“She needs motivation to encourage her to start doing more, but nothing I’ve said makes a difference,” Sister Carmella Catherine told Creighton and Sandra as they walked her to her car later that evening. “Then maybe the family can help,” Sandra said, handing the woman’s suitcase to her husband who placed it in the trunk.“She’s a much stronger woman than she’s pretending to be. If she would channel that anger into her recovery, she’d be hopping down those stairs.”“Let’s just hope she can find her gumption once she’s back with Peter and forced to fend for herself. She’s going to be alone all day without help, so if she wants to eat or go to the toilet, she’ll have to do it on her own.”“She will never admit it to anyone,” the nun said, glancing across her shoulder to the woman as Peter helped her back into the house. “I’ve heard her up at night using the loo, and I’ve seen drink glasses on her dresser that wasn’t there when she went to bed. I’m a light sleeper, and I know it hasn’t
“We’ll make the announcement as soon as we have a date set and start on the plans,” Andrew told her as they lay embraced in each other’s arms a short time later. “Were you wanting the big white wedding?”“I don’t want anything large, but it would be nice to have the families there,” she told him, holding her hand up to admire the ring.“Do you want me to arrange the church in Northallerton, or ours here in London?”“Your family has all been married in Northallerton.”“We aren’t our families,” he assured her. “Where do you want to get married?”“I’ve always wanted the church wedding with flowers and an organist. I don’t think I want the extended family there, like Creighton did for Sandra, but I do have a few cousins I’d like to invite.”“Do you have a dream date you’ve always thought about?”“I’d love a winter wedding with a fur trimmed gown and red roses. Something Christmassy.”“Will you have enough time to plan one by the end of the year?” Andrew asked, taking her hand and kissing
The doorbell rang, bringing Peter’s eyes up off the newspaper he had been reading. They arrived back at the flat midmorning, having flown back to London by use of Creighton’s helicopter. They went to the hospital for her first therapy session, then returned and ate the meal his mother had prepared for them, before Irena told him she needed a nap. Choosing to take the guest bedroom over climbing stairs, she laid down on the bed and quickly fell asleep. Peter had worked diligently over the past two weeks, and with Creighton’s insistence he hired movers, as well as the assistance of his own siblings, he managed to move their belongings in and unpack before going to Yorks on Sunday. All Irena had to worry about was finding where he had put everything.“Hey,” the younger man said, opening the door to find Creighton, Sandra and their children in the hallway.“We thought we’d bring you a housewarming gift,” Sandra told him, walking in as he held the door open.“You’re always welcome, but Ir
“I keep forgetting,” Irena said with a soft frown. “Besides getting fat, I don’t have any of the usual symptoms of pregnancy. I haven’t thrown up once.”“Thank your lucky stars for that,” Sandra told her as she stuffed the last bite of bread into her mouth.“Just remember Twitter-bug, you said you wanted to keep busy,” Creighton teased using the nickname he had given her as a child. “We’re just helping you start your practice.”“And Creighton wants at least five children, so you’ll have more coming your way from us.”“At least I’ll be able to pay the mortgage,” Irena said with a grin.“We have a present for you,” Grace told her aunt, coming to stand next to her as she pushed the walker back and forth. “Mummy has it in her plus.”“Her purse,” Creighton chuckled, taking his daughter’s arm and pulling her away from the metal device.Sandra removed a box from her oversized purse and handed it to Grace who promptly gave it to her aunt. Irena stared at it with a suspicious frown, her finger
The afternoon was filled with one surprise after another. They went to St Luke’s Gardens where they found a park bench close to the children’s playground. The adults watched while Grace and Brandon played, then encouraged the men into participating in a game of Frisbee. Irena laughed and cheered while Creighton and Grace formed a team against Peter and Brandon. Sandra laughed as the bright orange disc flew over her husband’s head, then cheered when Grace sent it skimming across the grass and into the small pond. “I’m so glad you decided to come with us,” Sandra told her sister-in-law, handing her a glass of her husband’s organic orange juice. “Grace has missed you.”“She’s seen me nearly every day,” Irena told her with an amused grin. “But it hasn’t been like this. You’ve been…moody, and the kids haven’t missed it.”Irena was silent for several long moments as she watched the others playing and Sandra feared she may have overstepped the line between comfort and retaliation.“Do you
“Why did you ask Irena to be your physician?” Creighton asked as they reclined on the sofa of their luxurious hotel, the kids asleep and the soft sound of rain tapping on the windowpanes. “I thought you liked Dr. Kingston.”“I do, but I thought it would help push her into getting back to work,” Sandra answered with a soft shrug then took a sip of her hot chocolate. “You saw how she acted at supper the other night. Giving her something to focus on besides self-pity brought her back to the family, even if it was just for a short time.”“And two or three weeks? You know you just saw your doctor on Friday and you only go monthly.”“Sister Carmella Catherine said she needed motivation to start doing more. This will give her a timeframe to focus on.”“You’re a very sneaky woman, Sandra Ashford,” he told her, kissing the top of her head.“I learned from my husband,” she answered with a smile.“I’m sorry I have to leave next week,” Creighton said after a few quiet moments. “If there was any o
Creighton groaned as he began to thrust, the vibrations caressing them both with each stroke. She could feel him growing thicker, her muscles quivering and gripping around him as she felt the restraints of the dam weaken. With three additional strokes, she felt the dizzy insanity begin to surround her, the floodgates bursting as she clung to the blankets. Her hips rose to meet his thrusts as he growled, filling her deep recesses with the heat of his climax.Creighton allowed her to continue as he thrust against her, twitching slightly inside her tight body. At last she began to moan in exhaustion, her breathing escaping her lungs in deep ragged pants. He shut off the cylinder and pulled out of her, then removed the vibrator and tossed it to the bed next to them as he sat down by her hips, his large hands caressing her inner thigh.“As always,” he growled as he fell backwards, his heart pounding and his breath labored slightly, “that was incredible. I don’t know what it is about this l
Moments ticked onwards into seconds until they found their release together, basking each other with the heat of their fulfillment, their bodies quaking as they relented to the final thrust.“Am I forgiven?” he asked as he lay across her, his lips once again caressing her neck.“You may need to apologize a couple more times,” she giggled.“I’ll have to see what I can do,” he promised as he began to slowly thrust against her once more.Sandra arranged for Harvey to drive her and Irena into London to do some shopping while Peter and Creighton stayed home with the children. Rochelle was scheduled to arrive around four that afternoon, which left five hours to shop and eat. She was impressed that Irena was doing so well with her canes, though they did take the walking slow.They visited four shops of baby clothes and furniture, then stopped for lunch shortly after one o’clock. With her husband’s insistence, Sandra purchased enough clothes for both babies, along with several items for Sabri
Sandra hung up the phone with a slam, then glanced to her grandparents who were sitting at the kitchen table. She was starting to get angry with all the rejections and dead-end avenues. She called Davies and told him she wanted him to get the plane ready to go to France, only to be told the police had restricted his flying. They were concerned that whomever it was that had killed her husband would try and sabotage the jet.She was getting frustrated and felt like she was being held back. If she didn’t know better, she would think she was being placed under lockdown. She could understand the police’s concern, but she had more men around her then they had at Fort Knox, and she would be willing to take all of them with her if she needed to.“I can’t leave the house, I can’t go to France, I can’t even gather eggs,” she grumbled as she joined the older couple. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t sit here and wait until doomsday to find out what happened to my husband.”“Honey, you’re going
The room was warm as the setting sun shone through the blinds. Two detectives sat on the sofa, watching as the man continued to pace the floor. Trying to keep him calm was growing increasingly harder with each hour.Creighton could only assume the horror his family was going through, not to mention Sandra. They had been having difficulties, but this made all of that seem trivial. He had to call her, he had to contact her somehow and let her know he was alive, but the police were refusing to allow him the chance. They had to keep him concealed for the time being, though it was steadily becoming impossible. The man was acting like a caged animal, anxiously trying to find a means of escape.“How much longer do we have to sit here?” he growled, looking to those gathered around.“We need you to remain patient for a little longer,” a bald-headed man told him. “Monsieur Ashford, we understand what you’re going through…”“Like hell you do,” Creighton snapped. “I have a pregnant wife at home w
“I know she’ll be happy when it’s over,” Emma said, returning to the room, her eyes red from the tears she’d been wiping away. “She can’t let Brandon go to school, and she has to keep the children inside instead of letting them go out to play.”“I’m sure they are going stir crazy,” Cathy said with a frown. “Especially Grace. That little girl is used to having the freedom of the farm to run and play.”“The only good thing is the weather,” William told them. “It’s been really wet, and she doesn’t like getting her dresses dirty.”“Sounds like her aunt,” Andrew said with a soft chuckle.“Maybe we should take this meeting over to my sister’s,” Cathy suggested with a sideways grin.“Let me call Derek and Kristin,” William said, standing and walking to the phone on the wall. “They wanted to know what you found out.”“Just have them meet us at Sandra’s,” Andrew told him. “We can discuss this all there.”“I thought Sabrina and Irena would be here,” Cathy said, looking at Emma who was wrapping
Parker and Harvey held off the reporters for as long as they could alone, then eventually had to call NHT’s security. Within a few short hours, there were enough burly looking men to scare off anyone trying to get near the house. Sandra kept her children inside, though it really wasn’t difficult. The rain had eased by supper, but just like the past several days, it picked up again this morning.Max growled as he laid of the entry. The noise of cameras clicking, and the soft hum of voices mingled among the breezes of the day. She had tried to watch television, but every station was reporting on the accident. Eventually, she had no choice but to surrender and put on Grace’s favorite princess movie. At least it kept them from listening to those who insisted that there was no hope in finding any answers this soon.Sandra drew a deep breath as she wiped the moisture from her forehead. She had decided to keep herself busy and baked two apple pies, along with nearly a hundred sugar cookies.
“No, it’s about assuming you knew what I would want. You did this, claiming it was for us when it was for you. You can’t stand the idea that your little sister has something you never would. It was bad enough when I felt like I was competing with Creighton for your attention, but now I’m watching you compete with Sandra for the mother of the year award.”“Stop comparing me to Sandra!” Cathy screamed. “It’s not my fault she’s perfect. She’s always been everyone’s favorite. I can’t tell you how many boyfriends I’ve dumped after I found out they were using me to get close to her. I didn’t want Creighton, but after he chose her over me, it made me angry. I was competing with her again, and she was too stupid to realize it. He chose that simple, no makeup, no fuss girl over me. She shares his bed, when I’m a better lover then she would ever be. She has his money, his admiration, your parents’ admiration, even my grandparents enjoy spending time with her over me. She even has a perfect body
“Maybe Michelle heard from him,” the boy said hopefully.“I haven’t spoken with her, but I want to call in the morning. She may know something more than the police do.”The two were silent for a long time as they considered their own thoughts, until Sandra realized the tea was gone. She looked to Brandon who looked like he was finally able to fall asleep, then stood and took the cups to the sink.“Come on, son,” she told him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s see if we can get some sleep.”“Mum, can I come sleep with you?” Brandon asked once they reached the second floor of their house.Sandra smiled and hugged the boy, nodding as he looked up to her.“You can sleep on your daddy’s side,” she told him. “Just don’t tell him I let you in our bed. He may get jealous.”Brandon smiled as he walked with her into the bedroom. Sandra helped him between the covers and tucked him in, then left to check on Grace. The house was silent and soft snores of her little girl could be heard
Sandra paced her bedroom trying to stop her mind from racing through the events of the day. Derek had come home after his mother called him, insisting on picking up Brandon from school. Sabrina called to say the reporters were going crazy with the news of the Tornado’s fire and that she and Giovanni would be home as soon as they could get there.Irena spoke with her parents and insisted on calling in a prescription for Sandra’s nerves, though she refused to use it. She needed to stay alert and concentrate in order to determine what was going on. The last thing she needed was to surrender to the effects of a drug.After speaking with Andrew, William informed the rest of the family about Cathy’s surgery, though he wouldn’t go into detail. He assured them he would check into the reports from his end and stay abreast of the investigation. Once Cathy felt like traveling, they would drive out to Yorkshire to be with the family.Nana tried to get Sandra to let her stay overnight, but she was
Sandra opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her bedroom, yet she couldn’t remember laying down. The house was silent and the soft pattering of rain outside reminded her that the dog had made a muddy mess of the entry. Then she remembered her grandfather and William coming over, and slowly began to piece together the last thing she remembered.There had been an accident on the Tornado and three bodies were found. She knew in her heart it wasn’t Creighton. She couldn’t even begin to guess who would have been on their ship, or how it ended up at sea, but she knew her husband wasn’t the one killed. Now all she had to do, was convince the others into believing her.Sandra stepped down the stairs to hear Grace talking to her great-grandfather, the dog running from one room to another as he chased his rope and the smells of food drifting out of the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and saw Papa sitting beside Grace, one of her own books open in front of him as he listened to
Sandra stared at the two men for a long moment as their words began to sink in. When she spoke with her husband earlier that morning, he was still at the hotel. He didn’t mention having plans of returning to the yacht. Why would he go back there when he told her he was packing to come home?Then she thought about the bodies found. One was female. Who was it? Did Creighton lie to her about not being involved with Garcon’s assistant? Had he gone there to meet with her, perhaps a final rendezvous before coming home to his family?“Did you hear what we said?” Papa asked her.“It’s impossible,” she began, her anger taking over her words. Sandra looked down at Grace who was trying to wipe the muddy water from her little dress. She hadn’t understood what her grandparents were saying. All she cared about was her soiled outfit.“Sweetheart, go upstairs and find a clean dress,” Sandra told the little girl. “Put that one in the hamper and warsh your hands. We’ll make lunch when you’ve finished.