“I've never loved anyone more.” She reached out to him and he took her in his arms as tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt as though she had been crying all day, but so had he. He had had a rotten birthday. “I couldn't live without you.” She still trembled, thinking that, through her own stupidity, she had almost lost him.
Bill smiled for a long moment, and didn't say anything as he helped her set the baby down, and then he looked at her again. “I love you. I just want you to know how much I love you.” And then he glanced at his watch and smiled, as he sat on the edge of the bed next to her. “It looks like I just missed the red-eye.” But he'd been surprising the boys anyway, so they wouldn't be disappointed. “Mind if I spend the night?” He grinned at her and she laughed and blew her nose again. It had been an emotional day, and night before that.
“I'm not sure what the nurses would say.” But neither of them seemed to care, as they snuggled in her bed, Adrian in her pink nightgown he'd given her for Christmas and Bill in his London tweeds, and then the nurse came in to check on her, saw them kissing, and quietly closed the door again. Mrs. Thompson was feeling much better.
“They're going to think we're misbehaving,” Adrian whispered to him as the door whooshed closed behind the nurse.
“Good,” he whispered with a grin.
“I have a birthday present for you.” Adrian remembered the watch suddenly, as they continued to kiss and talk in whispers.
“Already?” Bill laughed. “Isn't it too soon?”
“You're disgusting.” But he kissed her long and hard, and all was right with the world again as he held her.
“I have a surprise for you,” he said thoughtfully, as they lay back side by side, against her pillows.
“What is it?” They were still speaking softly, for fear of waking the baby, and because suddenly their life seemed so simple and so peaceful.
“We're getting married in the next few days.”
“It's about time.” She pretended to scowl at him, flashing the ring he had given her for Christmas.
“I want my name on Sam's birth certificate,” Bill said almost sternly.
“How about Samuel William Thigpen,” she supplied with a shy smile, and he leaned over and kissed her.
“It'll do …”He smiled. “It'll do,” pulling her close to him again, and feeling her heart next to his, with a single heartbeat.
a cognizant original v5 release october 31 2010
Published by
Dell Publishing
a division of
Random House, Inc.
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New York, New York 10036
Copyright © 1991 by Danielle Steel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. For information address Delacorte Press, New York, New York.
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eISBN: 978-0-307-56649-2
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