Chapter 28

Sandy did not enjoy kneeling on the floor in the bathroom with her head over the toilet. Ian told her this would pass, but at sixteen weeks it was a little less than in the beginning, but she still didn’t have to like it. It certainly wasn’t as frequent with her first pregnancy either.

She closed her eyes and sat back on her heels. Hopefully, the wave of nausea eased. She hadn’t heard anyone come in the bathroom, but a cold cloth pressed against her head.

“Thank you, whoever you are, you’re my best friend right now.” She sighed.

“You’re a tough cookie, kiddo.” Sandy opened her eyes. Lane was smiling down at her. Besides Keith, he was the only one that called her that.

“I know, but this sucks.” She grabbed his hand, and he pulled her to her feet.

“I hate to add to your sucky day, but I need to talk to you.” His face looked serious. She didn’t want to hear anything bad, but he was her brother. It still seemed weird to think of Lane as her brother.

“Do I need to sit down for this?” Sandy walked out of the bathroom and plopped down on her bed.

“I probably should’ve told you, but I didn’t want to upset you. Especially with what Ruby put you through.” Lane hung his head and took a deep breath.

“Ruby.” Even saying the name made her chest hurt. It was still surreal that a woman she called a friend was responsible for so many deaths and such horrible things.

“Yes.” He sat next to her, and they both stared out through the window. The view still calmed her. “I had her cremated, and I’m taking her remains to Yellowknife. I’m going to put her down with my mom. I know what she did was unspeakable, but I need to give her a proper burial so she can rest in peace.”

“I agree.” Sandy didn’t believe in grudges or holding onto hatred. Especially, for someone who spent their lives doing hateful things. It only gave them more power. She wanted to move on with her life and be happy with Ian and the kids.

“The doctor’s remains were sent back to his wife,” Lane said. “I don’t know what they did with Scott and Lefty.”

“Me either and I really don’t want to know,” Sandy admitted.

“I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.” Lane stood up. “Rusty suggested I take some time off, but I don’t think it was as much a suggestion, as it was an order.” Lane rolled his eyes, and Sandy laughed.

“We all need a little down time right now,” Sandy said.

“That cop Issac went to explain everything to the doctor’s wife. She's going to keep Tessa’s little girl. Would you believe they called her Teresa? It was Tessa’s full name.” Lane pulled his long hair back into an elastic and let out a long huff. “The doctor’s wife called me. She said Issac gave her my number. Guess he must have gotten it from Rusty. She said if I ever want to come and visit with my niece, I’d be welcome anytime. I think I might do that.”

No matter how strong Lane appeared, he was still a man who lost two sisters. It had to be incredibly difficult knowing one had killed the other.

“I think it’s an excellent idea. I’m taking a little me time until after the baby is born. Plus, I want to make up for lost time with Evie.” She’d never get the time back she lost with her daughter.

“Have you found out what you’re having?” He asked.

“No, we want to be surprised.” Again, there was a comfortable silence.

“I’ll see you in a couple of weeks, kiddo. Call if you need me.” Lane bent down and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry I never told you about being your brother, and I’m so sorry I didn’t see how crazy Ruby was. I knew she hated our father for leaving, but I never knew she’d go so far to hurt him or you.”

“Let’s just forget that and go from here.” Sandy stood up and wrapped her arms around Lane’s waist. Things were different now. When she first met Lane, she was at a point in her life when she had nobody. Now she had so many people that she loved and a budding relationship with her father.

“You deserve all the happiness you have, Alexandra.” Lane hugged her and stepped back. “I guess I should stop using that name.”

“I’d rather you call me Sandy.”

“I’ll see you soon, Sandy.”

Sandy watched him leave the room and slowly lowered herself to sit on the bed. She picked up a drawing Evie placed on her night table and smiled. She’d drawn a picture of their family. With names above each stick figure on the page. Sandy glided her finger over the letters above one of the stick figures. It said, mommy. How could a word make someone so happy?

Sandy had been so nervous to tell Evie the truth that when Lily asked to stay in the room, Sandy felt a wave of relief.

Ian left the room, and Sandy suddenly felt a wave of panic run through her. She turned around and stared at the two little girls kneeling in the middle of her bed. They were such complete opposites. Lily with her strawberry blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and porcelain skin. Evie with her deep brown eyes, dark hair and olive skin.

“Sandy, are you sick?” Evie asked, and Sandy could see the concern on the little girls face.

“No, honey. I’m not sick, but there is something I need to tell you.” Sandy knelt on the bed facing the girls.

“Is it bad?” Lily looked about ready to cry.

“I don’t think it is. I believe that it’s perfect.” Sandy took Evie’s hands.

“What is it?” Evie asked.

“Evie, do you remember when I told you about how I had a little girl who was in heaven?” Evie nodded, and Sandy took a deep breath. “Well, it turns out that she isn’t really in heaven. Some awful people took her away from me and lied about her going with the angels.”

“So she’s still alive?” Evie asked.

“Yes, they gave her to someone and made everyone think she belonged to someone else.” Sandy was so afraid to say the actual words because she was terrified of how Evie was going to react.

“Was it the bad people that hurt my mommy?” Lily asked.

“Yes, Lily but you don’t have to worry about them anymore,” Sandy reassured Ian’s daughter.

“I know, daddy told me.” Lily smiled.

“Where is your little girl?” Evie asked and Sandy’s eyes filled with tears.

“Evie, weren’t you listening? You’re her little girl.” Lily said excitedly.

“I am?” Evie’s eyes were as big as saucers, and for a moment it looked like she was about to cry.

“Yes, Evie. I didn’t know they’d taken you. They wanted me to believe my little girl died.” Sandy squeezed Evie’s little hands and pulled them up to her lips. “I love you with all my heart, and I promise you nobody will ever take you away again.”

“You’re my mommy?” Evie seemed to be finding it hard to get her head around it.

“Yes.” Sandy gazed into the little girl's sweet face.

“Is Ian my daddy?” Evie asked.

“No, honey. Your dad’s in heaven.” Sandy prayed she didn’t ask too many questions about Dennis. She’d tell her someday, but she was really too young to hear about all the terrible things that happened.

“It’s okay, Evie. I’ll share my daddy with you, and if Sandy marries him, he’ll be your daddy.” Lily started to bounce on the bed.

“It’s gonna be hard to remember to call you mommy,” Evie said.

“You can call me whatever you want, Evie.” Sandy hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “I just wanted you to know the truth.”

“I’m glad you’re my mommy.” Evie tipped her head back and stared up at Sandy.

“I’m glad too.” Sandy smiled. “I also have a big surprise for both of you.”

“What is it?” Evie and Lily were jumping on the bed excitedly.

“I probably should tell Ian first, but maybe it would be more fun to tell him together.” Sandy took both little girls hands.

“Tell us.” They squealed.

“I’m going to have another baby,” Sandy whispered.

The next week Sandy lay in bed wrapped in the arms of a man she loved more than she ever thought she could love anyone. He’d been really quiet most of the day, but he’d been back and forth to his father’s office putting the finishing touches on his own office. He said he was looking forward to working with his dad.

“Sandy, I love you.” Ian kissed the top of her head.

“I love you too.” She kissed his bare chest.

She was ready to close her eyes and get some sleep, but light flashed across the ceiling. She watched as it shot back and forth.

“Did you see that?” Sandy asked.

“Umm…. Yeah…. Hey, I’ve got something for you.” Sandy lifted her head and looked into his beautiful blue eyes.

“What?”

“Get up and get dressed.” He jumped out of bed and pulled on a t-shirt and lounge pants.

“Ian, it’s after midnight.” Sandy groaned.

“Just meet me in the backyard.” Before she could argue, he was gone.

“Ian O’Connor, this better be good.” She pulled on a tank top and pajama pants.

Sandy walked out into her yard and gasped. Lanterns covered the garden in the shape of a large heart, and Ian stood in the middle holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Come here.” He held out his hand.

“What did you do?” Sandy moved toward him. When she was next to him, he took her hand. He held the flowers in front of her and started to speak.

“I’m holding a bouquet of roses and as you can see they are all different colors. The reason I picked roses because they mean something to you. You wear them on your body for the people you love.”

“I do,” Sandy admitted.

“First, you need to know the roses are thornless. It means love at first sight because I fell in love with you the moment I saw you.” When he dropped her hand, she was confused. Then he continued.

“This rose is red, and it means, love, beauty, courage, and respect.” He handed her the red rose. “I give this to you because I respect you so much for your courage and I love you more than I could even tell you.” Sandy took the rose and listened as he continued.

“This white rose means many things one of them being, beauty. Sandy, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world to me both inside and out. A beauty that no rose could ever compare to.” He gave her the white rose and continued.

“These three pink roses each represent the three little girls sleeping inside but as you can see each is a different shade of pink. The dark pink is for gratitude because you’ve accepted my little girls and treat them as if they were your own. The pale pink is for joy, it’s how I feel every day knowing you love me. The plain pink is the perfect happiness I feel when I see my life with you.” He gave her the three pink roses.

“This yellow rose with the red tip means two things, falling in love and friendship. I give this to you because I’ve truly fallen in love with my best friend.”

“Ian,” Sandy whispered.

“Let me finish, this red and white rose signifies unity. The red and yellow means happy feelings. Again they show how happy I am that we’re together. The color of this rose is coral I’m told, and it signifies desire. I’ve never desired anything more than this.” He held out two red roses wound around each other. She looked at them and then at him. She had no idea what it meant.

“Ian, this is beautiful, but I don’t understand.” He chuckled and slowly dropped down to one knee.

“Two roses intertwined means this, Sandy, will you marry me?” In his hand, he held a gold ring with a diamond in the center of a golden rose. It was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. “Make me the happiest man in the world and say yes.”

Sandy couldn’t speak. The only thing she could do was nod and hold out her hand. Ian slipped the ring onto her finger and rose to his feet. He slid his hand around the back of her neck and lowered his head until his lips hovered above hers.

“I’m assuming that the nod meant yes.” Ian smiled.

“Yes.” She finally managed to squeak.

“Did you notice that there were only eleven roses?” He still hadn’t kissed her, but she lost herself in his eyes.

“Not really but okay.” She smiled.

“Aren’t you curious why?” He seemed very anxious to tell her.

“Would it make you feel better if I said I was very curious?” She laughed.

“Yes.” He gave her a quick kiss on the nose. “Eleven roses means the person that receives them is truly and deeply loved.”

“You must have done an awful lot of research to find out all this.” Sandy stood up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

“I did, and Jess helped me get the roses.” He turned her around so she could see the yard of the house next door. Stephanie, Marina, Jess, and Kim were all crying on the other side of the fence.

“I’m guessing those lovely ladies were causing the light flashing on the ceiling in our room.” She waved to them as they were leaving.

“Yes, they were very excited about helping.” He took her hand and led her into the house.

“Remind me to thank them tomorrow.” Sandy smiled.

“Right now, I want to take my fiancée upstairs and make love to her.” Sandy giggled as Ian scooped her up into his arms and carried her upstairs. Her future husband was going to make love to her, and she couldn’t wait.