“The man is obviously attracted to you.”
“Mom, we’re just friends.”
“Oh yeah? Since when does a man live by bread and friendship only?”
“Let me make it clear. Once and for all. Nick doesn’t believe in marriage and commitment. And I don’t plan to get married. At least for a very long time.”
“What? You plan to remain an old spinster? Listen to me, bambina. You’d be an idiot if you let him slip out of your hands.”
The bell chimed. Madelyn set a sleeping baby in her crib and went to the door.
Behind the delivery man holding a warmer bag, Nick fiddled with his video camera. “I think I’m coming just in time.” He helped Madelyn with the boxes and gave the man a tip.
“The babies ate and they’re sleeping again.”
“No, they’re not,” Barbara said coming from the living room with a wide-awake Liana. “If you take her, I can cook something.”
“Don’t worry, Barbara. We have dinner here.” He opened the boxes and transferred the gyros, salad, garlic bread and hummus to plates. Grabbing forks and knives, he set the food on the table. “Ladies, dinner is served.”
Celia chose this moment to cry. “I’ll bring her.” Nick walked to the bedroom.
Barbara bobbed her head approvingly. “Don’t take too long to appreciate your luck, Maddy. Santa Maria, he’s a doctor, smart, handsome, and helpful. I can see many women trying to snatch him from you.”
Madelyn gasped, but didn’t have time to protest. Nick had already returned with a pink bundle nestled in his arms. Her heart somersaulted at the lovely picture they presented. He’d make a wonderful father one day. Mom was right. Kathy Raynes, Hailey and several women in their staff had dated him. None had succeeded in keeping him.
Now he seemed to enjoy holding babies. In spite of his talk about no commitment, maybe he’d want to have his own family soon. Children...and a wife.
Darn, Madelyn’s mood tanked.
“How do I look with a baby?” Nick paused and grinned.
“Gorgeous,” Barbara said, without smiling.
“Very nice,” Madelyn added.
“So why are you frowning?”
“Just remembered something.” With effort, she wiped away the depressing thoughts. For the moment, Nick was her friend. A fantastic friend. “Want me to videotape you?”
“Sure. This is a first for me. I hold a lot of newbies in Delivery, but I’ve never really held one in my arms. Like this.” He lowered his gaze to the sweet doll and brushed his lips on her forehead.
“So cute.” Her pulse racing, Madelyn pressed the button on the camera and recorded the scene.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Barbara called. Nick brought the stroller and tucked the twins in.
“Who’s going to say grace?” he asked.
“You’re used to saying grace?” Barbara’s head snapped toward him.
“Madelyn taught me.”
“Good girl.” Mom smiled. First compliment she gave me. “You come from a Catholic family, Nick?”
“No. My mother was an actress, and my father a movie director. I never saw them go to church.”
“Which actress?”
“Anne Lee Meyer.”
Barbara visibly melted. Her hand flew to her chest. “Oh my God, you’re her son?” Stars twinkled in her eyes. “Anne Lee Meyer’s son?” She turned to Madelyn resolutely. “I will say grace.”
Madelyn froze, bracing herself.
Mom recited the prayer. “And Lord, please bless my daughter’s place. Make it a real home. Give us a happy Christmas, complete with health and joy for her, for the babies she generously adopted, and for those who love her and share her goals.” Mom’s gaze settled on Nick for a few seconds.
“Amen,” he answered in his baritone voice.
Mom smiled to her ears and Madelyn scampered to the kitchen. She had to take a deep breath and swallow her medicine before her stress escalated.
Contrary to her worries, dinner went smoothly. Nick asked a lot of questions. To Madelyn’s embarrassment, Barbara regaled him with multiple stories about her daughters, their childhoods and adolescences. She also sniffled a bit as she reminisced about their father.
Nick grinned, laughed, and completely conquered her mother’s heart. At the end of the dinner, Mom brought out Madelyn’s favorite cookies. “I hope you like them, Nick.”
Sure enough, Nick loved them, and begged her to bake some more while in Fort Lauderdale. Madelyn wondered if her mother was going to swoon with glee. A cartoon played in Madelyn’s exhausted mind, with Mom dropping to her knees to ask Nick’s hand in marriage for her daughter. Oh God.
“I’m going to feed and change the babies, and put them to bed. You two can relax on the balcony to watch the boat parade Nick talked about.”
Madelyn should be pleased with her mother’s offer to give them some private time. Instead, Mom’s too obvious effort got on her nerves.
“I don’t think so, Mom. I’m too tired. We have scheduled deliveries tomorrow.”
Barbara shrugged and pushed the stroller to the bedroom.
They both cleared the table. “I’ll let you rest,” Nick said when the kitchen was clean. “It’s been a long, difficult day for you.”
“I don’t know how to thank—”
“Don’t start with the gratitude thing. I don’t need your thanks.” He grabbed her shoulders and held her against him. The intensity of his gaze scorched her to her toes.
She linked her fingers around his neck and tried to smile. “I’ll say it with a kiss.”
But he didn’t smile. He kissed her hard, until she couldn’t breathe. “You still don’t trust me,” he groaned against her hair.
“You know I trust you. You know I care about you.”
“I’m not going to push. I’ll wait for you, Madelyn. I’ll wait till you’re ready to come into my arms.”
“I can’t. Nick, you know my problem. And it’s not fair to you.” Tears tickled her eyes.
“You’re worth the wait.” He kissed her again and rushed to the door.
She leaned on her kitchen counter and dropped her head into her hands.
He’d done everything to make her happy. Today they’d projected the image of a real family. But nothing was real.
The babies would be staying with her for three months only. And then, her heart would break when she lost them. And lost Nick.
Never. When she tried to picture him with another woman, her insides clenched and her heart ached.
She couldn’t afford to lose Nick. Not when she’d enjoyed so much of his presence and his kisses. Not when she wanted more.
Did she have the right to keep him waiting?
Did she have the right to take advantage of his kindness and deprive him of a real family?
Chapter Nine
Madelyn pondered the difficult questions for a good part of the night. Friendship with Nick? She snorted. Certainly not the simple camaraderie she shared with Greg and her male colleagues. Not when her pulse raced at his touch and her body yearned for him.
Her relationship with Nick was special and precious. And heading toward a feeling she was afraid to acknowledge. How could she fool herself into thinking she was immune to Nick’s attraction? Should she trust him with her heart and stop smothering her emotions?
What about him? He showed friendship —or whatever it was—with his help and his kisses. And he was ready for the next step.
Mom was right. A man can’t live by bread and friendship. Unless it came with special benefits.
Annoyed at the direction of her thoughts, she turned and tossed in her bed, and hit her head on the board. A wailing responded to the thump, grew louder, and earsplitting. She glanced at the digital clock—11 pm—and jumped from the bed, glad for the distraction. Celia was crying and Liana pouting, ready to suckle.
While the bottles warmed up, Madelyn changed the babies, and transferred them to their stroller. It would be easier to feed them
at the same time. She sat on a chair and stuck the nipple of a bottle in each tiny mouth. Soon, the sucking slowed and stopped.
“Don’t sleep until you burp, little pumpkin.” She raised Celia up against her shoulder and rubbed her back. Without batting an eye, the baby let out a loud belch that made Madelyn laugh. “Now, you can relax. Your turn, Liana.”
A moment later, Madelyn too stretched in her bed. Her adorable foster daughters had brightened her mood. Determined not to let stupid questions clutter her mind at the wrong time, she closed her eyes. A shuffling noise jerked her up.
“Mom?”
“I was coming to check on the babies. They must need their bottles.”
“I fed them and changed them.”
“Already? I didn’t hear you. You’re a wonderful mommy. So committed to your babies. Good night, bambina.”
A wonderful mommy. The compliment swelled her lungs with pride. She had three months as a foster mother. She didn’t mind being committed to her babies. Or even to Nick. Committed for three months or better, forever. Hugging her pillow, she smiled.
A picture of Nick cuddling Baby Celia played in her mind. And another of Nick kissing her with a passion she’d never met before. Maybe it was time to take a chance on life.
***
The week went by at incredible speed. Mom had transformed Madelyn’s condo into a social club where six neighbors met daily at 10 am for coffee and cake, and stayed till 5 pm. The ladies chatted, while knitting, crocheting, and sewing. And of course, they took turns, feeding, changing, and cooing to Celia and Liana. When awake, the babies smiled nonstop, and the club of foster grandmothers melted with ahhs and hos. The girls had now a full wardrobe of handmade clothes, either pink or Christmassy.
Madelyn changed them into pretty dresses and matching slippers. The babies held their naked legs up trying to get the slippers off. “Now let’s go see what grandma is cooking for Uncle Nick.”
Madelyn settled her babies in their double-stroller and wheeled them to the entrance of the kitchen where Barbara prepared dinner. Since Mom’s arrival the condo continuously simmered in sweet scents of chocolate cookies and buttery cakes, most of them baked for Uncle Nick.
“Madelyn, I’m leaving in two days,” Barbara reminded her as she supervised the pots on the stove. “But don’t worry. My friends asked me if you could give them your schedule regularly. They will come two at a time and babysit when you are at the hospital. I trained them well. They know they have to wash their hands, scrub with sanitizer, and wear a mask while feeding or holding the babies.”
“Thank you, Mom. You’re the best.” Madelyn gave her a big hug.
“We’re almost finished with the afghans.” Mom had told her friends about Nick’s mother. Each woman had brought pictures of Anne Lee Meyer. Together they started a new project—a big surprise for Nick—and crocheted afghans for their favorite actress’s nursing home.
“I’m sure Nick will be very touched.”
“Oh, and I have a dozen more boxes of cookies to give him.” The famous boxes of cookies made especially for dear Dr. Preston had multiplied.
While dear Dr. Preston devoured his cookies like a happy boy, Madelyn sighed, and wondered if Nick wasn’t going to propose to her just to keep savoring his daily plate of cookies.
Except that Nick had been far from proposing. He hadn’t kissed her during this past week. As if his passion had dimmed a little more every day under the pounds of sweet he’d swallowed. Although he was his usual charming self with the ladies and complimented Barbara on her motherly skills when he received his daily dose of carbohydrates.
The twins recognized his voice when he checked on them after work. They chirped and jerked their little legs as soon as he approached their cribs. Without the slightest effort, he carried them both in his brawny arms and gave them the grand tour of the living room and balcony. He cooed to them silly sweet words and sprinkled light kisses on their cheeks and foreheads. Like every female around, Celia and Liana looked at him with adoration.
With a harem of old ladies and tiny ones at his beck and call, Madelyn seemed forgotten.
Not a single kiss in the whole week.
Granted she and Nick were always surrounded by people at the hospital and at home, but he didn’t come to her office and didn’t make any effort to seek her on her own. Had he given up on her?
Just when she’d decided to throw caution to the winds and follow her heart’s directive toward Nick.
As far as she could see, there was no one else in the picture. So why was he avoiding her?
“Maddy, do you mind if we throw an early Christmas party on the 23rd, here in your condo?” Mom’s question interrupted Madelyn’s musing.
“Not at all. Actually, I should be the one inviting you all out to thank you.”
“Out of the question. I’ll cook and my friends will bring the dessert. And—” Mom looked around and frowned. “You need a Christmas tree here and some decorations.”
“My little tree is in the girl’s room.” It wasn’t her room anymore with so many people in and out at all hours of the day. “They love to look at it.”
“Too small. Get us a decent one so we can put presents under it.”
“Oh no, Mom, please. I don’t have time to buy presents. The girls were my Christmas gift to myself. By the way, Sandra knows a student who needs to earn money while studying to become a nurse. Vicky will come here tomorrow to meet you and the twins. So the babies will be well taken care of.”
“Good. I’ll write her a list of do’s and don’ts.”
Madelyn bit her lips not to comment. “I’ll bring the girls to the hospital on Christmas Eve. Nick and I are both on call. Vicky will babysit them while we are busy. Later, we’ll have a celebration at midnight.”
“Good, good.” Mom nodded approvingly. “I’ll prepare a box of cookies for Nick.”
“Enough cookies. He’s gaining weight and spends longer hours at the gym.”
“My dear, my Italian grandmother used to say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Mom fussed with the wooden spoon and swirled it in the pot of tomato sauce. A secret recipe she’d never shared with anyone.
Madelyn sighed. Maybe she should start baking.
“By the way, I’m leaving you a few of my recipes.”
“Wow, the secret ones?” Her jaw sagged. Mom had often repeated that her secret recipe book would go in her will for her daughters.
“Make sure you cook them for Nick.”
Ah for Nick? Mom would reveal her secrets. “No kidding. Do I have time?”
“Don’t forget to invite Nick for a dinner party on Sunday at 3 pm. Then you’ll take me to the airport later.” Mom tasted her sauce. “Perfect. Here, try this.” She handed a spoon to Madelyn.
“Delicious.”
“Too bad Nick is too busy to stay for dinner tonight.”
Exasperated, Madelyn slapped her sides. It was all about Nick. But where was the dear Nick when she needed him?
“The woman from the Child Protective Services loved the lunch I gave her today.”
“You fed her too?”
“Of course. You may keep the babies longer this way. The first time she came when you were here I only gave her cookies. Today she shared the lunch with my friends and said she loved the friendly family atmosphere we’ve created for the babies. I made sure she wrote it in her report.”
Madelyn burst out laughing. “Mom, you should have been a general or better, a chief executive in a company.”
“Thank you, sweetie. Now try to follow my example. Feed your man and keep him. Hmm, there’s another saying. My grandfather’s favorite. But it’s not for my daughter’s ears.”
Madelyn chuckled. “I’m a doctor. I heard it all.”
“Still.” Barbara wrinkled her apron with nervous fingers. “Okay. It’s, Good table and good bed keep your man at home. Know what I mean?” Mom narrowed her eyes.
“You’re right. It’s not for a daughter’s
ears. I don’t want to hear about old sayings. I’m taking my girls for a ride. We’ll buy the Christmas tree and I’ll ask them to deliver it.”
Madelyn grabbed her purse and two bottles, covered the babies with light blankets, and pushed the wide stroller to the elevator. When the door slid open, Nick stepped out. “Going out?”
“Yes, to buy a big Christmas tree. Mom’s order.”
He chuckled. “Can I come along?”
“Sure.” Her pulse accelerated. She’d missed chatting freely with Nick, without eager old chaperones or curious medics listening to every word and offering unsolicited comments.
In the elevator, he held her hand and squeezed it. “I haven’t seen you alone for so long.” He pointed to the surveillance camera and twitched his mouth in a grimace. “Too bad they have these awful devices.”
She lowered her head to hide her emotion. Had he missed her? As much as she did him? Why hadn’t he come to her office? Not sure what to think of Nick’s attitude, she sighed.
“How are things going at home?” His tone sounded brisk as if he, too, had felt the electricity surge between them and made an effort to smother it.
“Good. Mom is throwing a party on the 23rd for all her friends. You’re invited at 3 pm sharp. Then I’ll take her to the airport.”
“A party? How nice. Your mother is the best cook I’ve ever met,” he said with absolute conviction.
“Oh.” So Mom’s theory about hitting a man’s heart through his stomach had some truth to it. Madelyn arched an eyebrow and contemplated him with interest. She might give it a try and use the secret recipes. Because frankly, she was fed up with Nick coming to her when it suited him, and ignoring her the rest of the time.
For years she’d been independent and happy. Why had she let her family and friends—and her sickness too—convince her that happiness went hand in hand with having a man in her life? Too late now, she’d been convinced.
But if she was to have a man, she wanted him full-time. Like a lover and husband. Forget the platonic friendship without commitment. It wasn’t working too well for both of them. Her heart thudded against her ribs and his breathing resonated in the small moving cage. Just because they stood next to each other in a confined space, but unable to come closer with the spying camera glaring at them.
Sweet and Sassy Baby Love Page 49
