A Perfect Homecoming

by Lisa Dyson

  The light through the peephole disappeared and he knew she was there. The lock clicked and she slowly opened the door.

  “Hi,” he greeted her, noting her eyes were red as if she’d been crying.

  “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Can I come in?” Please don’t send me away.

  The door opened wider, but she didn’t say anything. He handed her the bag he’d hidden behind his back. “For you.”

  Her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed as she took the bag and peered into it.

  “Butter pecan?” She removed the ice cream from the bag.

  “I wanted bubble gum like we ate on our first date, but the store didn’t have any.” He was actually more nervous in this moment than he had been their first date. “I chose butter pecan since your taste has matured over the years.” He swallowed his nerves. “And I’m hoping I’ve matured enough for you to take a chance on me.”

  He didn’t know what to expect after blurting that out. She hugged the ice cream to her, lowered herself to the nearest chair, put her head down and began to cry.

  His heart broke at her overwhelming emotion. “Hey, it’s only ice cream.” He knelt in front of her and took her hand.

  “I saw your truck out there when I got here,” she said. “You’ve never come here before.”

  “I know.”

  “You never came after me, Kyle.” She sobbed. “You didn’t even try to stop our divorce.”

  “I was a fool. I thought I was doing what you wanted by letting you go.”

  She shook her head slowly. “You know it won’t work,” she sobbed. “Starting over will get us to the same place.”

  “I disagree,” he said. “Give us a chance, Ash.”

  “But you want a family and I can’t give that to you.”

  “Are you telling me you never want to have a family?” He turned the tables.

  “Of course I want one,” she said.

  “Then let’s sit down and figure out how to make that happen. If I learned one thing from months of therapy, it’s that you can’t get what you want out of life if you’re not actively pursuing it.” He frowned. “I think I forgot that over the past few weeks.”

  “You saw a therapist?”

  He nodded. “A grief counselor. She made me realize that I’d spent so much time looking for answers that I never allowed myself to grieve. I never gave you the chance to grieve, either.” He kissed the back of Ashleigh’s hand. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t give you the support you needed. I was only concerned about fixing the problem.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Kyle, I ignored my grief, too, and never faced the cold, hard truth about my infertility. Instead, I started over—left my entire life behind—when I couldn’t make things turn out like I thought they should.”

  “We both did what we believed was right at the time,” he said. “Now we have a chance to start over.”

  Ashleigh sighed. “I flew up to Rhode Island Monday to talk to that specialist you know up there.”

  His eyes widened. “You went to see Lou Myers?” He hadn’t a clue.

  Sadness was reflected in her eyes. “Yes, and he confirmed what I already knew. There’s nothing new to try. I have to accept it’s not going to happen for me.”

  She’d been proactive by going to Rhode Island. That was a major milestone for her. “What if I say the same thing?” he asked. “What if I say I’m giving up on having children?”

  “That’s crazy,” she said. “There’s no reason for you to do that.”

  He squeezed her hand. “But there is a reason, Ashleigh. I’m in love with you, sweetheart, and that’s the bottom line. I don’t want to live without you. Kids or no kids, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re in my life. If we’re together, then nothing else matters.”

  She didn’t look as if she believed him. “But you could find any number of women to give you the family you deserve.”

  “Those women aren’t you,” he said. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted.” He didn’t know how to convince her. He’d been so stupid, not telling her this before. “I know I should have said that a long time ago,” he said. “But I truly thought you knew that’s how I felt. Then you left and I just surrendered to the fact that I’d never be happy again.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Let me prove how much I love you. Start over with me, Ash.” He leaned in to kiss her, sealing the promise.

  “Um,” Ashleigh mumbled, when he removed his mouth from hers. “I kind of gave notice to my boss this afternoon.”

  “You did?” Rhode Island and she quit her job?

  “I had a lot of time to think on the drive here.” Her lips twitched. “I was thinking I’d like to continue practicing medicine. There’s nearly enough work for two doctors in the practice back home, and maybe Stan will only want to come back part-time.”

  “You were already planning on moving back to Grand Oaks?” He couldn’t believe it.

  A hint of a smile formed on those luscious lips of hers. He kissed her again.

  “I want to be closer to Paula and her family. We’ve lost two years and I don’t want to lose any more time.”

  “Oh.” No mention of wanting to be with him.

  “But most of all, I want to be closer to you. I knew we’d never have a chance to work things out if I didn’t come back.” She paused. “I do love you, Kyle.”

  He couldn’t breathe, unable to believe what he was hearing. “I love you, too.” Maybe there were no other options when it came to having a family. It didn’t matter. All he wanted was Ashleigh. She was enough family for him.

  He picked her up and carried her to the freezer—he didn’t want the ice cream to melt. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  “This isn’t at all like our first date.” She giggled when he dropped her onto her back on the bed.

  “Just like when choosing ice cream flavors, tastes mature over the years.”

  EPILOGUE

  Less than a year later

  “I WISH YOU’D TELL ME where we’re going,” Ashleigh told Kyle as they bumped along on the road leading out of town. “I can’t believe you practically kidnapped me from the office.”

  Stan had decided to stay on part-time after he made a full recovery from his heart surgery, which gave Ashleigh a little freedom and time off.

  “Keep your blindfold on and you’ll know soon enough.” Keeping one eye on the road, he reached over to the passenger seat to take Ashleigh’s hand. The glint from her diamond-encrusted wedding band made him smile. “And you came willingly.”

  She chuckled. “You tricked me.”

  “Are you saying you didn’t want me to kiss you until you melted into a puddle?” He couldn’t remember ever being this happy. He squeezed her fingers that he’d laced through his.

  “You whisked me out of my office blindfolded and with my hands tied behind my back!” Her outrage was comedic, but she’d forgive him as soon as they arrived at their destination.

  “By the way,” he said. “Edna Thornton called. She heard the lawsuit was finally thrown out and now she wants to make a large donation.” After several dead ends, Tom’s investigator finally found someone who would testify that the driver didn’t always wear his medical-alert bracelet. When the guy found out, he dropped the lawsuit immediately.

  “You’re changing the subject,” Ashleigh said. “Did you tell her you had other donations?”

  “I didn’t want her to change her mind. We can use all the financial help we can get. I was polite and thanked her.” He squeezed Ashleigh’s hand. “Thanks to you, too.” She was the one who’d come up with several other possible donation sources and he’d moved ahead in helping children in need.

  “Are we there yet?” Ashleigh squirmed in her seat.

 
“Almost,” he cooed, withdrawing his hand from hers to enable him to turn into Aunt Vivian’s long driveway. There were at least a dozen other cars parked off to the side, which was why the blindfold had been a necessity.

  He parked and turned off the engine.

  “Can I take this off now?” she asked.

  “Not yet.” He’d freed her hands earlier on the promise she wouldn’t remove the blindfold until he told her to.

  He got out of the truck, quietly sent Harry and Isabel away so the dogs wouldn’t ruin the surprise and jogged around to Ashleigh’s side to open her door. He took her hand and helped her out.

  “Are we on a farm?” Her nose was in the air as she sniffed.

  “You’re getting warm,” he said.

  “Are we going horseback riding?”

  “In those clothes?” He gestured, as if she could see, to her black dress pants and white blouse.

  “Maybe you brought me a change of clothes?”

  “That would have been a good idea, but no.” He laughed.

  They were at the front door and Kyle knocked loudly.

  Aunt Vivian answered almost immediately. “I’m glad you could make it,” as if they were the only ones at the house.

  At the sound of her aunt’s voice, Ashleigh ripped off her blindfold.

  “Hey!” Kyle said.

  Ashleigh’s intake of breath was enough to make him know for sure she hadn’t figured out that she was coming to a surprise baby shower.

  * * *

  “SURPRISE!” THE WOMEN in the full room yelled in unison, followed by excited chatter among themselves.

  “What’s going on?” Ashleigh knew full well what the answer was.

  She looked around at who was gathered in Aunt Viv’s living room, some with drinks, others with small plates of food. All focused on Ashleigh as they laughed or smiled. The energy in the room was invigorating.

  Besides Aunt Viv, there was Ashleigh’s mother, as well as Kyle’s mother all the way from Arizona. Rosy Bausch and newly engaged Theresa had their heads together in conversation, while Cammie was perched on the ottoman near them. Paula was laughing and her darling little girl, Cora, sat on the floor next to her as she played with some colorful toys. There were a couple of women from the hospital and a few newer friends from Richmond, all gathered for one reason.

  She and Kyle were expecting twins.

  It still didn’t seem real, but in about two months the woman sitting on the sofa near Paula—Denise—would be giving birth to their biological children. A boy and a girl. How perfect was that?

  Ashleigh returned her attention to the person who’d made it happen. Her sister, Paula. She’d put them in touch with a friend of hers, a military wife who had been a surrogate once before and whose husband was deployed.

  The babies would be their biological children, using Ashleigh’s eggs and Kyle’s sperm by in vitro fertilization. A true miracle, thanks to the advice Kyle’s Rhode Island colleague had given her.

  She’d even looked into adoption in case the in vitro didn’t take, after she realized Kyle had been right about only needing each other to be happy. Anything else would be a bonus. Together they could handle anything.

  Ashleigh walked over to Denise. “How are you doing?” The pregnancy had happened so fast and on the first try.

  Meant to be, as Kyle referred to it.

  Denise patted her large belly. “We’re all hanging in there,” she said with a laugh.

  “I wish they’d get here,” Paula said. “Cora is growing up too quickly and I can’t wait to hold my tiny niece and nephew.” Paula had begun classes last fall and Ashleigh had helped to watch Cora and her brothers. They’d decided that when the twins were born, Ashleigh could cut back her hours and Paula could babysit when she wasn’t in class. Their mother was anxious to help out, too.

  Kyle came up behind Ashleigh and kissed the nape of her neck, making her smile.

  “Hey, Denise.” He greeted their surrogate, then whispered in Ashleigh’s ear, “Scott and I are taking the boys to laser tag.”

  Ashleigh turned to see Scott at the front door. She waved to her brother-in-law, who had recently returned from another deployment. “Have a great time.” Then she pointed at Denise and raised her eyebrows at Kyle, “Take advantage of your freedom now because that will end the minute our babies are born.”

  He laughed and kissed her again, this time on the lips. “I can’t wait.” He made his way to the front door. Their love could withstand anything if she allowed it to.

  She turned back to join the party and was overwhelmed by the cocoon of love and support she’d been given. Her homecoming had been pretty rocky at first, but, in the end, everything turned out to be pretty darn perfect.

  Why hadn’t she considered the surrogacy option before? She’d asked that question repeatedly over the past months and kept coming up with the same answer.

  Probably because she’d been desperately trying to deny that she wasn’t perfect.

  Turns out, imperfect was okay.

  Kyle turned at the door to flash her a smile. More than okay, she amended.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from SMALL-TOWN REDEMPTION by Beth Andrews.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  CHARLOTTE ELLISON HAD a life plan.

  She’d had a life plan, she amended as she stomped up the wooden stairs. She’d had it all figured out, had carefully planned how to achieve her goals and gone after them, no holds barred. And she’d achieved so much, had always done what she’d set out to do. Had always, always gotten what she’d wanted.

  Until two weeks ago when she’d made a complete and utter fool of herself. When she’d kissed the man she loved, the man she was so sure was going to be the father of her future children, and he’d responded with a pat on the head and a kind I’m just not into you.

  Bastard.

  Her ankle twisted. Pain shot up her leg and she almost did a face-plant on the stairs before catching her balance. She glared at her shoes. Stupid four-inch hooker heels. And to think, they’d actually seemed like a good idea when she’d bought them. She continued on, resolute and limping, the sound of her footsteps bouncing off the walls, the echoes mocking her.

  But worse than that humiliation? The next day she’d discovered the real reason James Montesano didn’t want her.

  He loved her sister.

  Tears stung Charlotte’s eyes, tickled her nose. She sniffed them back. She was through crying. Done. It was time to move on. Back in the saddle and all that. But it grated—oh, how it grated—that she’d done everything right, every last damn thing, and still she’d failed in a stunning and spectacular fashion.

  It wasn’t fair.

  Not when she’d worked so hard, planned so well and considered each and every possible outcome.

  She pressed her lips together, bumped her fist against her thigh with each step. Okay, so she’d considered every possible outcome except the one that had actually happened. She could hardly believe she’d been so naive. So stupid.

  Never again.

  No more lists. No more worrying about the future. No more plans. She’d learned her
lesson. From now on, she was following her instincts. Being spontaneous. Taking the road not taken.

  That road led here where, in a matter of minutes, she’d prove she was a desirable woman worthy of a man’s attention. Not just any man, either. A gorgeous, sexy man with a cool, hooded gaze, a hard body covered in tattoos and a perpetual smirk. A dangerous man. The kind who would induce panic in her mother, give her father nightmares and make all of her friends weep with envy.

  The kind of man she’d sworn never to get involved with, had never before been interested in. The kind of man Sadie—her pretty, flighty, reckless sister—usually went for.

  Biting her lower lip, Char stared at the warped wooden door. Behind it lay the key to her vindication.

  Or her complete ruin.

  She was putting her self-worth on the line here. Was tossing aside her morals and pride. He’d better be worth it.

  She knocked, the sharp raps brisk and authoritative, as if her knees weren’t shaking. As if she weren’t terrified out of her mind.

  When the door remained shut for the longest three minutes of her life, no sound of movement coming from behind it, she used the side of her fist to pound on the wood. Repeatedly.

  His motorcycle was in the parking lot. He had to be home.

  She wouldn’t have the courage to come back if he wasn’t, if she had time to think about this for too long.

  The door was yanked opened, and there he stood. Not the man of her dreams—that title belonged to her as-of-yet-unknown future husband. No, the man before her was more like the star of her deepest, darkest, sexiest fantasies.

  Well, look at him, she thought in exasperation. With a sharply planed face way too pretty for his—or anyone else’s—good, Kane Bartasavich was tall, broad-shouldered and, at the moment, barefoot and shirtless. His wild mane of golden hair tousled around his face, the ends brushing his shoulders. His chest was smooth and leanly muscled, his arms well defined.

  He had the word savage—in flowing script—tattooed above his heart. A swirling tribal tat covered his left arm from shoulder to just above his elbow. His right biceps sported a flaming sword, his right side the word pride. Below his navel, three Chinese symbols formed a triangle, the bottom two disappearing under the waist of his low-slung jeans.