All Chapters of Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele: Chapter 221 - Chapter 230

[Cordelia]Even though I've had weeks to plan and pack, I'm still not ready to go home to California. "Wait a minute!" I call as I throw the last of our items into a carry-on bag. "We can send for whatever you forget," Henri is pacing outside by the taxi. "Is your mom meeting us there?""No!" I shout down, "Do you think you can go pick her up while I finish packing." He doesn't look happy at the suggestion. If anything he looks pissed that I am forcing him to compromise on his itinerary that had us arriving at the airport 2 hours early. He is a stickler for maintaining a schedule, a trait of his I do not appreciate as I tend to be more of a "seat of the pants" type of person. Left in peace, I finally have enough room to think about everything I need. Once I feel satisfied that I haven't forgotten anything, I do one final sweep just to make sure. The emerald ring, the last present I received from the admirer, sits on my dresser shining in the light. Grabbing the box, I shove it in

[Cordelia]Watching the sun dip below the horizon, I let the warm energy fill me as I find bliss in just being here with my little one. While I won't regret the time I've gotten to spend with my mother, I made a mistake moving north. I was fleeing my memories of the love Atlas and I shared when I should have been embracing those memories. Taking a seat in the glider, nurse Jasper and watch contentedly as he falls into a milk-induced slumber. Setting him in his crib, I go next door to my room to enjoy a few quiet moments alone before my little one eventually wakes and needs me again.Overwhelmed by exhaustion and intense emotions, I pull off my clothing, throw on one of Atlas' old shirts, and let my body sink into the mattress. Listening to the quiet sounds of the waves as they crash on the beach in the distance, I let the pure darkness of this place bring me true peace as I drift into oblivion. Disoriented, my body jolts awake with the sound o

[Cordelia]"That's because he's going to have a special monument," she tosses those words over her shoulder casually as if stating something annoyingly obvious as she waves us through security.Recognizing me, the guard tips his hat as we pass. "Welcome home, Mrs. Steele.""Thank you, Stelly," I wave, grateful I remember his name. Looking over he notices Jasper in my mother's arms and his face softens. "Is that...?""Yes," I nod, my smile growing. "This is little Mr. Steele, Jasper."While the guard shakes the baby's little hand, Sydney stands waiting at the elevator, stomping her feet and looking at her watch as if each minute were costing her something valuable.But there isn't anything more important than Jasper learning his legacy. Atlas loved this company, as did his grandfather. It is a family business, even if it is a big one. As soon as we enter, the elevator Sydney presses the button for the executive floor. I press the button right below for the design department. "I want t

[Cordelia]On the other side of the door is the type of joyful space you'd expect in any pediatrician's office. Warm sunlight streams through high windows illuminating a saltwater fish tank that takes up a corner of the room. There is a rack of magazines and a small bookcase with parenting books. A group of children with a very tired-looking mother with 3 kids under 5 years old watch the colorful fish swim. That could have been me, in a different life where Atlas had married me out of love and not necessity. I give her a sympathetic smile as we are escorted into Dr. Smithe's office. It is a very large and comfortable examination room, with soft cushioned couches for us to sit on and a more proper examination table in the distance. A few moments later, Dr. Smithe enters the room and her sunny disposition brightens the room as she approaches us."You must be Cordelia," she holds out her hand for me to shake. "And this must be little Jasper."I open the carrier so that she can get a be

[Cordelia]We followed Clark and the police officer to a private office away from the rest of the hospital. It didn't have the antiseptic feel of the emergency room, nor the unflattering overhead florescent lighting. Instead, it had soft chairs and sunshine. Just outside the window is a beautiful rose garden. It seems wrong that we are disturbing this space."This the hospice wing," Clark explains and it makes sense. This is the part of the hospital where the very old and the terminally ill come to spend their last days. They want those days to be peaceful and pleasant. "I recognize it from Grandpa Jasper," his voice is soft and sad. He looks at little Jasper bundled in my arms and his eyes fill with tears. "Why did they bring us here, Clark?" my voice is shaking and Tilly grabs my arm. A doctor walks through the door and takes a chair across from us. "I brought you here because I am hoping you'll allow me to be your specialist. After looking at your son's scans, I am certain I can h