33
Liz sat across the table from her friend, Dr. Gardenia Riggs, as they enjoyed lunch. It was hard to believe she’d been back in Boston for almost a month and that Thanksgiving was only a couple of weeks away. The girls had adjusted well to the move and already had made new friends at their daycare, which was less than ten minutes from the hospital.
She had to admit Sean had been a godsend. She’d had to work extra hours trying to get organized at the hospital and he’d helped out with the girls every chance he got. He would still pick them up every morning and was usually there to bring them home in the afternoons, if she needed him to. On those days, he would take them to her place, get them fed and ready for bed by the time she got home.
When she’d returned to Boston and reunited with her former associates at the hospital, word had quickly gotten around about the twins and the identity of their father. Some people were amazed at how well she and Sean got along and the close friendship they shared. They had expected drama, but she and Sean hadn’t given them any. It was obvious they were putting the girls first and were rekindling their friendship.
Gardenia, who’d been a part of her and Sean’s circle of friends for years, had returned a couple of weeks ago from a village in West Africa, where she’d been part of the government’s Goodwill Mission team. Gardenia had known about Liz’s feelings for Sean. And she’d also been aware of the twins and who’d fathered them. In fact, she’d been one of the first people Sean had questioned about Liz’s whereabouts.
“I see things are still going great between you and Sean,” Gardenia observed smiling.
Liz smiled back. “Yes, he’s been a godsend, especially with all my duties at the hospital. We’re trying to keep things as normal as we can for the girls, considering everything.”
Gardenia lifted a brow. “Everything like what? If you ask me, you’ve pretty much got it all now. Two beautiful kids, a great career, and a man who loves you.”
Liz shook her head. “Sean doesn’t love me, Gardenia. We’re just good friends.”
Gardenia rolled her eyes. “That’s the same thing you used to say years ago, that the two of you were just friends. If you recall, I was the one who forced you to reexamine your feelings for him.”
Yes, Gardenia had definitely done that. It had been an eye-opener for her. She’d had to admit that not only had she been in love with Sean, but in her heart, she’d loved him from the first.
“Yes, but that was different. I could examine my own heart.”
Gardenia smiled as she bit into a French fry. “I’m not sure why you can’t examine Sean’s as well. It’s obvious to anyone who takes the time to look.” She leaned over the table and whispered, “And trust me, plenty are looking.”
Liz lifted a brow. “Why?”
“They think it’s cute how much Dr. Crews is into you. The man loves you so much, it’s written all over his face.”
Liz shook her head again. “You’re mistaken, Gardenia.”
“No, I’m not. I’m a people-reader as well as being a neurologist,” she said grinning. “I just wonder how long it will take you to finally realize the man cares for you.”
“He cares for the girls,” Liz countered.
“And he cares for the girls’ mother, as well. Think about it. If you don’t believe me, ask him. I’m sure he would tell you the truth.”
Liz was appalled at Gardenia’s suggestion. “I can’t ask him if he loves me.”
“Sure, you can. In fact, I think you need to,” Gardenia coaxed. “Do you still love him, Liz? As more than a friend?”
Liz nibbled on her lips. Her father had asked her the same question when he and Ruth had arrived in town this week to spend time with her and the girls. Phillip and Ruth had surprised her by flying to Vegas to get married the same weekend Liz had moved to Boston. “Yes, I still love him.”
“Then I think you owe it to yourself to see if he loves you.”
Liz took a sip of her iced tea. “He said he did, even when he was engaged to Asia Fowler. Of course, I didn’t believe him.”
“Well, I can’t say what his feelings were for you then,” Gardenia said, softly. “All I can say is what they are now. He loves you, Liz. Trust me. I’d give anything for a man to look at me the way he looks at you.”
A few hours later, Liz sat in her office recalling her conversation with Gardenia. She thought about everything that had happened since she’d left Belfort and how Sean had been with her--as her best friend and twins’ father--every step of the way.
First, he’d helped her make the drive from Belfort to Boston, and had assisted her in finding a place to stay. She was renting a townhouse close to the same community where he lived. He thought it was a good idea they didn’t live too far apart so he could help out with the girls more. She had agreed with that suggestion.
He’d been there with her the day she and the girls had moved in and had spent several nights on her sofa when she’d gotten home late. Similarly, she’d spent several nights at his place, in his guest room. In fact, on most weekends, she and the girls spent more time at his place than at home.
As best friends, she and Sean still did things together, just like old times. They went to movies, concerts, dinners and last week when the hospital hosted a huge charity gala, he had been her escort. They’d decided it was important that the girls saw that they had a good relationship. That’s all.
Was it?
She never asked Sean why he wasn’t dating, although she was well aware that with as much time as he spent with her and the girls, he didn’t have much time for anyone else. She had a key to his house and he had one to hers. But he hadn’t done anything to make her think he wanted to be anything but a friend. They held hands whenever they went places, but then, they’d always held hands. He would kiss her on the cheek to say goodbye, but he’d always done that, too.
She knew she had to fight her attraction to him whenever he was near, but he never gave a sign that he had the same problem. At least, she’d never noticed one. Now she wished Gardenia hadn’t put ideas in her head. Her father would often hint at the same thing, but she’d always brushed the words off as wishful thinking on his part.
What if both her father and Gardenia were right?
She decided to push the thought from her mind when her cell phone rang. It was Sean. Funny, she’d just been thinking about him and he called. “Hi, Sean.”
“Hi. How about hitting a show tonight? I played golf with your father and he mentioned that he and Ruth decided to make it Disney movie night at your place tonight. I thought since he’d be with the kids, you and I could take in our own kind of movie.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “And just what kind of movie is that?” She already knew. It was Friday night and a new Marvel movie was released today.
The sound of his chuckle was rich. “You know already.”
Yes, she did. “That will be fine. What time does the show start?”
“Eight. You want to do dinner first?” he asked her.
“That sounds good.”
“Then I’ll pick you up around six.”
They ended the call, and Liz got back to work. But she’d decided that tonight, she would find out what type of friendship they shared, once and for all.
“Dinner was great. Thanks, Sean.”
“You’re welcome,” he said as he took another sip of his wine. Dinner had been great. They both liked pasta, so they’d gone to their favorite Italian restaurant, one they used to frequent when she’d lived in Boston before.
So far, he was following Lance Montgomery’s book to the letter. It was hard, especially when he was so attracted to her. Still, he was surprised she hadn’t picked up on anything.
“Sean?”
He glanced over at her and smiled. “Yes?”
“Why aren’t you dating?”
His smile widened. Although he considered what they were doing tonight to be dating, she did not. In her mind, they were just best friends spending time together.
“I’m not interested in dating.”
“Is that the reason, or is it because of me and the twins? Are you spending so much time with us that you’re not allowing yourself any personal time?”
“I’m fine, Liz. There’s no other way I want to spend my time than with you and our daughters. But then I’d like to ask you the same thing. Why aren’t you dating?”
He could tell his question surprised her. She nibbled on her bottom lip before shrugging. “I’m not interested. Besides, I’ve got a lot on my plate. And then again, there’s no other way I want to spend my time than with you and our daughters,” she said, basically repeating his words to her.
He nodded. “I guess we’re on the same page when it comes to dating others then.”
“Yes, I guess we are.” She then paused and said, “I had lunch with Gardenia today. And she’s got this crazy idea in her head that there is more going on between us.”
“More like what?”
“She thinks you’re in love with me.”
He paused and then sat his glass down and met her gaze. “I do love you, Liz.”
“I mean that you love me more than as your best friend.”
“I know what you mean, Liz, and my answer is still the same. I love you as a man loves a woman. A woman he wants to marry and have children with-- but in your case, more children with--a woman he wants to make love to, go on trips with, grow old with.” He paused. “Need I say more?”
She sat there, staring at him. It seemed he’d temporarily rendered her speechless. So, he thought he might as well add, “I love you, Liz, in a way I’ve never loved a woman before. You would be more than my wife. You will always be my best friend.”
He saw the first signs of tears that sprang into her eyes and he hoped more than anything that she finally believed him. God knows he’d done everything he could to convince her of it. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Liz. I was just being honest.”
She nodded as more tears fell. Then after using her napkin to wipe her eyes, she said, “Can I be honest with you?”
He swallowed deeply. “Yes.”
“I love you, too. I mean I truly love you, Sean. I never stopped.”
He wanted to tell her that he’d never stopped loving her, too, but he thought it might be too much for her to believe that he’d felt no love for Asia. Right now, it didn’t matter anymore. He loved her and she’d just confessed to still loving him.
Reaching out, he took her hand in his. “Instead of going to the movies, do you want to go back to your place and share our good news with Phillip and Ruth?”
She shook her head. “No, I think I’d like to go to your place so you can make love to me.”
A huge smile spread across Sean’s face. He quickly glanced around and catching their waiter’s attention, asked for the check.