CHAPTER 34
Quinn unfolded himself from the taxicab, paid the driver, and stood looking at the house before him. It felt like forever since he and Julia had shared their few precious days together here as husband and wife. Forever since he’d kissed her good-bye.
A slow smile spread across his face. Would his wife be happy to see him? Would she throw herself into his arms and shower him with affection? He had certainly imagined such a scene the whole way here. He’d purposely refrained from sending a telegram to announce his arrival, wanting to see the surprise and pleasure on Julia’s face when he arrived on her doorstep. How would she look now in the advanced stages of her pregnancy? Glowing with health and happiness? Or wan and pale, worn down by the weight of the child?
He prayed she was well and that they would have several more weeks together before the baby made its arrival. Selfishly, he wanted this time alone with her, to reconnect with his wife and show her how much she meant to him. He also wanted to ascertain how Julia felt about him. What if she resented him for his long absence, for choosing his mother’s welfare over hers?
He drew himself up tall. If that was the case, he’d do everything in his power to make it up to her and let it be known that from now on, she and the child were his main priority.
With renewed determination, he ran lightly up the stairs to the front door and knocked. A few seconds later, Mrs. Banbury opened the door.
“Hello, Mrs. Banbury. It’s good to see you again.” He gave the dour woman his best smile.
“Mr. Aspinall. We were not expecting you.”
“Indeed. I wanted to surprise my wife. May I come in?”
The woman pursed her lips but stood aside for him to enter. “You may. However, I must inform you that Mrs. Aspinall is not here.”
Something in the flat way she made the statement caused the hairs on Quinn’s neck to rise. It didn’t sound as if Julia had gone out to the market or to visit a friend. “Oh? Will she be back soon?” His heart thumped, belying his attempt to remain nonchalant.
“Not likely. She’s in the hospital.”
Alarm raced through his system. “Is she ill? How is the baby?”
The clip-clop of footsteps accompanied by a cane echoed on the tiles. “Mrs. Banbury, is this any way to treat a guest?” Mrs. Middleton’s scowling countenance had the woman retreating.
Quinn moved forward. “Mrs. Middleton, what happened to Julia? Why is she in the hospital?”
“Come in and I will explain.” She limped toward the parlor.
With little choice, Quinn followed her, his thoughts racing. All he wanted to do was rush to Julia’s side, but apparently Mrs. Middleton had other ideas. What if she was trying to find a kind way to relay some terrible news? What if Julia had come down with a serious illness? What if something had happened to the baby? Julia would be beyond devastated.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Aspinall. May I offer you some refreshments?” Mrs. Middleton asked as she settled in her armchair.
“No, thank you, ma’am. I just need to know about my wife. Is she all right?” Of course she isn’t all right if she’s in the hospital. He perched on the edge of the sofa, elbows leaning on his thighs.
“She’s out of danger for the time being.” Mrs. Middleton set her cane beside the chair.
“Several weeks ago, Julia received a summons to court from Dr. Hawkins.”
Quinn’s blood pressure shot upward. He’d had a bad feeling the man would not relent, even given proof of Julia’s marriage.
“I had my solicitor, Mr. Nelson, take her case, but unfortunately it seems the stress of appearing in court and being forced to testify took its toll on her. She collapsed in the courtroom and went into early labor.”
Quinn leapt from his seat. “Labor? Does that mean . . . ?”
Please, Lord, let it not be so. He’d promised Julia to be back in time for the baby’s birth. Instead she’d had to handle going to court and premature labor all alone. How would he ever face her again?
“It was touch and go for a while, but the doctors managed to stop the labor. However, given her elevated blood pressure, they feared for both her life and the child’s and have therefore kept her in the hospital on bed rest.”
“I have to see her. Which hospital is she in?”
Mrs. Middleton tilted her head. “Before I tell you, I must insist you compose yourself. Julia is in a delicate state. Remaining calm is of utmost importance to her health. When you see her, you must not upset her in any way. No discussions of Dr. Hawkins or the court appearance—or any other subject that might cause her undue distress.” She stared at him. “Do I make myself clear?”
He had the sensation she was scolding him for something. “I’d appreciate you speaking plainly, Mrs. Middleton. What other subject are you referring to?”
“It’s no secret that your lengthy absence, as well as uncertainty about your relationship, has been weighing heavily on Julia these last weeks. I hope you’d have the good sense to avoid any such discussion right now, especially if it might upset her.”
“I understand.” He swallowed hard, refusing to let fear grab ahold of him. “I’ll do my best to ensure she stays calm, ma’am.” He lifted his chin. “But as long as Julia wants me there, I will stay by her side.”
She gave him a measuring look. “Fair enough, Mr. Aspinall. Just don’t give her too much of a shock.”
Quinn had never been so thankful to be able to wield the title of husband. Using it gave him immediate access to Julia as well as privileged information about her condition from the head nurse.
“She’s doing much better, Mr. Aspinall,” the stout woman told him. “Staying in bed has been the key to keeping her blood pressure at acceptable levels.”
“And the baby?”
The nurse smiled. “So far, so good. It was a blessing the doctors were able to stop labor when they did. Each day in the womb is a better chance at your baby’s survival.”
Quinn’s neck heated, not used to discussing such issues. “May I see my wife now?”
“Of course. Room 323. Down the hall on your right.”
“Thank you.”
As Quinn approached the room, his hands tightened around the bouquet of carnations he’d bought at the gift store. He didn’t want to arrive empty-handed and hoped the floral offering would help soften his unexpected arrival after such a long absence.
Once he entered the ward, he quickly spotted Julia in the bed next to the window. She lay asleep, unmoving on the pillows, the blankets pulled high over her expansive middle. He moved toward her, his heart beating hard in his chest.
He’d forgotten how beautiful she was. Her fair hair framed her face, accentuating her appealing features—the long lashes, delicate brows, and pert nose. The pregnancy had added a plumpness to her face and fullness to her lips. How he’d missed her. He longed to hold her hand, to kiss her cheek, but he didn’t wish to disturb her rest.
Thank you, Lord, for letting me get back in time.
When she didn’t stir, Quinn took a seat beside the bed, content to simply gaze at her. However, the effects of traveling for more than a week soon caught up with him, and he’d almost dozed off when he sensed her rousing.
She yawned and stretched. Then her eyes widened as she noticed him.
“Hello, Julia.” He kept his voice to a whisper, not wanting to alarm her. “How are you feeling?”
She blinked, pulling herself to a sitting position. “Quinn? Is it really you?”
“It is. I’m finally back.” He smiled, though perspiration gathered under his collar. Would she be glad to see him? Or furious he’d stayed away so long?
She reached out a hand toward him, tears welling in those beautiful brown eyes.
He leaned forward and grasped her fingers, warmth flooding through him.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” she said. “You have no idea how hard it’s been—”
“I’m under strict orders not to discuss any distressing topics.” He handed her the bouquet. “These are for you.”
She smiled and brought the flowers to her nose. “They’re lovely. Thank you. If you leave them on the windowsill, the nurse will take care of them when she returns.”
He did as she asked, placing them beside two other arrangements, one from Mrs. Middleton, the other from Mrs. Chamberlain.
“When did you get here?” she asked when he returned to his chair.
“Late last night. Too late to bother you, so I checked in at the YMCA.” He winked. “Just like old times.”
She gave a light laugh, and the knot of tension in his chest loosened. So far, she seemed pleased to see him.
“When I came to the house this morning, Mrs. Middleton told me you were here.”
Her brow furrowed. “Did she tell you about the courthouse?”
“She did. But again, it’s a topic I was warned not to mention.”
When she started to argue, he held up a hand.
“There’ll be plenty of time to discuss all that. Right now, I just want to sit with you and thank the good Lord for keeping you and the baby safe until I got here.”
Julia’s lips quivered. “I’m grateful for that too. I’ve been dreading having to go through this birth alone.”
He squeezed her hand, wishing he could impart his strength to her. “I’ll be here from now on. You have my word.”
“I knew I could depend on you.” She gave a sleepy smile, her eyelids drifting shut again.
A sliver of alarm went through him. She’d just awakened. How could she be tired again?
As he settled back in the chair to wait, he vowed to devote all his energy to helping her regain her full strength in order to bring a healthy child into the world.
“You don’t need to worry anymore,” he said softly. “I’m here now. I’ll take care of everything and make sure no one bothers you again.”
Julia gradually came out of sleep, conscious of a new feeling of peace. For the first time in a week, she’d slept well, not fearing Richard Hawkins would suddenly appear and try to claim her child.
She blinked and glanced at the chair beside the bed. Quinn’s large frame filled the space. His eyes were closed, his head resting against the wall. How long had he been sitting there like her own personal guard? No wonder she’d slept so well.
She took a moment to study him, the cleft in his chin, the fall of hair across his brow, the long lashes against his cheek. Her recollection of his good looks paled in comparison to the reality before her. When he opened his eyes and caught her staring, heat rushed into her cheeks.
A slow grin crept over his face. “Do I pass inspection?”
She looked down and busied herself fixing the covers. She wanted to tell him he looked more handsome than she remembered, but the words would not shake loose. And then as her fingers grazed her sizable middle, she realized how different she must appear to him. Would he find her repulsive now?
“What is that grimace for?” he asked.
She glanced over at him. “You might pass inspection . . . but do I?”
He held her gaze. “You’re as lovely as ever. Even more so, as an expectant mother should be.”
“I wish I could believe you. I feel as enormous as an elephant.” She gave a nervous laugh.
“A temporary state until your beautiful baby arrives.”
“Our.”
“Pardon?”
“Our beautiful baby.” She frowned and laid a protective hand on her stomach. “You do still want to be a father to my child, don’t you?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer. Perhaps he’d had time to reconsider the ramifications of parenting another man’s child, and now, faced with the trouble Richard was causing, wanted no part of the drama.
Quinn reached for her hand. “Of course I want to be the babe’s father. I’m sure once I meet this little person, I will fall madly in love with him or her.”
Julia pressed her lips together. Did that mean he still cared for her? Or was she just another obligation he had to fulfill? “You’ve had a lot of time to reevaluate this whole situation. I wouldn’t blame you if you had changed your mind.” Her throat tightened. It was only fair to give him the opportunity to back out of their arrangement. After all, he now had everything he’d worked so hard to achieve. He’d found his siblings, his mother’s health was restored, and he’d secured a home for them all.
“Julia, I would never go back on my promise to you.” His eyes glistened. “If you can forgive me for staying away so long, I’ll spend every moment from now on making it up to you.”
Her lips quivered, relief spilling through her. “Of course I forgive you. I’m just happy you’re here.”
He leaned forward and kissed her—a gentle kiss filled with promise. The promise of a life shared together, where she wouldn’t have to face every hurdle alone.
“Rest now,” he said. “We can worry about the future later.”
Quinn was right. She would do herself and the baby no good fretting about events she couldn’t control, like whether or not Richard would continue to harass her or if she would have to go back before the court. Quinn was here, and that was all that mattered for now.
She leaned back against the pillows with a sigh and smiled at her husband. “Now, tell me all about your farm.”