The Millionaire’s Ultimate Catch (16 page)

“Maybe while you meet with your birth mother, I could talk to some of the children?” Naomi turned to Jean.

“How thoughtful of you,” Jean replied.

“She’s a basketball star. She’s got stories that can inspire to reach for the stars.”

“That’s very impressive.”

“Well, I’m an ex-basketball star. I think this trip has helped to solidify what I want to do with my life
going forward. I know in my heart that my professional basketball career will be in my past.”

Zack admired her fortitude. How had this trip helped him? Right now, he treaded in the deep end, hoping that he could make it to the edge and hang on for dear life.

Z
ack sat in the community center that had been predetermined to be the neutral zone. Jean hovered nearby but astutely kept his distance. Naomi had surrounded herself with several older children. Now, after mentally preparing and emotionally gearing up for one o’clock in the afternoon on a Thursday in late October, he sat alone as his heartbeat thudded against his rib cage.

Maybe he should have brought a book. He’d paced and even dredged up a few tap-dance moves from classes that he’d attended in Washington.

The clock overhead clicked past the one o’clock hour. He saw Jean look at his watch. The old man’s concern had taken the starch out of his frame. Zack knew better than to dress up in uncomfortable clothing for the occasion. He wanted to be at ease for this waiting game.

After the second hour passed with no sign, Jean
approached him. “I think…we can try again tomorrow.”

Zack nodded. His throat choked.

When he returned to the orphanage, he could barely look at Naomi. She stayed with the children a little longer. Grateful for the space, he stayed on safe subjects about Blessed Charity with Jean.

“I’ll take you back to the hotel whenever you’re ready.”

“Thanks, Jean,” Naomi said. She’d rejoined him quietly.

“I’ll send another note tonight.”

“Don’t bother.” Zack kept his gaze straight ahead.

“Maybe she didn’t get the other notes. She could be ill.”

“You know who it is, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you would have heard if she was ill or not?”

“Probably.”

“I will go back once more and then I’ll return home.”

Naomi leaned her head on his shoulder. Even she had run out of advice for him.

Naomi opened her eyes, frowning from the sunlight pouring into the room. “Are you getting out of bed?”

“Soon.”

Naomi heard the bad temper in the single word. She prayed that today would have better results. Her heart broke for Zack’s disappointment. She got up to take her shower.

“You packed.” They hadn’t unpacked, but she noted that his suitcase contained everything, including toiletries.

“We’re leaving this afternoon.”

“Oh.” So this was it. One final showdown before he left Haiti. The chances of him returning were slim.

After she showered and dressed, he did the same. Another bowl of fruit salad served as breakfast before they headed to the orphanage. This time there were no planned activities to hold their attention until the one o’clock hour.

Naomi spent the time talking to the other children she hadn’t met yesterday. She kept an eye on the time and, when he came into view, on Zack.

“It’s time,” Jean prompted.

“I want you with me this time,” Zack said to Naomi.

“Sure. I’m glad that you’re stepping up to meet your birth mother. I think it’s time that I be the bigger person to reach out to mine.”

“I’m here when you’re ready to do so.”

Together they waited in the community center. Naomi couldn’t stop touching Zack to reassure him. She tried to stay neutral, but seeing him in agony revved up her desire to protect him. Now that it was 2:30, she wanted the name and address of his birth mother. She was willing to shake it out of Jean if necessary.

“Let’s get out of here,” Zack declared with a tone that defied refusal.

Jean nodded.

As they headed toward the door, it opened. Zack halted on the spot. He looked expectantly at the door. A young man stepped into the room. He looked at each one of them before he seemingly gathered his nerve.

“Is Zack Keathley here?”

“That’s me.”

Naomi felt weak in the knees, much less how Zack must feel.

“I’m Andre Laudat.” The young man cleared his throat. “I believe that we share the same mother.”

“Is she here?”

Andre nodded. He walked to the door and pushed it open. Then he nodded before pushing it wider.

A woman walked in and stood at the boy’s side. She held his arm for support. Her eyes lit on Zack’s with fierce curiosity. Her gaze traveled down his body, sometimes restarting from a certain point to travel down.

Naomi couldn’t complain. She found herself doing the same to the slender and fashionable woman. The long silence as each side contemplated the other got to her. She strode to the middle and held out her hand. “I’m Zack’s friend, Naomi. Pleased to meet you.”

The woman had to break her grasp of her son to shake hands. “I’m Lena Laudat.” Her voice had a lilting quality, very cultured. Naomi noticed that her hands were delicately soft and manicured. She’d expected a poor girl who had fallen on bad times. The woman who stood in front of her was well-dressed, definitely in a high-end label. Her features were contoured, delicate. Zack bore some resemblance around the nose and mouth, but the strong shape of his face and those dark intense eyes weren’t reflected in this woman.

“This is Zack.” Naomi felt like the magician or his assistant unveiling sudden appearance of a work of art.

“Sounds very American.”

“Actually, it’s Azacchus.”

“We named him that. His adopted parents kept the
name, which is how the nicknamed developed.” Jean, the vigilant host, explained. “Let’s all have a seat.”

Naomi hadn’t decided what to make of Lena. There was nothing not to like. But the words
warm
and
fuzzy
didn’t come to mind. She tried not to make comparisons between this woman and Frannie.

“I’d like to speak to Zack alone.”

“Yes, of course.” Jean hopped up and left the room, followed by the other son.

Naomi hurried after them.

“Naomi will not be leaving.”

Naomi motioned to Zack behind Lena’s back that he should talk to her.

“No. I don’t have any secrets from you.”

She tiptoed back to his side. She was wary but pleased to be privy to a very private moment.

“Then she must be very special to you.”

“Yes. One day, she will be my wife.”

“Ahh…love.”

While Lena went on a tangent about falling in love, Naomi tried to stay focused. Did she just get a proposal? She looked at Zack.

“Before I reconnect the dots in my life, I need to know, will you marry me?”

Naomi grinned. “Yes, I will.” She turned to Lena, who had tears in her eyes. She didn’t want to wait for permission. Instead she hugged the woman tightly.

Her hug wasn’t immediately returned, but she felt the arms tentatively go around her. Then the woman sobbed into her neck. She held her there until she quieted.

Zack held a tissue between them. Naomi offered it to his birth mother.

“He means the world to me,” Naomi told the older woman as she returned to Zack. He took her hand.

“I often wondered about him. I knew he’d been adopted and I resigned myself into letting fate have control. I was twenty and unmarried when I was pregnant. Many women helped raise him until I had to leave to find work. It was only to be temporary. Unfortunately, year after year passed. I ended up working for a young doctor practicing here as part of his scholarship. We fell in love. He’s the father of my five other children—your half-brothers and half-sisters.”

“Did you tell them about me?” Zack asked softly, as if afraid of the answer.

“My husband knew and my eldest just learned the truth when the first letter came to me. I had to tell him because I almost passed out when I read the news.”

“Did you ever want to find me?”

“Of course. Nothing can erase you from my heart,” she said with a sob in her voice. “I knew once I turned you over to the orphanage that I couldn’t come back and pop into your life. I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s life. So I stayed away. I closed the door on the memories.”

Naomi removed herself from Zack’s hand. She was there for him. She provided strength when he needed it. But now it was time for him to go the rest of the way on his own.

“I’ll join Jean and Andre. Both of you need to talk and heal.” She hugged Lena and then hugged Zack. “I’ll always have your back,” she whispered in his ear. “We’re our own team now, a force to be reckoned with.”

“And I will never let you go. You are my world.”

They sealed their pact with a gentle kiss.

ISBN: 978-1-4089-2835-6

THE MILLIONAIRE’S ULTIMATE CATCH

Copyright © 2010 by Michelle Monkou

First Published in Great Britain in 2008
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited
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