Five Months

By Cathy Jackson

When widow Tavora Kar first encountered the magnetic actor Luke R’phael, a close friendship formed that would change their lives. Upon the death of his wife, Luke found himself drawn back to Tavora. Passions flamed, and the two lovers’ worlds united.

Now, Luke and Tavora are finding that going from friends to spouses is complicated. Getting married was the easy part, but truly blending their lives together will take more than either one expected.

The new couple will need to overcome their independence and pride, or their newly created life will be torn apart. They must leave behind habits from their past marriages while dealing with Tavora’s difficult pregnancy.

Is their love forever, or is five months all they will have together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cathy Jackson
• Release date: Dec 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463643068

Cathy Jackson

Stunningly beautiful and staggeringly intelligent mid-western mother of four writing everything from science fiction to generational epic historical dramas and anything in between.

Book preview

Five Months

By Cathy Jackson

Copyright 2019 Cathy Jackson

Smashwords Edition

Edited by Caprice’s Book Services

Cover design by MadCelt Designs

License Notes

Thank you for purchasing this book. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed in whole or part to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes without the express written permission of the author. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to purchase their own copy from their favorite retailer.

Thank you for your support.

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, or events are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, places or events is unintentional and coincidental.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank GOD. Without Him, this story wouldn’t be. I thank Him for teaching me and leading me every day.

Matthew Jackson, you are my heart and my life. Your encouragement has brought this book to life. Thank you for being my husband.

Connor, Ian, Jessa and Joseph, you are all my lights. I am happy that each of you have been placed in my life. I love you all very much.

Caprice Whitmire, thank you for editing Five Months.

Annabelle Garcia, thank you for taking the time to proofread this book. I love you, my sister-in-Christ. May God bless you always.

Patricia Statham and Nick Kmita, thank you for the information for Winnipeg and Canada. You were both invaluable in helping me with the accuracy of dialect and weather conditions. You guys rock!

Jennifer Harshman, Opal Campbell, John Wells, John Thomasssen, Tom Proctor, Martin X Gesis, and Matthias, you are always in my heart and prayers. Every single one of you mean so much, and I can’t believe you allowed me to come alongside you. I’m the one privileged to be in your lives. My gratitude and love to you all.

Authors, Bloggers, and Readers: your acceptance of who I am and what I write make you all golden in my book. I truly am thankful for each and every one of you. I hope this story will encourage and inspire you. You are the ones who will make this more than what I could ever make of it myself.

For Mom…

Chapter 1 (Luke)

When the door opened next, Tavora's physician, Doctor John Smith, walked in. He was a tall man in his early forties. His sharp brown eyes and long, spiky hair, combined with his open, smiling face, had Luke feeling better about Tavora’s situation. If things were worse wouldn’t the doctor be frowning?

Mr. R’phael. The man’s long hand reached out and they shook hands. Luke found he could like the man in front of him. The doctor’s lanky body was about four inches taller than his, but his grip had been firm. Big fan. How is your wife today?

Standing up from his seat on the bed, Luke picked up Tavvy’s hand and looked down at his wife. Her sparkling blue eyes met his, and danced at him.

Awake and hungry. He looked over at the tray Mike had left. It was empty. How long until we can leave?

Dr. Smith's long, crème colored lab coat and the dark blue stethoscope around his neck glinted in the light. His lopsided smile reassured Luke.

I have taken a look at Tavora’s chart. Her tests have come back better than expected. Luke saw the man’s eyes move to his wife. Not surprising, considering so many of her church family have come to pray for her. You've had a lot of visitors, have you?

Tavora blushed and looked at the bed, nodding her head. My church family is one of the most important things in my life, Doctor Smith.

I agree with you, Tavora. A church family can be a big help when you are not feeling well and need prayer and assistance. Doctor Smith moved over to Tavvy and he unwound the stethoscope from his neck. As Luke watched, the man listened to Tavora’s chest and took her pulse. Using a small penlight, he looked into her eyes. His hand touched Tavora’s, and Luke moved closer to his wife. In his opinion the doctor was taking too long with his exam. Just as he sat down next to Tavvy, Doctor Smith moved to the monitors and checked them.

How do things look?

Luke didn’t know if it was just him, but he thought Doctor Smith held Tavvy’s hand too long. And, if he wasn’t imagining it, her breath had accelerated when Doctor Smith had looked into her eyes.

But why wouldn’t it? The man had enough charisma for ten men. He moved surely and confidently. And he thought church family was important, unlike Luke himself. Unconsciously, his grip tightened on Tavora’s hand and he saw her head turning to him questioningly.

Your wife’s progress is better than expected. If we can get her up and moving, then I can’t see any reason to keep her longer than a couple of days. You, Lucy and Hank have already been educated on how to take care of her and your child. As long as you do those things, they should both be fine. The prayers seem to be working.

He saw Doctor Smith write a few things down and nod at the two of them.

Thank you, Doctor Smith.

Tavora’s breathless voice hit him and he stared at her. Did she not see that she was responding to the man in front of her? The man who was not her husband?

You’re welcome, Tavora. If you have any questions, either of you, please feel free to ask. Luke heard Doctor Smith move to the other side of the room toward the door. Good. The man needed to be gone. I’ll see you both tomorrow.

The door opened and closed, and Luke watched his wife’s eyes move from the door back to him. The smile was still on her face. His was not.

Jealousy hit him full force. His wife’s attraction to the other man was too much for him. Not only was the man obviously good looking to her, but he thought highly of church and prayers.

Tavvy?

Her eyes danced back at him. Yes, my love?

I’m not that man. He knew the few words that Doctor Smith gave to his wife were more spiritual encouragement than he could ever give her.

Her head turned to the side and her eyebrows knitted. Of course you aren’t Doctor Smith, Luke.

Standing, he walked to the window. I mean I will never think that prayers and church are important to me.

The comfortable silence in the room vanished. There was a stifling atmosphere now, as he looked out the window.

I know that.

Tavora’s quiet voice drifted to his ears and he closed his eyes. He didn’t want to be like Doctor Smith, but the spiritual connection between his wife and the doctor was obvious.

He pivoted around and pierced her with his eyes. That is the kind of man you should have married, Tavora.

Her gasp surprised him. What? What are you talking about?

He thinks highly of church and prayers and things like that.

Her head shook back and forth. I don’t want him. I want you.

But I can’t give you what he can.

Tavora held out her hand, but he remained where he was. You give me everything. Everything, Luke! I am who I am because of you. I don’t want anyone else.

I saw you respond to his touch. He knew his voice was accusing, but Doctor Smith was everything he was not. You were attracted to him.

Doctor Smith is my ob/gyn, Luke. He’s been married for about ten years now and has three kids. He was there when I found out I was pregnant with my son and when I miscarried. Any familiarity between us is because he has seen so much of my life. Her hand was still reaching out to him. Moving toward her now, he took it and held it to his heart. He knew Jim and what we endured after the death of our son.

He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and sat down on the bed carefully. The jealous thoughts he'd had about Doctor Smith fled from him.

So you don’t want someone like him?

No, husband, I want you. I will always want you. She giggled. Til death do us part, remember? Those aren’t just words for me. They are a promise I made to you. One that I intend to spend the rest of my life keeping.

Has he ever prayed with you?

Her head bobbed up and down once. Yes. And with Jim and me together. I know it isn’t usually done, but we asked and Doctor Smith agreed. He is a strong Christian.

Oh, my Tavvy, why didn’t you pick a man like him to love? Someone who could care for you the way you need?

He slid his hands into hers and squeezed them as he looked into her eyes. He saw a smile spread across her face.

Because my heart and mind love you. I would give my life for you. You are everything I want in a husband. I. Love. You.

He looked into his wife’s eyes and smiled, wanting to believe her. His wife knew how to lie to herself.

So he did. He would make this work because he wanted it to, and because he wanted her. He would make sure their future would be everything he needed.

I love you, my Tavvy. He pulled her to himself and held her close. His arms demanded her in them and his body wanted her beside him.

The IV in her hand restricted her movements, so he moved as close to her as he could. He wanted to feel as much of his wife as he could. Her curves fit him as if they were made for him.

Amy, Xavier’s caregiver, is a nurse. She helped take care of Mara from the onset. I have called her, and she will be taking care of you when you get home. He took a deep breath and raised his head, staring down into her eyes. Xavier will be coming too.

Xavier… Apprehension clouded her eyes and her breathing sped up. I don’t…

But I do. He is going to love you just like I do. He took her hands and leaned back. They are already on their way. I asked Lucy and Hank to meet them at the airport when they arrive.

When, Luke? When will they be here?

Her voice sounded shaky and afraid. He didn’t want her to be. He wanted her to be brave and sure.

They left about an hour ago. They have about a five hour flight. It should put them at the airport at nine this evening. Arrangements have been made for them at a hotel. They will meet us here in the morning.

Here? He let go of her hands and smoothed back her hair. How will that affect Xavier? Won’t it remind him of his mother in the hospital? How will…

He pulled her to him again and rocked her slowly, whispering soothing words into her ears. His wife needed reassurance that all would be well, and he would give it to her.

Mara never made it to a hospital. A deep breath fell from his lips. You are a strong woman, capable of dealing with so many things, Love. You have loved and lost one husband. You have carried one child, and are now carrying another one. Despite sheltering yourself from the world, from more hurt, you have survived all of this and so much more. Meeting my son and his nanny will be easy. Her trembling ceased and he pulled away from her just enough to look into her eyes. The glittering blue sapphires he loved were back. We need to discuss sleeping arrangements at your home, his breath caught, a realization striking at him, our home, Love. Amy will need a room to stay in, as will Xavier. He took a deep breath. So will we. He smiled, chuckling. We can’t sleep on the chaise or in the guest room.

Chapter 2 (Tavora)

She had just come down from processing the thought of meeting Luke’s son when he brought a new piece of information to consider. She had to think about sleeping arrangements for everyone when she was discharged from the hospital. She considered the room she and Jim had shared to be sacred, and it would always be theirs. The guest room would work for Amy, and maybe Xavier, but where would she and Luke sleep? Options swirled in her mind until she began to hyperventilate.

She had already redecorated after Jim died. Everything in the house was the way she wanted it. Now Luke wanted her to move everything to make room for them, his son, and Amy, Xavier’s nanny and her nurse.

Luke’s hands came to her hair again and he whispered into her ear softly.

My Tavvy, do you trust me? Really trust me?

She nodded her head without hesitation and brought her hands around his waist just a little. The IV in her hand wouldn’t let her hold her husband like she wanted. She needed him closer.

Then will you let me take care of the house while you are in here?

His words seemed hesitant but sure. He