Monday's Child (32 page)

Sara’s eyes jerked open. “Is something wrong with the babies?”

“No, Sara, everything’s fine. Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Her gaze focused on his face. “Hello, Leftenant. How was your meeting with the DCI? Is everything sorted out?”

“They’re tying up loose ends. Austin died in surgery. Phil Baines, Shepherds, and seven other officers are in custody, with links to a further five….” His voice tailed off, and he let go of her hand as he realized what she said. “Lieutenant?”

“Yes, Leftenant.”

Luke sat there, his stomach in his boots and a lump in his throat. “But why? I thought—”

“Why not? And it’s
leftenant
.” Her shoulders were shaking.

He put a hand on her face, gently turning it towards him. The wretched woman was laughing at him. “You brat.”

She grinned at him. “It takes one to know one. What were you going to say before we were interrupted?”

Luke shook his head. “I love you, even if you are incorrigible and a brat. I never believed in love at first sight until I met you. I couldn’t say anything because you were a case number, someone I was paid to protect. So, I said nothing and hid how I really felt. I slipped up when I kissed you that time I fell off the chair and cut myself. Oh, I didn’t want to stop, but the phone rang, and the moment was gone.”

He took her hand. “When you vanished, it was like a two-edged sword plunged into me. I hadn’t just failed in my duty as a cop. I had let down someone I cared deeply about. Then I found you and you were so sick, I thought I was going to lose you again. I don’t want that.” He held her gaze. “DCI Meadows offered me a permanent transfer. He wants me to be Dave’s partner. I haven’t given him an answer yet, or spoken to Dave, because I want your opinion.”

“Me? What do I have to do with it?”

“Hon, I love you. I want to be with you. I assumed you felt the same way, so whatever I decide you have to be part of.”

****

Sara’s heart beat faster and something leapt within her.
He loves me. He wants me
.

His fingertips ran along her face and into her hair, sending a river of goose bumps down her neck. “I love you, Sara.”

Sara smiled as she leaned towards him. “I love you, Luke.”

He pulled her against him and kissed the top of her head. Sara shifted her position, so she was lying across his body. She could feel his warmth against hers. The scent of his cologne and shampoo filled her senses, and the sound of his heartbeat echoed in her ear.

Luke’s lips brushed her cheek, then across her lips. Sara closed her eyes and met his lips with hers. In that instant nothing else mattered except the fact he had his arms around her and his mouth on hers.

Luke deepened the kiss, showing her how much he loved her, wanted her, and needed her.

Stars exploded around Sara as the love Luke poured into the kiss transported her fifty feet above the bed. She forgot where she was and everything that had happened. The only thing that existed was his touch, his taste, and his scent.

Finally breaking the kiss, Sara smiled up at him. “I love you, Luke Nemec. From the first moment you walked into that chalet in Norfolk. Oh, I tried hating you, and what you stood for, and the loss of my freedom, but it didn’t work. I’m sorry for making things so difficult.”

Luke ruffled her hair. “Don’t be sorry. You reminded me of a bird that was used to flying in wide open spaces, placed in a gilded cage to protect it from the hawk. You wanted your freedom, and although the cage was protecting you, it was suffocating you, too.”

Sara smiled. “That’s quite poetic. Sure you aren’t a writer?”

“Quite sure. I want to make you happy. I love you, Sara.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. Sara’s hand slowly moved up his back, her fingers sliding gently through his hair. She parted her lips, responding to him, and Luke deepened the kiss.

Luke pulled away after a few moments. He gazed down at her. “So are you still calling me lieutenant?”

Sara leaned against him, relishing the firmness of his body against hers and how safe he made her feel. “For the hundredth time, it’s
leftenant
. And no, I’m not. Where’s Aunt Mary?”

“At home with my dad. They’ll be in tomorrow.”

“Your dad’s here?”

“Yes, but I’d rather do something else than talk about my dad and your aunt.”

“Like what?”

“I’ll think of something,” he whispered, brushing his lips against hers.

****

Next morning, Sara leaned against the pillows, sun shining through the window next to her. The view from the window was so pretty, the knock on the door made her jump. She glanced around and smiled. “Hi, Luke.”

“Hey, hon.” He kissed her and sat next to her, holding her hand. “How are you doing?”

“I’m feeling better.”

“That’s good.”

“Jamie was Oscar…he set me up from the start. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.”

“It’s fine. You listened, you didn’t go alone.” He kissed her.

“Jamie kissed me and I called him Luke. That didn’t go down so well.”

Luke grinned. “I bet it didn’t. You seriously called out my name?”

Sara blushed. “Yeah. I was pretending he was you, trying to make him believe I meant it, so I could get his gun from him.”

“Hmmm.” He leaned towards her, his nose rubbing against hers for an instant. “Then I guess I’d better see for myself.”

Sara shivered as he kissed her. His lips were warm and firm, his scent filling her senses, sending her higher than she thought a single kiss could do. She kissed him back, breathing his name, eager to show him how much she loved him.

Breaking off for air, she ran her fingers through his hair. “Some good did come out of that brief marriage. My children. Can we go see them?”

“Sure. They’re right across the hall.”

Sara took his offered arm and stood. She shuffled slowly. “Sorry. I’m a lot sorer than I realized.”

“No rush. Hey, guess what I found when I got home last night?”

“What? Was Santa sitting in the kitchen or something?”

Luke laughed. “More like his elves… Dad and Aunt Mary looking very comfortable with each other at the dinner table.”

“You don’t suppose…”

“You think I’m the only man to fall in love with a total stranger at first sight?”

“You must get it from your father.”

Luke pushed the ward door open and guided her to the seats opposite the lifts at the midway point between the two wards. “Sit down a minute.”

Sara sat. “All right, I’m sitting.”

“We never did finish that conversation last night.”

Color filled Sara’s face. “We kind of got sidetracked.”

Luke smiled. “Just a tad.”

Sara grinned. “Yay, I finally got you talking proper English.”

Luke shook his head, rolling his eyes at her. “I’m trying to be serious.”

Sara wiped her hand over her mouth, removing her smile. “All right, we can be serious.”

The twinkle in his eye showed he remembered as well as she did. “We were talking about the job offer. And I said you had to be part of my decision. There’s no point me staying if nothing is going to come of this.”

“Luke, I love you and want to be with you, but there are the twins to consider. It’s all of us, or none of us.”

“I know. That’s why I’m doing this.” Luke knelt on the floor in front of her.

Sara blushed. “What are you doing? Get up.”

Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. He flipped it open and held it up to her. He took her hand and gazed into her eyes. “Sara, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you and the twins. Will you marry me? Do me the honor of becoming my wife and letting me be the twins’ father?”

Sara hardly dared breathe or move. Myriad thoughts flashed through her mind. A torrent of emotions, hope, fears and love washed over her.

He loved her and she had fallen for him, hook, line, and sinker. He wanted to marry her. She felt safe with him, safer than she did with anyone else. She gazed at him, the fear of rejection overriding the love for her, imprinted deep in his eyes.

It was a risk. A big risk, but wasn’t any marriage a step into the unknown? Planting one’s steps into someone else’s and going on together no matter what happened? Yes, a risk, but a risk worth taking. She loved him more than words could tell and wanted to be with him.

She smiled at him. “Yes, I would be honored to be your wife and have you as the twin’s father. I love you. I don’t ever want to be without you.”

****

Joy flooding him, Luke rose and sat beside her, a huge smile on his face. He took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. He still couldn’t believe he’d found a jewelers open at Christmas. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Slowly and tenderly at first, then deepening it. “You have made me the happiest man on the planet, hon.”

Sara smiled back at him and laughed. “Ditto. Well, maybe not the happiest man, but you get the picture.” She ran her finger over the ring. “It’s beautiful, thank you. I love you.”

“I love you, too. While I think of it, the house we’re staying in belongs to Dave and Carole, and they rent it out. They were talking and decided, with the baby coming, that the time’s come to sell it.”

“Carole’s pregnant? That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, it is. Anyway, Dave asked if we wanted it, giving us first refusal before it goes on the open market. If I take the job as his partner, that is. We don’t have to decide now. I mean, you may not want to stay here. But it’s big enough for the twins and us. It’s local for work, friends, church, the beach, the docs…”

Sara smiled, pushing the hair from her face. “All right, all right. You convinced me.”

“Despite the memories?”

“The town’s got a beach. What more does it need? Yeah, I want to. It’s time to make new memories. For the four of us.”

33

Just before midday on Saturday May sixteenth, Sara stepped from the horse-drawn carriage outside Tannoch Baptist Church. She glanced at her bouquet, her long ivory bridal gown, full veil, and three-foot train. Would he like it? Was it too much?

She took a deep breath. “I’m scared. What if…”

Dave shook his head. “Nay, lassie. Nay ifs or buts. He loves ye. He’s at the top of that aisle waiting for me tae give ye tae him.”

Pastor Bruce came over to them. He smiled. “Ye look lovely, Sara. I’ll go and tell him yer here.”

Sara stood still as Carole adjusted her train and veil. She looked at the cloudless blue sky. Birds swooped and dived overhead, and for a moment she was soaring and flying with them. Luke’s love had unlocked the cage surrounding her and set her free. Dave offered his arm and she took it. “I’m ready.”

She took a deep breath as she and Dave started on the slow walk up the aisle, the strains of Pachabel’s
Canon in D
filling the air. Sara kept her eyes on the figure at the front of the church. He turned and smiled at her and her fear and nervousness fell away. Luke loved her and she loved him. Reaching his side she gripped his hand, never intending to let him slip from her life.

****

Luke knew she was coming. He clenched his hands into fists, his palms damp, and his throat dry. His brother, Darren, stood beside him as best man. He wanted to turn and look at Sara, but he wasn’t sure it was the proper thing. He’d do it anyway. Taking a deep breath, Luke turned.

“Wow,” he breathed, smiling at the first sight of his bride.

As she reached his side, he took her hand and raised it to his lips. “Hey, beautiful. I love you.”

Her eyes sparkled, her love for him lighting them. “I love you, too, Luke. So very much.”

Luke lifted her veil and kissed her, ignoring the fact it was too soon for that. Sara kissed him back.

Luke broke off at a cough from Pastor Bruce. He looked lovingly at Sara. “Shall we?”

****

“I, Luke Jonathan Nemec, take you, Sara Elizabeth Daniels, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.”

“I, Sara Elizabeth Daniels, take you, Luke Jonathan Nemec, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.”

They slid rings onto each other’s fingers, tears running down Sara’s face as she finished making her vows of love and faithfulness.

Pastor Bruce smiled. “I now pronounce ye husband and wife. Luke, ye may kiss the bride. Again.”

Luke grinned. He pulled Sara into his arms and lowered his face to hers. “Hello, wife.”

“Hello, husband,” Sara whispered.

Luke kissed her, holding her closely.

Pastor Bruce’s voice echoed in the distance. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my great pleasure to introduce ye tae Leftenant and Mrs. Nemec.”

Rapturous applause broke out, making Sara blush as they broke the kiss.

Exiting into the bright sunlight to showers of confetti and congratulations, Luke and Sara posed happily for photographs with and without the five-month-old twins.

Mary was radiant in her new hat, with her shiny engagement ring proudly worn on her left hand. Jacob hadn’t let go of her since they got to the church. They were planning their own wedding for the autumn, much to Sara and Luke’s delight.

Just after five PM, Sara said her goodbyes to the twins.

Mary winked at her. “They’ll be fine. Jacob and I are perfectly capable of caring for them.”

“I know. I’ll miss them.”

Mary laughed. “I think you’ll have other things on your mind. They’ve been home several weeks now, and we’ve got your mobile number if we need you. Which we won’t. You’ve got a good man in that one.”

Sara smiled. “So have you.”

Luke came over. “Ready, hon?”

“Yes.” She let him lead her over to his car and climbed in as he opened the door for her. Luke started the car and drove out of the car park. Sara waved as they left.