LITMIR.BIZ

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be.” His gaze fastened on hers, betraying another hint of feeling. How had the years made him more handsome? His carved-granite face, high forehead, dark eyes and prominent cheekbones were flawless. He gave a half smile, as if he remembered their married years, raising two sets of twins together. Toddling boys playing in the small living room of the tiny house they’d rented. Childish voices rising in glee. “No! No! Mine! Mine! Boom!” as toys went flying and the boys’ laughter rang. The dear sounds of the baby girls awakening from their naps in the warm house decorated for Christmas.

      Such good memories. Bright enough to outshine the bad.

      “Mom! Dad.” All grown up, Violet bounded in, leading the group back from the cafeteria. “You two look cozy. Don’t you think?” she asked her sister.

      “Absolutely.” Maddie’s grin shone triumphantly. “Looks like we came back too soon. Maybe we all should head to the cafeter—”

      “Don’t you dare walk off.” Belle used her Mom voice. “I’m still in charge around here.”

      “So you think.” Jack set a steaming cup of tea on the bedside table while everyone laughed.

      “Hello? Hello?” A knock rapped on the open door and a nurse hustled in. “So glad to see y’all here, but visiting hours are over. You’ll be back bright and early tomorrow, I suppose?”

      “Count on it.” Violet circled the end of the bed. “Mom, what did the doctor say?”

      “Hmm, let me think. I can’t quite remember,” she hedged.

      “Wasn’t it something like stay in bed? You are still recovering, Mom.” Maddie swooped in and caught Belle’s other elbow. “Is she always this much trouble, Violet?”

      “Usually more.”

      “Hey!” Belle argued good-naturedly as she let them help her to her feet. “I’m not an invalid. I can manage on my own.”

      “This sounds very familiar.” Brian’s baritone lifted above the other conversations as Grayson pulled aside the bedcovers and Jack plumped her pillows. “I see some things haven’t changed.”

      “Brian is talking about my stubbornness, in case you kids couldn’t guess.” She eased onto the mattress. “I don’t think I’m stubborn.”

      “Sure, of course you’re not,” Violet teased. “Not one of us has ever thought that.”

      The entire room laughed. Even Belle.

      “Sleep well, Mom.” Maddie kissed her forehead.

      “Sweet dreams.” Violet kissed her cheek and stepped back.

      “We’ll see you in the morning, Mom.” Grayson squeezed her hand.

      “We love you.” Jack drew up her covers.

      “I love you all. That means you, too, Carter.”

      “Back at ya, Belle.” Carter smiled at her before stepping away and offering his arm to his father. “I’ll bring Dad tomorrow to visit.”

      “Excellent.” She hated how exhausted Brian looked. He’d been without family, fighting a dangerous illness. What if he’d passed away? He never would have known each twin he’d given up was now safe.

      “Have a good night, Isabella—Belle,” he corrected, standing on his own, refusing his son’s aid. He looked even paler, if that were possible.

      “You, too, Brian. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”

      “Count on it.” He hesitated, as if about to say something, but stayed silent. He raised a hand in a show of farewell.

      She raised hers. Tomorrow, she’d have to face him again.

      “Just lie back, Mom.” Violet fussed over her, blowing on her tea and moving her Bible within easy reach on the nightstand.

      “Is there anything else you need?” Maddie asked.

      Such good girls. Seeing those identical faces brought tears to her eyes. Behind them, at the doorway, the boys lingered, checking in on her one last time before waving and stepping out of sight.

      “Just take good care of Brian.” She sank into the pillows, grateful to relax. She could pretend all she wanted that she was just fine, but that wasn’t entirely true. The coma and head injury had taken a lot out of her, and it would be a while before she was back to her old, feisty self.

      “We’ll look after Dad, I promise.” Maddie stepped away first, the vow shining in her eyes.

      When the girls left, they seemed to take the light with them. Still, she smiled to herself as she heard Violet and Maddie lingering outside the door, gushing about how this was going to be the best Christmas ever. Not only did they have Landon and Ty—their doting fiancés—in their lives, but now their entire family was finally all together.

      Belle heard their footsteps retreat down the hall and silence settled in—the way it had on the night she’d ordered Brian out of their little house and, later, on the first night she’d been in protective custody, listening to the children sleep and wondering about the other half of the twins in Brian’s care.

      Brian. The kids had thought it was a great surprise for her to see him tonight, but they didn’t know the agony it brought.

      Give me strength, Lord. She tugged her Bible into her arms and hugged it to her heart. Most of all, please keep our children safe.

      * * *

      “You look happier, Dad.” Carter helped him into the passenger side of the truck. “Seeing Belle was good for you.”

      “I don’t know about that.” He cleared his throat, collapsed into the seat and did his best to cover up how hard seeing Belle had been—and would continue to be. “You kids sure surprised her, too. I’m not certain that was a fair thing to do to a woman who spent five months in a coma.”

      “During which she murmured your name. I heard it.” Carter drew himself up, hardly more than a shadow in the night. “I hadn’t felt a connection to her until then and I realized she loves you. That’s all I needed to know.”

      “Belle doesn’t love me. At least she hasn’t for a long, long time.” That was his fault, failings that tore him up.

      “You never know what God has in store.” Carter stepped back, hand on the door, preparing to swing it shut. “There’s still something between you two, I think.”

      Yes, there was—animosity, bitterness and remorse. The door closed with a click, leaving Brian alone in the cab. Grateful for that, he tried to gather his strength, watching Carter cross the pavement to exchange words with Grayson. The kids were climbing into their vehicles, waving goodbye, calling out plans for tomorrow, leaving him time alone to think.

      Isabella—Belle—looked more beautiful than ever. No surprise she’d done so well without him. She’d always been strong and independent-minded. She’d rebuilt her life, raised two of their children and run a successful ranch. Turned out she’d never needed him the way he’d needed her.

      How was he going to be able to face her tomorrow? And the day after that? This matter of David Johnson was a big one. Belle had risked her life in order to put the drug-dealing criminal away.

      Horns honked in friendly beeps, and he waved as the kids drove off—Maddie and Violet together in Violet’s SUV, Jack and Grayson in separate vehicles. A sight he’d never thought he would see in his life—the kids reunited, laughing and gleeful, dreaming of a future filled with love and happiness.

      That’s the way he wanted to keep it. Tomorrow, first thing, he and Belle had to figure out a way to keep their children safe.

      “Dad, are you okay?” Carter settled behind the wheel, concern furrowing his forehead.

      “Just tired. It’s been a long day.” He relaxed against the headrest.

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