Back to the Heart

by Sky Corgan

  “And I’ll call you.” His mouth quirked into a smirk.

  Then she turned to Ana. “I really appreciate you coming to take care of my son. I know this is a big deal for you, especially in your condition.” A soft smile crossed Mary’s lips as she looked down at Ana’s stomach. “May I?” She held her hand out.

  “Of course.” Ana felt affection from the woman as she placed her hand on Ana’s stomach, trying to feel the baby kick. She couldn’t help but wonder if Mary was thinking that this might be her first grandchild, though she was sure Brennan had told her the baby wasn’t his.

  “Is it a boy or a girl?” She withdrew her hand, her expression turning serious.

  Ana squirmed a bit. It was supposed to be a surprise, but she figured that disclosing the answer in front of his mother might make it even more special for Brennan. “It’s a boy. And I’m going to name him Ryan.”

  “Ryan. That’s a good strong name.” Mary nodded approvingly. The grin plastered across Brennan’s face suggested that he appreciated the gesture.

  “If and when we get married and have another boy, I’d like to name him Brennan,” Ana told them. It was a little too early to be talking about such things, but the hormones made the words bubble up and out of her. More than anything, she wanted Brennan to know how important he was to her, that she wasn’t just here because of his money or who he was to society. That the only thing that had dragged her nearly two thousand miles away from her family was her love for him.

  “Hopefully, we’ll get the chance to name lots of children.” He beamed at her.

  “You two need to get married first.” His mom looked at them disapprovingly, and both of their expressions turned sulky for a moment.

  “Of course,” Ana agreed. “I need to get this bun out of the oven first before we start baking any more.”

  Mary laughed. “Ana, you’re adorable. I can see why he loves you so much.” She smiled down at her son. “Well, I should be going. You two take care of each other. If you need anything—anything at all—don’t hesitate to call me.”

  “We won’t.” Brennan gave her an earnest look.

  Mary bent to embrace Brennan, then she hugged Ana and took her leave, glancing back at them a final time before the elevator reached the top floor and she stepped inside.

  Now that they were alone together for the first time, Ana wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself. She picked up her suitcases and allowed Brennan to lead her into the living room. His penthouse was massive, taking up the entire top floor of the building, and it was every bit as lavish as she would expect from a billionaire. This would definitely take some getting used to.

  “I cleared out the bottom two drawers of my dresser for you. I hope that will be enough room for your things. You also get half of the closet.”

  Ana followed behind him in his wheelchair, the reality of how difficult this was going to be slowly sinking in. She would have to help Brennan with everything until the casts were off his legs. That included preparing his meals, helping him in the bathroom, getting him dressed and undressed, helping to bathe him, accompanying him to all of his appointments, and being at his beck and call. Her mother had been right. If they could survive this, they could survive anything. It would be a true test of her love for him, and she was determined to pass.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The first few days took a lot of adjusting. Brennan made caring for him as easy as he could, helping out with the cooking and whatever household chores he could manage, and he was always patient with Ana. It wasn’t anywhere near as difficult as she had feared, and she found that she enjoyed spending time with him doing domestic things, repaying him for the kindness he had shown to her and her family.

  When they weren’t tending to his needs, they would watch television together, or he would offer her money to go shopping. She never took it, though, unless it was for groceries. Brennan needed to understand she wasn’t with him for his money. She was here because she loved him. That was the end of it.

  Days turned to weeks and weeks to months. The baby inside of her grew, and Brennan began to heal. It amazed Ana how positive he stayed. Even when they had their downs, as every couple did, he quickly turned things around. The thing Ana loved and appreciated about him the most was that he hadn’t changed from the man she had met on her mother’s ranch. He was kind and down-to-earth, never acting stuck-up or entitled.

  Within four months, Brennan was walking again, though he still needed crutches from time to time. The doctor told him it could be a full year before he was back to normal, but everyone was impressed with how quickly he had recovered. If Brennan was nothing else, he was determined. Every chance he got, Ana would find him walking or working on building strength in his legs.

  A few weeks before the baby was due to be born, Brennan decided he wanted to go visit his parents.

  “I want you to see how I grew up,” he told Ana as they sat together watching an old Western. “Besides, my mother is dying to have us over.”

  “I’d like to see your parents again.” Even though she hadn’t agreed to marry their son yet, she still felt like part of the family. His mother was such a sweet and kind person, though a bit old-fashioned. His father was interesting, a man of few words. “They live in Washington, New York, right? That’s a little over two hours away, I think. Are we going to drive or fly?”

  “Drive. I don’t think I’ll be flying for a long time.” Brennan stared down at his legs, and Ana knew he was seeing through his pants to the scars beneath where they had to pin and piece him back together. The plane crash would likely haunt him forever.

  “All right.” She placed her hand on top of his, and he flipped his over to squeeze her fingers, giving her an apologetic smile. The ride would likely be uncomfortable with how pregnant she was. “Just let me know when you want to go, and I’ll call one of your drivers to take us.”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I think I want to drive. It will make me feel useful again.”

  “You are useful, love, the most useful man I’ve ever met.” She leaned in to kiss him. Even though he tried desperately to hide it, Ana knew Brennan had self-confidence issues. It was times like this, when he spoke about not being useful, that he felt at his lowest. Having his mobility taken away hadn’t been the worst, it was the scars, the shakiness with which he moved, the debilitating headaches, and most of all, the fact that they hadn’t had much of a sex life since Ana moved in.

  For Ana, being intimate with Brennan was about the emotional connection. She could tell it bothered him that he couldn’t rock her world the way he used to. All in good time, she’d told him when they lay in bed together at night after she had ridden him until they were both fulfilled. All in good time. And he would say that good time sure was taking a long time. She couldn’t help but grin.

  Even if their sex life was never how it used to be, it didn’t matter to Ana. All she cared about was that Brennan was alive and warm in her arms and the most wonderful man she had ever met. Making love with him would always be good.

  They headed out early in the morning on a Sunday, hoping to make it after church. Sunday was the Lord’s day, as far as Mary was concerned, so it was a day of rest. The perfect day to receive visitors.

  Ana stared out the window at the passing scenery, trying not to seem too nervous about Brennan driving them. He had driven short distances since the plane crash, but this would be a test of how much he could handle.

  There was a heavy mist coming down, but Brennan wasn’t about to let that dampen his mood. He turned on the radio and sang to Ana, making her laugh and blush as they merged onto I-87. Eventually, she joined in, figuring that the baby would enjoy the sound of both of their voices. He had been active lately, but Ana figured that was because it was getting close to her due date. In three short weeks, she’d be a mother. It was a staggering thought. Not only would she be a mother, she and Brennan and the baby would be a family, sans marriage.

  Brennan had brought the subject u
p several times since Ana had moved in with him, but she’d always brushed the thought away. It made her feel guilty. She remembered telling him that she would marry him in the hospital when he was unconscious. Everything had been rushed, though, and now that she was living with him, she figured they could afford to put the brakes on a bit. Besides, the thought of planning a wedding while she was pregnant, Brennan was recovering, and she was still having to deal with Rick Fasken didn’t sound too appealing.

  Traffic was smooth, for the most part, though rain had people slowing down. They were two miles away from exiting again when a semi in front of them lost control and went skidding across lanes. Ana’s heart leaped into her throat as Brennan slammed on the brakes.

  The next few seconds felt like a lifetime. The car hydroplaned, heading straight for the semi. Ana had seen something similar in a horror movie once. In the movie, when the two vehicles collided, it took the top off the car, decapitating everyone inside.

  Ana closed her eyes, bracing for impact. Something hard pressed against her, keeping her from making contact with the dashboard. Then the car stopped, and she opened her eyes to find that Brennan had practically thrown himself over her to protect her and the baby.

  She took a moment to breathe, her heart beating faster than it ever had before. Their car was only two inches away from hitting the semi in front of them. By some miracle, the vehicles behind them had been far enough back to stop. Ana couldn’t believe their luck.

  “Are you all right?” Brennan asked.

  “Yes,” she told him in an exhale of relief. “Are you all right?” It had just occurred to her that he had forgone his own safety for hers. Even after the plane crash, he hadn’t thought of himself.

  “I’m fine. A little shaken, but fine.”

  They sat in silence for a moment, waiting for the semi to pull back onto the road. Despite the hydroplaning, no accident had occurred, so there was no reason for them not to continue on their journey. Ana stared forward, catching her breath, her hands on her stomach. The baby kicked, signaling that he was all right as well, which she was thankful for. She was surprised the near-accident hadn’t made her go into premature labor. Another miracle.

  “You know, you are the unluckiest man in the world when it comes to vehicles,” she told Brennan once they had pulled off the highway and their nerves were settled.

  “I don’t think so. If we’d actually hit the semi, then I would have been unlucky. Then we would have been dead.”

  It was a grim possibility, but one that put everything in Ana’s life into perspective. She took a deep breath and said, “Yes.”

  “It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?” He glanced over at her.

  “That’s not what I meant.” She shook her head, feeling a new queasiness in her stomach, though this one was more from excitement than anything else.

  “Huh?”

  “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Brennan’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and Ana was sure that if they hadn’t almost gotten into a wreck, he might have pulled to a screeching halt on the side of the road to recover.

  “You’ll marry me.” A smile creased his lips.

  “Yes. We shouldn’t wait. Life is too short. In an instant, it can be over, and I don’t want to have any regrets.”

  “Well, I guess that gives us some good news to tell my parents then.” He reached over to squeeze her hand, and she entwined her fingers in his, looking down at the engagement ring she’d been wearing ever since Matt had given it to her in the hospital.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  They reached Brennan’s parents’ house without any more incidents. In fact, they were so happy that the near wreck was already a distant memory. Brennan couldn’t wait to tell his parents, especially his mother, who would be thrilled.

  Ana’s mouth fell agape as they pulled up in front of his parents’ Georgian Colonial–style house. They had originally owned a ranch-style home like Ana’s parents, but once Brennan had come into money, he had built them a new one. This was what they had decided on, a large two-story structure with white walls and a matching guest house.

  “Sweetheart,” Mary said as she walked out the front door to greet them.

  “Mother.” Brennan still used a cane for safety’s sake. They met on the steps and embraced, then she quickly moved to hug Ana, looking down at her stomach.

  “Any day now, huh?” she asked with a smile.

  “There are still a few more weeks,” Ana told her.

  Brennan was pleased to see that his mother was already treating Ana like family. It was obvious she approved of Ana wholeheartedly. Then again, she’d had a lot of time to think about the two of them getting married.

  “Come inside. I made some lunch. Your father is watching television.” Mary ushered them in.

  Ana glanced around as they walked through the house, quickly feeling at home. The décor was much like her mother’s house. The walls were covered in Western landscape paintings, and there were knickknacks and pictures all over the place. She couldn’t help but wonder where Brennan had gotten his contemporary sense of style from. It definitely hadn’t come from his parents, not that she didn’t appreciate the clean streamlined look.

  “Sit down and tell me all about what’s been going on with the two of you.” Mary gestured to the dining-room table, and Ana and Brennan promptly seated themselves.

  “Not a whole lot to report.” Brennan grinned at Ana, knowing that wasn’t true. They locked hands beneath the table, and he rubbed his thumb over the engagement ring, sending a warm shiver down Ana’s spine.

  “We almost got into a wreck on the way over here,” Ana told Mary.

  “Oh, no.” Mary covered her mouth with her hand. “Are you two all right?”

  “Yes. Brennan tried to protect me.”

  “The car hydroplaned,” he explained. “There really wasn’t much I could do.”

  “Would the two of you like something to drink?” Mary’s expression suggested she thought she had forgotten her manners.

  “I think we’re good for right now.” Brennan turned to Ana, but he still spoke to his mother. “If you could get Dad in here, we have something we’d like to tell the two of you.”

  Mary gasped, quickly figuring it out on her own. “You two are getting married.”

  “Mm-hmm.” Ana nodded, fighting back the urge to squeal. Mary did it for her, though, running around the side of the table to hug them both.

  “Congratulations!” she told them, her blue eyes twinkling with excitement.

  “When’s the food going to be ready?” Brennan’s father peeked his head into the dining room.

  “They’re getting married.” Mary held Ana’s hand up and pointed at the ring.

  “Oh? Well, that’s wonderful.” He smiled broadly, coming to congratulate the happy couple.

  Once the well wishes were over, Brennan and his father went to the living room to watch television and talk while Ana and his mother headed to the kitchen to finish preparing lunch and set the table. It was nice that Ana and his mother were close enough to spend this time together. Had she been a stranger, this meeting and announcement might have been a bit more awkward.

  “So, you’re finally tying the knot?” His father took a seat in his favorite recliner, and Brennan sat on the sofa. Football was on the television, though Brennan was too amped up from telling his parents the news to concentrate on anything else.

  “Yeah. It feels like ages since I proposed to her. Actually, I never got the chance to do it officially. Not like I had planned.” Matt giving Ana the engagement ring in the hospital had messed things up a bit, but Brennan understood. Originally, he had wanted to do the whole down-on-one-knee proposal, probably out in the barn where they had first made love.

  “Life doesn’t always work out like we expect it will,” his father said.

  “No. It doesn’t.” Brennan had never expected to meet Ana on his journey to escaping his life. Hadn’t expected to lie to her. Hadn’t expected t
hat he’d be in a plane crash that would change him forever. And he certainly hadn’t expected Ana to accept his proposal after a near-death experience. He hoped she was certain this was what she wanted, and that she hadn’t just said it in the heat of the moment. Either way, if she wasn’t sure, they could extend the engagement. As it was now, she didn’t want to wait long. Six months after the baby was born, wherever that fell.

  “She’ll make a good wife. She loves you. Anyone with eyes can see that.” Brennan’s father smiled at him, and Brennan was thankful for the sentiment.

  “Lunch is ready.” His mother rounded the corner.

  They gathered in the dining room together. The table was set with a big bowl of salad, a bowl of spaghetti, and a plate of garlic bread. It looked more like dinner than lunch to Brennan, but he knew his mother was trying to impress. He couldn’t help but grin as they all joined hands to say grace, bowing their heads to give thanks for the blessings God had bestowed on them.

  When they were done with the prayer, Mary went to get them all something to drink while they made their plates. Brennan squeezed Ana’s hand under the table, and she smiled at him warmly. This was his family, and soon she’d be a part of it. By the way that everyone was acting, it was as if she always had been. The missing piece of the puzzle.

  He was just about to let go of her hand and start eating when her grip tightened. Ana gasped, her eyes widening as she stared forward.

  “What’s wrong?” Brennan turned to her in concern.

  A mix of embarrassment and disbelief filled her expression as she said in a whisper, “My water just broke.”

  There was no worse time to go into labor. The past several hours played in Ana’s head like a nightmare. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get over the mortification of knowing she had gone into labor in the middle of Sunday lunch. Though she was the only one who seemed to care that she had just left a mess all over the dining room.

  They had rushed Ana into their car without a second thought and driven her to the hospital with Brennan sitting in the backseat beside her, making sure she was all right. He had held her hand like a champ, doing his best to calm her while pain ripped through her and she cried about how early the baby was. Something must be wrong. She was certain of that until they had her in the delivery room and the doctor assured her everything would be all right.