“Oh, I just want to see this little person for real,” Bella said, wiping away tears. “I don’t really care what we’re having, just so long as the baby is healthy.”
“You don’t have much longer to go and all of the baby’s measurements look great,” Liz said. “Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy because when the baby arrives you won’t have much time to rest.”
“Do you have kids?” Heath asked. Liz seemed to know what she was talking about.
“Yes,” Liz replied, flashing him a big smile. “Don’t gasp, but I have five. Two sets of twins.”
“Goodness!” Bella exclaimed. “That’s quite a brood.”
“Bless you,” Heath said. “My folks raised eight kids, so I approve.”
“Wait. Are you a Donahue?” Liz asked, her eyes widening.
“I sure am,” Heath said. “How did you know? The eight kids comment?”
“Yes,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “I went to school with your brother Parker. And I’m a huge fan of the Silver Spoon diner. I love your parents,” Liz said. “Their food is heavenly.”
“Thanks,” Heath said with a grin, rubbing his stomach. “I was raised on that diner food.”
“What a small world,” Bella said.
“It really is,” Liz agreed. “Heath, please tell Parker I said hello. I heard he was married recently. Tell him congratulations from his old school friend.”
“I sure will,” Heath said. Today had turned into such a joyful experience. His chest was practically on fire from the warmth that had been stoked inside it. Warm and fuzzies. It was his mother’s favorite expression for when you felt something heartwarming and wonderful. He felt it deep down in his soul. When he had been in the depths of depression, life had seemed very fractured and uncertain. It hadn’t seemed as if there was much to look forward to in his life. A dark cloud had hung over him. Happiness had been in short supply during that time.
How very wrong he had been. Life was wonderful. There was so much on the horizon to look forward to. This moment in time—this precious, spectacular moment would be forever tattooed on his heart. He didn’t know what they were having—a boy or a girl—and it didn’t really matter to him. Either way, he knew this child was going to be the single most important person in his world. God had blessed both him and Bella. There was no way in the world Heath wasn’t going to be thankful for this tiny little life growing inside Bella. Hope seemed to be all around him. All he needed to do was believe.
“Facing the past isn’t an option for adopted children. We need that closure, no matter where the journey takes us. There isn’t really a choice.”
Caleb Donahue
Chapter Five
Bella drummed her fingers on the counter at her father’s place of business. From where she was sitting she could see Pelican Bay Harbor and the fishermen and boats in the distance. For Bella it was an incredibly calming vista. Growing up in Pelican Bay, Bella had always been surrounded by water. She was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Fish Tails was so quiet one could almost hear a pin drop. The problems with her father’s shop broke her heart. For the life of her, Bella couldn’t figure out how her father’s robust business had taken such a rapid nosedive. Her dad was trying to keep a stiff upper lip about the situation, but if things didn’t turn around soon, Fish Tails might be in big trouble. It was so hard to imagine it going out of business since the shop had been a part of her life ever since the day she was born. What would her father do without it? She let out a ragged sigh. Jimmy Vincente had endured so many losses in his life. She prayed he wouldn’t have to suffer much more.
The jangle of the bell hanging over the door caused Bella to sit up straight in her seat behind the counter. A customer! With a smile on her face, she turned towards the door, a greeting on her lips. Her jaw dropped when Heath sailed through the door.
What was he doing here at Fish Tails? Something told her it had absolutely nothing to do with the merchandise.
“Afternoon, Bella,” Heath said, walking over to the counter and grinning at her. “You look beautiful today. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” she said in a curt voice. “What brings you out here?”
She wanted to let out a groan of frustration. What was Heath doing stopping by her dad’s shop in the middle of the afternoon? And why was he complimenting her as if they were still together? Hadn’t he gotten the message the other day when he had asked her out to dinner after the ultrasound appointment? She had made it crystal clear that they were still broken up and going out on dinner dates wasn’t going to happen. Heath had taken it in stride. He hadn’t even seemed mollified by her rejection. Bella should have known. Heath hadn’t given up on them. And from the looks of it, he wasn’t showing any signs of backing off.
And she couldn’t ignore the rush of feeling flowing through her at the prospect of being pursued by Heath. He was making it hard for her to resist his charms.
Heath looked so handsome in his oatmeal-colored shirt and blue jeans. His rugged physique radiated pure, raw energy. Why in the world did he have to be so gorgeous? It was hard staying mad at him, but she still felt angry. She didn’t want it to fester inside her, because she was a firm believer that babies felt emotions from their mother inside the womb. But she wasn’t going to give Heath a pass and reunite with him as if he hadn’t trampled all over her heart. Frankly, she didn’t trust him enough. He had burned her badly. At the moment, her heart couldn’t take any more. It was far better not to fall back into his arms and get caught up in the dream of happily ever afters.
“I was in the neighborhood on a home construction job and I wanted to check in on you.” He dropped a brown paper bag on the counter. “Just a little something to make you smile.”
Bella wrinkled her nose. “What is it?”
“Look inside and see,” Heath suggested, arching his brows in her direction.
Bella peeked inside the brown paper bag and let out a gasp. “Ooooh. Peanut butter cups. My favorite!”