“All of this was because of that?! You’re such an idiot. All you had to do was tell me you wanted her, and I would have walked away. I walked in on you with the mother, so I thought that’s what you wanted. You told me she was teaching you so much you never wanted to leave. What the hell was I supposed to think?”
“I shouldn’t have to spell it out for you.”
“Amelia put her life on hold for you for twenty years. Believe it or not, at some point, she actually loved you. I hope you’re happy with yourself.”
He turns to leave, and I know I should just shut up, but I can’t help myself. “So, Mitch, what are you going to do with the diamonds in the bathroom ceiling?” He spins back around and now he’s right up in my face.
“Why, do you want them, too?”
“Maybe, if you want to give them to me.” He gets a grin on his face like the cat that ate the canary.
“Well, you’re too late. Brook and Benjamin went by the house before they went back to Boston. Benjamin got them out of the ceiling and Brook put them in the collection plate at Mary Queen of Heaven. I’m sure Father Francis is very excited right about now.”
I’m laughing as they turn away and head up the dock to their car.
Mitch
It was a long trip back to New York. I know that Amelia and Emma never read the letters from Peter. I don’t know if they ever will. I was so impressed with Emma. Amelia really raised a great kid. I read the letter from Peter before I burned it. If I never see or hear from him again, it will be too soon. We all wanted to go with Emma to meet Benjamin and Jenny, but she wanted no part of it. She said when she feels ready to meet them, she will call. All she wanted to do was get back to school. I can understand, she’s made a life for herself in Illinois and I don’t think she wants any part of New York and its memories. Today is moving day, so I’m on my way to Amelia’s to make sure she has no problem with the movers.
When I pull up to the house, Rusty is in the back yard by the fence freaking out. We’re best friends now so I try to calm him down. I bribe him with food a lot.
“Amelia, do you want me to take Rusty back to my house until the movers are done? I’m sure your neighbors aren’t too happy with him.”
“I would love that. When they’re done, I’ll call you.” She runs back inside while I put a leash on Rusty and get him in his car seat. Yep, he even has a car seat. Can you say spoiled? He loves my house, well, basically, he loves my sofa. I just start channel surfing when my phone rings. It’s Brook. Since Emma decided she wasn’t going to go up to Boston right away, I mailed her the letters from Peter. She got them and gave Benjamin and Jenny theirs. However, we never talked about it again.
“Hey, how’s everything? How’s Benjamin doing?”
“He’s fine, everything is good. Today’s moving day for Amelia. Are you still going to North Carolina for a while?” This is my daughter fishing, and she’s not very subtle about it.
“Yes, that’s still the plan. I have to help her buy a car and get settled in. Have you spoken to your mother?” Diversion is a skill.
“Yes, I told her everything. She couldn’t believe it. She said she thought Benjamin looked familiar when she met him, but she didn’t think much of it. How long do you think you’ll be gone?”
“I’m not sure. Is there something you need?”
“Benjamin really wants to meet Emma. Do you think she would be open to it?”
“Call her and ask. If she’s ready, she’ll let you know.”
“Okay, well, have a safe trip and text me when you get there.”
“Now you sound like me.”
“Love you, Daddy.”
“Me, too.”
We hang up and I realize as much as she’ll always be my baby, she really is a beautiful woman. Benjamin called me last week and asked me for permission to ask Brook to marry him. I gave him my blessing. After everything that happened, I realize life is short and I need to be more open and flexible. I still have my crazy moments, but I figure I’m a work in progress. I’m back to channel surfing when Doug comes strolling in. We both read our letters, but we never talked about it again. I closed that part of my life. If I keep looking back, I’ll miss what’s right in front of me.
“Hey, what time are you leaving today?”
“As soon as the movers are done. If it’s late, we’ll leave in the morning.”
“Have you thought about what you’re going to do?”
“I don’t know who’s worse, you or Brook. I’m taking it one day at a time. I know I’d like to make a life with Amelia, that is, if she’ll have me.”
“I’m going to give you the best advice ever: get out of your own way. You’ve always been your biggest problem. If you want her, then go for it. Don’t take a backseat to anyone.”
“I know you’re right. I’m trying, Doug.”
He gets up and rubs Rusty’s head. As he heads to the door, he turns back toward me and begins to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Here I am, trying to give you advice about your love life, and I’m still married to the hag—go figure!”
“Yeah, go figure.” My phone pings with a new text message.
Amelia: Hey, the movers are done. I cleaned up, locked the door, and now I’m sitting on the porch waiting for you.
Me: Do you want to leave now for North Carolina or wait until morning?
Amelia: I’m so tired I’d rather leave in the morning, if that’s okay.
Me: Of course. I’m on my way.
I get Rusty’s leash but he’s on his back fast asleep. He snores so loud he could wake the dead. I let him sleep and go out to get Amelia. I already decided that I’m going to talk to her about the future. Doug’s right, I need to get out of my own way. It’s time I start living my life for me. When I pull up to the house, she’s sitting there with her suitcase. I swear I fall in love with her all over again. I park, get out and open the door for her. “Your carriage awaits to take you to the start of a new life.”
She laughs as she climbs in and I close the door.
“I’m ready for the next great adventure. I’m glad it’s starting with you,” she says as soon as I get in on my side.
I think my heart just skipped a beat. When we get to the house we head inside, and I put up the tea kettle.
“Tea? You must have a lot on your mind.”
“You’ve gotten me into the habit that whenever I want to talk, I need a cup of tea.”
She curls up on the sofa next to Rusty. I come in with a tray filled with tea and cookies, put them on the coffee table and take a seat across from her. It’s time I get some balls and tell her how I really feel.
“Amelia, I think you know how I feel, how I’ve felt for over twenty years. You know what they say, ‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.’ I’ve stopped wishing and dreaming about all the what ifs. I’m putting it all out there for you. I love you. I’ve been in love with you for so long, I don’t know any other way. I know I’ve done some bad things, stupid things. I know I’ve kept secrets, but I’ve laid my whole past out to you. You know every last thing about me and my past. I want to go with you to North Carolina.”
“Wait, Mitch, you’re already going with me, right?”
“What I mean is, I want to stay with you forever. The past few days, you’ve talked about putting the past behind you and moving forward. I want to move forward with you. I know I can’t make up for lost time, but I want to try, if you’ll have me.”
“Are you serious? You want to move with me?”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
“You know I’m not going to live with a bedsheet dividing us,” she jokes.
I get up and lift her into my arms as she wraps her legs around my waist. “The first thing we’re going to do is burn that damn bedsheet.”
She leans in and gently rubs her lips over mine. My life is no longer on hold. No more wishing and dreaming. Today my dreams are finally becoming my reality. I w
anted my first time with her to be different and special, unfortunately, the urgency to finally have her takes over. She’s kissing me as I carry her into the bedroom. I become so overwhelmed I nearly trip and drop her. It doesn’t distract her. I know every inch of my room which is a Godsend. I gently climb onto bed and begin undressing her. I never break our contact while I quickly pull my own clothes off. We are no longer in our twenty’s, but her body is spectacular. I quickly finish undressing her and start kissing her from head to toe. I’m living my dream and I’m thankful for my age. With those years comes the ability not to shoot too soon.
“Amelia, every inch of you is beautiful. How did I ever live all these years without you?”
“You weren’t living, we both were just getting by. Those days, Mitch, are over.”
“I’ll never settle again . . . ever.” I lean in and kiss her tender lips. She parts them and our tongues are doing a dance of love. I pull back again. “Open your eyes, Amelia. I want to see deep into your soul while I enter you.” She opens her eyes. I pull up onto my knees and go very slowly, maintaining total control, even as she fists her hands in my hair. When I’m totally in her, I stop lean down and pull her bottom lip through my teeth. “I’m going to move now, are we good?”
“More than good, Mitch. So much more.”
I start slow, making sure I give her all the pleasure she craves. She pushes her heels into my ass which pushes me harder into her. I wrap my arms around her legs and lift them higher while I slide up further on my knees, never breaking contact. I let her catch her breath before I pick up the pace. Fast and hard is all it takes to have her screaming. I feel like a freight train is racing through my blood. I start to slow down, trying to make it last even longer. She lets go of my hair, digging her nails into my arms as she nips on my shoulder. I lose it.
“Oh my God, Amelia, I love you!”
“When my heart finally starts to come down to earth, I roll off of her and tuck her into my side. I never want this feeling to end.
Amelia
Asheville, North Carolina, is like a dream. My up-cycle business has taken off. When Mitch isn’t helping me, he’s wandering around with his camera. I swore I would never get married again. It was such a disaster the first time, why would I ever do it again? Well, Mitch asked me to marry him. I’ve lost count how many times the man had asked, and I said no. After two years, I put The Beav in retirement and I finally put Mitch out of his misery and said yes. I let him pick the date and made him promise to keep it simple. On a beautiful Saturday, in early June, our kids came down, along with Doug and his family. Even Chloe came down and played nice with Doug. Brook and Benjamin got married the year before and they just announced that Brook is pregnant. Jenny received an acceptance letter from John Marshall Law School in Illinois. She moved in with Emma, and they have bonded as only sisters could. Benjamin still keeps a watchful eye on both of them. He swears doing so is preparing him for fatherhood. I could not help but laugh—he’s got no clue.
We tied the knot in a simple ceremony. Through all the hardship our family stepped up and blended together. We learned acceptance and tolerance. Now, we look forward to the next step in life, becoming grandparents and watching our family grow.
The End
The Unraveled Trilogy
The Unraveling of Raven
Darkness Into Dawn
Shattered Lies
The Bench
Unraveled: The Next Generation
The Letter: Dear Michael
Coming Soon!
Discrete Investigations
The Fitz Series
Uniquely Mine, Book One
Silent Innocence, Book Two
It Will Always Be Us, Book Three
Coming Soon!
I’m Not Your Difference
Standalone Books
Maribel's Decadent Miniatures
The Heist
Wow, this year has proved life can change on a dime. Now we are all hoping for some sort of do-over. I want to take a moment to thank some people that helped make this book happen. My family and friends; with their support, I’ve finally been able to write again.
I’d like to give a special shout out to Kelli Smith. You’ve talked me through so much and held me up in the most difficult of times. You, my dear friend, are priceless.
A very special thank you to Stacey Ryan Blake of Champagne Book Design. Not only do you make my books come to life, you are there for me any time day or night.
My beta readers, Patricia Statham, Lourin Baylie Wheeler, Loraine Oliver, and Shell Reinhardt. Thank you for keeping it real.
Jacquelyn Ayres—Thelma and Louise forever. Yes, we can do it all together, against unbeatable odds.
Finally, thank you to all the readers for taking a chance on me all those years ago.
Theresa Sederholt is a Brooklyn, New York native turned country girl. She is a graduate of Campbell University in North Carolina, with a degree in Criminal Justice. Theresa now calls North Carolina home with her husband, a professional chef, and her two dogs.
Experiencing life first hand is what she does best. Believing she can do anything has put her in many crazy situations. Whether it’s babysitting a pig farm or cutting the top off of a mini truck, nothing is ever out of reach. Her list is endless—A to Z.
Theresa’s beliefs are pretty simple: there isn’t a luggage rack on the hearse and with a little Nutella and espresso, a girl could change the world.
Theresa enjoys connecting with her fans. She can always be reached through her website at:
www.theresasederholt.com
The Heist Page 16
