Annalise moved across the room from the man and lowered her voice. “You sound surprised. If you’d asked me two months ago, I’d have said you were happy,” Annalise said. “Why shouldn’t she be?”
“The funny thing is, the man she’s married to I knew in high school. He always had a thing for her, apparently, only we never knew it before we got divorced. He hadn’t said anything, but when she was free again, and aching over the loss of her baby, he stepped in. They were married a year later. Before you and I got married, even. Her oldest child is a two-year-old boy. She has a baby girl, too.”
“Why did you go to see her?”
“I’m not sure—to get closure, maybe? To see if I remembered the past accurately? To get forgiveness for my thoughts?”
“And did the meeting give you all you wanted?” she asked. She felt left out. Not a part of this portion of Dominic’s life. As Lianne had said, she had to accept that and let go of the hurt.
“More, actually. It was odd to see her so happy. I only remembered the months we were married, and how unhappy she was. She’s so happy it almost made me envious. Until I remembered how happy you and I were. After that, I ended up going to the cemetery. I’d never seen the headstone. It wasn’t anyone’s fault our baby died. It was just the way things happened. Phyllis was afraid with her other pregnancies that the same thing would happen, but she has two healthy children.” He took a deep breath. “She didn’t blame me.”
Annalise felt her heart warm to hear that. She knew Dominic was harder on himself than anyone else could be. Again she squeezed his hand. “But you knew there was nothing you had done. You may feel differently, but you know you weren’t to blame.”
“I could have stood by her longer.”
“Did she want you there?”
He shook his head. “She’s the one who asked for the divorce. Said I had places to go that she didn’t want to. Things to do so far from her comfort level she’d always feel out of step. She’s happy living in the same neighborhood she grew up in. Her children will go to the same schools we did.”
“And did this visit change how you feel about our baby? Are you still wishing I had never gotten pregnant?” Annalise asked, wanting everything out in the open.
“We decided long ago not to have children. Now that’s changed. I’m feeling my way, here. I don’t know what kind of father I’ll make. But I’m willing to try and be the best one I can be.”
Hope began to blossom.
“I know one thing,” he continued, tightening his grip. “We need to find a way to keep our marriage going.”
Annalise looked at their joined hands and wondered if they could do that. “How? It seems we have different goals.”
“So we work on meshing them until we share the same goal. I want a healthy baby. I’m sure you do. That’s a start, isn’t it?”
“Yes. But is that enough? When we have another crisis, are you going to freak again?”
“I know I’m not the best communicator in the world. That is going to change. This talk today is my first attempt. In the future, I want you to know how I feel, why I think the way I do about things, and for us to work through any crisis or problem that comes our way.”
“I think that’s what married folks do,” she said.
“You asked me a question a few weeks ago. I should have answered instantly. I do love you, Annalise. I love you now more than ever. I appreciate what we have more than I have ever done. When I thought of leaving—really imagined what it would be like to live without you—I panicked. I can’t do it. You are a part of my life. Without you I’m just an empty shell, like my father. He didn’t have a love in his life like I do. It makes a difference.”
Her heart beat faster. “I have loved you since we met. Oh, Dominic, I love you so much.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The embrace went on for long moments before he remembered where they were. When he lifted his head, he was pleased to note they were alone. Had their display sent the other viewer fleeing? No matter—he’d take advantage of it. Again he kissed her.
The sound of voices coming in from the adjacent room had them breaking apart.
Annalise had a rosy glow as she smiled up at Dominic. “I was so afraid. Especially when you took off for Pennsylvania and didn’t want me along. I couldn’t understand why you would want to see Phyllis after all this time.”
“I haven’t had any contact with her since our divorce. I wanted to see how she was.”
“And?”
“She’s happy, like I said.”
“And you are, too, right?”
“Yes. I’m happiest when I’m with you.” He kissed her softly. “It wasn’t right between Phyllis and me. It’s perfect between you and me.”
“So you’ll be okay with the baby?” She wanted everything cleared up. Her heart was brimming. She loved him so much, to have him tell her was wonderful.
“I will be. I hope. I’m still worried about how I’ll be as a father.”
“I’ve never worried about that. And if you ever need any suggestions, ask my dad—he raised eleven. We’re just having one.”
“Maybe.”
Her eyes widened. “Twins, you think?”
“They run in your family.”
She frowned. “Good grief. I hadn’t thought about that. I’ll be huge before I know it if I’m carrying twins.”
“Let’s go home,” Dominic said.
They turned to leave. Annalise linked her arm with his, leaning slightly. “It’s okay if I lean a bit. That’s not too clingy, is it?”
He laughed. “You would never be clingy. That was pure panic talking.”
“Speaking of home—which? Your place or mine?” she asked flirtatiously.
Dominic smoothed her hair back from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. “In light of my being frank and open with you, maybe you should consider that we don’t have to have a house when we have a baby. Lianne and Tray haven’t said anything about moving into a house, have they? Our flat is large enough to expand our family.”
“They’re staying in Tray’s apartment, but they are buying a place at the shore.”
“And planning to stay in their flat here in the city?”
“Yes. Fixing up their spare room as a nursery.”
“Couldn’t we do that?” he asked.
Annalise pictured her house as it would be when completely renovated. And then pictured a jumble of baby things in their flat. She knew there was an inordinate amount of work to be done to make the house as she envisioned it. And Dominic had never shown any interest. How important was the place? It was just a building.
Not as important as her husband. Not as important as harmony and love in her marriage.
“The house is larger than the flat…” she said slowly. She hated to let the dream go.
“The flat suits us. Our friends know how to find us. We know almost everyone in the building, in the neighboring shops. We like going out to dinner on the spur of the moment, walking around the area. That house is isolated. We’d need to drive to go anywhere. We won’t know all the neighbors, and the houses are far enough apart it won’t be easy to get to meet everyone. And I really do not want yard work. In that I guess I’m like my dad. We talked about our house. He moved there for my mother’s sake. He’s happy in his apartment. I’m happy in ours—aren’t you?”
“Don’t you see our lifestyle changing when the baby is born?” she asked.
“To a degree. But, Annalise, think about it. We’ve established our routines as we like them. Travel, visiting and partying with friends. Going to the beach. A baby needs to fit into our lives. We are not supposed to rearrange everything for an infant.”
“I think my parents did.”
“They did what suited them. Do you seriously want to quit work and stay home, like your mother?”
She shook her head. “I have thought about that. I love my job. I could cut back on my hours, but still keep involved. Once the child’s in school, I c
an work full-time again.”
“So you don’t want to do all your parents did? As they did it?”
She tilted her head in thought. “No.” Actually, there were lots of things she’d do differently with her child than her parents had. Take him or her with them when they traveled, for one thing.
“So why it is so important to have a house? We can make our place perfect for a family of three.”
The pang of not finishing the house, of never living in the rooms she’d already renovated, struck. But was a house more important than her future with Dominic?
“I love you, Annalise. I want to be there when our child is born. I’m going to do my best to always be there, though there will be times I have to travel. But I see no reason you can’t accompany me. Traveling is educational. And it’s one thing you regret about being part of such a large family—never time or money enough to take the entire family on trips anyplace but the shore.”
She nodded, her heart beginning to ease. She squeezed his hand.
“Tell me the I-love-you part again,” she said.
“I love you. Only you. What I had with Phyllis was only a teenage infatuation. I know the difference—can feel it inside. And it’s stronger than ever. I will never let you down again. This has shown me that we need to continually work to stay together, no matter what life throws our way. If there weren’t people around, I’d kiss you again.”
“I love you, Dominic. We were still young when we married, arrogantly thinking we could determine our future. I’m not sorry we’re going to have a baby. Who knows? We may even decide to have a second one sometime along the way. But if not, we’ll be a happy family of three.”
“So when we throw the next party for our closest friends, we’ll share the good news of the baby?” he asked.
Her heart blossomed. He’d called it good news. “Just you make sure you’re there for the party.”
“Actually, I told Bill to keep me close to home for the next few months,” he said.
“You did?” Annalise was astonished. Then she smiled broadly. “You really do plan to change.”
“Anything for you, my love. With you, the past no longer has a hold on me.”
“Then let’s go home.”
Dominic took his wife to their beautiful flat, to show her once again how much he loved her.
EPILOGUE
Twenty months later…
ANNALISE sat on the grass, leaning against Dominic. She glanced around, smiling in delight at the flowers blooming in profusion. Hyde Park was beautiful in summer. All of London was in bloom.
“How far can he get?” Dominic asked, watching as their toddling son took his first steps on grass, heading determinedly for the bank of blossoms that beckoned.
“You can still outrun him,” she said, laughing. Then a thought struck her. “You know, this is like my vision.” She looked around again.
“What vision?” Dominic asked.
“When I was working on the house, and I wanted Bridget to fix up the yard, I kept seeing you and me sitting on the grass and watching our baby take steps. I thought it was the backyard of that house, but it was anyplace that had grass. Here in London, back in Washington—even at the beach, if we find a lawn.”
“No regrets at not living in the house?”
“Maybe one or two. I do love our flat, you know. The house turned out to be beautiful, though, didn’t it?” she said proudly.
“It did. Bridget and your grandmother worked miracles in the garden. It was the prettiest place on the block when you sold it. But you are the one who worked miracles in that house.”
“I drove by a couple of weeks ago. The owners have children, and they were playing in the yard. Bicycles strewn on the lawn. A dog was barking.” She smiled in remembrance. It wasn’t her family filling the home with love and laughter, but the house held another. And that was enough for her. She had enough happiness to wish it on the whole world.
Dominic took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers, keeping a sharp eye on their toddling son. “Maybe we’ll get a house one day.”
“If we do, let’s make it at the beach, like Lianne and Tray.”
“Twin thing?”
“No, I think Grandpa Paul’s place is bursting at the seams now whenever the family gets together. What with Mary Margaret’s new one, and our own Dylan. Plus I love staying with Lianne—no long wait for the bathroom.”
“Think they are as happy as we are?” Dominic asked.
“Yes, I do. Lianne and Tray were made for each other.”
“Lucky?”
“Just the infinite wisdom we twins share in finding perfect husbands.”
Dominic kept a close watch on Dylan as he made his way with utmost concentration to the bank of flowers.
“Sorry we didn’t have twins?” he asked.
“Good Lord, no. Lianne and Tray are run ragged with those little girls. Though they are adorable, aren’t they? And it’s a good thing we had Dylan. I had dibs on the name Caroline and would have been mad when Lianne delivered four days before me.”
“So maybe we’ll try for a girl next time.”
Annalise smiled, hugging her secret just a little longer. She knew she would not get the same response from her husband when she told him this time.
“Sean and Bunny will have a new one before long. So when Lianne and Tray come with the twins for meals at the sea cottage, and everyone else is there, we’ll have to eat buffet-style on the porch. Soon we’ll have to eat in shifts,” she said.
“Ready to buy that house?” Dominic asked.
She turned to look fully at him. “Actually, I’d rather consider the penthouse in our building. I hear it’s coming up for sale. It has three bedrooms and a den, and that lovely terrace on the roof. Think of the view we’d have from there.”
“No grass?”
She ran her hands across the green lawn. “This is grass enough for me. Next week, we’ll be in Rome. We’ll have to find a park there for Dylan to run in.”
Dominic leaped to his feet and hurried after his son, who was now some ten feet away, reaching out to grasp one of the blossoms. It would go right in his mouth if Dominic didn’t get there first.
Annalise smiled. All her fears were long gone. Her husband was a wonderful father, who cherished their son in a manner that warmed her heart every time she saw them together. His fears he’d be like his father had been dispelled. Dominic loved Dylan as much as he loved her.
They had not planned on children, but now they couldn’t imagine their lives without Dylan. Or each other.
Their marriage had become stronger than ever. Their quiet time at night after Dylan was in bed was especially close. They talked about feelings and hopes and problems. Dominic had kept his vow to make their marriage work. It was blissful. She was the happiest she’d ever been.
Annalise watched the two men in her life return. When Dominic sat on the grass, she leaned over and kissed him, her heart bursting with love.
“What’s that for?” he asked, keeping an eye on Dylan.
“For being you. For loving me.” For the secret she’d tell him tonight, when the two of them were snuggled together in bed.
“Ah, sweetheart, you have erased the bad memories of my past and brought me the best future possible. I love you, Annalise.”
She never tired of hearing him say the words.
“I love you.”
Their happiness would last a lifetime.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electr
onic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2008
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Barbara McMahon 2008
ISBN: 9781408903841
Parents in Training Page 15
