A Blast from the Past (A Second Chance Romance) (10 page)

"I
know," Zander replied. "Thank you so much for everything.
Let me know if any other bills come up that I don't know about. I
don't want my mom to get them."

"I
will," the doctor said, as he turned and walked out the door.

I
peeked in to see Zander looking out the window into my backyard. He
watched the kids playing. I walked in quietly behind him, still
shocked at the conversation I had just heard. I wrapped my arms
around him from behind and leaned my head against his back.

"What
else are you hiding, Z?" I whispered. "I have a feeling
that wasn't everything."

He
held my hands in front of his stomach but didn't respond, as he
continued to watch my kids play. I wanted so badly to know what he
was thinking about. He had been involved in his dad's care the entire
time. I couldn't believe he had paid the entire bill. It seemed
strange that everything was covered by insurance. I just assumed they
had amazing insurance like mine. It made me wonder. The kids had been
to the doctor many times, and I had been there a few times myself.
I'd never gotten a bill either. When I was married to Mike, we had
doctor bills. It all clicked into place. I moved to pull my hands
from his, but he held them tight and wouldn't let them go.

"Zander
Nero," I snapped. "You better not."

He
turned around in my arms and wrapped his around me quickly. I felt
his chin on the top of my head.

"Not
a word, Livie," he said quietly.

He
kissed the top of my head and released his hold on me before walking
out of the room. The air felt so cool on my skin, and I missed his
warm touch. I stood alone looking out the window and watched the kids
playing. When I saw them take off running and him right behind them,
my heart melted. It was supposed to be him. He was the one I had
always wanted. If he had chosen me, I wouldn't have had those two
amazing kids he was chasing. My mind was a mess. What was he doing to
me?

Zander

I
had to get out of there before Livie flipped out on me. There was no
way she was going to start asking questions. I have no idea how she
heard what I said, but I knew she figured out that I'd paid her bills
too. She wasn't an easy person to get things passed. I knew she
couldn't afford medical bills on top of raising two kids. My mom had
told me that Mike didn't help with them. There was no way I wanted
her to struggle. I wasn't around. It was the least I could do. My
entire day was spent working. When I went out, I spent money. That
was really the only time. I was so busy, I never had time to spend
it. There was nothing wrong with making the people I care about's
lives a little easier if I could. I wouldn't let her give me shit
about it.

As
soon as I walked outside, I grabbed the ball the kids were throwing.
Little April made a comment about me getting my suit dirty, and I
took off after her. She laughed and yelled as I chased her around the
yard. When I caught her, I could tell she was surprised.

"Not
bad for a stuffy, old guy in a suit," I said.

"I
never said you were old," she said with a laugh, as she took off
again.

By
the time I caught her a second time, it was taking its toll on me. I
fell to the ground on my back. She stood over me and laughed.

"You're
a better workout than the gym," I said between breaths.

"You
really should put some play clothes on," Jack said, as he ran
up. "You're going to mess up your dress clothes. We get in
trouble for playing in our nice clothes."

I
pulled them both down on top of me and they started laughing. Hearing
the two of them had me laughing too.

"You're
not so bad," Jack said. "I think you're kind of fun. Do you
have fun like this where you live?"

"No,"
I said honestly. "I don't have anyone to have fun with. I work
most of the time."

"Do
you get to see blood?" April asked.

They
were both sprawled out on the ground next to me, talking about what I
got to do as a doctor, when Livie walked out to find them.

"Your
job sounds so cool," Jack said.

"It's
pretty awesome," I said.

"You
kids need to leave Zander alone," Livie yelled out, as she got
closer to us.

"Zander
gets to see blood, mom," Jack yelled. "He gets to see what
people look like on the inside too. Doesn't that sound so cool?"

"It
does," Livie said. "I need to get you two in the house for
dessert."

"Zander
got his nice clothes dirty," April said. "We told him not
to do it."

"That's
okay," Livie said. "I'm sure he knows what he's doing."

"You
won't let us dirty our nice clothes," Jack said.

Livie
looked down at me. I could tell she was fighting a laugh. I stood up
and pulled the two kids up from the ground. My suit was dirty for
sure, but I didn't care. The two of them were actually a lot of fun.
They ran ahead toward the house.

"You
didn't have to play with them," Livie said. "Exactly how
much do they know about your job?"

"Just
the cool stuff," I said. "I get to see blood and cut people
open so I can fix them inside."

"I
never really thought about," she said. "I just thought of
you as a doctor. I never thought of you elbow deep in blood, tying
things together."

I
burst out laughing.

"Maybe
that's what I should say. I have to tie you back together."

Livie
burst into laughter as well.

"That
might not be a good idea. I'm sure it's very rewarding knowing you're
helping people."

"It
is," I said. "It's also sad at times when you have to tell
someone that you can't help them. Sometimes it's really hard."

She
looked over at me, and I could tell she wanted to say something else.

"When
were you there?" I asked.

"Where?"
she asked.

"When
did you come to New York, Livie?" I said. "Why didn't you
come and see me?"

"The
week before I accepted Mike's proposal. He told you that. I'm going
to get the kids their plates."

"I'll
help you," I said. "Let me go change first."

I
ran upstairs and changed into my pair of jeans and a t-shirt. When my
hands were clean, I went back down. Livie had just finished helping
the kids wash their hands as well. I helped Jack fix his plate while
she helped April.

"We're
a pretty good team," I said without thinking.

"Fix
yourself a plate," she said. "I'm not doing it for you."

I
gave her a narrowed look and handed her a plate.

"After
you," I growled.

I
grabbed drinks for the kids, and she let me know that they got drinks
after dessert not during.

"You
really are a good mom," I said.

As
soon as we finished eating, I looked around at all of the people
still surrounding my mom and needed to think about things. Livie was
in the kitchen. I took off out the door to clear my mind and figure
some things out.

Olivia

The
kids were in the kitchen talking to Carol and my mom. I looked
everywhere but couldn't find Zander. My mom said she would watch for
the kids for me so I could find him. I knew where he was and headed
for our spot in the woods. He was sitting in one of the chairs with
his eyes closed. Everything was so different. He was different. I
watched him for a moment before walking closer and sitting in the
chair next to him.

"I've
missed being out here. I never thought I would. The air is so fresh.
It's so quiet. I slept out here all night. It was so relaxing. I go
to my gym now to think and get rid of my stress. It just doesn't feel
the same," he said.

"That's
not so bad," I said with a smirk. "I'm sure the ladies
appreciate that."

"You
were there a week before you accepted his proposal. It's the only
time you've left here. Why didn't you come see me? Why didn't you
call and let me know where you were? I would have wanted to see you.
I can't believe I could have seen you. Why were you in New York nine
years ago, Livie?"

I
took a deep breath and looked down at my fingers that were nervously
twisting together.

"I
went for a little trip. I'm sure you were much to busy to see me,"
I said.

"How
long were you there?" he asked.

"One
day," I said softly.

"Why
the hell were you in New York for one day? Who were you with?"
he asked.

"I
was by myself," I replied.

"Okay,"
he said. "You went to a huge city for one day, alone. Why? I
will ask you again, why didn't you tell me? You could've told me
where you were. I would have driven anywhere to see you. I hadn't
seen you in seven years. I would have done anything to see you."

He
turned in his chair. I could feel his stare looking right through me.

"Are
you a detective or a doctor?" I asked.

"Answer
me, Livie," he growled out.

He
had changed since he left. His voice was deep and commanding. When he
spoke to me, I felt like he was filled with emotion and found myself
wanting to answer him honestly. I'd never met anyone like him. Maybe
it was all those years of controlling things in his practice.
Whatever it was, I found myself wanting to please him. He was
incredibly sexy, and his voice sent goosebumps up my arms.

"You
really want to know, Zander?" I snapped at him. "Do you
really want me to tell you why I was there? I'll be honest. I've
never lied to you. You better be ready for what I'm about to say."

"Tell
me now," he demanded.

I
got to my feet and looked down at him with confidence. My blood was
rushing through my body. I felt like I was going to explode. It
wouldn't be long before my emotions hit the surface.

"I
went to see you," I snapped. "I fucking went there for you.
Are you happy now? I knew Mike was going to propose. I needed to see
you. I needed to tell you how I felt about you. I don't know if I
hoped you would wrap me in your arms and tell me you felt the same
way about me or if I was just being crazy. There was a tiny part of
me that thought and hoped you wanted me as much as I wanted you, that
maybe you'd want to figure out a way for us to be together. I was
wrong. It was one of the biggest mistakes I had ever made. My parents
didn't even know I had gone. I bought a plane ticket and left. I
didn't know Mike knew about it. Like I said, it was a mistake."

He
got to his feet and stood tall in front of me.

"You
never came to me," he said. "I never saw you."

"Do
we really have to do this to me right now?" I asked.

"What
do you mean?" he asked.

"Our
eyes connected, Zander," I said. "You looked right at me."

"I
swear I don't know what you're talking about. You were never there. I
saw you all the time. Every damn time I turned around, I thought I
saw you or heard your voice. Each time I'd close my eyes, but when
I'd open them back up, you'd be gone. Tell me when."