Valentine Babies (Holiday Babies Series) (13 page)

“I love you, Greg,” she whispered. “But you have to
understand. I can’t miss such a unique opportunity. I may use my notes for a
fantastic article. Or maybe I’ll write a book when I’m confined to bed.”

“Go ahead, my love. Dictate. I knew I would never have the
last word with you.”

 After a four-hour flight, they landed in Frankfurt and
boarded a bus with the wounded soldiers transported to Ramstein Base. An
orderly received Roxanne with a wheelchair and pushed her straight to the room
assigned to her. The door closed behind her before she could talk to Greg.

A nurse changed her into a hospital gown, checked her blood
pressure and pulse, and put her to bed. “Ms. Ramsay, my orders are to keep you
on bed rest. You can watch TV, read, or talk on the phone. No other activities.
You’ll have an ultrasound tomorrow. Any questions?” The middle-aged woman was
tall and heavy. She must have been an officer at some time in her life.

“Where is Dr. Hayes? I need to talk to him.” Roxanne decided
not to let the nurse intimidate her.

“I don’t know him. He’s not on our staff. Visiting hours are
from 4 to 6 pm. It’s already 5 pm. Dinner will be served in an hour. So no
visit tonight.”

“But...”

The nurse had already left and an aide brought her a tray of
food. She obediently ate. The food was good and her appetite had increased.

The next day passed without any news from Greg. Was he upset
at her because she had him type in the plane? She ate, watched TV, and slept in
the morning and again in the afternoon. By one o’clock, a custodian took her in
a wheelchair to have an ultrasound, but no one gave her any result.

The nurse hardly talked to her. “You need to rest, Ms.
Ramsay. Yesterday’s trip was hectic for you.”

Good Lord, how would she spend two weeks in this hospital?
She’d die of boredom before the first week. Between 4 and 6 pm she kept staring
at the door, hoping that Greg would visit. He didn’t.

The next morning a new nurse showed up. She had a nice
smile. “Ms. Ramsay, I need to dress you and get you ready to leave,” the nurse
said.

“Really?” Incredulous, Roxanne squinted at the young nurse.
“I’m not on bed-rest anymore?”

“The doctor in service today has discharged you. Your
sonogram is normal, and you’ll be traveling home today.”

Roxanne’s lips spread in a huge grin. “Wonderful.” She could
hug the bearer of such good news.

“I’ll help you to the shower and then dress you.”

“A shower would be heaven. And shampoo too.” Everything
sounded great since she’d be returning home today. “I don’t know if my pants
will fit, but I have a cute red shirt with a high waist in my carry-on. It’s
long enough to cover a half-open zipper.”

“Not to worry. I’ll pin the pants at the waist so it won’t
bother you.”

An hour later, Roxanne sat in a wheelchair, put a last touch
to her make-up, and sprayed some perfume on her wrists, and neck. “I feel alive
again.”

The nurse winked. “It’s Valentine’s Day today. Lucky one.
The gorgeous doctor is waiting for you in the hallway.”

“
The gorgeous doctor
? Oh! You mean Dr. Hayes.”
Roxanne beamed. She’d forgotten all about Valentine’s Day, but Greg hadn’t
abandoned her. Like a knight on his white horse, he’d save her at the right
time. “How do you know him?”

“I met him in our medical director’s office this morning.
They were discussing your case.” The nurse assessed her with an appreciative
look. “And you look very pretty, Ms. Ramsay. Sign these papers. Here and here.”

 The nurse tucked the sheets in a folder. “I’ll help
you in your coat. It’s grey and cold outside, with drizzling rain and maybe a
dusting of snow.”

“No problem. I have a hat, scarf, and gloves in my bag in
case I need them.”

“Let’s go.” The nurse pushed the wheelchair.

Greg interrupted his pacing and sauntered toward her, a
single red rose in his hand. “Happy Valentine’s Day, my love.” He gave her the
rose, bent, and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll take over from here, nurse.”

“Thank you so much, nurse,” Roxanne said. “And a happy Valentine’s
Day to you too.” Roxanne spun her head to the right to glance at Greg who’d
already rolled her into the elevator. “I’m so happy you’re here and even
happier we’re leaving to go home. Yesterday, I thought you forgot me or you’d
had it with me.”

“Oh ye of little faith.” His breath fanned her nape and his
mouth pressed a searing kiss to her throat. “As if I could ever forget you for
a minute. By the way, you smell heavenly, darling.”

His lips tickled her neck and she giggled. Going home with
Greg on Valentine’s Day was the best gift he could give her.

“Yesterday, I was busy running errands. The medical director
called me with the good news that your sonogram was normal, meaning that
nothing has changed since the one before. So we decided you could travel
without problem. Any way I have
Propanolol
pills I can give you in case
you have cramps again.”

“I won’t. Not on Valentine’s Day,” she said with a firm
voice. “I hope my luck is not that bad.” She raised both hands, fingers
crossed, and heard him laughing.

“I booked a limousine to drive us to the airport. I called
Lou and updated him on your progress. He was kind enough to reserve a first
class ticket for me, next to you.”

“I told you he was a nice guy.”

Greg helped her into the limousine. The driver stowed their
luggage in the trunk and revved the engine. “I made sure we have plenty of time
to reach the airport, even with this nasty weather. The driver won’t have to
speed.”

She laughed. “Stop treating me like an invalid.”

“My dear, you gave me the biggest scare of my life with your
early cramps. Do you realize you made me ride an airplane, a helicopter, and a
military jet, all in one day to come to you?” He wrapped an arm around her and
kept her tucked against him.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“Love you too.”

****

Comfortably settled in first class, she held Greg’s hand
during take-off. “Did you swallow your
Xanax?
” For a change, she felt
like the one talking to a patient.

“Sure did. But keep holding my hand.” He winked at her and
brought her fingers to his lips.

Once the seat-belt sign was turned off, Greg excused
himself. Roxanne assumed he went to the restroom.

A stewardess pulled the retractable shelf from the seat arm.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she said as she placed a tray in front of Roxanne.

“Thank you.” Surprised, Roxanne glanced at the crystal vase
with a red rose, beside a small wrapped box and an envelope. Her gaze shifted
to Greg who stood at her side.

“Open the box,” he urged.

Her pulse raced and she bit her lip. With shaking fingers, she
unwrapped and opened the box, and stared at a lovely golden heart locket.

“One day you’ll put our babies’ pictures in the heart.”

“Oh Greg, that is so sweet. It’s gorgeous.” Greg hooked it
around her neck.

“Now, the envelope,” he said.

She extracted a card with two entwined hearts and read, “I
love you, my darling, more than life. Will you marry me?”

“Oh my God.” Tears flooded her eyes and rolled down her
cheeks.

Greg dropped on one knee and held her hand. “I don’t have a
ring yet, but will you marry me, my love?”

“Yes, yes.” She threw her arms around his neck. “It’s my
most beautiful Valentine’s Day ever.”

“She said yes?” The stewardess poked her head from behind
the curtain separating the kitchenette from first-class.

“I sure did.”

“In that case...” The woman disappeared and re-appeared
after a few minutes with a tray and two flutes of champagne she presented to
Roxanne and Greg. “For your toast.”

At that moment a voice chimed on the loud speaker. “Ladies
and gentlemen, today is a very special Valentine’s Day. I’m happy to announce
that Dr. Greg Hayes has just proposed to Ms. Roxanne Ramsay. And she said yes.
To celebrate the couple’s engagement, Dr. Hayes is offering a glass of
champagne to all passengers. Our stewards are currently distributing the
glasses. In a short moment, we will all toast Greg and Roxanne.”

“Oh my God, Greg. You prepared all that?” Roxanne’s heart
beat a happy staccato.

“You wanted a special Valentine’s Day and I wanted a
memorable party for our engagement.”

“Are you all ready to toast?” the stewardess asked over the
loud speaker.

“Yes.” A clamor echoed from behind them.

“Greg and Roxanne, congratulations and best wishes. We all
raise our glasses to your happiness,” the stewardess said in the overhead
speaker.

Applause exploded from the rear of the cabin. Greg clanked
his flute against Roxanne’s. She took a sip and put it back. “I can’t drink
more, but I’m so happy. I love you so much.”

“Let me thank the crew and passengers.” He walked behind the
curtain and talked into the plane microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is
Greg Hayes. Thank you so much for sharing a toast with my fiancée and me. Happy
Valentine’s Day to all of you.”

The word
fiancée
chimed in Roxanne’s ears as the
sweetest word she’d ever heard. It was true. She and Greg were now engaged to
be married.

“Now we need to set a date,” Greg said when he settled in
his seat.

“We can marry as soon as I deliver and lose my baby fat.”

“What? No way, sweetheart. We will marry
before
you
gain any baby fat, if that’s a concern for you.”

“But—”

“No but. We’ll marry in two weeks. I don’t want
my
children to be born before we’re married.”

“Oh.” A warm feeling invaded her.
My children
. How
she loved these two words spoken by Greg. Old Elias had said the same thing
when he’d tried to find her a husband.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to fit into a nice dress and be as
gorgeous as you are today. We’ll have a quick ceremony. I don’t have any
family, and even my mother won’t be able to attend in her condition.”

As much as his decision pleased her, she had reservations
about a hasty wedding. “I’m sorry for your mother, Greg.” Roxanne stroked his
hand to soothe him. “But my mom would kill me if she doesn’t attend my wedding.
She considers me the black sheep of the family. If I ever get married without
inviting her, she’ll never forgive me.”

“Okay, we’ll have a small wedding in Kentucky since we’re
heading there tonight and you’ll be staying at your mother’s. But fifteen days
is the maximum I give you to organize a small or big wedding.”

“Fifteen days is not—”

 “I’m not giving you any choice.” He cupped her cheeks
and leaned closer. “I can’t wait any longer to have you in my arms. After
fifteen days, I’ll come and haul you away to Fort Lauderdale.” He caught her
mouth in a searing kiss that made her head spin out of control.

“Hmm...” she moaned when he finally released her. “You have
unfair methods of persuasion.”

“You mean very efficient and pleasurable methods,” he
murmured against her hair and trailed small kisses along her throat.

“Whatever you want. In fifteen days, I’ll become Mrs. Greg
Hayes. We better stop kissing otherwise the passengers and crew will think
we’re starting our honeymoon.”

“How I wish, my love.”

Epilogue

A year later, on Valentine’s Day, an elegant crowd gathered
at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, Kentucky.

Greg proudly carried an adorable baby in a pink outfit while
Roxanne held another cute bundle in a matching dress.

“My dear Roxanne,” Lou Roland smiled. “Your daughters are
the most adorable babies I’ve seen in a long time. As pretty as their mother.
Same turquoise eyes and delicate features, but so much dark hair.”

Greg grinned, always proud when people admired his wife and
daughters. Today, Roxanne was stunning in a short gold satin dress that molded
to her figure and revealed her long legs.

“This cutie in my arms is Lucia Rose.” Roxanne turned her
six-month old baby toward her boss. “Rose was the name of Greg’s mother. She
passed away shortly after our wedding. And the little darling in Greg’s arms is
Julia Marie.”

“I’m so happy to finally have a chance to meet them.” Lou
leaned to the left. Admiration widened his eyes. “And who is this charming
lady?”

Roxanne spun and smiled at the middle-aged woman climbing
the steps of the cathedral. “Lou, meet my mother, Barbara Ramsay. Mom, this is
my boss, Lou Roland, our big director at KNR.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Ramsay. May I call you Barbara?”

“Of course, Lou,” Barbara offered him her loveliest smile.
“So, you’re the man responsible for my daughter gallivanting around the world
for years without telling her mother where she went.”

“Come on, Mom.”

“She didn’t even tell me she was getting married. Can you
imagine me organizing a wedding reception in two weeks?”

Roxanne shook her head and Greg burst out laughing.
“Barbara, you still managed to prepare a fabulous party for our wedding with
more than a hundred guests in your house.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t attend,” Lou said. “But I made it a
point to come to Steve and Leila’s wedding today, and to your granddaughters’
baptism tomorrow. I have to say the twins’ birth was a huge surprise for me.”

“For me too. Another of my daughter’s secrets. For months,
Roxanne and Greg let us assume that she was expecting a boy. No wonder she was
so adamant about not having any baby shower before she delivered.”

“Here are Brian and his wife. And Joe and his girlfriend.
Lou, Mom, these gentlemen were my bodyguards in Baghdad.”

“And here comes Colonel McGee in full uniform.” Greg took a
step forward to shake hands with the colonel.

“Barbara,” Lou said. “Please meet one of the heroes of the
Iraqi war.”