“I’m so thankful for Emily.” Reese set two big mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table then sat down beside Olivia in front of the flickering fire. “Actually, I’m thankful for a lot of things. Emily’s safe, with no permanent damage. And now she’s telling the boys their bedtime stories.”
“Reese? I need to explain.”
“You don’t have to,” he said quietly. But he could see the urgency on her face. She needed to talk. “But I’ll listen if you want.”
“I want.” Her glossy cinnamon hair curled around her face, almost hiding it.
Reese sensed she needed the privacy to say what was on her heart.
“I was married for five years, and I had a radio talk show where I counseled children. I met Trevor just after my show took off. He was kind and gentle, a pediatric surgeon. We were very happy, especially when our daughter arrived.” Her eyes grew misty with remembering. “Anika was such a great kid. Intuitive, talkative, full of the giggles.” A sob escaped her.
“Olivia.” Reese touched her shoulder, grazed his thumb underneath her eye to wipe away the tears. “It’s okay. I don’t have to hear this.” But the way she looked at him told him she needed to speak of the past. “I’m listening.”
“She was four when she and her father were kidnapped.”
The words knocked him for a loop. Kidnapped?
“It sounds crazy when I say it now, but my life really was too perfect. My radio talk show was in national syndication. Kids all across the nation were calling to talk about their problems.” She shook her head. “I was so proud of my success, so delighted that finally wounded children had a place where they could speak openly about what was bothering them. And then it was gone. Stolen.”
Reese ached to hold her, to erase the pain visible in her dark, expressive irises. But he remained still, and let her continue.
“I had just finished the show when he called in. Apparently his daughter had been one of the callers on my show the day before. He said I’d told her that she had the right to walk away from an abusive situation. She was killed in a hit-and-run two hours after she’d left home. He blamed me, so he kidnapped my family.”
“Oh, darling. I’m sorry.”
“He said five million dollars would ease his sorrow. I arranged for payment. I would’ve done anything to keep them safe.” Olivia’s voice was now flat and dull.
Reese could guess what was coming.
“He never picked up the money. The police said my husband and daughter were already dead when he called.” She looked at him, eyes blazing with pain. “He said he wanted me to know how it felt to lose a child, to lose the most important thing in your life. And now I know.”
Reese wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her against his side as she softly sobbed.
“Was the man not caught?”
“Yes. He’s in jail and he’ll stay there.”
“So why keep it a secret?”
“Why?” Olivia drew back, tried to smile. “My husband was the son of a senator, Reese. A very famous senator who publicly blamed me for their deaths. You cannot imagine my life when the media got hold of the story. They camped on my doorstep, they phoned constantly. They even followed me to the funeral home. I was big news in the East, a celebrity. Private pain was up for public consumption. And it did not end with the funerals. Or the trial or after it was over. I couldn’t go back on the radio, I was too afraid another child might die. Because of me.”
“It wasn’t because of you, Olivia.” Reese drew her nearer and pressed his lips to her forehead. “That child was in pain and needed help. You gave her hope.”
“I went into hiding,” she murmured. “Friends helped me change my name back to my maiden name. I moved constantly from place to place, that’s why my resume is so odd. I only listed about half the places I worked. And always, every single time, they found me. And ran another story.” She lifted her head, stared at him. “Until I came here.”
“You thought I would betray you?”
“Not after the first day.” She smiled. “But I was fairly certain Nelson would. And he will, if he hasn’t already.”
“But why?”
“Money.” The scorn she invested into that single word told him all he needed to know.
“So you have a lot of money.”
“A lot,” she agreed, studying his eyes. “Have you ever heard of Edward Hastings?”
“The stockbroker?” Reese gaped. “That was your grandfather?”
“Yes.” Olivia nodded. “He left me everything. So did Trevor. I have a lot of money, Reese, and that makes it more difficult because money corrupts. I wanted to use it to do some good, but every time I tried, some nosy newshound connected me to that radio host in New York City who so tragically lost her husband and daughter, or who killed them, depending on the story. I couldn’t let Trevor and Anika’s memories be tarnished anymore, so I hid.”
Reese turned so he faced her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye.
“Dearest Olivia, my heart aches for the pain and suffering you’ve gone through. If I could erase it all and give you back your loved ones I would. But I can’t.” He touched her forehead, traced her delicately arched brows. He followed it down her nose to her beautiful smile that could light up his world without saying a word.
“I know.”
“To be perfectly honest, I’m glad you’re here now because I love you, Olivia. I don’t care about your money.” He touched her cheek. “Give it away or lock it up in a bank or burn it. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“You can’t say that, Reese. You don’t know.” She tried to explain. “They’ll come around, they’ll take pictures of the twins, push into your backyard, invade every ounce of privacy you have just to get their story on the front page and make the almighty buck.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t?”
“Not a bit.” He smiled. “You matter to me, your happiness, your problems and your heart. I have a lot to learn about families and I can learn, Olivia.” He brushed his thumb across her lips. “Please say you’ll join mine and teach me how to give and receive love.”
He waited, breath suspended, for her response.
“Are you—”
“I’m asking you to marry me. Soon.”
“But what about—”
“The twins and I come as a package deal. The rest of it we’ll leave up to God. I trust Him, Olivia. Don’t you?”
Two giggles cut off her response.
“I’m story for interrupting, but the boys have a question I can’t answer.” Emily drew them forward. “Two minutes,” she reminded in her big sister voice. “You have two minutes and then you’re going to bed. You promised, remember?”
“We promise.” Brett and Brady flopped down on the floor beside them. “Daddy, is Olivia going to be our mom?”
Reese winced. If she said no now, the kids would be decimated. He should have foreseen this.
“Funny you should ask.” Olivia stared at him for a moment then leaned forward and whispered in his ear.
Reese nodded. “Perfect,” he told her.
“The thing is, your dad and I were just talking about that, but we have a little problem.” She had the twins eating out of her hand, but Reese knew the next part was up to him.
“We want to be a family, but we need Emily to join us.” He reached up a hand to the young girl and drew her into their group. “Would you mind joining our family and being a big sister to these two? You’re already the daughter of our hearts.”
“Are you gonna have a wedding?” Brett asked.
“Yes.” Olivia studied him. “Would you like that?”
“Yeah!” Brady’s eyes widened. “Hey, Emily can get that white dress she always wanted and wear it to the wedding. Girls always wear white dresses to weddings. Can’t she, Daddy?”
“Absolutely,” Reese agreed. “The prettiest dress we can find.”
Emily was weeping, but she was also smiling as she nodded her enthusiastic agreement.
“Boy, that Sunday school teacher knew what she was talking about when she said God wants to give us the desires of our heart.”
The doorbell rang.
Reese saw Olivia’s blink of panic.
“Emily, would you put the boys to bed, please?” He kissed them each then grabbed Olivia’s hand. “It’s time to face your monster,” he whispered. “Lean on me.”
When he opened the door a camera snapped. Several more followed. A tall, lean, gray-haired man stepped forward, pushing an outstretched microphone out of the way.
“Reese.” The man nodded before turning to her. “Miss Hastings, my name is Arthur Woodward. Winifred asked me to come. Since I own a television station, she thought I might have some ideas on how you could handle things.”
“Darling Grandmother.” Reese chuckled, shook the man’s hand. “Even from her hospital she’s still directing. We’re at your mercy, Art.”
Art grinned, nodded and faced the photographers.
“If any of you are interested, I have a statement here I’d like to read. It’s from Winifred Woodward.”
He announced the surgery she was to endure the next morning and that she expected to be back at Weddings by Woodwards in the very near future.
“She took the publicity for us,” Olivia whispered. “They’ll focus on her for now.”
“Of course Winifred intends to handle any and all family weddings,” Art answered the reporter’s question with a smile. “Isn’t she the queen of weddings? Now you might as well run with that because I won’t release another statement until tomorrow morning. In the meantime, say a prayer for her and her family, will you?”
He ushered them inside and closed the door.
“That should do it,” he said with satisfaction. “Winifred would like to see you now, if you don’t mind. I’ll stay with the kids.”
“You’re a real blessing to this family, Art. Thanks.” Reese listened as Art told them of the escape route he’d prepared via the backyard.
At the hospital, Winifred lay still, her face pale but content. Olivia bent and kissed her forehead. The timeless smile flashed at them both.
“Hello, darlings.”
“How long have you known who I am?” Olivia asked.
“From the moment I heard you speak,” Winifred said. “I used to listen to your broadcasts every day. Such a wise woman you are. And now I’ll have another granddaughter to go with my new store. Isn’t God good?”
“Uh, Grandmother, about Chicago.” Reese dreaded disappointing her. But at least he knew God would comfort his grandmother.
“Now, Reese.” Olivia threaded her arm through his and shook her head. “Your grandmother needs to rest. Say good night.”
“Good night, Grandmother. I love you.”
“I love you, too, darling. Both of you.” She smiled as the nurse shooed them away to join the rest of the family in the chapel.
They stayed there through the night, praying, holding each other, treasuring moments every family dreads. By dawn, talk turned to the store.
“We have to talk about Chicago,” Reese began. “I can’t handle it alone.”
“Now?” Katie wondered. “Shouldn’t we wait until we see how Grandmother—”
“Grandmother is going to be fine. We owe it to her to have this nailed down so she doesn’t worry and fuss about it anymore.” He drew a deep breath.
Olivia squeezed his fingers.
“Before you begin, Reese, I was wondering if Weddings by Woodwards would consider taking on a partner in your Chicago store.” Olivia studied each face in turn, checking to see if anyone objected. “You see, I’ve been thinking of investing for my future and there’s this property I’m interested in. It belongs to a woman named Garver.”
“Olivia.” Guilt rushed over Reese for the many times he’d laid his problems on her. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Can’t you see how much I want that money to be used for good? Winifred can make her store a testament to God, Reese. And I can help her do it.” She kissed his cheek. “I need to do this. After all, I’m going to be part of the family, aren’t I?”
“Of course you are.” Fiona smiled and patted her cheek. “A welcome addition. Now, here come the doctors.”
“Mrs. Woodward handled the operation very well. Her prognosis is excellent. You should all go home and rest. You can visit later tonight.”
They hugged and cried and kissed. Then one by one, they filed out.
Lastly, Reese led Olivia out of the hospital.
“You just agreed to marry me, you know.”
“Of course I know. I’m no dummy.” She returned his kiss. “About that, I’ve got a couple of other ideas to run past you.”
“We’ve got the rest of our lives,” he promised, folding her into his arms.