow of tears, but it was impossible. He wrapped her tightly in his arms and rocked her.
“Go ahead and cry it out, Gabriella darling. This has been a long time in coming. You’ve been Sandra and Juanita’s world for months.”
“I know. It’s the part about volunteering that’s so hard.”
“It happens in my work, too. You form attachments.”
“Sandra doesn’t know it, but months ago I met the couple the agency has picked out for her baby. They seem like terrific people. They’re in their early thirties. Very stable and financially well off. The adoptive mother couldn’t have another baby after her first one. They don’t want it to grow up an only child.”
“I’m sure it’s all going to work out. You’ve helped her through the worst part. Now the best is going to come.”
She sniffed. He handed her some tissues. “You’re right. Under the circumstances, I don’t dare look at the baby after they take it to the nursery. If I’m going to support Sandra, then I don’t need to form another emotional attachment.”
“I think that’s wise,” he murmured into her hair.
“It will make it all too real otherwise.”
“We’ll wait till Juanita’s is born. She’s decided to keep hers. Then we can h-hold it,” she stammered before the tears started gushing again. “I’m sorry, darling. This is no good. I’ve made a mess of your shirt. Excuse me for a minute while I run to the rest room down the hall. I need to get myself together. Sandra will be looking for us when they wheel her into recovery. I’ll be right back.”
He kissed her cheek. “I’ll walk with you.”
When she looked in the bathroom mirror, all she saw was a blotchy, puffy face. After splashing it with cool water, she applied fresh lipstick, then hurried out to Max.
They walked down to the lounge, but didn’t have to wait long to hear the news. Sandra had given birth to a baby girl. Both mother and daughter were doing well. But Sandra had been given a hypodermic for pain.
The nurse told Gaby she could go in to see Sandra for just a minute, then they wanted her to sleep.
“I’ll wait here for you. Give her my love.” Max’s kiss sustained her as she hurried into the recovery room.
AS SOON AS she disappeared, Max pulled out his cell phone.
A groggy voice answered on the fifth ring. “Max? Do you know it’s the middle of the night? What’s up? If you need to talk, just drive over. I’ll go back to sleep till you get here.”
“You’re off the hook, Gideon. I’ve got someone else to talk to now.”
There was a pause. “Then why…? You mean…”
“Yup. Gabriella. She’s come home to me. We’re leaving for Las Vegas in a few minutes to get married.”
“Whoa.”
Max smiled. “It’s her idea. She wants to wait until we say our ‘I do’s,’ so she thought we’d better get hitched tonight.”
“That’s got to be the best news I’ve heard in a decade. The guys are going to love it. Have you told Karl?”
“No. I’ll leave that up to you.”
“Where are you right now?”
“St. Anne’s. Sandra just had a baby girl. As you know, she’s giving her up for adoption. Gabriella’s in the recovery room with her now to comfort her.”
“That couldn’t be easy.”
“No. Not when Gabriella’s dying to hold the baby and doesn’t dare.”
After a brief silence, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yes. It’s more than evident she wants a baby.”
“Now isn’t that nice, since you wanted to try fatherhood the first time around.”
“I can’t wait, Gideon! It means I’m going to resign from the bureau.”
“Good. This undercover stuff isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You can come back to being a San Diego cop with me.”
“I like the sound of that. Uh-oh. Here she is. I’ll feel her out this weekend.”
Gideon chuckled. “I have no doubt of that.”
“Cut the bull.” But Max was grinning.
“You sound happy, Max. It’s about time.”
“I NOW PRONOUNCE you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Gaby raised her mouth to her new husband. “Make this fast, darling,” she whispered.
His pupils flared in surprise, but he carried out her wishes with dispatch.
As soon as they left the little wedding chapel and reached her car, he pulled her close. The desert sun shone in their eyes.
“What was that all about?”
“I don’t like this place.”
“It served its purpose. You’re my wife now.” His deep voice shook with emotion.
She threw her arms around his neck. They kissed long and hard. When he finally let her go, she said, “I don’t think I’ve told you something important yet.”
A puzzled look crept over his handsome face.
“What?”
“That I love you!” she cried from the depths of her soul. “You’ve transformed my life.”
He grasped her hand where a new gold wedding band gleamed in the light. “You see?” Suddenly he’d become Anatoly for a moment.
“I told you we were compatible. I love you, Gabriella. You are the most exciting woman I’ve ever known. Now we are going to be lovers. If you want my baby right away, I will do my best. He will grow up to speak English without a Russian accent.”
“He? Don’t you mean she?”
“Yes. That is what I meant.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7835-0
ACCIDENTALLY YOURS
Copyright © 2001 by Rebecca Winters.
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