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  Chapter 7

  Holly

  I thought I was dreaming; at one point I thought I was dead. I’d never felt anything so beautiful in all my life and I never wanted it to end. Then people barged in the room and suddenly my whole dream came crashing down. It’s reality. My mind is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and all I can feel right now is anger.

  “Holly, baby. I can explain.” Vance holds his hands up defensively.

  “Don’t you ‘baby’ me, Vance.” I wiggle out from under him and stand up too quickly.

  I begin to stumble, but he’s there to catch me. It’s then I realize I’m completely naked. And so is he. My eyes travel down the width of his body until I land on his cock. It’s hard and slick and the reality of what we just did hits me. I cover my mouth with my hands, but it’s not because I regret it. It’s because it was everything I dreamed it would be and I thought it wasn’t real.

  A warm blanket is draped around me and I look up to his eyes. They’re so sad, but there’s an urgency there. Like he needs me to understand.

  My mind can’t process everything at once and I sit down on the edge of the bed nearby. Vance grabs a blanket for himself, draping it around his waist. Then he kneels down in front of me, taking my hands in his.

  “It’s okay. Just let me explain.”

  I burst into tears and throw my arms around him. All my emotions are going crazy. I’m relieved that he’s here in front of me, so happy, but so confused as to how this happened.

  “I-I just.” I choke on a sob and he holds me, rubbing my back. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “Shh. I know.”

  He pulls back and holds my hands again after he wipes away my tears.

  “The day you turned eighteen and I dropped you off at your place, the next morning I knew I wanted to make it official. I’d waited long enough for you and wanted the world to know it.” He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses the back of it. “That next morning I told my mom I was ready to get you a ring. She was the only one who knew all about you. I’d been telling her stories about you for years. Honestly I think she knew you were the one before I did.” He smiles and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “That day she and I went to the other side of town to this really old jewelry store. She said it was the same place that dad had gotten hers years before and I wanted to do the same.”

  His smile as soft as he shrugs, and for some reason there’s a hint of blush to his cheeks.

  “I thought it would be good luck. Their marriage was everything I wanted, and I knew when I met you that it would be the same for us. When we started driving to the store, we realized that part of town had gotten run down some. It wasn’t too late in the day yet, so I wasn’t worried about it. But it wasn’t the kind of place I would have let you or my mom go alone.”

  Vance was always so protective of me and the older ladies at the shelter, I can totally see him not wanting to take him mom to a place that was safe.

  “When I parked the car I noticed a group of guys in a car across the street. They watched us get out, and I made sure to lock the car. I didn’t really dwell on the fact that the jewelry store had bars on the windows, because most of them do.”

  Vance stands up and begins to pace as he talks.

  “When we got inside there was an older man and two younger guys about my age. The old man was really nice and even remembered Mom’s diamond. He went to the back and got out a metal box with a lock on it. When he opened it up there was a black velvet box inside with a ring in it. The second I looked at it, I knew it was the one.” He stops for a second to look at me with his eyebrows pulled together. “I didn’t need to see anything else. I looked at one ring one time and I knew that was the one. Just like I did with you.”

  He paces again, lost in thought and I can’t begin to understand how this story leads to him disappearing.

  “I paid for the ring and put it in my pocket as the old man went to the back to get the paperwork. I didn’t pay attention to the young guys while I was getting it, but when we were waiting I noticed both of them were carrying.”

  “Carrying what?” I ask, and Vance stops to look at me.

  “Guns, baby.” He says and goes back to wearing a path in the carpet. “They kept checking their phones then looking to us, then speaking in whispers to each other. I prayed the guy would hurry up so we could get out of there. The hair on the back of my neck was standing up and I knew something bad was coming.”

  He stops and he shakes his head like he doesn't want to remember it.

  “It all happened so fast. One second I was getting your ring and the next the shots began.”

  I gasp and put my hands to my mouth. I know he’s here in front of me, but imagining someone shooting at Vance chills me to the bone.

  “The guys that were in the car across the street came in and opened fire on the store. The two young guys behind the counter started shooting back while I fell on top of Mom and tried to cover her.” He rubs a hand over his eyes like he doesn't want to remember the images he’s seeing. “I whispered to Mom to play dead. I stayed as still as I could when they walked over to us. They shot me three times in the back then walked out without a word.”

  My blood turns cold as he turns around and I see the scars on his back.

  “I was in and out of consciousness after that, but I remember the old man coming out to help us and calling the cops. The next thing I knew we were being questioned by the FBI, and Mom and I were taken into custody. We were held while the doctors patched me up, forbidden from contacting our family. We were informed that we were witnesses to one of the biggest crime lords in the country killing in cold blood and they needed our testimony to put him away. But they needed the gang to believe we were dead.”

  “They faked your deaths?” I ask, letting all of this sink in.

  He nods as he comes back to kneel in front of me. “We had to leave everything behind. They made it all look like we were in an accident and our bodies were so badly burned we couldn’t be buried. Mom even had to leave her wedding ring behind.”

  “Oh my god, Vance. What happened?”

  “We were held in isolation while the case went to trial. It took years, obviously and they kept having to move us around. I wanted to get in touch with you, to talk to my family, but we couldn’t. They basically held us as prisoners because getting this guy was more important than our freedom.”

  “How could they do that? That’s not right. Your family thought you were dead. I thought I’d lost you.” My heart breaks, but he only smiles softly at me.

  “After they told us what this guy did and how many families lost their loved ones, Mom and I agreed to do it. We knew that it would hurt Dad and Hunter, and you. But we could make that right eventually. We knew that if this guy was back on the street, thousands of families would never be able to have what we could.”

  Thinking about what he gave up in order to save others helps me understand why he did it. I hate that it happened like this, but in a way, he’s a hero.

  “With our testimony we were able to put five of the biggest heads of crime behind bars for life. I wouldn’t have done it if Mom didn’t agree, but we both knew what we were giving up. I just prayed that one day, when we were free again, somehow you could find it in your heart to forgive me.”

  “Vance, are you serious? Of course I forgive you. You practically gave your life to save your mother and countless others. It was the worst hell in my life losing you, but here you are.”

  “I’m home now, and I’m never leaving your side again.” He reaches over, grabs his pants and pulls a box out of the pocket. “The old man who helped us had nothing to do with what went down. His grandson had gotten caught up in some bad shit and brought it to his doorstep. The day that I got this, everything changed for me. But one good thing came out of it—every day I knew I made the right decision. It was a hard one, but I knew that you would have done the same thing. That we may have had to wait five years to be
together, but it would be a drop in the bucket compared to the years ahead of us.”

  He opens the box and I gasp as I stare down at the gold band with a huge oval diamond set within it. It’s surrounded by rubies, and sparkles so brightly it might blind me. He takes it out and places it on my finger as he looks up into my eyes.

  “Will you marry me, Holly?”

  “Yes!” I squeal before throwing myself into his arms.

  He kisses me so deeply that I feel it in my toes. Then he rolls us onto the floor and pulls the blankets that separate us out of the way. Once again we’re skin on skin in front of the fire. His hands are everywhere as he slides inside me, thrusting all the way in.

  I moan around his kiss as his hands spread my thighs wider and he takes me deeper. There’s no pain, only the feeling of being full and my ache for him being sated. I went from thinking this was impossible to knowing I’m going to have this for the rest of my life and it’s almost too much to take.

  Before I know what’s happening, Vance is pulling out and moving between my legs to cover my pussy with his mouth. I cry out, but he doesn’t stop as he licks my clit. I gasp and dig my fingers into his hair, unsure if I want to pull him off or pull him closer. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt and just as I get close to the edge, he moves back up my body and thrusts inside me again.

  He kisses me hard and I taste my passion on his lips. It’s somehow so intimate and primal that I want him to do it over and over. My mind is everywhere as his body presses down on me, and I’m a ball of sensations.

  When his lips trail down my chest and to my breasts, I cry out as he sucks a nipple into his mouth. Every nerve ending in my body is firing on red alert and I cling to him as my orgasm approaches.

  “I love you,” he says as he places a kiss between my breasts and then moves to my nipple.

  “I love you,” I say, but it turns into a moan as my body, so tight from pleasure, finally falls over the edge.

  Warmth spreads inside me as pleasure takes hold and I lie limp on the floor. My eyes flutter open as Vance rolls us over so that I’m on top of his chest trying to catch my breath. His heartbeat is strong in my ears and I’m reminded that he’s alive and he’s here with me. And we’re going to be together forever.

  There’s a soft knock on the door and I giggle as Vance yells for them to go away.

  We’re quiet for a moment before I sit up quickly and look down at him.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks, his eyes wide.

  “It’s Christmas,” I say excitedly.

  “And?” He smiles, tucking my hair behind my ear.

  “I got my wish,” I whisper, leaning down and kissing him.

  “And what was that?” he asks, sitting up with me on his lap.

  “You.”

  He presses his forehead to mine and the firelight dances off his cheek. It’s every Christmas wish I’ve ever had come true all at once. And I couldn’t ask for anything more.

  Epilogue

  Vance

  Almost one year later…

  “I love Christmas Eve,” Holly says as she cuddles close to me.

  “Why is that, baby?” I kiss the top of her head and look down at our sleeping son in her arms.

  His chubby hand is wrapped around my finger and his dark lashes lie against his rosy cheeks.

  “It’s all the magic,” she says, looking up at me. “The anticipation is exciting—not knowing what tomorrow will bring. I can’t wait for him to be old enough to enjoy it.”

  Hunter comes in and lets out a big sigh as he plops down on the chair across from us. “Yeah, but wait until they know what’s about to happen, and then they won’t go to sleep.” He shakes his head, but he smiles as Autumn comes over and hands him a beer and sits in his lap.

  The fire is going and soft Christmas music is playing. The tree is twinkling and piles of presents are underneath it. It’s been the perfect day, and I’m happy I get to spend it with the people I love most.

  “I think that’s what happens when you fill them full of sugar,” I say, and Hunter just shakes his head.

  “Just wait, bro. Your day is coming.”

  “Where are Mom and Dad?” I ask, looking around the room.

  “Don’t ask,” Hunter groans, and Autumn laughs.

  She leans in closer to us and whispers, “Apparently Hunter took little Charlie in to say goodnight to Grandma and Grandpa, but they were a little busy.”

  “Oh god, gross!” I shout as Holly and Autumn fall into a fit of giggles.

  “Thank god he’s not able to understand what was happening,” Autumn says through her laughter. “And that he knows better than to put mistletoe on…well, never mind.”

  Hunter groans and covers his eyes. “What about me? It’s going to scar me for life.”

  “I think it’s sweet,” Holly says, and I shake my head. “It is. They’re still so in love. I hope you and I are still like that when we’re their age.”

  I think about loving her and how I’ll feel in fifty years. I can’t imagine not loving her even more now than I did yesterday. I lean down and kiss her lips softly, thinking, I hope we’re that lucky, too.

  “Well, I can’t wait for them to open their gift from all of us,” Autumn says, and we all agree.

  Just then the two of them emerge from the top of the stairs. Mom’s cheeks are flushed and Dad is smiling like the Grinch. Oh god, I’m going to be sick.

  “What are you kids up to tonight?” Dad asks as he and Mom sit on the loveseat on the other side of the fire.

  He has his arms around Mom and she’s looking at him with eyes full of love. I sometimes think back to when Mom and I were away and how much I missed Holly. But it couldn’t have been near the pain she felt being away from Dad. To be with someone for so long and have that taken away would have been my worst nightmare. And yet, somehow, she was able to manage it for so long. Seeing the two of them together now, I know we made the right decision, but I also know it was probably the hardest one of her life.

  “Just trying to drink away what I saw in your bedroom earlier,” Hunter says as he turns up his beer.

  My mom laughs and covers her face with both hands. “You should have knocked.”

  My dad looks proud. “Maybe we should have put a sock on the door, sweetheart.”

  “Oh god, make it stop,” I groan while Autumn and Holly fail miserably at keeping it together.

  “Your mother and I are just making up for lost time,” he says, and kisses her on the cheek.

  “It’s been a year,” Hunter says, but he’s just giving Dad a hard time.

  “Is that as long as you think it takes to make up for it? We can talk in private, Hunter, and I’ll give you some pointers.”

  “That’s it!” Hunter announces, scooping a nearly hysterical Autumn up in his arms. “We’re going to bed. See you in the morning.”

  “I think we should probably put him down, too,” Holly says, and she nuzzles the baby and stands up from the couch.

  “I think we’re going to sit by the fire for a bit longer,” my mom says when I get up and kiss them goodnight.

  “Merry Christmas,” I say as we walk up the stairs.

  “Do you think they know?” Holly whispers when we round the corner.

  “No way. It’s going to be the best gift ever.”

  Bonus Chapter

  Neil

  Christmas 2017…

  I look into the eyes of my bride, whom I haven’t seen in five years. The woman I’ve loved since before I knew what that was. The woman whom I’ve spent years trying to live without and have only barely managed.

  She and Vance just walked through the front door and it’s a miracle. I wished for this every night, but I never thought it would truly happen. I thought I’d lost them both for good. I thought I’d never see them again and still after all this time, I never learned to live without them.

  I hug Vance goodbye before he walks out the door to go find the woman he loves. It’s then I turn my eyes
back to Ariel and pray that I’m not dreaming.

  “Neil,” she whispers, and her voice is so beautiful it’s like I’m hearing it for the first time.

  “I think maybe we should give you guys some privacy,” Hunter says.

  All I can do is nod as I keep my eyes locked on my wife.

  I wait as he takes a stunned Autumn out of the living room, leaving Ariel and me alone. For a moment there’s only silence. My knees feel weak again, so I walk over to the fireplace and stoke the coals. A few flames come to life and I throw a couple of logs on the fire. When I close the grate I turn around and see Ariel has followed me.

  She sits down on the couch and folds her hands in her lap. “Why won’t you say anything to me?” she asks as she stares down at her fingers.

  “Because I don’t trust myself,” I say, and it’s the truth. “I want to scream, I want to shout.”

  “Then do that. I deserve it,” she says, looking up at me with tears in her eyes.

  I go over to the couch and sit down, but I’m careful not to touch her.

  “Not at you, my love,” I say. “I want to yell at myself. I’ve betrayed you. I’m so sorry.”

  “What do you have to be sorry for?” she says as she wipes away her tears. “I was the one who left.”

  I want to hold her. I want take her in my arms. But I can’t. Not yet.

  “Because I married someone else. She’s gone, and she meant nothing to me, but I did it. It happened right after I thought you died. I know you probably hate me, and right now I hate myself.”

  The pain and guilt of how I betrayed her fills my chest. I can’t even look her in the eyes right now. I’m so ashamed of what happened, and it’s going to kill me to see the pain on her face.

  When I hear her laugh, I look up to see a smile on her face.

  “Neil, I know,” she says, and her eyes are soft and sweet.