The Heart (37 page)

“This is an eviction, baby boy. I want my body back. I’m giving you notice,” she said breathlessly as she lunged through the house, all baby up front and very little else. My son had completely taken over her small frame. I kept my laughter inside as I watched her from the doorway of our bedroom while she talked to our unborn son and frantically jumped around.

“Out! Come on! It’s not so bad out here,” she coaxed as she continued to do pregnant lunges across our living room.

“I’ll make a deal with you,” she pleaded as she wiggled and lunged in a pattern. I was about to lose my shit as I watched her tiny frame awkwardly bounce around. “You come out today and I’ll give you a brother,” she said as she took deeper lunges and strained to get back up from them. After another minute of bargaining with our unborn baby, she stopped then suddenly turned my way.

I was busted.

Her beautiful green eyes narrowed on me as I lifted her bag full of demands in front of my face as a peace offering.

“How long have you been there?” she demanded with her hands on her hips.

“Seconds,” I lied as I discarded the bag on the counter, walked over to where she stood, and then placed a soft kiss on her lips. Her face was covered in moisture as she slumped into me with a heavy sigh.

“Did you get the chicken?”

“Chicken?” I asked as I looked down at her with confusion.

“Yes, I was specific. I need a whole chicken,” she mouthed into my t-shirt. She looked up at me with wide eyes, and with a sigh, I turned back in the direction I came then started to walk out of the door with a new list flying at me.

“Make that two!”

Hours later, after she successfully dissected and repaired two whole chickens, we lay in bed, our new routine in full swing. She claimed she didn’t want her surgical skills to get rusty, but I knew it was the restlessness in her that kept her moving. No matter what we tried, she couldn’t get comfortable. After I’d finally talked her out of the kitchen and into a shower, she decided to attempt sleep.

“I’m so hot,” she said in agony as she pushed the covers off with a huff. “Jack?”

“I’m on it, beb,” I said, keeping my groan inside as I walked with my hands in front of me to avoid the wall I’d smacked into every night for the last week as I tried to maneuver in the pitch-black room to find the thermostat. Back in bed, I felt the first slap of a limb hit my chest as she tossed her small baby-filled body around without regard.

An hour after that, she curled up to me with freezing limbs. I jumped as her ice-cold hands wrapped around me. I pulled her to me tight as she looked up to me, eyes wide open.

“Cold now, huh?”

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she pushed her head into my chest and I wrapped my arms around her.

“It’s okay, beb.”

“No, it’s not,” she said hoarsely. “We haven’t slept in weeks. I’m losing it, Jack. I know I’m acting a damned fool.”

“Beb, you’re a million weeks pregnant. I love you. I love the colorful asshole growing inside you.”

“HEEEYYY,” she said in offense as she smacked my chest.

“Just making sure you still love him,” I said with a chuckle.

“I do,” she said. “God, I can’t wait to meet him,” she murmured with a hiccup. “Now would be good.”

I turned on the bedside lamp as I rubbed her back in an attempt to sooth her. “Let’s read some.”

“Now? You work tomorrow.”

“I’m done,” I said, giving her wide eyes. “I’m officially on leave until this kid comes out and then some. We can do lunges together.”

“You ass,” she said, smiling up at me. “You totally saw it all.”

“Mais now, beb, jaw close,” I said as I picked up our book. “One chapter left. Why don’t you read it?”

“Me? You’ve read the whole thing,” she said as she took it from me.

“Well, get on it,” I said, placing my hands behind my head on the pillow as she burrowed into me further. I listened to the voice I loved to hear on the other end of the phone, the one that had turned my world upside down, and the voice that would eventually shape and soothe my son, and smiled as she turned each page. I looked down at her light eyelashes and her slightly widened nose—a side effect of pregnancy—and had to press down the urge to push her beneath me.

God, I loved her. Everything about her: her spunk, her passion, her temper, her walk, the cluster of faint freckles just above the tip of her nose, the way her toes curled when she came, the way she looked at me across the dinner table. I’d started the greatest journey of my life a year ago, and as she read the last page of the book and looked up to me in surprise, I vowed to make sure this one never ended.

“Jack?” she said as she pulled the ring from the adhesive I’d placed at the back of the book then looked at me with tears in her eyes.

I took my cue and kneeled down in front of her as she struggled to get her emotions under control.

“The greatest adventure of my life has been loving you, Rose. This is one trip I don’t ever want to come back from. Will you marry me?”

She leaped into my arms—well, as much as a severely pregnant woman could—with an enthusiastic “Yes!” I spent the next hour thanking her for that answer until we both fell asleep.

Later that night, I woke to a new kind of alarm. This one was eleven pounds two ounces and twenty-inches long.

6 Years Later

“Tucker!” I called out as I looked at my watch. I had surgery in an hour and a full day ahead of me. Tucker came running across the open expanse of the park with his most prized possession in hand: a red Frisbee my mother insisted I’d loved as a child.

“Five more minutes, Mommy!”

“No, buddy, not this morning,” I said as I grabbed his hand. I hated disappointing him, but I knew once his daddy was off he would take him fishing at our pond. It was their Friday routine.

Jack had merged his business in New Orleans with my brother Paul’s. Together, they’d created a monster. The center had been recognized as one of the most effective in the U.S. within three years of opening, and Dallas and I had been running ever since. Jack refused to let our life’s work overrun our time with our son or our marriage, and I’d never been happier.

I looked back at my blond-headed son, who looked everything like his father and nothing like me. I was sure it was karma for making fun of Dallas for the same thing. I pulled into the bustling parking lot of the center as Tucker told me all about the last fish he caught with his daddy. I listened carefully as we passed the house I used to occupy and honked as we saw Grant in the yard playing with Annabelle.

Jack and I had built a new house near our naked meadow. It hadn’t been his decision; it had been mine. Dallas and Dean were thrilled to take up residence. Their commute had been their biggest issue when it came to the center.

I pulled up the drive to our two-story home and unbuckled Tucker just as Jack stepped outside.

“You’re off early.” I smiled at my husband as he greeted us at the door.

“I need my two minutes,” he said as he pulled me into his arms and ravaged my mouth.

“I have surgery,” I said as he let me go with a shrug.

“I’ll take you, then,” he said to Tucker who squealed as Jack lifted him.

“So easily replaced,” I said as I made my way back to my truck.

“Never,” Jack said as he looked at me, his lips to his son’s forehead.

“I love you,” I said as I jumped into my truck.

They both waved as I backed out of the drive. I had a day full of surgeries, but deep down I wanted nothing more than to go back to my house and give Jack that extra minute.

I arrived at the center then made my way inside, noting the bustle of employees. I noticed Dallas and greeted her with a brief hug.

“Surgery?” she asked.

“Four,” I said as she gave me a nod and a pat on the back. “You’ve got this.”

“Love you,” I said as I made my way to scrub in. I looked into the room in front of me and noticed two extra bodies in scrubs. I walked in with my hands up as Jamie approached me with surgical gloves.

“Uh, Jamie,” I said as I looked over at her with a question in my eyes.

“Dr. Whittaker,” I heard from the table. “I didn’t expect you today.”

“Dr. McGuire?” I said in total confusion as Jules looked up at me. She simply shrugged as she glanced at Jamie with a smile.

“What’s going on here?”

“Well,” Dr. McGuire said in his usual no bullshit tone, “I have a tumor to remove and all the staff I need, so from the looks of it, Whittaker, I’d say your presence isn’t needed. You are dismissed.”

“Pardon?” I said as I took another step into the room.

“I have three more surgeries after this, Whittaker, so if you don’t mind... If you have an issue, I suggest you check with your administrator.”

“I am the administrator,” I said, feeling as if I’d just stepped into the Twilight Zone.

“Dismissed, Whittaker. Go live a little.” I looked to McGuire whose wrinkled face suddenly twisted into an expression I’d never seen. The son of a bitch had just smiled at me. Completely baffled, I exited the operating room in search of my sister, who was waiting on the other side of the door with her arms crossed.

“You know he’s capable, right? I mean, he
is
your mentor.”

“What in the hell is going on?” I snapped as she hooked her arm into mine and led me to the entrance of the clinic. When we walked out of the double doors, Dean was waiting at his car with the passenger door open, Tucker, Grant, and Annabelle in tow.

“Dean?” I asked as Dallas shoved me into the front seat of his car and shut the doors.

“Big hug,” Tucker said as I leaned down and he squeezed me hard then kissed my cheek. “Bye, Mommy,” Tucker added as Dallas whisked them inside with a wink in my direction.

My eyes narrowed as I studied Dean, who wore an expression that told me he would be castrated if he spoke a word. I quickly texted my husband.

Rose: I’m being kidnapped!

Jack: Well, I’ll miss you.

Rose: This isn’t funny. What the hell is going on?

I got no response and minutes later Dean pulled up to Dallas Love Field airport where Jack waited with two suitcases in hand. Realization dawned as I looked over at Dean with wide eyes.

“Go on, Rose,” he said with a chuckle as I exited the car and raced toward my husband.

“Jack, what is this?”

“Remember when you told me you would never be able to do this as a doctor? Just up and leave at the drop of a hat? I believe the words were ‘Not in your lifetime.’ ”

“Yeah,” I said with panic in my voice.

“Well, Doctor,” he said as he leaned in and took my lips in a slow kiss. He pulled away as a smile crept over his face. “I just made a liar out of you.”

“Jack, my patients—”

“You can save the world when you get back, Dr. Sawyer.” Jack gave me a wink as he took a step toward the sky captain and lifted our bags on the carousel. I followed behind him, completely stunned as he pulled out our passports and then guided me through the doors. I looked to Jack, who kissed my cheek and pulled me close to him, as close as two people could be.

“Two minutes, beb.”

Moved beyond words, I let him lead as I studied him. Jack loved me beyond my career, beyond the family I had, and the home we made together. Jack loved me, heart and soul, and refused to let me forget it.

I looked down to see a text from each of the two Js. The first was a picture of Jack and Rose from
Titanic
, both at the bow of the ship, hands in the air. It had been the theme of my wedding shower, and they both thought it hilarious. I still hadn’t forgiven them, but I couldn’t help the smile that crept up on my face.

“Ready, babe?” Jack said as he guided us to the gate. I remained speechless.

This is your life, Rose. This is your husband. This is your reality.

As my husband guided me down the jet way, I realized people enter your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

David, the first man I’d given my heart to, had thrown it carelessly away. For that reason, I knew our relationship was meant to be a learning experience, and nothing more. Looking back, I knew I wasn’t truly in love with him. I was in love with the idea, and he was far from deserving of my future. Thankfully, he knew better.

Grant had been in my life for only a season. He’d reawakened my romantic heart and renewed my faith in not only men but in humans in general. He was uniquely beautiful and our season, though short, was perfect. I could never regret my time with him or the heartache loving him had left in his wake. It too had shaped me into the woman I’d become.

I looked at my lifetime as he guided me to my seat, amazed at how much life he’d given back to me. Baffled by the road I’d traveled to get to Jack, I remained thankful I’d kept my romantic heart because I knew without a doubt, his had been waiting for mine.

Jack and I clasped hands as the plane began to speed down the runway. I looked over to him with clarity.

I knew who I was without a shadow of a doubt.

I was a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, an accomplished surgeon, and as I looked down at my passport stamp and then to the lightning strike to my right, my list grew—world traveler.