“Send him right around, Millicent,” she told the woman as she swung her legs into the clear blue water. It was a beautiful August afternoon with the scent of flowers permeating the air. The gardeners were busy trimming the rose gardens and the scent of freshly mowed lawn mingled with the rest of the pleasant aromas.
“Mrs. Hoffman,” the young man greeted her quietly as he came forward.
“Please, call me Donna.” She reached out a hand for him to help her up and went to get a towel to dry herself off. “Would you like some iced tea or lemonade?”
“Lemonade would be fine.”
“Could you—”
The housekeeper nodded and hurried away.
“Have a seat. I'm supposed to be relaxing but I can't wait for it to be over. Inactivity doesn't sit well with me.” She placed her hand over her very pregnant belly and lowered herself carefully into the chair.
“I cannot tell you how sorry I am, and I have no idea why you're doing this for me,” the young man burst out.
“May I call you Gary?” she asked him softly.
“Of course.”
“Here's the thing Gary, I'm a strong believer in second chances, and I think we all deserve one.”
“I could have killed you,” he muttered.
“And here I am, still in one piece. You went through a terrible period in your life and you turned to something to help you get through it. I lost my Mom and it was just us two and I had to force myself to get up and continue with my life.”
“You paid for me to go to rehab and get clean.”
“Are you?”
He waited until the maid had placed the tray with the jug of lemonade and sandwiches onto the table before he responded.
“I am,” he said fervently. “There was a time there when I almost gave up but when I remembered that you saw something in me that I never saw in myself, I pushed on because I wanted to prove to myself and to you that I wasn't a hopeless case.”
“And you aren't. Would you? I have a difficult time getting upright when I'm like this.”
“Of course,” he sprang to his feet and poured a glass and handed it to her before pouring one for himself.
“I don’t know how to repay you,” he told her as he held the glass between his hands.
“You could repay me by going back to college. What were you studying?”
“I wanted to be a doctor but that isn't going to happen again.”
“Why not?”
“No college will accept me with my record.”
“I'm sure they believe in second chances as well.”
“Even if they do, I don’t have to money.”
“I have lots of money.”
His eyes flew to hers. “I couldn't ask that of you.”
“I'm offering.”
“I'm sorry, and I'm sure your husband would have something to say about that as well. I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting further help from you.”
“Why on earth not?” she demanded.
“You've already done enough.”
“I'll tell you when it's enough.” She struggled to raise herself up and looked into his dark grey eyes. “Consider it a loan, if you will, without the enormous amount of interest levied on the money. I have money and you need it. That's what we're supposed to do for one another, and I'm sure you would want to make something of your life.” She reached over and touched his hand briefly. “Please tell me you'll think about it. If you know me well enough, you'll know that when I'm on a crusade, I never stop until I get what I want.”
He stared at her and shook his head. “You are unlike anyone I've ever met before.”
Chapter 15
“She's what?!” Thomas was just on his way back from the cafeteria where he'd gone to get a cup of coffee. The delivery date for their son—Alexander Thomas Hoffman—his wife had drawn the line at another Thomas Hoffman and had reluctantly agreed to using the name in the middle—had been right on par and she'd been admitted to the hospital last night because she was having contractions. Now it was the early morning and she was still not fully dilated yet. He'd instructed the doctors to administer the epidural and had left to go get himself a cup of coffee to keep awake. He'd slept fitfully throughout the night, waking up every time he heard her moan from the pain.
“She says she intends to have her baby naturally and was talking about the adverse effects of the epidural even though we assure her that it would be at a minimum. I don’t know if you can talk to her.”
“I'll do my best,” he said grimly. “My wife doesn't do very well with advice and more or less does her own thing.” He handed the coffee to the doctor as he strode into the room.
“Hi darling,” she said with a bright smile. “Good news, I'm fully dilated so our son should be coming—” She broke off as a fresh wave of pain hit her. He hurried over and took her hand in his, wincing slightly as she dug her fingers into his flesh. “I just need to breathe,” she said as she took several deep breaths.
“You're refusing the epidural?”
“I did some research and discovered that it might have long term effects. I want to do this natural. I promise you that I can take it.”
“I can't,” he told her forcefully. “You remember how you promised that you would keep the fear at a minimum for me? How I did everything you asked me to do, including sending that drug addict who almost killed you to medical school? How I had to use all my influence to get him back in?”
“Former drug addict and I had no idea you were keeping score.” She pressed down on his hand again as the pain came.
“Gillian, my wife is ready for the epidural,” he said firmly.
“I did not say that,” she protested weakly.
“You can be contrary after you've had our son. Right now, it isn't cute.”
“Okay fine,” she grumbled. “But if I'm paralyzed from the waist down, I will know who to blame.”
“I can live with that.” He bent to kiss her forehead and brushed back her hair. “What I cannot live with is seeing you in pain.”
*****
“He's so beautiful,” she whispered as she stared down at the baby cradled in her arms. “Look at his eyes!” she whispered. “Are they hazel?”
“They might change,” Thomas told her as he pulled her into his arms, a smile wreathing his face as he stared down at the baby. “I think he'll have your eyes and I don’t mind in the least.” He kissed the top of her head. “Mother and Talia are waiting outside to see him.”
“Tell them to come on in.” She stifled a yawn. “I think I'm falling asleep as we speak.”
“You need some rest and so do I.” He took the baby from her and watched as the long lashes drifted almost shut. “I think he needs his rest as well.” Leaning over, he kissed her forehead. “I'll be back.”
*****
“He's so beautiful.” Rosalee had tears in her eyes as she stared at her grandson. “I wish your dad could have been here to see him.” She rocked the baby gently in her arms and stared at the beautiful complexion. “Alexander—I think I'll call him Alex and I'm happy he isn't another Thomas.”