Page 9 of Hazy Shade of Winter

I open the first contract from the travel nurse agency. It's an amazing offer in sunny California—the pay is twice as much as I'm making now. I stroll through the rest of the contract knowing in my heart I don't want to leave Wintervale and Turner.

"California. Is that your next assignment?" I gasp and look over my shoulder to where Turner is walking by my chair with a cooing Hope in his arms. "I'm sure you'll like it there." He pastes on a fake smile and walks down the hall to the makeshift nursery we set up for Hope with borrowed baby supplies and furniture from our family and friends. Today is the first time we've had a few moments alone during the day to ourselves without the constant string of visitors all wanting to hold Hope.

My heart sinks.Has he given up on us so quickly?

I follow him to the nursery, watching as he gently lays Hope down in the borrowed crib, "I'm sure I'd like it there also." His shoulders tense at my words but I press on. "But only if I was there on vacation with you."

He straightens up and spins around to look at me, his eyes filled with hope, "What do you mean? Isn't that your new job assignment?"

"That's one of them. I've also been offered a permanent full time job at the Wintervale labor and delivery department." I pause waiting for his reaction.

"You want to stay here in Wintervale?"

"Yes." I throw my arms around his neck. "I want to stay here with you, the man I love."

His body relaxes as he pulls me tight against him, "I love you too, Hazel." His lips crash into mine as he kisses me passionately showing me without words how much he loves me.

"Gross. Do you have to do that in front of the baby?" Tessa's voice cuts through our lust filled haze and we reluctantly pull apart.

"Don't you ever knock?" Turner growls, slipping his arm around my waist and pulling me against his side where I belong.

"Hey, well you're going to want to see this." She steps aside letting a shy young woman step inside.

"Hannah?" I step out of Turner's arms and rush over to the woman with Tessa. "Are you Hope's mother?" I clasp her hands in mine searching her eyes for an answer.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm so sorry I never should have abandoned my baby like that." Tears fill her eyes. "Can I see my baby? I missed her so much."

"Sure." I say, leading her to the crib where Turner is standing guard over Hope with his arms crossed. "Turner." I say.

Reluctantly he uncrosses his arms and steps aside letting Hannah go to her baby.

"Mommy missed you so much." Hannah places her hands under the baby and lifts her to her chest holding her close. "I'm never going to leave you again."

"Is this her? Is this my daughter?" A young man not much older than Hannah steps inside the room. His gaze lovingly falling on Hope. He steps forward taking her tiny hand in his. "I'm never going to let my girls go again."

"Why did you let her go the first time?" Turner asks what we are all thinking.

"I needed to find a job and a place to live before I could come back and claim my girl." The young man looks at Hannah with hearts in his eyes—the same way she's looking at him. "Well girls now." He smiles down at his daughter like a proud father before looking back at Turner. "It took me longer than I thought it would, but I've got a really good job that pays well and has great benefits. I rented us a nice little house. And I was planning to come back for Hannah next week but your mom and her friends found both of us and here we are to take our little girl home."

I can see the disappointment in Turner's eyes as the realization hits him that Hope is no longer our responsibility. But like the kind hearted soul he is, he hides his feelings and offers to help pack up all of Hopes borrowed supplies since they are now hers according to everyone who donated them.

An hour later Hope is packed and everyone has left, leaving me and Turner alone in his home for the first time.

"It's awfully quiet in here without a baby crying to be fed or changed." Turner tries to joke but I see the sadness in his eyes.

"I have an idea. Why don't we work on starting a family of our own?"

A smile breaks out across Turner's face. "Are you sure? Because the moment I make love to you, you're mine. I'll never let you go. If you run, I'll follow."

"I'm positive. I'm tired of running. I want to stay here with you and raise a house full of babies."

Turner slides one arm under my arms and one under my knees as he picks me up bridal style and carries me to his bedroom to start working on baby number one.

eleven

Turner

By the time Icrawl into bed next to Hazel I've stripped off all of her clothes and mine. "Beautiful." I run my hands over her tight beaded nipples, loving how responsive they are to my touch. "I can't wait until our babies are suckling from these beauties." I bend down pulling one of her hard nipples into my mouth taking my turn to worship her breasts.

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