Enraptured Read online

“Then why couldn’t she tell me that?” I wanted to know.

  Dr. Rombach was quick to join us, which only scared me further. “Good afternoon, Rachel. How are you feeling?”

  “Terrified,” I answered quickly. “The technician wouldn’t tell us what’s wrong.”

  “Who’s to say anything is wrong?” she asked as she affixed her stethoscope to her ears and placed it on my tummy. She alternated placement as she listened intently. Finally she removed the stethoscope from her ears and placed it around her neck. She referred back to the ultrasound. “You see this?” she asked. We nodded. “That is your baby. It is a little small given how far along you are, but as it turns out, there’s a reason. See this?” she asked again, pointing at another blob on the screen. “That’s your other baby. You’re having twins.”

  I jolted up. “What?” I squealed. I glanced up at Drew, who wore a similar surprised look on his face.

  Dr. Rombach went on. “See this? Your babies share a placenta, which means they are identical. The zygote split to create two embryos.”

  “But… but… twins don’t run in my family. Yours?” I asked Drew. He shook his head.

  Dr. Rombach chuckled. “Monozygotic twins aren’t hereditary. They can and do happen to any woman regardless of family history or ethnicity. You simply got two quarters for the pull,” she teased with a smile.

  “And they’re okay?” Drew finally asked.

  “Everything looks fine. We’ll monitor things and take more tests in the future, but it would appear that they are developing right on schedule. This might explain the morning sickness you’ve been having. Women who have twins tend to suffer with it more.” She patted me on the arm. “Seems you worried for nothing. Keep doing what you’re doing and we should have two healthy babies before you know it. Congratulations!” she offered before she exited to tend to her other patients.

  I was dumbfounded as I got dressed. It was astounding enough to think of one baby growing inside me, much less two. I had no idea what to do about it. Did we work on another nursery? Did we simply add another bed?

  And would these siblings even want to be apart after nine months together in the womb?

  They would never have to be alone again, not if they didn’t want to be. It was astounding to consider.

  Drew was equally quiet as he drove us back to the house. He assisted me back upstairs to my room, with Jonathan trailing nervously behind. “Did they tell you what it is?” he asked. “Is it okay?”

  “Everything’s fine, buddy,” Drew said with a smile. “Rachel just needs to rest.”

  Jonathan pouted as he was turned away from the door, but Drew was firm. He practically carried me to the bed to help me under the covers. He gently lay beside me. “You feel okay?” he asked softly as he searched my face. “Sick or anything?”

  “Stunned,” I answered honestly. “That was not what I was expecting to hear today.”

  He chuckled. “Me either.” Gently he pulled up my shirt and eased down my jeans. The little pooch in my belly was more prominent when I lay on my back, and he cupped it with his large, warm hand.

  “You’re not mad?” I asked. If Zach had known I was carrying twins, he would have run for the hills. Two babies would have rendered him catatonic. Ironically, he ended up having them later anyway, which at the time I thought at the time was perfect karma.

  Now I didn’t know what to think.

  “I’m not mad,” Drew answered softly. “I’m overwhelmed. I thought I was blessed enough to have one baby with you. Now we’re having two. Our children,” he said with a hitch in his throat as he bent down to kiss my tummy gently.

  Like a ninny I started crying once more. He collected me in his arms to hold me close. “My Rachel,” he whispered against my hair. “You deserve every miracle.”

  After the sobs reduced to hiccupping breaths, I grinned at Drew. “Jonathan is going to be beside himself.”

  Drew chuckled. “Let’s tell him on his birthday,” he suggested and I agreed as I threw my arms around his neck.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day,” I giggled.

  His eyes darkened as he looked down into my face. “I’ve never loved any gift more,” he said before he bent to kiss me softly.

  As it turned out, hiding this new revelation from Jonathan was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I was bursting at the seams to tell him, but Drew insisted we wait until his birthday. We planned a joint birthday party the following week to celebrate my birthday on the nineteenth and Jonathan’s birthday on the twenty-second.

  Since Elise had Jonathan on the weekend, we planned our celebration for the Monday he returned. Drew used some excuse to take Jonathan out of the house, while Alex, Millicent and Max arrived to prepare for the surprise party. By the time Jonathan returned we had balloons in every color filling the house. Max popped out of his hiding spot the minute he heard Jonathan’s voice.

  “Surprise!” he cried as we all stepped in behind him.

  Delight lit up Jonathan’s face as he ran over to his cousin for a big hug. “You came!”

  Alex ruffled his hair. “Of course we did, buddy.”

  “Nana!” he cried as he threw himself against Millicent’s generous figure.

  Even Cleo and Harrison stood by to offer their birthday greeting. Unabashed, he hugged them too. I could tell Drew wasn’t too thrilled about it, but I sent him a slight shake of the head. This wasn’t the time or place for correction. He was a happy little boy surrounded by the only family he knew. It was the best gift we could give him.

  We ushered him into the dining room where boxes of pizza waited. He rarely got to eat junk food, and that was all he really wanted for his special day. We ate greasy pizza on our fanciest china and drank ginger ale from our crystal flutes. He was in heaven as we pigged out, and even more pleased to find an ice cream cake covered in candles. We sang happy birthday and he blew out all the candles in one shot.

  “What’d you wish for?” Max wanted to know.

  “I can’t tell,” he said with a wrinkle of his nose. “Otherwise it won’t come true.”

  Max nodded reverently. No one understood the magic of the birthday wish like another child.

  We exchanged gifts after that. He scored big with books and action figures and DVDs. Alex got him his own monogramed harmonica, which seemed to be the most significant gift of all. At least until Drew pulled me up and we stood on either side of Jonathan.

  “We have one more gift,” Drew announced with a smile. “And it’s a pretty big one.”

  Jonathan’s eyes opened wide.

  “Tell him, darling,” Drew encouraged gently.

  I knelt down to whisper our secret into his ear. He clapped a hand to his mouth as he computed this new data. In a nanosecond he flew into my arms. I giggled as I lifted him up for a full body hug.

  “Tell us!” Max said as he jumped up and down, dying to be let in on the secret.

  Drew smiled as he knelt down at eye level with our wee guest. “Rachel is having two babies instead of one.”

  Max was just as shocked as all of our other guests. “How’d that happen?” he wanted to know.

  Millicent laughed. “I’ll explain when we get home.”

  I glanced up at Alex to gauge his reaction. It was typically guarded. Finally he smiled as he stepped closer for a hug. “Congratulations,” he said softly. “You deserve all this and more.”

  I clung to him briefly. I mouthed, “Thank you,” as I pulled away, once again in tears for our latest miracle.

  Drew had one more trick up his sleeve. “And now it’s time for Rachel’s gift,” he said with a smile. “Since we are expecting twins, Rachel will need even more help as she prepares for their births and the care for them afterwards. I have hired an au pair to assist her with Jonathan’s studies.” He stood back and a lithe, beautiful blonde all of twenty-two entered the room. I was struck mute by this latest development as he introduced her. “This is Zoe Germand. She will be staying with us for the foreseeable future.”<
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  I stole a glance at Alex, whose expression was unreadable. I could sense that the development unsettled him. It sure as hell unsettled me. Zoe greeted everyone personally. She came from Switzerland and had perfect English. When she informed us she was studying art, Jonathan’s ears immediately perked up. Both Max and Jonathan followed their new stunning friend from the dining room to get to know her a little better.

  Alex turned to Drew. “Quite a gift, bro.”

  Drew wasn’t the least bit chagrined. “Rachel would never ask for help, so I took the initiative to get it for her anyway. We’re going to have our hands full with a pre-teen and two newborns.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “This way it will take some of the pressure off of you when you are too sick or too busy to tend to your normal routine.”

  I forced any comment through the rock in my throat. “That was very thoughtful of you, Drew. Thank you.”

  He bent for a kiss and I couldn’t look at any of our guests in the eye as he straightened. The party soon dispersed, as everyone wanted to give me time to rest. Zoe stood beside us as we waved goodbye to everyone, which only served to make me uneasy. I complained of an upset stomach as I escaped to our bedroom.

  After about an hour, Drew followed. He explained that he had to get her settled in her new room, which happened to be my old guest room. Then he proceeded to act like nothing at all was wrong as he undressed and climbed into bed.

  “How could you do that without asking me, Drew?”

  “Do what?” he asked innocently.

  “Hire some other girl to take care of our children.”

  He patted my hand. “Because you are going to need help,” he answered simply. “You may not see it now, but things are going to be chaotic soon.”

  “I thrive on chaos,” I quipped. “How else could I have lived with this family for two years?”

  He offered a deep, throaty laugh as he pulled my stiff body towards his. “You are no longer alone, my darling. You don’t have to tough it out or do it all on your own. We have the resources. Let’s use them.” He brushed hair from my face. “Especially when you’ve been so sick. We don’t know how long that will last or how severe it will be.”

  I sighed. “I still think you jumped the gun.”

  He grinned. “Are you jealous, Mrs. Fullerton?”

  My eyes met his. “Do I need to be, Mr. Fullerton?”

  He bent for a kiss. “Loving me is a job that is exclusively yours,” he assured. “Especially since you are the only one who ever has.”

  I studied his eyes for any duplicity. Finally I pulled him down for a kiss. We proceeded to enjoy a more sensual celebration of my birthday.

  The next day I called Nancy to tell her the news. Drew had prepared a press release to share our news with the world, so I wanted to be the one to tell her first. I hadn’t so far simply because Nancy Gilbert was a one-woman news team. She couldn’t keep her mouth shut even if she wanted to, and I couldn’t risk Becca finding out about the twins and blowing our cover to Jonathan.

  She practically screamed the wall down with her whooping and hollering. She was decidedly less enthusiastic about the au pair.

  “I guess it makes sense,” she offered after a moment or two to mull it over.

  “Say it, Nancy,” I instructed.

  “It’s nothing,” she dismissed. “It’s just…well…”

  “Nancy,” I said again in a more ominous tone.

  “There were so many rumors before,” she finally said. “About how he hooked up with the household staff.”

  “Things are different now,” I said with a shrug of my shoulder, inwardly willing that to be true. “I’m not Elise. I’m not freezing him out.”

  “Good incentive to ensure you won’t,” she shot back, which made my stomach drop.

  Was that why he hired someone so clearly his type?

  “I’m sure it’s fine,” she restated.

  Unfortunately I didn’t feel any better about things after I hung up the phone. I found Zoe and Jonathan in my office as she conducted his studies for the day. “Mrs. Fullerton,” Zoe greeted with her sunny smile. “Feeling better today?”

  “Somewhat,” I answered as I glanced over at Jonathan. He had his nose buried in a book about famous art. “What are you studying today?” I asked.

  “Contemporary art,” he answered with a big grin. “Zoe’s going to take me to an art gallery this afternoon.”

  “I always like to have my students study before we go on field trips,” Zoe explained. “They get more out of it.”

  “Agreed,” was my terse reply.

  “You look a little pale,” she said. “You should go lie down. I have all this covered.”

  As much as I hated it, I knew I needed to go lie down. Normally I’d dig my heels in and establish my turf. But I had not one but two tiny babies who needed me to take care of myself, so I was forced out of my office and virtually out of much of Jonathan’s studies.

  I felt horrible all the way up the stairs and the long walk to my room. Cleo brought me a light snack, apparently at the behest of the newest Fullerton miracle worker, Zoe.

  My troubled eyes met hers. “Should I be worried, Cleo?”

  Cleo gave me a reassuring smile. “Mr. Fullerton loves you, Rachel. Trust in that and you never have any reason at all to fear.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Know what?”

  “That he loves me. He’d never say, not to where I could hear it.”

  She shrugged. “How does anyone know? A person can say the words without meaning them, and live a life of love without saying them. At one point you just have to believe.”

  I nodded as I rested against the fluffy pillows.

  “You rest,” she instructed with a firm wag of her finger. “We’ve got it from here. You’re the one with important work to do, nurturing those wee ones so they can develop into strong, healthy Fullertons.”

  I nodded and watched her leave.

  I curled up in a ball and fought the losing battle with sleep.

  I knew as soon as my eyes closed, I would dream about going into labor with twins, fearful and alone, as all three of my Fullerton men walked away from me and toward a svelte blonde beauty named Zoe.

  Chapter Thirteen

  To celebrate Spring Break, the Gilbert clan once again descended on Los Angeles. This time they were flown on Drew’s private jet and arrived to our estate in a limousine. I could see how star-struck the kids were as they climbed out of the sleek, black car. Nancy was even more so. I threw my arms around her with a grateful squeeze. Of all the things I now had in my life, a best friend I could simply hang out with was noticeably missing.

  As I walked into the foyer on her arm, I saw my home through her eyes. My talkative friend was struck mute by the opulence I had already begun to take for granted. I could see Jonathan was experiencing many of those same feelings as he watched Becca’s face light up with wonder as we explored room to room.

  Drew was at the office when my friends arrived, but Cleo had prepared a nice lunch on the terrace. Our spectacular Beverly Hills weather was mild and temperate. I teased that the city council had voted on it. The kids squirmed in their seats as they waited for the opportunity to jump into the sparkling blue pool. Zoe offered to tend to all the kids that afternoon so that Nancy and I could walk down to the Greystone Manor and Museum. I was almost grateful to leave her to it, just so I could get quality time alone with my friend.

  We halfway down the driveway to the gate when Nancy quipped, “She’s a helpful little thing, isn’t she?”

  I shrugged. “Drew thought we might need some help now that we know we have twins on the way. I can’t say he was wrong.”

  “The more, the merrier I suppose.”

  She shut up, which was uncharacteristic for her. “And?”

  “And nothing,” she dismissed easily.

  “You always were a rotten liar.”

  “He certainly is fond of a particular type, isn’t he? First
Elise. Then Olivia. Now Zoe.”

  I shrugged. “About sixty percent of L.A. is blonde and thin.”

  “And young. And Swedish.”

  “Swiss,” I corrected.

  “Pardon me.” She sighed as she wound her arm in mind. “I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. After all, he married you. You’re the one with the house the size of Rhode Island, and a diamond on your finger to match.” I laughed. “When it’s all said and done, he’ll always come home to you. He has too much to lose otherwise.”

  “Aw, what a happily ever after you paint, Nance. You should write fairy tales.”

  “You’re the one living the dream, baby.” She shrugged. “He’s a man, and men are all the same. They like to surround themselves with beautiful women. It makes them feel like gods.”

  I smirked. I already knew how much that appealed to Drew.

  “Keep him tired and happy and you have nothing to worry about,” she advised.

  We lingered so long that Drew had already come home by the time we returned. He had all the kids wrapped around his little finger as they played in the pool. I knew from the breath that Nancy sucked in when she saw him that he looked as devastating dripping wet in his clinging swim trunks as he did in a three piece suit.

  All I could see was the glistening blonde in the two-piece bikini. Nancy squeezed my arm as we walked down onto the lawn.

  Later that night, the kids all headed to the media room to watch a screener copy of a movie that had yet been released. Zoe kept an eye on them while the adults enjoyed some wine and conversation on the terrace in front of the roaring outdoor fireplace. If I had worried that Greg and Drew wouldn’t be able to connect, those fears were quickly assuaged. Drew surprisingly knew a lot about football, and even confessed that he had played some in college. I knew that he had earned an instant fan in Greg.

  Each day that followed contained the same happy chaos. By Thursday, after Jonathan’s tenacious, week-long campaign, Drew even relented to another campout at the ranch with Alex. This time I shared a tent with Drew, which left me feeling even more unsettled. Worse, as the night wore on it became increasingly clear that Zoe didn’t have eyes for my husband at all. She was completely and utterly smitten with the guitar-playing pseudo-country boy, Alex Fullerton. It was evident in the way she looked at him, like he was a rock star on the stage. What wasn’t completely clear was how he might have felt about this newfound interest, or even if he was aware of it at all. He was typically Alex, hidden behind a smirk and knowing eyes that saw everything but gave nothing away.