The Best Bride (80 page)

Her gaze shifted and she saw Travis watching her. Her happiness faded slightly. She'd lied to her family. Not just once, when she'd first shown up, but every day. Even now, in this hospital waiting room, she lived a lie. She wanted to say it was because of Nick. She wanted to be able to blame him, but she couldn't. She was the one at fault. She had chosen to keep the truth from Travis and everyone else. She and Nick had no future together. But reality didn't stop her from wanting one.

Craig appeared in the doorway. He spotted Hannah and walked over. “You guys came.”

“Of course. Why wouldn't we?” She smiled. “How's Jill doing?”

“Great. Why don't you come and say hi?” He motioned for Nick to join them, then led the way down the hall.

Jill was sitting up in her bed. She was pale, her short hair framing her pixie face. She waved as they came in the door. “Thanks for coming. Have you seen the baby?”

Hannah walked over to the bed and took her hand. “Yes. She's amazing. So perfect and pretty.”

Nick moved to the other side of the bed, leaned over and
kissed Jill's cheek. “Thank God she looks like you and not her father.”

“Hey.” Craig grinned. “We're a good-looking bunch. I know you believe that. You married a Haynes.”

Nick glanced at Hannah. “I didn't have a choice. She stole my heart when I wasn't looking.”

“Oh, don't,” Jill said and reached for the box of tissues on the table beside her bed. “I'm still fighting my hormones. It won't take much to get me to cry.”

Hannah pulled up a chair. “How are you feeling?”

“Tender, but happy.” Jill sniffed, then smiled. “Labor is the pits. Craig was with me. He kept promising it hurt him just as much to watch me as it did for me to go through the whole process.”

“I doubt that,” Hannah said.

“That's what I told him at the time.” She sighed. “It's worth it, though. She's wonderful. And a girl. Just like Jordan said.”

Craig moved to the foot of the bed. “I wonder how it will apply to you, Hannah. You're a Haynes, but female. What do you think?” he asked his wife.

Jill shrugged. “I'm not sure I even believe the legend, but so far it's working. You'll have to go ahead and get pregnant, Hannah. We're all going to be curious.”

“What do you think about that, Nick?” Craig asked.

“I think we need to practice making babies a little more before we consider having one,” he said lightly.

There was a knock at the door. Kyle and Sandy stepped in. “Are you up to more visitors?” Sandy asked.

“Sure,” Jill said.

Hannah backed away from the bed, as did Nick. She watched him. He'd become a part of her family more easily than she had. As if he belonged. Travis and Elizabeth
entered the room, then Rebecca and Austin. Nick left and she followed.

In the hallway, her throat tightened unexpectedly and her eyes filled with tears. Nick touched her face.

“Those hormones must be contagious,” he murmured.

She nodded, unable to speak. When he pulled her close, she went willingly, never stopping to question why it felt so right to be in his arms.

* * *

“Have they already released Jill and the baby?” Hannah asked.

“This morning.” Louise moved to the stove in Holly and Jordan's kitchen and stirred the simmering pot. “Usually I stay with the wives for a couple of weeks after they're released. Just to give them a break from taking care of the house.” Louise grinned. “Not that being with a newborn is any kind of hardship for me.” Her silver cowboy boot earrings glittered in the afternoon light.

“But Craig and Jill don't live in Glenwood,” she continued. “So Rebecca is going to stay for a few days, then Elizabeth. I'll head up when you and Nick go back to Southport Beach.”

Hannah nodded. When she'd first arrived, the two weeks had stretched before her, feeling seemingly endless. Now she had six days left. Six short days before she had to return to her real world.

“Karen seems like a good baby,” she said.

“I know.” Louise adjusted the burner, turning down the flame. “Jill's going to have her hands full, what with a newborn and the three boys Craig has from his previous marriage.”

A timer went off. Hannah grabbed the pot holders, then walked to the oven and pulled out the bubbling casserole.
“She's going to have enough food for several weeks at least. How many dishes are you sending with them?”

“Five, counting this one.” She tapped the pot. “I'm not sure how long they're going to last, though. You haven't seen those three boys eat.”

“Does it bother you to be around all these children?”

Louise put down the stirring spoon and moved to the kitchen table. She sat down. “You'd think it would, but it really doesn't. I enjoy being with everyone's kids, especially the babies. Sometimes I think about what I gave up.”

Hannah joined her at the table. She cupped her hands around her mug of coffee. “Did you see me after I was born?”

“Just for a minute. They wouldn't let me hold you. I wanted to, of course.” Her blue eyes darkened with the memories. “I think they're afraid the young mothers will bond with their children. Maybe they're right. But I can't imagine I could have missed you any more than I did.”

“You never had other children?”

“No.” Louise shrugged. “I was married for a while. It was a mistake. I think I was looking for someone to fill that empty space inside of me. After a while, I figured out I had to find a way to fill it myself. So we got a divorce. It was friendly enough, I suppose. Then I had Alfred in my life.”

“A boyfriend?”

“A basset hound.”

Hannah was sipping her coffee when Louise answered and she nearly choked. “A dog?”

Louise smiled. “We were very close. Alfred passed away a couple of years ago. I still miss him.”

“At least you found Richard to take his place.”

“Oh, Richard is a little more company than a dog.”

“But is he as well trained?”

They laughed together. Louise leaned back in her chair.

“I didn't like Richard at first. I thought he was pompous. Then I realized he was actually very shy. I'm just not sure about the age difference.”

“If it were reversed, no one would think anything about it,” Hannah said. “If you two are happy, why does it matter?”

“That's what I keep telling myself. But I have to decide if I believe it or not.” She straightened her mouth. “I was very much in love with your father, Hannah. I knew it was wrong. I knew we could never be together. I've spent the past twenty-eight years regretting what I did to his family. Earl deserved what he had coming, but his wife didn't, nor did the boys.”

“Do you think he loved you?”

“I don't know. He says he did. According to Jordan, the fact that you're female is proof.”

“Do you believe that story?”

“I want to say I don't, but there have been a lot of girls born lately, and this after so many generations of boys.”

Hannah stared out the window. The garden was bright with flowers. “I don't know what to do about him. Sometimes I think I should get in touch with him and tell him who I am. Other times, I can't face the thought of his rejecting me.”

Louise touched her hand. “I can't promise he'll welcome you with open arms. I don't pretend to understand Earl. But when you're ready to talk to him, I'll do anything I can to help. I'll even call him first, if you'd like.”

“Thank you.”

Hannah was touched by the offer. It would be difficult for Louise to speak to her old lover after all these years. Confessing to a full-grown child wouldn't be easy, either.

She smiled. “I'm glad you wrote me.”

“I'm glad you came to visit.” Louise reached over and squeezed her fingers. “I'd like us to stay in touch.”

“Of course. I was hoping you would come down and stay with me.”

“I'd like that. I'm sure you and Nick have a wonderful place together.”

Hannah stiffened. She'd forgotten it was all just pretend. Maybe it was time to tell the truth.

“Louise, I have something to tell—”

A sharp ring cut through the room. Louise stretched out her arm and snagged the phone from the wall.

“Haynes residence.” She listened for a moment, then smiled. “I'm glad you made it safely. Yes, tell Craig I've already made two batches of his favorite kind of chicken. And tuna casserole for the boys. Uh-huh.” She covered the mouthpiece. “It's Jill. They made it home safely.”

“Tell her hi from me.”

Louise nodded. “Is she sleeping? Good. Are you sleeping?” She laughed. “Rebecca will take care of you, but I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait the pain out. Try taking a warm bath. Oh, Hannah's here, she says hi.” Louise listened, then held out the phone. “She wants to talk to you.”

Hannah stood up and walked around the table. Louise moved to the stove to check on the stew.

“Hi,” Hannah said. “How are you feeling?”

Jill laughed. “Actually, pretty good. The breast-feeding is strange. I feel like a twenty-four-hour convenience store.”

“Sounds like fun. How's the baby?”

“Little Karen is doing great. I'm in her room right now and I want to thank you for the lamp. It goes perfectly and it's just…” She sniffed. “Oh, here I go again. Crying my eyes out. I can't stand being this weepy.”

“It's okay. I understand.”

“What are you guys doing?”

“I'm cooking with my mom. We're making sure you have plenty to eat.”

Jill sighed. “This is the best family, Hannah. No one has ever taken care of me like these people. I love them all. They're so w-wonderful. I can't believe I'm doing this again.” Tears thickened her voice. “I'd better go. I'm a wreck. But thanks for the lamp. It's terrific. And come see me before you leave, okay?”

“I will. Take care.” Hannah hung up the phone. She was feeling a little teary-eyed herself. “Jill's a sweetie,” she said as she turned toward the stove. She stopped, shocked to see Louise wiping away a tear. “Nick's right,” she said. “Hormones are contagious.”

“It's not that,” Louise said. “I'm being silly, I know, but when you said you were cooking with your mom, I realized that's me. You called me Mom.” She waved her hand in the air. “You don't have to if you don't want to. I understand your adoptive mother will always be your real mother. But it was nice.”

Hannah had to swallow before speaking. “I'd like to call you Mom. I didn't know if you'd want me to.”

“Of course I do.” She moved to Hannah and gave her a hug. “You're my daughter and I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

Hannah squeezed her eyes shut. A mix of emotions flooded her. Sweet, sweet affection tempered by the bitter taste of guilt. She still had to tell her mother the truth about Nick. Just not right now. It would spoil a very special moment.

Besides, the longer she put it off, the longer he would stay.

* * *

Nick looked up when the front door opened. Hannah stepped into the room. She gave him a bright smile, but he saw the evidence of tears.

“What's wrong?” he asked, springing to his feet. “What happened?”

“Nothing. Louise and I…” She wiped her face. “We said that we loved each other and I called her Mom. It was very emotional. I guess you had to be there.”

Panic retreated. He squeezed her shoulder. “Way to go, kid. Soon you'll have normal relationships, just like everyone else.”

“Don't hold your breath. I doubt I'll ever be very close to normal, but I'm trying.” She walked into the kitchen and pulled a soda out of the refrigerator. “Poor Nick. You didn't expect this when you agreed to help out for a weekend.”

“It's not so bad.” He leaned against the entrance to the kitchen. “I never thought I'd see big, bad Hannah Pace in tears because she told her mother she loved her.”

“No one will believe you, so don't even think about spreading rumors.”

He grinned. “You're right. Everyone thinks you're so tough.”

Since the night they'd almost made love and he'd admitted how much he liked seeing her hair loose, she'd worn it down. Now the silky brown strands cascaded to the middle of her back. He wanted to bury his fingers in her hair, kiss her until they both forgot to breathe and make love with her. Instead, he shoved his hands in his pockets.

Whatever happened or didn't happen between them, when she thought of this time, she would remember him. He'd been a part of something good in her life.

She set the soda on the counter. “I'm not tough, though. How come you figured that one out?”

“I know your secrets.”

She stared at him. “Why did you bother? There had to be other, more willing women around.”

This conversation had moved a little too close to dangerous territory. He wasn't ready to answer that kind of question. “You were impossible not to tease,” he said lightly.

She didn't smile. She took a step toward him. “A conscious act of seduction, Nick Archer. Why me?”

Because the moment he'd met her, he'd known instinctively she was hiding because she was afraid. The more he got to know her and saw the sweet person inside, the more he wanted her. He teased her and toyed with her because she wouldn't have accepted anything else. A serious pursuit would have sent her running in the opposite direction.

“I have this thing for big brown eyes.”

“Good. I have this thing for big blue eyes.” She took another step toward him. They were inches apart. “And blond hair. And strength. And guys with great butts.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “You think I have a great butt?”

“Yeah.”

He saw it in her eyes. The desire he could handle. Everything else scared him to death. His chest tightened as need warred with common sense. They couldn't do this. It would be a big mistake. What if she couldn't walk away when it was over? What if he couldn't?