The Army Doctor's Wedding Page 13

  Cameron dropped the bauble back in the box and ran a hand over his hair. "There's something I should have told you."

  His somber tone flashed worry along her nerves. "You're scaring me, Cam."

  "It's nothing to be scared about." He gave her a quick hug and guided her to the leather recliner that his father had vacated.

  He sat on the chair opposite and rubbed his palms on his thighs. "Radley isn't George's father."

  "Gosh. I had no idea. He looks so much like Radley."

  "I know. That's because George is my son."

  "Yours?"

  Hot then cold flashed through Alice. George was Cameron's son. "How can that be?"

  "Livi was my girlfriend in college. I got her pregnant by accident. It happens."

  Alice just stared at him, her mind blank. A chill pervaded her chest, yet she had no urge to cry. All her emotions had been swept away, leaving her empty.

  "You didn't want George?"

  "Of course I did. I wanted to be his father." Cameron ran a hand over his mouth. "When Radley fell in love with Olivia, it got too complicated. I had to step back and let them be a family."

  "So Radley adopted George?"

  "Yes. He's officially George's father."

  Alice struggled to draw breath through a throat clogged with a million questions, none of which she could vocalize. Cameron had given up the right to be George's father. Now he wanted to adopt Sami. She fought to pull the two things together and make them fit. Cameron was gentle and kind. He spent his whole career caring for people. The man she thought she knew would never have given up his son.

  She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to Sami's soft hair, breathing in his reassuring baby smell. Cameron's fingers touched her hand. Instinctively she flinched away. She needed space.

  "Give me a moment to get my head around this." Not only was George Cameron's son, it meant Olivia had been Cameron's lover. How did Radley cope with that? Surely he found it difficult.

  She had been married to Cameron all these months, become part of the Knight family, yet he hadn't told her. None of them had. What must they have thought each time she commented how much George looked like Radley?

  Alice pressed a hand over her eyes.

  "I'm sorry, love. I didn't want to hurt you." His voice was thick with anguish.

  "Why didn't you trust me enough to tell me sooner?"

  "It wasn't that. I wanted to tell you before I went back to Africa. The time never seemed right. Then with all the hassle over the adoption, it went out of my mind."

  She had to admit, the adoption worries had pretty much consumed her thoughts as well.

  "This has nothing to do with you and me, or us and Sami. What happened between Olivia and me was years ago. We were students. I'm different now."

  "You must be. I can't imagine you ever giving up your own son."

  "If it had been anyone else but Radley marrying Olivia, I wouldn't have given up my rights to George. I didn't want to. It just seemed to be the right thing for him."

  Alice's brain spun in circles, going over the same questions repeatedly, her raging emotions fogging her reason. "I need some time, Cam."

  "Okay." He rose, hesitated at her side, then left the room without touching her, shutting the door softly behind him.

  Sami wriggled and grunted, stretching his arms towards the door where his daddy had disappeared. Tears sprang into Alice's eyes. She hugged her little boy tightly and relaxed back in the chair. Breathing deeply, she tried to expel the tension so she could get her head around this.

  Cameron had done what he thought was best for George. But how could he give up his own son? He loved George, that was obvious.

  For what seemed like a long time, she sat and stared at the flickering flames of the log fire, letting her turbulent emotions settle until her normal common sense returned.

  What he'd done in the past didn't matter. That was six years ago.

  If she went back six years, she'd been a different person as well. She wouldn't have been ready to look after a baby back then, either.

  What mattered was how Cameron behaved now, and he loved Sami.

  She rose and carried her little boy out of the room, following the sound of muted voices to the kitchen. Cameron sat at the large wooden kitchen table with his head in his hands, his mother at his side, her hand stroking his shoulder.

  Sandra looked up as Alice came in, a tentative smile on her face.

  "Sami is missing his daddy," Alice said, rounding the table to Cameron's side.

  He glanced up, tears in his eyes. She had to swallow hard not to cry. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her onto his lap, burying his face against her neck. Then he kissed her and Sami.

  "Sorry," he mumbled.

  "There's nothing to be sorry for." Alice framed his dear face in her hands and smiled at the man she loved so much, the man who had saved her life and given her a new life full of love and happiness.

  She'd had nothing before she met Cameron, no loving family, no safe home. Now she had everything she could ever want.

  He might have been irresponsible six years ago, but he wasn't any longer. The man she loved was a good man who cared for his family and spent his life saving the lives of soldiers. He was a man she was proud to call her husband. She couldn't wait to renew her wedding vows in front of his family.

  ***

  The medieval church spire stood tall above the small stone cottages, silhouetted against a perfect blue winter's sky. Frosted tree branches framed the road and blinking Christmas lights shone from the villagers' tiny front gardens.

  Alice gripped Cameron's hand and stared out the back window of Radley's 4x4 as it crunched along the icy road, circling the village green with its Christmas tree covered in sparkling color, to turn between the stone gateposts to the church car park.

  The church bells pealed as family groups wrapped in thick coats, hats, and scarves hurried out of the door after the Christmas Eve morning service. They jumped in their cars, eager to get out of the cold. Radley pulled close to the church door and cut the engine.

  Although she and Cameron were already married, Alice's heart thudded with a mix of nerves and excitement. This time the ceremony was in front of their friends and family, in a proper church.

  Cameron slipped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "You ready, love?"

  "I wonder if Mum and Dad are here." She leaned into him, resting her head on his lapel, listening to the steady beat of his heart. His lips pressed against her temple, then he dipped his head and found her mouth for a sweet kiss. A kiss that said whatever happened he was here for her, that he loved her, and nothing would change that. Even if her father tried to ruin their day.

  "I shouldn't have invited them." But she had so badly wanted her mother here. She'd wanted her to come wedding-dress shopping with Sandra and Olivia as well. Her father had put a stop to that.

  "If your father does anything to upset you, Dad will throw him out."

  "Really?" Alice rarely saw anyone stand up to her father.

  Cameron's gaze held hers and he nodded."Absolutely. I promise."

  She smoothed her hand nervously across the skirt of her beautiful hand-beaded tulle wedding dress. Over the top she wore a white fur bolero shrug for warmth. Underneath, her legs were covered in white woolen tights decorated with sparkly stars. Once she saw the gorgeous dress, she was determined to find warm accessories so she could wear it in the winter.

  Cameron climbed out and came around to open the door for her. Sandra, George and Olivia were already there with the children, waiting in their cars. Sandra and George had volunteered to look after Sami during the service. They got out when Alice did and loaded Sami in his stroller. Her baby boy was so handsome in his new green Christmas suit with tiny reindeer on his shirt and socks.

  Emma was also strapped into her stroller. Olivia pushed her inside, closely followed by Radley with George in a stylish gray suit just like his father's.

  Alice slip
ped her arm through Cameron's and trod carefully along the recently swept flagstone path to the church, taking the same route worshipers had walked to the old Norman building for nearly a thousand years.

  It seemed strange entering a church for her wedding on the arm of her husband. From the start, nothing about her marriage had been normal.

  The fragrance of pine, flowers, and beeswax polish welcomed her in through the arched portal. Wintery sunlight streamed in the stained-glass windows painting jewel-bright patterns of color along the aisle. A pretty nativity display sat to one side and holly and pine boughs trimmed with bows and baubles decorated the pew ends.

  Alice gripped her bouquet of lilies nervously. Her gaze traveled over the people seated, waiting. The invitations had gone out at the last minute by e-mail. She hadn't expected many people to be free on Christmas Eve but many familiar faces were there.

  Kelly Grace and Julia Braithwaite, both home on leave, smiled back at her. She hardly recognized the two women who had witnessed her wedding in Africa, both clad in dresses instead of dusty desert camouflage gear. Kelly Grace especially looked stunning with her red hair pinned up and some subtle makeup. No wonder Cameron had dated her.

  Her dear friend Maeve had obviously managed to arrange cover for the women's refuge. She grinned and poked two thumbs in the air as Alice and Cameron walked past.

  Most of the guests were Cameron's friends and relatives. A number of men in uniform stood among the civilian suits.

  Although she smiled and nodded at people, part of Alice was focused on her father's neat dark hair at the front. She swallowed and tightened her grip on Cameron's arm. She shouldn't let her father get to her.

  Alice's tension escalated as they neared the front of the church. Then little George stepped out from beside Radley and smiled up at her. "You look pretty, Auntie Alice."

  He held out a lucky horseshoe on a ribbon. "Mummy says this makes you lucky."

  "Will bring them luck," Olivia said in stage whisper.

  Alice laughed, all her tension releasing. "Thank you very much." She slipped the ribbon over her wrist then stooped and kissed the little boy's cheek.

  She'd forgotten George was to be Cameron's best man. He moved to Cameron's side, a serious smile on his face at the important part he was to play.

  Cameron laid a hand proudly on the boy's shoulder. "Have you got the rings, bud?"

  George opened his fist to display the two gold bands on his palm.

  "Excellent. You hold on to those tightly until we need them."

  Cameron grinned at Alice as they walked the last few steps and halted in front of the vicar.

  After the short interruption, Alice's fears had fled. As they seemed to be breaking all the traditions, she reached out and hugged her mother. "I'm so pleased you're here," she whispered.

  "I wouldn't have missed it. You look beautiful, darling." Her mother stepped back to her place, stunning in a lavender dress and matching hat.

  Her father was stylish in a dark suit and high-collared shirt with a cravat. He nodded a greeting, and even managed a slight smile. He valued his public image too much to create a scene in front of Cameron's relatives. Today Alice could relax and enjoy herself.

  The vicar welcomed everyone. "I'm very happy to see you here today, to bless the marriage of Cameron and Alice Knight, two young people who made their vows under trying circumstances. They now wish to restate their commitment to each other."

  They sang a hymn and prayed. Then the vicar invited them to recall the vows they made at their wedding and they recited them again together.

  When the time came, he asked George for the rings. The boy stepped forward solemnly and laid them on the vicar's book to be blessed. Cameron slipped a white gold band set with diamonds on the third finger of her left hand beside her engagement ring, and she put a plain gold band on his finger.

  Her heart fluttered in her chest, so happy she couldn't stop grinning. Cameron lifted her hand and pressed his lips to it, his brown eyes twinkling with pleasure.

  They kneeled to pray, and Alice thanked God for this wonderful man and his loving supportive family. She had wanted a wedding ring so much, but it was what it symbolized that mattered, Cameron's commitment to her and Sami.

  When the vicar finally said they could kiss, she stood on her toes and threw her arms around Cameron's neck, not embarrassed to show everyone how much she loved this man. She was the luckiest woman in the world.

  Cameron kissed her sweetly, then grasped her hand to lead her back down the aisle. Smiling faces greeted them as their friends and family approached to embrace her and slap Cameron on the back, wishing them luck.

  A shiver of happiness ran through Alice, but her heart skipped a beat at the sound of her father's voice. He stepped forward and shook Cameron's hand. "You stand up for yourself. I like that."

  He nodded to her and she did something she hadn't for a very long time, she rose on her toes and kissed her father's cheek. Today she was so happy she wanted to forgive, to wipe away the past and start afresh.

  She could afford to be magnanimous. She was a Knight now, and the Knight family looked after their own. She and Sami would always be safe and loved. This Christmas would be the best ever and the start of the rest of her life.

  Author's Note

  For those of you trying to work out where in Africa the story is set, I purposely kept it vague. As this story is set a little while in the future, I did not want to forecast conflict for any specific country.

  The nomadic people mentioned are completely fictitious. I know of no nomadic African people who would reject a newborn baby because it has a cleft lip. This idea actually came from a documentary about the Ancient Greeks. Archeologists found a well in Athens full of babies' skeletons. Many of them had evidence of cleft palate, leading the researchers to believe these babies were killed because of this deformity.

  The part of the story about babies and children with cleft lip and cleft palate not receiving the surgery they need is sadly true. In many parts of the world the people are too poor to afford this surgery, or the local medical provision is inadequate. If you were touched by Sami's plight, there is a wonderful charity called Operation Smile. Their volunteers travel the globe to provide life-altering surgery for those who have facial deformities. I'm sure they would welcome your support.

  If you enjoyed The Army Doctor's Wedding, you might also enjoy these other books by Helen Scott Taylor

  The Army Doctor's Baby

  After his wife betrayed him, Major Radley Knight dedicated himself to becoming the best Army doctor he could be, dedicated himself to saving soldiers' lives. When he returns on leave from Afghanistan he is ready for a break. Instead he finds himself helping a young mother and her newborn baby. He falls in love with Olivia and her sweet baby boy and longs to spend the rest of his life caring for them. But Olivia and her baby belong to Radley's brother.

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  The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby (Army Doctor's Baby #3)

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  Love is All Around: Box Set of Three Contemporary Romances

  Three highly rated contemporary romances in one box set—excellent value!

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  A Family for Christmas

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