Christmas Babies (13 page)

“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 recipes’ 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 saying. 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 use the secret recipes
and give it a try. 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.

By the time the elevator stopped
in the garage, Madelyn had promised herself not to wait for things to happen.
She’d take control of her life. And of Nick’s too—including every minute of his
time, every inch of his person, and every goal in his life. Lips pinched, she
pushed the stroller out and strode in the garage.

“What’s wrong? You look like
you’re determined to strangle someone.”

Strangle?
No, but embrace
for better or worse? Definitely.

“In fact, I’m delighted to have
an hour with you.” She offered him her sweetest smile.

Surprise and contentment played
on his face as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her to her
car. They buckled the twins in their car seats. Madelyn handed him the keys.
“Care to drive?”

“Sure. There’s no Christmas tree
farm in South Florida, but I know of a big lot in Oakland Park where they offer
pre-cut trees.” He drove to the field covered with trees, shrubs, and twigs. A
fresh fragrance of evergreen mingled with the scent of moist soil.

They strolled through the rows,
examining stems and branches. After half an hour of consulting with the
gardener in charge, they chose a six-foot balsam fir. The man helped Nick load and
secure the tree across the trunk of the car with a rope. “We’ll leave the trunk
half-open,” Nick declared.

Madelyn picked a wreath decorated
with pinecones and red ribbons to hang on the door of her apartment. Their outing
had restored her good spirit. Walking hand in hand with Nick and pushing the
stroller gave her the impression she had her own family. An impression she
wanted to turn into reality. Because losing Nick or her daughters would break
her heart.

“Don’t worry about buying lights
and balls. I have a whole box of them. My mother used to decorate several
Christmas trees in the big house. I’ll bring the box when we go back. But first
I have an errand to run at Macy’s.” He parked in the Galleria Mall parking lot.

“Do I have time to look at
dresses?” Since they were at her favorite store, she might as well take
advantage and buy a pretty outfit for her mother’s party.

“Go ahead. I’ll keep the babies.
My shopping won’t take long. We’ll wait for you in front of the main door to
the Mall.”

She watched them go, Nick pushing
the stroller like a proud daddy. Her heart burst with joy. Without hesitation
she dashed to the women’s department and bought two lovely dresses at a record
speed. On her way out, she selected a silver silk blouse for her mother, and
then rushed to the men’s department. There she froze, not sure what to give
Nick for Christmas.

“Can I help you?” a clerk asked.

“I’m looking for a present for my
friend.”

“How about a leather wallet?” He
showed her the display.

She chose one and ran to the
packaging department to have it wrapped with shiny gold paper.

Out of breath, but pleased with
her shopping, she slowed down and strolled to the door, a big Macy’s bag
dangling from her hand. Her eyes grew wide-open when she spotted Nick with
Liana nestled in his arms and sucking on her bottle.

“You’re feeding her?”

“She was hungry. I found the
bottles and assumed you brought them for the girls. Celia will ask for hers
soon.” Celia answered with a loud scream.

Madelyn picked her up and sat
next to Nick to give her some milk.

“God bless you,” an old woman
stopped next to them. “Your daughters are so cute.”

“I think so, too,” Nick answered
with a pleasant smile.

Her heart bursting with joy,
Madelyn would have kissed him if not for the crowd bustling in the Mall.

A Santa Claus paused beside them.
“Pretty scene. Can we take a picture with you for Macy’s display of Christmas
scenes?”

Nick looked at Madelyn. She
nodded. “As long as we get a copy,” he answered.

Santa Claus stood behind them,
his arms around their backs. The photographer clicked a couple of shots.
“Lovely,” he said. “If you linger around here for a few minutes I’ll bring you
two copies.” He disappeared in the store and they continued to feed the girls
until they slept.

True to his word, the
photographer returned ten minutes later with an envelope. Madelyn extracted the
pictures and gasped. This was her dream-come-true, captured on paper. “Look,
Nick. Isn’t that precious?” She grabbed his hand.

“Gorgeous.” His gaze rested on her
face. A new flame burned in his blue eyes.

“I’ll frame them.”

The scene in the pictures was
perfect.

What would it take to turn it
into long-lasting reality?

Chapter Ten

“Madelyn, I don’t want you
fussing around me when I put the last hand to my cooking.” Wearing her green
Christmas apron embroidered with a red logo
Homemade Food and Happiness,
Mom
brandished her wooden spoon stained with tomato pasta. A mouth watering aroma
of garlic and nutmeg wafted toward her.

“I’m just trying to help you.
You’ve done so much work today while I was at the hospital.” Madelyn dug her
gloved hands in the sink to wash the pots.

“Out of my kitchen.” The wooden
spoon vibrated in the air. “Okay, your kitchen. But when I’m cooking it’s my
domain. I don’t interfere in your delivery room. Go get dress, take care of
your daughters, and don’t come out of your room before ten to three.”

Exasperated, Madelyn raised her
arms in the air, and then chuckled. “Yes, mommy.”

“Good girl.” Mom would never
change. In spite of Madelyn’s many degrees, her medical experience, and her
thirty-five years, in her mom’s eyes she was just a good girl, or a bad one, depending
on the moment.

With a shrug, she skidded to her
room where the twins napped. Her gaze flitted from one baby to the other. Love
overflowed her whole being. “You changed my life, sweetie pies. I’ll tell you a
big secret. I’m not letting you go after three months. Yes, I’ll adopt you and
we’ll all live happily ever after.”

 While they slept, she took a
quick shower, dried her hair, and slipped on the red chiffon dress she’d bought
at Macy’s. The v-neck plunged a bit too deep, but the transparent long sleeves
compensated with a touch of modesty. She brushed her hair over her shoulders,
and applied her makeup more generously than usual, with eyeliner and mascara.

When she glanced at the girls,
they were quietly playing with their feet and smiled at her. “You like my new
dress? Glad you think mommy looks pretty.” She burst out laughing and
pirouetted in front of them. Her silver chains, bracelets and earrings jingled,
eliciting happy noises from the babies. “Silly mommy. But I hope uncle Nick
will approve too. Now your turn to get dressed for the party.”

She cleaned, powdered, and outfitted
them for the party. Celia in a green overall spotted with red hearts and
candies, and Liana in a red one adorned with green trees and wreaths. With her
fingers she combed the fluffy hair on their heads. “You look lovely and smell
delicious.” Which reminded her to dab a few drops of perfume on her throat and
wrists.

A glance at the digital clock
reassured her it was time for them to make their entrance. “Ten to three. Let’s
party.”

****

“All done.” Nick added the last
silver frame to the Christmas tree he’d set and decorated last night with
Madelyn. Satisfied with the result of his labor, he placed the two wrapped
boxes he’d brought at the foot of the tree. “What a beautiful table, Barbara.
It brings back childhood memories.”

“I hope you’ll build new happy ones
tonight.” Barbara crossed her arms and examined her work of art with a critical
eye. “We’re ready for our guests.”

The bedroom door opened and
Madelyn appeared pushing the wide stroller.

Lord, she was a vision to behold
in that red silk that revealed a nice décolletage, and long legs strapped in
red high-heeled sandals. Her eyes shone, huge and green with golden specks. His
gaze caressed her lovely face as he came toward her and brought her hand to his
lips. “Dr. Ramsay, you’re too dangerously beautiful for a man’s heart.
Especially mine.”

She laughed. “Thanks, Nick. You
look gorgeous yourself,” she added with a blush that pleased him immensely.

“Did you see the Christmas tree?”
Barbara blurted.

Madelyn glanced to her left. You
added silver frames? Just like your tree. Which pictures?” She frowned and
stepped closer. “Oh Nick, they’re amazing.” She pointed to various frames. “The
babies in their cribs; in the stroller; in my arms and yours; with Mom; and
with the neighbors. It’s the most beautiful Christmas tree I’ve ever seen.”

“Me too,” Nick said.

Barbara sniffled. “I think I
smell something fishy in the kitchen.” She winked at Nick and scurried out of
sight. Bless her heart. The woman was a godsend ally.

Without wasting time, he wrapped
his arms around Madelyn. Her perfume excited his senses and numbed his mind. “I
missed you so much.”

“Me too,” she said against his
lips.

He kissed her carefully afraid to
mess up her makeup or wrinkle her dress. She didn’t seem to worry and squeezed
against him. Fire exploded in his gut and fueled his kiss. He wanted this woman
like he’d never wanted any before. Not only for a moment and a few kisses. He
wanted her, body and soul. Forever.

He released her and stared at
her. “Madelyn, my darling, we have a lot of thinking to do. A lot of talking.
After your mother leaves.”

A bright smile answered him. “I
agree. Mom worked so hard to make it a special party.”

And special it was. The neighbors
came with presents for the babies and big boxes they placed under the Christmas
tree.

“Nick dear,” Barbara ordered.
“You take care of the drinks. I’ve made the punch with champagne, orange juice,
sprite, and fruit cocktail. And I added frozen strawberries.”