Just a Little Misgiving (Shades of Deception, Book 3) (20 page)

Since you are reading this, my wishes for you both have come true. You have found each other and married, as I know you were meant to. I must confess that in my hope to bring your destinies together, I lied to the two people I love most.

Myles, you must have found the papers I planted! Hopefully it didn't take you long, since Faith needs you while she carries your baby. But she needed you long before that.

Yes, Faith, I know. I know how much you love him and how you sacrificed your own feelings so that I could realize mine. The sculpture gave you away. I saw it years ago, but even before then any woman could have seen how deeply you felt, how much you cared for him. I could never blame you for loving him, Faith, especially knowing it had to be the reason you moved away and gave up everything you ever had or wanted out of love for me.

Such selfless sisterly love deserves an equal measure. So maybe you can forgive me for telling you that if only I had a baby to live for, I'd find the strength to make it through. But the doctor had already broken the news that I was terminal, and in my heart I knew it was true.

What I did wasn't very honest, but my intentions were good, and with my days numbered I was compelled to take the risk. If I didn't do something, you'd never tell Myles that you love him, and since he's as hardheaded as you, he wouldn't give himself the chance to find out that he could return your feelings because of his sense of loyalty to me. Unless you were carrying his baby. Ah, my grand scheme, it apparently worked! But then again, if I had thought it wouldn't, I never would have put you through this.

Kiss your baby for me each and every day, and please, when he or she is old enough, tell your child about Aunt Gloria. And Martin, give him my deepest affection and gratitude for the integral role he took on to let me play Cupid. I couldn't have done it without him.

Forgive me for any pain my deceptions may have caused along the way, because I've never loved anyone in the world half as much as you, my dear ones, my friends. Now you must love each other with all the fire that shines so brightly from your souls. You've warmed me with it and for that, I thank you. It is my dying wish that you spend the rest of your lives being happy, living fully. Remember me, but never with sadness. I don't want your guilt or your tears. Only your smiles and memories of shared love and affection that even the grave can never steal.

All my love, eternally

Gloria

"She knew," Faith said, swiping at her flowing tears. "All these years she knew."

"Gloria always saw what other people didn't."

"I'm afraid I never gave Gloria credit for being so wily," Faith admitted with a small laugh.

"She got us both," Myles agreed. "We were lucky to have had her in our lives. And lucky us to have each other."

"And Gloria," Faith reminded him, nodding at the cooing infant.

Myles looked at Martin with a puzzled frown. "But what about the cryobank? Gloria said the baby was ours."

They both looked at Martin, who had stopped in mid "goochey-goochey-goo."

"Of course the baby's yours," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Why wouldn't you think it's yours?"

Faith and Myles explained the crucial facts surrounding Faith's discovery.

"Oh, cripes," Martin groaned. "I can't believe you found that out." He rolled his eyes heavenward and groaned again. "Gloria, you owe me big for this."

Getting up, he handed the baby to his father. "Okay, Myles,
you're
the father, got that? Faith is the mother. I never dreamed I'd have to tell anyone this, and I made Gloria promise she wouldn't breathe a word, not even to Faith." Thrusting a hand into his hair, he began to pace.

"Here's what happened. You both know Gloria and I were—
are
—this close." He held up two crossed fingers. "Lord knows why, because two people were never more different. Anyway, I could never refuse Gloria anything, especially when it meant the world to her."

Martin slid a finger beneath his collar as though it were suddenly too tight. "There were two cryobanks she could possibly go to. Since time was of the essence, the perfect one that didn't require, uh, personal deposits, was too far away. There was only one way she could have a specimen frozen in time, and that was to use the clinic closest to your house."

Turning a very bright red, Martin rushed on quickly. "She gave me Myles's specimen, along with some credit cards and his Social Security card. I went to the lab, disappeared into a room, waited five minutes, and went to the counter to hand over the specimen Gloria gave me. I told them my license was lost, and since it was for personal purposes, they accepted the ID I had and didn't question the forged signature.

"They promised to freeze it immediately, and I got the hell out before my rising blood pressure put me in a coma. It was the most humiliating experience of my life, by far the most unethical act I've ever committed. It could have jeopardized my career. I wouldn't have done it for anyone but Gloria, and as wrong as it was, I'd do it again. My only regret is that the two of you found out."

"Then..." Faith looked excitedly from Martin to Gloria to Myles. "She's
ours? Really... ours?"

"The real McCoy. The genuine article. I just played delivery boy."

Faith bounded off the couch and threw her arms around her cousin's neck. Kissing him several times on both cheeks, she whispered, "Thank you, thank you. Oh, Lord, thank you..."

"Hmmm," Martin mused, "If I'd known I might get this kind of reception, I would have come clean a lot sooner."

They bid him good-bye soon after, with grins as wide as Texas.

"She's
ours."
Faith laid her head against her husband's chest while she cradled the sleeping babe in her arms. Myles cupped her face in both hands and tilted it up until she looked into the piercing depths of his eyes.

"She was always ours," he vowed. "She's sleeping." He nodded at the baby before his lips pursed suggestively and he tilted his head in the direction of the stairs.

"Soundly, I hope," Faith said as they moved eagerly toward their destination.

Gazing heavenward, she couldn't help but think how fitting it was that a new life nestled close to her breast while another smiled blessings from above.

Blessings and miracles. Gloria slept peacefully as they laid her down and proceeded to their room.

There they poured out their love, then lay replete in each other's arms. Whispering, cuddling, loving. A man and a woman making their own miracle... behind closed doors.

The End

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JUST A LITTLE SIN

Shades of Deception

Book Four

Excerpt from

Just a Little Sin

Shades of Deception

Book Four

by

Mallory Rush

Bestselling, Award-winning Author

"About Loren." Dee could only shake her head. "I apologize for her behavior. It was inexcusable."

"No problem. She's at a tough age, but she'll outgrow it."

"Not soon enough to suit me. If I survive Loren, it'll be a miracle."

"You'll survive." He said it as if it were already a done deal.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I believe in miracles."

Something warm and fuzzy and delicious seemed to spark in his eyes. Before she could deflect it, the feeling reached down inside her, filling up an empty place that life had hollowed out. She had a sudden urge to touch him, to discover if the feel of him was half as moving or good as the almost tactile sensation his gaze created.

With difficulty Dee broke the visual bond and hoisted a large fern from the box on the porch.

"Speaking of miracles," she said brightly, "I don't think they extend to boxes unpacking themselves. Thanks for coming by, Rev—Matt."

Reaching up to hang the fern on a hook, she missed by several inches.

When she stood on tiptoe and strained higher, Matt edged closer, his voice oddly tight. "I'll get that."