Page 50 of The Valentine Child


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'What?'

Justin stared for a moment at her puzzled blue eyes, then laughed wryly, drawling, 'You never read the papers you signed that day at Malibu, did you? The same as you never touched the money I paid to your New York lawyer every month.'

'No,' she admitted.

His mouth curved. 'Don't ever change, darling.' He kissed her and said gruffly, 'I bought Black Gables and I've been waiting years for you to return. I had arranged for the month to be kept free so that I could come and look for you.'

Her heart stopped; she stared at him, her lips parted in an amazed O. 'You did that for. . .?’

'Yes,' he affirmed, with a long, lingering kiss, and once again only the muffled sighs and sounds of love enhanced the late night air.

Zoe was sitting strapped into a seat on Concorde, flying the Atlantic to England, almost a year to the day since she had last made the trip. To her disgust she was slightly plumper than last time, but the tiny bundle of white- haired, blue-eyed joy in her arms more than made up for it.

She glanced sideways, as did the man sitting beside her—her husband. He caught her glance and smiled, his dark eyes shining with love and contentment.

'Are you and Mary OK?'

'Of course.' She looked down into her daughter's chubby face, a secret smile dancing in her beautiful eyes.

Their daughter had been born on Christmas Day, and she had been all for calling her Holly. But Justin had flatly refused and insisted that the child have an ordinary name, so they had agreed on Mary. But only because Zoe had heard him, when he thought no one was around, telling 'Maria' in Spanish how much he loved her, and she knew from Jess that it had been their mother's name.

She leant back against the seat, a deep sigh of contentment escaping her.

'Tired, darling?' Justin asked in concern.

'No, simply happy,' she murmured, and he bent and brushed his lips across hers.

'Me too,' he said huskily.

She glanced past him to where her son sat straining at the belt around his waist in his excitement. The last year had been hard but the love they all shared had made life feel good.

The transplant had been a success; they were on their way to London with Professor Barnet's blessing. Val would still have to attend hospital every few months for a check-up, but, barring accidents, there was no longer any medical reason why he should not live a long and happy life.

Zoe smiled to herself. Always providing his father did not kill him first, she thought, as Justin answered Val's never-ending questions.

'How fast is it going, Dad? Do you know how much it weighs? How old is it? Will I see the Tower of London soon? You said I would. . .'

An hour later she sat in the back seat of the long, sleek Jaguar with Val beside her as Justin manoeuvred the car into the drive of Black Gables and pulled up at the entrance.

'Oh, boy!' Val exclaimed; he was out of the car before his father had properly opened the door. 'Is this the Tower of London, Dad?' he demanded, running around the car to stare up at the massive house.

Justin took the baby from Zoe's arms and held the small child steadily against his heart with one large hand, while with the other he helped her out of the car.

'Is it, Dad?'

The two adults smiled into each other's eyes. 'Welcome home, Zoe, darling,' Justin murmured, dropping a swift kiss on her softly parted lips.

'Dad, Dad, where is the rest of the city? Are you sure this is the Tower of London?'

Justin, with admirable restraint considering he had a baby in one arm and a four-year-old boy hanging on to the leg of his trousers, said feelingly, 'No, it is not, son; this is our home for the next few months. But if you're not very careful you could just find yourself spending Easter in the Bloody Tower.'

'Justin, really—you shouldn't swear in front of the children,' Zoe remonstrated.

'I am not swearing,' he averred, and, catching the amusement sparkling in her sapphire eyes, he added astutely, "That is the popular name bestowed upon the place centuries ago by the unfortunate inmates who lost their heads.'

'Always the lawyer with the quick rebuttal,' Zoe mocked. Their eyes met and clung and together they laughed out loud. . .

Still laughing, they entered the old house that was full of memories, with the hope of generations more to be made. . .

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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