Maitland Maternity Christmas Read online

  To Kimmie (Kim Kalberer Eickholz), my beautiful little sissy. I still remember Mom and Dad bringing you home from the hospital. It's a joy to me that my only daughter has grown up to want to walk in your confident little cheerleading shoes. You were a wonderful gift to me - and still are.

  Love, Tina

  ONCE IN A LIFETIME

  Tina Leonard

  Dear Reader,

  I am very excited to be a part of this anthology, especially since I love family stories! I am blessed with an extended family - two half brothers and a half sister. In fact, this story reminded me very much of my little sister, who had flyaway hair and always walked on her toes! And now she has two tiny daughters of her own (with her flyaway hair). Lucky Aunt Tina!

  In my contribution to this anthology "Once in a Lifetime," Suzanne Blake isn't anxious to be cast in the role of mother again. But there's something special about Doug McKay and his girls - and the Christmas season - that sweeps Suzanne up. Doug isn't looking for a new mother for his children and Suzanne isn't looking for a husband. Can these two convince each other that getting together is a good idea?

  It's such a joy to see the patterns of life - and family - repeat with little fingers and sweetly loving smiles. I hope you'll enjoy this romance of a man and a woman who embark on the special journey of love and happiness during the season that symbolizes the most magical gift of all - true love.

  Tina Leonard

  ONCE IN A LIFETIME

  CHAPTER ONE

  "Once in every person's lifetime, they hope to find their true love," Diane said to her sister, Suzanne, as they left the frosty December air outside to walk inside the Maitland Maternity Clinic. "No one wants to live their whole life and never meet their soul mate. Even you're not such a Scrooge that you'd deny that dream."

  Suzanne watched Whitney sign in. The very pregnant teenager was due to give birth to twins any day now, and Diane had welcomed Whitney into her home until an aunt could take her in. "I'm not a Scrooge. All I said was that I felt like you push yourself too much, Diane. I'm worried about you." She cast concerned eyes on her sister."You don't have to take everyone under your wing."

  "It's not forever," Diane said cheerfully."Today she needed a ride to the clinic, and you had a very nice car that did the trick most admirably. One might just as well say that you've taken Whitney, and her impending twins, under your wing."

  "I help people in my own way," Suzanne said quietly. "I don't mind giving Whitney a ride any time she needs one, but don't try to fit baby carriers into my car, Diane, figuratively speaking, of course. Since I sense that's where this conversation is heading."

  Her sister was only too aware of Suzanne's unwillingness to fit a man and-or children into her busy schedule. Whitney was a sweet girl, and privately, Suzanne was only too happy to help her in any way she could, but the trial balloon of practice motherhood she knew Diane was trying to float on her was doomed to be popped.

  No matrimony, no children. She'd had her fill of motherhood when their mom died and she was left feeling responsible for both her siblings. Kids were cute - but freedom to create, freedom to do the things she wanted to do when she wanted to do them, was all this career-minded thirty-year-old woman needed - and desired.

  "Oh, I'm not going to try to fit a baby into your life, don't worry!" Diane said blithely. "Now, Christmas decorations, that's a whole other story. Look at all these wonderful ornaments on this tree, Suzanne." Diane gently touched a frosted glass angel hanging on the huge beribboned tree in the clinic's outer office. "Someone here has the Christmas spirit."

  Suzanne rolled her eyes, knowing that Diane was making a second salient, yet silent point. Suzanne put all her efforts into the retail season, both creatively and time-wise. In her business, Christmas might be planned two years in advance. Department and specialty store buyers would order up to a year ahead of time. That meant her company's designs for scarves, costume jewelry and other accessories were planned and effected two years previous.

  Then Suzanne spent the entire retail season, starting the weekend before Thanksgiving, in various chain department stores and specialty outlets assisting the buyers and sales managers in making certain the goods were effectively displayed, and filling merchandise holes where needed.

  If her Christmas tree could be decorated and displayed beginning January fifteenth a year ahead of schedule, that would be perfect.

  This year's accessory in demand was the scarf she currently wore and designed. Its charitable theme - a portion of revenue would go to cancer research - and feminine colors were a hit among businesswomen, much the same way the preteen and teen crowd were devouring this year's assortment of overstuffed slippers. Suzanne felt so fortunate that she had designed the one item which was catching women's fancies on a mass level. It was almost as if with every purchase of her scarf, consumers validated her talent, and her vision for what women loved. She didn't want to think about the years that might come when she had the accessory item that flopped.

  Shuddering, she said, "Diane, I'll just enjoy your decorations this year."

  “Thanks. Whitney will probably feel less despondent with you there."

  Suzanne nodded, settling herself into a chair near the tree's cheery, gold-flecked red skirt as Whitney was ushered into the doctor's office by a smiling nurse. "If those contractions Whitney is having are any indication, you may find those twins under the tree as well. You'll need an extra hand, so if you're asking, I'll definitely be there for Christmas morning."

  "You're a good sister," Diane said softly. "You're so capable and independent that Whitney says you give her courage for her own dreams."

  Suzanne looked at her, caught by her sudden wistful tone. "Don't, Diane. Don't say that I've always been such a good surrogate mother or aunt, that I'd love having my own children. Tell me something. Has someone new, some really handsome man, come to work at the school? Someone you think I just have to meet?"

  Diane laughed and settled herself into a chair next to her sister. "No. Maybe I'm just too filled with the holiday spirit."

  "I'm being totally honest with you, Diane. My life is so full that I don't have the inclination or time for a man. Nor a pet. I don't even have time for Christmas."

  "Well," a deep voice said from the doorway behind her which Whitney had walked through, "you'll just have to make time.

  Christmas is for miracles. Who doesn't have time for a miracle?"

  Suzanne turned her head to look up into the smiling face of an extraordinarily handsome man wearing a white doctor's jacket, a big grin, and a pink breast cancer ribbon on his stethoscope. Black hair sprinkled with gray, and blue eyes which showed mirth at her comment made Suzanne smile in return. "Well, you're a close match for Santa, but I see your name is Dr. McKay."

  "I'm lacking the trademark belly, I hasten to point out." He reached to shake her hand, startling Suzanne because she wasn't expecting him to do more than make his observation and go on to do whatever he'd come into the waiting room to do. The doctor was extremely fit, but she decided not to agree out loud with his statement about his physique. "Doug McKay, believer in miracles."

  "Suzanne Blake." She pulled back her hand and settled it in her lap. "Believer in same."

  "Ah. I thought you were just espousing a theory more appropriate to Suzanne the Skeptic. Hello, Diane," he said, reaching out to give Diane a more-than-acquaintance handshake.

  "How are you doing, Doug?"

  "Fine. And so is Whitney. The contractions she's been having are mild Braxton-Hicks, a precursor of good things to come. You should have twins for Christmas, if I'm any proper judge of these things. I'm not often wrong," he said with
a wry side look at Suzanne.

  She rolled her eyes at his teasing manner. "I suppose confidence goes along with the graduation requirements in your field. No one would want an under confident doctor."

  "Unfortunately, the ones who should be my biggest champions are too young to do anything but squall their enthusiasm for my hard work as I bring them into the world." He checked his watch. "Well, back to work I go, but I've got a half-hour break penciled in after this appointment. Can I take you three ladies to a fast lunch beside the skating rink?"

  Dismay flooded Suzanne. "Well, we - " "We're free," Diane said enthusiastically. "Whitney would love to get out for lunch in a small, Christmas-decorated cafe!"

  "You were saying, Suzanne?" Doug said with a raised eyebrow.

  Suzanne swallowed, not about to cheat Diane or Whitney of a treat. "We're free, as Diane said."

  He smiled. "Glad to hear it. Let me finish looking over Whitney's tests, and I'll meet you at the Rinkside Cafe."

  Suzanne smiled, frozen to the spot. Diane said, "We'll be there!" her voice like silver tinsel ringing in Suzanne's ears.

  As soon as Doug had gone behind the closed door, Suzanne whirled on her sister. "Doctors don't generally ask their patients out to lunch, do they?"

  Diane shook her head. "I don't think so. He never asked me out, Whitney's his patient, and since you're neither patient nor previous acquaintance, it's a possibility Doug found you attractive."

  Suzanne gasped.

  Diane grinned at her, her eyes innocent, her smile self-satisfied.

  A glimmer of awareness filtered into Suzanne, opening up a floodgate of realization. "You didn't need my car today! You dragged me here to meet him!"

  "Nope." Diane grinned as Whitney returned to the waiting room.

  "Admit it!" Suzanne admonished, ready to leave the waiting room upon receipt of acknowledgment.

  "I didn't." But she smiled maddeningly.

  "Diane! How could you!"

  Her sister settled herself back into the chair and picked up a Christmas-themed magazine. "I deny all accusations of bachelor hunting for my beloved sister."

  Dr. Doug McKay was used to making assessments - and the one that instantly came to mind when he'd met Suzanne Blake was knockout. Sexy. She had long dark hair that framed those wide chocolate eyes.

  A little cynical, but not anything a doctor worth his degree couldn't mend...

  From her caught-off-guard expression, Suzanne definitely hadn't seemed thrilled by his invitation. He could almost see her mind working as she scented out the danger, a hesitant woman who was possibly not as easygoing as her younger sister. Coming up with no good - or polite - reason to refuse him, she'd agreed to lunch, but not with a smile.

  But dining was all he had in mind. Why not lunch with a beautiful woman? It was the Christmas season, and he was calling this fast lunch a gift to himself.

  He'd read her reluctance, and that was okay by him. As an ob-gyn - and most particularly, a single parent of three - he liked to think he had an especially good seat in the movie theater of the female mind.

  She'd relax once she realized she was in no danger from him.

  There was nothing about Doug McKay that put Suzanne at ease. She couldn't help staring at him. He was kind to Whitney. He was interested when Diane told stories about her students. And without being overly solicitous, he inquired if Suzanne needed anything during the meal.

  "Diane told me once that she had a sister who works a lot," Doug said. "I guess that sister would be you?"

  Suzanne stiffened. "I do have a life outside of work."

  Diane looked up from her salad. "No, you don't."

  Suzanne glared at her. "I'm sure your hours are quite challenging, Doug."

  "Yes, so I laugh when I get the chance," he teased.

  She refused to rise to the bait, giving him a small smile instead. Doug was charming, and maybe she was crazy for not jumping on him, but the dating game would throw her whole, ordered life an edge she didn't want. Even if Doug was very enticing, she had no intention of being caught in a Christmas-trimmed trap.

  "I like your scarf," Doug told her.

  "Thank you." She raised her eyebrows at him. Diane had no doubt filled him in with the fact that she designed accessories for her company, so she wasn't going to acknowledge any warm glow inside her at his compliment. "I looked everywhere for one of those scarves for my mother. They sold out fast."

  The glow she had tried to deny began to puff to life.

  "My wife died of melanoma," he said, almost as if to himself. "The beauty of the scarf you designed is that not only is it lovely, but women everywhere can wear it and feel that they're helping their sisterhood. We speak of giving at Christmas, but so few people actually know how to give beyond their immediate circle of family and friends."

  Suzanne's jaw dropped. "Thank you," she said, deeply surprised.

  "Here's to a mind that creates beautifully." He lifted his glass of tea and nodded at her.

  Suzanne could hardly draw breath. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I'm...very moved."

  He winked at her, completely neutralizing the numbness she felt.

  Doug smiled at her for another second, before looking at Whitney. "You're not eating much."

  "I haven't been hungry for the past couple of days, Dr. McKay."

  He looked back to Diane, his smile still in place. "I hope you're ready for the big event. Twins are going to keep you very busy."

  "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. And Suzanne's going to help us."

  He smiled approvingly at Suzanne. "So you do clear the calendar for some things."

  Suzanne shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Was he asking if she'd clear her calendar for him? Maybe the comment was innocent. He didn't actually say he was available, she chided herself.

  Letting her reserve slip just a bit, Suzanne said, "Well, I definitely want to be part of Diane's Christmas, and since it includes newborns, I'm bringing a camera."

  Doug smiled at her. "You seem like the kind of woman who would like children and be good with them."

  Diane glanced up in some alarm.

  "I like children," Suzanne said. "I don't want any of my own, however." She looked at Whitney, who was staring at her with a pale face. "I'm going to enjoy Whitney's. And Diane's when she has a family of her own. But I'm not cut out to be a mother. It simply doesn't interest me."

  He stared at her, and the look he gave her was somehow accepting, somehow wistful. "I understand," he said softly. He glanced at his watch. "You know what? I have appointments starting at one, so I have to get back."

  Suzanne's eyes widened as she watched Doug get to his feet. He pulled money from his wallet, handing it to the waiter who appeared at the table. "Take good care of these ladies," he said to the waiter with a wink. "They're expecting twins."

  The waiter nodded, putting the money in his pocket appreciatively. Doug shook Suzanne's hand as if she were simply another acquaintance, patted Whitney on the back, and squeezed Diane's shoulder. "Diane, if I don't see you and Whitney again before Christmas, I hope you enjoy the holiday break."

  "We will. I've got baking and a million other things planned for us," Diane replied. "Thanks for inviting us, Doug. It's the perfect place for lunch."

  He smiled, his gaze moving back to Suzanne for one last lingering glance."It was nice to meet you."

  "You, too."

  Nodding, he left.

  Suzanne turned to her sister. "Was it something I said?"

  Diane shook her head, not looking at her. "His office is always busy, I'm sure. He had to get back."

  "Yes, but he just...left all of a sudden!" Suzanne couldn't help feeling that she didn't know all of the story.

  Diane shrugged. "Men. Who can figure them out?"

  "You're not telling me something," Suzanne prodded.

  "What's to tell? I don't know him all that well. He's Whitney's ob-gyn, and a teacher friend of mine goes to him as well. So I began taking Whitney to him on her high re
commendation." She sighed, the sound kind of dreamy. "My gynecologist doesn't deliver babies. Her practice is more for older women with hormone therapy needs and the like." Then she looked at Suzanne with a mischievous glance. "Of course, meeting Doug is enough to make a gal think about switching doctors."

  Suzanne straightened, her mouth dropping open even as she realized her sister wasn't serious.

  "I could never take my clothes off for a doctor that good-looking!" Suzanne said. "It would involve serious toning up for a month at least before my appointment. And toenail polish. Even that might not be enough to get me into a gown and my feet up in stirrups. Actually, I'm positive that the women who frequent him must be very brave, and very secure."

  "He's very gentle, and very understanding," Whitney said.

  Both sisters stared at her.

  Whitney shrugged. "Well, he is. And I don't think he's ever noticed my toenail polish. Guess you start to worry about things like that when you get older, though," she said, innocently returning to the peppermint ice cream the waiter had put in front of her.

  "She's talking to you, Diane," Suzanne said quickly. "The older adjective was meant for you."

  "Not me. I'm not considered older yet. Besides, you're the eldest sister. In some countries, it would be expected for you to marry before I could have a suitor."

  "You'd be waiting a long time."

  Diane laughed at her remark, but Suzanne couldn't help thinking about what had made Doug disappear the way he had. One moment he'd been all charm; the next, almost regretfully distant.

  And yet, why did it matter to her? It had only been lunch beside a noisy, white skating rink filled with colorfully dressed skaters with wreaths and gold balls hanging from the ceiling, and a feeling of Christmas in the air.

  The magic of Christmas. Doug and Diane's talk of the phenomenon must have gotten to her in some form, because for just a moment, she'd found herself wishing Doug hadn't left as fast as he had.