Teacher’s Pet
Page 24
He wraps his arms around me. “I’m glad Dad came back. You’re so happy with him.”
“You all make me so happy. This house feels like a distant memory.”
Max grins. “Remember the zombies, Mum?”
“How can I forget?” I laugh.
He lets go of me, forming claws with his hands, and swipes the air. It takes me back to when he was still a kid and we were both scared of the dark. All those lonely nights when I couldn’t see how things would get better.
Then Adam came back and made all the bad go away.
We’ll never get back the twelve years we were apart, but we’ve built so much since we’ve been together.
I claw my hands and wave them in the air.
Max and I both laugh, and I know I’ll always treasure these moments. Moments no one else can ever understand but Max and me.
When I look over toward the barbecue, Adam’s eyes meet mine. He’s watching Max and me with so much pride on his face. It makes my heart swell.
I love my husband more than I can say.
And he loves me.
Our house is quiet. It’s not that late, and the kids are all in bed asleep.
From the doorway, I take in the peace that is our bedroom. There are so many memories here. Memories we’ve made as a family.
This is the house that Adam bought us when he came home, and our first real family home. Rose and Ben were born in this house. It’s the house we’ll grow old in. Together.
Nothing traumatic will ever happen in our home. Not if I can help it. My children are safe, and always will be when I’m around.
The soft lights mounted on our bedroom wall flicker on when I press the switch. My heart swells. That was Adam’s doing, so I’d never have to be afraid of the dark again. Since then, I’ve never been afraid.
We were two broken people who put each other back together.
I close my eyes as he surrounds me from behind, his strong arms wrapping around my waist. He buries his face in my neck and takes a deep breath. I love this man with all of my heart, and nothing is sweeter than simply being with him.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“Just thinking about how lucky I am. Seeing the old house brought back a lot of memories, but I have so many better ones now.”
He lets me go, and I turn to face him.
“Thank you for being with me today.” I palm his cheek, and he turns his face to kiss my hand.
“I’ll always be with you when you need me. You make me whole, Lily Campbell.”
I smile. I’ll always love being called that when for so long I never thought it would be possible. “That’s how I feel about you, too.”
“Nothing’s ever going to separate us now. You know that, right?”
I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. “I know.” I sigh. “This. Us. It’s for life. What happened back then is a distant memory. I’m still not entirely sure how I survived it.”
He strokes my hair. “I’ll always regret my leaving. I hurt you so much. You must have hated me, and yet you let me back in again. I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life for that.”
“I’m not sure I ever hated you. But I am glad that when you came back you didn’t give up on me.” I lean back and smile. “And I know now that no matter what, you’re here for me and our children.”
He bends his head and kisses me. His kiss is gentle and slow.
He’s everything I ever wanted.
And he’s all mine.
Also by Wendy Smith
Writing as Wendy Smith
Coming Home
Doctor’s Orders
Baker’s Dozen
Hunter’s Mark
Coming 2019 Teacher’s Pet
* * *
Fall and Rise Duet
Falling
Rising
* * *
Coming 2019 Game On
* * *
Writing as Ariadne Wayne
The Friends Series
Loving Rowan
Three Days
Something Real
The Right One
Unexpected
* * *
Chances Series
Another Chance
Taking Chances
* * *
Lifetime Series
In a Lifetime
In an Instant
In a Heartbeat
In the End
* * *
Lifetime novella series
At the Start
Coming 2019 In the Middle
Coming 2019 At the Finish
About the Author
Wendy Smith published as Ariadne Wayne for three years before deciding she didn’t want to be someone else all the time. Heavily influenced by stories in the media, she decided to try something new, and the Copper Creek series was born. With lots of love and a touch of darkness, her stories will twist their way into your heart.
Find me online
www.authorwendysmith.com
wendy@authorwendysmith.com