by Harlow James
“How’s my girl doing?” He bends down now and kisses the top of April’s head, our three-month-old daughter that we named after my mother.
“Sleeping soundly. Hopefully, she wakes up soon though, or it’s going to be another long night.”
“Well, it’s my turn to get up, so don’t worry about it. If she needs to rest, let her.”
Lowering my voice to a seductive whisper, I pull Brooks closer to me. “When you say things like that, it makes me want to strip you down in this park. The sad thing is, I’d probably fall asleep before we got to the good part.”
“Please don’t make me the inappropriate guy at the cancer walk rocking a raging hard-on.” I can’t help but laugh and then kiss his lips.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. I’m gonna take Devon back over to the kid area, okay?”
I survey the event and then check the time on my watch. “Well, I think we’re about to do the opening speeches and then the walk is going to start. When is your shift?”
“Towards the end. I figured I could push Devon in the stroller if he passes out later.”
“Good thinking.”
“Okay, I’ll see you over at the stage.”
He kisses my head before turning to chase after our son who’s running back towards the ducks.
“How is it that you live two houses down and I feel like I hardly see you anymore?” Piper comes up to me now under the easy-up where our team has set up camp.
“Because we’re both working mom’s with kids that take up every spare moment of the day.”
“Touché. How’s she doing? Sleeping through the night yet?” Piper rubs her hand over April’s head and bends down to stare at her face, showing off that appreciative smile only a woman can when she stares at a sleeping baby.
“We’re down to usually only one or two wake-ups, so I hope some solid sleep is on the horizon.”
“Well, Chance is finally down to one time a night, and he’s one and a half,” she counters, referencing her son with Cash. They struggled to conceive for years because of her infertility issues, but last February she gave birth to a beautiful little boy. He is such a perfect blend of his parents too that it makes me laugh. I’m sure that kid will keep them both on their toes.
“Devon does pretty good, but he’s almost two. We’ll see. I’m not rushing it. Just trying to soak up every moment, grateful I even have them.”
Piper grins as her eyes tear up. “I understand that feeling one-hundred percent, girl.”
“Where’s Cash?”
She rolls her eyes and then glances at me knowingly. “Where else do you think my husband is? He’s with all the kids and babies. You know that man can’t stay away from the smell of baby powder for too long.”
My chest bounces up and down from my laughter as the baby moves with it.
“Please tell me one of you has some crackers I can munch on?” Rachel appears under the shade, looking a lovely shade of pale green.
“Morning sickness still bothering you?” I ask, reaching down into the diaper bag and fetching a bag of goldfish crackers. “Sorry, this is all I have, besides formula.”
Rachel snatches the package from my hand and tears it open. “I don’t care. Thank you. Why do they call it morning sickness when it’s really all-day-long sickness?” She whines, inhaling the cheddar crackers. “I’m out of my first trimester, shouldn’t I be done?”
“Unfortunately, not all women get that lucky.”
“This little girl better be really stinking cute,” she declares, looking down at her belly and rubbing along her bump with her free hand.
“Oh, I’m sure she will be because Cassie is. Believe me, Rachel. It’s worth it.” I stare down at my baby girl again and breathe her in once more, soaking up every moment I can while remembering how sick I was with her too. But women are crazy enough to do it more than once because the end result is incredible.
“This is all Luke’s fault. I pop out one kid, and five months later, I’m pregnant again. Cassie’s pregnancy wasn’t this bad.” Crumbs fly out of her mouth as she lets out her frustration, and Piper and I can’t help but be amused by her antics right now.
“Hey, you guys ready for the opening speeches?” Olivia comes up to us holding her daughter Evelyn’s hand as she munches on a giant bundle of pink cotton candy and her son Tucker on her hip, who’s devouring an ice cream cone covered in sprinkles.
“Yes. Let me just give April to Brooks really quick.” I head over in that direction and shuffle the sleeping baby between us before everyone gathers around the stage.
“Welcome everyone to the fourth semi-annual Cancer Walk put on by The Harris-Bennet Foundation and Pearson Advertising!” Clara shouts into the microphone as the crowd cheers. “As is customary, Jessalyn Harris and Vivian Bennet would like to say a few words before the event gets under way. Ladies…” She gestures to us with the microphone as I move to intercept it. Vivian, Brooks’ mom, stands right beside me as we say a few words to kick off the walk.
“Thank you everyone for being here today, for showing up season after season to support a cause that is near and dear to us both. Both Vivian and I are breast cancer survivors…” The crowd cuts me off in a deafening applause that makes me tear up. I reach for Vivian’s hand as we wait for the noise to die down, squeezing her palm in reassurance.
One look across the crowd and I find my husband staring up at us with so much admiration, he has tears in his eyes as well. He’s squeezing Devon’s hand while holding April to his chest, and my heart just swells with love for my little family.
A family that could have been stripped away from me had I not found that lump when I did.
“Thank you.” I turn back to look at Vivian before continuing. “We have both survived and continue to fight for the lives of others battling this disease. But it’s not just breast cancer that strips loved ones from us, it’s all cancer. So each year, we donate as much funding as we can from these events to all cancer research hoping for a cure. This would not be possible without all of your unwavering and continued support. So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate it and so do the people who have lost and won the fight. Thank you.”
The cheers ring out again as Vivian and I make our way back to our booth and under the easy up, changing into our shirts. Survivor and In Memory of April Harris are written in bright pink across the chest and back, displayed for everyone to see why we walk, why we’re still here and living our lives.
“Jess, come here. You and Vivian.” Piper waves me over to a circle where Rachel, Olivia, Clara, Perry, Amy, Mariah, Olivia’s mom, Penny, Birdie, Alice, and a few of the nurses from the hospital are all gathered.
“What’s up?”
“We want to say something to you,” Piper says as she chokes back tears.
“Okay,” I grit out, already starting to cry myself.
“Jess… we want to thank you for gathering us here today to raise awareness and money for a cause that has not only affected you, but us too. You and Vivian have survived a despicable disease, but you’ve won. You’ve showcased the most incredible strength and all of us are in awe of you both. As women, it’s scary to think that the very parts of you that make you female can kill you as well. But it’s a blessing to be a woman. We are strong and powerful beyond measure, and you two continue to remind us of that every day. We are proud to call you our friends, and most importantly, a part of our family.”
All the girls look around the circle at each other, tears flowing freely from everyone’s eyes. I’m so overcome with gratitude that I can’t even speak.
“We love you, Jess,” Clara calls out and everyone murmurs in agreement, hands moving to swipe away tears.
Finally, I clear the lump in my throat and reply on a shaky breath. “I love you all too. Thank you for being here. For supporting me, for supporting us.” I turn to Vivian, who’s sobbing beside me. “This is not a battle that can be fought alone. It takes an army of devoted friends
and family to support you through it. I hope none of you ever have to fight for your life in that way. But if you do, know that we will be here to support you one-hundred percent. I’ve never considered myself as blessed as I am right now to know you all and have you in my life. And more than that—I’m so thankful to be alive.”
“We know.” Piper rushes to hug me and everyone latches on to the person closest to them.
In a twisted way, my cancer brought me a clarity in my life that I think I was desperately searching for—that just because something awful happens, doesn’t mean that your life is doomed to stay that way. Life is meant to be lived and shared with people who enrich your days and stand by you through the good and the ugly. And these women are part of that circle for me.
After we all clean ourselves up, we line up at the starting line, hand in hand, and take steps forward towards a cure, towards a future, toward a life filled with friends who are family and moments that remind you to live life to the fullest.
I never knew when I moved to Emerson Falls that I would find everything I ever needed in life. And now that I have it, I’m going to immerse myself in it, be grateful for it every day, and live each moment as if it were my last.
Early the next morning while the kids are asleep, the press of Brooks’ lips on my cheek stirs me awake. My body is sore from being on my feet all day yesterday, but the event was such a monumental success that I gladly take the pain of knowing I moved my body in the fight for others.
“Hmmm…”
“Good morning, beautiful,” he whispers in my ear, flipping me on my back gently and moving in between my legs.
“Brooks…”
“Come on, babe. I need you. It’s been a few days. And you teased me yesterday.” His lips move over mine and when he speaks to me in that deep rasp that first alerted me to his presence, I can’t tell him no. Besides, I really want him too.
“You still find me beautiful?” I lean up slightly to take off my shirt, exposing the scars on my chest, the very reminders that I’m still alive. It took me a long time to feel comfortable being naked completely in front of him, even though I knew he didn’t care. And he makes sure to tell me repeatedly so I believe it.
Brooks stares down at me in awe, drawing circles around my nipples that were constructed and tattooed on me after I healed before he presses his lips to each of my breasts and steals my breath away. Sometimes I can feel his touch, and others I can’t, my nerves still deciding when they want to work.
But this time, with the love he pours through his caress, I feel everything.
I feel his support and his loyalty. I feel his adoration and protectiveness. And I feel the need to reciprocate the love that he shows me every single day.
“Your life is more valuable to me than your breasts ever were, Jess. Don’t hide those scars from me, baby. These are a reminder of how strong you proved yourself to be. How beautiful your life is because you fought for it.”
It doesn’t matter how many times he tells me, hearing this man declare his love and affection for me always makes me emotional. And as he slides inside of me and makes love to me before our children wake, I thank God for letting me live. For giving me a second chance and a future with him.
Because no matter what comes next, I know he’s devoted to standing beside me through it all.
THE END
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Acknowledgments
I don’t know why Jess’s story was so difficult for me. For those that don’t know, I actually wrote 43,000 words on her book and then scrapped it. The original plan for her book was not working and so I made a very tough decision to start over.
But boy, am I glad I did! Because what you just read was the final product!
If I thought Revived had me emotional, I ugly cried writing the end of this one. I felt for Jess and Brooks. I wanted to strangle her as much as you, the reader, probably did. But I understood her too. I just think she needed a man like Brooks who wouldn’t let her push him away. And that’s exactly what she got.
To say that I’m sad that this series is over would be an understatement. Tangled came to me last year, and I had this overwhelming need to tell Kane’s story, but I never would have imagined that the series would evolve to what it is now. I will always hold this world and these characters close my heart, especially because so many of my readers have discovered me through these books and fell in love with them like I did.
So thank you for visiting Emerson Falls, and I hope you’ll continue to follow me as I create new worlds that I’ve been dying to dive into for months.
To L: This book put me through the ringer, but you always encouraged me to keep going. I remember the goosebumps we got when we suggested Jess’s diagnosis, but I think it was the right move. You are one of the best friends I could have asked for and I couldn’t do this without you. I love you.
To my hubby: Your encouragement and awe in what I’ve been able to accomplish keeps me going. You knew you married a determined woman, but I don’t think you and I ever would have imagined that I would be an author at some point in our lives. When I typed The End on this story and series, you held me and let me mourn, and that’s why you are the man I married.
You are one of the good ones.
To my beta readers, ARC team, and my readers, both old and new: Thank you for taking a chance on a self-published author. Thank you for sharing my books with others. Thank you for allowing me to share my creativity with people who love the romance genre as much as I do.
And thank you for supporting a wife and a mom who found a hobby that she loves.
More Books by Harlow James
The Hopetown Series (currently removed from Amazon for revision)
Chasing Hope
Destined to Be
A Simple Love
One Look, A Baseball Romance Standalone
The Emerson Falls Series
Tangled (Kane & Olivia)
Enticed (Cooper & Clara)
Captivated (Cash and Piper)
Revived (Luke and Rachel)
Devoted (Brooks and Jess)
