“You just started rehab. I doubt they would let you fly or release you from the hospital.”
“What if we road trip it? Then, he can check in with the doctors back in Tennessee.” Ella’s voice comes in.
“I thought I told you to go get some rest.” I feel her come around me on my right side. She’s not afraid of my missing arm.
“I forgot my laptop and needed to send some files to Mr. Harris.”
“I can talk to Dr. Martin, but I don’t think she’ll okay it.” Amy answers.
“Please find out for us. Tennessee is where we live. His son is there, and it’s the comfort of home.” Ella stands up to her. “Thank you. You look good standing up. Nice ass.” Ella states, slapping my ass. “I’m going to be by your side, while you gain your confidence back, as you learn to navigate through life blind and learning to be left-handed.”
“I love you, you know that, right?”
“I know, and I love you, too. Let’s get you to rehab, so we can get you home.” Ella tells me, and I feel at home already. We start walking. “I’ll see you in a little bit. Mark, make sure they talk about the road trip. You and I can drive home. I think it would be good for him.”
The End
Epilogue
A Year Later
Zachary Sanders
“I smell something good. Who is cooking?” I walk into the kitchen with Abel, my eye seeing service dog. My vision never came back, so I’m legally blind.
“I am.” I hear Sam’s voice.
“I smell bacon, coffee, and eggs.” Sam and Kelly bought the house next door to us. I can’t believe that’s who she’s been dating. She called him Gregory for the longest, because it’s his middle name, and she didn’t want us to know about Sam right away. They really do make a great couple.
“Your senses are working overtime. I guess, Ella was talking about getting a Christmas tree for the kids to decorate, since Christmas is coming up.” I sigh.
“Really? That will be fun for the kids. Do you know if there’s construction paper around here?” I was in the hospital rehab facility for three months, before getting released. Ella was with me every step of the way, along with Alec, Ella’s family, Kelly, and Sam. I was never alone. They all wanted to learn how to help me without doing everything for me.
“I don’t know if I can do this, Sam.” I feel for the table in the kitchen to sit down. He asks me what I’m talking about, as he sets the food down in front of me. I still have to feel where my food is sometimes.
“Christmas, and the anniversary of my whatever you want to call this came and went,” I start to cry uncontrollably. “When Alec graduates, I’m never going to see him in a cap and gown. I won’t ever see Ella walk down the aisle to me. I can never get that image stuck in my head for the rest of my life. Why did I let everyone do this to me?” I get up from the table too fast, and I fall over Annie. “Damn it.” I throw my cane across the floor.
“What’s going on here?” Ella’s voice is behind me. She starts to help me up, but I told yell at her to stop. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I was talking about the tree to him, and then he started bawling like crazy.” Sam tells Ella. I start to stand up by myself, as I keep pushing Ella away from me.
“I can do this by myself.” I use my left arm to push up on my knees, as I stand on my own. I’m now standing and stumble walking away. “Ella, leave me alone.” I head to the bedroom, as I count my steps. Amy taught me that I should count steps, so I can easily guide myself. I remember leaving my cell phone in here, as I press the button. “Call Mark.” It automatically puts it on speakerphone.
“Hey, Zack.”
“Come get me. I need out of here, like an hour ago.” I tell him.
“I’m on my way. Do you need me to stay on the line with you?” He asks me.
“No, I’m good. Please, just come get me.” I state, as we hang up.
“What’s the matter?” Ella’s in the doorway.
“Nothing. I’m going to spend a few days with Mark.” I tell her.
“You do what you need to do, but just know that we will be here.” Ella tells me.
“Why do you do that?” I snap at her. I stand holding my hand out, trying to feel for my walking stick, as I feel Ella putting it into my hand.
“Pretend that it’s all going to be okay, when it’s not? Babe, how is it not going to be okay? I don’t know if I can fix it or not, if you don’t tell me what it is.”
“You can’t fix me, so no you can’t fix it.” I half chuckle, and then start to cry.
“Are you talking about your last eye appointment? Did Dr. Martin say something? I thought you qualified for the experimental treatment.” Dr. Martin has been a godsend in trying to help me with getting my eyesight back. It’s hard not being able to see or having two hands.
“Ugh. I don’t qualify for it. I’m forever blind.” I start sobbing, as I feel her hands on my face.
“Baby, I love you. Nothing is going to change that. I do have some good news, though.”
“I could use some.” I move up to the bed.
“You got me pregnant, mother fucker.” She says, as I whisper, you’re pregnant in her ear.
“Yes, I’m about ten weeks. I found out yesterday.” I hug her tightly, breathing her in. “Are you happy?”
“Yes! I love you.” I kiss her over and over again, as we fall back laughing. She hounds me, until I tell her what got me so upset earlier about weddings, prom, and graduation.
“Baby, you are forgetting something even more important than that. You can teach them to appreciate their other senses, while learning about the world through their eyes.” I kiss her temple.
“How do you always know how to say all the right things?” I ask her.
“Baby, because loving you is as easy as breathing.” She whispers against my lips, as she kisses me.
Yeah, this is bliss.
Honoring Those Who Serve Collab
All of these stories are romances, and all seek to honor our veterans and active duty military members, but that's the majority of connection between them.
Some are sweet, some are steamy. Some are modern, some are historical. Some feature active-duty soldiers, some star vets. Some take place during wartime, some during peacetime.
No matter what your preference, you'll find a beautiful story in this bunch that will melt your heart and sweep you off your feet.
Never Forget by Marie Savage Author
https://www.amazon.com/Never-Forget-Honoring-Those-Serve-ebook/dp/B07YYSP861
Public Relations by Brittany Anne
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y24H1WY
Broken Heartbeats by Lindsay Becs
http://mybook.to/BrokenHeartbeats
Plane Love by Avery Kingston
https://www.amazon.com/Plane-Love-Honoring-Those-Serve-ebook/dp/B07YTG1NNC
Saving Ryleigh by Author K.R. Reese https://amzn.to/2oZ99yS
Callahan's Haven by Sandra Daniels https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YXL78M2
Signed Sealed Delivered by Jaime Russell
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YS7PGFG
Hidden Letters by Audrey Ravine
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Letters-Honoring-Those-Serve-ebook/dp/B07YXJJ7BQ/
Love, Mercy by Brooke May, Author http://mybook.to/CoHLove
About the Author
Movies, gaming, and books. Oh My!
Jaime Russell grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, but she currently resides in a smaller town in Indiana. She lives in the country with her husband, and she is a caregiver to her parents and mother in law. Jaime suffers from some autoimmune diseases, so on her good days, and is active and most likely shopping. But on her bad days, she spends time curled up with her fuzzy blanket, escaping reality with her puppy Annie.
Jaime is a stepmom to four adults plus a couple of kids that she unofficially adopted. She is a grandmother to two wild boys with a personality all on their own, a sassy granddaughter they have stolen her he
art. She is an aunt to two crazy nephews and two nieces, as well as being the oldest child in a family of three and their spouses. Life has never been dull for Jaime, and family means everything to her.
She enjoys watching movies, shooting guns, and spending time with family and friends. She is an avid gamer when her internet permits, as she enjoys talking and goofing off with her online family.
Jaime Russell never liked reading growing up. Now she never goes anywhere without either a paperback or her Kindle because there is always a new book boyfriend that needs to be found and fought over.
Facebook page: facebook.com/jaimerussellauthor
Twitter: @mamabear824
Instagram: @jaimelynnrussell
Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/jaimerusellauthor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jaime-russell
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/ap/RQKOr8/Jaime-Russell
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