Officer?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m forgetting my manners. Jack. Jack Clarke.”
“Pleased to meet you, Jack Clarke.”
“Pleased to meet you, too, Mrs. Brady.”
Was he fishing? She decided to swallow the bait. Hook. Line. And sinker.
“Miss,” she replied.
“Really?” A pleasantly satisfied smile crossed his lips and he handed her back her license. You know I shouldn’t be doing this, Miss Brady.”
“Doing what?”
“Escorting you to your class. Where is it?”
Sara told him then she asked, “You’re not going to write me a ticket?”
“No way. Not after what you’ve done for the auction. Just stay close behind me, okay?”
Sara laughed, not believing her good luck. “Sure.”
They sped quickly but efficiently through the traffic jams. Within minutes, he led Sara into the parking lot of the university campus with a few minutes to spare.
“This is unbelievable,” Sara said excitedly as she lifted her briefcase out of the car and slammed the door shut. Turning to the officer, she was once again struck by his cornflower blue eyes and his wonderful smile.
“I really do appreciate your help, Officer Clarke. I’m in your debt.”
“Please call me Jack. And it was nothing.”
“Oh, believe me, it was something. They close the doors to the exam rooms promptly at eight. If I arrive late, I automatically get a failing grade.”
“In that case I’m glad I could help you out, Miss Brady.”
The hot way he stared at her made Sara blush.
“Thank you very much again for your help, Jack. It was really sweet of you. I guess I’d better get going now.”
Hesitantly she turned, not wanting to leave him just yet but knowing she had to or she wouldn’t get into the exam room.
“Miss Brady?”
“Yes,” she whirled around so quickly she almost lost her balance.
“I shouldn’t be doing this, but can I get your number?”
Her heart pounded crazily in her chest. Her knees suddenly felt weak.
“You already have my number.”
A puzzled expression fell across his face and a moment later, he brightened.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot. On the paperwork accompanying the paintings.” He waved. “Good luck on your exam. I’ll call you.”
And he did.
That very night.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance. Inside a year, they were married. Soon after, they decided to have a family. Jack quit the force and they moved out of New York City, heading north into Canada to purchase the Peppermint Creek land from a friend who knew a widow who’d offered it at a price they couldn’t refuse.
And then they tried for a family.
Nothing happened.
They tried some more.
Still nothing.
Finally, they were both checked out by the doctor. Bad news had come in its worst form. Jack had an unusually low sperm count. The chances of getting pregnant the natural way were slim or next to nothing.
With the doctors encouragement they tried artificial insemination. After numerous unsuccessful tries, they finally gave up, resigning to waiting possibly many years to adopt. It wasn’t too long after, Sara discovered she was pregnant and by the old-fashioned method.
She remembered his reaction when the doctor first told them on that sunny summer day they were pregnant.
“Twins? We’re going to have twins?” Jack spluttered.
The doctor nodded slowly and smiled at both their shocked expressions.
“A baby. Oh, no, two babies! It totally blows my mind.” He ran a trembling hand through his wheat blond hair.
“How do you think I feel? I thought I had the flu for the last month.”
“Some flu. This is unbelievable.” He twirled the hairs on his large mustache. An endearing gesture he used whenever stumped. Unexpectedly he let out a loud joyful whoop that quite visibly frightened the doctor and made her laugh. Suddenly he was taking her into his arms, swinging her around and around until she felt dizzy.
“Jack! Put me down,” Sara pleaded.
He stopped and placed her feet delicately but firmly on the ground. His arms
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m forgetting my manners. Jack. Jack Clarke.”
“Pleased to meet you, Jack Clarke.”
“Pleased to meet you, too, Mrs. Brady.”
Was he fishing? She decided to swallow the bait. Hook. Line. And sinker.
“Miss,” she replied.
“Really?” A pleasantly satisfied smile crossed his lips and he handed her back her license. You know I shouldn’t be doing this, Miss Brady.”
“Doing what?”
“Escorting you to your class. Where is it?”
Sara told him then she asked, “You’re not going to write me a ticket?”
“No way. Not after what you’ve done for the auction. Just stay close behind me, okay?”
Sara laughed, not believing her good luck. “Sure.”
They sped quickly but efficiently through the traffic jams. Within minutes, he led Sara into the parking lot of the university campus with a few minutes to spare.
“This is unbelievable,” Sara said excitedly as she lifted her briefcase out of the car and slammed the door shut. Turning to the officer, she was once again struck by his cornflower blue eyes and his wonderful smile.
“I really do appreciate your help, Officer Clarke. I’m in your debt.”
“Please call me Jack. And it was nothing.”
“Oh, believe me, it was something. They close the doors to the exam rooms promptly at eight. If I arrive late, I automatically get a failing grade.”
“In that case I’m glad I could help you out, Miss Brady.”
The hot way he stared at her made Sara blush.
“Thank you very much again for your help, Jack. It was really sweet of you. I guess I’d better get going now.”
Hesitantly she turned, not wanting to leave him just yet but knowing she had to or she wouldn’t get into the exam room.
“Miss Brady?”
“Yes,” she whirled around so quickly she almost lost her balance.
“I shouldn’t be doing this, but can I get your number?”
Her heart pounded crazily in her chest. Her knees suddenly felt weak.
“You already have my number.”
A puzzled expression fell across his face and a moment later, he brightened.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot. On the paperwork accompanying the paintings.” He waved. “Good luck on your exam. I’ll call you.”
And he did.
That very night.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance. Inside a year, they were married. Soon after, they decided to have a family. Jack quit the force and they moved out of New York City, heading north into Canada to purchase the Peppermint Creek land from a friend who knew a widow who’d offered it at a price they couldn’t refuse.
And then they tried for a family.
Nothing happened.
They tried some more.
Still nothing.
Finally, they were both checked out by the doctor. Bad news had come in its worst form. Jack had an unusually low sperm count. The chances of getting pregnant the natural way were slim or next to nothing.
With the doctors encouragement they tried artificial insemination. After numerous unsuccessful tries, they finally gave up, resigning to waiting possibly many years to adopt. It wasn’t too long after, Sara discovered she was pregnant and by the old-fashioned method.
She remembered his reaction when the doctor first told them on that sunny summer day they were pregnant.
“Twins? We’re going to have twins?” Jack spluttered.
The doctor nodded slowly and smiled at both their shocked expressions.
“A baby. Oh, no, two babies! It totally blows my mind.” He ran a trembling hand through his wheat blond hair.
“How do you think I feel? I thought I had the flu for the last month.”
“Some flu. This is unbelievable.” He twirled the hairs on his large mustache. An endearing gesture he used whenever stumped. Unexpectedly he let out a loud joyful whoop that quite visibly frightened the doctor and made her laugh. Suddenly he was taking her into his arms, swinging her around and around until she felt dizzy.
“Jack! Put me down,” Sara pleaded.
He stopped and placed her feet delicately but firmly on the ground. His arms
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