by L. A. Fiore
Her focus shifted and her heart swelled watching as Hank chased after their daughter, her squeals of laughter one of her most favorite sounds. Hank caught her, tossed her in the air, before pulling her close to his chest. She shared his coloring, the same hair and eyes, and inherited his easy way with people and was the only other person in town who could charm Hilda.
Arissa smiled when they both looked her way. Cassidy waved and giggled, and Hank gave her that look, the one reserved just for her. Two years into their marriage and life continued to get better and better. There were still things she was learning about Hank, and him her, but like it had been from the beginning, they fit and had created a beautiful life and family together, one that was still growing. Her hand rested on her stomach. Their son was due any day now. The crazies had started a pool on baby names because like they had with Cassidy, Summerville wanted to be a part of it.
The scent of Hank’s burgers drifted to her. Her stomach growled. And as was his way, he walked across the lawn, placing Cassidy on her lap, leaning over and kissing her before he said, “I need to feed you.”
She reached for his hand before he could walk away. “I love you.”
Hank’s eyes connected with his Arissa’s, and she saw love looking back. “Ehh, you’re okay.” He winked. “I’ll keep you around.”
Cassidy giggled. Hank looked at his daughter, his grin widened when he winked at her before moving away from his girls. “Daddy loves you Mommy, he’s just joking.”
Arissa wrapped her arms around Cassidy, chuckling, before she pressed a kiss on her dark hair. “Mommy knows, Sweetie.”
When Hank suggested Cassidy as the name for their daughter, it was perfectly right. She never got to have a part in Hank’s life, but she was with them and always would be. Her focus drifted to Hank at the grill. When she moved here, she’d been looking for a break from the rat race, but never had she thought she’d find what she did with him. This man, this life.
A comfortable silence settled, the sound of birds filling the quiet. The family surrounded by the tranquil setting of their backyard. Sunday afternoons together was a Weathers’ family tradition. Each was lost in the beauty and comfort of the day until Cassidy’s brow scrunched together in thought before asking her parents, “Why does aunt Hya call uncle Elmer a carpet muncher?”
In unison, Hank and Arissa shouted, “What?”
Before you go, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for choosing to read SECRETS. We hope you enjoyed visiting Summerville as much as we did. Don’t forget to tell us in your review who your favorite character is. :)
Our best- Liz & Anthony
Acknowledgments
It’s been a tough year with lots of ups and downs. We’d like to thank all of you who have stuck by us through the roller coaster of the last year. We wouldn’t be here if not for you. Thank you for taking this ride with us.
Also by L.A. Fiore and Anthony Dwayne
Read the Prologue for
Ring around the Rosey
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2019, L.A. Fiore and Anthony Dwayne
All rights reserved
This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher.
ISBN-13: 978-1098898588
Cover design by Dana Lamothe, Designs by Dana, [email protected]
File creation, mobi and epub, by Melissa Stevens, The Illustrated Author
Typeset graphics and paperback and eBook formatting by Melissa Stevens, The Illustrated Author, www.theillustratedauthor.net
PROLOGUE
Danville Creek, Alabama
1997
Twigs broke, the sound echoing in the woods as they ran. The sting of scratches on their legs went unnoticed, their laughter unhindered by the pain. Breaking through the trees, they saw the pond. Mr. Duncan didn’t like them swimming there, but that never stopped Branch and Emma. If anything, it made them want to swim there more.
Branch reached it first, his long thin legs carrying him faster than Emma’s much shorter ones. He was already pulling his tee off, kicking off his shoes when she reached his side.
“Last one in has to get the crawlers,” Branch screamed, even as he threw himself into the cold water.
Emma’s protest was cut off when the water engulfed him. The cold icing his overheated skin felt good. He broke the surface, shook his head to get the water out of his eyes, then grinned up at Emma in time to see her cannonball.
She surfaced next to him, her frizzy hair slicked back from her face. Eyes that were too large for her face, shining in excitement. “It’s cold.” She said, her teeth chattering.
“You’ll get used to it,” Branch said, sounding wise, wisdom earned from the two months he had on Emma in age.
A sound turned Emma’s head; there was a touch of fear in her voice. “Mr. Duncan said we’d have to clean out the pig pen if he caught us here again.”
Branch flashed her a smile. “Then we better not get caught.”
Her lips twisted a second before she pushed up in the water, dropping her hands on Branch’s head and pushing him under. “Smartass.”
He was stronger, and a better swimmer, so he effortlessly pulled away from her and changed their positions. He gave her time to take a deep breath before he pushed her head under. She wasn’t down a second before she felt his hand grip her arm and yank her up.
“We gotta go.” He said, but he was already pulling her to the edge.
“What’s wrong?”
“I hear Mr. Duncan’s dogs.”
Emma didn’t need to hear any more. She didn’t even put her shorts back on, grabbing them and her flip-flops and running after Branch as they made their way back into the woods. They didn’t stop running until they were almost back at Branch’s house and their fort in the trees that was their private dominion. Branch rested back against the rough bark of a tree trunk and took a deep breath. “That was close.” His eyes met Emma’s. “Worth it, though.”
“Yeah, it was.”
Emma tugged her shorts back on, slipped on her flip-flops, Branch dressed then draped an arm around Emma’s neck, and yanked her close in a form of headlock. “You owe me crawlers.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She said and knocked her hip into him to get him to release her. “One of these days I’m going to beat you.”
“No chance.” Branch said, pulling out his lucky rabbit’s foot and dangling it in front of her. “But I’ll enjoy watching you try.”
Her hair was starting to dry, sticking out all over her head. Blowing a strand from her face, she reached for his arm and wrapped her hand around it before she said, “You’re going to eat those words one day, Branch McKenna. You just wait. One day, I’ll come first.”
Emma stood so still, her feet pinched in the black shoes she wore. The rain hadn’t stopped pouring down on them, as black umbrellas dotted the landscape. It was the same scene she’d witnessed too many times in the last week. It was ironic how in the midst of a downpour, she was dry inside, all cried out.
She tried to remember the happier days, the carefree adventures that had been her life up until the day a week ago when everything changed. An arm dropped on her shoulders, a warm body molded to hers. She rested her head on Branch’s chest. She was wrong about the tears, they welled in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. How fast your life could change. They were only twelve, but the weight of grief that burdene
d them was enough to make grown-ups crumble. She wanted to crumble, wanted to lose herself to the pain of loss, to the confusion, the fear, and the anger. She wanted to scream and rage, she wanted to run, far away. She wanted Branch to come with her.
“It’s going to be okay, Em.” Branch whispered but she heard it in his broken voice. He didn’t know that for sure but tried to give them both reassurance.
“I can’t believe…” Her words died on a sob.
“I can’t either.” Branch’s hold on her tightened.
Her wet eyes looked into his bright ones. “It hurts. Just breathing hurts.”
A tear rolled down his cheek. “I know.”
“I can’t lose you too.” Her voice trailed off.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He sounded like an adult at that moment, the conviction in his voice had Emma believing that they’d have each other. That they would get through this horror together, but life had other plans.
Branch fisted his hands, his eyes burned as he helped Emma load her aunt’s car. It was only a few weeks since the day that changed everything and Emma was leaving. Her aunt was moving her to Georgia. He stood there helpless as he watched his best friend preparing to drive out of his life.
He could see it was killing her too. Confirmed when she said, “I don’t want to go.”
He wanted to be strong for her. His voice was more hopeful than he felt. “We’ll stay in touch.”
“Promise.” Emma searched his face, the pain he saw there mirrored his own.
“I promise.” He reached into his pocket and pulled something out, taking her hand and pressing it into her palm. She looked down at his rabbit’s foot. His voice broke when he said, “You keep it.”
She couldn’t stop the sob that ripped from her throat before she threw her arms around him. “I’m going to miss you.”
He held her close, letting his own tears fall when he whispered, “I’ll miss you more.”
He stood in the street watching her go, her tear-soaked face looking back at him from the rear window. He stayed there long after the car disappeared. His childhood went with her.
2001
Branch had just exited the train, backpack slung over his shoulder, he scanned the area with a smile on his face. It’d been too long since he saw Emma; his excitement had his stomach growling as he forgot to eat that morning, in a rush to make it to the station in time. He told his aunt and uncle he would get something to eat on the train, what he didn’t tell them was they didn’t offer anything.
He weaved through the crowd of people and… then he saw her. He’d seen pictures of her, but Branch stopped in his tracks. His Emma was growing into a beautiful woman; he knew that, saw it. Even felt it. But the sight of her had all the breath escaping his lungs.
Dressed in a pale pink sundress, her once frizzy brown hair looked like silk curling down her back and over her one shoulder. Wide whiskey brown eyes scanned the mob of travelers for him, that moment when she didn’t know he was watching her expression had his heart pounding. Excitement, anticipation, and love swept her face. He waited, his breath caught, just as her eyes connected with his. The smile was slow to form, but worth the wait, and then she was running. Not stopping until her body collided with his with enough force that if he hadn’t braced for her, they’d both be on the floor.
“Oh my God. You’re really here.” Her voice was breathless from the run. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”
Branch chuckled as he held Emma. “Didn’t spend days and nights stocking cans at the grocery store, saving my money for anything else but being here…” Branch paused and took in the sweet smell of her. “For your sixteenth birthday.”
Emma squeezed him before she pulled back and took in her friend. Not the same boy she had left back at Danville Creek. His faded jeans hung from narrow hips, all the stocking of cans brought definition to his chest and arms. Yeah, he was definitely not the same boy, and then she looked into those blue eyes. Her heart thumped hard behind her ribs. Or maybe he was. “You being here is the best birthday present ever.”
“Oh yeah?” Branch asked, looked to his feet, kicked an invisible stone and told her. “This,” he looked up at her, connecting with those brown eyes, waved a hand between them and finished, “Makes up all my presents for a lifetime.”
Emma blinked the burning from her eyes and reached for Branch’s hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t come for your birthday. My aunt wouldn’t let me, didn’t want me to be reminded…” Emma didn’t finish the sentence. Her aunt wasn’t happy about Branch’s visit. She’d made that very clear.
“I know.” Branch told her something she didn’t know. “My aunt called yours, asked her to let you come, not sure what happened, my aunt didn’t tell me everything, but yours hung up on mine, and from what my uncle says, they haven’t spoken since, but thank God your aunt still talks to my uncle.” He confessed, saw the frown appear on Emma’s face and said, “Let’s forget about that. I’m here now, right?”
Emma reached for his hand again. “Yes, let’s forget about all of that. What do you want to do first? Are you hungry?”
“Hell yeah, I am.” Branch grinned. “You got any good burgers in this town?” he asked, looking around the area and told her. “My uncle gave me some extra dough to spend.”
Emma thought on that for a second before her eyes lit up. “I know just the place. It’s close enough we can walk. I hope you’re hungry because the portions are crazy.”
“Good,” He pulled Emma along the concourse but stopped. “Which way?” He laughed when he realized he had no idea where he was going.
Emma laughed too and pointed to the golden revolving doors. “We’re heading in the right direction. Just out those and to the right.” Her eyes found his, the laugh turning into a smile. “Still like being first, don’t you?”
Branch looked into her eyes. Boy, his Emma had changed… and Branch being a growing teenage boy, he felt her change in areas he never thought he would. “Not all the time.” He winked and started toward the doors.
Emma felt her cheeks warm, her focus lingering on Branch’s mouth as thoughts popped into her head, thoughts she had no business thinking. She swallowed the lump in her throat but held his hand tighter.
The next day, they went to the movies and snuck in to see Jeepers Creepers, but she couldn’t tell you what the movie was about because her attention had been on their hands. Branch had held her hand throughout the entire movie, even comforted her when she jumped at the scary parts. The heat when their hands connected lingered then grew, moving up her arm to settle in places that were distracting and very pleasant.
She took him to a lake to go swimming, but the experience was not the same as when they were younger. Branch wasn’t the gangly kid he’d been. Seeing his body in board shorts, she couldn’t tear her eyes from him. She knew she wasn’t the only one feeling it because she felt his eyes on her, and with an intensity that caused her skin to flush. What hadn’t changed was them. Even older, the connection they had as kids was just as strong, maybe even stronger because they knew what they were missing by being separated. And she missed him, it was a constant ache, one that had eased seeing him again, but would only grow more painful when he left. She couldn’t bear the thought.
It had been almost a week, their time going too fast. Her aunt had agreed to let Branch stay on the sofa, which surprised Emma learning about the conversation her aunt had had with Branch’s aunt, but her aunt never let them forget she was around. She didn’t sit in the room with them, but she made her presence clear, to remind them they weren’t alone. When they were younger, Emma would have been confused by her aunt’s behavior, but she understood after the days they’d spent together. Even just sitting next to Branch, Emma’s body was burning. She wanted to move closer, wanted to climb into his lap, straddle him. She wanted his mouth on hers. She blushed, realizing what she was thinking.
/> Pulling her mind from those thoughts she said, “She won’t be home tomorrow. She works a double shift.” Or maybe not moving very far from those thoughts.
Branch was having a hard time lifting his eyes from the bare skin of Emma’s thigh that he had been staring at, he did it, and when he looked into Emma’s eyes, his whole body went warm. Every day his feelings toward Emma only grew as fast as the time had been going.
“The house to ourselves sounds fucking awesome.” Branch didn’t think it was awesome because Emma’s aunt just about growled at him every time she saw him, but for other reasons…reasons he was coming to terms with and that was that he liked Emma, a lot. And not as her best friend anymore.
Emma had still yet to take her eyes off of Branch, and Branch the same. The movement was slow as Branch’s head inclined toward hers. She didn’t move, her gaze locked on his. Branch’s mouth was an inch from Emma’s when he whispered, “I’m gonna kiss you now, Emma Blake, and I know it’s going to change everything, but…” His eyes dropped to her pink lips. “I don’t care.”
Her voice was a rough whisper. “Kiss me, Branch.”
The second their lips touched, she sighed and he growled. It was just a brushing of lips at first, learning the other’s taste but what started off soft and slow turned heated when Emma crawled onto his lap, straddling him. Branch’s jeans grew tighter as he pulled his fingers through her hair, holding her steady as he drove his tongue past her lips, sweeping her mouth to taste her. Emma moaned, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she pressed down, rubbing against him, trying to ease the ache between her legs. A growl rumbled up Branch’s throat as he shifted his hips into the rhythm Emma had started. He was about to toss her onto her back when her aunt called. “I have iced tea.”
