Authors: Sophia Knightly
“No problem, sir. I’ll get you there,” he said, hitting the accelerator.
Paolo sat back against the vinyl-covered seat and hoped he’d get there alive. Good thing Mercy Hospital wasn’t very far. They sped over the Julia Tuttle Bridge as memories came flooding back of Claudia as a child. She was almost five when they had lost their father. Following Papá’s death, their mother had sunk into a deep depression. Paolo, fourteen years older, had held Claudia’s trembling body in his arms and rocked her when she had woken up crying on many nights. Cradling her on his lap, he had dried her tears, patted her back and consoled her as much as he could.
In those middle-of-the-night moments, Claudia had asked hard questions, demanding to know where Papá was and when he would come back. Paolo had always replied that Papá was happy in heaven and watching over them. He wasn’t sure how much Claudia had finally understood, but he hoped that being comforted in her big brother’s arms had helped.
“I’m scared,” Claudia had cried, burying her little face against his chest.
“Hush, nena, I’m here,” he had said, hugging her tighter.
“You won’t leave me like Papá did?” she had always asked anxiously.
“I won’t leave. I’ll be here for you, no matter what,” he had promised.
He had kept his word until last night. Why had he passed out like that? He couldn’t believe he wasn’t with Claudia the one time in her life she needed him the most. Over the years he’d helped raise his baby sister, she’d gone from being an incorrigible prankster to a fun-loving young woman. Yet she was a mother now, facing huge responsibilities for the first time in her life.
The taxi screeched to a halt in front of the hospital, jarring Paolo from his musings. He quickly paid the driver and then rushed to the information desk where he was directed to the maternity ward. When he arrived at the fourth floor maternity center, Paolo went straight to the nurse’s station.
“Is Claudia Santos here?” he asked the tall, wiry nurse manning the counter. “I mean Woodbridge…Claudia Woodbridge. Did she already give birth?”
The nurse put on horn-rimmed reading glasses and peered into the computer screen. “Just a minute. I’ll check for you. Are you her husband?” she inquired, checking the list of maternity patients.
“No, I’m her brother—Paolo Santos.”
“Oh.” She furrowed her thin brows and took her time to check the list.
“Please, I’m Claudia’s only relative here. I need to see her now!”
“Your sister is fine.” The nurse’s weathered face broke into a warm smile. “Congratulations, Mr. Santos, your nephew was just born.”
“Thank you!” He was so happy he almost grabbed her and kissed her right there. “Is my sister all right? Did everything go well?”
“Everything went just fine. Mrs. Woodbridge is still in recovery. She’ll be taken to the post-partum room soon.”
Paolo felt as if an elephant’s foot had been lifted from his chest. “Where is recovery?”
“Downstairs—second floor. Turn right after you exit the elevators.”
Paolo sprinted to the elevator and punched the button for the second floor.
Hurry up!
¡Apurate!
he thought as the elevator slowly descended.
Good thing Maki had taken charge of Claudia. How could he thank her enough for helping his sister? What would they have done without her? Maki was so responsible. He remembered how she had left the note pinned to his shirt so he would see it as soon as he woke up. Knowing her, he’d never live that one down.
He arrived on the second floor and explained to the attending nurse that he was Claudia’s older brother. After a bit of interrogation, she finally led him to the recovery room area.
“Is she okay? Can I see her?” he asked.
Nurse Ramirez, an efficient, young woman, barely five feet tall but with an authoritative presence, smiled at him. “Don’t worry, Mr. Santos. Your sister did well for a first labor. Let me just make sure she agrees to letting you come in,” she said, turning the door handle.
“Fine,” Paolo said patiently, even though he felt far from patient. Poor Claudia—forced to give birth alone in the hospital while her big brother was passed out on the sofa. He felt like the biggest heel.
Nurse Ramirez returned shortly. “You may go in now. The baby has already been taken to the nursery. You must be a very close-knit bunch. It’s wonderful to see a family that cares so much for each other. Your other sister has not left Mrs. Woodbridge’s side. She was there during the entire labor, encouraging her.”
Other sister?
The nurse was surely mistaken and referring to another patient, but Paolo was in no mood to correct her or make small talk. He only wanted to see Claudia and make sure she was all right.
“Thanks.” Paolo stepped into the room and stopped in his tracks at the sight of Michaela standing beside the bed, holding Claudia’s hand. Gratitude and relief washed over him when he realized she had stayed with his little sister throughout her ordeal.
He smiled at Michaela and then rushed to Claudia’s side, taking her other hand in his. Beaming into Claudia’s wan face, he said, “Congratulations, How are you feeling?”
nena
.
“I’m okay.” She paused and smiled. “Actually, I’m more than okay. I’m head-over-heels in love with Michael!”
“Michael? Who the hell is Michael?” Paolo asked, bewildered.
“My baby, silly. You should see your face, Paolo!” Claudia giggled. “I was going to name him Robert Woodbridge, Jr., but after last night I changed my mind.”
“Why?” Paolo searched his sister’s face for clues that she might be reacting to whatever drugs they had given her.
“Bobby doesn’t deserve to have his son named after him. I decided to name him after Michaela. It’s the least I can do after the way she took care of me.”
Paolo turned to Michaela. “Thank you for staying with Claudia,” he said, touched by her generosity toward his sister, who until last night had been a stranger to Michaela.
She smiled. “No need to thank me. I was happy to do it. It got intense toward the end, but everything worked out fine.”
“What happened? Did you have any complications?” Paolo asked, alarmed.
“You tell him, Maki,” Claudia said wearily. “I don’t have the strength.”
Michaela nodded. “Claudia’s labor seemed to stall in the middle and they gave her Pitocin. The contractions started coming closer together after that, faster and harder.” She smiled at Claudia. “But she pulled through like a trooper and delivered a gorgeous little boy.”
Claudia gazed at Michaela with adoring eyes. “I am so grateful to you for staying with me. You didn’t leave my side once until the baby was born. And you were so calm and strong while I was panicking and screaming.” She turned to Paolo. “Maki was the glue that held me together.”
Paolo’s searching gaze connected with Michaela’s and he felt the stirring of tender feelings deep in his heart. She had never looked more beautiful. Her lustrous copper hair lay tousled about her face and shoulders, her makeup was smeared under her shimmering aquamarine eyes, and her silk blouse and skirt were wrinkled. She looked exhausted, but the radiant happiness on her face held him spellbound. She had remained beside his baby sister the whole night, giving her support and rallying behind her with strength and encouragement. Michaela Willoughby, for all her tough competitiveness and strict rules, was a real softie deep down and he was captivated by her, couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Thank you,
querida
,” he said in a hushed voice.
“You’re welcome, Paolo. And you too, Claudia. It was my pleasure—really. I had no idea how truly awesome childbirth is. It’s life-changing to watch—unforgettable!” she said, visibly moved by the experience.
For several charged moments, Paolo and Michaela stared into each other’s eyes as if nobody else was in the room. He wanted to take her in his arms and make love to her until she admitted she felt the same way about him.
Claudia cleared her throat and speared her brother with a quizzical look. “So why did you bum out on me,
hermano?
”
“I didn’t mean to,” Paolo said, collecting his wits. “Your birthing coach here drugged me. Or maybe it was her food,” he teased, turning to wink at Michaela.
“Very funny, Paolo,” Michaela replied dryly. “You should have known better than to drink more wine with the painkiller I gave you. Or the muscle relaxant. Which one did you take?”
“I took one of each for good measure.”
Michaela drew back in shock. “You took both? No wonder you passed out!”
“I’m a lot bigger than you are,
querida
. I never expected those medicines to knock me out like that.” He wagged a finger at Michaela. “You should have warned me they were so strong.”
“Didn’t I? How remiss of me.”
“Maybe you did it on purpose…so you could have your way with me,” he teased, black eyes twinkling.
Michaela laughed. “Guilty as charged—not!”
Paolo enjoyed watching her cheeks turn pink and wondered if she was remembering how enjoyable things had been until she had stopped him. “How do I know what other tactics you have up your sleeve for winning the show?”
“You don’t and you won’t be finding out any time soon,” Michaela countered, full of sass. “All’s fair in love and war, as they say. So you better be careful what you eat and drink from now on, hotshot…at least until the winner is chosen.”
“I know I’ve just had a baby and I’m a little groggy, but you’ve lost me.” Claudia looked confused as she glanced from Paolo to Michaela. “What are you two talking about?”
“Maki, why didn’t you tell Claudia about our pilot TV show?” Paolo gave her a reproachful look.
“I tried telling her between contractions, but she wasn’t paying attention,” Michaela said. “She had more important things on her mind.”
“That’s true,” Paolo conceded, turning to Claudia. “Maki and I are competing against each other to be top chef of a new cooking show.”
“So you’re the one he’s been muttering about.” Claudia grinned. “He said you were driving him nuts.”
“Claudia, please, where is your loyalty?” Paolo chided with mock affront.
“I love you, Paolo, but after last night, I’m kinda siding with Michaela,” Claudia teased.
“Okay, enough of that. You need to rest,
nena
.” Paolo turned to Michaela. “We should go now.”
“You’re right, we should,” Michaela said.
Claudia started to giggle as she regarded Paolo and Michaela. “I can’t wait to hear more about this competition.”
“You will, but not now.” Paolo kissed the top of her head.
“Don’t you want to see Michael?” Claudia asked.
“Of course! Why do you think I’m itching to get out of here? I can’t wait to see my nephew. Maki will take me to him,” Paolo said.
As if on cue, Nurse Ramirez flung the door open, followed by an attendant. “Mrs. Woodbridge, your room is ready and your baby is waiting for his first nursing.”
Michaela stared into the nursery window, her heart filled with tenderness and longing as she pointed toward Claudia’s newborn. “There he is! Isn’t he the most precious baby?”
When Paolo turned to gaze at her, his gaze was filled with such bursting pride that for a moment she wondered what he’d be like as a dad. “I can’t believe my baby sister is a mother. Good-looking kid. He kinda resembles his uncle, don’t you think?” he asked, angling his head with a boastful grin.
Michaela cocked her head and crinkled her brow. “You think? He’s blondish and looks more like Claudia…”
“What are you talking about? Look at him, handsome, cuddly, sweet…”
“Modest?” she prompted, tongue in cheek.
Paolo pulled her in and kissed her soundly. “I’ve wanted to do this since I saw you with my sister. Thanks for taking care of Claudia. I really owe you one.”
Did he have any idea how much an impromptu kiss sent ripples of pleasure through her? Michaela steadied her knees that had suddenly turned to liquid. “Please, you don’t have to thank me again. Claudia’s the one who labored hard.” In her mind, she kept reliving the beautiful moment when Claudia gave birth, but it was time to hit reality. She gave a heartfelt sigh. “I wish I could stay longer, but I have to get to work.”
“Me too. Gil is covering for me today, but I have a meeting tonight that I can’t miss.” Paolo rubbed the back of his neck. “Claudia will be coming home soon and I know nothing about babies.”
“You’ll learn as you go along.” Michaela tried to sound encouraging, but the truth was she didn’t know much about babies either. The whole thing seemed pretty daunting. “Nurse Ramirez told Claudia that she would probably be released tomorrow.”
“So soon?” Paolo asked, looking apprehensive.
“Yes. What are you going to do about a crib and all the baby stuff she needs?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out. The stuff she needs is the least of my problems. Claudia is going to need help taking care of the baby while she recuperates.” Paolo looked genuinely panicked now.
“She will need help. What about your mom?”
“I’m sending her a prepaid airline ticket, but in the meantime, I have to track down Bobby. He had no idea that Claudia was pregnant and now he needs to know that he has a son.”
“How are you going to find him? Claudia said he was far away, in some remote place.”
“I’ll find him,” Paolo said with a determined gleam in his eyes.
“You better clear it with Claudia first. Last night she was pretty vocal about not wanting to see him,” Michaela warned.
“She was in labor. Women resent their husbands when they’re suffering through childbirth, don’t they?”
“I guess, but I’d never witnessed it until today,” Michaela said. “I don’t know what happened between the two of them, but Claudia kept crying and saying that he had abandoned her.”
“She’s hurt and mad at Bobby, that’s all. After a few days alone with her baby, she’ll realize she has to put her pride aside for her son’s sake.”
“Maybe, but I wouldn’t get into it with her now, Paolo. Let Claudia and Michael bond first. Maybe she’ll soften toward Bobby…she did say the baby looks like him.”