Rebecca Winters - Claiming His Baby

“Evan,” Raul murmured, feeling a sudden rush of emotion as a plethora of memories assailed him. This man exuded all the warmth missing in the uncle who’d done his best to take over after Raul’s parents had been killed.

“You have no idea how delighted I was when you told me you were coming,” the older doctor responded with heartfelt sincerity.

“Even if I’m here to ask you an enormous favor?”

“I don’t care about the reason. You’re here!” he cried. “That’s all that matters.”

“He’s right,” his redheaded wife spoke up as Raul caught sight of her. She held out her arms for a hug, which he readily reciprocated.

“You’re beautiful as ever, Phyllis.”

She wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’ve aged and I know it. But you—just look how handsome you are! I can’t believe you’re not married yet.”

“I never found anyone who measured up to you, that’s why.”

“With all those gorgeous South American beauties?”

Raul had had several relationships with women, but he’d never been so carried away that he’d proposed marriage to any of them, much to his aunt and uncle’s chagrin. Living in a city like Buenos Aires was one thing. Surviving in a tiny bush settlement like Zocheetl was something else…

“Phyllis, as I’ve told you on numerous other occasions, I would have to feel something earthshaking, and that hasn’t happened yet.”

Though busier than he’d ever been in his life, there was an aridness in his soul that nothing seemed to fill. He’d hoped a change of scene with the Dorneys might help cure what was ailing him.

“It’s because you live in isolation too much of the time. If you would stay a few months in Salt—”

“Phyllis—” her husband warned. “Leave the poor man alone. He just got here after a horrendously long flight. Come on, let’s grab your bags and take you home.

“I can’t get there fast enough.”

Within an hour he was ensconced in the Dorneys’s elegant, traditional two-story house, which had been his home away from home during his residency in Salt Lake. They’d prepared his old room for him.

As soon as he’d freshened up in the en suite bathroom, he joined them downstairs in the living room. To his surprise Phyllis had changed into a blue chiffon evening gown.

“You look lovely. Where are you going all dressed up?”

“To the symphony. You’ve heard us speak of the Sanders—”

“Of course. They’re your best friends. She’s the one who died of cancer a couple of years ago, leaving a daughter.”

“That’s right. Last week Heather won the international Gina Bacchauer piano competition. Tonight she’s performing her winning program with the Utah Symphony. I promised I’d drive over to symphony hall and be with her until she goes onstage.

“Normally I would never leave you when you’ve just arrived. But Heather’s my goddaughter and needs me. Besides, I happen to know Evan can’t wait to talk to you alone.”

“I’ve heard of the Bacchauer,” Raul interjected. “If she’s that good, I’d like to attend the performance.”

Evan smiled. “That’s very noble of you, but if you’re only in town for three days, I want to make the most of our time together.”

Raul knew this event must be important to Evan as well as Phyllis. “I really would like to go to the symphony. As you both know, music is as necessary to me as breathing.” He could credit his aunt and uncle for a life that included beautiful music and good books. “In fact it’s probably my favorite way to enjoy an evening.”

Because he spoke the truth, his voice carried the ring of conviction. Certainly the look of pleasure on their faces told its own story.

With the decision made, everyone was galvanized into action. After Phyllis placed fried chicken and potato salad on the breakfast room table, she left for the Sanders’s home in her car.

Over their meal Evan urged Raul to tell him what was so important, it had caused him to leave his beloved bush.

“There’s a little seven-year-old Indian boy with a strange heart condition. He’s too sick to be moved from the bush hospital. I’ve brought his X rays with me.

“I may have done some heart surgeries because there was no one else, but I don’t dare tackle anything this complicated. You’ll understand when you look at the film. The parents have no money, of course. I thought that if—”

“Say no more.” Evan broke in with a smile. “I’ll do it. Just give me three weeks to clear my calendar.”

Raul’s eyes smarted. “You don’t know how grateful I am. I’ll pay you for the operation.”

“Don’t be absurd! What has life come to if we can’t help people without worrying about money? I’d like to do it as long as you assist me. Phyllis will want to come, too. We’ve both been curious about the bush. Now will be our chance to really see it.”

“I’ll have a bungalow waiting for you. In the meantime you’ll need to get some booster shots.”

Evan nodded. “It will be like old times, operating with you. I’ll have you know I’ve never worked with a resident as brilliant as Dr. Raul Cardenas.”

Raul cleared his throat and got up from the table. “If we’re going to make the symphony, I need to get showered.”

“Go ahead. I’ll clean up down here and then change. Bring those X rays with you. We’ll stop at the office after the symphony and I’ll take a look at them.”

Raul clapped him on the shoulder. “Bless you, Evan.”

A half hour later they were dressed in formal attire and headed to symphony hall in Evan’s car. Once inside the crowded building, an usher handed them programs and they found their seats.

“Where’s Phyllis?”

“She’ll probably stay backstage with Heather until John arrives.”

Raul opened his program and began to read. He discovered that the second and third place winners of the piano competition would be performing before the intermission.

Soon the house lights dimmed and he sat back to enjoy the Israeli man’s performance. He played the Beethoven superbly, then pleased the crowd with a George Gershwin selection. Then came the Russian contestant who did an excellent job with Chopin’s Nocturne in E.

“Just wait till you hear Heather play,” Evan whispered.

The corner of Raul’s mouth lifted at his friend’s obvious bias. When the Russian left the stage, Phyllis joined them at their seats. While the two of them conversed in private, Raul finished reading the notes about each finalist. Just before the lights dimmed after the intermission, he turned to the last page.

There he gazed on the exquisite face of Heather Sanders for the first time…

A hush fell over the audience, causing Raul to look up from his program. Everyone’s concentration had centered on the winner of the Bacchauer—a young woman in black whose femininity made an impact even at the back of the hall.

She moved across the stage with a consummate grace that was stunning to watch. His gaze dropped to the program once more. The picture didn’t do justice to her Nordic coloring. She seated herself at the concert grand and began her performance with a little known work of Rachmaninoff, which was one of Raul’s favorite pieces.

The haunting composition was technically difficult and incredibly beautiful. Raul was secretly thrilled she’d chosen that particular work. He knew the music intimately and found himself listening for certain passages.

Her interpretation was marvelous. He felt her passion. She was doing everything right. It sent chills up his spine. Again he consulted the program.

Madre de Dios. A twenty-five-year old piano student from Juilliard and she could play like that!

She would only have been fifteen years old when he was finishing up his residency.