Today he was officially becoming a parent: Cade’s legal father. Something she had never thought possible.
Thomas continued to disappoint her, but at least this time his selfishness had worked in her favor. He needed money for attorney fees and could no longer provide child support. His attorney had contacted Nick, asking if he was interested in adopting Cade and accepting financial responsibility for him. Of course Nick agreed. Thomas named his price and after getting his money, signed away his parental rights.
Bitterness for the man crept in, but Ellie refused to embrace it. Forgiving Thomas had become a recurring theme over the past two years. Since he would always be Cade’s biological father, she suspected it was something she would continually have to work at, but the peace and freedom that came from letting go of the anger toward Thomas was well worth the effort. It allowed her to accept the love Nick offered her and, in return, love him completely, without any reservations.
Words from a sermon Pastor Stewart had given not long after she and Nick had married flitted through her mind. Holding onto resentment toward another binds you to that person by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to break that link and free yourself.
Filled with contentment and joy, Ellie waddled over to her husband and put her arms around his neck, her belly pressing against his solid body. “I really love you.”
* * *
Nick gazed into his wife’s eyes, marveling at how much he loved her. He never would’ve believed how beautiful a pregnant woman could look. He tried to tell Ellie this every day, even though she didn’t believe him. “I love you too.”
Excited footsteps pounded up the stairs as Cade came running into their room. “Grandma and Grandpa Ferguson are here and said you two need to hurry up.”
Ellie let go of his neck. “We’re coming.” She looked down at her shoes on the floor and sighed. “Daddy just needs to help me get my shoes on.”
Nick smothered a laugh at the expression on Cade’s face. “Why? Is your tummy too fat?” the little boy asked.
Ellie’s shoulders sagged. “Yes.”
“Mommy is not fat.” Nick put his hands on Cade’s shoulders and directed him toward the door. “She’s pregnant. You remember what that means, right?”
“Yep. It means she has two babies in her tummy.” Cade scrunched up his nose. “Can you tell me how they got in there again?”
Nick and Ellie exchanged an amused glance. He just had to remember to keep it simple. The first time Cade had asked him that question, he had started to stammer and offer a little too much information. “Remember, the babies are growing in a special place inside your mom and when they’re big enough, the doctor will help get them out.”
“And then I can hold them, right?”
Nick tousled his hair. “Yep. As long as me or your mom is with you.”
Cade started to leave, and then he turned back around, gazing up at Nick with big blue eyes. “Once the judge says you can be my dad today, does that mean you won’t ever leave?”
Something pinched inside Nick’s chest. He hated that Cade even had to ask that question. Kneeling down, he looked the little boy in his eyes. “I won’t ever leave you, Cade. I love you and Mommy more than anything.”
Cade was quiet for a minute. Nick could see his mind working. Thomas said he loved Cade, but he had left. Nick glanced over to see Ellie holding one hand protectively over her belly, her eyes filled with tears. She gave him an encouraging smile as a tear slipped down her cheek.
Swallowing hard, Nick looked back into Cade’s eyes. “I’ve waited a long time to be a daddy, and I want to be your daddy forever.”
“What about when I get big?” Cade asked.
Even though he’d had an incredible and loving father, Nick remembered thinking something similar when he’d been Cade’s age. “Do you remember what I call Grandpa Frank?”
Cade’s eyes lit up. “Dad.”
“Yep. Grandpa Frank is my dad. He’s been my dad for a long time.” He touched the tip of his finger on Cade’s nose. “I’ll never stop being your dad, even when you get big and have your own kids.”
Relief entered the intelligent blue eyes. “Okay.” He wrapped his arms around Nick’s neck. “I love you, Daddy.”
The first time Cade had called him dad, Nick felt like his heart would burst. Right now, it felt like his heart took up his entire chest. “I love you too, son.”
The doorbell sounded and Cade jumped back. “I’ll bet my cousins are here.”
“Tell them we’re on our way down,” Nick said as Cade sprinted out the door.
When he looked at Ellie, she was no longer crying. “You were wonderful, Nick.”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as her pregnant belly would allow. “I want to be a good dad.”
She tilted her face up and smiled. “You already are.”
Nick lowered his mouth and kissed his wife. Two years and almost three kids later, he was still awed by the love he felt for Ellie. He pulled back when he felt the babies kick against his abdomen. He spread his palm over the top of Ellie’s stomach and grinned when he felt another swift kick. “That is so amazing.”
Ellie’s lips curved up, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “So are you.” She laid her hand on top of his. “I really do love you.”
Feeling like the luckiest man in the world, he stroked her cheek. “And I love you.” Then Nick gave his wife another kiss. He thought he heard someone hollering for them to hurry up but decided to ignore it, especially when Ellie sighed and pressed closer.
A few minutes later, he and Ellie both laughed when Cade said, “Yep, Uncle Wes, you were right. They’re kissin’ again.”
I hope you enjoyed reading "Fair Catch." If you liked my book, please take the time to write a review.
About the Author
Cindy Roland Anderson has always had a penchant for chocolate and reading romance novels. Naturally, romance is what she loves to write—usually with chocolate. Cindy has won several awards for her writing, including first place with her debut novel Fair Catch. She hones her writing skills by attending workshops and conferences, and is active in a critique group with some awesome ladies. Cindy is a registered nurse and works in the newborn intensive care unit. She loves to bake, not cook (there is a difference!) and enjoys spending time with her family. Cindy and her husband John reside in Farmington, UT. They are parents to five incredible children. Over the past few years their family has expanded by adding a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and two adorable grandchildren. To contact Cindy or to see other projects she is working on go to www.cindyrolandanderson.com
Discovering Sophie
by
Cindy Roland Anderson
Chapter One
It was love at first sight. Those baby blue eyes captured Sophie Kendrick’s heart the minute she looked into them. “Hi, handsome,” she said running her fingers through soft brown curls. “How are you feeling today?”
The only answer she received was a firm tug on the stethoscope that hung around her neck, bringing her face close to warm skin, scented with one of Sophie’s favorite smells—baby lotion.
She smiled and couldn’t resist pressing a gentle kiss against the baby’s curly hair. “Mmm. I wish I could take you home with me.”
“Yeah, you say that now,” Jenny, the baby’s mother said. “Just wait until he wakes you up every three hours to eat.”
Sophie gently reclaimed her stethoscope, only to have the chubby little fingers grasp onto a chunk of her chin-length dark brown hair. Laughing, Sophie freed her hair and passed the little boy back to the young mother. “He’s beautiful, and perfectly healthy.”
“Thanks, Dr. Kendrick.”
“You’re welcome.”
“We love him so much.” Jenny cuddled the little boy close. “I really don’t mind the middle of the night feedings.”
“I’m glad you brought him by.”
Sophie watched mother and child le
ave the Denver Children’s Hospital multipurpose room, grateful that a mere five months ago her steady hands had successfully repaired the baby’s defective small intestine a few days after his birth. She felt such a joy to see some of the children she had helped over the past year and half since she had come to Denver.
The hospital was celebrating the opening of a new wing by throwing an open house for the public. Some of the guests attending were parents of children who had previously been patients at the hospital. Working as a pediatric surgeon, Sophie usually only saw very sick children. Today was a special treat for her to see so many happy, healthy kids.
Stifling a yawn, Sophie turned and saw her boyfriend, Peter Elliot, standing in the corner. He was busy with his iPhone—something that was not unusual—and something he had been doing since he’d arrived nearly an hour ago.
As always, whenever she looked at Peter, she couldn’t help noticing how incredibly handsome he was. Dark wavy hair styled to perfection and a strong jaw line made him stand out in any crowd. The way his shoulders filled out his Armani suit, Peter fit the image of a successful attorney, which he was.
Everyone always thought they were the perfect couple. A doctor and an attorney. Since both of them had dark hair and brown eyes, they were bound to have beautiful dark-haired, intelligent children.
If only it were that simple. While Sophie loved Peter, she wasn’t in love with him. She longed to get married and start a family. Peter was a very sought after bachelor, but when he’d asked her to marry him a couple of weeks ago, she’d told him she needed more time, hoping that once life settled down she would find her feelings had deepened.
Before she looked away, Peter met her gaze and gave her an impatient look then gestured toward his watch. He had wanted to leave thirty minutes ago. Knowing she’d made him wait long enough, she nodded her head and stooped down to pick up her purse.
A wave of dizziness made her start to lose her balance. Slowly she stood back up, drew in a long, cleansing breath and waited for the dizzy spell to pass. The weeks of sleepless nights were finally getting to her.
The nightmares had started nearly three months earlier. At first they only came once or twice a week. Now, each night when Sophie closed her eyes, the recurring dream would awaken her, remind her that her father was still missing, and that she had no idea what had happened to him.
Sophie crossed the room, hoping she didn’t look as bad as she suddenly felt. She finger-combed the wispy layers in her hair, hoping it helped restore some of its style. Reaching inside her purse, she pulled out her tinted lip gloss. What she really needed was a shower, but she didn’t want to miss having dinner with the Elliot family.
As she approached Peter, a twinge of guilt pricked her conscience. She might not be madly in love with him, but she was completely in love with his family. His parents were wonderful people who loved being surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
The fact that she loved Peter more for his family than for him troubled her. But at the same time while Peter had said he loved her, Sophie had a feeling his affection had more to do with her looks and her chosen profession. He had often said that dating a beautiful doctor was good for his image and he loved having a girlfriend men envied him for.
Meeting his gaze, Peter’s brown eyes no longer held irritation. Now he watched her with concern. “Are you okay?”
“Just a little dizzy.” She gave him what she hoped was a confident smile. “It’s been a long day.”
He reached out and took her hand in his. “Mom delayed dinner. I’m sure you’ll feel much better once you can sit down and eat.”
“She didn’t need to do that, but I appreciate it.” Mrs. Elliot’s consideration warmed Sophie’s heart.
Sophie leaned into Peter’s shoulder as they stepped onto the elevator. Maybe she did love him enough to marry him. He made her feel safe and protected.
She’d already been in a long-term relationship where passion had been the pervading element. That had ended four years ago when Sophie had finally realized her boyfriend David never had any intention of marrying her. She’d given everything to David, much more than just her heart. In the process she’d distanced herself from God by letting go of her Christian faith and the values she’d always adhered to in her youth. When she had reaffirmed her faith and resumed attending church again, David hadn’t liked the changes in her—or their relationship. He had walked away without looking back.
How ironic for her to now be dating a great guy who shared her faith and wanted to marry her, yet she was the one who couldn’t commit. It didn’t make sense. She was an only child and after her mother died when Sophie was eight years old, it was just her and her father. That’s why she loved being with Peter’s family. He had his parents, two sisters and two brothers—all of which were married—and nearly a dozen nieces and nephews. She wanted that for herself.
The first time Peter had taken her to a family dinner at his parents’ house, Sophie had been awestruck. She’d felt like Lucy—the Sandra Bullock character in While You Were Sleeping—when she had celebrated Christmas with her pretend fiancé’s family. Like Lucy, Sophie had taken everything in that day, loving the family interaction between the adults and children, the laughter and the incredible food. Peter’s parents and siblings had welcomed her with open arms, expressing how glad they were that he was dating someone like Sophie.
If she didn’t marry him, what were the chances she would find another guy with an amazing family who loved and accepted her like she belonged?
She was so conflicted inside and desperately wanted to fall head-over-heels in love with Peter. Part of her believed that if she stayed with him long enough, those feelings would come.
For the time being, she could hold off on her answer to Peter since her father had gone missing in the Costa Rica jungle a few months ago. To not hear from her father for a month or even two months was not unusual, but when three months had passed, Sophie had grown concerned.
Then, about four weeks ago, the recurring nightmares had started, and she knew something had happened to him. The bad dream was virtually the same almost every night and felt like some sort of omen. Sophie ran frantically through the jungle, calling out for her father. She would always catch a glimpse of him right before someone grabbed Sophie around the throat and pressed a hand against her mouth. Her terror filled scream would awaken her, leaving her shaking and unable to fall asleep again.
Peter tugged on her hand as the elevator door slid open. They reached the main lobby and exited to the parking garage. Sophie pulled her keys out of her purse. “I’ll just follow you in case I get a call for an emergency.”
“I thought you weren’t on call?” Peter’s voice had an edge to it, letting her know he didn’t like the way she ran her practice.
Sophie was one of the few doctors who wanted to be notified if there was an emergency with one of her patients. They always called her first and she would then decide whether or not she deemed it necessary to follow up herself or allow the on-call doctor to take care of it.
“I’m not, but you know I like to be available if a child needs me.”
He let out a deep sigh as he continued to lead her toward his car. “If you really need to return to the hospital before our evening is done, I’ll bring you back.”
“Thank you.” She glanced up at him. “Sorry I made us late for dinner. Every time I started to leave, another mother or father would stop me.”
Peter didn’t look at her or make a reply until they had made it to his black Mercedes. Instead of opening her door, he leaned her against the car and kissed her. She kissed him back, wanting to feel something beyond contentment and security.
After a minute, Peter pulled back and stared at her. His dark eyes blazed with passion, making Sophie feel even guiltier for not feeling the same way.
“If you agree to marry me, I won’t mind how much you work.”
She bristled at his comment. He worked more hours than she did, but since her job
required her to be on call, a lot of their time in the evenings or on weekends was cut short. “You could’ve stayed by my side tonight instead of hiding in the corner with your phone.” It wasn’t like Sophie to be so sharp-tongued, and she almost apologized. Then she thought about how irritated Peter would get if they were at a social gathering and she would have to take a call.
He took several seconds to respond to her terse comment. Finally, he nodded his head. “You’re right. While I did have some pressing issues with the Van Buren case, I shouldn’t have used the added time I had to wait for you to conduct business. I apologize for not being more considerate.” He leaned down and gave her another lingering kiss. “Forgive me?” he whispered against her mouth.
She’d been with him long enough to note his apology was couched by pointing out that he had been waiting for her, but she was too tired to say anything about it right now.
“If you’ll forgive me for making us late,” she said, turning her head so his lips brushed against her cheek.
“Of course.” He gave her a brief hug before he stepped back and opened her door.
Sophie caught the scent of his expensive cologne as she slid into the immaculate car. He climbed in behind the wheel and started the engine. Deciding to touch up her makeup, she pulled down the visor and almost gasped at how bad she looked. While Peter was always put together, she frequently looked like she had been wearing a scrub cap all day long. It didn’t matter that she actually did wear a scrub cap all day long—or at least part of the day—she should have done something with her hair before going to the open house. She flipped up the visor, knowing the only thing that could help her look better was a good night’s sleep.
“You look tired, Sophie,” Peter said. “Have you heard anything about your father?”
Fair Catch Page 28
