MINA PUT HER hand on Kiah’s arm, squeezing it with perhaps a little more force than was really necessary.
At least in his opinion.
“Stop glaring at that boy, Hezekiah. You’re going to make him pee his pants.”
She’d whispered it out of the corner of her mouth, obviously trying to be discreet. Kiah had no such reservations.
“Good. At least then I’ll know he knows who’s the boss.”
“Come back inside and give them some privacy,” she said, tugging him away from the back door and the veranda, where Charm and Ramesh were sitting.
“They don’t need privacy. They’re too young for privacy,” he grumbled, even as he was letting her lead him through into the living room. “I don’t know why they couldn’t sit in here with us.”
Mina just chuckled, and Granny gave him one of her dry looks.
“Charm is sixteen now, Kiah. You have to give her some leeway. After all, you were the one who said she could start dating at this age.”
“Me? Oh, hell no. I think my plan was that she didn’t start until she was thirty. Mina begged for her, and now this is what we’ve got. Ramesh on the back veranda.”
“But you’ve known Ramesh for years.” Mina sank onto the couch with a heartfelt sigh, and patted the cushion beside her, until he sat down too. “And you like him.”
“I liked Ramesh, until he started giving Charm those longing looks. Now I’m not too sure.”
Mina giggled, then groaned. “Stop being such a fuddy-duddy and rub my feet for me. That operation yesterday has me aching all over.”
Given a new topic to worry over, Kiah sank his teeth into it, even as he reached out and gently received the body parts that needed attention onto his lap.
“As for that, why did you think it a good idea, at seven months pregnant, to supervise a five-hour operation? Couldn’t John have done that? You’ve been training him to take over while you’re on maternity leave.”
“He’s good, but I need to make sure we can deliver what we say we can.” She gave a little moan of appreciation when Kiah rubbed her arches. “John will do fine, and I’ve promised to be on call, just in case, but that hip surgery was complex, and I wanted to supervise it myself.”
“Well, no more of that. You need to take better care of yourself, and our daughter.”
Mina chuckled. “Aye, aye, Captain,” she replied with a saucy expression on her beloved face.
Just looking at her made him content, filled his heart with joy and the kind of peace that had eluded him most of his life. This second pregnancy was unplanned, but Kiah had been elated when it happened. It wasn’t ideal for Mina’s health that their son, asleep in his crib, would only be seventeen months older than his sister, but Mina’s prenatal checkups had been good, and he loved how happy she was.
He hadn’t thought it possible, but he loved her a little more every day. Thank God he hadn’t let his fears drive her away. She’d given him time and space to consider the question of children, not saying anything about it until he’d brought it up himself. This second pregnancy was, though, the last, according to Mina.
“Three is enough,” she’d said, once she’d gotten over the shock, and he’d agreed, although, secretly, he wouldn’t mind one more. Since he wasn’t the one bearing or having to deliver the child, whether to have another or not wasn’t a choice he felt qualified to make.
He heard Charm’s laughter faintly, since he’d left the door open, and his attention was snagged once more.
“I wonder what’s going on out there,” he grumbled, wishing he could see through the walls separating them. “I’m thinking of putting cameras up around the house. For security reasons,” he added quickly, when Miss Pearl gave him a withering look.
Mina started laughing so hard she held her belly, as though it hurt.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, pinching her little toe.
“I was just thinking,” she said, hardly able to get the words out through her continued mirth. “By the time you get over Charm growing up and dating, it will be time for this little one to start.”
“Oh, mercy,” he groaned, horrified by the thought. “Are you trying to make me go gray, all at once? Don’t say things like that.”
“And if she follows family tradition, we better start looking at any boy she meets when she’s twelve, just in case.”
“Yes,” he agreed, chuckling with her, caught up in her amusement. “Apparently we fall in love young, and never get over it.”
“Who better to fall for but your best friend?” she asked, sending him a look so full of love his heart stuttered with pleasure.
“No one, my sweet girl. No one.”
If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Ann McIntosh
Awakened by Her Brooding Brazilian
The Nurse’s Christmas Temptation
Surgeon Prince, Cinderella Bride
The Surgeon’s One Night to Forever
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Sarah and the Single Dad by Deanne Anders.