“NOW!” BELLOWED UTTAM from across the cricket pitch. “Isn’t this much better than ice hockey?”
Syman lowered the cricket bat. “No, but it’s fun. I like it, Grandpapa.”
Uttam laughed. “Good!”
“Good!” Sophie squawked from her outside perch, making Syman laugh, which in turn made Uttam laugh and then Aruna laughed from where she was sitting under an awning with her newest grandchild, Farhan and Sara’s little boy, Ali, in her arms.
Jeena was wandering away from the cricket and the tent. She was hot and uncomfortable and still had a couple months left of her pregnancy.
Her parents were coming for a visit soon and she couldn’t wait to see them again. They video-called most nights with Syman, and Maazin had taken Syman and her back once to visit them, but once Jeena had found out she was pregnant, with twins no less, she couldn’t go anywhere and she was feeling a bit cooped up.
Maazin had been busy with the university plans and helping to get Kalyana back on its feet. New homes were being built. Homes and businesses on Petrie Island, and many of the other islands, were almost all rebuilt now and things were going smoothly.
Kalyana was thriving again and would be more than ready if another cyclone like Blandine hit. Jeena loved being back in her home country, though she did miss Canada, but she loved being with her people again and being with Maazin. If only she could get back to work.
She really hated not being able to work out in the field, but Maazin was being way too overprotective.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Jeena turned around to see Maazin strolling towards her, carrying a glass of iced tea. He handed her the glass and she gladly took a sip.
“I was uncomfortable. The canopy your mother had set up might keep the sun off everything, but it doesn’t keep out the heat.”
Maazin reached out and touched her belly. “You really should be sitting down. With twins you could be early. You’re a doctor, you should know better.”
“Haven’t you ever heard that doctors make the worst patients?”
Maazin cocked an eyebrow. “No. I haven’t heard that.”
“Well, they do.” Jeena sighed. “I promise I’ll go and sit down again. I just wanted a little walk to see if I could catch a breeze.”
Maazin kissed the top of her head. “Remember the cool breezes on Patang Island?”
“Yes. I do.” She closed her eyes. “Are you offering to take me there?”
“No. Not in your condition, but tonight when we go home we can go for a swim in the pool. Just the two of us.”
“What about Syman?”
“He wants to spend the night with Grandpapa.”
They both looked back to see their son finally catch a cricket ball on the end of his bat. The ball rolled over to Uttam who fell back, acting like he’d been hit, but really was hoping to catch Syman unawares to get a hug from him.
“They really are alike, aren’t they?” Jeena asked.
“It’s uncanny.” And it was. She had always sort of suspected that Syman’s stubborn streak and athletic side came from Maazin’s side of the family. She’d just had no idea how well Syman would take to Uttam. Syman also loved Farhan and Sara. And since Sara was Canadian as well, she understood what it meant when he used words like “tuque” and “pop” to her.
And Syman doted on his newest cousin. Almost like a big brother would.
Syman fit in so seamlessly with his newfound family it did her heart good.
“So, what do you think? Do you want to go for a swim later with me?” her husband asked huskily, interrupting her thoughts.
Jeena stood on tiptoe. “How about we go back now? No one will notice if we leave.”
“They’ll notice if we leave. Father has this big meal planned with some dignitaries and... You don’t look too impressed.”
“I’m exhausted and I think if we told your father that I was he’d let us leave now. Do you really feel like having a dinner with all these stuffy people and talk politics in this heat?”
Maazin wrinkled his nose. “No. You’re right. Not particularly.”
“I think he’ll understand if we slip away.” She wrapped her arms around him. “We can go home and swim now. We can also swim later and then just spend the rest of the evening in bed.”
“I think that plan is what got you into this condition in the first place,” Maazin teased.
Jeena laughed. “What do you say, Your Highness?”
Maazin chuckled and kissed her. “That sounds like a good plan, my love. That sounds like a good plan indeed.”
“Good.” She kissed him. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
“No, but why don’t you tell me now?” he said archly as he kissed her again.
“I love you. I didn’t believe in all those old fairy-tales, the ones where a prince came and swept a girl off her feet, but now I’m a believer.”
Maazin caressed her cheek. “I just wish my sweeping you off your feet had gone a bit more smoothly and in a more timely fashion.”
“That only happens in movies. Real life is a lot messier and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Maazin kissed her again before taking her hand as they walked off together.
Happy that their happily-ever-after had come at last.
If you missed the previous story in the Cinderellas to Royal Brides duet, look out for
Surgeon Prince, Cinderella Bride
by Ann McIntosh
And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Amy Ruttan
The Surgeon’s Convenient Husband
Carrying the Surgeon’s Baby
NY Doc Under the Northern Lights
A Date with Dr. Moustakas
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Dr. Right for the Single Mom by Alison Roberts.
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