Suddenly Broken (Dirty Texas Book 5)

by JA Low

  “I really hope the reality is as good as what they have in their heads,” I confess my worry to Stace.

  “Me too,” Stacey agrees. “I also hope they like their schools, that it’s not too much of a culture shock for them.”

  We arrive during spring break, so the girls will start in their new schools for a couple of months and then break for summer break. Stacey and I know nothing about schools, so thankfully Mom and Dad have gone and looked around at the schools we are interested in. Stacey, of course, fought me on it, but I wanted to send them to the best schools, no matter how much it cost, I think we owe that to their parents if we are taking them half way across the world. We will give them the best damn education they can get. Stacey is a little worried about how they will assimilate because they haven’t grown up with much and then we are going to throw them in with all these rich kids. I get her concerns, but kids are kind of resilient. What she doesn’t know is that I got credit cards made up in each of the kids’ names, except Lockie because he’s three, for emergencies and shopping. I know how hard it might be for them to try and compete with these kids and their lifestyle, and I know Stacey is trying to make sure they don’t turn into Hollywood brats, but some Hollywood brats are brutal. They are already going to have a target on their backs because of their accent. I don’t want them to have to worry about not having the right things making it impossible for them to fit it. I’ll wait until I’m married to tell Stacey that plan.

  I’ve been speaking to Hunter about maybe going to college and wondering what he would be interested in doing, he’s thinking of maybe a business degree as he loves the aspect of running a business. So we have enrolled him for the summer. It took a little bit of convincing for Stacey to come on board for Hunter to live on campus, but I told her he needs it, especially in making new friends. I explained to her that he knows no one his age in the city and that he might get home sick if he doesn’t meet people. She agreed. So Hunter is going to be doing an MBA at UCLA which isn’t far from us but still far enough that he has his own life. He’s pretty excited.

  “They will be fine.” I kiss Stacey’s forehead. “I promise if they aren’t happy, we can pack up and move back to Australia or anywhere in the world or we they can try another school or even homeschool.”

  “Thank you.” She kisses me.

  “I know how you can really thank me.” I wiggle my brows at her.

  38

  Stacey

  A flurry of activity wakes me up; I turn over and realize Becca and Emma have gone from my bed. They wanted to sleep over the night before the wedding because they didn’t want me to be alone for the night as Oscar has gone to stay at my parents’ house to get ready with Hunter and Lockie. Jumping out of bed, I walk out into the living room and see hair and make-up all set up read to go. The beautiful bridesmaid’s dresses steamed and pressed hanging up. Then I catch my wedding gown, the emerald green beauty taking pride of place. Reality hits me.

  “You’re awake,” Camryn greets me. “Grab some breakfast. You’re going to need your strength today. Cause you’re getting married.” She guides me over to the breakfast buffet set up in the kitchen. I grab some fruit and Danishes. “Here, a mimosa for you.” Camryn hands me the glass.

  “Aunt Stacey.” Emma and Becca charge at me, wrapping their arms around me. I try and struggle to not spill everything in my hands. “You’re getting married,” they squeal excitedly, they are practically buzzing.

  “Come, girls. It’s time for hair and make-up,” Camryn tells them, ushering them into their chairs.

  “Can I have one of them?” Amelia points to my mimosa.

  “Ah no.” She pouts. “You can have a couple of sips of mine.” I give her my glass. “But that’s it. You’re too young for alcohol,” I warn her. She nods and quickly takes two big gulps before spitting them out in the sink.

  “Gross.” She washes her mouth out. “How can you drink that?”

  “You’ll appreciate it when you get older.” I smile, happy that she didn’t like the taste.

  “Come, Amelia, you have to get hair and make-up too,” Camryn calls for her. I take a sip of my mimosa and a bite of my croissant.

  “The party has arrived.” Derrick practically kicks down the screen door. “My little possum. You are getting married today.” He squishes me in his arms.

  “Congratulations,” the girls sing song after him, each of them taking their turn to greet me and give me their best wishes.

  “Guys, if you want to grab some food and then take a seat so we can get you ready.” Camryn ushers people into position. How on earth does everyone fit in this house? It’s controlled chaos.

  “Congratulations, Stacey,” one of the hairdressers says.

  “Lisa? Lisa Stuart?” I realize that one of the girls doing our hair I went to school with.

  “The one and only.” I give her a hug.

  “Oh my God. It’s been years. How are you?”

  “Great. Really good. I married Liam Fraser, remember him?” That was her high school boyfriend. “We have three kids now and I own one of the hairdressers in town.”

  “Wow. That is so awesome.”

  “Thank you so much for using us today. I am so happy that I can be part of your day. We don’t get many celebrity weddings in town, so it’s kind of exciting.” I shake my head, about to say it’s not a celebrity wedding, but then I stop myself. Because to them, it is. I forget how immersed I am in this life, that it isn’t actually normal.

  “I am so happy you are here.” I turn to Camryn. “I know this is super last minute, but can we add Lisa and the hairdresser to the wedding please. I would love for them to see their handiwork in the flesh.” Camryn pauses for a couple of moments obviously running the whole event through her head quickly.

  “Of course.” She smiles, but probably cursing me as we speak.“Oh, Stacey. No, you don’t have to do that.”

  “You should be able to see all your hard work in the flesh.”

  “Thank you, thank you so much.” She looks at me gratefully, which gives me an idea. I reach out to Camryn, stopping her as she passes me.

  “Can we add the florists and cake decorator too, anyone that we used, I just wanted to say thank you for helping us.” Camryn’s face softens. “I’m probably making it worse for you, aren’t I?”

  Camryn shakes her head. “You are very kind inviting those people. I can add some extra tables, it’s not a problem at all.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s your wedding, Stacey, and if you want them there to celebrate it with you, then I will make sure that it gets done.” Then she rushes away. I pop a strawberry into my mouth.

  “Do you think Oscar is freaking out over there?” I ask as we get our hair and make-up done.

  “I think on the outside he is going to look cool, but on the inside he is stressing out,” Isla laughs.

  “I’ll text Chris and find out,” Ness says, typing away on her phone. She gets an instant reply. “He’s freaking out.” This makes everyone laugh. Grabbing my phone, I send him a quick text.

  Stacey: I can’t wait to marry you.

  Moments later my phone beeps.

  Oscar: We should have eloped.

  Oscar: And I can’t wait to marry you too.

  Stacey: Nervous?

  Oscar: Surprisingly yes. You better not stand me up.

  Shit, is that why he is freaking out? Does he think I would stand him up?

  Stacey: Never in a million years. You’re stuck with me.

  Oscar: Good. Coz I’d probably hunt you down and force you to marry me if you didn’t show up.

  He probably would.

  Stacey: Would you tie me up if you did?

  Oscar: If I did?

  Oscar: Oh…I get it

  Oscar: I would hunt you down to the ends of the earth and once I found you.

  My heart begins to race. What would he do to me?

  Oscar: I would force you to your knees and demand you to apologize to me via your mo
uth.

  I squirm in my seat.

  Oscar: I’d make sure that you choked on my cock, over and over again until you begged me to stop and I would ignore every last one of your pleas, because you deserve it. You deserve to be choked by my cock for running away from me.

  Fuck. This is turning me on. I can feel my cheeks burning up. Thankfully, they haven’t done my make up yet.

  Oscar: Once you are finished and have sucked every last bit of my come from my dick. I would drag you by your hair into my lair.

  Ohh role play, I like it.

  Oscar: You would be pleading with me to not hurt you. Begging you would do anything. Which you know gets my dick hard hearing you say that. But you still deserve punishment for leaving me at the alter like that. You need to suffer the utter humiliation I did.

  I bite my lip and nervously look around feeling like everyone can see what is happening on my phone.

  Oscar: I would bend you over a desk. Tie your arms and your legs to it, making sure your legs are wide open. Then I would leave you there, waiting for someone to come by and fuck you. Punish you. Defile you. You would have no idea if it was me or a stranger. And then once you have been thoroughly fucked, I would cradle you in my arms and know that you are mine, forever.

  Fuck me dead.

  Oscar: Shit, little one. I have to go rub one out now. How the fuck am I supposed to get dressed with a fucking boner. You owe me. Love you, babe.

  Stacey: Love you too.

  Placing my phone down beside me, I am beyond turned on. I’m wondering if I could sneak next door and have a quickie?

  “Stacey, it’s time for your make-up.” Camryn pulls me from my dirty thoughts. “Are you feeling okay? You look flushed.” Shit. I fan my face with my hands.

  “Just nerves,” I lie.

  “Let me grab you some water.” Camryn rushes to the kitchen.

  “You look so beautiful, Stacey.” Yvette looks up at me while messing around with the bottom of my hem. “Oscar is going to be blown away.” My stomach does loop de loops thinking about walking down that aisle to him. Lisa, my hairdresser, comes in and places my gorgeous Australian native floral crown a top of my head. My blonde hair falls in light waves down my back, showing off the gorgeous backless dress.

  “You ready?” Yvette asks me, as she opens the door. I step outside and the room turns silent.

  “You look like a princess.” Becca sighs.

  “So do you.” Becca and Emma a dressed in gorgeous navy dresses that have gold stars falling down from the top to the bottom. In their hair is a gorgeous little star tiara. They look so beautiful and grown up.

  “You look beautiful,” Amelia tells me, and I try and hold in my tears as I look over at her all dressed. She’s wearing a gorgeous deep berry evening dress, her light brown hair in a messy braid, with a berry colored native floral crown.

  “Mia, you look so grown up.” She gives me a shy smile, nervously straightening out her dress. Naomi would have loved to see her daughter dressed up like this. I suck in a deep breath as my emotions take over. I look out to my friends, Sienna, Vanessa, Isla, Olivia all dressed just like Amelia, looking like bloody supermodels. And then there’s Derrick, dressed in the same deep berry velvet as the bridesmaids but in a suit version, he looks like he could be walking the runways of Milan or Paris.

  “Oh my goodness, look at them.” I notice the little flower girls for the first time. Sadie and Ruby dressed in their navy ballerina style dresses. They have a small amount of hair that they have pulled up into tiny little pigtails, they are so adorable.

  “I think this calls for champagne,” Derrick calls out, busying himself in the kitchen, popping champagne for us all. I am thankful when I finally get the glass in my hand. I take a sip to calm my nerves.

  “Are you ready?” Camryn asks me.

  “I didn’t think I would be this nervous,” I confess.

  “Totally natural. The boys are already down there, so they won’t see you. Charlotte wants to take some last minute photos of you before you get onto the carriage. One of our neighbors loaned us their vintage open horse carriage for today to escort us from the house to our dam where the ceremony is being held. We pose for some photos and then slowly attempt to get into the carriage. Thankfully, it’s one of those long rectangle shaped carriages; otherwise I don’t think we would have fit in. Charlotte joins us and takes some photos, Oscar and I decided to get married close to dusk; we wanted to be pronounced husband and wife as the sun started to set. The light over the landscape is incredible at that time, and there’s just something magical about the outback on dusk, plus it’s a little cooler.

  The closer we get, the more my nerves seem to want to play havoc with me. I can see all our family and friends in a semi-circle around the large weeping willow tree, but I haven’t had a chance yet to see Oscar. Derrick helps me down out of the carriage, the gorgeous Clydesdale horses doing their job and getting us to the alter on time. Lisa, the hairdresser, gives us all a quick once over as we were a little windswept from our journey. As I look up on the horizon, I see four kangaroos standing there watching us. A sense of calm falls over me.

  “Look.” Emma points them out. “It’s Mum and Dad,” she squeals with delight.

  “And Gran and Pop,” Becca adds excitedly. She gives them a wave.

  “They’re here.” Amelia gives me a sad smile. I nod in her direction trying to hold in my tears. The girls are right though, I feel them, I feel them all around me. This makes me happy that they can share in this day with us. I see Hunter. He looks so handsome and grown up in navy suit.

  “You look beautiful, Stacey.” He comes over kissing my cheeks.

  “You’re so handsome, Hunter.” A blush falls across his cheeks. Kimberly, Camryn’s business partner, brings the pageboys over.

  “Shacey.” Lockie runs toward me, burying his little face into my dress. He looks so cute in his dress clothes, as does Ryder who tootles over to Sienna, who gives him the once over. We put Ryder on his little ride on tractor with Ruby, Sadie, Levi and Easton in the back of the cart, there is a ‘Here Comes The Bride’ sign on the back. We have been practicing it all week. Fingers crossed Ryder makes it to the end without losing one of the babies out the back.

  “Ready to send the little ones down?” Kimberly asks.

  “The Gypsy Sisters in place?” Camryn asks her. Kimberly nods. Oscar asked the girls if they wouldn’t mind signing a song he wrote for me to walk down the aisle to. It’s called ‘Forever’. I love those girls, they are so talented, and when they sing acoustic it gives me chills. Kimberly gives the band the thumbs up and they start playing, as the first strings begin, Ryder eagerly starts his ride on tractor and slowly peddles the little ones down the aisle made of Persian rugs. You can hear the crowd cooing at the sight before them. Then it’s Lockie’s turn, holding the wedding rings in a little glass treasure box. We watch as he slowly and carefully walks down the aisle. Next to follow is Becca, then Emma close behind. Amelia’s turn is next and then the bridesmaids, and last but not least, Derrick.

  “You ready?” Hunter asks me as he links his arm with mine.

  “Yes.” I hold onto him. I take my first step onto the beautiful aisle made of layers in rugs and look up at my groom for the first time. An overwhelming sense of love for him hits me. He looks so handsome dressed in a navy suit with a white dress shirt, no tie. His blonde locks pulled up into a messy man bun, his Viking beard trimmed nicely. Ice blue eyes lock onto me as I begin to walk toward him, that’s when I notice the first tear, falling down his cheek.

  39

  Oscar

  Today I have been a bundle of nerves. The boys have been trying to keep me calm, but nothing is working. I mean, I’m used to playing to a stadium full of people, so you’d think standing up here in front of a couple hundred people wouldn’t be so bad. Nope. It’s the scariest thing I have ever done, until I lock eyes on Stacey. Everything else vanishes; my nerves, my anxiety, the people in the crowd, the music, even the voic
es of my friends congratulating me on my gorgeous bride. Turning around and seeing her for the first time was as if someone had stolen my breath away. She looks like a vision, the sun slowly setting behind her, showering her with bright shards of light. I notice her gorgeous green wedding dress. Wow. Unexpected, but totally her. She looks like an elfin queen gliding toward me, the first tear falls, then another. I don’t care if I’m crying because I just cannot believe how lucky I am to be marrying this woman today and that she wants to spend forever with me. She stops before me, Hunter doing the honor of handing over his aunty to me for safe keeping. One of the girls takes Stacey’s bouquet so we can join hands. As soon as our hands link together that’s it, my soul knows that it is home.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride, Ragnar,” Derrick tells us. And I do. I have never craved Stacey as much as I do in this moment. Cupping her face I pull her to me, kissing her with all the love I have. Our friends and family holler as we seal our new life together. “That was hot,” Derrick remarks over our kiss. Yes, that’s right. Derrick married us. He got ordained over the internet. He said it was a dream come true to be able to marry us, and honestly, he did an amazing job.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Eriksen.” Derrick announces us as we take the first steps as a married couple. With the sun setting around us on the horizon set against the burnt orange of the sun, the four kangaroos stood still, the same ones we saw the day we scattered Stacey’s family’s ashes. I watched them over Stacey’s shoulder throughout the ceremony; they sat and watched the entire thing, and once Derrick announced us and we took the first steps as a married couple they hopped away. I kind of hope that means Stacey’s family are able to move on, that they can now rest in peace knowing that we’ve got this.