Stolen Moments (And Then Came Love Book 2) (18 page)

Petur grinned. “Are you going to tell him, Uncle Irish? Or are you going to leave him in suspense?”

“You can tell them.” Pops winked. “They’re your family.”

Petur’s grin widened. “I do not believe accommodations will be a problem. Bestefar will have the cabin ready.”

Trevor opened his mouth.

Petur held up his hand. “And before you ask about food, Bestemor will make sure the place is fully stocked. She always does.”

“That’s not what I was asking.” Trevor turned to Pops. “There is a cabin. I received word for the lawyer the other day, I own the cabin. What I don’t know is how many bedrooms are in the place?”

“There are plenty of bedrooms.” Pops smiled.

Trevor shook his head. “Five people, Pops. We’re talking five people, two of whom are getting up there in age. These are the things I need to take into consideration.”

“I for one will be staying with Bestemor and Bestafar.” Petur chuckled. “The cabin is unlike any cabin you have ever seen. You will understand when you see it.”

Trevor looked at Pops. “It would have been nice to see the place before deciding if I wanted to own it or not.”

“You’ll love it.” Pops grinned.

Petur laughed. “It changes between every visit. Bestefar is constantly maintaining it. I doubt it is the same as it was the last time Uncle Irish came to fish.”

Pops shook his head. “It’s been three years – it’s not the same.”

Petur nodded. “He indicated in his last letter he completed the carvings on the front door finally. He thinks you’ll find them appropriate.”

“Always working.”

Trevor’s phone chimed and he dug it out of his pocket. He chuckled.

Pops and Petur looked at him.

“Arianna thinks I’m ignoring her.”

Petur snorted. “That’s ironic.”

Trevor raked his hand through his hair. “I guess I haven’t been around as much as I was, but still. She’s in for a surprise.”

“I think it will be a pleasant one.” Petur smiled.

Trevor’s phone chimed again and he responded to the message. “Lindsay’s taking her home. I think I’ll make her day if I surprise her.”

Petur closed his eyes a sadness crossed his face. “Good. Enjoy.”

Pops stood and rested his hand on Petur’s shoulder. “You’ll find the perfect one for you.”

Petur shook his head. “No, no. One attempt at a wedding in five years is enough for me, Uncle.”

Trevor winked. “You’re in the wrong family if you hope to get out without being set up once or twice. Wait until you meet my mother.”

“I think my luck with romance is cursed.” Petur scoffed. “Your mother will have a difficult time.”

Trevor walked toward the door and then turned back to look at Petur. “You should join us tomorrow of brunch. You can meet the whole crazy Vitalli crew.”

“I should like that.” Petur nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’ll text you the address.” Trevor smiled. He opened the door. “Enjoy the rest of your evening. I’m out.”

“Enjoy your dinner.” Petur sighed.

Trevor shut the door and left.

He drove into the driveway before Arianna arrived home.

He texted Lindsay.

I want to surprise Ari. Where are you?

Grocery store. We’ll be here for a while. Want me to tell her, you’re waiting? Lindsay responded.

Nope. I’ll wait around.

A green note hung on her front door handle. Trevor walked over to find out what it was.

He put his phone back in his pocket and grabbed the note. He shook his head and looked at the lawn. It did need to be cut. He unlocked the door and headed into the garage to get the lawn mower.

*****

Arianna walked over to where Trevor weeded the flower bed. “I appreciate this, but why are you doing it?”

“You got a note from the city. They said they’d fine you if you didn’t mow your grass and get rid of unnecessary weeds.” Trevor stood up and wiped the dirt off his hands, then pulled the notice from his back pocket.

“The city can fine me for not mowing my grass?” Arianna arched an eyebrow.

“Evidently.” Trevor shrugged.

“Do the fines add up as the grass gets taller?”

“No, they cut your grass and fine you on your bill.” Trevor walked over and opened the door for her.

Arianna looked around the yard and then stepped into the house. “I’m not seeing a downside to this.”

“What?” Trevor cocked his head to the side.

“I don’t mow my grass and one of two things happen. The city mows my grass and I pay them or I get a notice, you mow, and I reward you.” Arianna smiled.

“You don’t need to reward me.” Trevor chuckled.

Arianna took a step forward and stoked a finger down his chest. “Oh, but I think you’ll enjoy it.”

Trevor grinned. “Let’s hope you don’t pay the city the same way.”

Arianna’s mouth dropped open and she smacked him in the arm. “Ass.”

Chapter Sixteen

May 17th

Arianna was ready for a break by the time she collapsed in the chair across from Marissa’s desk at noon the next day. She’d been called at two to come in for a patient who was being induced. The labor that had started out extremely strong turned into a slow going process and she had ended up still having to use pitocin. As she was finishing up with that patient she had another call, this time from the emergency room where the premature baby was in danger as the mother had been brought to the hospital because she overdosed. The fetal heartbeat had dropped and it ended up in an emergency C-section.

“No more babies.” Arianna sighed as she dropped her head onto Marissa’s desk.

“I delivered one while you were in your emergency C-section.” Marissa shook her head. “It’s been a busy two days.”

“I only had two due this week. Three of them were premature and the first one today was ten days over.” She lifted her head off the desk and leaned back in the chair.

“How’s the baby doing from the emergency?” Marissa rested her arms on her desk.

“She’s doing as well as can be expected. She’s in the neonatal ward. They expect her to make it, but she won’t be going home with her mother.”

“Did the mother make it?”

“Yeah, she made it. She’s stable, but on a seventy-two hour hold.” Arianna rubbed her forehead. “And thanks to her, I have to fit talking to child protective services into my already busy day.”

“Don’t worry about your patients the rest of the day. I’ve got Connie covering them.” Marissa waved her hand.

“I want to go home and go to bed.” Arianna held up the on-call cell. “I will be happy when five o’clock rolls around and I can hand this thing off.”

“You can hand that off to me right now if you want.” Marissa held out her hand. “Go find the people from CPS and talk to them. Finish up your paperwork and be ready to leave by two.”

“By two, why?” She quirked an eyebrow. “I can neglect all my patients Candace is coming in at one thirty I’ll at least have to be there for that one.”

“Trevor’s picking you up at two. I’m covering the rest of your on-call until Connie takes over at five.” Marissa smiled.

“Why? It’s only Thursday. I figured I wouldn’t see him until tomorrow.” She looked at her clothes. “He can’t see me like this. I got called in at two this morning. I wasn’t expecting to stay. I’m wearing yoga pants.”

Marissa laughed. “If you think my brother is concerned about you dressing in yoga pants you’ve got him all wrong.”

Arianna stared down at her pants. “Nope, not ready for him to see me like this.”

“Honey, you’ve woken up next to the man – believe me, yoga pants are not his concern.” Marissa chuckled. “Go see CPS and get ready for Candace’s appointment and get ready to leave.”

Arianna snapped her fingers and pulled out her phone. “I can have Candace bring me clothes.” She stood and headed out of Marissa’s office.

*****

Arianna waited for Candace in the waiting area.

“Why did you need all this stuff?” Candace handed her the bag of clothes.

Arianna snatched the bag away from Candace and then smiled. “Check in at the window and you can come back.” She met the nurse at the doorway. “Can you get Candace started on her appointment and I’ll be with her in a few minutes?”

“Sure.” The nurse nodded.

She hurried to the staff bathroom.

Marissa stepped through the doorway while Arianna brushed her hair.

“I hate having straight hair. About the only thing I can do with it, is pull it back in a ponytail or braid.” Arianna picked at chunk of her hair.

“It looks nice down.” Marissa took the brush and brushed it to frame her face. “You’re a beautiful woman, Ari.” She handed the brush back to Arianna.

“I feel unkempt around your family.” Arianna dropped the brush in her bag.

“You must know a different family than I do.” Marissa laughed. “But then again, I’ve seen them all straight out of bed and with every flaw showing. We’re not the perfect family.”

“But compared to mine, you all seem put together.” Arianna closed her bag.

“It’s far from that.” Marissa shook her head. “And if you’ll relax and let him

show you that, you’ll be fine.”

“I need to do Candace’s check-up.” She and Marissa headed out of the bathroom and down toward exam room one.

“You looked fine in what you had on.” Candace rested her hands behind her on the table.

“Trevor’s picking her up and she wanted to look perfect.” Marissa winked. “Candace, would you like to spend the weekend with me?”

Candace shrugged. “Sounds fun to me.”

“The girls claim there’s this super fantastic sale going on at the mall and they have to go. I figured a couple extra girls wouldn’t break me.” Marissa winked.

“It’s only Thursday, you’re going to take two extra girls to school tomorrow and pick them up?” Arianna looked between Marissa and Candace.

“Why not?” Marissa shrugged. “It will be fun.”

“O-kay.” Arianna shook her head.

“Let’s get this checkup over and you can leave with Trevor.” Candace smiled.

Arianna laughed. “Lie back on the table.”

Marissa tapped Arianna’s shoulder. “Why don’t you let me handle this? Trevor’s waiting for you.”

“What? How long has he been here?” Arianna fixed her hair in the reflection of the paper towel dispenser.

“I came in to tell you when you were in the bathroom.” Marissa grinned.

“Why do I get the feeling there’s more going on here and you two know more then you’re letting on?” Arianna quirked an eyebrow.

“Because we do.” Candace shrugged. “Let Marissa do my check up and get out of here, because I’d like to see you have a little fun this weekend.”

“This weekend? It’s only Thursday and I have to work tomorrow.” Arianna shook her head.

Marissa walked over to the table. “Enjoy.”

Arianna opened her mouth to say something, but then snapped it closed. Better to go with the flow. She headed out of the room and toward her office.

Trevor sat behind her desk with his feet on it.

“Do you know how many HIPAA privacy laws you’re breaking being in my office?” Arianna crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door.

“Marissa made sure everything was cleared off your desk and locked before she left me in here.” Trevor stood and came around the desk.

“Why are you picking me up? I thought you’d pick me up a little early tomorrow, but I didn’t expect us to do something today.”

Trevor kissed her on the cheek. “I missed you.”

“You saw me this morning before I got called in.”

Trevor winked. “And that means I can’t miss you?”

“Yes, you can still miss me.” She intertwined her fingers with his. “I missed you too.”

“Good.” Trevor motioned for the door. “Let’s get out of here.”

Arianna cocked her head to the side. For the third time this week he’d surprised her with something. Maybe there was some spontaneity in his blood?

*****

Arianna’s stomach growled as they drove past a restaurant. “Can we stop for something to eat? The last time I ate was dinner last night.”

“Can you wait? There is food involved at our destination.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll find out.” Trevor turned down what appeared to be a long driveway.

Arianna looked around. She could see everything for miles. A building appeared in the distance and next to it a large plane. “Is this an airport?”

“It’s a private airfield.” Trevor slowed over some rough pavement.

“A private airfield? Does that mean that’s a private plane?”

“That’s a private jet, there’s a difference.” Trevor chuckled.

Arianna shook her head. “I’ve never been around either, pardon me if I don’t know the correct lingo.”

Trevor parked his truck next to a large black SUV. He climbed out, came around, opened the door for her, and helped her down. “My cousin is the pilot, I thought you may be interested in a ride.”

“Wow?” Arianna smiled. “That sounds exciting. Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” Trevor led her toward the plane.

“This is exciting.”

They walked up the steps and onto the plane.

Arianna looked toward the back of the plane to see her daughter sitting in one of the first seats. She looked at her watch, two thirty. “Why aren’t you in school?”

“Don’t worry, Mom. It’s all part of the plan.” Mina bounced up and down. “Can you believe we’re on a private plane?”

“What plan?” She turned to Trevor. “What’s going on?”

Trevor sat down and proceeded to put the seatbelt across his lap. “The pilot wants to take off as soon as possible, you may want to get strapped in.”

Arianna took one more look around.

Petur nodded to her from one of the seats.

In the back, Pops and Gramps held up glasses in salute.

She smiled as she sank into the seat next to Trevor. “What’s going on, you guys?”

“We were told not to say anything until we were in the air.” Petur smiled.

Arianna fastened her seatbelt as the stairs they walked up shut into the plane.

Trevor pressed a button next to him. “We’re all strapped in Mick, ready for take-off.”

“Roger, that,” came the reply from the captain.

“Trevor.” Arianna touched his leg.

He captured her hand in his own and brought it to his lips. “Pops asked me to take him to Minnesota one more time. You kept telling me I wasn’t spontaneous enough and I figured I’d surprise you with the trip. Obviously, there’s been some planning involved in it, it’s—”

Arianna pressed her lips to his. “It’s perfect in every way.” She clutched his hand as her heart soared.

*****

Arianna awoke to Trevor shaking her gently.

“We’re landing.”

“Sorry, I fell asleep on you.”

“You’ve had a couple days of nonstop work. I’d say you’re entitled to some sleep.” Trevor smiled and kissed her head.

She snuggled into his arms. “I feel more relaxed already. Why didn’t Candace come?”

“Marissa was concerned about her last exam, she said she was dilated to two and thought it would be best if she didn’t fly. Candace said she’d rather stay home anyway.”

“If she was that concerned, maybe we should have stayed home.”

“She said everything was fine, she wanted to keep an eye on her.” Trevor patted her leg. “Don’t worry, she said she’d call if anything happened.”

Arianna nodded.

“Petur, Gramps, and Mina are going home on Sunday night. Marissa’s going to keep an eye on her until we get back on Thursday.”

Arianna’s eyes widened and she sat up. “Wait? We’re staying? I have patients to see tomorrow –– and all next week. How—”

Trevor placed a finger to her lips. “It’s all been planned out. Marissa has all your patients covered. You’re on vacation until a week from tomorrow. The only reason I didn’t stay longer was because I knew you were on call on Friday.”

“Trevor, this is amazing.” Arianna gushed. “What about clothes and other things?”

“Mina and Candace packed your stuff last night. Don’t worry, I have everything under control.” Trevor smiled.

“Wow –, wow.”

“Sometimes it takes a little planning to be spontaneous.”

“It was spontaneous. There was planning involved – a lot of planning, but the initial decision was the spontaneous one and I appreciate that.”

Trevor smiled.

The door opened and the pilot walked back. He looked at Trevor. “I’ll be back on Sunday for some of you and the rest of you on Thursday, right?”

“Yep.” Trevor unbuckled his seatbelt, stood and shook hands with the man. “Thanks, Mick.”

“Anytime, man.” Mick tipped his hat to Arianna. “Have a great time, Ma’am.”

“I will.” She smiled as she stood and looked behind her at her travel companions. She grinned at her daughter and then took Trevor’s hand. There was nowhere else she’d rather be.

They departed to the plane and were met by a rather tall man, he had a good five inches on Trevor’s six foot. Long red hair and matching long beard. He had a lip piercing and he smiled as Petur and Pops stepped off the plane.

“Petur.” The red head gave Petur a hug. “It’s good to see you, cousin.”

“Cousin?” Trevor whispered to Arianna. “The family resemblance is lacking.”

“Bikers and psychiatrists can’t be related?” Arianna smiled. “I believe you and Julian are quite the opposite.”

“Touché.” Trevor nodded.

“Uncle Irish.” The red head hugged Pops as well. His voice was as big as his body.

“Good to see you, Sig.” Pops grinned. “This is Sigurt Hennerson. Everyone calls him Sig.”

Arianna had to put her head back to look at his face. “You’re really tall.”