Chapter Seventy-eight Estera Roberts’ POV (Present Time: A few weeks before)

Cole held my gaze after I finished telling my story. He had left the bed to pace back and forth by the bedside, leaving me with my legs drawn up to my chest and my knees serving as props to my chin. I wrapped my arms around my legs, returning his silent scrutiny.
“Did you confirm it? The marriage thing?”
I shook my head and replied, “I am still in doubt. It’s crazy. I think he would have told me—”
“No. He wouldn’t, especially if he was trying to protect you and himself from the marriage or should I say business allegiance his father mentioned.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. He sounds pretty possessive—like a man who wants what he wants. I doubt he was a pushover. I suppose what he didn’t count on was his father’s trump card—”
“Which was sending me away. And making sure I stay away…”
“Yes. I am sorry for what you had to go through, Roberts—” Cole said, coming to perch on the edge of the bed, still holding my gaze. He raised a hand to cup my chin and his thumb gently stroked my skin. “It is clear. You still love this guy… a lot—”
“Cole—” I started to say but he shook his head, giving me a sad smile.
“I don’t need words, Roberts. It is evident in your eyes, and quite envy-inspiring, especially when you say his name,” he said in almost a whisper. I swallowed, knowing he was right, my heart beats for Evan Sterling. Cole let out a sigh. “You have to let him know about his children and find out about the marriage. Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Rasheed were right, you need to do it for yourself at least—”
“I don’t think I want to have anything to do with the Sterlings’ ever again Cole. The very thought of facing Edward Sterling again makes me want to puke,” I said.
“He can’t try any such thing with you now, Roberts. You were young and seemingly alone then, but not anymore. You have me, and of course your friends and if I have to guess, I am almost certain you have the twins' father too. You need to contact him, Roberts. Please,” he implored. I nodded. “And your aunt? How is she now?”
“She is fine. I call her every weekend. She lives outside Charlestown now. I just haven’t gotten the courage to visit her since then.”
“I guess she was the one who told you about your man’s contractual wedding?” he asked. I nodded.
“Edward and Charlotte Sterling retired her after they got rid of me and sent her off their estate, but the family chef and most of their staff were good friends with my aunt. I suppose that was where she got her gossip from.”
“I can just imagine—”
“I felt bad she lost her job because of me, but she said she got paid pretty handsomely to travel the globe and enjoy her life. I suppose it wasn’t so bad then…” I smiled. Cole chuckled. “What happens now?” I asked in barely a whisper. Cole threw me a wavering smile.
“Now that you have forced a partial faculty reset, I can no longer live in my head—” he made a comical grimace. I chuckled. “And after all the overwhelming information about your past and you being possibly married, I supposed now I must try — no, force myself to let you do the right thing if there’s ever going to be a future for us, you must find closure to your past,” he said and I reached out to wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face in the nook of his neck. I felt him press a kiss to my hair and he cupped the nape of my neck.
“Thank you for the best months of my life, Roberts,” he said and I held him even tighter.
“I don’t want to lose you—” I whispered.
“You can’t lose me, I care too much,” he replied. I drew back from him, held his beautiful eyes and press my lips to his. Making him lie on the bed, I straddled him, not giving him room to think, I pressed my breast against his chest, moving languorously against his front. He let out a moan and I felt his cock pulsate in between my legs. Framing his jaw with one hand I reached down our bodies with the other, wrapping my fingers around his warm shaft, I position the broad tip against my pussy and sat on him, causing him to slip into me. I moaned into his mouth at the pleasurable friction his penetration caused. I started to buck slowly, causing him to moan, until he was deep inside me, and then I increased pace, bucking faster against him. Cole breathed through parted lips and eyes shut as I rode him hard. He cried my name. My heart ached, knowing this would be our last.
I slept in his arms and woke up smiling into his handsome face.
***
We drove to work together after finding a daycare center for the twins close to the hospital.
“I know someone; an agent, who can help secure a house in a family-friendly estate around here. I will call him as soon as we get to the hospital, so, he can find something more spacious than what you have now for you and the twins,” Cole said, giving me a side glance. I smiled at him.
“Thank you!”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure, really,” he replied. “And while we wait, I will like you to consider staying in my apartment—”
“Are you sure that’s okay, Cole? I will not like to impose—”
“I’m inviting you, Roberts. Give me a few more hours to get used to the change—” he said, throwing me a solemn gaze. I nodded.
“Of course, darling,” I said in almost a whisper. He reached for my hand to interlaced our fingers, raised them to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of my hand.
“I will have to tell Ameera and Ashley to find someone to occupy my room ... ” I said, changing the subject.
“I’m certain they can manage now without a roomie.”
“I know, but I have to anyway,” I replied. He nodded in understanding.
When we got to the hospital, the place seemed unusually deserted and I waited for Cole to pack his stuff from his Jeep before we walked inside together. And as we walked through the front door, we both came to a sudden halt, almost the entire staff was right there at the reception evidently waiting for us. They started to clap and the sound grew and was almost deafening. My heart swelled with pride. A long banner hung just at the side of the hall that read: ‘Welcome back home Dr. Cole Foster and Dr. Estera Roberts!’
The hospital director came forward to shake my hand and then pulled me into a hug before shaking Cole’s hand. Cole mumbled something about it not being necessary. The other woman waved off his objection.
“Nonsense! Learn to accept gratitude Dr. Foster. We are grateful for your service and for making us proud! Do you have any idea of how many high-profile cases we have now?!”
Cole cleared his throat and awkwardly said, “I don’t know about Dr. Roberts, but I have patients to see to. Thank you for um… The welcome…” he said, nodding at the director, then the staff and strode off. I almost laughed, remembering Cole was still the reclusive, brooding doctor everyone knew. Just because I had gotten to know him intimately didn’t mean he had suddenly changed his personality. Ameera and Ashley with other of our hospital friends rushed forward to welcome me back, and for a moment, we all got lost in our reunion: they complimented my golden tan and wanted information and pictures of the twins. And I, tried to ensure I respond to as many queries as I could.
A sudden blare of an incoming ambulance siren jerked us back into cognizance of our surroundings, gearing us into action. And like a live show, we all immediately assumed our roles.
“Welcome back, Dr. Roberts,” Ameera said with a giggle.
“Same ol’.” Ashley breathed.
“Tell me about it! I was hoping for a few minutes to settle in—”
“No rest for the people who chose to save lives!” Ashley said. The rest of us laughed.
The day was long and exhausting. It was as if we never left. Cole communicated with me like he used to and it almost felt as if Columbia never happened. But later after work when we got back to his apartment after picking up the twins, he helped me to bathe, change and fed the boys, and when we successfully put them in bed he pulled me into his arms and just held me for a minute. Understanding why he needed that, I let him.
“This is going to be hard—” he whispered into my hair. I raised my face up with my eyes closed, I felt his breath on my lips and his entire frame grew rigid. I need not be told he was fighting the inner urge to kiss me but then he slowly brushed his lips against mine and whispered, “Roberts—” before probing my lips open and invading my mouth, and I let him.
On our first weekend back to New York, the agent Cole contacted called us to see a few houses, I invited Ameera and Ashley to come with us and the four of us with the boys turned it into some family outing. After seeing about two duplexes, we all agreed was okay, the agent said, “Okay, I have one more to show you then you can make your choice!”
The last one happened to be situated about a kilometer away from the hospital. It was a fully equipped four-bedroom duplex with a garden both up front and back. The estate seemed quiet and clean with its own security team. Looking at the interior, especially a reading corner carved out of the open floor living room, I made up my mind.
“I want this one!”
“Great! I thought you might like it! Your boys would really enjoy playing in the backyard. You have a lot of room to do whatever you like back there,” the agent said, beaming with smiles.
***
A week after that, we moved in with the help of Ashley, Ameera and Cole. Later that night, I invited the girls to stay with us and when Cole stood up wanting to leave, I extended the invitation to him as well.
“Um … I don’t know … ” he said, holding my gaze.
“You have to stay! I’m already making dinner. We can’t waste food!” I said, he chuckled.
“Food? That’s what you are going to use to make me not go home to sleep in my very comfortable bed?” I chuckled.
“You like my cooking…”
“Unfortunately, I do…”
“Stay, Dr. Cole, so we can grill you more about work … ” Ashley said. He groaned.
“Fine … I will stay. It’s the weekend anyway,” he said in resignation, but I could see he was happy I insis