His Perfect Woman (Harlequin Superromance) (21 page)

“It is-s.” Randall lifted and lowered his hand on the arm of his wheelchair with a
thump
. “It is-s.”

Ashley smiled at the old man before turning her attention back to Melissa. “See? Tonight proved that, yeah, your cancer could return, but Bryan is in just as much danger. He was shot by a drug addict, but it could've just as easily been a car accident or a multitude of other things. Dying can happen at any time. It's up to us if we're ready for it. Every moment we have with our loved ones is precious. And to Bryan and the rest of us, that means you're precious, too. We love you and we're going to love you whether you like it or not. It's up to you whether or not you love us back.”

Of course she loved them. She loved all of them. Every one of them. Even…even Ellen. Because she'd made her dad happy. Because Ellen cared enough to give Melissa a treasured keepsake to make her feel better and because Ellen carried Melissa's little sister or brother. That was a start, a wonderful start. Overwhelmed, Melissa lowered her head. Her heart ached with wanting to believe Ashley's words. “What about children? He's so good with kids and I can't give him any.”

Her father's thick brows lowered in a scowl. “That boy doesn't strike me as the type of man who'd only love a child if it were his own flesh and blood.”

He was right. Bryan would love any child, no matter what. She thought of him stitching up the little boy's head the night of the barbecue. Remembered the look on his face.

“Dr. Booker? Would you and Chief York come this way? The surgery is complete and Dr. Ackerman would like to speak to you.”

Melissa jerked at the sound of the nurse's voice. The woman didn't look at anyone other than Randall and her dad, but even though the old man hadn't said more than a few words the entire time he'd been there, one glance told Melissa he understood her fears.

Pulling his gaze from hers, Randall raised his hand toward the nurse. “Have him c-come here. We're his-s f-f-family.”

The nurse hesitated only a moment. “Yes, sir.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Randall nodded. “Families s-stick together.” He tapped his heart. “F-faith, M-Melissa.”

“Chief York? Dr. Booker?” A scrub-clad doctor sauntered toward the group but stopped in front of Randall. “I'm Dr. Ackerman. Dr. Booker, the surgery on your grandson was touch and go, but we removed the bullet and repaired the damage. He's stable and should make a full recovery. He won't wake up for several hours yet, but if you'd like to go back and sit with him, you can.”

Randall shook his head. “T-take her.” He pointed toward Melissa and she stepped forward, unable to remember when she'd stood up.

The doctor's eyes flicked toward her with interest then back to Randall again. “It's family only, sir.”

Randall dipped his head in a nod. “His f-fiancée.”

“I didn't realize,” the doctor murmured, dipping his head once and smiling at her now. “Nurse Collins will take you back.”

Melissa couldn't wait to get to Bryan's side, but she stopped long enough to hug Randall.
“Thank you.”

The old man's eyes sparkled with warmth and understanding. So much like Bryan's. “T-tell 'im you l-love him. Best m-medicine.”

She tried to smile. Maybe it was the best medicine. And maybe they were all right.

But did she have the courage to take that ultimate leap of faith?

 

B
RYAN STRUGGLED
to find his way through the fog. His side hurt, his throat hurt and he felt like he'd been slammed by a semi. Then it came back in an instant and he tensed, groaning when pain followed.

“Bryan?
Bryan?
”

Icy-cold fingers framed his face, the shock of it bringing him fully awake.

“Oh, thank God,” he heard Melissa rasp huskily. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Something hit his mouth, salty and warm. “Don't…cry,” he whispered, opening his eyes.

Melissa sniffled, her nose runny, her eyes red rimmed. She looked beautiful. Scared out of her mind, but beautiful.

“Heard you after…I got shot.” Most of it was fuzzy, and maybe it had been a dream, but he didn't think he'd dreamed hearing the words he'd waited so long to hear her say. “You said…you love me.” Saying the words out loud made him smile. “Say it again.”

Melissa released a husky laugh. “I love you,” she whispered, her hands trembling against his cheeks. “I love you.”

“That mean…you'll marry me?”

Her expression softened even more, the face of a woman
torn. His heart rate increased and the monitor behind him bleeped more quickly as a result.

“Oh, Bryan. Just rest. We'll talk and sort things through once you're out of here. I'll be here, though. I won't—”

He shook his head and tried to wet his lips with a tongue drier than desert sand. “Now. Tell me now.”

She stared down at him, searching. Hopeful? “You're taking advantage of being hurt.”

“Is it working?”

Her laugh was choked with tears. “You're sure about
everything?
Bryan, you have to be sure. The cancer and…and children. I won't risk passing the gene on and watching the cycle continue. I won't and you need to know that won't change.”

“I know.”

Her eyes sparkled with tears. “And my scars? How I d-don't have any breasts?” She whispered the word
breasts
.

“Look at me.” His eyes narrowed on hers when she finally managed to meet his stare. “I'm scarred now. You going to…hold it against me?”

She laughed softly again, doubt tinged but happy, too. He wanted her happy. She deserved happy.

“Never.”

“Good.” He mustered up the energy to smile, relieved. “Because now you've got to…get to work. Lots to plan.”

Melissa wiped her eyes and sniffled. “We just finished a huge fund-raiser and have a medical facility to build. What are we working on now?”

“A wedding. You've got…six months. I'm going to teach you to…plan ahead.”

Four years later…

M
ELISSA PACKED AWAY
the last of the quotes she'd pulled from the corkboard lining her dry-erase board, then straightened to survey her classroom. How could another school year be over?

She and Bryan, their family and friends, had celebrated her five-year milestone weeks ago at Randall's large home—now their home since they'd moved in with him—and she had a whole summer to play with her daughter.

“Mommy, mommy! They're chasing me!”

Brianna, adopted a year before, ran into her classroom and flung herself at Melissa, wrapping her chubby little arms around her legs. She giggled excitedly, gazing over her shoulder expectantly until her aunt Madeline raced into the room behind her.

Four years old, Maddy had the same blond hair and blue eyes that Melissa shared with her dad, and once she'd held her baby sister in her arms, Melissa had known she couldn't spend her life mourning her lost daughter or withholding the love she had to give.

“Pick me up, pick me up! They'll get me!”

Melissa laughed and placed a loud, smacking kiss on her daughter's forehead before swinging her up in her arms. “Now you're safe.”

Bryan entered the room behind the kids and she shared a smile with him, one of love and life and instant awareness. His gaze slid over her in a knee-weakening sweep blatantly full of promises to be carried out later, and the sight made her want to call Ellen and see if she was up to babysitting Brianna for a couple hours. Maybe all night.

“You ready to go?” Bryan asked, his smiling knowing.

“We got a surprise!”

“You do?” She eyed the girls, wondering which one would spill the news first. “What is it?”

“A—”

“Not s'pose to tell!” Maddy called.

“—picnic!”

Bryan winced. “So much for that.”

She pulled him close and gave him a searing kiss. Bryan might have been a player once, but marriage had changed him. Even Joe said so. Their love life was the stuff of trendy magazine articles, and for the past four years she and Bryan had won a different award in the
Taylorsville Tribune
—that of Taylorsville's Most Romantic Couple. Not even Joe and Ashley had beaten them yet.

“A picnic, huh? Any special reason?” she asked.

“You'll have to wait and see.”

“What's the occasion?”

Holding her and Brianna both in his arms, her husband grinned. “A celebration.”

She drew in a sharp breath, the clues falling into place. “Because…
because…?
”

Bryan nodded, his smile tender. “I just got the call. The paperwork will be completed tomorrow and then you will be a mommy again very soon.”

“A little boy. Oh, Bryan!”

His lips met hers and held. Tears prickled behind her lids, but they were happy tears. Tears full of joy and thankfulness and life.

She still had doubts and fears of what the future might bring, but they were fleeting since she'd finally placed the worry over her future in God's control and decided to enjoy the man she loved, the family she'd always wanted. Life was for living, and she planned to live every second of it. It was all in what a person believed—and she believed without a doubt that she'd finally gotten her happy ending.