A Close Call

Mia leaned her head against Tim's chest listening to his heartbeat. "I never got to tell you that I got Nick to do an ultrasound this morning."

"Really, did you get a picture of our baby?" Tim asked with anxious curiosity.

"Yes, I did. I was so relieved because I was worried about twins again to the point where I couldn't sleep well." Mia explained.

"Just one then?" Timothy pulled back to look at Mia.

"One little bean." Mia smirked.

Tim ran his hand along Mia cheek then pulled her mouth to his in a kiss he had been terrified he would never taste again. As their tongues caressed each other slowly he was so thankful he could barely breathe. When they broke apart, he was overcome with the joy of having his beautiful wife in his arms.

Nicholas was the bigger man and Timothy would not forget it. He could have taken Mia and the children and never looked back but he hadn't. For that Tim owed him big time. Nick had cared more about what Mia needed than what he wanted for himself. Nick Merches was a good man no matter who his father was.

Tim pulled Mia out of the room with him and together they checked on the children. Ginger and Sage were excited to see him. Timothy couldn't believe the change that had come over his son in the last weeks. They weren't completely fixed yet, but they were on their way. Mia told the children to keep playing because the grownups needed to talk.

When Tim and Mia walked out onto the veranda the men were deep in conversation. Tim ushered Mia to a chair and then sat in one close to her. Nicholas watched this happen with mixed emotions. He was glad if Mia found the happiness she wanted but he still somewhat hoped she would turn her back on Barrett. Then he could spirit her away and make her his own. Hoping eventually, she would come to love him the way he loved her.

Tim nodded at Nicholas, and he knew it was not to be. He had brought Mia around to his side. Nick wondered what Tim had said to manage such a feat knowing Mia had hardened her heart against Tim today. It didn't matter in the end because he had found a way back to her heart. Nicholas could see that Mia was Barrett's woman again.

"Mia, is everything straightened out now?" Jason asked his sister cautiously.

Mia turned to look at her brother. "I think so. It's been a long day, and I am still processing. I listened to Timothy, and he explained what happened. It is hard to believe but so is everything Luna has ever done to me. The story is too fantastic to be a lie."

Nicholas turned to Mia. "What is your plan now?"

"Guys, I need to speak with Nick alone." Mia looked at Tim imploringly. Tim stood after a minute telling Caleb and Jason; they would take a stroll on the grounds.

When the others had walked a decent distance away Mia spoke. "You will hold onto the documents for travel for us, won't you?"

"Do you think we'll need them?" Nick asked cautiously.

"To be honest, probably not but I don't have a lot of confidence in my answer." Mia sighed.

Nicholas squinted at Mia, not sure what she was thinking. "Please explain."

"While I listened to the story my mind still sees the image from when I arrived at the hotel, and it looked real. If something like that were to happen again... Right now, I would feel like a fool for leaving but I feel equally like a fool for staying. I'm not fully convinced and knowing we could leave would give me peace of mind just until, I am sure. I know asking this of you isn't fair but... you are the person I trust most in this world." Mia said feeling like her head was spinning.

"Of course I will keep them, just in case." Nicholas vowed.

Mia reached out and clasped his hands. "You are a better friend than I deserve. I take advantage of your goodness all the time. I am sorry about that. Thank you so much for today. You barely even questioned me, you just jumped in to help without any thought for yourself. I can never repay all you have done for me."

"I would do anything you asked me Mia, you know that." Nick told her squeezing her hand. Then she threw her arms around him hugging him fiercely. Nicholas hugged her back after a moment, his arms tight around her. Finally, she let him go with a quick kiss on his cheek.

Timothy watched Mia and Nicholas talk as he walked lazily on the lawn. They were close together speaking quickly. First holding hands, then hugging tightly, then Mia kissed Nicholas's cheek. Tim told himself they were friends, that she was thanking him for his help today but still he didn't like it. He couldn't help the jealousy that flared up even though it wasn't fair. Nick had saved him today, as well. Tim could stomach a hug and a kiss on the cheek for the man that gave him Mia's love back.

After that Mia and Nicholas separated and Mia gathered up the twins. Nicholas brought Mia all her and the children's electronics plus everything they had in the car. Mainly just Mia's bag and the children's backpacks. Then the seven of them walked across the field to the Barrett estate. Nicholas looked around the place with a discerning eye.

"Mia, I think I would like you to redo my estate. I am tired of how cold and empty it feels." Nicholas told her after he had seen her new home.

"Really? Sure, I could do that." Mia said easily. "As a favor for all you have done for us. I can draw some designs up for you to look over."

Nicholas looked around again. "I think anything you think would look good would be fine. This place is impressive Mia." Tim watched the pair. It bothered him that Mia would design Nicholas's estate, but he wasn't sure why. Somehow knowing how Nicholas felt about his wife made the situation feel too intimate. However, they both owed Nick a debt and this seemed a small price to pay.

An hour later Nicholas headed back to his estate to get his car and go back to the hospital. Mia had thanked him again, giving him another hug before going to see to the children who were happily looking at their new rooms.

Tim walked up to Nick right before he left and said thank you for giving him a chance to speak to Mia. Tim told him that he knew it couldn't have been easy to walk away from what he had wanted to do the right thing for Mia. Nicholas had simply agreed that it wasn't easy. Tim had offered his hand, and they shook on it. However, Tim was thinking they might need to set some boundaries for Nicholas's and Mia's relationship going forward.

An hour later they all piled into the cars and headed back to the heart of the city. On the plus side, the children loved the new house. It had been a long grueling day, and everyone was tired. Mia most of all. She slept the entire thirty-minute drive back to their hotel.

When they arrived the hotel manager informed them that they would need to reregister in one of their own names. He apologized for the inconvenience. Barrett reregistered for their rooms and the concierge handed a sealed envelope to Caleb.

The hotel manager informed Barrett that this was not the kind of establishment where one kept their mistress and bastards. He said this in front of Mia and the twins. It was at this point that Timothy grabbed the hotel manager by his collar and dragged him half over the counter causing Mia to take a step back.

Tim's voice was icy cold as he spoke. "Apologize to my wife and children now."

"I. I... I'm sorry for my rudeness to Mrs. Barrett and the children. I'm sorry for making assumptions Mr. Barrett," the hotel manager said.

Timothy dropped the man, and the group went upstairs. The family walked inside the penthouse suit and Caleb went to the office immediately. Mia stopped in front of the living room sofa. She was seeing the scene she had walked in on this morning. Tim stepped up to her and asked if she was alright. Mia nodded and turned away.

Sage walked up and looked at his mom and dad. "Dad are you and mom married?"

Tim crouched down in front of Sage and Ginger. "Yes, we are married. All of us are a family and we are going to stay together no matter what."

"Mom, is that true?" Sage asked his mother.

Mia smiled at her children. "It's true. We got married a while ago and we didn't tell you because we wanted you both to get used to us being together as a family first."

Ginger started jumping up and down and clapping her hands. "Now I have a mommy and a daddy for real." She squealed.

"Ginger stop being crazy." Sage laughed. But his face was all smiles as he looked around at the three of them.

Tim wrapped an arm around Mia and kissed the side of her head. They ordered a room service dinner and waited for Caleb to come out of the office. Tim and Mia were trying to give him privacy for whatever was in that note from Jasmine. When the food arrived, and they all moved to the dining room Caleb came out of the office.

Caleb slapped the letter down on the table. "Jasmine dumped me. She doesn't want to be associated with anyone that would be friends with Timothy Barrett."

Mia sighed. "I will try talking to her. I know she really likes you Caleb, she told me so this morning."

"Really?" Caleb asked Mia in a slightly desperate tone. "I have tried calling and texting, but she won't respond."

"Stay calm I will try after dinner." Mia told him.

After that Caleb grabbed a plate of food and joined Mia, Tim and the twins for dinner. When dinner was finished Angela came in and got the twins, getting them into the bath and then to bed. Mia said goodnight to the twins and headed into the master bedroom to try to call Jasmine. Mia dialed the number and waited for Jasmine to pick up the call, on the fourth ring she finally did.

"Mia, are you okay? Where are you? Do you need anything?" Jasmine asked several questions at hyper speed.

"Jas, I am doing fine. I have everything I need, and I am back at the hotel." Mia knew that she was going to upset her new friend.

"What? Mia, how could you take Tim back after what he did?" Jasmine cried.

Mia sighed, there was a lot to unpack here. "Jasmine, I don't think he did it. Luna has been attacking me for a very long time and trying to get between me and Timothy. She is a snake. Tim explained what happened and what she said afterward. I know the stunts she has been trying to pull with her son. From what Tim told me and what I know of Luna this was an elaborate stunt she pulled off to get rid of me and it almost worked. I almost left for Niveo. At the last minute I let Tim explain and I am glad I did. I don't think Timothy could have done that with Luna or anyone for that matter."

Jasmine huffed. "Are you sure enough to bet the rest of your life on it, your children's lives? What is in Niveo besides oppression of women?

Mia thought about her answer. "Yes, I am betting on it because I honestly believe it was one of Luna's schemes. I have a friend that is a high-ranking person in Niveo and going there with them would have made it impossible for Tim to get to me or the children. When I left here this morning, I thought that was my only option." Mia explained to her friend.

"Going to Niveo sounds terrifying to me." Jasmine remarked.

"Caleb is really upset about the letter. You should talk to him. I already told you he's a great guy and the two of you are great together. Don't give up just yet. He hasn't done anything wrong, and it would be a tragedy if the two of you really broke up because of Luna." Mia let her words marinate knowing that mentioning Luna like that would cause Jasmine to think hard on the subject.

"Give him a call and talk this out, Jas." The two-woman talked for a minute more then Mia claimed exhaustion and got off the phone. Mia headed into the bathroom and took a quick shower.

After finishing in the shower, she pulled on a loose nightgown and climbed into bed. Mia was too tired to wait for Timothy. She was asleep before her pillow even warmed from her body heat.

Timothy had been speaking with Caleb for the last hour about the situation with Jasmine. His friend was quite upset. Tim couldn't help but think that Caleb had found a girl that he wanted to be serious about. Then a call came into Caleb's phone that made his face light up and then he became nervous. Timothy left the room knowing it was Jasmine who was calling.

He went in search of Mia, wondering where she had been this whole time. He found her sound asleep in bed and was saddened that he hadn't been there to hold her as she fell asleep. Tim sighed climbing into the shower. When he was done, he crawled into the large bed and wrapped himself around Mia before falling asleep.