Chapter Fourteen

Josie

“This won’t take a minute. I didn’t unpack my bag, so I just need to run in and get it.”

I unfasten my seat belt and reach around to open the car door, but Drew grabs me, pulling me back and across the rear seat, into his arms.

“We’re coming inside with you,” he says.

“Why? I just said, there’s no need.” To be honest, now I know we’re going back to Newport – or going ‘home’ as Drew insists on calling it – I just want to get there… to lie in his arms and feel safe again. The fact that we’ve had to call in at my apartment is an inconvenience, but a necessary one, as all my things are here.

“Yes, there is.” He’s adamant, his jaw firm, his eyes fixed on mine.

“I can carry a bag all by myself, you know?”

“I know… but there’ll be more than one.”

“No, there won’t.”

“Yes, there will.” He twists in his seat, pulling me up onto his lap. “You’re not coming to stay this time, Josie.”

“I’m not? But I thought…”

“You’re moving in.” I open my mouth, but he shakes his head and I close it again. “Don’t bother arguing. You know this is what you want, just as much as I do. We belong together. I think that much is obvious.”

“But I can’t pack everything… not now.”

“I know, and you don’t have to. We can come back another day and take care of most of it. I just want you to bring enough with you to convince me you’re gonna stay.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. “I’m gonna stay, Drew. If it makes you feel better, I’ll even sell my apartment.”

He leans back into the seat and places his finger beneath my chin, making me look up into his beautiful face. “You will?”

“Yeah. I was gonna sell it anyway, after I left town, so…”

He bends his head, touching his lips to mine, and then deepens the kiss, our tongues meeting in a heartfelt dance, until the sound of Hunter’s deliberate cough breaks us apart.

“Did someone mention packing?”

Hunter and Drew took my bags upstairs the moment we got back, and left them in Drew’s dressing room. I’ll unpack them later… or maybe tomorrow, or the next day. It doesn’t feel like there’s any rush now, and that’s just as well, because I’m exhausted, emotionally, as well as physically.

Hunter waved away my thanks before he left, and then put his arm around Drew’s shoulders, walking him out through the front door. I can hear them talking in whispers, although I can’t make out what they’re saying and I stand still, waiting, wishing Drew would come back in.

I know it sounds pathetic, but even though he’s held me all the way back here, I feel lost without him. I need the reassurance of his arms and his kisses and his words. More than anything, I need him to tell me his memories are real, to give me hope that it’s all coming back to him… that our past and our future can merge, rather than colliding.

I jump at the sound of the door closing and turn to see Drew standing there, the two of us alone at last.

“What was that about?” I ask.

“Hunter was just reminding me to be kind to you.” He walks over, taking my hand and leading me to the couch, where he sits, pulling me down beside him. “Not that I needed reminding.”

I’m relieved to hear that. I’m feeling a little bruised after today, and I think I’d like to be bathed in kindness for a while.

He pulls me into his arms and I rest against him, although he quickly lets out a sigh.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“You’re not close enough.”

He shifts down the couch, turning onto his back, and lifts me up on top of him. I lie out and he brings his arms around me, letting one hand rest on my ass.

“Is that better?”

“Much,” he says. “I need you close. All the time.” I nestle against him and he holds on just a little tighter. “Do you need anything?” he asks, in a drunken-sounding whisper.

“Just you.”

He kisses the top of my head. “That’s good to know… but I meant food, or drink. Are you hungry?”

“I probably should be, but I’m too tired to care.”

“Hmm… I know the feeling. I was just saying to Hunter, I’m gonna leave meeting Maisie until tomorrow now.”

I lean up, looking down at him. “You are? I—I assumed you’d have met her earlier.”

“No. I went for a walk… like I said I would. Then I went back to Hunter, loaded with questions, which he answered, and then we talked about Maisie. I told him how nervous I am about being a father, and…”

“You’re nervous?” I can’t believe I’m hearing this.

“Yes,” he says. “Suddenly discovering you have a child is a strange sensation.”

I lower my head. “Hmm… one you wouldn’t have to be experiencing if I hadn’t kept her from you.”

He clasps my chin, raising my face to his. “We’re not going through all that again, Josie… especially not now. We’re both too tired.”

I nod my head, knowing he’s right. “So, what are you gonna do about Maisie?” I ask.

“I’ve just told Hunter, we’ll go over there sometime tomorrow. He’s said we can take it in stages, if we need to… spend some time with her at the main house before bringing her back here.”

“I think that’s sensible in terms of your recovery. You’ve got a lot to process.”

“Stop talking like my nurse,” he says with a smile, but I can’t return it, and his own fades. “What’s wrong, Josie?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It was something you said earlier, when we were all outside the main house. But you don’t wanna talk about that now, and I think you’re right. We should wait.”

He shakes his head, just slightly. “What did I say?”

“It can wait, Drew.”

“No, it can’t,” he says. “Tell me.”

“Okay. It was about me being your nurse. You asked if that was all I was.”

“I did?”

“Yeah. You’d just worked out that we knew each other before the accident, and you said, ‘So, you’re not just my nurse?’. It made me wonder if that was all I meant to you.”

“Of course it wasn’t.” He closes his eyes for a second, opening them again, and planting a soft kiss on my lips. “A lot of what I said earlier came out wrong. That’s why I don’t want to talk now, in case I make the same mistakes again. But I have to tell you… you were never just my nurse. Not even when I was in the hospital and you were wearing scrubs and taking my blood pressure… and checking out my ass. You were always more than that.”

I smile, resting my head against his chest, feeling the rise and fall. “Thank you for saying that.”

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s the truth. I just wish I could remember more. No matter how hard I try, I’m still only getting a red dress and your hair.”

“Stop trying so hard.” I reach up, stroking his cheek with my fingertips. “It’ll come back to you.”

“I know. It’s just that now I’m getting these tiny chinks of memory, I want it all back.”

“Don’t rush it. Doctor Sweeney was right about that. Some of what you’re going to remember will be traumatic.”

“You mean things like the accident?”

“Yeah, although there’s a chance you might not remember very much about that, even when you get everything else back.”

“I can’t say I’ll be sorry about that.”

“No, but there are other things for you to consider… other memories. Like your childhood.”

He frowns, confused. “You know about that?”

“I know a little.”

His frown clears in an instant. “Oh… of course. You met my mom.”

“How did you know that?”

“Hunter told me. I asked him to fill in some gaps… one of which was how we came to have so much money. He told me about our parents.”

“I see. Well, I know your mom left when you were very small, but I don’t know much about your father.”

He looks into my face for a few seconds and then nods his head. “I’m not gonna tell you about it all now. I think it might be better to work it through with you when the memories come back.”

“If that’s what you want.”

“It is. If I told you now, I’d be giving you Hunter’s version, and while I don’t doubt a word of what he’s said, I’d rather tell you what happened from my own perspective.”

“I think that’s wise.”

“You do?”

“Yes. Just don’t force the memories and remember to talk to me.”

He smiles. “I don’t think I’m gonna forget that, baby.”

I lay my head down again, and he strokes my back, his other hand still resting on my ass. It’s comforting here. Lying on Drew is the best place to be, and even if the past is still another country to him, he’s taken the first steps toward discovering it.

He shifts slightly beneath me. “I’m sorry,” he says.

“What for?”

“I know we said we’d wait to talk some more, but…” I look up at him. He seems troubled.

“What’s wrong, Drew?”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“With what?”

He pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “With the situation. With me having slept with your sister. I mean, there’s nothing I can do about it now, but…”

I wriggle up his body, so we’re face-to-face. “Drew… I’m the one who went into this with my eyes open. I knew what I was letting myself in for. You’re the one who had no idea about Lexi and the past you’d shared with her. But what your brother and I told you earlier was the truth. What you had with her was very transient, and neither of you took it seriously. Besides, she wasn’t my sister… not really. We weren’t related by blood.” I stop talking, aware that I’m rambling. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I want to take you to bed, and I need to be sure you’re completely happy with how things are.”

“I am, Drew. Honestly. I’ve known all along about you and Lexi… and Maisie, and it hasn’t made the slightest difference to how I feel about you.”

He nods his head. “Put your legs either side of mine.”

I do as he says, straddling him, and as he sits up, I go with him, squealing slightly as he twists around and stands, his hands coming beneath me as he lifts me into his arms.

“Why don’t you let me walk? You’re tired.”

“I’m not that tired.”

He carries me up the stairs and straight into his bedroom, kicking the door closed, before he walks over to the bed, lowering me down his body.

“It feels like a lifetime since we were last here,” he whispers, pulling my t-shirt over my head. I recall our playful conversation this morning.

“It’s a whole other world ago.”

He nods. “But we can make this a better world, Josie. I promise.”

He undoes my bra, releasing my breasts and leans down, kissing first one nipple and then the other, before he unfastens my jeans, pushing them down over my hips. His hands roam around behind me, and he squeezes my bare flesh.

“I’d forgotten you weren’t wearing any panties.” He pulls me closer, his arousal pressing into me, and I look up into his eyes.

“I hadn’t.” I undo his jeans, pushing them down, and let my hand slip around his erection. He gasps, his head rocking back as I slide my grip up and down his length, over and over, building up a steady pace.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “I can’t wait.” He kicks off his jeans, yanking his t-shirt over his head at the same time, and then he lifts me onto the bed, pulling off my jeans before he crawls up over my body. “I need to be inside you, baby. I need to feel you come.”

I part my legs wide, pulling them up toward my chest and he pushes inside me. I let out a gasp as he joins us, relaxing into the stretch, until I’m so full of him I can’t take any more. He rests his body against mine, completely still.

“We’re home,” I whisper.

“Where we belong.”

I nod and he pulls out, plunging slowly back in again. He keeps it gentle, resting his hands behind my knees, holding me down, but loving me so tenderly, like he’s worshipping me. I rest my hands on his biceps, his muscles flexing with every move, and I match his pace, pulse for pulse, breath for aching breath.

“D—Don’t ever run from me again, Josie.” His eyes bore into mine, his words uttered in a hoarse, stuttered breath.

“I won’t.”

“My heart is more fragile than you’ll ever know. I couldn’t take it if you left again.”

“I’m not going to.”

He releases my legs, moving his hands up so they’re on either side of my head, and then leans in, kissing me… hard. His tongue finds mine and as he thrusts inside me, deeper and deeper, I feel that familiar quiver at my core. He must feel it too, because he breaks the kiss, gazing down at me.

“Please, Josie…”

His words are enough to push me over the edge, my body succumbing to pleasure, a myriad of starbursts tumbling through me in wave after wave of ecstasy.

I feel Drew plunge into me once, twice more and on the third time, he lets go inside me, my name a repeated howl that’s almost anguished in its intensity.

My body is still recovering, still twitching against his as he turns us over onto our sides, holding me in his arms.

“Sleep, baby,” he murmurs, his eyes already closing, exhaustion claiming him, and I drift into peaceful oblivion, knowing I’m safe at last.

“Brake! Hit the fucking brakes!”

I’m woken by Drew’s shouts and flip over in bed. He’s sweating, his body rigid, although his head is rolling from side to side.

“Drew?”

“It’s okay. I love you. I won’t let anything hurt you.”

What? “Drew? Wake up.” I raise my voice and he opens his eyes, sitting up, his breathing labored as he rubs his hands down his face. “Are you okay?” I ask.

He turns, looking at me, and then lies back, taking me in his arms. “I’m fine. It was just a nightmare.”

“Tell me about it.”

“No.” I pull away from him, releasing myself from his grasp, and although he tries to pull me back, I hold up my hand, stopping him. “What’s wrong?” he says.

“You said you’d talk to me, Drew, so don’t shut me out.”

“I’m not. It was just a nightmare, Josie.”

“Yeah, a nightmare in which you just said ‘I love you’ to someone. I need to know who and why.”

He lets out a long sigh. “Okay, I’ll tell you.” I can sense his reluctance and shift away slightly. He watches and shakes his head. “Don’t do that, baby. You said you wouldn’t run.”

“I’m not running, but I need to know who you were talking to.”

“It was Maisie. My dream, or nightmare… or memory – if that was what it was – it was about the accident.” I move back beside him again and he puts his arms around me. “I can’t remember very much of it, other than a feeling of powerlessness… of being out of control and wanting to save Maisie, but not being able to get to her. She was too far away.”

He turns onto his side and I see the pain in his eyes, the reality of what he dreamed, or remembered, and I hug him. “It’s okay, Drew.”

He shakes his head, clinging to me. “No, it’s not. If that was what it was really like, I don’t want to remember anymore, Josie. I don’t want it to come back.”

There’s no point in me repeating that it’ll be okay, when I think we both know it probably won’t, so I just hold him, and he holds me, until eventually, we drift off to sleep again.

I pop the last piece of pancake into my mouth and put down my fork, taking a sip of coffee, all the while, my eyes never leaving Drew’s. He’s sitting opposite me, holding my left hand, even while he eats, and doesn’t show any signs of letting it go… not that I’m complaining.

We woke about an hour ago, and although we both agreed we were hungry and in need of breakfast, we needed each other more. Drew got up and pulled me into the shower, lifting me into his arms and taking me. It was very different to last night, which was tender and gentle, like a re-discovery. Our shower this morning was heated and frenzied. His lips were all over me, his hands and fingers everywhere. There was an urgency to our love-making that took my breath away, and I shudder now, just thinking about it.

“Are you okay?” Drew asks, finishing his pancakes and pushing his plate aside.

“Hmm… I was just thinking about this morning.”

He smiles. “It was pretty memorable.”

I can feel myself blush. “I wish you could remember more.”

“What about? This morning? Trust me, I remember every second of what we did.”

I shake my head. “That’s not what I mean. I—I wish you could remember what you did before… with other women.”

“Why would I want to?”

“Because it would be nice to think that at least some of what we do is different.”

“Everything we do is different… because it’s with you.” I smile, and he clasps my hand a little tighter. “Are you thinking about what I think you’re thinking about?” he says, narrowing his eyes.

“That depends on what you think I’m thinking about.”

“Me, fingering your ass.” My body convulses in a sudden shock of pleasure, and Drew smiles. “Guess I was right.” He raises my hand, kissing my fingers. “You asked me before if I’d done anything like that, with anyone else.”

“Yes.”

“I think we both know now that you meant Lexi, didn’t you?”

I nod my head. “I know I said I’m not worried about you and her, and I’m not, but…”

“Hey… it’s okay. If the roles were reversed, I’d feel the same. I wish I could tell you with any certainty what went on between us, but I can’t. Not yet. Hopefully I will, one day, but until then the only thing I can say is, I can’t believe I would have done that with anyone else… including Lexi.”

“Why not?” I ask.

“Because it feels like there’s too much trust involved. There’s something about the way you give yourself to me. I can’t picture myself being in that situation with anyone other than you. Obviously, I could be wrong… but I hope I’m not.”

“I guess we’ll find out when your memory comes back.”

“Hopefully. Do you want me to tell you, either way?”

“Yes. I need to know… and I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”

“No. No more secrets.”

He gazes across the table at me. “I hated keeping things…” I say, and he reaches out, touching his forefinger against my lips.

“That’s enough, Josie. We’re not going to talk about it. I know you were only doing what the doctor told you, and even if it backfired, it wasn’t your fault. Regardless of all the things I said yesterday, I don’t blame you.”

I pull his hand away, keeping hold of it and lower it to the table, so all four of our hands are clasped together.

“There are still things we need to talk through, though.”

“Yes, we do. About the future. We don’t need to keep raking over the past. For one thing, I still don’t really have one.” He tilts his head to one side. “But I have a future, don’t I? With you?”

“Yes, of course you do. If that’s what you want.”

“More than anything. Let’s just leave the past and my memories to take care of themselves, shall we?”

I nod my head. “But only if you agree to talk things through with me, when you need to.”

He pulls his hands from mine and gets to his feet, coming around the table and standing beside me. I look up and he offers me his hand again, this time pulling me to my feet and into his arms. “I’ll tell you everything.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “No secrets, remember?”

I smile, nodding my head, and he places his hands on my denim-clad ass, pulling me close to him, so I can feel his arousal.

“Wearing clothes is very over-rated, you know?”

“Hmm… but what if someone comes over?”

He bends, brushing his lips against mine. “There’s no rule that says we have to answer the door.”

He has a point, and I tilt my head back as he deepens the kiss. I’m not wearing any underwear and he squeezes me, groaning into my mouth, just as someone knocks on the door.

I pull back, smiling. “You see? This is why we wear clothes.”

“Maybe. But you’ll need to see who it is.”

“I will?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a raging hard-on, so I think I’d better sit down and do my best to disguise it, don’t you?”

I giggle, unable to help myself, and we leave the dishes on the table, wandering into the living room. Drew sits on one of the blue chairs, pulling down his t-shirt to hide the bulge in the front of his jeans, and I wander to the front door, opening it to find Hunter and Livia standing there, his arm around her shoulders.

“Sorry. Did we disturb something?” Hunter says.

“No.” I smile.

“Yes.” Drew’s reply comes out at the same time as mine and I turn, narrowing my eyes at him.

Hunter laughs and I look back at him, noticing the slight blush on Livia’s cheeks. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since we met at the hospital, and she smiles at me, rolling her eyes.

“Don’t worry. They’re always like this.”

I can’t help smiling myself because at least Drew is doing something in character… something recognizable. And that’s got to be good.

I step back, letting them into the cottage, and I close the door, offering them a seat on the couch. They accept, sitting side-by-side, and I move past Drew, heading for the other chair. He grabs my hand, though, pulling me down onto his lap and holding me tight against him. I can feel his arousal pressing in to me, and a blush creeps up my cheeks, although he stares across at his brother, unfazed.

Hunter is grinning broadly, his arm around Livia. “This feels odd, but I guess I should introduce you.” He smiles at Livia and then turns back to Drew. “This is my wife, Livia.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Drew says. “Although I guess this isn’t the first time.”

“No, it’s not,” Livia says, smiling.

“We didn’t come over just to make introductions,” Hunter says. “And I’m sorry for disturbing your morning, but we wanted to tell you our news…” He glances at me, just for a second, something like sympathy in his eyes, and I know what he’s going to say, even before he announces, “Livia’s pregnant.”

I feel the tug of anguish deep inside me, and while I should be getting used to it by now, I’m not sure I ever will. Drew holds me tighter, maybe sensing my distress, although he doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t need to.

Livia looks directly at me. “I’m sorry,” she says. “This must be the last thing you wanted to hear.”

“No. Not at all. I’m pleased for you. Truly, I am.” I just wish it didn’t have to hurt so much.

“We only found out this morning,” Hunter says. “And I know it might seem that we’re telling you really early, but…”

“You’ve wanted this for a long time,” Drew says, finishing his brother’s sentence and we all look at him, even though I have to twist on his lap to do so.

“Yes,” Hunter replies. “How did you know?”

“You mentioned to Drew that you and Livia had talked about having children,” I say. “He’s probably thinking of that.”

“No, I’m not.” Drew sits forward slightly, bringing me with him. “As far as I was aware, Maisie was theirs, not mine, so I didn’t question what they were doing about having kids. I assumed they’d already done it, if you see what I mean.” He shakes his head slowly. “No… there’s something else in the back of my mind about the two of you, although I don’t know whether it’s this, or if it’s to do with something else.”

Livia blushes and murmurs, “Oh, God,” under her breath, and Hunter laughs, looking down at his wife.

“I don’t know why you’re embarrassed, babe. Drew might not remember everything yet, but he will one day.”

“What is it I’m supposed to remember?” Drew asks.

“Just that, when Livia and I first got together, you nearly caught us in the act.”

Drew chuckles, his body shaking beneath mine. “Perhaps that’s one thing I’ll pretend I forgot permanently… for your wife’s sake.”

“Man, you really have changed.” Hunter tilts his head, staring at his brother. “The old Drew never passed up the chance to score points over me.”

“I’ve changed in all kinds of ways,” Drew says, hugging me tighter.

“So it seems.” Hunter glances at me, smiling. “But I still can’t work out how you knew Livia and I were trying for a baby.”

“I don’t know.” Drew sounds thoughtful. “Is it something to do with a telephone call?” He looks at me, but I shrug my shoulders.

“It would have been before the accident, Drew. I wouldn’t know.”

He turns his attention to Hunter. “There was sunlight and I’m getting an image of domed rooftops. Does that make sense?”

Hunter smiles. “Yeah, it does. You were in Rome on that assignment, and you called me a couple of days before you came home. We talked about it then.”

“That’s when you told me?”

“No, you already knew.”

“I did? How?”

“I told you just after Maisie was born. Livia was finding it kinda hard, what with Ella being pregnant as well, and you noticed she wasn’t being her usual self, so I told you what was going on.”

“Please tell me I didn’t try to score points.”

Hunter shakes his head. “No. I don’t think you could’ve been more supportive. I couldn’t always share my feelings with Livia, so it helped, knowing you were there.”

“But surely you had Ella, too.”

“We didn’t tell her.”

“Why not?”

“Trying for a baby is really personal… especially when it’s not working out. Somehow, having you in my corner made it a little easier. It was like you said in that phone call, when you were in Rome, I had to be strong for Livia, but sometimes I needed someone to be strong for me… and that was where you came in. That’s why I wanted to tell you our news. Because even though you don’t remember, you’ve been there for me, and I appreciate it.”

“Are you keeping it to yourselves, then?”

“Just for now. We won’t be able to for long. Pat will almost certainly work it out if Ella doesn’t get there first.”

Drew takes a deep breath and I look into his eyes, seeing how happy and proud he is that his brother trusted him with this. It’s important, I can tell, and I nestle in to him. He looks down, tilting his head to one side.

“Are you okay?” he asks. I nod my head, just once, and he tucks my hair behind my ear, his thumb caressing my cheek. “It’s all gonna work out just fine, Josie. I promise.”

I close my eyes, his lips dusting mine, and I let myself believe him… because when I’m in Drew’s arms, anything feels possible.

***

Drew

I break the kiss, gazing into Josie’s eyes.

As much as I liked hearing my brother’s good news, and knowing I was there for him when he needed me, it had to be hard for Josie, and I’m aware of that… aware that their joy is something she can never share… never feel.

Our happiness feels tempered, moderated by this one sadness. Except it doesn’t have to be like that. It’s within my power to make it better, to take away at least some of the ache Josie feels for the one thing she can never have… never be. At least, in her eyes.

I kiss her again, just briefly, and turn to Hunter.

“I know we planned to do this later today, but I had a dream last night, which was a kind of memory, too. It was to do with the accident, and it’s left me with this… this need to protect my daughter. So, do you think it would be possible for me to meet her now?”

Livia sits forward on the couch. “Of course,” she says, answering for Hunter. “I left her with Pat while we came over here, but she’s yours, Drew. She always was.”

I smile over at her. “I’m grateful to you for looking after her for as long as you have.”

“You don’t have to be grateful.”

“Oh, I think I do.” Livia smiles at me, lowering her eyes, and I look down at Josie. “Are you ready for this?”

She doesn’t know what I’ve got in mind, but she nods her head. “If you are.”

“I am. That dream left me kinda rattled, and I guess hearing Hunter and Livia’s news has made me wanna try being a father again.”

She sucks in a breath, letting me know this won’t be easy for her, although I’m hopeful I can make it better than she thinks, and then she gets to her feet. I copy her, waiting while Hunter helps Livia to stand, and we all make our way to the front door.

Outside, it’s a warm sunny day, and I put my arm around Josie as we walk down the path to the rear of the main house. It’s been a good day so far, starting off with that spectacular shower… and while I didn’t think anything could be better than that, I’m not so sure now. If I get this right, it could make everything perfect.

Hunter opens the glass doors at the back of the house, letting us all into the kitchen. There’s no-one here, but I can hear voices and Livia leads the way to a living room, with brown leather couches surrounding an enormous fireplace. It’s very formal, but we pass on through and into the lobby before she guides us to a door, which opens into a much more informal living room. In here, there are four fabric covered couches, two in a dark blue, and two in a paler tone. There’s a television mounted above the fireplace, and on the floor, lying on a cushioned, fleecy play mat, is the most beautiful baby girl I’ve ever seen. She’s wearing a pink dress, with a white collar and a pink hairband with a bow on the side. Her tiny feet are kicking out as she waves her hands at the toy penguin and whale dangling from the wooden arch above her head. I’m mesmerized for a moment, just staring, but let my eyes wander to the two women sitting on either side of her. One is older, maybe in her early sixties, and is wearing a thin summer skirt and a white blouse. I realize this must be Pat and she looks up, her green eyes clouding with tears as she shakes her auburn head in disbelief. The other woman notices her reaction and turns toward me. I can see her face now, and the family likeness is unmistakable. This is my sister, Ella. I don’t recognize her as such, but she’s got the same dark hair as Hunter and me, cut in a short, pixie-like style, and her eyes are a similar shade of brown to mine…

“Oh, my God… Drew.” She leaps to her feet, her hand over her mouth as tears well in her eyes.

“We haven’t been introduced yet, but I believe I’m your brother.”

She bursts into tears and I let go of Josie’s hand and step forward, pulling Ella into my arms.

“I was so scared,” she whispers into my chest.

“What of?”

She looks up, her cheeks stained with tears. “That we’d lost you forever.”

I shake my head. “No such luck.”

She slaps her hand against my chest, just as a man comes through the door. I remember him as the man who helped carry me up the stairs. He’s tall, with dark hair and is really muscular, making the baby he’s cradling in his arm seem even smaller.

“One son… suitably changed and refreshed,” he says with an English accent, before he looks up and stops dead, staring at Ella and then at me. She steps away and I release her as the man comes over, holding out his free arm to put around her. She nestles against him, her head on his chest, and he smiles. “We haven’t been formally introduced,” he says to me. “I’m Mac… Ella’s fiancé.”

“I remember you.”

“Really?” His eyes widen and he tilts his head slightly.

“Yes. You helped carry me up the stairs.”

“Oh. I see. I thought you meant you remembered me from before.”

“No. Sorry.” I turn back to Ella. “I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t remember you, either. The only reason I know you’re my sister is because Hunter told me.”

She looks really upset, and blinks back her tears, although it’s Mac who speaks, shaking his head slightly. “Hey… don’t let it worry you. You’ll work it out when you’re ready.”

I glance down at the baby he’s carrying… a little boy dressed in blue dungarees and a white t-shirt. He’s gazing up at his father with total adoration.

“This must be Henry?”

Ella reaches out, cradling his head with her hand. “He’s nearly a month old, and you’ve never met him.”

“Until now… and I’m sure we’ll make up for lost time.”

There’s a slight whimpering behind us and we all turn to see Pat has stood up and is holding my daughter in her arms. She looks up at me and I step closer.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re Pat because Hunter explained about you and who you are, but all I’m getting is ice cream cake. Does that mean anything?”

She smiles, the tears in her eyes threatening to fall as she nods her head. “It was your favorite when you were little. I can make some for tonight, if you like… if you all wanna stay and have dinner together?”

I turn to Josie, who smiles. “I think we’d like that. Thank you.”

I look down at my daughter as she turns her head to face me, her blue eyes fixed on mine, and I take a deep breath as Pat holds her out and I lift her into my arms. Maisie gazes up at me, and I feel the connection, like an unbreakable bond between us, as I pull her close to my chest. She snuggles and sighs, like she knows who I am, and I breathe her in. There’s something familiar about the smell of her, although I can’t remember what it is, and as I stare down into her face, she blurs before my sight, my cheeks wetting with tears.

Josie’s standing beside me, her hand on my shoulder. “I’ve been here before,” I whisper, and she nods her head.

“On the day she was born. You cried then, too.”

I raise my head, looking at her. “Did I?”

“Yes. It hurt so much to see you like that.”

“And does this hurt, too?”

She glances down at Maisie and then at me. “No.” I’m not sure she’s telling the truth, but before I can say anything, Hunter comes and joins us.

“Remember what I said before? You don’t have to feel pressured to do anything too quickly. If you need Maisie to stay here for a while longer, until you’re ready, that won’t be a problem.” He gives me a long look, like he’s telling me that Livia’s pregnancy makes no difference, which I’m sure it doesn’t. What makes the difference is how I feel… not just about Maisie, but about Josie, and I shake my head at him.

“After the dream I had last night, I don’t wanna let her go ever again. She’s mine, Hunter. She belongs with me.”

He smiles. “Then maybe you should spend some time together, so she can get to know her daddy.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I say and I take Josie’s hand with my free one and turn to her, looking down into her eyes. “I think she should get to know her new mommy, too.”

Josie blinks once, then twice, and then bursts into tears.

“We’ll be in the kitchen,” Hunter says in my ear and I’m vaguely aware of him shooing everyone from the room as I put my arm around Josie and pull her in to my chest, hugging her close, while being careful not to crush Maisie.

“Is this okay?” I ask. She nods her head, sniffling through her tears. “We won’t let Maisie forget who Lexi was, but I want us to be a family.”

She looks up. “So do I, Drew… so much.”

I smile down at her. “I can’t claim to remember very much yet, but one thing I recall very clearly is what it felt like to fall for you.”

She wipes away her tears with the back of her hand. “Really?”

“Yeah. It’s exactly how I feel now… like I’m falling for you, and I’m never gonna stop.”