When he asked not only for Lennon’s and Bre’s permission to marry me but told them that if they were ever ready he’d also want them to take his name because he loved them too, my heart fluttered with so much love I thought it might just pick me up and carry me away.
Having them both say yes, while Bre wept happy tears, and Lennon fought to school his emotions in vain, as they hugged Huntley so damn tight, was my undoing.
And that was just the first surreal moment in the last month. The second was the day he and the kids took me out on the lake in a small boat, had a picnic onboard, and he pulled out my ring. It glistened in the sunlight as tears fell down my cheeks.
For the first time in my life, I believed in true happiness.
There was only one more thing that could have made it better. I wanted to be able to make love to the man that was my world. I felt my cheeks heat and touched one with my palm. While we hadn’t had sex, it didn’t mean there wasn’t a lot of making out and touching.
It felt wonderful, but it wasn’t enough. My bodyresponded to him, I just hadn’t gotten to the point of letting him see me naked, nor I him, or let things go farther. I was serious when I said things weren’t pretty with my scars and the dark place I often went when thinking of that night.
However, as more time passed I also struggled with needing Huntley to show me how special the act of making love could be.
Because that is what it would be.
Makinglove.
It wouldn’t be the horror I’d experienced so long ago. Another thought struck then: I had no idea what I was doing and that felt crazy at my age, but I never thought after that night, I’d let a man in, let alone have sex with him. Maybe I could ask my sister or the ladies.
I shook my head at the thought. No, that would bewaytoo embarrassing.
The sun from the window behind me hit my ring just right and it glistened again, pulling a dreamy sigh to escape. How long had I been daydreaming?
I looked at the clock and realized my client was ten minutes late, which was unlike her. Picking up my cell, I dialed her number to check on her and see if she was coming. When I got her voicemail, my brow furrowed in worry. She’d come a long way since I started seeing her as a patient, yet the last couple of sessions it seemed as though something more was bothering her, but she wouldn’t share.
Rubbing my hands over my face, I tried to relax and not let the concern stress me out. I could only let her and others know this was a safe place to talk, but I couldn’t make them. Trying her phone one more time, I left a message and hoped she would call me back.
Since that was the last appointment of the day, I figured I’d get to go home a little early to my family. I hated the nagging feeling running through me that something might bewrong with my client, but seeing Huntley and the kids sooner had a little zip of glee rushing in too.
I grabbed my purse and was about to dial Huntley to let him know I was on my way, when my phone rang in my hand. Lake’s number flashed on the screen.
“Hey,” I answered by way of greeting.
“Hey back to you.” She laughed. “London is at the hospital. It’s baby time,” she said, excitedly.
Lake was so happy to have her friend and herself having a baby so close together, with her just a few months behind London. I also knew my sister couldn’t wait to have a child with the man she’d loved since before she even knew what love was.
Besides, my niece, who was the heart and soul of my sister’s life and her daddy’s, had asked the Christmas before for a baby brother, and she was close to getting her gift. I’d do anything for Stormi, just as I would my kids, so seeing her so full of jubilation over getting a sibling was fun to watch.
“Are you on your way there?” I asked her.
“Yup. Bronson is at work, but Stormi and I are headed over in just a second.”
If I was worried about her driving and feeling protective, I knew her husband most likely hated her going alone.
“Wait there, I’ll have Huntley and the kids pick you up and I will meet you guys there, so you don’t have to drive.”
She sighed. “Not you too. You are as bad as my man.”
I giggled. “Yup, just hold your horses. They will be there soon.”
Then I hung up before she could argue and dialed Huntley.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Another dreamy sigh escaped. That was the effect the man had on me.
I explained what was going on and got a dose of my ownmedicine back, but I wasn’t telling Lake that or she would laugh her ass off.
