by Judy Duarte
During the day, while she nested, he would call her from the office every now and then. Sometimes he’d ask if she wanted him to pick up anything on his way home, while at others he just wanted to check on her and see if she was all right.
It didn’t matter what she was doing when the phone rang, whenever she heard his voice on the line, it brought a smile to her heart, as well as her lips.
They’d kissed several times, each one more arousing than the next, but they hadn’t made love. They’d broached the subject last night, though, after a kiss that had left them both breathless.
“There’s nothing I’d like more,” Hector had said as he rose up on an elbow while lying next to her on his bed. “But I don’t feel comfortable making love until after you run it by your doctor. I know he’s keeping close tabs on you.”
“I’ll call him in the morning. Maybe he’ll give us the okay.”
He’d smiled, then brushed a strand of hair from her face. “And if he doesn’t, it’ll be okay. We’ll wait until it is.”
It was then that she realized the depths of her love for him. And she hoped that he felt the same about her. Either way, they’d become more than neighbors, more than friends. They’d become a couple.
The next morning, she’d called Dr. Demetrios’s office and asked to speak to him.
“He’s not in today,” Sara Beth, the head nurse, said. “But he’ll be back on Monday. Is this an emergency?”
Samantha’s libido insisted that it most definitely was, but she said, “No. I’ll wait until he’s back in the office.”
She hung up the phone, then fixed the pot roast for dinner.
After they’d eaten, Hector and Samantha sat on the sofa in his family room and watched a movie, a cozy, nightly habit they’d both come to enjoy.
It was interesting, though. She might spend the days at her own house, but at night, it went without saying that they would hang out at Hector’s.
She wasn’t sure why that was. She’d thought about it, though. And while neither of them had brought up the subject, she wondered if they chose his house because it had been home to them during the time hers was being painted and she’d stayed with him.
There was one other possibility, one she hated to admit: Peter’s ghost wasn’t there.
Not that her house was haunted or anything. It was just that, earlier today, while she’d been dusting the furniture in the living room, she’d noticed a piece of artwork Peter had liked, as well as the easy chair on which he’d preferred to read, and she’d realized that a part of him had remained behind.
She’d made up her mind to buy new furniture and to redecorate as soon as she could. She wasn’t actually trying to exorcise his memory or essence from the house, but if she and Hector were going to build a life together—assuming that’s the direction their relationship was heading—it wouldn’t help if everywhere Hector turned he saw Peter’s wife, his children and his personal belongings.
They could only avoid her house for so long, though. Once the triplets arrived, they would have to spend more time in the house with the nursery.
So Samantha had called Helen Gilmore, the director of the battered women’s shelter, and donated her furniture for use at the safe houses or the apartments that provided transitional living.
Helen had been thrilled at the offer and had promised to send a truck for everything early next week. And when Samantha had ended the call, she’d felt good about what she’d done. Once she’d brought in a decorator and purchased new furniture, she could make the house her own.
As she watched the movie, Hector’s arm slipped around her shoulders. She leaned into him, and the side of her leg pressed against his. She splayed her left hand on top of his thigh and the other on her ever-expanding belly.
When a definite flutter moved in her tummy, her breath caught.
Hector immediately tensed and turned to face her. “What’s the matter, Sam?”
“I think one of the babies moved.”
“Really?” A look of awe washed away one of concern. “Can I feel it?”
“You can try.” She reached for his hand, placed it where hers had been, where she’d felt the little one move. “I’d been having these bubblelike flutters and didn’t know what it was. But this time, it was much stronger. And I knew it had to be one of the babies.”
They waited, joined in wonder, but as one minute stretched into the next, it didn’t appear as though the baby was going to cooperate.
“I’m sorry,” she finally said. “Whoever was turning somersaults must have decided to take a nap.”
“Maybe next time,” he said, his voice laced with a hint of disappointment.
Before either of them could settle back in their cozy seats and focus on the movie, Samantha’s cell phone rang. She had no idea who could be calling her, although she hoped it was someone from The Baby Boutique, telling her the cribs and dresser had come in and wanting to schedule the delivery.
So she got to her feet, feeling as graceful as a duck in high heels, and practically waddled across the room to the table on which she’d left her purse.
“Hello?”
“Hi, dear. I hope I didn’t disturb you.”
It was Marian, Samantha realized. And her voice was more cheerful than usual.
“It’s no bother. I was just watching TV with a friend.” She glanced at Hector, saw him watching her.
Okay, so they were more than friends.
She’d have to tell Marian about Hector one of these days, but what was there to tell when neither of them had any idea where their relationship would end up or how long it might last? Not that she wasn’t entertaining thoughts of marriage.
If and when things became more serious, she’d have to tell Randall and Marian about the man she’d fallen in love with, the man she hoped would be a father to Peter’s children.
Her stomach knotted at the thought, at their reaction. But like Hector suggested, she would take one day at a time.
“I won’t keep you,” Marian said. “But Gloria Hanson would like to host a baby-shower luncheon for you at the country club. It’ll be a lovely affair, but she’ll need to book the garden room. So we wanted to know what days you’re available.”
“It’s a little early, isn’t it?”
“Well, since triplets don’t always go to term, and since you might even end up on bed rest down the road, we thought it would be best to schedule it sooner rather than later.”
“I’m not home right now, so I can’t check my calendar. Can I get back to you on that?”
“Of course,” Marian said. “By the way, Randall and I would love to go shopping with you for the cribs and the bedding. We’re so excited, we can hardly stand it.”
Samantha glanced over her shoulder and peered at Hector, who was watching her rather than the television. She didn’t want to shortchange the Keatings, she’d already purchased the big items—with Hector. And if truth be told, she’d prefer to have Hector as a shopping companion, if he was willing to go with her again.
But now wasn’t the time to discuss any of that.
“Why don’t I give you a call tomorrow morning?” she suggested.
“All right, I’ll talk to you then. Good night, dear. And have fun with your friend.”
“Thanks.” She wondered how Marian would feel when she learned that the friend in question was male.
When she hung up the phone and headed back toward the sofa, Hector asked, “Who was that?”
Samantha had always valued honesty, even though she hadn’t come out and told Hector that the babies were going to be Keatings yet. “It was Peter’s mother.”
“What did she want?” His tone came across crisp and tight, as if he wasn’t happy about the call or the fact Samantha and Marian still had a connection.
But she was more connected to the Keatings now than ever.
“I’m going to their house for dinner on Sunday, and she mentioned lunch at the country club one of these days.”
Hector studied her momentarily, then returned to watching the movie.
Was he bothered by Marian’s invitation?
Or had he forgotten the phone call already?
Maybe she was reading way too much into his question, his silence.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what would become of their relationship—or whatever it was—when he found out all the details about the in vitro.
He shouldn’t mind. After all, he’d assumed that she’d used a stranger as a sperm donor. And in this case, she knew exactly who the father really was. So there was no reason to question the genetics.
As she settled in beside him on the sofa, the secret stretched taut between them, and she wondered if she should bite the bullet and tell him now.
Maybe, but if she waited until she’d redecorated the living room and bought new bedding and curtains for the bedroom, she could show him that Peter was no longer a part of her life, of her heart.
It wouldn’t take long to give her house a fresh, new look.
And then she’d tell him.
While Hector played golf with his buddies on Saturday, Samantha met with a decorator and hired her to give the interior of the house an entirely new look. Then she made a list of all the things she wanted to donate to the women’s shelter.
When she was finished, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief, although not because she’d wiped out all signs of Peter in the house. She’d kept some of his personal items to pass on to the babies when they grew up, such as his watch, his favorite books and his journals. But when she moved back into the house after five years away, she’d experienced an eerie feeling, as if she’d stepped into a time warp.
With Peter’s presence still thick within the walls, she’d been constantly reminded of his loss, of her sadness, her grief, and she hadn’t appreciated the reminder. Not when her future appeared brighter now than ever before.
So she patted herself on the back for having the gumption to make the necessary changes in her life, took a long, refreshing shower and got dressed to attend taco night at Yolanda’s.
After fixing her hair and applying pink lipstick and a dab of mascara, she slipped into her nicest maternity dress, a black classic cut with plenty of give in the waist. She hadn’t gotten used to having the baby bump so pronounced, especially when it seemed to be growing bigger with each passing hour, but it was the style.
She gave herself a once-over in the mirror before returning to Hector’s house shortly before he got home from the golf course.
When he entered the house, he held a shopping bag in his arms. But before she could quiz him about what was inside, his face lit up, and he said, “Wow. You look great, Sam.”
She placed her hand on her belly. “Are you sure? I feel a little self-conscious.”
“You shouldn’t.” He closed the distance between them and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “You’re the prettiest expectant mother I’ve ever known.”
His words touched her nearly as much as his kiss.
“Give me a few minutes to shower,” he said, “and then we can go to Yolanda’s.”
“All right.” Her gaze was drawn to his shopping bag. “But what have you got in there?”
“Something for the babies.” He reached inside and pulled out a blue corduroy pickup truck that had been stitched and stuffed.
He tossed it to her, and she caught it. Then she watched him withdraw a matching tractor, which had been made by the same manufacturer. He transferred it to the crook of his arm while he removed a stuffed doll made out of soft flannel. “And this is for Chloe. What do you think? Should I have gotten her a car, too? They had a fire truck that was kind of cool.”
Happy tears filled her eyes, and emotion balled in her throat. “The doll is just fine. Thank you, Hector.”
His head cocked slightly, and he furrowed his brow. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I’m just touched by your thoughtfulness, that’s all.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
But it was a very big deal to her. Hector had been thinking about the babies today, and he’d gone out of his way to do something for them. And that made her think that when they were born, the five of them might become a family someday. Before this moment, she hadn’t realized just how badly she’d like that to happen.
Besides, even though he hadn’t actually fathered the babies, he appeared to be bonding with them. At least, he was certainly giving it an all-out try.
As Hector glanced down at the tractor and grinned, she spotted a glimpse of the little boy he’d once been. She wondered what a child of theirs might look like, but she shook off the sentiment and tried to focus on the here and now.
“We’re supposed to be at your sister’s house at five-thirty,” she said. “So you’d better get in the shower.”
“Okay.” He handed her the stuffed toys he’d been holding. “I’ll be back in a flash.”
Twenty minutes later, Samantha sat in the passenger seat of Hector’s car as they headed to Yolanda and Chad’s house.
She was a little nervous about attending the taco fest and meeting the rest of Hector’s family, but she’d hit it off almost immediately with his sister, so she’d told herself everything was going to be fine.
As Hector turned down a tree-lined street, she peered out the passenger window and spotted children playing on the grass in several front yards. “This looks like a nice neighborhood.”
“It is.” Hector pulled along the curb in the cul-de-sac and parked in front of a pale yellow house with redbrick trim. “I think it’s going to be great place for my sister and Chad to raise a family.”
He got out of the car, but Samantha climbed out without waiting for him to get her door.
Still, as they made their way along the sidewalk and toward the house, Hector reached for her hand and gave it a warm and fortifying squeeze.
It felt good to be a couple, and the physical connection chased away her nervousness.
As they stood before a heart-shaped welcome mat, Hector rang the bell.
Moments later, Yolanda hollered, “Come on in.”
Hector opened the door, then waited for Samantha to enter first. As she stepped into the hardwood entryway, a chorus of voices yelled, “Surprise!”
It took her a moment to realize that the surprise was on her. And that Yolanda’s house had been decorated for a baby shower with streamers and posters of storks and baby bottles and rattles.
All she could say was, “I don’t understand…?”
“Every pregnant woman deserves a baby shower,” Yolanda said.
As Hector’s sister reached out to give Samantha a welcoming hug, their bellies got in the way, and they had to duck and twist. They chuckled at the awkwardness, and so did the others.
“I don’t know what to say.” Samantha had never been so taken aback—or so honored—in all her life.
“It’s just a small party,” Yolanda said as she led Samantha and Hector into the living room, where smiling faces greeted her. “Mostly family. But I wanted to make sure you had a shower of some kind.”
“Mom and Dad,” Yolanda said, as she led Samantha toward a middle-aged couple she introduced as Jorge and Carmen. “This is our guest of honor.”
Samantha reached out her hand in greeting, first to Hector’s mother, a petite woman in her late-fifties. And then to his father, a tall man with silver-laced dark hair. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
Next she met Hector’s younger brother, Diego, a handsome man in his late twenties. His wife, Alicia, was a hairdresser.
There were two other couples, friends of the family she was told. And when she’d met everyone, she was led to the dining room, where the food had been spread upon a long table like a buffet. Fried tortilla shells, spiced chicken and beef, lettuce, tomatoes and grated cheese had been set out in brightly colored dishes. There were also bowls of guacamole, salsa and sour cream available.
“So this is a taco fest.” Samantha smiled up at Hector. “It looks
good.”
“Chad,” Yolanda said from the doorway as she made her way into the room wearing a pair of oven mitts and carrying a casserole dish. “I need you to make some room for Mama’s chicken mole. And then you’ll need to bring in the beans and rice.”
“Didn’t I tell you that my sister was bossy?” Hector said with a spark of affection in his tone. “I swear, poor Chad should be sainted.”
In her own defense, a smiling Yolanda said to Samantha, “If the men in my life didn’t need a bit of a push every now and then, I wouldn’t have to crack the whip.”
Moments later, Yolanda told everyone to fill their plates, and before long, they’d eaten their fill.
“Everything was delicious,” Samantha told Hector’s sister.
“Thanks,” Yolanda said. “I’m afraid I can’t take all the credit. My mom made most of it, and she’s the best cook in town.”
“I’ll have to get your recipe for chicken mole, Mrs. Garza. I’ve never eaten it before, but it’s really tasty.”
“Please, call me Carmen. And I’d be happy to give you my recipe. It’s Hector’s favorite dish.”
Apparently, rumor was out that Hector and Samantha were more than friends, or maybe it just seemed that way. But she had to admit, the Garza family and their friends were nice people. She would look forward to joining one of their get-togethers anytime.
“It’s time to open your presents,” Yolanda said as she ushered Samantha to a rocking chair near a small table laden with gifts.
The rocker, she realized, was the heirloom that Hector had told her about. And as she took a seat, she felt privileged to be a part of the family—if just for today.
She received mostly clothing—preemie outfits from Yolanda, who said she’d heard triplets tended to be smaller at birth. And baby bottles, pacifiers, rattles.
When she hadn’t been looking, Hector had disappeared, and, when he returned, he carried a white cradle with a bright red bow. “There are two more of these hidden in my garage at home.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said, “and it matches the cribs.”
