The Legacy series: The Love series, the Wrapped series, and the Burning Souls series.

by Mj Fields

  ���Look I���m not the bad guy here. I just want him to tell his story, make sure it���s the same and then we���ll leave. Otherwise, we���ll have to do this again.��� Storks��� voice was sincere.

  ���It���s really no problem, but London will be waking up soon, and I don���t want her to be afraid,��� Maddox said softly and sat. He pointed to the recorder, ���Is it on?���

  Storks nodded his head yes.

  ���Okay so she, Rebecca, knew I recognized her. I was going to sleep in Mom���s���Emma���s, room and then she was gone, I didn���t know why. She tried to bribe me with a vehicle and other things to keep my mouth shut. I could have agreed but wanted this over for all of us. I told her why my father was in jail hoping she would flee. She insisted I cut my wrist so that it would be thought that I killed myself. I refused. She pulled a gun threatening again that if I didn���t she would kill my family. I ran she followed. Emma came out of nowhere and yelled, Rebecca turned, I stabbed her so that she wouldn���t harm Mom, I mean Emma. She shot me, and I fell to the ground. Mom came to me and then I heard shots. Rebecca must have pulled a gun and Mom shot her to protect our family.��� Maddox sat back. ���Is that satisfactory?���

  ���Thank you, Maddox.��� Emma walked over and hugged him.

  ���No, thank you.��� Maddox hugged her back.

  ���Are we quite done here?��� Brody asked in a more collected yet clipped tone.

  ���Yes, thank you Maddox that was very brave.��� Detective Storks stood, ���Thank you for your time, we���ll be in touch.���

  Brody kissed Emma���s head and walked them to the door.

  ���Are you okay?��� Emma asked Maddox.

  ���I am and you?��� Maddox frowned.

  ���If you are,��� she smiled, ���are you hungry?���

  ���I can wait.��� Maddox stood up as Brody walked into the room.

  ���Did you tell him?��� Brody smiled and put his hand gently on her back.

  ���No,��� Emma smiled up at him, ���you go ahead I���m going to make breakfast.���

  Emma kissed him and walked out.

  * * *

  ���We���re going to take off today,��� Brody smiled.

  ���Today?��� Maddox asked.

  ���Yes, right after breakfast. Let���s go get the girls and eat.��� Brody and Maddox walked out the door.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  They pulled in at the Lake and London clapped, ���What���re we going to do first?���

  ���Unpack,��� Emma smiled and clapped.

  ���That���s what you���re going to do,��� London rolled her eyes and Brody chuckled.

  ���London,��� Emma used her warning voice.

  ���Oh fine,��� London theatrically tossed her head back causing Brody to laugh loudly.

  ���Brody!��� Emma snapped.

  ���Emma!��� Brody laughed.

  She tried hard to keep a straight face, but her beautiful husband looked so happy, so carefree. A smile crept across her face, and she bit her lip hoping to stop it and giggled as she stared at him.

  Brody ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, ���I love you.���

  ���I love you,��� she blushed.

  He looked at her face and smiled, ���Your eyes are twinkling, love.���

  Emma smiled, ���I���m making love to you, Music Man.���

  Brody smiled, ���I���m a lucky man.���

  Emma kissed him. ���We better get things inside and run those three beautiful kids ragged, I want you in my mouth tonight.���

  ���Holy shit, Em.��� Brody���s breath hitched.

  Emma cocked her head to the side and winked and pulled away from him.

  * * *

  They spent the day playing in the shade of the pine trees and on the beach, playing in the rocks, flying kites, and fishing.

  ���Can we cook out?��� London yawned.

  ���Sure.��� Emma hugged her. ���Hamburgers?���

  ���Cheeseburgers,��� London smiled.

  ���Oh you���re pushing it London, we shouldn���t indulge your every desire, we could spoil you,��� Brody joked.

  Emma smiled at him and walked in the house and grabbed the food and came out.

  Emma handed Brody the plate, and he smiled, ���Uh so Em, would you start the grill?���

  ���Sure,��� Emma opened the grill and turned the gas on and lit it.

  ���Can I help?��� Maddox asked Brody.

  ���Of course, right Emma?��� Brody chuckled.

  ���Well sure, I���m going to go in and start the corn and potatoes,��� Emma turned to walk away.

  ���Hey love, got a minute?��� Brody asked.

  ���Of course.��� Emma walked up to him.

  Brody whispered, ���I���ve never done this.���

  Emma giggled and rolled her eyes.

  ���No love, I���m serious.��� Brody looked nervous.

  ���Okay, let me go get the corn and potatoes started,��� Emma smiled. ���Be right back.���

  Emma and Brody stood and watched as Maddox flipped burgers. Emma smiled at Brody.

  Lexington was falling asleep on Brody���s lap as he tried to feed her. ���Oh Lexington just one more bite,��� Brody smiled.

  Emma watched as he tried to keep her awake. The way he looked at her with love and concern made Emma���s heart melt. There was nothing more beautiful than watching him talk sweetly to their children.

  ���You���re gaping love,��� Brody pushed Emma���s hair from her face.

  ���It���s you,��� she whispered breathlessly.

  He smiled slightly and shook his head, ���Alright.���

  Emma made no attempt to pull her gaze from him, she was entranced. It wasn���t until she noticed his face turning red that she stopped. ���Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. Let me go put her down.���

  Emma stood and reached out her arms for Lexi, he kissed her and handed her to Emma.

  ���Hey Brody,��� Emma smiled. ���The burgers are done, can you help them put cheese on them, and move them to the top rack in the grill?���

  ���Of course,��� he smiled apprehensively.

  Emma kissed him. ���I love you.���

  Emma laid Lexington down and kissed her head. ���We���re all going to be just fine, better than fine.���

  Emma rubbed her back until she did her little sleepy shake and kissed her again. Watching her sleep had eased the pain when she missed Brody all the months he was missing. Just holding and rocking her brought her to a serendipitous place, like watching a sunset on a clear night, waves rolling into a beach, the twinkling of the stars in heaven, with the peace only a child could bring. It still had the calming effect now.

  She had made it through years of an unstable marriage watching London sleep. It brought a warm feeling into a cold heart after an evening of feeling uncomfortable in her own home, in her own skin. It brought light into the darkness she could have easily slipped into had her heart been unfilled by the love London gave her. The love Emma felt was one that only a mother could feel from her children���s smile; the truest form of love. A love that would cause you to do whatever you could to make life beautiful for another human being. Their needs placed before yours without even a thought or a moment of reservation. A love that wasn���t forced, but
born into your life. Brody made her feel that way as well, at the beginning before hell came to them. He easily expressed his feelings without prompt or occasion, it was simply who he was with her. Someone whose spirit had awakened by being truly and faithfully loved. For Emma, it took being a mother to feel that way. For Brody, it took Emma.

  Emma felt tears form in her eyes, not from sadness but from the realization that he had returned. Not just from England, her love had returned, he was stronger now than ever before and so was their love.

  ���Mom, dinner���s ready,��� London whispered so she wouldn���t wake Lexington.

  Emma turned and smiled. She picked London up and hugged her tightly.

  ���I love you so much, London.��� Emma kissed her cheek.

  ���I love you more Mommy. Are you alright?��� London brushed her tears away. ���Did I hurt your feelings today, about unpacking because������

  Emma kissed her fingers. ���No, London of course not, you are my light. You have been since the day you started growing inside my belly and by the way, we love each other more.���

  London wrapped her arms around her neck and held tightly and whispered in her ear, ���We do, Mommy.���

  ���Always,��� Emma held her and walked out of the room quietly.

  London hopped down and looked up at Emma, ���I���m hungry.���

  ���Me too,��� Emma smiled and followed London down the stairs.

  * * *

  After dinner, Emma and London did the dishes as Brody and Maddox cleaned up outside.

  ���Thank you for teaching me to grill Dad,��� Maddox smiled and sat down.

  Brody handed him a bottle of water, ���I���d like to take the credit, but I���ve never done that either.���

  Maddox smiled, ���Emma���Mom?���

  ���Yes,��� Brody laughed. ���She���s taught me a lot.���

  Maddox laughed and looked at the water.

  ���It���s beautiful here,��� Maddox smiled softly.

  ���It is, and calming isn���t it?��� Brody sat back and opened his water and took a drink.

  ���I love the water,��� Maddox said softly watching the ripples of the waves.

  ���Me too,��� Brody gaze at the water as well.

  ���Did you bring your guitar?��� Maddox smiled at him.

  ���No, actually ��� what was I thinking?��� Brody laughed.

  ���I did, I brought the one you gave me.��� Maddox smiled, ���I���ve been practicing the cords you taught me.���

  ���I have heard you, pretty close to being better than I am, which is amazing, you catch on very fast,��� Brody smiled. ���Go get it, you can play for me.���

  * * *

  Maddox ran into the house, and up the stairs, London saw him and smiled. ���Mom, his birthday is soon.���

  ���Two days,��� Emma laughed.

  ���Can we make a cake tomorrow?��� London asked.

  ���Of course, what kind do you think we should make?��� Emma smiled at her thoughtful daughter.

  London���s eyebrows knitted slightly.

  ���London?��� Emma asked rinsing out the sink.

  ���I guess it doesn���t matter, Mom. I���m tired can I go to bed?��� London asked.

  ���Of course,��� Emma smiled.

  ���Will you come in with me?��� London asked quietly.

  ���Absolutely.��� Emma dried her hands, and they went upstairs.

  London used the bathroom and then they both brushed their teeth and changed.

  Emma took off her bra and slipped her night shirt over her head, carefully covering herself.

  ���Does it hurt?��� London asked.

  ���Does what hurt?��� Emma asked brushing London���s hair.

  ���The scar on your booby?��� London giggled.

  ���No,��� Emma laughed.

  They went into the bedroom, and Emma tucked her in and laid next to her.

  ���Prayers, you or me?��� Emma asked kissing her head.

  ���I want to,��� London said quietly.

  Emma closed her eyes and held her hands in prayer.

  London finished the Lord���s Prayer and continued, ���God, thank you for all of our blessings, for Lexington, Maddox, Grandma and Grandpa, Mommy and Brody, thank you for keeping us safe and healthy. Thank you for healing Mommy. Thank you all of our blessings���God I wanted to ask a favor, could you please let my Daddy know I love him very much, and I miss him very much. Please take care of him and hug him a lot. He likes hugs and Eskimo kisses and chocolate cake������

  Emma opened her eyes when she heard London���s voice break.

  London���s eyes were closed, and she was fighting tears, she opened them and looked up at Emma, ���I miss him, Mommy.���

  Emma scooped her up and held her tightly. ���Me too, London.���

  ���I miss him and it hurts here,��� London touched her heart.

  ���Oh London���I���m so sorry,��� Emma cried softly with her daughter.

  ���I know Mommy,��� London cried into her neck.

  ���London, I would do anything in my power to bring him back, but I can���t,��� Emma choked back tears.

  ���Okay,��� London said sadly, ���He slept in here with me, we made him cake, I miss him.���

  ���We can leave London, we can leave now if this is too hard for you������ Emma sat up with London in her arms.

  ���No, it was fun, it was a happy time, Mom. I���m not scared, but could I sleep with you?��� London asked.

  ���Of course,��� Emma smiled and kissed London���s sweet little cheeks. ���Let���s go.���

  * * *

  Maddox sat and played guitar and Brody sat back smiling. ���Maddox you���re very good.���

  ���Thanks,��� Maddox blushed.

  ���So what was that song you were working on, are you ready to share with me?��� Brody leaned forward smiling.

  ���Well it���s not much of a song, it���s just I don���t know, thoughts not even in any particular order.��� Maddox blushed.

  ���Okay that���s how it starts��� Brody trying to entice him.

  ���Well it���s kind of about the sea, or ocean I guess.��� Maddox smiled and strummed the guitar.

  ���That tune Maddox is very catchy,��� Brody said sincerely. ���Any words to go along with it?���

  ���Maybe just a few so far.��� Maddox blushed. ���Do you want to hear them?���

  ���Absolutely, I���m literally bursting at the seams to hear it Maddox,��� Brody tried to hold his composure and Maddox smiled.

  ���Alright then,��� he took a deep breath.

  Through the sea, I see the beauty hidden, in its depth I find my soul���s light burns inside of me. The waves, they wash away what life���s breath had blown, through her eyes and wind the beauty is shown.

  Wave���s sounds of thunder in my mind I run, but the seas grand reflection opens up to the warmth and I am done.

  Reflecting the love burning inside. From the seas song, I realize no longer must hide

  It welcomes my yearning, it caresses my pain, the rippling water lightly kisses away all of life���s stains.

  Washed away by the seas calm nurturing I feel renewed, washed away by the seas my soiled soul alive and loves hope is renewed.

  ���
�That���s it so far,��� Maddox said softly.

  ���Maddox…it���s beautiful, hopeful���it���s healing.��� Brody swallowed hard visibly effected by his sons words.

  ���Well yeah���I guess.��� Maddox tried to subdue his smile.

  ���Maddox it���s amazing, I mean I expected it to be good, you are my son,��� Brody chuckled, ���But I���m truly astonished.���

  ���Maybe you could help me finish it���someday?��� Maddox smiled.

  ���Sure but I really don���t think you need my help.��� Brody looked at Maddox in admiration.

  ���Okay, I���m kind of tired, could we go inside?��� Maddox stood up.

  ���Of course…of course. Wow Maddox, you just blew me away.��� Brody put his arm around his shoulder, and they walked in the house.

  ���I���m so proud of you Maddox, not just the music ��� but of who I already know you are. You���ve lived a hell I can���t even imagine, but through the grace of God, your soul and heart are so pure and good Maddox. I love you son,��� Brody kissed his cheek and said goodnight.

  * * *

  ���Em,��� Brody whispered as he took off his shirt he leaned over to kiss her, ���You didn���t come back.���

  Emma kissed him back gently, ���London is in here.���

  ���Everything alright?��� Brody asked quietly.

  ���She misses Troy.��� Emma slipped out from under the covers and took his hand and walked out the door.

  ���I know, she was kind of off today���I should have thought������ Brody stopped and looked at her with deep concern in his eyes. ���Em, we need to do something for her, for Maddox, for your parents, for you, no one���s had a proper chance to grieve.���

  Emma looked at him and let out a breath. ���Like what Brody? There really isn���t anything we could do. We���ve all lived through hell for over a year, but we can���t look back. There isn���t a thing we can do but keep moving forward.���