Rescue Me (31 page)

Chapter Twenty six

 

“That is the ugliest bunch of flowers I’ve ever seen,” Toby said.

“Leave it alone.” Eli punched Toby on the arm before strolling over to Jasmine’s hospital bed. “I told the florist to give me one of every type of flower they had in the place. I wanted to make sure my little Petunia, Rosebud, Water
Lily, Bird of Paradise had a lot of color in her room,” Eli said, pinching Jasmine’s nose.

“You’re silly, Uncle Eli,” Jasmine laughed.

“But you love your uncle Eli, no matter how silly, right?”

“Yes,” Jasmine answered. She stretched her arms out and enveloped Eli in a hug, plopping a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

“Does this mean I have to get you a bunch of flowers to get some of that sugar?” Toby asked.

“No, you can have a kiss, too,” Jasmine said.

“Not before I have mine,” Alex said. He pushed from the wall next to Jasmine’s bed and leaned in for a kiss. “The doctors are going to take one last look to make sure everything is okay up there.” Alex pointed to her head. “Then we get to head home. Uncle Eli and Uncle Toby will come over to the house to see you later to night, right?”

“Oh yeah. I’m bringing back something special,” Toby said. “And it’ll be a lot better than a bunch of mismatched flowers.”

Alex didn’t bother to remind Toby about the no gift giving rule. He’d already accepted the fact that Jasmine was destined to be spoiled rotten by the entire family for the rest of her natural born life.

After a rapid DNA test confirmed his baby girl was, in fact, not his biological daughter, Alex broke the news to Mama and Toby. They were both devastated, but quickly agreed that nothing would change where Jasmine was concerned. She was born a Holmes and would always be a Holmes.

Alex still had the tough decision to make regarding whether he would tell Jasmine about the circumstances surrounding her birth, but even if he did, it would be years from now. If ever. She was his, and always would be. It was as simple as that.

The nurse wheeled Jasmine out, leaving Alex, Renee, Toby, and Eli in the room.

“Hey,” Toby said. “I forgot to ask if I should start looking for a flight back to St. Martin.”

Alex draped an arm around Renee’s shoulder and pulled her in close.

“We haven’t gotten that far yet,” she answered.

“Well, ya’ll need to figure something out quick. I’m ready to go back.”

“What about you and Sienna?” Eli asked. “The two of you can get married out there.”

A smile drew across Toby’s face. “Actually, Sienna and I were married in Vegas last week.”

“What!” Alex and Eli both yelled.

“Don’t tell me you got married at one of those cheesy Elvis chapels,” Alex said.

“Boy, are you crazy? Mama is going to kill you,” Eli said.

“Yeah, well, it was either that or have Sienna walk down the aisle in a maternity wedding dress. We figured a quick wedding was better.”

Silence reigned, until Alex and Eli swamped him, grabbing Toby in a three person bear hug.

Eli’s grin was huge. “You’re going to be a daddy?”

“Wait until Mama hears this,” Alex said.

“Don’t say anything,” Toby warned them. “Sienna and I want to tell Mama together.”

Renee walked up to Toby and wrapped her arms around him. “Congratulations.” She kissed his cheek.

Eli’s BlackBerry went off. “That’s my cue,” he said. He held his hand out to Toby. “Congratulations again, man,” Eli said, pulling Toby in again for a one arm hug.

“I need to head out, too,” Toby said.

Alex brought his brother in for another hug. Knuckleheaded Toby was going to be a father. It was hard to believe, but then again, Toby had grown by leaps and bounds this past year. In a way, all three of them had. “You’re going to make a good dad,” Alex told him.

“I had good examples.” Toby grinned. “I’m just following in yours and Pop’s footsteps. See you later, man. Tell Jazzy I’ll see her to night.”

As Alex watched his younger brother walk out of the hospital room, pride filled every chamber of his heart. Yeah, Toby was going to do just fine. His Jazzy would soon have a cousin to play with, and Mama would finally have another grandbaby.

“That’s some exciting news, huh?” Renee said, sidling up to him and wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Toby’ll be a good dad,” Alex said again.

“I can tell just by the way he interacts with Jasmine.”

Alex dipped his head and planted a kiss on her lips. God, he loved these lips. He wanted to spend the rest of this lifetime kissing them.

“Jasmine’s been the only grandchild for such a long time, I wonder how she’ll react to the news that there will be another kid around.”

“I think she’ll do just fine,” Renee said. “She’s adjusted pretty well to sharing her daddy. Actually, I thought as soon as we were married we could start working on giving Jasmine a little brother or sister. You think you’re up to that challenge?”

“I think I can handle that.”

Renee ran her hand up his chest. “Well, we’ll probably need a few practice runs before we get it right.”

“Just tell me the start time.” He lowered his mouth for another kiss. “I’m there.”

Epilogue

 

The rose petals Jasmine dropped from the white wicker basket floated on the wind and into the ocean a few feet away. Monica motioned for her to hurry, but Jazzy took her sweet time strolling up the aisle.

Alex leaned over and whispered to Eli, “You sure you’re ready to deal with that?”

Eli switched the baby girl cradled in his arms from one side to the other. “Little late to ask that question, isn’t it?” he said, tugging the lace-trimmed bonnet around his niece’s face. Zenobia, Toby and Sienna’s eight-week-old daughter, punched her tiny fist in the air. “Besides, if you and Toby can handle a baby, I sure as hell can.”

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Alex said.

Toby turned. “Would ya’ll be quiet? I can’t hear what’s going on.” He reached back for his daughter, an instant smile breaking out over his face. “I missed Mama’s first wedding, I’d like to actually hear the second one.”

Monica caught their attention and raked her finger across her neck, making a “cut it out” gesture. With two short months from delivering her and Eli’s baby girl, the maid-of-honor dress flowed over her protruding belly like a peach waterfall.

“I don’t want to have to answer to her,” Eli said.

“Me, neither,” Alex agreed. They sat for the rest of the short ceremony and watched as their mother was united in holy matrimony with Gerald Mitchell in the same spot Eli had married Monica a year ago.

After the ceremony, Alex sat poolside at L’Oasis with Renee
on his lap. He let his gaze roam over the people gathered at the reception. Gerald had enough dough in the bank to fly the eight members of Morning Star Baptist Church’s deaconess board, along with about a dozen of his and Mama’s mutual friends.

“Your mother made a beautiful bride,” Renee said, dipping her head low and nuzzling the spot behind his ear.

“Almost as beautiful as you were the day we were married,” Alex said. He pressed his lips to her smooth jaw, consuming the unique fragrance that was solely Renee. Earlier, as she’d walked down the aisle as one of his mother’s bridal attendants, his breath had caught in his throat at the sight of her. As he looked down on his wife’s stunning face, Alex experienced that same breath-robbing sensation.

“Look at your brother.” Renee nodded toward where Toby cradled Zenobia, staring at his daughter as if she were an exquisite piece of art.

“Oh yeah, that boy’s in love,” Alex laughed. “Little girls do that to their daddies. I was just as in awe of my princess the day she was born.” Alex sought out Jasmine, who swam laps in the villa’s pool. She still took his breath away.

“This family is overflowing with princesses,” Renee said. “I think your mom was hoping Eli and Monica’s sonogram would show that she was having a boy.”

“It is funny after having three sons we all would have girls.”

Renee shrugged. She took his hand and placed it on her flat stomach, and covered it with both of hers. “Who knows?” Renee mused. “Maybe we’re the ones meant to have the first boy.”

“Maybe,” Alex said. Then he stopped, catching the grin at the edge of Renee’s lips. Alex captured her chin in his hand and turned her to face him. He questioned her with his eyes. Renee’s grin widened and she nodded.

“Oh my God,” he breathed into her kiss. “I love you so much, baby.”

“I love you, too, Alex.” Renee kissed him back, fierce and strong. “So much more than I can ever put into words.”

“I don’t need words,” he said. “You show me every single day. I didn’t know how precious love could be before you, Renee.”

“I’m happy I could help you find love again.”

“You did more than that. You rescued me.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 

First and foremost, thanks be to God. Always.

Thanks to my sister, Tamara, for being my first reader, and my aunt Cathy, for always being ready and willing to help.

To my critique group, for reading my proposal at a moment’s notice. Where would I be without you all?

Thanks to the many authors I’ve met online, who have also become my friends. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

To the Dreadnaught husbands and that one brother-in-law with the great sense of humor. Thanks for helping with that very serious situation.

Lastly, many thanks to Cheryl Corson, for going above and beyond the call of friendship. Needless to say, this book would not have been done in time without you.

CRITICS PRAISE FARRAH ROCHON’S
HOLMES FAMILY SERIES!

 

DELIVER ME

 

“Quirky humor and a charming hero make Rochon’s debut novel attractive reading. Colorful characters create a down-home appeal that will make readers feel the warm welcome typically indicative of the South. This novel captures the true essence of a town struggling to get back on its feet.”

—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“This is a wonderful story with rich characters and tons of local history. It will definitely leave you wanting more of the hot Doctor Holmes and his equally hot brothers, who, by the way, deserve their own stories.”

—Coffee Time Romance

“I look forward to more from this author. I sincerely hope we get stories for both of Eli’s brothers and his niece as well; I just loved them.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“Elementary, my dear readers, as Farrah Rochon captures the city inside her fabulous contemporary medical romance with hopefully more Holmesian sibling tales to follow.”

—Romance in Color, Harriet Klausner

RELEASE ME

 

“Rochon presents a stellar story that thoroughly entertains. Her writing style is consistent and easy to follow from start to finish, and all the characters are memorable…
Release Me
is most definitely worth the exciting journey.”

—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“
Release Me
is written in a way that is intriguing and easy to follow. Ms. Rochon has a way with words that will hold your interest with each twist she adds at just the right time.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“An enjoyable contemporary romance starring likable lead characters.”

—
Midwest Book Review

Other
Leisure
books by Farrah Rochon:

THE HOLIDAY INN
(Anthology)
RELEASE ME
DELIVER ME

Copyright

 

A LEISURE BOOK®

February 2009

Published by

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Copyright © 2009 by Farrah Roybiskie

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