Текст книги "Native Affairs"
Автор книги: Doreen Malek Owens
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Текущая страница: 36 (всего у книги 37 страниц)
Amy got up and pressed Ann’s hand warmly. “The baby will be all right,” she said. “But I think that now we should move on to the really important discussion, the one that concerns my dinner date last Friday night.”
“Who is he?”
“The personnel V.P.”
“At your company? Uh-oh.”
“We’re keeping it a secret.”
“Good luck. He’s not married?”
“Newly divorced.”
“How newly?”
“The decree was final three weeks ago.”
“Oh, Amy, you’d better be careful.”
“Don’t you want to hear about the date?”
“Sure,” Ann said. She sat and propped her feet up on a hassock, noting the degree of swelling in her ankles.
Not too bad but it was still early in the day.
Ann folded her hands over her protruding belly and settled in to listen.
* * * *
Three days later, at 2:00 a.m., Ann struggled off her bed and waddled out into the living room, where Amy was sleeping on the foldout sofa.
“Amy, wake up!” Ann said, shaking her friend’s shoulder aggressively.
Amy sat up, her hair over one eye.
“Wassa madda?” she mumbled.
“My water broke,” Ann said.
“Wassitmean?”
“It means I have to get to the hospital right now. Will you call a cab while I get dressed?”
Amy stumbled to her feet and then into the kitchen, where she splashed cold water on her face and then returned, looking more alert but somewhat alarmed.
“Where’s the number?” she asked.
“On the pad by the phone.”
“I guess this is really happening,” she said as Ann returned to the bedroom.
I guess it really is, Ann thought, and went to the closet for her clothes.
* * * *
“He is just beautiful,” Amy said to Joan, beaming, peering into the isolette as she stood next to the Jensens. The baby responded by opening his mouth in a toothless yawn and beating the air with two tiny red fists.
“You know who he looks like,” Joan said.
“Like Heath with blue eyes,” Amy replied.
“They all have blue eyes at the beginning.”
“His will stay blue. He has Ann’s eyes.” Amy looked over at Joe. “I can’t believe you got here before Heath.”
“We were here for the weekend to see Joan’s sister.”
“Did you call him?” Joan asked Amy.
Amy nodded.
“What did he say?”
“He didn’t say anything. He was already gone. His secretary told me that he had planned to be here for the due date.”
“Then he should be walking through that door any minute,” Joe observed.
The elevator doors parted and Heath stepped into the hall, carrying a large armload of roses wrapped in a florist’s green waxed paper.
“You could make money with your psychic powers,” Amy said to Joe.
“Remember that we all promised to be pleasant,” Joan said archly.
Heath looked at the little group standing at the nursery window and hesitated, then took a deep breath. He was wearing light summer slacks and a pale yellow polo shirt that emphasized his dark good looks. He walked up beside Amy and stood looking at the little plastic carrier with “Bodine” written on the I.D. card. He didn’t say a word but Amy watched his eyes fill with tears. He bent his head as they ran silently down his face.
Amy felt her hostility toward him drain away, to be replaced by an almost reluctant compassion. She looked significantly at Joan, who took Joe’s arm and steered her husband away from the nursery and back toward the nurses’ station.
“I wanted to be here for the birth,” Heath finally said. His voice sounded congested, like he had a cold.
“You just missed it. She was a little early.”
“Is Ann all right?”
“She’s fine.”
“And the baby?”
“Perfect.”
Heath closed his eyes, his carved profile a study in regret. “I don’t deserve either of them.”
Amy found herself patting his arm. No wonder Ann couldn’t stay angry with him.
“I want to see Ann,” he said.
“She’s still sleeping.”
“Then I’ll wait.” He looked around him restlessly for the visitors’ lounge.
“The waiting room is just down the hall,” Amy said. “I’ll show you.”
He followed her to the sterile cubicle, which had a gray and white tiled floor and plastic gray and blue chairs. Heath sat in one of them and stared at the floor, still clutching the flowers.
“Should I take those?” Amy asked. “I’ll get someone to put them in water.”
He handed them to her.
“Was she in a lot of pain?” he asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“I’ve heard labor is very painful,” he said.
“Most women seem to survive it.”
He wasn’t listening.
“I think I’ll just go see the Jensens. We were about to leave for lunch when you arrived. Do you want to join us?”
Heath didn’t answer.
“Heath?”
He looted up, startled.
“Lunch?”
He shook his head. “I’ll stay here.”
Amy gave up and found the Jensens, who were lingering near the nurses’ station.
“Let’s go. He’s in another world. I don’t think he’ll be focusing on anything until he sees Ann.”
“Should I go talk to him?” Joe asked.
“I think it’s better to leave him alone, Joe. It’s obvious that he has a lot on his mind.”
Amy gave the flowers to the aide assigned to Ann’s room and the trio departed.
In the waiting room Heath sat alone, his eyes fixed on the checkered floor.
* * * *
When Amy returned to Ann’s room two hours later, minus the Jensens, Ann was reading the tags on several arrangements of flowers that had been delivered to her room.
“Who from?” Amy asked.
“The blue and white carnations are from Tim, and the glads are from my editor. The jade plant is from Daniela and Victor.”
“Where’s Heath?”
Ann stared at her. “Heath?”
“Yes, he was here just before I left and he said he would wait until you woke up to visit you.”
Ann looked away, her expression thoughtful.
“You didn’t see him?” Amy asked in astonishment, looking around as if Heath might be lurking somewhere in the room.
Ann shook her head.
“I can’t believe it. He had this huge bunch of roses and—” Amy stopped. “You mean, he just left?”
“Apparently so.”
“Why on earth would he do that?”
“Lost his nerve?” Ann suggested softly.
“Heath? Never.”
“You don’t know him the way I do.”
“That’s true,” Amy said archly.
“Did he see the baby?” Ann asked.
Amy nodded. “He was very touched, Annie.”
“Not touched enough to stick around,” Ann replied, shaking her head.
A nurse came into the room carrying a squalling bundle. “Somebody’s hungry, Mother,” she said.
Ann held out her arms and the nurse placed the baby in Ann’s embrace. His little face was wrinkled and his eyes screwed shut as his lips worked furiously.
“Will you feed the kid, already?” Amy said. “He sounds like a fire siren.”
“Healthy lungs,” the nurse said approvingly.
Ann unbuttoned the top of her nightgown and pushed her nipple into the baby’s mouth. He rooted frantically for a couple of seconds and then settled down to suck contentedly.
“You’re pretty good at that,” Amy said wonderingly, smiling.
“He does all the work,” Ann replied.
“Did Mrs. Bodine’s visitor leave?” Amy asked the nurse.
“Which one?”
“Her husband,” Amy said dryly.
“That young man was Mr. Bodine?” the nurse said, surprised. “He never told me. He left about an hour ago. That reminds me, I’ll go and get the flowers he brought.”
Amy waited until the nurse had gone back into the hall before she said, “I’ll never understand that man.”
“Maybe he just wanted to see the baby, not me,” Ann said dejectedly, looking down at her son.
“Oh, Annie, no. He really was concerned about you.” Seeking to change the subject, she said, “What are you going to name that little one?”
“I don’t know.”
“It says Baby Boy Bodine on his isolette, maybe you can stick with that.”
Ann smiled weakly at the feeble joke, then lifted the baby to her shoulder to burp him. After a few firm pats, he belched loudly.
“Healthy digestive system,” the nurse confirmed as she entered the room again with Heath’s flowers arranged in a vase and an ivy plant in her other hand.
“This place is starting to look like a greenhouse,” Amy said, making room for the ivy on Ann’s bedside stand. “Who’s Ben Rowell?” she added, reading the card.
“One of Heath’s employees.”
“I guess you’ll be getting a few more of those.”
“Probably. I’ll ask the staff to deliver them to a rest home or something.”
They both looked up as Heath suddenly appeared in the doorway, his arms laden with a football, a basketball, and a pair of roller skates. The expression on his face as he saw his son nursing at Ann’s breast was one she would never forget.
“I’ll be back tonight, Ann,” Amy said, heading for the door. She paused at Heath’s side and kissed his cheek.
“Congratulations, Daddy,” she said, and left.
“There’s a sporting goods store across the street. I thought I’d kill a little time until you woke up,” Heath said nervously by way of explanation.
“I think he’s a little young for those, Heath.”
“I know. I just wanted to do...something,” he said lamely. He put down his burdens and pulled a chair next to the bed, watching wordlessly as the baby fed, making satisfied sucking noises.
“He has a good appetite,” Heath said.
“Yes.”
The baby’s activity slowed as they looked on, fascinated. His jaws finally ceased motion altogether, his eyes closed and, in seconds, he was asleep.
“That fast?” Heath said.
“The nurse said they go out like lights at this stage.” Ann settled the baby next to her on the bed and tucked his receiving blanket up to his chin.
When she looked back at Heath, he had slumped visibly and had put his head in his hands.
“Heath?” she said softly.
He looked up, took her free hand, and held it to his lips.
“Isn’t your son beautiful?” Ann asked.
He nodded, swallowing painfully. Then, to Ann’s complete amazement, Heath leaned forward to put his head in her lap and began to sob.
“I didn’t want you to be alone through this,” he said thickly. “I wanted all of it to be different.”
“It’s all right,” Ann said, stroking his hair gently. “It’s all over now.”
“You don’t understand.” He lifted his head and she saw that his face was stained with tears.
Even when they were teenagers she had never seen him cry.
“I thought so many times of calling you, but...” He gestured, unable to continue.
“What?” Ann prompted him.
“Even from the beginning, I wasn’t sure you would want my baby, knowing what you knew about my family. I wasn’t sure you would want me, or us, as a package...” He shook his head and stopped again. This was very difficult for him to say.
“I want the package,” she said, “but—”
The nurse bustled into the room as Heath hastily turned his head away from her.
“Sleeping already?” she said, picking the baby up and feeling his bottom. “Still dry, too. Well, he’ll just have a nice nap and then come back to visit this evening. Your son is a handsome fellow, isn’t he, Mr. Bodine?”
“Yes,” Heath replied, clearing his throat.
“I’m glad to see you. We thought you were missing in action earlier.”
“Just a visit to the store,” Ann said quickly, gesturing to the pile of toys on the chair.
“New fathers can never wait for the athletic equipment,” the nurse said, chuckling as she left with the baby.
“What do I have to do to get some privacy here, rent out a whole ward?” Heath said disgustedly.
“It’s a hospital, Heath. They run in and out constantly. There’s nothing you can do.”
“Yes, there is.” He got up and closed the door. On the way back to her bed, he pulled his wallet from his pants pocket. He extracted two cards and handed them to her.
“I’ve joined a group called Adult Children of Alcoholics,” he said. “That’s the name and number of my partner. I’ve already attended two meetings.”
Ann was speechless.
“And I contacted a doctor—a family counselor– on Big Palm. I had a first session with her. We have to go back together as soon as you’re able. If you want to try again with me, that is.” He looked at her warily, as if afraid she might say no.
“Of course I want to try,” Ann said, touching his cheek, still in shock.
“I can’t promise anything. Just going to see those people in the first place was hard.”
“I’m sure it was.”
“But I want... to get better,” he said lamely.
“You will. Taking the initial step is the most difficult. The rest will be easier.”
Heath dropped his head to her lap again, wrapping his arms around her legs, which were covered by the sheet.
Ann sank her fingers into his hair.
“I love you so much, Princess,” he said, his voice partially muffled by the bedclothes.
“I love you, too, Heath.”
“I’d like to name the baby after Joe, if it’s okay with you, that is.”
“What a nice idea.”
“He’s been more of a father to me than my biological father ever was.”
“Joe and Joan will be thrilled.”
“And Timothy, for your brother.”
“Oh, Heath, he’ll be so pleased. I think it will be just the lift Tim needs to get him through all this.”
“So we’ll both be in recovery programs, just different kinds,” Heath said ruefully. “It looks like you’re the only stable member of this outfit.”
“And Joseph Timothy Bodine. We’ll make sure that he is very stable.”
“That’s a promise,” Heath said, twining his fingers with hers tightly.
Ann smiled at him and then closed her eyes.
“Tired?” he said.
“A little.”
“Go back to sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Ann sighed deeply and turned her head on the pillow, relaxing into sleep. Still holding her hand, Heath settled in to wait.
– THE END –
I am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights and Gone With the Wind and Rebecca, and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you.
A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all—at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book—or pick up a Kindle—and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless.
Happy reading!
See all of
Doreen Owens Malek’s
Kindle eBooks on Amazon.com
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www.doreenowensmalek.com
Brand new, never before published
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Available for digital download
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www.doreenowensmalek.com
Amanda’s Blue Marine marks the return of Doreen Owens Malek to publishing after a 12 year absence. It is with great pleasure that Doreen presents her new, never before published contemporary romance Amanda’s Blue Marine.
When Amanda Redfield, an assistant district attorney from a wealthy and prominent Philadelphia family, is being harassed by a mysterious stalker, she meets Brendan Kelly, the police detective assigned to her case. Smart and capable but deeply troubled, Kelly protects Amanda while he works to find her tormentor, but his disturbing presence and rogue behavior disrupt Amanda’s settled life. She is helplessly drawn to the sexy and charming but barely controlled cop, and as their passion grows she must choose between her prosperous and settled past and an uncertain future with a man whose own life is spiraling out of control. How she draws on her wits and resources to eventually rescue Kelly emotionally in the same way that he rescues her physically makes for a powerful and satisfying love story.
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Taylor Braddock. His name brought back memories of a man so handsome that a young girl had fallen in love–and made a fool of herself. A man so unique he’d spoiled Sharon Philips for any other love.
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Watch for
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The sequel to the enormously popular A Marriage of Convenience. Visit the next generation of Braddocks as they find heartbreak and romance on the ranch in present day California. Watch Tay and Sharon survive a rocky patch in their enduring marriage to prove once again that love conquers all.
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PANTHER LEGACY
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SPECIAL PRICE OF JUST $3.99
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In The Panther and the Pearl, Sarah Woolcott is a Boston schoolteacher visiting a relative in Turkey in the late nineteenth century. By a combination of circumstances you’ll find only in fiction, Sarah is purchased by the Pasha of Bursa, Kalid Shah. He is a young, Oxford educated district governor, the child of a local pasha and a captive British mother, who takes a fancy to Sarah when he sees her during a state visit to his boss, the Sultan.
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Panther’s Prey, the sequel to The Panther and the Pearl, takes place ten years later in the same district of Bursa, where the ward of Sarah Woolcott’s cousin is abducted by Turkish rebels seeking to overthrow the same Sultan in power when Sarah first arrived in Turkey. She is now married to Kalid Shah and living with him and their three children at Orchid Palace in Bursa.
Shah is in sympathy with the rebels and allies himself with Malik Bey, the brother of a character in the first book. Bey is a wanted fugitive, the leader of the insurgents.
Bey takes Sarah’s cousin, Amelia Ryder, from her traveling coach by force in order to sell her into slavery to finance his anti-government activities. Amelia is as defiant and feisty as Sarah was a decade earlier, however, and as she tries repeatedly to get away from Bey’s camp and back to her family she and the rebel leader grow fascinated with one another. She learns about Bey’s past and his cause and helps him when his lieutenant and best friend is wounded.
As time passes they share a compelling physical attraction which soon grows into an undeniable, unbreakable bond. Bey, young and handsome himself, is besotted with pretty blonde Amelia. He can’t keep his hands off her, despite his best efforts to put the revolution first and his feelings second, and decides finally that he cannot sell her. He makes a deal to release her to Shah just as she realizes that his cause is just and, even more shocking, that she really doesn’t want to get away from him.
As Bey works with Shah to remove the Turkish dictator and replace him with an elected legislature, Bey is arrested and condemned by a desperate Sultan and Amelia joins forces with Kalid and Sarah to save his life.
How Bey triumphs in the end and gets both a new government and the girl makes for a satisfying and sensual read.
I hope you enjoy reading these books as much as I enjoyed writing them.
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His presence in her life had been a lie …
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When Devlin finds himself instantly attracted to the lonely, withdrawn beauty who is Patria’s innocent niece, his life becomes complicated very quickly. It is Devlin’s job to be with Angela at all times since he is supposed to be protecting her, and this task makes it impossible for him to conceal his growing feelings for the woman he is deceiving on a daily basis.
How this dilemma is resolved and the embattled couple wind up together makes for a satisfying read, and watching straight arrow Devlin unbend enough to fall for the gangster’s ward is touching as well as amusing.
MAY 2012
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He was a loner with no loyalties …
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The story takes them around the globe but never far from each other’s thoughts, and when at the conclusion Colter transforms his life to keep Karen with him it is gratifying and fulfilling but not a surprise. The story also features a wise and witty best friend for Karen in Linda Folsom, a savvy Brit with a wicked sense of humor who keeps the saga humming along on the rare occasions when Colter is offstage. All in all it’s a fast moving and absorbing tale.
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