Christmas Babies Page 12

  “Good thing I have Vicky to babysit. She’s off school for the holiday and has offered to camp in the babies’ room for the whole week. I can hear them now. Must go. Bye.”

  As expected the next few days continued to be hectic at the hospital as if every pregnant woman had decided to deliver a Christmas baby. Between Vicky and Nancy Howard the twins were well taken care of while Madelyn worked in the OR.

  Four days later, Vicky left for the weekend. Nick said he’d like to come for dinner. The freezer still abounded with delicious treats, compliments of Mom.

  After living in scrubs twenty-four seven for several days, Madelyn welcomed the opportunity to dress up and wore the white mini dress she’d never touched again after Nick’s promotion. Once ready she pampered the twins.

  Nick arrived on time. A sight to behold, in navy pants and light blue striped shirt that matched his eyes. He took her breath away. She came straight to him and hooked her hands around his neck.

  “That’s the type of greeting I love. Missed you, darling.” He proved it well-enough with a scorching kiss. She, too, had missed him. At the hospital, they had to behave professionally and concentrate on their patients. Drat, they hadn’t been able to exchange a single kiss or hug, or even hold hands for so many days.

  “How are my little dolls?” he said when he finally released her. He took both babies in his arms and cooed to them. “Daddy missed you too, pumpkins.”

  Madelyn’s heart skipped a beat. Daddy?

  So far, he’d called himself Uncle Nick around the twins. She shook herself out of bemusement and brought the pan of roast and potato on the table.

  “Let’s eat because I have news for you,” Nick announced.

  Immediately anxious, she frowned. “Ah.”

  “Good news,” he specified with a smile and savored his bite. “In spite of being so busy in OR, I haven’t been idle about our business.”

  “And?” Her eyebrows arched, urging him to continue.

  “Your mom is an amazing cook. This meat melts in the mouth.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell her. Now finish eating and tell me more.”

  He chuckled and helped himself to a glass of wine.

  She knew he enjoyed teasing her, and tapped the table with nervous fingers. “Nick, go on.”

  “I called Dad. He knows so many people and he’s quite knowledgeable about the secret ropes in adoption. He gave me a few names. I contacted the regional CPS director and explained my professional concern about the rushed adoption of the Willis twins.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Sorry, I know you hate that name, but that’s how our babies are registered in their system. He got back to me yesterday and said the couple was still arguing about some details. Apparently the woman doesn’t want two babies. One is more than enough, but her husband wants both.”

  “Oh my God, is this the type of mother who’ll take care of Liana and Celia?”

  “I explained that the babies were in a foster home with a reliable pediatrician I can vouch for and that there was no need to rush through the adoption. They can wait until the right couple comes along.”

  “Two hours later he called to tell me the couple has dropped their request for the twins. The husband wants a little boy he can relate to. A toddler. So Celia and Liana are staying here until March as decided previously.”

  “That’s so wonderful, Nick.” She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her and eased her off.

  “I like having you on my lap, but I have to bring the champagne.”

  Keeping the girls was worth celebrating, but Nick winked. “We’re not getting married every day.”

  “Come again?” He wasn’t making sense.

  He brought a bottle of champagne, popped the cork out, and poured the bubbling liquid in two flutes. She watched him silently. What was he getting at?

  “Madelyn, I didn’t do it right last week.”

  “Do right what?”

  He took her hand in his and captured her gaze. “I love you. Will you marry me?” His eyes scorched with their blue fire.

  “Yes, I will marry you, Nick. I love you, too.”

  He shoved his hand in his pocket and brought a little velvet bag. He extracted a magnificent ring and slid it on her finger.

  She stared at the big diamond surrounded with baguettes. “Oh my God, this is gorgeous.”

  “Dad gave it to Mom when they adopted me.”

  “Anne Lee Meyer’s ring. No wonder it’s so big.”

  “It’s my ring to give now. Madelyn, would you marry me anytime?

  “Of course, I would marry you anytime.”

  “Good. Because I contacted the hospital chaplain and told him we wanted a small private wedding as soon as possible. We’re getting married tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow? Are you crazy?”

  “You said you’d marry me anytime?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “No buts. We need to have an official marriage with legal papers as soon as possible so that we can apply for adoption.”

  “Oh. Adoption. Marriage. Oh God.” Her head spun. So much good news at once.

  Nick thought of everything and organized at full speed. Even when they were focused on their patients day and night. All week he hadn’t uttered a word about his previous proposal. For a few crazy moments, she’d wondered if he’d forgotten about it and the pre-Christmas events.

  “Yes. Yes of course. Oh my God, we’re getting married and we’ll adopt our babies. Oh my God, I love you Nick. I love you so much.”

  “To my fiancée and our happy marriage.” He raised his flute. She did the same and clicked it against his. “Easy on the bubbly, love. Only one sip for you.”

  Her pulse raced with excitement. Nick would be hers. Forever.

  And then a thought hit her and her smile fell.

  “We can’t get married tomorrow. Mom would kill me. She’d waited so long to see me married. I can’t deprive her of—”

  “Who said we’ll deprive her of the big church wedding in her Catholic cathedral and the lavish reception. She’ll have all the time in the world to organize it. Wherever she wants. I’ve explained to the chaplain we’ll have another wedding later. Like a renewal of vows.”

  “I’m getting dizzy. Which one will be the real wedding?”

  “Both, my love. Tomorrow’s, on paper. Later, for the world. Call Barbara, and announce our engagements. She’ll be happy to know I’ve followed the list of advices she gave me.”

  “Which advices?”

  “That’s between my mother-in-law and me.”

  “I can’t believe we’re getting married tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow. And the hell with your kisses only.”

  She burst out laughing. Her body tingled with anticipation. Nick pulled her on his lap for a long sweet kiss that turned into an inferno. “Tomorrow is still too far away for me, darling.”

  Epilogue

  Nick pushed the brake of the wheelchair and bent to adjust his father’s bow tie. “It’s straight now.”

  “Good. You look so smart in your tux. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.” How like Frank David to worry about appearances. “A year ago you were swearing you’d never get married. I’m glad you changed your mind. Finally. Lovely girl by the way. ”

  “So much has happened during this past year.”

  To start with a five-minute ceremony with Greg Hayes and Sandra Morelli as witnesses. In less than an hour, the whole staff had learned about their big secret and celebrated in the cafeteria.

  The next day Nick had rushed to the CPS headquarters with his certificate of marriage and filed for adoption. In the box, male or female, he wrote female Willis twins. In the race box, he entered Caucasian Willis twins. In the age bracket, he specified babies Willis twins. The page was filled with Willis twins.

  Madelyn had burst out laughing. “They’ll either think you’re dense, or you’re convinced they are slow-witted.”

  Two months later, Barbara had returned
to spend the harsh winter days in Florida. To her mother’s surprise, Madelyn announced their not-so secret wedding, and Nick delicately explained to Barbara his wife’s medical condition and their reasons for adopting the babies.

  After crying for an entire evening about her daughter’s condition, Barbara lent a helping hand in her own energetic way and befriended Louisa Mantay by regularly inviting her to scrumptious lunches. Soon the CPS asked Madelyn if they could extend her fostering assignment until they decided on adequate parents for the babies.

  “I heard you’re adopting two girls. Strange, after you made it clear you hated anything related to adoption.” Frank examined him under his bushy brows. Confined in a wheelchair, the old man appeared frail, but he hadn’t lost an ounce of shrewdness.

  “It’s not the adoption thing. It was your attitude.”

  “Yet you’ve invited me to your big wedding in Kentucky.”

  “You and mom are my family.” It was time to let go of his grudge. “That’s why I brought Mom. Even though she doesn’t realize what’s going on, I wanted her here. With us.”

  “She’s still incredibly beautiful. I was happy to see her. The inimitable Anne Lee Meyer, the crowd adored for years.” The old man blinked several times. “I was so touched when you asked me to be your best man. After all these years. I wish I knew how to thank you.”

  “Tell me the truth,” Nick blurted. “The truth about my birth.” He knew it was a useless request that Frank had always rejected.

  But the old man cringed. “It’s a sad story. I couldn’t hurt you, my only son, with the ghastly details.”

  “Now, I’m a grown man and a doctor. Tell me while you still can.”

  “On your wedding day? Why would I spoil it when we’re waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle?”

  “Please, Dad.” Nick grabbed his hand and his last chance to learn the truth. “Who was my birth mother?”

  Through the open door of the sacristy, Frank’s gaze flew to the altar of the church. “She was a beautiful Russian immigrant,” he murmured as if talking to himself. “Poor girl. Bad luck. Her pimp killed her.”

  Nick’s breath caught in his throat. “Why?”

  “She ran away when she got pregnant. But he found her. And killed her.”

  “Was he the father?”

  “No.” His crisp tone resonated in the silent room.

  “How would you know?”

  “I know... because I am your father.” A sob escaped from the old man.

  “You?” Frank was his real father? Nick rubbed his shoulder. “Why deprive me of the truth all these years?”

  “Things weren’t rosy in my marriage. Anne Lee was a star traveling a lot. I was struggling and lonely when I met Natalia. She was a beauty. You have her looks. I gave her money so she wouldn’t go with other men. When she got pregnant, I helped her escape and supported her. But I needed Anne Lee and didn’t have the guts to leave her. Unfortunately the scum found Natalia and shot her. I came as soon as she called me. Too late for her. I took her to the hospital. She died during delivery. A sad story I wanted to spare you.” He wiped his eyes.

  “Then what happened?”

  “I went back to Anne Lee. She couldn’t have children because of a hysterectomy. So far I have been opposed to adoption. She was delighted when I told her I found a beautiful baby boy to adopt. At the hospital, my name was already on your birth certificate. Natalia had no papers on her. I told them her name was Anne Lee Davidson. I couldn’t tell the truth to Anne Lee, and risk my marriage and her rejecting you, but the lie was a torture for me.” The old man lowered his head between his hands. “I’m sorry I spoiled your wedding day.” His voice was a tired murmur.

  “You didn’t, Dad. You gave me the best wedding gift. The truth.” He hugged his father as he’d never hugged him before, wishing he could erase the years of estrangement.

  “Eventually you would have learned the truth. It’s in a letter in my will. I called you Nicholas Michael as Natalia wanted. Nick, you’re going to adopt these girls. Will you tell them about their birth parents? About the sad reasons that led to their adoption?”

  Nick stared straight ahead, imagining the girls as young women. Eventually they’d learn the world was a mix of good and bad they’d have to deal with. But he didn’t want them to suffer from uncertainty and resent him as he did his father.

  “I will prepare them slowly until they learn the whole truth. No lies.” He patted a big envelope and handed it to Frank. “Dad, keep this hidden for me. It’s my wedding gift to Madelyn. The adoption certificates. They signed them last week.”

  The Mendelssohn nuptial march chimed in the cathedral. “Time to meet my bride.” He pushed his dad’s wheelchair in front of the altar and waited Madelyn to appear at the other end of the long aisle.

  Instead, of the white vision h’d anticipated, a red chariot carrying two adorable girls dressed in cherry velvet rolled along the carpet, pulled by two boys. Delighted by the ride and encouraged by the congregation’s applause, Celia and Liana giggled and threw rose petals on the floor.

  When the chariot stopped in front of the altar, the toddlers tumbled out. Screaming with laughter, they tottered toward Nick.

  “Come back here,” the big boys called. Apparently, the rehearsed scenario didn’t go according to the script.

  “Dadda,” the little girls yelled.

  Nick’s heart nearly burst with love. “It’s okay.” He bent and scooped them in his arms. “We’ll wait for Mommy together.”

  The bridal cortege approached, with four lovely ladies all in burgundy velvet dresses—Madelyn’s sisters, each holding a bouquet of poinsettias.

  “Mama,” the girls screamed.

  Alone, lovely, and regal with a big bouquet of red roses in her hands, the bride slid along the carpet and walked toward him. A vision in white lace.

  “Mama,” the girls repeated as Madelyn reached the altar.

  “The three of you,” Madelyn whispered, her eyes widening with surprise.

  “The three of us want to tell you how beautiful you are. Right, girls?”

  “Dadda. Mama,” their daughters chorused.

  “Off you go now.” Nick handed the little girls to their aunts and took his place next to his bride.

  “Ready?” the priest asked.

  They both nodded. “I’ve been ready for a year,” Madelyn whispered.

  “And I ready for you more than five years ago, my love.”

  The priest smiled and started the wedding ceremony. With his bride’s hand tucked in his own, his daughters chirping in the background, and his father sitting in his wheelchair next to him, Nick knew that Christmas couldn’t get better. His family was his to keep.

  “Would you take this woman...” the priest recited.

  “I do.” Nick’s voice resonated in the cathedral. “And I’ll keep you all,” he murmured for Madelyn’s ears alone.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading Christmas Babies

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