The Doctor's Secret Son

“If I left you and Joss, I would be giving up things I love. I’m not going back with DAW.”

She couldn’t believe what he was saying. She wanted this man happy, to do whatever it took to make his life complete.

“I’m glad, but I was serious,” she assured him. “We’ll go wherever you are.”

“Chattanooga isn’t so far away from Atlanta, Chrissie. Maybe we could spend time in both cities. That way Joss could know both sets of his grandparents.”

Happiness burst through her whole being.

“And his grand-godparents,” she added, thinking of Bud and Agnes.

“They’ll spoil him. They’ve been waiting for years for me to give them grandchildren.” He gave her a serious look. “They’ll insist upon more.”

“More? You mean—?” Chrissie’s breath caught “—you want more children? But I thought...”

“The thought terrifies me in many ways, but, yes, I want more kids. With you. Brothers and sisters for Joss.”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Oh, Trace. I do love you!”

He laughed. “Good. Now about those brothers and sisters...”

EPILOGUE

“NO, DON’T YOU dare pick up that box of supplies,” Agnes ordered when Chrissie bent to pick up a box.

Not that Chrissie had actually done much bending.

Her body just wasn’t cooperating these days. Not with her belly in the way.

Her very round, very pregnant belly.

“You sound like my husband,” she accused, wanting to help more than she knew they were going to let her.

“Yeah? I hear he’s an amazing man,” Trace said, coming up behind her and patting her bottom, then giving her a more serious look. “How are you holding up?”

“Fine.”

“You’re not too tired?”

“Trace, the event hasn’t even started yet.”

“I just think you should have sat this year out and stayed at my parents’ place with Joss.”

“And encroached on his time with his Gramps and Grammie?” she asked. “I don’t think so. They’ve been looking forward to taking him to the Atlanta Aquarium for weeks. He loves it so much! I can’t believe your dad arranged a sleepover there.”

Trace grinned. “I told you they’d spoil him.”

But his voice was light, happy. Although she knew Trace and his father hadn’t seen eye to eye most of his adult life, they’d come to a peace from the time they’d flown to Chattanooga together, thinking they were going to save Joss’s life.

Instead, they’d saved Chrissie.

Saved her from a life with part of her heart missing.

“Just as you spoil me,” she accused, wrapping her arms around his neck, but unable to pull him as close as she’d like due to her belly between them.

He leaned forward, dropped a kiss on her lips, then cupped her stomach. “You’re the one who has spoiled me.”

“You just keep thinking that and I’ll know the truth,” she teased, as she often did. The truth was, they were both spoiled by the happiness they’d found together.