Heart Melter (25 page)

Natasha waited until her mother’s car turned the corner before shutting the door. Looking up at Ian, she said, “Triumph at last!”

He pulled her in for a tight hug. “You were formidable, darling. Were you really planning to write that dreadful book?”

“No, but I enjoyed turning the tables on her with my final Trump card.”

He chuckled and tweaked her nose. “Don’t ever think of using a Trump card on me.”

Natasha grinned. “You, Dr. Who? Never,” she said, tickling his lean waist until he burst out laughing.

The sound of tires crunching the driveway made them turn and stare at the door. “Now what?” Ian said grumpily. “I hope she hasn’t come back.”

“I doubt it’s Anitra.” Natasha opened the door and squealed with delight when she saw Maggie and Ranald drive up. She rushed out to greet them. When Ranald parked the car, Arthur flung the door open and ran toward her with Evita yapping at his heels. Maggie and Ranald remained in the car, watching from afar with broad grins.

Arthur threw himself into her embrace, almost knocking her over with the force of his eagerness. "Natasha! Dr. Ian! You came back!" he cried elatedly.

Natasha hugged Arthur and kissed the top of his dear little head. "Of course, we did! We love you." 

Arthur pulled back and gaped at her, his mouth broadening into the smile she found so enchanting. "You do?" he asked, his dark blue eyes sparkling.

"Absolutely! Ian and I love you very much."
You're my baby now,
she thought as happy tears filled her eyes at the thought of adopting him. He would be their first child and very precious to them.

Evita barked and growled indignantly, her fur standing on end as she gave her a look that said, “What about me, Mommy?”

“You too, baby,” Natasha said, lifting Evita in her arms and kissing her fluffy face.

Evita responded with guilt inducing whimpers followed by ferocious yips.

“She’s a wee bit spoiled, don’t you think?” Arthur said, shaking his head.

“Aye, she is, Arthur.” Ian fondly rumpled his hair. “Do you have a hug for me too?” he asked, squatting down beside him.

Arthur gave him a tight hug. When he pulled back, Arthur’s brows crinkled at Natasha. "Why are you crying?"

His worried expression tugged at her heart. "They’re happy tears," she assured him with a wobbly smile. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. Especially at bedtime," he said, ducking his head shyly. "Will you sing for me tonight?"

“Of course. I’ll teach you a song so we can sing together.”

Gazing at Arthur’s dear little face, she didn’t want to think about leaving him. The excitement of performing for hundreds of strangers suddenly paled next to the joy of bringing music into his life.

Arthur wound his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. She hugged him back, longing to hear him call her mum.

Ian cleared his throat and asked Arthur, "What did you do while we were gone?"

Arthur wriggled out of Natasha’s arms and put his hands on his hips, mimicking Ian’s stance. "Maggie and Ranald took me sightseeing every day. We saw lots of castles!" He tugged at Ian's arm. "When can we go fishing again?"

"Is tomorrow soon enough?" Ian’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he watched Arthur.

"Aye, aye, aye," Arthur chanted, skipping into the castle. "Where's Dugie? I'm starving."

"I'm right here, laddie," Dugie answered, entering the foyer as she dried her hands on her clean apron.  "Come with me, ducky, and I'll feed you," she blustered, ushering Arthur from the room. 

Natasha hugged Maggie and Ranald warmly when they approached her with beaming smiles. “It’s so good to be back. Thank you for watching over Arthur.”

Maggie waved a hand at her. "Och, no need to thank us, lass. He’s a joy."  

“He looks wonderful. What have you been feeding him?" Natasha said.

"Plenty of food and double doses of love," Maggie replied with a smile.

Evita growled and snapped at them, reminding everyone that Arthur wasn’t the only one who needed sustenance and love—not to mention attention.

Laughing, Natasha kissed Evita’s head and made a snap decision. She turned to Ian and said, “As much as it pains me not to take my little Evita with me, I’ll leave her here to keep Arthur company until I return.”

Ian braced his hands on his hips, very much the laird of the land. “That’s fine, the dog can stay, but you’re not going anywhere until I place a wedding band on your finger. I made that mistake once before and I’m not making it again.”

Natasha threw her arms around him and said, “Damn right, you’re not!”

One month later

Natasha stood on stage looking out into the dark theatre and listening to wild applause. She smiled and held hands with her co-stars as they bowed to the second curtain call. A year ago she would have felt ecstatic and fulfilled by the audience’s reaction, but tonight she couldn’t wait to go home and call Ian. It would be early morning there, but he had insisted she call him after the show.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” she called out to the audience, waving as she left the stage. It didn’t feel like Thanksgiving though. She hadn’t even eaten turkey today. She had refused the kind lunch invitations from friends and spent Thanksgiving alone at home.

Back in her dressing room, she took off her auburn bob wig and placed it on the mannequin head on the counter. She hummed to herself as she peeled her fake lashes off and washed her face of her stage make-up before changing into her street clothes. After receiving great news earlier, she couldn’t wait to share it with Ian. She’d wait till she was home where she could speak in private without anyone barging in.

She had much to be thankful for, she reflected, gazing at a picture of Ian and Arthur on her mirror. She still couldn’t believe she was Ian’s wife and Arthur’s mother. Ian had insisted on a quick marriage and later they adopted Arthur. She had hated leaving them in Scotland and spoke to them daily via Skype. She loved hearing about Ian’s clinic and how he had already performed two treatments on Arthur, whose face was responding well to the laser. Evita was always in the picture when they Skyped, preening and barking along with their conversation, making sure she got her share of attention.

Natasha took Ian and Arthur’s picture off her mirror and kissed it, yearning to be with them on this holiday. With a sigh, she put it back and reminded herself not to get melancholy. She had too many wonderful things to look forward to in the coming year.

A knock on the door surprised her. “Come in,” she said.

The door opened and Ian appeared holding a large bouquet of coral roses in one hand and Arthur’s small hand in the other.

Natasha jumped up from her chair and ran to them joyfully. “Ian! Arthur! I can’t believe you’re here!” she cried happily, hugging her two favorite men at once. “When did you get here?”

“This afternoon. You were wonderful tonight. Well done, angel,” Ian said beaming at her.

“Aye, you were brilliant, Mum,” Arthur piped in. Dressed in a dark blue wool coat and sporting a tweed newsboy cap, Arthur looked utterly adorable as he grinned at her with twinkling eyes. Very much a little laird in the making sporting a MacGregor tartan wool scarf like Ian’s.

“Thank you, King Arthur of the round table,” Natasha said, bowing to him. “I am so touched you came, Ian, and that you brought Arthur with you.”

“We couldn’t let you spend Thanksgiving alone, could we, Arthur?” Ian said to him.

“No, Dad, we couldn’t,” Arthur said, grinning up at Ian in agreement.

“I told wee Arthur, we’ll be coming to New York for Christmas too,” Ian said.

“Oh no you won’t. I’ll be home for Christmas,” Natasha said, enjoying the surprise on Ian’s face.

Arthur’s eyes widened. “To Glenhaven?”

“Is there any other home?” Natasha asked with a lift of her brows.

“That’s great!” Ian beamed at her. “How did you manage to get the time off?”

“Just this morning, Marty confirmed that I can leave before my contract is up.”

“I meant it when I said I was willing to commute until you finish the run of the show. Are you sure you want to do that?” Ian’s brow knitted as he searched her eyes.

“Yes,” she said with absolute certainty. “I refuse to spend another holiday away from you.”

“How are you going to get out of the contract?” he asked.

Natasha smiled slyly and patted her belly. “Easy. I’m pretty sure Simon won’t want Legs LaRue dancing on stage with a baby bump,” she said, breathlessly awaiting his reaction.

Ian’s eyes shot open. “We’re having a
bairn
?” he shouted happily. 

“Aye, we are, Dr. Who,” Natasha said, affecting a Scottish burr.

He touched her belly in awe. “I’m so happy…and so proud,” he said, husky with emotion.

Natasha’s eyes lovingly swept over Ian’s gorgeous features. Every nuance was indelibly printed in her heart and soul since she first fell in love with him. “I hadn’t realized how empty my heart was until I saw you again in your office after all those years," she said with a hitch in her chest.

He gently rubbed her belly. "Thank God you came to me that day, darling.”

Happy tears stung her eyes as she tilted Arthur’s chin up to meet her gaze. “Are you ready to be a big brother?” she asked, smiling at him.

“Aye. I’ll be the best,” he said, puffing out his chest proudly.

“What about your career? You sing like an angel, Tasha. It seems a shame not to share your talent,” Ian said.

She smiled through her tears. “I can't imagine living anywhere other than Glenhaven. With you and Arthur."

“You can always go back to performing if you want to,” Ian said.

Natasha shook her head and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “Not for a long while. Maybe I'll make a comeback when our children are older, but not now. I’m happy with my decision,” she said with total sincerity.

Ian kissed her deeply. Her fingers pushed into the satiny thickness of his hair and she lost herself in his kiss, forgetting everything but him.

“Ewww, Dad, yuck,” Arthur said, making a gagging sound.

Ian stopped kissing Natasha and laughed. “Someday you’ll understand.” He hugged Natasha and said, “Too bad you were cheated out of a wedding reception.”

She smiled ruefully. “I wanted to share the happy moment with everyone I love, especially my Heart sisters. I was hoping for a party.”

“Aye, with lots of cake!” Arthur cried eagerly.

“Who said anything about not having a party?” Ian asked, silver-green eyes twinkling. “We’ll have a grand celebration at Glenhaven Castle and invite everyone.”

"Oh, Ian, I adore you. Both of you," Natasha said, pulling Arthur into their tight embrace. The joy of having them so close filled her to bursting as they clung together.

“No matter where you are, here or in Scotland, you belong with us and nothing will ever change that, darling.” he said, making her eyes well up again.

Ian smiled and her heart turned over. His passionate words, fierce and heart-wrenchingly beautiful, were sweeter than any music Natasha had ever heard. 

The End

by Sophia Knightly

Prologue

Thirteen-year-old Veronique Whitcomb gazed at the sparkly stars in the clear North Carolina sky and let out a frustrated sigh. Sitting cross-legged in front of the campfire, she swallowed against the lump in her throat and tried to smile. It was the last night she’d spend with her two best friends at sleep away camp and she wished it would never end. Tonight she’d enjoy their company…tomorrow she’d have to face the disaster called home.

“I hate that we’re leaving tomorrow,” Veronique said, grabbing each girl’s hand. “I’m gonna miss you guys.” They’d first started coming to camp as little girls and none of them had sisters. Tash and Teddy would always be her Heart Sisters.

“I bet you’ll miss Nick even more.” Natasha White’s blue eyes danced as she tossed her long strawberry blond hair. “You’ve been trying to get his attention all summer.”

“I have not, Tash,” Veronique retorted. 
God, had she been that obvious? 
The first time her eyes had connected with the deep blue eyes of the cutest counselor at Camp Merry Cascades, her heart had done a cartwheel and was never the same.

Theodora Behr clutched her heart dramatically. “Nick is sooo hot. I can’t stop dreaming about him.” She grinned and nudged Natasha.

“You can’t have him, Teddy. I want him too.” Natasha pretended to swoon. “Admit you like him, Ronnie. We all do.”

“Cut it out, guys.” Veronique’s chest hitched at the thought of not seeing Nick again, but she rolled her eyes to hide her feelings.

Natasha smiled. “Hey, you don’t have to get so defensive.”

“Yeah, we’re just messing with you. We won’t mention him again. No more Nick—I promise,” Theodora said, lifting her right hand in a pledge. “I’m gonna miss you too.”

“We have to stay in touch after we leave,” Natasha said earnestly.

“Pinky swear.” Veronique raised her pinky with the bitten-down nail and ragged cuticle.