Chapter XVI
New Beginnings
~ * * * ~

Mike had somehow managed to talk Leila into going away with him over New Year's Eve for the weekend. She had thought long and hard about it, and remembered her mother had told her to "follow her heart." Well, her heart told her that she really wanted to be with Mike. She had agreed to meet him New Year's Eve afternoon at the hospital. He was on call until 4 p.m. and she told him that she wanted to visit the children anyway.

In actuality, she had really wanted to visit with one little girl in particular, April. April had been in the hospital longer than any other child. Leila had been visiting with her and watching over her for the past year. April's mother died in childbirth from complications of diabetes leaving her little girl alone. No one knew who her father was, and her mother had not revealed his name before she died. April had inherited her mother's diabetes and was quite a sick child. She had been passed from one foster family to another ~ the demands of her illness proving too much for the average family. She had been at the hospital for the past year because her diabetes had been poorly managed and left her with several medical problems...the most pressing was her kidneys. April had been on the list for the past year, but no suitable kidney had been found.

Leila visited with April just about every day and had come to truly love the little girl with the golden curls. She had come to explain to April that she would be away for a few days. "I will miss you terribly, April," she said, "but I will be back before you know it." "That's OK, Leila," said the little girl, "but, I will miss you! Did you notice that I'm wearing the new dress you gave me?" "Yes, I did," said Leila, "and you look absolutely beautiful."

Mike came into the room and found Leila with April. All of a sudden he realized who April's anonymous benefactor was! It was Leila.

"Hey, there you two are ~ the two prettiest girls in this hospital," he said. Leila blushed, and April was happy to see him. "Dr. Mike," said showing off her new dress, "look what Leila gave me!" "Wow" he said, "it's beautiful and so are you!" He ruffled her hair, and turned to Leila and asked if she was ready to go.

Just then the nurse came in and told Leila that it was time for April to have a few more tests. Leila hugged and kissed April, and April whispered into her ear, "I like Dr. Mike." The nurse took April from Leila and Mike could see that Leila's eyes were welling up with tears.

When the nurse and April were gone, Leila turned to Mike and burried her head in his chest. She was sobbing softly now, and Mike tried to console her. "Oh, Mike, I'm so worried about her. She's getting weaker and there is still no kidney available for her. What will happen to her....." her voice trailed off. Mike responded, "Leila, she on the top of our list for a transplant and she's really not doing badly. I've been personally monitoring her and she's a strong little girl. Please don't get too upset. I promise I'll do all that I can."

Leila confided in him that she had been trying to adopt April. She had not told her because she didn't want to get the little girl's hopes up, but over the past year it was obvious that April loved Leila as much as Leila loved her. There was so much red tape to go through.

Mike thought about what a wonderful mother Leila would be. He had watched her with the children on the ward, and she was always patient and kind. She came in with a smile on her face and hugs for all of the children, almost always with little gifts for them, too. Not only did the children look forward to her visits, but the nurses did, too.

Mike promised that the hospital would call him right away if there were a problem and that April was in very good hands. She agreed then that they should probably start their trip before the traffic got too heavy.

Mike had brought Leila to a charming, but rustic cabin in the woods. It was small but comfortable, with a fireplace in each of the rooms. Mike explained that it belonged to his family since he was a child.

Leila gave Mike the present she had for him then. She had knitted him a scarf ~ it was her first attempt at knitting she said, and wasn't very good, but she wanted to do something special for him. Mike was overwhelmed. He immediately put it around his neck and hugged her. "This is the nicest thing anyone has done for me in a long time, Leila! Thank you so much - I love it!" he said. She smiled at him demurely and he kissed her cheek. He decided that they would take a walk in the woods before it got too dark and he helped her on with her coat.

The air was brisk but clear. They exchanged stories and laughed while they walked. They learned a lot about each other, and the more they talked, the more they both discovered how very much alike their hopes and dreams were.

It was beginning to get dark so they headed back to the cabin. Mike made a fire in the fireplace and Leila made coffee. They had a light supper of some sandwiches and fruit they brought with them. They played cards and told stories and giggled like little children. The time seemed to pass so quickly.

Mike told Leila incredible fables and wild tales of the times his family had at the cabin when he was young. Leila laughed at some of them and told him she didn't believe a word he said. They started teasing each other then, and Mike was tickling her, she laughed so hard, she fell to the floor, with Mike on top of her. All of a sudden, they both became quiet, he looked into her eyes and gave her a kiss.

"Leila," he said, "I didn't mean for this to happen, if you want me to stop, I will, but I'm afraid if we don't stop now.....I won't be able to. I probably shouldn't say this, but I love you, Leila. I can't help myself, I love you. I know we haven't known each other that long, but I feel as if I've known you all my life."

Leila looked at his beautiful face. He was so tender and sweet to her, and she replied, "Mike, I don't want to stop either. I've fallen in love with you, too. I don't think I've ever been as sure of anything as I am about loving you!"

He scooped her up in his arms and brought her into the bedroom. Before he gently undressed her, he asked if she was sure this was what she wanted. He wanted her more than anything, but didn't want to scare her off. She replied that she had never wanted anything more.

Afterwards, they feel asleep in each other's arms. Leila had never known she could feel so content and happy. She lay awake while Mike slept thinking about how fortunate she was to have met him. How different my life was just a few weeks ago, she thought. Her thoughts returned to Lauren then. Oh, what am I going to tell her? And, what will Mike think of me if he finds out about Lauren. How could he possibly understand. She fretted about these things for most of the night, and had a hard time falling back asleep. Instead, she enjoyed the feeling of Mike's body close to hers.

The next morning, Mike awoke and found Lauren awake watching him. "How long have you been awake, beautiful?" he asked. "Not long," she lied. "You know," he said, "you're even more beautiful in the morning!" and began kissing her tenderly.

As he ran his fingers through her beautful long golden hair, kissing her, he though about how lucky he was to finally find her. This is the woman he has waited to meet his entire life! He had met so many silly women with no substance, but Leila was not only beautiful and kind, but she had substance. He couldn't wait to introduce her to his sister! Yes, he thought, I think Sabrina will really approve of Leila. Now, Flame, he thought, that might be a different story. It had occurred to him that he hadn't told Leila about Flame. Hymmm....he thought, I wonder if she's as good with dogs as she is with kids.

"By the way, Leila," he asked, "how do you feel about dogs?" "Dogs?" she asked, "why?" "Because I have a rather possessive one for you to meet" "You have a dog?" she asked. "I hope you didn't leave him home alone," she asked startled. "Of course not, silly," he replied, "I left him with my sister for the weekend." "A sister, too!" she said. "Well, it appears there is a lot more that you have to tell me! So, you have two women in your life you haven't even told me about!" she said laughingly.

He took her in his arms, and said "There's plenty of time for you to meet them later, now, come here gorgeous" and he began kissing her again.

~ * * * ~

Meanwhile, the next morning, as Rebecca Jamison was enjoying her morning tea and newspaper, the doorbell rang. She wondered who would be calling so early in the morning. She heard the butler answer the door, speak to someone, and then he came into the breakfast room to speak with her. He told her that there was a young lady to see her.

Rebecca rose and headed for the foyer where the woman was waiting. She entered the foyer and saw a young blonde woman dressed in black carrying a young boy in her arms. Hymm...she thought to herself...she looks vaguely familiar to me. Now, where have I seen her before?

She introduced herself to the young woman and asked if she could help her. The young woman replied, "Yes, my name is Olivia Grant and this is my son, Simon. Simon is your grandson."

To be continued.......

Mike had somehow managed to talk Leila into going away with him over New Year's Eve for the weekend. She had thought long and hard about it, and remembered her mother had told her to "follow her heart." Well, her heart told her that she really wanted to be with Mike. She had agreed to meet him New Year's Eve afternoon at the hospital. He was on call until 4 p.m. and she told him that she wanted to visit the children anyway. In actuality, she had really wanted to visit with one little girl in particular, April. April had been in the hospital longer than any other child. Leila had been visiting with her and watching over her for the past year. April's mother died in childbirth from complications of diabetes leaving her little girl alone. No one knew who her father was, and her mother had not revealed his name before she died. April had inherited her mother's diabetes and was quite a sick child. She had been passed from one foster family to another ~ the demands of her illness proving too much for the average family. She had been at the hospital for the past year because her diabetes had been poorly managed and left her with several medical problems...the most pressing was her kidneys. April had been on the list for the past year, but no suitable kidney had been found. Leila visited with April just about every day and had come to truly love the little girl with the golden curls. She had come to explain to April that she would be away for a few days. "I will miss you terribly, April," she said, "but I will be back before you know it." "That's OK, Leila," said the little girl, "but, I will miss you! Did you notice that I'm wearing the new dress you gave me?" "Yes, I did," said Leila, "and you look absolutely beautiful."
	Mike came into the room and found Leila with April. All of a sudden he realized who April's anonymous benefactor was! It was Leila. "Hey, there you two are ~ the two prettiest girls in this hospital," he said. Leila blushed, and April was happy to see him. "Dr. Mike," said showing off her new dress, "look what Leila gave me!" "Wow" he said, "it's beautiful and so are you!" He ruffled her hair, and turned to Leila and asked if she was ready to go. Just then the nurse came in and told Leila that it was time for April to have a few more tests. Leila hugged and kissed April, and April whispered into her ear, "I like Dr. Mike." The nurse took April from Leila and Mike could see that Leila's eyes were welling up with tears.
When the nurse and April were gone, Leila turned to Mike and burried her head in his chest. She was sobbing softly now, and Mike tried to console her. "Oh, Mike, I'm so worried about her. She's getting weaker and there is still no kidney available for her. What will happen to her....." her voice trailed off. Mike responded, "Leila, she on the top of our list for a transplant and she's really not doing badly. I've been personally monitoring her and she's a strong little girl. Please don't get too upset. I promise I'll do all that I can." Leila confided in him that she had been trying to adopt April. She had not told her because she didn't want to get the little girl's hopes up, but over the past year it was obvious that April loved Leila as much as Leila loved her. There was so much red tape to go through. Mike thought about what a wonderful mother Leila would be. He had watched her with the children on the ward, and she was always patient and kind. She came in with a smile on her face and hugs for all of the children, almost always with little gifts for them, too. Not only did the children look forward to her visits, but the nurses did, too. Mike promised that the hospital would call him right away if there were a problem and that April was in very good hands. She agreed then that they should probably start their trip before the traffic got too heavy.
	Mike had brought Leila to a charming, but rustic cabin in the woods. It was small but comfortable, with a fireplace in each of the rooms. Mike explained that it belonged to his family since he was a child. Leila gave Mike the present she had for him then. She had knitted him a scarf ~ it was her first attempt at knitting she said, and wasn't very good, but she wanted to do something special for him. Mike was overwhelmed. He immediately put it around his neck and hugged her. "This is the nicest thing anyone has done for me in a long time, Leila! Thank you so much - I love it!" he said. She smiled at him demurely and he kissed her cheek. He decided that they would take a walk in the woods before it got too dark and he helped her on with her coat. The air was brisk but clear. They exchanged stories and laughed while they walked. They learned a lot about each other, and the more they talked, the more they both discovered how very much alike their hopes and dreams were.
It was beginning to get dark so they headed back to the cabin. Mike made a fire in the fireplace and Leila made coffee. They had a light supper of some sandwiches and fruit they brought with them. They played cards and told stories and giggled like little children. The time seemed to pass so quickly. Mike told Leila incredible fables and wild tales of the times his family had at the cabin when he was young. Leila laughed at some of them and told him she didn't believe a word he said. They started teasing each other then, and Mike was tickling her, she laughed so hard, she fell to the floor, with Mike on top of her. All of a sudden, they both became quiet, he looked into her eyes and gave her a kiss.	"Leila," he said, "I didn't mean for this to happen, if you want me to stop, I will, but I'm afraid if we don't stop now.....I won't be able to. I probably shouldn't say this, but I love you, Leila. I can't help myself, I love you. I know we haven't known each other that long, but I feel as if I've known you all my life." Leila looked at his beautiful face. He was so tender and sweet to her, and she replied, "Mike, I don't want to stop either. I've fallen in love with you, too. I don't think I've ever been as sure of anything as I am about loving you!"
He scooped her up in his arms and brought her into the bedroom. Before he gently undressed her, he asked if she was sure this was what she wanted. He wanted her more than anything, but didn't want to scare her off. She replied that she had never wanted anything more. Afterwards, they feel asleep in each other's arms. Leila had never known she could feel so content and happy. She lay awake while Mike slept thinking about how fortunate she was to have met him. How different my life was just a few weeks ago, she thought. Her thoughts returned to Lauren then. Oh, what am I going to tell her? And, what will Mike think of me if he finds out about Lauren. How could he possibly understand. She fretted about these things for most of the night, and had a hard time falling back asleep. Instead, she enjoyed the feeling of Mike's body close to hers.
	The next morning, Mike awoke and found Lauren awake watching him. "How long have you been awake, beautiful?" he asked. "Not long," she lied. "You know," he said, "you're even more beautiful in the morning!" and began kissing her tenderly. As he ran his fingers through her beautful long golden hair, kissing her, he though about how lucky he was to finally find her. This is the woman he has waited to meet his entire life! He had met so many silly women with no substance, but Leila was not only beautiful and kind, but she had substance. He couldn't wait to introduce her to his sister! Yes, he thought, I think Sabrina will really approve of Leila. Now, Flame, he thought, that might be a different story. It had occurred to him that he hadn't told Leila about Flame. Hymmm....he thought, I wonder if she's as good with dogs as she is with kids. "By the way, Leila," he asked, "how do you feel about dogs?" "Dogs?" she asked, "why?" "Because I have a rather possessive one for you to meet" "You have a dog?" she asked. "I hope you didn't leave him home alone," she asked startled. "Of course not, silly," he replied, "I left him with my sister for the weekend." "A sister, too!" she said. "Well, it appears there is a lot more that you have to tell me! So, you have two women in your life you haven't even told me about!" she said laughingly. He took her in his arms, and said "There's plenty of time for you to meet them later, now, come here gorgeous" and he began kissing her again.