Fair Catch (35 page)

Cade giggled as Nick set him on his feet. “Can we go now?”

“I’m ready.” Reaching down, Nick picked up three bags. He winked at Ellie. “Is this it?”

Her lips curved as she slipped her purse over her shoulder. “Yes. Let’s go.”

Once everyone was loaded, Nick pulled out of the driveway and followed Owen and Betsy to the airport. They hadn’t gone very far when Ellie’s cell phone chimed an incoming text message. “Ah, what a sweetie,” Ellie said, looking over at Nick. “Tiffany is already in London and says the church grounds are gorgeous.”

Nick tried not to roll his eyes. Ellie and Tiffany Burke had become close friends, and Ellie had invited her to England, giving the reporter an exclusive on their wedding.

He shot Ellie a skeptical look. “I still think she’s using you to advance her career.”

“Nick,” Ellie chided softly. “She’s been very genuine and quite protective of me.”

That part was true. Tiffany had refused several offers from
Celebrity Weekly
to get any inside information about Ellie, and when it came time for Ellie’s television debut on the Fox news, Tiffany had coached her on what to do and what not to do in front of the camera. The woman even planned on throwing Ellie a wedding shower next month.

He reached across the seat and took Ellie’s hand. “I guess you’re right, but she is not coming to France with us.”

Ellie gave him a secretive smile. “Definitely not.”

The trip was going to be long. Thankfully, Cade had plenty of adults to keep him occupied, and Nick had provided him with plenty of gadgets for inflight entertainment. As they took off, Cade had his face pressed against the window, hoping to see their house. Nick’s ears popped as the cabin pressure changed. Overhead, the captain announced what their cruising altitude would be and gave an estimated time of arrival into London, Heathrow.

Ellie leaned back in her seat and looked up at him, her eyes soft with love. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind?”

He gave her a slow smile. “No way.” He leaned over and kissed her softly.

A camera flashed and Ellie started to move away. Nick placed a hand behind her head and drew her closer, kissing her a little more thoroughly. If someone was going to get a picture of them—it might as well be a good one.

A few of the passengers clapped enthusiastically as Nick and Ellie parted. Betsy was one of them, her smile as wide as the Colorado River they had just flown over.

Owen’s face was tinged red as he gave an exaggerated eye roll. “I can’t wait until you two are married.”

Nick grinned. “Me too.” Then he dipped his head and kissed her again.

Epilogue: Two years later

Holding
back her long hair, Ellie leaned over the sink to rinse the toothpaste out of her mouth. She turned off the water and patted her mouth dry. As she applied fresh lip-gloss, she heard Nick and Cade talking in their bedroom.

“Do I have to wear a tie?” Cade asked.

Nick gave their son a soft chuckle. “Yes.”

“It chokes me,” Cade moaned.

“Tell you what,” Nick said in his typical patient voice. “If you wear the tie until we’re done, I’ll take you to ride the go-karts at Boondocks tomorrow.”

“Yes!” Cade squealed. “You are the best dad.”

Nick was a good dad—even if he used bribery more than she did.

Ellie turned around as Nick appeared in the doorway. “Go-karts?”

Amusement sparked in his blue eyes. “Ties really are a pain. I had to think of something good.”

“Um-hmm.” She eyed him, appreciating how good her husband looked in a tie. “You look handsome.”

The hue of his eyes darkened with love. “You look beautiful.”

Ellie twisted back around and looked in the mirror, rubbing her hands over her enormous tummy. “I’m huge.”

Nick came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands over her swollen abdomen. “You’re gorgeous” He kissed the side of her neck. “How are my girls today?”

“Active.” She leaned back against him. “I can’t believe you can still get your arms around me.”

He stretched his arms, overlapping his hands. “See, there’s still room to grow.”

Ellie groaned. “I don’t remember being this big at seven months with Cade.” She turned to the side. “I guess I can’t ask you if this dress makes me look fat.”

He started to laugh. “You are not fat. You just happen to be carrying two little girls in there.”

When the ultrasound detected twins, she had been thrilled. After they found out they were both girls, she hadn’t stopped shopping. Now as the due date drew closer, she was getting both excited and scared. At least her parents were home from England now, and Nick was an incredible husband and hardly left her alone. In fact, he had gone to every single doctor’s appointment with her, signed them up for a birthing class, and taken both her and Cade to the hospital for a tour so they would all be prepared. Nick also had a stack of books by his side of the bed about pregnancy—and parenting.

Today he was officially becoming a parent: Cade’s legal father. Something she had never thought possible.

Thomas continued to disappoint her, but at least this time his selfishness had worked in her favor. He needed money for attorney fees and could no longer provide child support. His attorney had contacted Nick, asking if he was interested in adopting Cade and accepting financial responsibility for him. Of course Nick agreed. Thomas named his price and after getting his money, signed away his parental rights.

Bitterness for the man crept in, but Ellie refused to embrace it. Forgiving Thomas had become a recurring theme over the past two years. Since he would always be Cade’s biological father, she suspected it was something she would continually have to work at, but the peace and freedom that came from letting go of the anger toward Thomas was well worth the effort. It allowed her to accept the love Nick offered her and, in return, love him completely, without any reservations.

Words from a sermon Pastor Stewart had given not long after she and Nick had married flitted through her mind.
Holding onto resentment toward another binds you to that person by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to break that link and free yourself
.

Filled with contentment and joy, Ellie waddled over to her husband and put her arms around his neck, her belly pressing against his solid body. “I really love you.”

* * *

Nick gazed into his wife’s eyes, marveling at how much he loved her. He never would’ve believed how beautiful a pregnant woman could look. He tried to tell Ellie this every day, even though she didn’t believe him. “I love you too.”

Excited footsteps pounded up the stairs as Cade came running into their room. “Grandma and Grandpa Ferguson are here and said you two need to hurry up.”

Ellie let go of his neck. “We’re coming.” She looked down at her shoes on the floor and sighed. “Daddy just needs to help me get my shoes on.”

Nick smothered a laugh at the expression on Cade’s face. “Why? Is your tummy too fat?” the little boy asked.

Ellie’s shoulders sagged. “Yes.”

“Mommy is not fat.” Nick put his hands on Cade’s shoulders and directed him toward the door. “She’s pregnant. You remember what that means, right?”

“Yep. It means she has two babies in her tummy.” Cade scrunched up his nose. “Can you tell me how they got in there again?”

Nick and Ellie exchanged an amused glance. He just had to remember to keep it simple. The first time Cade had asked him that question, he had started to stammer and offer a little too much information. “Remember, the babies are growing in a special place inside your mom and when they’re big enough, the doctor will help get them out.”

“And then I can hold them, right?”

Nick tousled his hair. “Yep. As long as me or your mom is with you.”

Cade started to leave, and then he turned back around, gazing up at Nick with big blue eyes. “Once the judge says you can be my dad today, does that mean you won’t ever leave?”

Something pinched inside Nick’s chest. He hated that Cade even had to ask that question. Kneeling down, he looked the little boy in his eyes. “I won’t ever leave you, Cade. I love you and Mommy more than anything.”

Cade was quiet for a minute. Nick could see his mind working. Thomas said he loved Cade, but he had left. Nick glanced over to see Ellie holding one hand protectively over her belly, her eyes filled with tears. She gave him an encouraging smile as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Swallowing hard, Nick looked back into Cade’s eyes. “I’ve waited a long time to be a daddy, and I want to be your daddy forever.”

“What about when I get big?” Cade asked.

Even though he’d had an incredible and loving father, Nick remembered thinking something similar when he’d been Cade’s age. “Do you remember what I call Grandpa Frank?”

Cade’s eyes lit up. “Dad.”

“Yep. Grandpa Frank is my dad. He’s been my dad for a long time.” He touched the tip of his finger on Cade’s nose. “I’ll never stop being your dad, even when you get big and have your own kids.”

Relief entered the intelligent blue eyes. “Okay.” He wrapped his arms around Nick’s neck. “I love you, Daddy.”

The first time Cade had called him dad, Nick felt like his heart would burst. Right now, it felt like his heart took up his entire chest. “I love you too, son.”

The doorbell sounded and Cade jumped back. “I’ll bet my cousins are here.”

“Tell them we’re on our way down,” Nick said as Cade sprinted out the door.

When he looked at Ellie, she was no longer crying. “You were wonderful, Nick.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as her pregnant belly would allow. “I want to be a good dad.”

She tilted her face up and smiled. “You already are.”

Nick lowered his mouth and kissed his wife. Two years and almost three kids later, he was still awed by the love he felt for Ellie. He pulled back when he felt the babies kick against his abdomen. He spread his palm over the top of Ellie’s stomach and grinned when he felt another swift kick. “That is so amazing.”

Ellie’s lips curved up, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “So are you.” She laid her hand on top of his. “I really do love you.”

Feeling like the luckiest man in the world, he stroked her cheek. “And I love you.” Then Nick gave his wife another kiss. He thought he heard someone hollering for them to hurry up but decided to ignore it, especially when Ellie sighed and pressed closer.

A few minutes later, he and Ellie both laughed when Cade said, “Yep, Uncle Wes, you were right. They’re kissin’ again.”

I hope you enjoyed reading "Fair Catch." If you liked my book, please take the time to write a review.

About the Author

Cindy Roland Anderson has always had a penchant for chocolate and reading romance novels. Naturally, romance is what she loves to write—usually with chocolate. Cindy has won several awards for her writing, including first place with her debut novel
Fair Catch
. She hones her writing skills by attending workshops and conferences, and is active in a critique group with some awesome ladies. Cindy is a registered nurse and works in the newborn intensive care unit. She loves to bake, not cook (there is a difference!) and enjoys spending time with her family. Cindy and her husband John reside in Farmington, UT. They are parents to five incredible children. Over the past few years their family has expanded by adding a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and two adorable grandchildren. To contact Cindy or to see other projects she is working on go to
www.cindyrolandanderson.com

Discovering Sophie

by

Cindy Roland Anderson

Chapter One

It was love at first sight. Those baby blue eyes captured Sophie Kendrick’s heart the minute she looked into them. “Hi, handsome,” she said running her fingers through soft brown curls. “How are you feeling today?”

The only answer she received was a firm tug on the stethoscope that hung around her neck, bringing her face close to warm skin, scented with one of Sophie’s favorite smells—baby lotion.

She smiled and couldn’t resist pressing a gentle kiss against the baby’s curly hair. “Mmm. I wish I could take you home with me.”

“Yeah, you say that now,” Jenny, the baby’s mother said. “Just wait until he wakes you up every three hours to eat.”

Sophie gently reclaimed her stethoscope, only to have the chubby little fingers grasp onto a chunk of her chin-length dark brown hair. Laughing, Sophie freed her hair and passed the little boy back to the young mother. “He’s beautiful, and perfectly healthy.”

“Thanks, Dr. Kendrick.”