Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“It’s fine." But while the words were addressed to Betsy, it was on her son that his stunned gaze remained, and her son the undeniable reason why a now-familiar torrent of emotions was once again tightly gripping his chest.
Papa.
Prior to being diagnosed, the concept of fatherhood was nothing but a distant goal to him. He had only cared to be one in order to have an heir. But when he did find out he was infertile, he realized now that it was pride that had consumed him at first.
If I can't father a child, then children or having an heir will no longer be a priority.
And that was the only way he had allowed himself to think of children...until now.
Betsy was about to apologize yet again and take D from her boss when they heard the intercom ring.
“Could you get that, please?”
Betsy hurriedly got to her feet. “Oh, um, of course.”
“You may leave your son with me.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, there’s no need—”
“I insist.”
The quiet command in his tone was impossible for her to deny for some reason, and Betsy's heart started aching and racing at the same time as she turned and walked away. Her boss was just being nice. It would be the height of stupidity to read anything into it. Right?
She stole a look at D and her boss over her shoulder.
Big mistake!
Her eyes immediately started to sting, and she quickly looked away. Her son looked so happy in her boss’s arms. It was almost as if D had known all this time that he was missing a father, and was now convinced he had found one.
Betsy gave both her cheeks a little slap. Stop with the daydreaming and asking for the moon, Betsy! Charlotte was already working hard on finding the right man to be her husband and D’s dad. To even wish that Lukas Tsaldaris could be that man would only make her unforgivably greedy.
I need to keep my feet grounded, Betsy thought as she reached for the intercom. I need to remind myself over and over that I’m virtually ‘taken’, and so it’s a sin to even think of any other man.
Chapter Seven
IT WAS SOMETIME AFTER lunch that the deliveries started coming, all of them already paid for and addressed to her and D. Betsy had no idea at all what to expect as she opened the first one, but delight filled her as soon as she realized what it was.
Oh my goodness.
Tears pricked her eyes.
A high chair with all the bells and whistles she could ever want for her son!
She would never be able to afford this in a lifetime, and Betsy could only close her eyes as gratitude overflowed from her heart.
Thank You, thank You, thank You.
D joined in after that, and mother and son had the most wonderful and exciting time as they opened package after package. A solar-powered mini car that also came with a matching racing outfit. A set of remote-controlled toys. Clothes for every season, occasion, and activity, ranging from winter wear to whimsical costumes to mini uniforms for just about every sport.
Betsy had just finished assembling D’s train set when her boss came home from work, but Lukas stopped her from getting to her feet.
“It’s fine.” Lukas surveyed the scene before him with satisfaction. He had a feeling Betsy’s son would enjoy playing with these trains, and it felt extremely good to know he had gotten this right.
“The most amazing thing happened this afternoon, Mr. Tsaldaris!”
Lukas suppressed his smile. “Is that so?” He normally had no patience for women playing coy, but it seemed as if this woman could do no wrong in his eyes.
“It was like Christmas all of a sudden,” Betsy gushed. “We got package after package, and it just meant everything to us! I’ve always wished I had the means to spoil D. But no matter how hard I tried, it was as if life just kept getting harder and harder. Until now. Until—”
Me, Lukas thought.
“Charlotte came along—”
Did she just say...Charlotte?
“And changed my life completely. It feels so much like she’s my heaven-sent gift from God, you know?”
She thought these gifts were from Charlotte?
Betsy noticed the disbelief on her employer’s face. “You think I got it wrong?” she asked hesitantly.
“You truly think Charlotte is the one who sent you all of these gifts?”
When he said it that way, she suddenly didn’t feel that certain about her earlier assumption. Charlotte was kind, yes, but for someone to go this far—
Betsy let out a gasp. “You’re right, of course, Mr. Tsaldaris.”
Lukas’ irritation faded as she looked up at him in wide-eyed wonder.
“The gifts were all chosen with care and thoughtfulness. They had to be from someone who cared about D and me. Like, a lot.”
Lukas nearly jerked. Should he tell her she got it all wrong? He was only concerned about the scarcity of her son’s possessions, that was all. And since it just so happened he had money to burn—