The Surrogate (Clearwater) (5 page)

Chapter Eight

Epilogue: Two months later

Jessi grabbed the baby monitor
and quietly eased her way out of the room, leaving Kari and Kami to sleep. She
was exhausted, but today James was joining her and Michael for lunch. Not
wanting to miss it, she’d forgo a nap with the girls.

Outside the door she found
James at the stairs. “Tell me I’m not too late to see them.”

“I just put them down, but you
can look in on them if you’re quiet.” She eased the door open and let him step
in.

“Can’t I just hold one of my
nieces?”

“No!” She nearly cried with
the thought of one of them waking so soon. They were good babies but it seemed
like when one woke the other did too. “You can see them later. Now let’s go eat
before they wake up again.”

Downstairs, her husband,
Michael had just stepped out of his study. “Tessa’s daughter Rosalie is having
allergies issues again and has been taken to the hospital. I need to go.”

Jessi had come to think of
Tessa as a close friend over the last few months. Learning different motherhood
tricks from her had been a blessing. “Go. Let Tessa know if she needs anything
to call me.” She hoped her friend wasn’t alone dealing with a sick child.
Months ago she wouldn’t have thought twice about someone dealing with it alone,
but now a mother herself she realized the stress of seeing your child sick. She
hoped Tessa’s husband, Cameron, or Jordan and Chloe were with her.

“I can go,” James offered.

“You can come with me. We
might have to run some more tests. This sounds more like it could be a food
allergies,” Michael told James before he turned his attention back to her.
“Jordan’s with her, but I’ll let her know of your offer. Are you sure you will
be okay alone?”

“I’ll be fine. Cathy’s here if
I need any help, you know how she loves those girls. Go take care of Rosie, she
needs you now.” She took a step towards him and wrapped her arms around his
waist. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He pressed
his lips to hers.

After years of solitude, Jessi
finally had the man she always loved and two beautiful girls to show for it.
There was nothing better than that. Waiting proved she could have her very own
happy every after.

Marissa
Dobson

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area,
Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who
likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different
college degrees, she believes you’re never done learning.

Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her
the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she
has always had her nose in a book. It wasn't until she was a teenager that she
started writing down the stories she came up with.

Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband,
Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing.
He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of
the night.

Her writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a
beagle mix) are always around to listen to her bounce ideas off them. They
might not be able to answer, but they are helpful in their own ways.

She love to hear from readers so send her an email at
[email protected] or visit her online at
http://www.marissadobson.com
.

Other
Books by Marissa Dobson

Tiger Time

The Tiger’s Heart

Tigress for Two

Night with a Tiger

Storm Queen

Snowy Fate

Sarah’s Fate

Mason’s Fate

As Fate Would Have It

Learning to Live

Learning What Love Is

Her Cowboy’s Heart

Half Moon Harbor Resort: Volume One

Passing On

Reaping Good Time

Restoring Love

Winterbloom

Unexpected Forever

Losing To Win

Christmas Countdown

The Surrogate

Clearwater Romance: Volume One

Secret Valentine