“Oh, my…” Annabelle rushes to her desk where she makes the call.
Me! I lean back on the wall and close my eyes for a moment.
The morning turns into bedlam. It’s the only way to describe it. Cops and answering their thousands of questions, even though they have the camera feed data. Also, the hospital where my arm has been set and given the official–yeah, I have a slight concussion.
I’m now on official leave, but Mr. Carmichael has it worse. He’s in custody and will do some time I’m sure, after my boss has finished with him.
Lying on the couch in the living room, I watch Myles as he fusses with Oren. They are both making what is supposed to be our evening meal, but I reckon they’ll be running out to get food soon.
The back door opens, and I hear Whitney speaking with Myles. I can smell what I think is lasagna. It is something Whitney makes that could rival the best chefs in the world.
“Whitney, have you brought what I think you have?” I ask while getting up from the couch and heading into the kitchen.
“I sure have. You need to take it easy, Lee. I’m taking Oren home with me. Luckily, it’s the weekend, and you can chill while we have him. Now sit, eat, and rest.”
Whitney is out the door with Oren beside her. Myles is grinning at the look on my face, which has to be shock at theway Whitney rushed in, and out, taking Oren along with her.
“Come on, Maylee. Let’s eat and then watch TV in bed.” Myles serves a portion of lasagna with a chunk of garlic bread, and I quietly eat, humming my pleasure as I do, and I admit that happily.
Much later as I’m drifting to sleep I can’t help but think how lucky I have been. Meeting Myles, moving in with him, having Oren as a son. On top of that, I have the most amazing relationship with Whitney, who is my dearest friend and sister who lives next door.
Myles kisses the back of my neck as he spoons me, and I sigh as I snuggle back into him right before sleep claims me.
Chapter 3
Myles
Life is sweet. I still work hard, but I have two of the most incredible human beings I come home to every night. Maylee and Oren. I love them both, and I don’t care who knows it.
Maylee's honesty and love for Oren and me show me how bad things were with Oren's mother, who caused me trouble from the start.
Now I know what a healthy relationship is, and I’m not letting go. Maylee is it for me, for the long haul. I’m going to marry her, and I hope she’ll want to have a child because I’d be thrilled to have another son or a daughter. I’d love either with the same intensity I have for Oren.
Washing the breakfast dishes, I rinse then pop them in the dishwasher. My mind is miles away as I work. But an arm wraps around my waist, and I dry my hands on the tea towelbefore turning and wrapping Maylee in my arms, bringing her tightly to my chest.
“You okay, honeybunch?” I ask, knowing my attempts at pet names amuse her.
“Yeah. I took my pain meds, and they make me sleepy. I don’t like that, but they are needed just now.”
I kiss her slowly and gently, letting her feel how much I care for her throughout the kiss. Finishing the kiss, I guide her back into the living room and make sure she’s comfortable on the couch. I tuck a blanket over her legs and kiss her forehead before I take the place beside her.
“Did I tell you that the house purchase just needs me and Clem to sign? It won’t be a large mortgage, but with what happened before, I couldn’t buy the place outright.” I lean my temple against Maylee’s and breathe in the floral smell that she always has.
“I have a chunk of savings we can put on the house, Myles. It would be paid in full that way, and we’d not have a mortgage to think about,” Maylee says, turning her head to look at me.
“I’ll think about it. But I’m supposed to look after you…”
“Hey, if we are in this together, then we do it together. Speak to the realtor and get the house paid, and then we can save together to get anything done to it we need to be done. I think we should sneak off and get married too…”
I grab Maylee and hug her to me. “You being real? You want to get married? I was going to ask you but thought it was too early and you’d saynot yet…”
We are interrupting each other as quickly as we are speaking at this stage. “Of course I’m being real!” Maylee sighs, and rolls her eyes, which has me chuckling at the sass she is showing.
“Okay, then. I’ll get a license and get it sorted at the courthouse. We’ll go in, get married, then hold a family get-together and tell Oren, Clem and Whitney.”
Maylee
Walking into Clem and Whitney's place, I’m nervous, but I know my bestie will be happy for me. It’s been three weeks, and I have two more weeks before my cast is removed. It was a clean break, and the orthopedist thought it could be removed in five weeks, but he’ll X-ray it again before he removes the cast.
