The Greek Doctor's Proposal Read online

  EPILOGUE

  Two years later

  JEANNINE sat at a table at Olympia’s restaurant with her feet up on a chair. The water glass beside her remained untouched as she clapped her hands, watching the dancers move around the room. Her eyes were drawn to one particular dancer with wavy dark hair that grazed the collar of his white shirt.

  There were many handsome men in the room, but none as attractive as her husband dancing with his three brothers.

  She shifted her position on the chair and patted her stomach. “Soon, little one. You’ll be dancing with your papa.”

  At the end of the song, Miklo fell into a chair beside her and drank deeply from the water glass on the table.

  “That looked like fun,” she said, and handed him her glass of water, too.

  “It’s great that we’re all here,” he said between gasping breaths. “I haven’t danced so much since our wedding.”

  “It’s good to see you out there with everyone,” she said, and absently stroked a hand over her abdomen.

  Miklo sat forward and gently cupped her large belly with both hands. “Are you feeling okay still? Not too much exertion?”

  “I’m good. Just a little achy in the back and the feet, as usual.”

  “Do you feel up to dancing with me? They are about to slow things down.”

  “Are you sure you want to dance with a whale?” Jeannine asked with a laugh. “What if I step on your foot? You’ll never be the same again.”

  “I’ll take my chances.” Miklo assisted Jeannine to her feet and they walked to the dance floor amid waves and friendly kisses on the cheek and wishes of good luck from many family and friends.

  “Let’s stay on the edge of the floor in case I need to sit down.”

  Miklo led her to a corner of the floor and took her in his arms. As they held each other and swayed to the music, Miklo started to shake. Clutching her shoulders as close to him as possible, he held her tight, his emotions running high.

  Jeannine held him as tightly as possible, knowing his fears ran deep. Though he had lost one family, he had never forgotten them. Her pregnancy, though wonderful, brought out past pain for both of them. “Everything will be okay, Miklo. It will be fine. The doctor said I’m progressing as I should, and there are no anticipated complications.”

  “I still worry, love,” he said, and kissed her temple.

  “You won’t stop worrying until this baby is out of me and sitting on your lap, will you?” she asked, and pulled back to see his face.

  Miklo grinned. “How well you know me.” Pulling her closer again, he put one arm around her shoulders and the other on her abdomen. He never tired of feeling his child stirring inside her.

  Beneath his hand, the muscles of her abdomen tensed, and she gave a surprised gasp.

  “What is it?” he asked, near panic as he saw the tension in her face.

  “I think you’re going to be a father sooner than we thought.”

  Jeannine took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the pain passed. “Well, maybe not. The pain just went away. Maybe the baby is just moving around.”

  “That’s a relief. You’re not due for two weeks yet.”

  “I know, but babies come when they’re ready, not when the calendar says.” Jeannine gasped as another pain seared through her abdomen. “Miklo?”

  “Yes?”

  “I think we need to leave. I don’t care what the calendar says, I think we’re going to be having a baby today.”

  Miklo let out a whoop of happiness. “We’re having a baby today!” he yelled to this family and friends. With a hand around her shoulders he led her to the door. “Stay here, and I’ll bring the car around.”

  “Hurry,” she said as she held on to Seferino. Jolanda hovered nearby.

  “Don’t worry. This baby is going to be fine.” Seferino kissed Jeannine’s cheek and held her until Miklo returned. “I’m not so sure he should be driving, though.”

  “You can tell him that.” Jeannine gasped as another pain sliced through her.

  “Christo!” Seferino yelled, and motioned for his son to come forward. “You need to drive them to the hospital. Now.”

  “Really?” Christo’s surprised eyes widened. “I get to drive the Jag?”

  “Who said you get to drive the Jag?” Miklo asked as he entered the restaurant.

  “I do,” Seferino said. “Focus on your wife and baby. Christo will get you there in one piece.” He patted Miklo on the shoulder. “We’ll be there soon.”

  “Everyone?” Jeannine asked, her eyes wide.

  “Of course, everyone. We will welcome your little one into our family.”

  Jeannine bit her lip and tried not to laugh at the idea of this large, robust family fitting into the waiting room at the hospital without causing a riot.

  “Let’s go,” Miklo said, and assisted her into the car.

  Christo hopped into the driver’s side of the waiting car. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  “What if my waters break in the car?” Jeannine asked.

  “Drive fast, Christo,” Miklo said, and placed his hand on Jeannine’s abdomen.

  “You got it.”

  Ten long hours later, Miklo held his son in his arms. The proud father took the healthy newborn to the nursery window, showed him off to the family and then returned to Jeannine’s side.

  “You made a beautiful baby boy, wife,” Miklo said. He sat in the chair beside Jeannine’s bed.

  “With you as his father, it was easy,” she said, and reached out to hold the baby.

  Miklo watched as his son suckled at Jeannine’s breast. It was a sight that he had anticipated for two years and now he savored the sight. A bitter-sweet ache stirred in his heart at the past that had died and for the baby that had just begun life.

  With Jeannine’s love and support, he had learned to love and to live again.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, and reached out one hand to him.

  “I’m the happiest man on the planet,” he said, and took her hand. “Thanks to you.”

  “We did it. Together.”

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

  First published in Great Britain 2009

  Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,

  Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  © Brenda Schetnan 2009

  ISBN: 978-1-4089-0927-0

 

 

 
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