A Mother for His Twins

by Jill Weatherholt

  “I’m sorry if I startled you.” Nick entered the room and slowly moved toward her. Upon closer examination, he noticed her eyes looked red and slightly swollen. “Are you okay?”

  She pushed her shoulders back and brushed her hand across her left eye. “I’m fine.”

  He could tell she’d been crying, maybe not this morning, but sometime recently. Knowing her so well, Nick knew she had no plans of admitting anything.

  “I sent you a text message last night.”

  “Yes, I know. I was tired. I think I might be coming down with a cold or something.” She twisted a piece of hair around her index finger.

  Had she fallen asleep with her lights on? He supposed that could be possible, but he doubted it. She hadn’t wanted to talk to the man who’d crushed her dream.

  “Your text—you said you wanted to talk to me.” She straightened the papers covering her desk, looking nervous.

  Nick couldn’t wait to tell Joy he’d turned down the job, but not here. He knew just the time and place. “Yes, I do, but not right now. Can you meet me in the courtyard, by the flagpole, after school today?”

  “What about Jordan’s piano lesson? I won’t allow our differences to disappoint him. He’s expecting me at five o’clock.”

  Excitement coursed through his body. If everything went as planned, she’d be home to teach his son every night of the week. “You’ll have plenty of time.”

  Hours later and after what had seemed like the longest school day of Nick’s career, he paced by the flagpole, waiting for Joy to arrive. After he’d left her room, he’d spoken with Mr. Jacobson again and had gotten the man’s okay. The twins were with Whippy, so everything was set to put his plan into motion.

  He glanced at his watch, and Nick’s heartbeat tripled in speed knowing Joy would be here any minute. The flag overhead flapped when a brisk northerly wind whipped through the yard. After turning down the job, a sense of calmness had finally settled in. He’d accepted the fact that he’d been wrong putting his career first, but he would no longer allow his past mistakes to define him or keep him from proving he could be a good husband, if given the chance.

  His breath hitched when he spotted Joy exiting the school. The wind caught her hair as she strolled toward him, flashing a smile. This was a good sign.

  “I’m sorry if I kept you waiting. Mr. Jacobson came by my classroom asking how I was doing. He had a silly grin on his face.” Her brow arched. “Then he told me the position was mine.”

  “That’s great news, Joy. You deserve the job. The children all love you so much.”

  She playfully slapped his arm. “Don’t try and fool me by acting surprised. He told me you turned down the position. What’s going on, Nick?” she asked as she peeked around his shoulder. “And why are you holding that shovel?”

  “I’ll explain everything later, but first, remember when you said you wanted to dig up the time capsule? I thought today would be the perfect time to honor ole Mrs. Willis and carry out her wishes.” He handed her the shovel. “Would you like to start?”

  Joy giggled, sounding exactly the same as she had so many years ago. “Nick, this is crazy. We can’t dig up school property, can we?”

  “Of course we can. I got Mr. Jacobson’s okay.” He could barely contain his excitement. “Go on, start digging.”

  Her smile widened as she plunged the shovel into the partially frozen ground. “This might take a while.” She laughed as she glanced at the tiny bit of dirt she’d removed. “I can’t remember how deep the hole was. Do you?”

  “Not really.” Nick reached for the shovel. “May I? We don’t want to freeze out here. It might not take me as long.”

  Within three minutes, the shovel tapped into the metal container the size of a toolbox. “We have contact!” Nick turned to Joy, flashing a wide smile. He placed the tool on the ground and got down on his knees. Carefully, he lifted the box from its home of nineteen years. “Can you believe this? How could so much time have already passed? It seems like a week ago our class was gathered out here entombing a special memento.” He brushed away the dirt and stood. “Let’s go sit over there.” He pointed to the nearby bench perched underneath the massive oak tree.

  Their shoulders brushed when Joy settled in next to him. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Hurry, open it, Nick.”

  For a moment, his nerves got the best of him as his fingers fumbled to release the rusted latch. “It’s a little corroded,” he said as he applied a bit more pressure. Finally, with a pop, the fastener sprang open.

  Joy jumped and clapped her hands together. “I can’t wait to see what everyone put inside.”

  Nick slowly removed the items. Most of the contents were handwritten letters, like the one he’d written. There were a couple of yo-yos, some rubber balls, a few baseball trading cards and other miscellaneous trinkets. When the sunlight hit something that sparkled, Nick recognized it immediately. He slowly pulled out the tarnished gold chain attached to a tiny heart-shaped locket and turned to Joy. “I gave this to you.”

  She nodded. “Yes, you did—on my eighth birthday.” She reached for the piece of jewelry and placed it in the palm of her hand. “It was the most special gift I’d ever received.” She studied it closely. “Mrs. Willis had told us to contribute something that held a place in our heart. At the time, this was the only thing I had.”

  Nick reached for the chain. “May I?” He opened the clasp and extended his arms toward her neck.

  She nodded and lifted her hair away.

  Securing the jewelry again as he’d done so many years earlier made his heart soar. He remembered at the time the necklace had seemed a little too big on her small neck, but now, years later, it fit perfectly on her delicate frame. He leaned back and admired the chain. “With a little jewelry cleaner, it will be just like new.”

  Joy touched the locket and smiled. “What you did today...turning down a job that you’re more than qualified for, so it could be mine...” She swallowed hard. “You’re a selfless man, Nick Capello. I hope you can believe that about yourself.”

  “I do. You’ve given me the courage to believe it, Joy. I want you to have everything you’ve ever dreamed of having.”

  “But what about your dreams? You worked hard for your master’s degree.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not what matters most to me—not anymore.”

  She cast her gaze at the treasure box that had been unearthed. “Thank you for this, too. When I’d mentioned how much I wanted to dig up the capsule, I didn’t know you’d go to all of this trouble...to surprise me and all.” Her cheeks flushed.

  “I know it’s been a stressful time with everything going on, Joy. I have to admit, my motives here are a little selfish,” he said, fingering through the box. Spotting the envelope with Joy’s name written on the front, he removed it from the container and closed the lid.

  “What’s that?” Joy’s brow arched as she took a closer look.

  Nick sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. He passed the item to her. “This is for you.”

  Her hand quivered as she accepted the once stark white envelope with her name written on the front. Time had faded it to a yellowish tint. “Did you write this?”

  “Yes. The night after the picnic down by the Shenandoah River. You’d made peanut butter sandwiches, without the crust.” He smiled as he remembered it was heavy on the peanut butter. “It was a good thing you brought extra lemonade.” He winked.

  “Oh, my, I remember. I thought you were going to choke.” Her face reddened. “What can I say? I thought everyone loved the stuff the way I did.” She turned her attention back to the item in her hands and gently opened it.

  Nick watched as she removed the letter and read the words written from the heart of a twelve-year-old boy. He’d been in love for the first time. When tears filled her eyes, he reached for her free hand. “You okay?�
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  Joy slid the letter back inside the envelope and pressed it against her heart. “Wait—there’s something else inside.” She glanced at him as she slowly removed the other item.

  “It’s a promise ring. I bought it with my paper route money.” He smiled.

  “This is the second-best gift you’ve ever given me, Nick.” She turned to him and he willed his heart to slow down. “I had no idea you felt that way back then. It’s the sweetest letter I’ve ever read, and the ring... It’s beautiful.”

  He swallowed the lump in his throat. “It’s how I felt then.” He placed the ring along with the letter back inside the box and took both of her hands, holding them firm inside of his own. “It’s how I feel now, Joy. I love you. I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but when I saw you up on the stage next to Jordan, as he played the overture, I realized God has forgiven me. I’m ready to move on with my life—a life that I want to share with you.”

  The pink hue always present on her cheeks faded when she pulled her hands from his. “You don’t want to be with me, Nick.” She rubbed her eyes before squeezing them closed.

  “What are you talking about? Of course I do.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t give you what you want.”

  This wasn’t exactly the reaction he’d expected. The kiss—had he misread her feelings? Suddenly his heart felt like a tire with a slow leak. But he wouldn’t lose her again. He couldn’t. They were meant to be together... He knew that now. He wanted a second chance to protect her and grow old with his first love. This was what he’d prayed for. He was ready to be the husband he had promised God he would be. “What do you mean? Of course you can.” He leaned in closer and stroked the back of his hand down her cheek. “You make me and my boys happier than we’ve been in a long time. They love you, Joy, as much as I do.”

  Her eyes brimmed with tears as she held his gaze. “You’re such a good father, Nick. One day, you’ll want more children, and you deserve to have whatever your heart desires.” She paused and glanced at the letter. “You wrote in this letter you wanted to grow up and raise a houseful of kids. You were only twelve years old and you knew that’s what you wanted.”

  He nodded in agreement. “Yes, I did—I still do. But I want all of that with you.”

  His words no sooner left his mouth than he watched Joy as she covered her eyes and sobbed.

  Confused, Nick placed the box beside him on the bench. “Joy, please—talk to me. Whatever it is, I can help you.” But as he watched her shoulders jerk uncontrollably, he wondered if he really could help her.

  * * *

  Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pushed herself off the bench. She needed to get away from him. If not, she’d be forced to reveal the ugly truth about herself. Her legs were weak as she dropped to the cold and wet ground. “Please, let me go, Nick. Trust me. You don’t want to be with me.” She wanted him to take his letter and ring and forget she existed.

  “I made the mistake of letting you go once in my life. I won’t do the same again.” He pushed her hair away from her face. “Talk to me. Tell me why we can’t be together, Joy. I need to know.”

  Except for the wind rustling the trees, silence hung between them until she raised her head and looked him straight in the eye. “Because...I can’t give you the children you want and deserve! I want to, I really do, but I can’t,” she cried out.

  There. She’d said it. Now all she had to do was tell him she was only half the woman he believed her to be. That she’d never be able to give him more beautiful children like the ones Michelle had given him.

  “Joy,” he said, reaching for her hand, “come back up onto the bench. You need to get off this frozen ground. You’re going to get sick.”

  Her pants were soaked through, so she gave in and rose to her feet. Her legs wobbled as she took a seat on the bench.

  Nick ran his hands through his hair. “I’m so sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was upset you. I hoped this afternoon would be fun—a trip down memory lane with the time capsule and all. I had no idea it would reopen those old wounds.”

  That was the thing. After all these years, her wounds had remained open—they’d never healed. Joy had prayed for healing. She’d asked God for a way to completely let go of the past. Was this the opportunity He was giving her? Would sharing with Nick the unspeakable events that followed the night of the attack release the guilt and shame that had shadowed her for fourteen long years?

  When she turned and looked into his eyes she saw nothing but love. Joy knew she could trust Nick. He was the only man she’d ever be able to depend on to keep her safe. Tears pressed against her eyes. She swallowed the huge lump stuck in her throat. “I can’t have children, Nick. As much as I’d love to give you a child, it’s not possible.”

  Saying it out loud was like pushing the edge of a jagged knife into the center of her heart. “The night Scotty... A child was conceived.” She watched as the sadness crept into Nick’s eyes as he took her hand. “A few weeks later, I miscarried. The doctor told me the attack had caused damage and that I wouldn’t be able to conceive again.” A picture of that day flashed through her mind. Alone, she’d walked home to her grandparents’ house, numb. When Faith had asked her what was wrong, she couldn’t bring herself to tell her sister the devastating news she’d just received. Somehow, she thought not talking about it would make it go away. She’d been so wrong.

  Nick quickly took her into his arms and she was consumed by the warmth of his body. “Oh, Joy, I’m so sorry.”

  “You’re the first person I’ve ever told,” she croaked.

  “Faith doesn’t know?”

  She shook her head. “No. She knows about what Scotty did, but I never told her anything more.” It was wrong not to share this with her sister; she knew that now. She’d done more harm than good by not talking about the miscarriage with her twin. They’d always shared everything.

  He gently cupped her face with his tender hands. “You were so young. How on earth did you make it through something like that on your own?”

  God. He had carried her through events that no teenager, or anyone, should ever experience. If she hadn’t clung to Him every day following the attack and then the miscarriage, she knew she would have never survived. “With a lot of prayer and a great deal of denial. I guess I just tried to block it from my mind. Looking back, I really should have sought out some counseling. If I had, I might not be the mess I am today.”

  Nick stroked her cheek gently. “You might think you’re a mess, but I think you’re the strongest and most courageous woman I know, Joy.”

  “I appreciate your words, but it doesn’t change the facts. You deserve someone who can be the mother of your children. That’s not me.”

  “Haven’t you ever heard of adoption?” He flashed that crooked smile, the one that had captured her heart when they were young.

  For the next ten minutes, the couple sat together in silence. And for the first time in many years, Joy was at peace.

  With her eyes closed, she daydreamed about raising a family with Nick. Could adoption be the answer? Would that be enough for Nick? The chatter of little voices brought her out of the dream.

  “Miss Kelliher!”

  Across the yard stood Jordan and Tyler...and Mrs. Whipple? What were they doing here?

  The boys ran toward the bench. “It’s four o’clock on the dot, Daddy. Wight on time,” Jordan proclaimed.

  On time? For what? Joy glanced at the boys, then their father. “What’s going on?”

  Before she could blink, Nick reached inside the capsule and knelt in front of her.

  Joy could have sworn her heart stopped beating, but only for a second, because then a rush of pure happiness and love coursed through her body, finally bringing her back to life. After fourteen years, she could breathe again.

  “Joy Kelliher—” Nick extended his hand t
hat held the promise ring. “I promise to be a loving and faithful husband, if you’ll agree to be my wife and a mother to Jordan and Tyler?”

  The boys squealed in delight.

  “She hasn’t said yes yet, boys.” He chuckled.

  “But she can’t say no,” Jordan responded, looking as though he might cry.

  Joy laughed out loud and extended her hand to sweet little Jordan. “No, I can’t. Of course I will marry you guys.” She turned to Nick. “And you, too. I love you, Nick Capello. You’re the love of my life.”

  Nick slid the ring onto her pinkie finger. A real ring would soon follow. The twins lunged into her arms as Mrs. Whipple clapped and cheered from across the yard. “Hey, I thought I’m supposed to get the first hug from my fiancée.” He faked a pout.

  Joy’s heart squeezed when Jordan looked up with tears in his eyes. “I knew the day you told me and Tyler we were special, God had handpicked you to be our mommy.”

  Epilogue

  Sixteen months later

  “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Capello. You’re having twins—girls!”

  Resting on the examination table at the ob-gyn wing of Valley Memorial, Joy couldn’t believe what the ultrasound had revealed. “Twins? Are you sure, Dr. Peterson?”

  “Oh, yes, there’s definitely two.” The rail-thin man with salt-and-pepper hair flashed a striking smile. Obviously he loved bringing new life into the community of Whispering Slopes.

  Joy blinked back emotion. The last year had been a whirlwind, but one she would remember for the rest of her life. First, she’d finally earned her master’s degree, and four months after professing their love in the courtyard of the school grounds, she and Nick had been married in a small outdoor ceremony at her favorite overlook on Skyline Drive. The wildflowers had been in full bloom and the Shenandoah sky was the color blue that only God could create in order to ensure the perfect day. They’d been surrounded by family and close friends. Dressed in a perfect sleeveless sheath gown and carrying a full bouquet of fresh forget-me-nots, she had felt like a princess. The wedding had been a small and intimate ceremony—exactly what Joy had always dreamed of having. She’d never believed it would happen, but Nick, the love of her life, had made her dream a reality. He was her real-life hero.