Page 75 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
Jaqueline swiveled toward Colin, her jaw hanging open. “What did you tell her?”
“Nothing.” He turned back to Gisele. “We’re not married. In fact, we just met this morning.”
“Then you. Children need you. Y-you’re kind. Both of you are kind. They’re wonderful babies. Won’t cost much. They know how to work.”
Before either of them could answer, the door flew open, and the children rushed forward. Bettina looked sadly toward Jaqueline, her expression regretful. “I’m sorry. They refused toeat in the cafeteria. Insisted we bring the food back to the room so they could be with their mother.”
Jaqueline watched as each child climbed on the bed, carefully maneuvering so they didn’t nudge or kick Gisele. “Mom, we brought you a sandwich too. And some milk. You need to eat.” Charlie held out a small bag toward his mother, his expression filled with worry and glowing with love.
“Thank you, baby. You always take such good care of me. I need to sleep now. You must listen to Colin. He’s promised to look after you until I wake up.”
Jaqueline’s eyes flew to Colin, and she watched as a curtain fell over his expression. “Yes. Eat up children. Then we’ll go for a walk while you mother sleeps.”
He gestured with his head for Jaqueline to follow him to the other side of the room.
“What is happening here? You told me you weren’t married, and you’re a professor in a British Columbia university. How can you care for two children?”
“Hell if I know. But I promised to bring a lawyer here to the hospital later today so she can sign a form, making me their guardian.” He watched Jaqueline for her reaction, making her believe it truly mattered what she thought.
She held the shock back and kept her face neutral. “What are you doing, Colin? I mean why? So she’ll die peacefully? I don’t understand.”
Both Colin’s hands filtered through his hair, and the paleness of his features was unmistakable. “Christ, my mom always said I was a bleeding heart, and this proves it. I’m sorry. I just can’t stand by and see that poor woman going through the hell of worrying about her kids when she’s in such pain and dying. If I get control over them, we can work things out after the fact.”
“Colin, you have to be crazy to even think of taking on such a huge responsibility without really considering everything. Thoseare little human beings with feelings and fears. Their lives will be disrupted enough with Gisele gone.”
“You think I don’t know that?” He stared into her face, his own showing the stress of his decision. “But what can I do? Who will take them? The foster system? That’s more terrifying to me than knowing I can provide a good home where they’ll be safe… and-and together. Will you help me?”
“Lord above.” First she glanced upwards and then stared into his eyes, thankful he didn’t look away. In fact, the beseeching gaze he sent her way became impossible to ignore. “Of course, I’ll help you. I’ll do everything I can. But it won’t be easy. Trust me. I’m a pediatric nurse, and I’ve seen my share of heartache. I work with children of all ages who are incapacitated and unable to leave their homes. Taking care of older people is one thing, but the kids break my heart. You gotta know that bringing up another person’s offspring… well, that’s a whole different kettle of messy fish.”
Listening closely to her rationalization, he kept a straight face until the end. “Of messy fish. Hmm. A strange way of describing my commitment, but I get your point. Look, I can afford the costs that go along with bringing up a family. I also live in a large, older home with a good-natured housekeeper who comes in every day for a few hours to take care of the place. Dina’s middle-aged with a heart of gold. She’ll take to those kids, and they’ll be well looked after with her.”
“You’ve thought it all out, haven’t you?”
“Truth is, I’ve always seen myself with a large family. Kept trying to get Amanda, my ex-fiancée, to set a date so we could start with baby number one, but she wriggled out of it every time. Now, I can have my dream and help poor Gisele at the same time.”
“Did you have a chance to ask her about their medical background and schooling, etc.”
“She’s told me that everything I’d need to know about Charlie and Maisie has been written down and saved in an envelope in her purse. She kept it with her just in case she collapsed and didn’t recover.” Colin took Jaqueline’s hands in his, and she didn’t pull back but rather clung to him. “Have you ever felt as if you’ve dreamed what’s happening in real life? Like you always knew it would take place… that it felt right somehow? I know it sounds crazy, but even in my dreams, I’ve known I’d be a dad. When I look at Charlie and Maisie, those two loving hearts that care so much about their mom, it seems perfectly natural for me to be the one they turn to. Do I sound like a lunatic?”
Jaqueline lifted their clutched hands and squeezed. “Nope. Know what? It sounds perfect… perfectly logical. I think our being there at just the right time to save them was meant to be. And I want to do whatever I can to help.”
Colin’s stare became heated with a wonderful kind of gentleness, and Jaqueline felt her heart swell. She meant every word she said.
“Even in Vancouver when we get home?”
“Of course, I’ll be there for you and the kids as much as I can be.” Obliging herself to their shared commitment, she felt absolutely justified until she remembered her mother… the sad, lonely hypochondriac who insisted she spend most of her free time at home.
Chapter Five
Gisele sensed her fight to live was ending… fading along with her strength. Over these last few hours, her energy had all but drained away. Obviously, the episode earlier had weakened her severely and could be a factor for her present condition, but if the truth were known, these last few days she’d sensed the sickness invading her body had become a greater issue.
Ugly symptoms showed up when she least expected them. Thankfully, she’d been able to make it to the bathroom in time, shielding the kids from seeing her so pitifully nauseated. Fact is the sudden need to be sick had taken her away from them when the accident had happened. There hadn’t been time to make them come with her. Yet who would have thought that such a freak disaster could happen in those few minutes?
The thought of her kids being trapped and dying under a huge pile of suffocating snow couldn’t be borne. If it hadn’t been for Jaqueline and Colin, they’d be dead, and she’d be responsible.That would surely have drained away her final breath. Without them, she’d have nothing left to fight for.
But things were different now. The need to find them a home had become essential. No more procrastinating. Her final hours had all but sifted through the hourglass. Pleas to the Almighty for Colin to come through as their savior made her hands clasp in a prayerlike way.
“Mom. What’s wrong?” Charlie, who always knew her moods, and eerily, often read her mind, questioned her. “You need to be honest. You’re really sick, aren’t you?” Gisele guided Maisie to cuddle closer, and she turned to Charlie pleadingly. “Truth?”
