A Hostage to Delusion by M J Marlow (the reading list book txt) 📖

so that I could help bring these people down, or I could go to prison for rape and kidnap.” He saw her nod. “I couldn’t go to prison, Cassie. I would never have seen you again and I would have died a slow death being separaTed from you like that.” He was anxious. “Do you hate me for lying to you?”
“It sounds like you had no choice, Adam,” Cassie choked out. “I was so unhappy. I realized that somewhere along the way I had fallen in love with you and I never got a chance to tell you before we were separaTed.”
“So tell me now,” Adam smiled at her in relief.
Cassie got to her feet and he rose to his. She took his hand and led him to the pads then she removed the coat and pulled him down with her. They were still lying wrapped in each other’s arms when the sun rose the next morning; the first day on their true life together.

Epilogue

“Oliver Yates Garrison!”
Cassie smiled as she heard her husband out in the yard with their son. She had heard the crash and knew something had happened. Given that Adam was teaching Oliver how to throw she could just imagine which window was in need of repair. The back door crashed open and five year old Oliver ran in, looking upset.
“Window or flower pot?” she asked him as he dropped his glove and looked like the world was ending.
“Flower pot,” Oliver said. “I didn’t mean to, Mom…”
“You’ll get better, son,” Adam smiled as he came in and ruffled Oliver’s hair. He came over to hug Cassie and looked down at her heavily pregnant body. “It’s getting harder and harder to hug you, woman. Isn’t that baby ready to be born yet?”
“You heard Angela,” Cassie laughed. “Another couple of days and Oliver will have a little sister.” She winced as a pain shot through her back. “Ow!”
“Is she kicking you again, Mom?” Oliver asked, utterly fascinaTed by the thought of a baby being inside of his Mom. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out the Tupperware container of vegetables.
“How long?” Adam asked her as he saw her shake her head.
“Since about two p.m. yesterday,” Cassie admitTed to him. She saw his look. “I didn’t want to say anything. I thought it was just twinges from the weight I’m carrying.” She laid her hand over his as he starTed to lift the receiver. “Everyone is coming to dinner, honey. I’ll be fine.” She bit her lip and sat down as another pain struck.
“You’re not fine!” Adam grimaced and made the call. They heard the ring on the front porch. Grant was there. “Dad,” he said to his father-in-law. “Cassie is going into labor.”
“Let’s see what’s going on,” Belinda said as she handed ten-month old Jason Morgan Yates over to Dekker. “Come on, Cassie,” she smiled as she took Cassie into the bedroom. “Angela? Delia? Can I get a hand from you?”
Delia nodded and caught Cassie’s other arm as her knees buckled. They got her into the bedroom just as her water broke. The door was shut firmly and Oliver and Andrew were sent to the playroom with Jason.
“Looks like it’s up to us to get dinner on,” Eric said as he saw the stunned look on Adam’s face. “Hang in there, brother. She’ll be just fine. She’s got all those superwomen in there with her.”
Adam nodded and decided to keep his son and Dekker’s children occupied in the playroom. He winced as Cassie starTed to scream and Grant came into the playroom to take over for him.
“Go be with you wife,” he said to his son-in-law. “She’s going to want you there, no matter what she says to the contrary.”
Adam went to his wife’s side and six hours later their daughter was born. He let Belinda clean her up and then stroked the tiny girl’s cheek as she nursed. When Cassie had drifTed off to sleep, he carried her out to the rest of the family.
“Kathryn Margaret Garrison,” he said proudly as he held her up for them to see, “meet your family.”
“Give her here,” Grant smiled at the tiny child named for his mother and his wife. He watched Adam return to the bedroom and did not need to see to know his son-in-law would be holding his wife in his arms for the rest of the night. “Hello there, princess,” he smiled down at the infant. “Welcome to our family.”

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Publication Date: 01-10-2010

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