And there were times I did that. I’d lock myself away from the world because it was what I needed to simply make it through another day.
But the day Lilac was born, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I had to be the best person I could possibly be, so I’d finally gotten professional help. I’d spoken about everything I’d been through, starting right from the beginning and my mom’s addiction up until the night that turned my life around. Because if I were honest, without the trauma that happened that night, I wouldn’t have been where I was today. That was something that took me years to fully comprehend.
Therapy was a process, a process I was still going through, but it was worth it. Every single thing I’d been through was worth it.
When the song came to an end, Lilac held her finishing position, and then ran to the side of the stage and straight into my arms.
“Did you see, Momma? Did you see?”
“I did!” I squeezed her to me and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek. “You were amazing!”
“Daddy!” She squirmed down and rushed around my legs, and I realized Asher hadn’t made it back to the audience in time. “Did you watch me too?”
“Of course I did.” He boosted her up to his shoulder. “I always watch my favorite girls dance.” He glanced over to me and winked. From the moment I’d started dancing in college, he’d never missed one of my performances, just like now. Whether Lilac was dancing or not, he was the backbone of my support.
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the two most important people to me. Lilac was the light I’d never known I’d needed, the hope that life would never be as dark as it once was. But Asher was my strength, a strength I could never live without.
“I love you,” I mouthed to him.
“I love you too,” he mouthed back, and my heart fluttered, just like it had the first time he’d said those words to me. “Forever.”
Acknowledgments
I’m so sad the Easton Family Saga is over. These eight books have been such a huge part of my life over the last twelve months, and I’m not really sure how to feel now they won’t be at the forefront of my mind.
The Easton Family will always hold a special place in my heart, and I hope they will with you too. I’m never saying never to revisiting these guys so keep on the look out in case I decide to do a random novella to catch up with the entire family…maybe… ;)
My first huge thank you needs to go to Paige. You’re the most awesomest Alpha Reader and PA. Thank you for loving my stories as much as I do, and generally just being you! But most of all, thank you for reading these on a time constraint. I’m not sure what I’d do without you!
Thank you to my husband and two awesome daughters who never fail to make me smile and continue to support the crazy road that is being an author. I love you all lots and lots like jelly tots!
My next thank you has to go to Jenn, my editor. I swear you saved my life and I appreciate so much you understanding everything that has been going on and still fitting me in. You’re the best Canadian a girl could ask for!
Linda. I swear I’d be lost without you! Thank you soooo much for everything you do. You’re always there no matter what, and I’m not sure what I’d do without you! You push me when I need to be pushed, and tell me to slow down when I need to stop. You save my ass more times than I can count, and I love you!
My proofreader, Judy. Thank you for putting up with me! Thank you for switching dates with me constantly. I swear, one of these days I’ll be on time. Never leave me, because I’d be lost without you!
I’d liked to say a huge thank you to my BETAs readers: Nikki & Yvonne. You ladies are amazeballs and I couldn’t do this without your continued support.
My second thank you needs to go to my husband and daughters. This book became such a huge part of my life, and I can’t thank you enough for putting up with my weird ways.
To my ARC team. You ladies are simply amazing and I love for each and every one of your messages! Thank you for taking the time to ready my stories, I appreciate so much.
To the bloggers who help share EVERYTHING. I love you so much, and I can’t put into words how grateful I am! You are a special bunch of people who continue to put a smile on my face.
To all the authors in the community. You continue to support me and I can’t thank you enough for that. I love our little slice of heaven, and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
Lastly, I want to say thank you, to you. Thank you for taking a chance on this book. Thank you for reading. And thank you for being awesome!
Also by Abigail Davies
MAC Security Series (Alpha Security/Military)
Book 1: Fractured Lies
Book 2: Exposed
Book 2.5: Flying Free (Standalone Spin-off)
Book 3: The Distance Between Us
Book 4: ReBoot
Book 5: Catching Teardrops
Six Book Boxset
The Easton Family Saga
Fallen Duet (Forbidden Angst)
Book 1: Free Fall
Book 2: Down Fall
Fated Duet (Student/Teacher Angst)
Book 1: Defy Fate
Book 2: Obey Fate
Bonded Duet (Age gap/Forbidden Angst)
Book 1: Torn Bond
Book 2: Tied Bond
Burned Duet (Age Gap/Emotional Angst
Book 1: Fast Burn
Book 2: Deep Burn
Confessions Series (Romantic Comedies)
Book 1: Confessions Of A Klutz
Book 2: Confessions Of A Chatterbox
Book 3: Confessions Of A Fratgirl
A. A. DAVIES (Darker, alter ego)
Verboten (Extreme Taboo. Inferno World Novella)
Broken Tracks Series,
(co-authored with Danielle Dickson)
Book 1: Etching Our Way
Book 2: Fighting Our Way
Destroyed Series,
(co-authored with L. Grubb)
Destroying the Game
Destroying the Soul
About the Author
Abigail Davies grew up with a passion for words, storytelling, maths, and anything pink. Dreaming up characters—quite literally—and talking to them out loud is a daily occurrence for her. She finds it fascinating how a whole world can be built with words alone, and how everyone reads and interprets a story differently.
Now following her dreams of writing, Abigail has found the passion that she always knew was there. When she’s not writing: she’s a mother to two daughters who she encourages to use their imagination as she believes that it’s a magical thing, or getting lost in a good book.
If she’s doing neither of those things, you can be sure she’s surfing the web buying new makeup, clothes, or binge watching another show as she becomes one with her sofa.
Connect with Abigail
Reader group—Abi’s Aces
Newsletter
www.abigaildaviesauthor.com
Burned Duet: Asher & Elodie: Fast Burn & Deep Burn (Easton Family Duet Boxsets Book 4) Page 43
