Christmas Babies (16 page)

“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

If you enjoyed this romance, I
would appreciate it if you'd help other readers enjoy it too.

Recommend the book
. Please
help other readers find this book by recommending it to friends, readers'
groups, and discussion boards.

Review the book
. Please
tell other readers why you liked this book by reviewing it on Amazon, Goodreads
or your blog.

If you write a review for
Her
Greek Romance
on the Amazon book page,
http://tinyurl.com/7xwp8eo,
please
notify me at [email protected] and I will send you a copy of one
of my other contemporary romances as a gift.

Thank you!

*
* * *

If you enjoyed
Christmas
Babies
, you might also enjoy these other books by Mona Risk

Babies
in the Bargain

Babies in the Bargain, voted BEST
ROMANCE NOVEL at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2009.

Babies in the Bargain won 2010
BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE NOVEL at Readers Favorite.

Praise for
Babies in the
Bargain
...

“Babies
in the Bargain is one novel that pulls you into the story and holds you captive
to the last page.”~ Romance Junkies

“Babies in the Bargain was just
amazing! It started out very dramatic and got my attention from the first
paragraph.”~
The Long And The Short Reviews

“The
story is one that will leave the reader believing in the power of true love.”~
Sally Pink Reviews.

With only one year left to
complete her medical training, Dr. Holly Collier vows not to let anyone mess up
her schedule. Especially not Dr. Marc Suarez. The heartthrob of the hospital
who used to collect sports' trophies and nurses' kisses broke her heart seven
years ago.

When a tragic accident
transforms the carefree playboy into a dedicated, but novice father to his
nephew, Holly gives in to her maternal instincts and turns her structured life
upside down for the orphaned preemie. But can she learn to trust Marc again and
believe in true love?

Read a sample or buy
Babies in
the Bargain
on Amazon.com:
http://tinyurl.com/6mcd6e3

*
* * *

No
More Lies

2011 EPPIE Award Finalist.

2010 Best Contemporary Romance ~
Readers Favorite

Praise for
No More Lies
...

“Such a charming story. Keeping
the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot.” ~Got Romance!

“Full of emotion, suspense,
intrigue, good intentions and determination.” ~The Long And The Short Reviews

“A wonderfully written book about
true love and the rarity of second chances.” ~Happily Ever After

A lie that brings a smile...
or the truth that draws tears?

Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet
life. No one questions why she doesn't socialize or where she spends every
weekend. When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with
open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble.

Good God
, he can't be
Dr. Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago? Should she return his
scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many
secrets?

Secret daughter, secret friend,
secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her
back, but he wants the truth, too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she
can grab her second chance.

Read a sample or buy
No More
Lies
on Amazon.com  http://tinyurl.com/79r88wp

* * * *

Right
Name, Wrong Man

Praise for
Right Name, Wrong
Man
...