Defining Moments (A Moments In Time Love Story 2) (2 page)

Melisa placed the round cake on the turntable, inhaling its lemony aroma, and reached for the glass bowl filled with canary-yellow icing, which she’d thinned with corn syrup earlier for easier spreading. With a spatula, she scooped some out and plopped it on top, then began spreading it across the top and the sides, taking care to keep crumbs from mixing in with the icing. Humming “Happy Birthday,” she rotated the cake, smoothing the top and sides with a twinge in her heart. If only Ben could celebrate this special day with them. She shook her head and focused on what was good. At least he had contacted her again.

Melisa and Heat had both expected it to be over between them and Ben, at least for a while. The way he’d left them in the café one month ago had felt like a final goodbye to her. But to their shock, three weeks after they arrived back in Serendipity, he called Melisa to apologize for his behavior.

“I guess I needed time to get used to everything,” he’d said. He’d gone on to explain that although he was mad at her for giving him up, he couldn’t imagine never having known his adoptive parents, Ryan and Silvia Elson. His voice melted with affection as he talked about what great parents they had been to him, their only child.

The hammer of jealousy broke off a piece of Melisa’s heart as if it were porcelain. But at the same time, knowing how much he adored them seemed to offer her a key to
his
heart. Maybe the only way back into her son’s life would be through the parents he had known. So she showed interest and sympathy and asked more questions about them.

Ryan had been a cardiac surgeon and Silvia a criminal lawyer. They’d had a comfortable life, and according to Ben, they had provided him with everything he’d needed and wanted.

Wanting to make up for the past, Melisa asked if there was any way they could help him financially. She and Heat didn’t have much themselves, but this time around, they would do anything for their son.

“No, I’m good. My parents left me some money. I don’t want you thinking I contacted you for money. I was curious about you, that’s all.”

“It really won’t be a problem. If you need anything at all, just call. Please.”

“Thank you.”

Melisa asked him a few more questions about his life, and soon after they hung up. She closed her eyes for a long time, unable to believe what had just happened. A smile snuck up on her and somewhere inside her, a switch turned on.

Even though he had reached out to them, Melisa promised herself they would never pressure him, never push. They would take baby steps toward getting to know him. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing Ben for a second time. For now, at least, the best way to keep him close was to keep him at a distance. She could live with just having his number in her phone, while hoping for another call out of the blue. Plus, they had his email address, so they could keep in touch with him that way for a while and let him do the calling when he was ready.

It didn’t matter now that he couldn’t physically be here to celebrate her thirty
-
seventh birthday with her. He would always be in her heart.

Today was more than a birthday celebration, though. They were combining it with her baby shower. But to Melisa it meant even more than that. She would secretly be celebrating Ben’s return to her life, however little she actually had of him. Initially, her birthday party was meant to be a surprise, but a week ago she’d listened in on a call between Heat and Carlene as they were planning the occasion. Melisa was a sucker for surprises, but once she found out it was happening, she wanted to be involved, wanted to help. This would be one of the happiest days of her life and she wanted to enjoy not only opening gifts, but also being surrounded by her family and friends as they made preparations to celebrate together.

“You look stunning.” Carlene walked into the kitchen and hugged Melisa. “Happy birthday.”

Carlene looked classy and gorgeous in a powder-blue, floral summer dress that matched her eyes, and her long blond hair was pulled back in a glossy ponytail at the nape of her neck. She wore minimal makeup, just enough to enhance her girl-next-door kind of beauty. No wonder Stalford Jewelers, one of the most exclusive jewelers in the world, had chosen her to be their model. She was the kind of woman whose beauty shone from the inside.

From the sparkle in her eye, one might find it hard to believe Carlene had once walked through fire. Before she found and fell in love with her husband, Nick Johnson, her first love had died tragically in her arms. It had taken years for the scars of his death to heal. Now, she looked happy and carefree. Life was good to her, and Melisa couldn’t be happier for her friend. Carlene and Melisa had entered each other’s lives during a time when both of them were broken, but their friendship was the glue that had held them together.

“Stop teasing,” Melisa scoffed. She missed her pre-pregnancy figure. Unlike Carlene, she had never been a tall, slim, long-legged woman, but she did once have curves to die for. Right now, she felt like a thirty-seven-year-old dumpling. But despite her complaints, she was enjoying her pregnancy—six months and feeling strong. Nothing wonderful came for free. The unflattering changes to her body were a small price to pay for creating a miracle. For the occasion, she had made an effort to look nice. She’d put on some makeup and instead of a ponytail, she let her red hair fall in ringlets around her shoulders, complimenting the chocolate-brown chiffon cocktail dress she’d bought last week at Ronny’s. She didn’t stray from her beloved ballerinas, however. She felt more beautiful when she was comfortable.

“No, I mean it.” Carlene sat at the kitchen table.

“Where are Daria and Nick?”

“Nick is helping the others hang up the decorations faster than Daria can get to them.” As she thought of her husband and daughter, Carlene’s eyes brightened, like the sun appearing from behind rainclouds. She didn’t care that Nick was a millionaire. She knew in her heart that even if the jewelry, the expensive clothes, the cars, and the mansions were taken away, as long as she had him, she would feel like the richest woman on earth.

Melisa used a dishcloth to wipe icing off her finger, wishing she could lick it off. Since she had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, she was watching every piece of food she ate. She would take no risks when it came to the baby they had worked so hard for. Luckily, she was an expert baker who didn’t have to taste a cake to know it was the right kind of sweet. Sometimes she asked someone else to have a taste, but not always.

“I don’t get why Heat wanted decorations,” Melisa said with a small sigh.

“He wants your birthday and baby shower to be beautiful.”

Melisa smiled as she wiped down the kitchen counter until not a crumb was left in sight. “I’m joking. I kind of like it. I never got to celebrate my birthday as a child, since it was the day that reminded my mother of my father’s death. After he died, she spent all my birthdays drunk, and instead of partying with my friends, I cleaned up her vomit.” She’d forgiven her mother eventually, especially after she herself had experienced how easy it was to believe in the escape alcohol promised. After her ex-husband, Scott, had died, she had lived each moment for the next drop of oblivion.

Carlene stood up and laid a hand on Melisa’s shoulder. “I know. I’m glad your life is good now.”

“Me too. I can’t believe I married another fireman.” While married to Scott, Melisa had always lived in fear of something happening to him during a fire. Eventually, her fears materialized, and he died on the job. Now that she was married to Heat, she tried on a daily basis to push negative thoughts out of her mind, in case they came true. Life was too short to live in fear. “I never thought we’d leave Oasis.”

Carlene nodded. “The world outside looked so frightening through its windows.”

Oasis was the homeless shelter where they’d met after both of their lives had crumbled. Both had lost the men they thought were the loves of their lives. Melisa was an alcoholic and a gambling addict, and Carlene was contemplating suicide. With the help of Oasis, they both began to recover. Even after they grew strong enough to face the world, they remained at the shelter, living and working as members of the staff, helping others like themselves overcome their demons.

Until fate yanked them back into the worlds they’d left behind.

“Okay, I’ll go and keep Daria from ripping open your presents. Take it easy in here. No cleaning like a madwoman. You need your strength to have fun.”

Melisa laughed. She was a neat freak and she saw nothing wrong with it; it was therapeutic and had gotten her through some terrible times. Cleaning helped clear her mind. But she had dialed things down a notch since she found out she was pregnant. She was careful never to overwork herself. “I need to ice the cupcakes and then I’ll have a rest, I promise.”

***

The party was a small gathering, but Melisa wanted only her closest friends and family there. As they urged her to blow out the candles, her face glowed with an immeasurable happiness that permeated right through her. She was at peace, and barely able to contain the joy that spilled out of her. Funny how being both sad and happy had the power to take a person’s breath away.

She closed her eyes to make a wish, and for the first time in a long time she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more than this—what she already had. So she wished that all the good would remain, that the blessings were here to stay. She blew out the white candles on the yellow birthday cake. Heat had tried to talk her out of baking her own cake, but after much persuasion from Melisa, he had caved. She was, after all, one of the best bakers in Serendipity. Mel’s Delights, her bakery, was the go-to place for anyone in need of delicious and elaborate cakes and other sweet treats. Her dream for the near future was to expand to other towns in Door County and eventually the rest of Wisconsin.

Clapping rang out and Melisa gazed at everyone in turn. Carlene and Nick, her closest friends; Lucy, Heat’s sister; the five Deare sisters, friends from school; her mother, who was back in her life; and her husband, who completed her world. She placed a hand on her stomach. The baby kicked in response.

Everyone asked Melisa to go ahead and open the presents, but she always preferred to do that in an unrushed atmosphere, where she could appreciate each individual present in peace. This time was hers to spend with the people she loved and cared about.

Melisa’s mother helped her carry the presents to the master bedroom, for her to open later. Turning back from placing a box on the bed, Melisa watched her bring in an enormous bouquet of yellow roses. Her heart began pounding, but she didn’t say a word until her mom had placed it on the dresser and left the room. Melisa immediately picked up the bouquet and studied it. They were the exact flowers Scott used to buy her when he was alive. She used to receive a bouquet just like this at every birthday and wedding anniversary. He matched the number of the roses with the age she had reached or the number of years they had been married.

Melisa took a deep breath and held it as she counted them. Thirty-seven. Her heart raced as she lowered the white ceramic vase onto the table again and shook her head. Who could have sent them to her? She read the card. It said simply: Happy Birthday, Melisa. It couldn’t be Heat, because he had already given her his present first thing in the morning: a diamond necklace and a bouquet of calla lilies.

A knock on the door startled Melisa and she turned away from the flowers. She gripped the edge of the dresser tightly with one hand.

Carlene stood in the doorway holding a glass of champagne. “Are you okay?” She tilted her head to the side. “You look worried about something.”

Her mouth dry, Melisa wobbled to the door and ushered Carlene inside. She closed the door again and led her to the dresser. “I received these flowers and I have no idea from whom. Scott used to send me yellow roses on my birthday and our anniversary. It doesn’t make sense.”

Carlene felt one of the lush roses with the tip of her finger. “Couldn’t anyone have sent them? They do fit with the baby shower theme.”

“That’s what I thought at first, but there are thirty-seven. Scott always gave me a bouquet of yellow roses that corresponded to the number of years I had turned.”

Carlene shrugged. “It could just be a coincidence.”

“I guess.” Melisa felt foolish for even thinking the roses could be from Scott. “You’re right. Come on, let’s get back to the party.”

Melisa managed to shake off any thoughts of Scott and enjoyed her party. She played dress-up with Daria, participated in games of Monopoly and charades, and laughed at silly jokes until her stomach hurt.

At the end of the evening, she gave the roses to Josie Deare. They would brighten up the new offices of Silken Dreams, the wedding planning business she and her sisters had recently started up. No matter who had given her the flowers, Melisa knew she’d never be able to look at them without thinking about the past, which was a long way behind her now. There was no looking back for her, not even for a moment.

Melisa grasped Heat’s shoulder, and he roused long enough to curl his arms around her and pull her close to his warm body.

She loved it when he did that. His solid muscles pressed against her made her feel safe. She basked in the whisper of his breath in her ear and against her cheek as he slept. Heat had an intoxicating effect on her senses, as if he were some kind of drug; often, all he needed to do was touch her or gaze at her with his dark, sleepy eyes and she would simply melt. There were occasions when, in the middle of the night, she’d have to wake him to release the sexual tension that he had helped build up inside of her. But tonight was different. She needed him for something else.

She squeezed his arm again, her short nails digging into his firm flesh. “Honey, wake up.” She bit into her lip until it throbbed. She gazed at the window, watching the moonlight make the thin curtain glow. It was after midnight and she felt guilty for waking him. He worked long hours, and he needed his sleep on nights off like this one.

Sitting up in bed, Heat blinked away sleep. “Are you okay, baby?”

“I don’t know… I’m not sure.” Melisa tried to be brave, even though a thread of fear wound itself around her neck and started to squeeze her throat shut. “I think I’m having contractions. It’s too early.” It could be nothing, but she wasn’t about to take any chances. She already had to be extra careful because of the gestational diabetes. She would do anything to protect this baby.

Heat threw back the covers and leaped out of bed. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a wrinkled T-shirt, grabbed the small bag they already had packed for her, and helped get her dressed. Without a word, he picked her up and carried her to their SUV, strapped her in, and got into the driver’s seat.