One year later
“THIS WAS A FOOLISH idea and I don’t want to be here.”
“You can do it, Uncle Axel!”
Axel stood on the steps that led down into the geothermal waters of the blue lagoon and Betty stood next to him. He thought this was a silly idea, but Eira and Betty had outvoted him and told him it was a brilliant idea and he had to play along.
Eira was already in the water. It was Betty’s plan to help him overcome his fear of water by easing him into the blue lagoon, so she was standing next to him, trying to coax him down the steps.
It had been slow, but he was getting there. And the blue lagoon was a calm, warm and relaxing environment.
“You got this,” Betty whispered to him.
“If you say so,” he muttered.
“Look, I’m not going to be the only one taking our kids to swimming lessons.”
Axel grinned at her, his wife, who was just as feisty since that first day when he’d hoisted her over his shoulder at Keflavik Airport a year ago.
“I’m not too sure,” Axel teased.
“I am. You conquered your fear of flying to come and get me and this water is warm and therapeutic.” Betty took a step down into the heated pool. She teetered a bit and Axel reached out and steadied her.
“Betty, you’ve got to be careful. It’s slippery and you’re unbalanced.”
“And whose fault is that?” she asked.
Axel grinned and reached down to touch her rounded belly. She was five months pregnant and just starting to show, but that didn’t slow her down in the least. Sure, it made her more clumsy, but it didn’t stop her from doing her work at the hospital, heading up a world-class laparoscopic program.
Nor did it stop her from helping him raise Eira, who was just as excited as they were about her new little cousin joining them in four months. His father was excited to have another grandchild and Betty and Axel had agreed that if it was a boy they were calling him Calder.
“Come on, Axel.” Betty held out her hand. “Don’t leave the mother of your unborn child hanging.”
“Hanging?” Axel asked. “Is this another American colloquialism?”
“Yes. Take my hand.”
Axel took her hand and slowly took the steps down into the warm water. His breathing steadied and he accepted that this was nothing like the ocean. This was warm and shallow and quite nice. He wrapped his arms around Betty.
“Yeah, Uncle Axel!” Eira hugged them both and then swam away to join a group of friends.
“Thank you,” Axel whispered.
“For what? Marrying you? Having your baby? Getting you in the water?” She was teasing him.
“For everything. Yes, for being my wife, for being a strong woman for Eira to look up to, for being a fantastic surgeon and for making me whole again.”
Betty stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the chin.
“Ditto.”
“What?”
“Ditto, it means I feel the exact same thing about you. Thank you for helping me find myself again. For making me stronger. I love you.” She kissed him again. “Now, let’s go float around. I want to feel a little bit lighter, before I feel much heavier.”
Axel reached down and touched her belly again. He smiled as their baby kicked and he could feel the little jab on his palm. His life was whole again.
He was finally healed.
He was finally complete.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Amy Ruttan
A Date with Dr. Moustakas
A Mommy for His Daughter
The Surgeon King’s Secret Baby
Navy Doc on Her Christmas List
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Shy Nurse’s Christmas Wish by Abigail Gordon.
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