Claiming His Baby

Surely she hadn’t heard Raul correctly!

“Don’t you realize with all the stress you’ve been under, you could have endangered your baby?”

“I’m not having a baby.” Heather laughed nervously. “Don’t be absurd!”

“Heather—we ran the test twice.”

Beneath his exasperated tone, Raul looked and sounded tormented. “I understand your fear of not wanting to tell your father, but there’s no point in lying to me.”

“Raul—” she cried, gripping his hand. “I’m not lying!”

His eyes impaled her like lasers before his hand slid away from her stomach with seeming reluctance. “How could you not be aware of the changes in your body?”

She blinked. “I’m really pregnant?”

She was going to have Raul’s child.

What happens when you suddenly discover your happy twosome is about to be turned into a…family?

Do you panic?

Do you laugh?

Do you cry?

Or…do you get married?

The answer is all of the above—and plenty more!

Share the laughter and the tears as these unsuspecting couples are plunged into parenthood!

When parenthood takes you by surprise!

Look out in December for

Her Hired Husband #3682

by Renee Roszel

Claiming His Baby

Rebecca Winters

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ONE

“HONEY? Do you have any idea how proud I am of your accomplishments? To think my daughter has established herself as a concert pianist. It’s what your mother lived for…”

Groaning inwardly, Heather Sanders bowed her head. “D-do you want another cup of coffee?”

“No, thank you. You’ve waited on me enough this morning. In fact you’ve spoiled me during this visit when it should have been the other way around.”

“I’m happiest when I’m home with you.”

“You’re just saying those kind words to make your old man happy.”

“No, Daddy. It’s the truth. Please, don’t rush off yet.” I need to talk to you. I have to talk to you.

“I’m sorry, honey, but an early start on hospital rounds means I can finish up the day ahead of schedule so I can be with you. I’d like to believe your mother will be watching and listening to you play with the symphony tonight,” came his tremulous whisper.

“I want to believe that, too. In case she is, I’ll try to do Tchaikovsky justice.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting it go. “Your performance will be flawless, just as it always is. You’re so much like her, honey.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Heather averted her eyes and finished the rest of her orange juice.

“I want you to know I’ve already made travel arrangements so that I can fly over for the performances on your tour. I’ll only be able to stay a couple of days each time, but it will be worth it. Lyle Curtis has the different dates marked off to cover for me.”

“I’m so glad!” She slid out of her chair to throw her arms around his neck. “I love you so much.”

Dr. John Sanders was everyone’s favorite obstetrician. He worked long hours and had literally buried himself in his practice since her mother had died. For him to take so much time away from his patients to be with her was some kind of miracle.

Yet thrilled as she was by his news, deep down the thought of carving out a career as a concert pianist had always been daunting to her. Though she loved the piano, the idea of devoting her life to the performance of music was already starting to hold less and less appeal. The sooner she admitted this to her father who’d sacrificed everything for her, the better.

“What are you going to do today besides practice?” he asked after standing up to give her a hug.

“I’ve got a lot of packing to do before I leave for New York tomorrow. Phyllis called and offered to drive me over to the concert hall early so I can warm up on the Steinway.”

“Wonderful! After my last appointment, I’ll come straight home and change, then join you backstage before the performance.”

She flashed him a smile. “I’d love that, but I won’t hold my breath. In case things get busy at the office, remember that tonight I don’t play until after the intermission.”

He put his hands on her shoulders. In a solemn voice he said, “Do you honestly think I’d miss the debut of my daughter’s entry into the world of Rubenstein and Ashkenazy?”

“Daddy—” She shook her head. “They’re legendary. Only a few pianists will ever be in their league.”

“You have greatness in you, honey. This is what your mother and I dreamed of.”

He kissed her forehead before leaving the dining room.

Immobilized by the growing conflict inside her, Heather stood there clinging to the chair long after she heard her father back down the driveway and leave for the hospital.

With incurious eyes, Dr. Raul Cardenas glanced out the window of the plane as it made its descent toward Salt Lake International airport. Though it was mid-June, there were still pockets of snow clinging to the highest peaks of the rugged Rocky Mountains. The sight reminded him of the Andes, and should have brought him a modicum of excitement.

But to his chagrin nothing seemed to dispel the growing discontentment he’d been feeling lately, not even the thought of seeing Evan and Phyllis again.

Urgent business had prompted this emergency visit. He needed to consult with an expert. Evan Dorney, the renowned heart surgeon who had been Raul’s mentor during the last year of his surgeon’s residency at University Hospital in Salt Lake, was that person.

The men had formed a fast friendship. Raul had been aware the older doctor had wanted him to stay in Salt Lake and become a partner in his thriving medical practice.

Though humbled and flattered by Evan’s offer, Raul’s roots tugged at him. He couldn’t turn his back on his own country where doctors were desperately needed any more than he could abandon the aging aunt and uncle who’d raised him from the age of nine. Their fondest hope had been that he follow in his uncle’s footsteps and become an attorney.

In the end Raul chose to be a doctor and practice medicine in the Gran Chaco of Argentina where he felt he could make the greatest contribution, thereby thwarting his uncle’s dreams and disappointing Evan.

Except for missing him and his exceptional wife, Phyllis, Raul had never regretted his decision. Determined to keep up their friendship, he’d remained close to them through phone calls and letters.

Over the intervening years the Dorneys had made four trips to Buenos Aires. Together the three of them had spent their vacations in the Andes and Patagonia. Finally Raul was coming to visit them.

Alarmed because this reunion should have generated more excitement inside of him, he was relieved when the plane had touched down so he wouldn’t have to be a prisoner of his own disturbing thoughts for a while.

Unbuckling the seat belt, he shrugged into the jacket of his lightweight tan suit before starting down the aisle. The first-class section emptied fairly fast. He paused at the doorway of the waiting area to scan the crowd, then came face-to-face with a familiar pair of intelligent hazel eyes.

Except for more gray in his hair, Evan didn’t seem to have changed at all. He stood tall, and his lopsided smile was still in evidence. The two men embraced.

“Evan,” Raul murmured, feeling a sudden rush of emotion as a plethora of memories assailed him. This man exuded all the warmth missing in the uncle who’d done his best to take over after Raul’s parents had been killed.

“You have no idea how delighted I was when you told me you were coming,” the older doctor responded with heartfelt sincerity.

“Even if I’m here to ask you an enormous favor?”

“I don’t care about the reason. You’re here!” he cried. “That’s all that matters.”

“He’s right,” his redheaded wife spoke up as Raul caught sight of her. She held out her arms for a hug, which he readily reciprocated.

“You’re beautiful as ever, Phyllis.”

She wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’ve aged and I know it. But you—just look how handsome you are! I can’t believe you’re not married yet.”

“I never found anyone who measured up to you, that’s why.”

“With all those gorgeous South American beauties?”

Raul had had several relationships with women, but he’d never been so carried away that he’d proposed marriage to any of them, much to his aunt and uncle’s chagrin. Living in a city like Buenos Aires was one thing. Surviving in a tiny bush settlement like Zocheetl was something else…

“Phyllis, as I’ve told you on numerous other occasions, I would have to feel something earthshaking, and that hasn’t happened yet.”

Though busier than he’d ever been in his life, there was an aridness in his soul that nothing seemed to fill. He’d hoped a change of scene with the Dorneys might help cure what was ailing him.

“It’s because you live in isolation too much of the time. If you would stay a few months in Salt—”

“Phyllis—” her husband warned. “Leave the poor man alone. He just got here after a horrendously long flight. Come on, let’s grab your bags and take you home.

“I can’t get there fast enough.”

Within an hour he was ensconced in the Dorneys’s elegant, traditional two-story house, which had been his home away from home during his residency in Salt Lake. They’d prepared his old room for him.

As soon as he’d freshened up in the en suite bathroom, he joined them downstairs in the living room. To his surprise Phyllis had changed into a blue chiffon evening gown.

“You look lovely. Where are you going all dressed up?”

“To the symphony. You’ve heard us speak of the Sanders—”

“Of course. They’re your best friends. She’s the one who died of cancer a couple of years ago, leaving a daughter.”

“That’s right. Last week Heather won the international Gina Bacchauer piano competition. Tonight she’s performing her winning program with the Utah Symphony. I promised I’d drive over to symphony hall and be with her until she goes onstage.

“Normally I would never leave you when you’ve just arrived. But Heather’s my goddaughter and needs me. Besides, I happen to know Evan can’t wait to talk to you alone.”

“I’ve heard of the Bacchauer,” Raul interjected. “If she’s that good, I’d like to attend the performance.”

Evan smiled. “That’s very noble of you, but if you’re only in town for three days, I want to make the most of our time together.”

Raul knew this event must be important to Evan as well as Phyllis. “I really would like to go to the symphony. As you both know, music is as necessary to me as breathing.” He could credit his aunt and uncle for a life that included beautiful music and good books. “In fact it’s probably my favorite way to enjoy an evening.”

Because he spoke the truth, his voice carried the ring of conviction. Certainly the look of pleasure on their faces told its own story.

With the decision made, everyone was galvanized into action. After Phyllis placed fried chicken and potato salad on the breakfast room table, she left for the Sanders’s home in her car.

Over their meal Evan urged Raul to tell him what was so important, it had caused him to leave his beloved bush.

“There’s a little seven-year-old Indian boy with a strange heart condition. He’s too sick to be moved from the bush hospital. I’ve brought his X rays with me.

“I may have done some heart surgeries because there was no one else, but I don’t dare tackle anything this complicated. You’ll understand when you look at the film. The parents have no money, of course. I thought that if—”

“Say no more.” Evan broke in with a smile. “I’ll do it. Just give me three weeks to clear my calendar.”

Raul’s eyes smarted. “You don’t know how grateful I am. I’ll pay you for the operation.”

“Don’t be absurd! What has life come to if we can’t help people without worrying about money? I’d like to do it as long as you assist me. Phyllis will want to come, too. We’ve both been curious about the bush. Now will be our chance to really see it.”

“I’ll have a bungalow waiting for you. In the meantime you’ll need to get some booster shots.”

Evan nodded. “It will be like old times, operating with you. I’ll have you know I’ve never worked with a resident as brilliant as Dr. Raul Cardenas.”

Raul cleared his throat and got up from the table. “If we’re going to make the symphony, I need to get showered.”

“Go ahead. I’ll clean up down here and then change. Bring those X rays with you. We’ll stop at the office after the symphony and I’ll take a look at them.”

Raul clapped him on the shoulder. “Bless you, Evan.”

A half hour later they were dressed in formal attire and headed to symphony hall in Evan’s car. Once inside the crowded building, an usher handed them programs and they found their seats.

“Where’s Phyllis?”

“She’ll probably stay backstage with Heather until John arrives.”

Raul opened his program and began to read. He discovered that the second and third place winners of the piano competition would be performing before the intermission.

Soon the house lights dimmed and he sat back to enjoy the Israeli man’s performance. He played the Beethoven superbly, then pleased the crowd with a George Gershwin selection. Then came the Russian contestant who did an excellent job with Chopin’s Nocturne in E.

“Just wait till you hear Heather play,” Evan whispered.

The corner of Raul’s mouth lifted at his friend’s obvious bias. When the Russian left the stage, Phyllis joined them at their seats. While the two of them conversed in private, Raul finished reading the notes about each finalist. Just before the lights dimmed after the intermission, he turned to the last page.

There he gazed on the exquisite face of Heather Sanders for the first time…

A hush fell over the audience, causing Raul to look up from his program. Everyone’s concentration had centered on the winner of the Bacchauer—a young woman in black whose femininity made an impact even at the back of the hall.

She moved across the stage with a consummate grace that was stunning to watch. His gaze dropped to the program once more. The picture didn’t do justice to her Nordic coloring. She seated herself at the concert grand and began her performance with a little known work of Rachmaninoff, which was one of Raul’s favorite pieces.

The haunting composition was technically difficult and incredibly beautiful. Raul was secretly thrilled she’d chosen that particular work. He knew the music intimately and found himself listening for certain passages.

Her interpretation was marvelous. He felt her passion. She was doing everything right. It sent chills up his spine. Again he consulted the program.

Madre de Dios. A twenty-five-year old piano student from Juilliard and she could play like that!

She would only have been fifteen years old when he was finishing up his residency.

Evan handed him the opera glasses he and Phyllis had been sharing. Raul lifted them to his eyes. The moment the young pianist had made her appearance onstage he’d been inordinately curious about her, wondering if he’d imagined the perfection of her face and figure.

Perhaps it was a trick of light and the long black dress she was wearing, but her shoulder-length hair looked like a spray of gossamer, as if it had an inherent ability to shimmer.

Her well-shaped head was bent over the keyboard so he could only perceive small glimpses of the total person—the hint of high cheekbones, a generous mouth and softly rounded chin.

Moving lower, he noticed her hand span was not excessive because she wasn’t a tall woman. But her fingers were strong, her touch, eloquent. He didn’t want to give up the glasses when Phyllis reached for them again.

She began her second number, Tchaikovsky’s Second Piano Concerto, a lesser known work than the First. So many pianists failed at this particular piece, but she revealed a depth of emotion and power that transcended the mere mechanics and ended up giving a sterling performance. Raul found himself holding his breath.

When the last note had been played, there was a reverent pause before the audience burst into applause. Raul got to his feet along with Phyllis and Evan. The clapping reached a crescendo with shouts of bravo. It didn’t end despite the several graceful bows she made.

Someone thrust a bouquet of flowers in her arms. The conductor held her hand high for the audience. Another thunderous ovation continued for several more minutes. Even without the benefit of opera glasses, he felt the radiance of her smile.

“Give me your keys,” Raul murmured to Evan who was plainly ecstatic over his goddaughter’s performance. “While you go backstage to congratulate her, I’ll bring the car around in front of the concert hall and pick you up.”

“Come with us.”

Raul shook his head. “Not this time. Take as long as you want.”

Evan dropped the keys in his outstretched hand. “Thank you,” he said in a thick-toned voice and hurried down the aisle after his wife.

This was one time Raul didn’t want to intrude on their private moment. In truth, he had no desire to meet Heather Sanders for the simple reason that she was the embodiment of everything he found attractive in a woman, not only physically, but emotionally.

That kind of complication he didn’t need in his life. Coming to Salt Lake had been a necessity. On Monday he’d be flying back to South America. The sooner he left, the better.

But in his heart of hearts, he couldn’t deny that something of tremendous significance had happened to him during her performance. Though it had only been a moment out of time, he was already feeling unmistakable stirrings. The type that needed to be repressed at all costs.

Heather heard her dad’s beeper go off while they were in the car driving home from the symphony. As soon as he started talking on the cell phone, she knew it was a patient who’d gone into labor. Before he clicked off, he told the woman to meet him at the hospital.

There went any hope of spending her last evening with him for at least a month. Being an obstetrician’s daughter, she was used to him leaving for the hospital at a moment’s notice. But tonight she needed him.

Despite her performance, which she felt was the best she’d ever given, she felt emotionally drained. She wanted to talk to him about her life and her concerns. Yet at the same time she was nervous because she didn’t know how he would react. The last thing she would ever want to do was hurt him or cause him grief.

“Honey?”

His voice jerked her from her torturous thoughts. She turned her head in his direction. “I know. You have a patient who needs you.”

“I’m sorry. Hopefully I won’t be long. You heard Phyllis. She asked us to come over, so I’ll drive you there right now and join you later. I don’t want you to be alone, not after the fabulous performance you gave tonight.”

Heather didn’t know what she wanted.

“It was a good thing I stayed in the wings,” he continued, unaware of her turmoil. “I was able to break down without anyone noticing that your old dad was the proudest father on the planet. A lot of important people were there tonight. Everyone gave you rave reviews. I could have told them you’re an incredible daughter as well as a pianist.”

“The feeling’s mutual, Daddy. I don’t know how I was lucky enough to be born to you and Mom. You both gave me a beautiful life.” Her voice trembled.

He reached across to pat her hand. “Honey—you sound like everything’s over when it’s only just begun. That must be your exhaustion talking.”

Maybe it was.

Maybe that was what was wrong with her.

She needed sleep and lots of it.

Now that the pressure of performing in her own home city was over, she would probably be able to let go of her anxiety.

“Heather?” her father prodded.

“You’re right, Daddy. I am tired.”

“Tell Phyllis you need to lie down and put your feet up.”

“That sounds divine.”

A few minutes later he turned into the Dorneys’s driveway. She leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Hurry back.”

“You know I will.”

She got out of the car and dashed up the steps of the house. Phyllis already had the door open and drew Heather inside.

“Oh, no!” she cried when she saw the car drive off.

“There was an emergency. Daddy said he wouldn’t be long.”

“How many times have we heard that?”

They smiled at each other in total understanding before Phyllis shut the door. “So—what does the newest and brightest star on the concert stage want to do first?”

“Would you mind terribly if I just lie down for a while?”

Phyllis eyed her with concern. “Do you even have to ask? Can I bring you something?”

“No. Nothing. But thank you so much anyway. Where’s Evan?”

“He had to stop by the office to look over some X rays, but he’ll be here shortly. You go on in the study and make yourself comfortable on the couch.”

“Thank you, Phyllis. You’ve been wonderful to me.”

“You’re like the daughter I never had. I’m the one who’s lucky.”

Fighting tears, Heather gave her a hug, then headed for the study. As at home in the Dorney house as her own, she wandered into the book-lined den where she’d often practiced on their piano. Stepping out of her black high-heeled sandals, she placed a cushion at one end of the sofa, then lay down and closed her eyes.

She was always tired after a performance, but it was her troubled mental and emotional state that made her body feel like it weighed a thousand pounds.

When Raul opened the French doors of the study looking for the newspaper, he was stunned to discover Heather Sanders lying full-length on the long green velvet couch still wearing her floor-length black dress. Talk about Sleeping Beauty…

The noise brought her awake because her eyelids fluttered open. But she gazed at him for so long without saying anything, he realized she’d been in a deep sleep for quite some time.

He stood a few feet away from her, yet he was close enough to be fascinated by a pair of electrifying blue eyes watching him out of inky black lashes.

There were lakes high in the Andes their exact color. Raul had camped along their shores, mesmerized by the brilliant hue of those still, deep waters. Combined with her northern European blond coloring, the contrast took his breath.

“Ms. Sanders? I didn’t know anyone was in here or I would never have disturbed you.”

A red blush crept up her neck and face as she came to a sitting position and swung her feet to the floor. The imprint of the hand upon which she’d been lying was still visible on her velvety cheek, like a young child’s. Yet there was a womanly thrust of curves revealed beneath the material draping her gorgeous figure.

“I didn’t know you were a houseguest,” came her quiet response. Phyllis hadn’t said a word to her about Dr. Cardenas being in Salt Lake. Why? “My father dropped me off here on his way to the hospital. I only meant to rest for a minute.”