“Anna, love of my life, will you do me the honor of marrying me and exchange one ring for another.”
Anna looked down at her hand and spotted the plain gold band that still encircled her finger.
“I can’t exactly show you off without my ring on your finger,” Matt stated. His startling blue eyes deepened and smoldered like blue flames in a fire.
“May I?”
She knew exactly what he was asking.
“Yes,” she nodded. “It’s time.”
He gently slipped Steven’s ring from her wedding finger and slid his in place.
“Do you like it?” An almost boyish quality rang from his voice as he rose to his feet, once again towering over her.
She brought the glittering ring closer and studied the intricacies. A large diamond dominated the center. Two hearts created with countless tiny diamonds hugged both sides of the shimmering stone and fed into a solid gold band.
Anna had never seen anything so beautiful.
“The two hearts represent my two girls—the heartbeat of my life.”
Tears filled Anna’s eyes and clung to her lashes. “Oh, Matt, I just finished my makeup, and you’re going to make me cry. This is the most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen.”
He crushed her close, and kissed her deeply.
The hospital staff buzzed around them like bees to a honeycomb. They clamored to hold Melody and catch a glimpse of the woman who’d finally snagged the irresistible Doctor Carmichael. Anna felt like a monkey at the zoo swinging from floor to floor.
They moved through each ward, and Anna noticed how loved Matt was. They oohed and aahed over Melody and welcomed Anna with smiles and chatter. She wished she didn’t feel so self-conscious but couldn’t still the host of butterflies dancing in her stomach.
When they headed to his office, he confided that the girls there had been teasing him about this mysterious woman in his life who never called and never showed up.
“I use your cell, Matt.”
“Yeah, but every other spouse or boyfriend phones the office at some time or another and pops in readily.”
“But—”
“I know, I know … our relationship has been complicated and not public. But I’m just saying, they were most disappointed at the Christmas party when I showed up alone. How was I to explain that we weren’t officially a couple?”
“Yeah, that would be my fault.”
He patted her knee as they drove to the office. “No worries, Anna. Today is a great day to show you off, and we’ll not fret over the convoluted path we took to get here. That’s our business and no one else needs an explanation. I’m just thankful this day has finally come.”
Once again on display, Anna entered his office to meet the ladies who Matt said kept him organized and on point.
Jasmine clapped her hands as she raced from behind the desk. Before Anna could think, Jasmine’s sturdy round frame folded Anna in a motherly hug.
“Well now, isn’t it a pleasure of all pleasures to finally meet the girl of Matthew’s dreams. I’ve worked for Matthew for years, and I’ve never seen him so smitten. When he talks about you and baby Melody, why, his eyes light up like a Christmas tree.” She tucked a chubby arm around Anna and propelled her forward. “Come meet the others.” She giggled like a schoolgirl. “There’s been a fair amount of curiosity about you, my dear.”
Matt winked and smiled at Anna above Jasmine’s head.
Anna lifted her eyebrows as if to employ help.
“Now, now Jasmine, don’t overwhelm poor Anna or she’ll never return.”
Jasmine waved him off. “Don’t you go spoiling all the fun, Matthew. It’s only taken you a year to get this gorgeous thing here. We were thinking she had some warts on her face with hair growing out of them or something worse.” She laughed. “Oh, and give me that precious one.” She snagged Melody from Matt’s arms and began to coo. Melody gifted her with a toothless grin.
“Oh my, how precious,” she drew Melody close and inhaled. “Don’t you just love the smell of babies? Until it’s time to change them of course.” Her laugh echoed down the hall.
“Come,” she beckoned Anna on.
Anna glanced back toward Matt as she followed Jasmine. He threw his hands up in defeat, but the grin on his face clearly told her he was enjoying every minute.
“This is Rose—our accountant. Our office would be in shambles without her. She’s the stickler for organization and keeps the rest of us in line.”
Rose smiled and held out her hand.
Jasmine was out the door and hollering for them to follow. “She’s a bit bossy, but we love her,” Rose whispered.
“Here’s Iris. She’s our Jack of all trades … or shall we say Jill. Can’t begin to tell you all the things this girl can do.” Iris beamed, waved hello to Anna, and joined the group.
Jasmine marched ahead, rounded the corner to another office, but it was empty. “Maxine,” she called, “where are you?” A chic, stylish woman came from a room further down the hall. Her uniform gave away the fact she was a nurse, but the sway of her hips, her updo and manicured nails looked out of place.
“Jasmine, can’t a girl have a private moment in the washroom without your bellowing?” She snickered at Jasmine’s crestfallen face. “Only kidding, Jas, chill!” She laughed with a brashness that irritated.
Her eyes travelled over Anna from top to bottom with a distinct coldness. “So, we finally get to meet the mystery girlfriend, Anna.”
Anna bristled. Just the way Maxine said her name—grated. With a tad too much satisfaction, she corrected the woman. “Fiancée, actually.” She held out the enormous rock on her finger for all to see.
The rest of the women gathered around for a close look and created quite the fuss. It did not escape Anna’s notice that Maxine merely looked down her nose from a distance.
They pulled apart, and Jasmine, in her happy-go lucky way, started a story. “So Anna, you’ve met Rose, Iris, and myself, Jasmine, but—”
Maxine rolled her eyes. “Oh, here she goes again
