Lucky Number Four (46 page)

I don’t know how long I slept, but I wake up
next to Drew, who is snoring lightly, and I feel like someone is
watching me. I turn my head and see it’s the nurse who guessed I
was pregnant.

“I’m sorry,” I say, but I’m not. I know I’ve
probably broken a major hospital rule, but I’m not going to budge
until I know. Drew is going to completely recover. I’m the mother
of his baby, and I love him, and they’ll just have to deal.

“We can move in a cot for you to sleep on,”
the kind nurse whispers.

“I’d rather lie here. I’m being careful of
his leg and the wires. I need to hear his heart beating.” I wait
for her answer, praying that she won’t make me move.

“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind.”
She smiles and leaves the room.

“I can’t believe I’m holding you. I never
want to let you go. Why did you leave the shoot and ignore my calls
and then block them? I tried to see you but Jeff told me that you
needed space and that if I pushed too hard you wouldn’t ever want
to see me.” I look at his face and see the pain in his eyes.

“I left the shoot because seeing you with
Angela made me think two weeks were all I was going to get with
you. You acted like you were so into her. It wasn’t until I got
home, that I realized the steamy kissing scene was all an act. And
when I called your room and Angela answered …”

“What do you mean when Angela answered? She
was never in my room. When I came back and found out you left, I
flew back home to talk to you. Oh, wait I gave her the key so she
could have a few friends over.”

“She told me you were in the shower and that
you guys were going out and it might be late when you returned my
call. I’m so stupid, I fell for her lies.”

“I should’ve ignored Jeff and just made you
talk to me,” he whispers.”

“I’m so sorry Drew, can you forgive me?”

“Only if you will swear that you’ll never
leave me again.” He sounds tired and I gently kiss him.

“I promise.” I lay my head on his chest and
smile as he starts to nod off.

“What’s the secret?” I hear Drew’s raspy
voice whisper next to my ear. I look at the clock and see we’ve
been asleep for a couple of hours.

“You heard me? They said you might be able
to.” I tilt my head to look at him smiling at me. He squeezes my
side gently and tilts his head, obviously awaiting my answer.

“Maybe I should wait until you’re out of
here,” I say quietly, “when you feel better.” I watch as he smiles
crookedly due to the minor swelling still left around his mouth. He
slowly shakes his head. My heart melts, then starts racing as I
realize he’s not going to wait. “But I think I should. You might
not like what I have to say.” I bite my lip nervously and he
squeezes me again.

“As long as it’s not that you don’t love me,
and don’t want to be with me, I’ll be okay,” he whispers as his
eyes bore into mine. I know I have to tell him.

“Remember New Year’s Eve?” I ask, and watch
as he nods, sending me a wicked smile. “Well, we didn’t use any
protection, which was my fault because I attacked you and …” I take
a deep breath. “I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, and he squeezes me
hard.

“We’re pregnant,” he says, his eyes filled
with excitement. “New Year’s right?” He tries to sit up straighter
and I curl into him and gently press him back down.

“Yes, New Year’s, now behave. You’re supposed
to be resting and staying calm. Do you want to get me thrown out of
here?” I say, giggling at the huge grin on his face.

“We’re pregnant. You know what that
means?”

“Yes, it means I’m going to get fatter and
then in five months we’re going to have a baby.”

“Yes, that of course. But I need to get out
of here so we can get married.” He excitedly whispers.

“Wait, you don’t have to do that.” I say
biting my lip hoping that he ignores what I’ve just said.

“Are you kidding? I love you and you love me
so why wouldn’t we get married? Okay, so I can’t get down on one
knee, but Pandora Ann Phillips, will you marry me?” I look at him
and tears fill my eyes.

“Yes! Of course I will.” I feel his arms
surround me and his lips touch mine.

Waking up, I look at the clock. It’s three
a.m. I listen for a sound, but nope, no crying. I do hear a muffled
voice, so I get out of bed, putting on my slippers and satin robe.
I move quietly to the nursery where I hear the voice coming from.
Drew is standing by the changing table, expertly putting a diaper
around our sweet baby girl.

So much has happened this past year: Drew and
my wild week of passion, our separation, his accident, his
recovery, Julie and Kevin’s bundle of joy arriving in July, our
wedding, Liam and Jeff off in Australia for a few months, and the
birth of our twins, Amanda Lynn and Jason Edward, two of the most
beautiful babies in the world.

“Now, we have to be quiet. Mommy needs her
sleep and we don’t want to wake up your brother either. At least
not until I have your bottles fixed up. You know how impatient he
is when he wakes up hungry. But you, my little angel, you’re the
patient one, and you’re such a good girl, aren’t you? Of course, I
love you both equally, but I hope you understand that I love your
mom the best. She is, after all, the one who gave you guys to me.
How was I to know the necklace I gave her last Christmas was a
Mexican pregnancy ball?”

My hand reaches up to my neck to hold the
little silver ball that chimes softly when I move.

“I guess it worked pretty well, huh? We got
two for the price of one. Today is going to be a busy day, as it’s
your first Christmas. You probably won’t enjoy it much this year,
but just wait until next year.”

I see Mandy watching her father as he talks
to her as if she understands every word.

“We’re going to see all your grandparents and
great-grandparents today. Your aunts and uncle too. Now let’s be
super quiet and we’ll go get the bottles ready, because I hear your
brother moving in the crib.”

He picks Mandy up and kisses her cheek and
she giggles. She keeps on giggling the more he shushes her. He
turns and sees me standing in the doorway and his smile—yes, his
smexy smile—totally makes me melt. Here we are, our own lucky group
of four, and I couldn’t be happier. As I continue watching him tend
to our children, a warm sensation washes over me. There’s really
nothing hotter in my opinion than a gorgeous man who’s wonderful
with kids. I know exactly what we’ll be doing once he finishes
feeding our twins—yes, I do.