Chapter 26
Rosalind Heffernan, was born two days early but right on time, and was cradled directly into the loving arms of her father while her mother watched on proudly.
“She has your eyes, Theo,” Nora said, her face glowing with perspiration and excitement as she watched Theo cling to his daughter like he was afraid of her blowing away.
“And she has your hair,” he said, stroking the thin tuft of shining golden hair on the baby’s perfectly shaped round head. He walked back over to Nora and placed Rosalind back in her mother’s arms and stood watching his two favorite women with pride.
Nora cradled the baby in one arm and reached for Theo’s hand which she held tightly.
“Your father is here to see you,” the nurse poked her head in around the door to say and in the next moment, Andy had bounced into the room, pushing the nurse aside with excitement. He was carrying a huge gift basket in one hand, stuffed with chocolates and toys and confetti. In the other, he was gripping the strings of a bunch of pink balloons.
“Let me see her,” he came charging towards the baby, and gently tugged her out of Nora’s arms. He cradled the baby’s head for support as he rocked her in his arms.
“Jeez. She’s got my girl’s looks. Thank God for that!” Andy remarked and looked up at Theo to laugh at him.
“My thoughts exactly!” Theo walked over to admire his creation from a new angle now.
Nora looked at the two men huddled together, cooing and baby-talking to Rosalind. A smile formed on her face, as she remembered what her life was like before she came back to this town. Her father looked over at her and smiled.
“My hands are occupied honey, otherwise I would have hugged you,” he said and rocked the baby some more. Nora could see her father growing attached to his granddaughter already.
“They’re going to have to take her away and give her a wash, dad,” Nora scolded, but Andy didn’t seem to be in a hurry to let go yet. Theo and she exchanged happy looks as they watched Andy bond.
It had taken a few months to get used to seeing his daughter and his best friend together. Being the gentleman that he always was, he didn’t make any scenes or argue over it, but he had made it abundantly clear to Theo that their relationship wasn’t going to be the same. Adult or not, Theo had betrayed a “bro-code” and Andy wasn’t about to forgive him that easily for it.
Although now, as Nora watched her father and Rosalind together, his face glowing with familial love, she could sense that maybe in a few months…even in a few years perhaps, their friendship might have a chance of returning to normal.
Theo loved her with fury, he was stubbornly possessive of her…showering her with affection and love and attention. It had been nine months since they had been in a relationship, but Nora could have sworn that they had been together all their lives.
Her life in New York was a distant memory now. The apartment remained, which she rented out and it worked out as a handy monthly income for her during her months of pregnancy. Theo was insisting on investing in a magazine of her own, which she could run from their home till it grew and they needed bigger office space. Nora was toying with the idea, although for the next few months, she knew all her energy would be spent in caring after Rosalind.
“She’s an angel, honey,” Andy interrupted her thoughts as he handed the baby to a nurse. Then he walked over to Nora and kissed her forehead. Theo was holding her hand on the other side, and Nora looked from him to her father and then back to Theo again.
“Andy, I had something to ask you, and I wanted to take this opportunity to do it,” Theo said and Nora’s brows crossed. She wasn’t expecting another surprise, but her father and Theo had their gazes locked and she wasn’t sure she was in a position to interrupt.
“Go on,” Andy said and Theo cleared his throat. Nora nearly laughed at his nervousness. Theo was the last man on Earth to feel nervous about anything! What was going on?
“Andy, I wanted to ask your permission before I went down on my knees and asked your daughter to marry me,” Theo said and there was a pin drop silence in the room. Nora wasn’t expecting it. They hadn’t spoken about marriage, not even for a second. She had no idea that he was even thinking about it. “I know I would expect the bastard who steals my daughter away, to do me the honor of at least asking me first, so that I can kick his ass,” Theo added.
Nora was holding her breath, unsure of how her father was going to react, but he burst out laughing. Which made Theo laugh too and Nora covered her mouth with her hands in surprise and delight.
“Come here so I can kick your ass then, Theodor!” Andy barked joyfully and the two men hugged and Andy slapped Theo’s back.
Then he turned to her and walked over to her side and got down on both knees. His face was now at level with hers and they stared at each other. It was too emotional for Nora to not cry and her eyes welled up with tears.
“I couldn’t think of a better place or a better time to do it in,” he said and she watched as he pulled a blue velvet box out of his pocket. He snapped it open and a huge teardrop shaped diamond ring sparkled at her.
“Nora Rose Moor, will you be my wife?” he asked and she bit down on her lip before she nodded her head wildly. Theo Heffernan was asking her to marry him. Of all the crazy things that could have happened in this world!
“In a heartbeat,” she said.