A Hopeless Pursuit (Forbidden Love Series Book 10)

 

Laurence's phone suddenly vibrated with an incoming call from an unknown number.

"Hello! Laurence Lennard here. Who's speaking?" Said, Laurence. The person on the other end whispered something to someone before clearing his throat.

"Laurence, I'm Joe Lennard, your dad Harry Lennard's brother," he said in a trembling voice full of raw emotions. A gasp escaped Laurence's mouth. Joe Lennard? His real dad called him?

"You wouldn't know me, son. I'm calling you as your sister Lisa is here at the  Sayulita Medical Center with me and my wife Laura, " informed Joe Lennard. Laurence held his breath with shock. His sister was at a hospital in Sayulita?

"What happened to Lisa?" He somehow croaked out.

"We found her unconscious on our porch. She was running a temperature so we had to admit her but she's fine now. She gave us your number. Will you be able to come here by tomorrow morning? She will be released tomorrow morning, " said Joe Lennard.

"I'm at New Mexico right now. We will fly down by evening, " said Laurence.  He disconnected the call. He announced the good news to an anxious Liam as well as Eric Parker.

"We would have to summon one of our private jets," said Eric Parker. "Else it's a ten-hour drive away." Laurence nodded and called his pilot and summoned him to New Mexico. 

They reached Sayulita by evening. Taking a cab straight to Sayulita Medical Center, they paid and went inside. The receptionist guided them to Lisa's room.

Lisa lay on the hospital bed feeling much better with aunt Laura sitting beside her, holding onto her hand and talking to her softly. Uncle Joe stood beside her with a smile on his face. Both of them looked very relaxed and happy as they waited anxiously for Laurence's arrival. "He'll come in any minute now. His flight has landed fifteen minutes ago," said Uncle Joe. Lisa smiled with relief.

The door opened and Laurence peered inside. Then seeing Lisa awake and smiling at him, he entered her room and rushed to her bedside to hug her. He looked so stressed with several week's unshaven facial hair. His bloodshot eyes told a story of many sleepless nights. "Lizzy, I'm so happy to have found you," he spoke, his voice unsteady with choked tears.

"Bro, I'm so glad to see you, " she sobbed clinging onto him. The door opened and a haggard Liam came in with his dad. Lisa's eyes went straight to Liam's disheveled state and swollen eyes. It seemed that he had battled a tornado to reach her. Laurence released her and went towards Joe Lennard and his wife to greet them. Eric Parker too patted Lisa's cheek lovingly and went to thank Joe Lennard and his wife. They went outside the room to talk, leaving Lisa alone with Liam.

Liam however stood like a statue at the foot of the bed as if in a daze, watching her with disbelief. His tear-stricken face, the lost look in his eyes made him look so vulnerable that Lisa's heart went out to him. She held out her arms just like he used to do. Liam's eyes widened at the gesture. He rushed towards her and hugged her close. She wrapped her arms around him and hid her face in his neck.

"Liam," she whispered. He simply held her in his arms.

"I thought I had lost you forever, " he said as a shudder ran down the entire length of his body.

"Oh Liam, " she said kissing his neck. His lips sought hers and captured them in a hungry and passionate kiss. Lisa reciprocated with an equal amount of love and passion,  pouring her heart into that kiss. Liam deepened the kiss, his probing tongue tasting her thoroughly. They both remembered the last time they had kissed and had made love to one another.

"I have missed you so much," she told him when his mouth finally released her.

"I have missed you more, baby," he told her, kissing her neck, her jawline.

"How are you?" Asked Liam, looking into her eyes. Lisa stilled. She suddenly remembered about her pregnancy. Should she tell him about her pregnancy?

"I I, Liam, I won't be able to go ahead with our wedding," Lisa stammered out. Liam stilled and released her from his embrace, to look into her eyes.

"Why? What's the problem, Lisa? I've found you after so many days, I don't want to lose you again, " he said in a tortured voice.

"I I'm pregnant Liam," she said softly staring into his eyes, watching his reaction.

"That's good news actually. Why can't you marry me?" He asked puzzled by her statement.

"I don't know whose baby it is. It could be yours or Leo's, " she whispered. Liam stilled and looked at her with disbelief.

"Does that make any difference, Lisa? It's a baby and you will give birth to it. I will accept it as my own even it was Leo's. I love you, Lisa. I can't stay away from you," said Liam. Lisa pulled him and hugged him close.

"How lucky I am to have you in my life, " she said, kissing his neck.

"The paternity test can be done only after 9 weeks," said Lisa.

"Do you want to know who's child you're carrying? To me it doesn't matter," said Liam.

"Yes, Liam. I want to know, " admitted Lisa.

"Just ask the nurse. She'll tell you how many weeks pregnant you are. If you're over four weeks pregnant,  then it's Leo's else it's mine. Simple," said Liam with a smile. Lisa's eyes shone at his suggestion.

"I'll do that," she said with a smile. The others came into the room. Lisa introduced Liam to the Lennard family as her fiancé.

"When did you two get engaged?" Asked Laurence with surprise.

"The day before I was kidnapped, bro," said Lisa.

"We wanted to announce to everyone after my exams," explained Liam.

So it was planned that Liam and Laurence would take turns at the hospital. Liam opted to stay first with Lisa while the others went to Joe Lennard's house. Lisa told him everything that happened to her since the day she was abducted. Liam told her everything that they went through since her disappearance.

"Now that he's no more, you are safe," said Liam, softly massaging her palm.

"Yes, finally.  I'm not at all unhappy that he's dead," she said honestly. "Can we just go home? I don't want to stay here at Sayulita anymore, " said Liam.

"We will go. Just gain some strength first," said Liam.

"I have the strength to make it home," said Lisa.

"You'll be moving in with me at my house," said Liam. Lisa nodded, she already wanted to.

"When will we get married, Liam?" Asked Lisa.

"We will baby. Let's get you home first," he promised. Her dinner arrived and Liam ensured that she finished it.

Laurence arrived after an hour or so and he gave Liam the address of Joe Lennard's house. Afterward, when Liam left, Laurence called up Sandra and informed her that Lisa was found. He handed the phone to Lisa.

"Hello, Lisa? How are you, sweetie?" Asked Sandra.

"I'm fine mom," she said with tears in her eyes.

Sandra sobbed as she heard what Lisa called her. "Don't cry, mom. I'm coming home soon," said Lisa, wiping her eyes.

"These are tears of happiness, Lisa. I'm waiting for you," she said with a fond smile on her face. They talked a little more about her engagement to Liam and about her pregnancy and then she disconnected the phone.

"Now go to sleep Lisa. We'll get you discharged tomorrow, " said Laurence. He lay down on the sofa in her room.

The next morning, an excited Lisa woke up to get ready to be discharged.

She had spoken to the nurse about her gestational age and she promised to hand her the report before she was discharged. So when she walked into the room with her report, Lisa was very excited. Taking it from her hands, she opened the report and saw that she was two and a half weeks pregnant. It could only mean one thing. It was Liam's baby!

She was in the best of spirits. Liam, Joe Lennard, and Jenny came to take her home. It was 9 o'clock when they reached Joe Lennard's house with Lisa. She was introduced to everyone. Steve Lennard's wife, Beth made her some soup as she was feeling a little nauseous. Laurence looked so relaxed and at home with his family as if he had found his true identity, his true home. 

"Stay here tonight all of you," said Lily Lennard.

"Yes, granny. We have to return home tomorrow. Don't worry, I'll come back here with my wife and children whenever I get time from work," promised Laurence.  He had shown them pictures of his family on his mobile and everyone was eager to meet them especially Laura Lennard.

Lisa pulled Liam into the corner and handed him the pregnancy report. He read it and then realization dawned upon him. Lisa was pregnant with his baby! He was ecstatic. He embraced her gently with happiness. "I'm going to be a dad, I can't believe this," he said with tears of happiness in his eyes.