Their Miracle Baby

Chapter 3

They rode in silence for a few more minutes, the tension between them increasing, until Lewis decided the time had come for their first kiss. He turned slightly in his seat, pulled Venetia closer, and brought his mouth down to hers in a gentle kiss. Heat flared between them when their mouths met, each lost in the desire quickly building between them.

With a big sigh, Venetia relaxed into his arms, feeling content to just be near him. The feeling of his kiss still on her lips. But after a few minutes, her curiosity got the better of her. She really didn’t know anything about Lewis and she was already falling hard for him. Her heart was telling her to just go with it, but her mind needed to know who this man was who could affect her this way.

“So, we’ve talked about how I got where I am, but I don’t know that much about what brought you where you are. Most people aren’t brave enough to specialize in neurosurgery.”

“No, I suppose not, but I’ve never looked at it that way. It wasn’t actually in my plans at first. I had planned to go into pediatrics, but in my first year of medical school, I took a neurology class and I was hooked,” he said, then added, “It wasn’t a popular decision.”

“Your advisor thought it was a bad idea?”

“No, my parents. Well, mostly my mother, but my father goes along with anything she wants. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my mother had planned my whole life out, from my career to my love life.”

“Mother’s like to do that,” Venetia said, remembering how her mother had fought her on some of her own decisions.

“The sad thing was that I didn’t even notice what she was doing. But suddenly I found myself in my first year of medical school questioning my decision. Don’t get me wrong, I loved working with kids, but the lure of the brain was stronger. When I told her about my decision to change my focus, she had a fit.”

“That couldn’t have been pleasant,” Venetia said, taking his hand.

“It wasn’t. But it only got worse. Once I’d opened my eyes to what was happening, I realized that the only reason I was engaged was because my mother had orchestrated the whole thing. She’d been subtle about it, but she’d found the woman she thought I should marry and put us together, then she found what she considered the perfect practice for me to take over from the retiring doctor.”

“Sounds like she had big plans for you.”

“Yeah, a socialite wife, a high-profile practice, membership in the most exclusive club, and a red sports car. The only problem was that I’d discovered that none of those things were what I wanted. By Christmas of that year, I’d broken off my engagement, changed my focus to neurology, and been disowned by my family.”

“Oh, Lewis, that’s awful. I can’t imagine my family disowning me,” Venetia said, tears springing to her eyes.

“Well, my mother thought cutting me off would bring me to my knees, but I was determined and I knew that I’d have my trust fund in only a matter of months. It wasn’t much, but it paid my tuition and the bills. Plus, I discovered that I could live simply, which was actually a gift.”

“Did you ever make up with them?”

“We see each other a couple times a year, but I’ve found that I just don’t have that much in common with them anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that I never have to worry about money, but now I also know that there’s more to life than that.”

Venetia was blown away by Lewis’ attitude, partly because she’d ridden in his very expensive car and partly because she’d heard him described as rich by several people. One of the reasons she’d been reluctant to let herself fall for him was that she knew how out of place she’d feel in his world and him in hers. Unlike him, she still made very little money and was forced to live very frugally.

“Well, at least you still have some contact with them, no matter what they’re still your family. I can’t imagine my life without my parents and brother and sisters driving me crazy, sometimes I forget how lucky I am.”

The carriage ride had come to an end, much to Venetia’s dismay. The night had been magical and she didn’t want it to end, but it was getting late and they both had to work tomorrow. Holding hands, he walked her to her car, hoping for another kiss before she went home.