by Leaona Luxx
“What bothers you more, Delaney, that I love Malone, or is it the fact he loves me? Why are you so obsessed with him? Unrequited love seems a little tacky for a woman your age.”
“Unrequited love? You have no idea, you stupid fucking girl. He was supposed to be mine. He was everything. I gave up my life for him. My home and family. He was the father of my baby.” Spittle sprays as she screams her response.
Losing my balance, I fall to the floor. My heart racing, gut churning. I’m dizzy, still the taste of acid from the vomit rising has me gagging. Malone? Has a child with Delaney?
“What? What are you saying, Delaney? Malone has a child with you?” Pure, unadulterated fury runs through her veins. I think this might be the end to all I’ve ever known. The only love I’ve ever had.
“He robbed me of my child. She robbed me, she’ll rob you too. Just you wait and see. Elise took him from me. Griffin was mine. Look at him now, she can have what’s left. I have my son and she can bury hers.” The room spins as I vomit. Cleaning my mouth with my sleeve, I turn back to the scene unfolding in front of me.
“Delaney. This is Malone. Griffin is gone.” Confusion clouds her eyes, and she looks from me to Malone then back again.
“Griffin’s dead,” Delaney mutters.
“Yes, Griffin is dead. Wait. That’s not a question.” Pinning her with a glare.
“I know. I killed him. There was never an accident. I hoped to have killed One the same way. Elise never deserved him. He was mine. She was a whore who trapped him. We were in love. I was pregnant with our son, Griffin’s real son. One is not his real son. David is Griffin’s real son.”
Feeling faint, I sit back on my heels. I try to work out the information she’s just given me. As the wheel’s spin, Delaney continues with her delusions and all the pieces fall together. Gasping as realization dawns, I garner Delaney’s attention.
“So, now you know,” she says as a matter of fact.
Rising slowly, I brace for the aftermath of what I’m about to do. Taking a protective stance in front of Malone, I reach back to touch him. Then wrap my hand around the cold metal at my back.
“Delaney, you’re delusional. Malone is Griffin’s one and only son. David is your son with another man. Did Malone know that David was your son when he hired him as foreman? What the fuck? David caused the site issues, didn’t he? You’re a jealous, stalking pig. He left you because you were fucking crazy. What did you do, give him a blow job at a local dive and swear you were knocked up?” Placing my hand on my hip, I stare her down.
“He loved me. Me.=,” Delaney roars. I chuckle at her as she unravels, then I poke the beast.
“He loved you swallowing, honey. That’s completely different. Now, I’m leaving with Malone. You can move or I can move you.” That, my friends, is the straw.
She lunges at me. Everything happens in slow motion. I recall my dad’s words as I do the only thing I can.
“Don’t you dare pull to shoot, baby, pull to kill.” I pull the trigger on the gun I hid in the back of my pants. Delaney falls to the ground. Blue lights flash across the room as I wrap my arms around Malone, tugging him from the seat. He’s tied down, and we fall to the floor. His blue eyes tear my soul apart as his words utterly crush me.
“Hadlea, I loved you.”
I scream for help. All I can do is tell him, time and time again, how much I love him. How much I need him. That his children, all of them, need him to hold on. Rescue workers cut him away from the chair; his entire weight is resting on me, and I inhale all that is Malone. Clean linen and sawdust. Something wet on my neck brings me back. I reach to wipe it away. It’s water. Malone’s rolled off of me and I see it, tears on his face. I kiss him repeatedly, praying God’s mercy on us.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
One
Where is she? I need her. I have to tell her; how much I love her. I want her with me, forever. This will destroy her. She’ll blame herself. Hadlea. My children. When they called me dad for the first time, I knew I was born for this moment.
To be their dad. To love them and their mom for eternity. Wren and Harlyn may not be mine, but I just don’t care. My family. Shaking my head in disbelief, I pray for mercy.
Dizziness clogs my thoughts, as spots fill my vision. No one knows I’m here. No one knows I prepped this place for Hadlea but her.
She doesn’t want me; she wants nothing to do with me. When do we learn from our mistakes? When do we stop making the same ones?
To look into her eyes, tell her I love her, to show her, to prove it. That’s all I want, one more chance. I would never make the mistake of leaving again, whether she demanded it or not.
By god, she would have to finish me off before I would ever leave her side again. I guess she’ll never get the chance.
“Surely you’re not that big of a pussy? Two shots to the abdomen and you’re out? She’s made you soft.” Her voice brings me from failing consciousness.
“What, Delaney? You think you know me?” Water hits me in the face as she begins yelling.
“I want you dead, you fucking prick. But not before our son gets here. David needs to say goodbye.” Delaney is fucking crazy as hell. Our son?
“What the hell are you talking about? Who is David?” Hitting me before I see it, the butt of the gun cuts a gash in my skull. A warm stream rolls down my neck.
Fuck. I need to start thinking before I speak, hopefully, I can make it out of here and back to Hadlea. Again, my cloudy mind rattles and the words are out before I can stop them.
“I love you, Hadlea. Forever.”
Lights out. She’s here, with me. Curly, strawberry blonde hair. Wild and everywhere. It covers my pillow beneath her head. She looks up at me as I hover over her, bright green eyes shine with adoration. God, I love this woman. Shimmying, her body rubs mine in all the right ways, making me quiver.
“Malone? Are you all right?” I hear her say in the voice she uses when she sings to the twins.
“No.” I open my eyes, and she’s standing there in front of me.
“Malone? Where are you?” Hadlea looks at me, but it’s as if she’s looking through me. Trying to speak, I gasp.
“Malone, I love you. Help me.” Her voice is fading, I’m losing her. Where is she?
“Hadlea. I’m here. The cabin.” Everything is black. No words. No voices. Just the depths of Hell.
Lea
Beep. Whoosh. Beep, beep. Whoosh. The sound which lulls me to sleep wakes me every day and night for the last two weeks. They make me angry from time to time but today, they make me happy. Without them, there would be no him. Without him, there would be no me. He owns me, always has.
“I dreamed of the beach last night, babe. The night we met to be exact,” I tell him as I hold his hand to my face, kissing his knuckles. “You were so protective. So ready to save me. You were always ready to be my remedy. Though the world tossed me to and fro, you were my constant in the storm. Your eyes raged against the current, deep in the depths of my soul to shine your light in my dark corners. Chasing demons away with your light.
“Always expecting you to let me down, waiting for you to do so, praying it would be gentle. I never knew a love like yours; you saved me, baby. Please come back to me. I need you. I love you. I need you to love us the way only you can, Malone. We need your love… we need you. Please come back to me. Allow me to show you, prove to you, my love.”
Crying until a sob breaks from my chest, I fall to my knees as I have many times over the last weeks. “God, please give him back to me. I will love him the way he needs to be loved. As he loves me. Please allow him to come home. I’ll not make it alone.” Never letting his hand go, I hold on tighter.
Sometimes, I feel guilty for staying the whole time. Not even Elise can make me relinquish my seat beside him. Malone was by my side when I gave birth. I want to be here when he wakes up. I need to be.
“Where are you?” Calder stands at the end of the bed when I look up.
“
With Malone,” the only reply I have.
“Lea, we need to talk.” My heart crashes, and my stomach constricts. Please don’t say it, please. Not yet, I can’t do it.
“No. No, I just, no. Cal, please. Just a little longer.” Cal’s face speaks volumes. Tears fall at a rapid pace, yet I stand, defiant.
“Lea, two weeks is a long time. He may never recover. Think of his mother, if it were your son.” His words defeat me, crush my soul as I collapse.
“No. Please, no. I love him. There’s no facing this world without him in it. Cal, I lied. I told him I didn’t want him. At the hospital, at our home. At first, I thought I had to do it but then, it was to protect him. We didn’t know who was after us, I needed to save him. I want to save him. God, please give him back.” I cry out, my soul aching. Cal is at my side.
“I need to tell him, Cal. He needs to know.” His eyes search mine before he nods. Standing, I lean in to his ear to whisper.
“I love you. Always. Malone, Wren and Harlyn are yours. It was Delaney, she tampered with the tests. Please, come back to us. There will never be another light that shines in my darkness like yours. I will always love you.”
Cal pulls me away; I turn to go with him so they can turn off Malone’s life support. My body jerks. I tug my arm again, and his hand tightens. Malone’s hand tightens on mine. Malone’s hand, in mine. Wasting no time, I’m back at his side.
“I love you. You really scared me. No more, okay?” As if on cue, those baby blues look at me, and he winks. I pepper him with kisses, telling him continuously, how much I dearly love his face.
One
Hadlea. My perfect imperfection of love and light. When I can’t hear her, I feel her. Her love permeates all the ugly in this world. When my woman loves, she will move heaven and earth.
I watch her, closely. Never letting go. She has my hand, they keep telling her to let go, to give them room. It’s never going to happen. Oh, there it is.
“The fuck I am. I’m not leaving. Do what you need. I’m never letting go again.”
She repeats as she lays those emerald green eyes on me. Hadlea mouths ‘I love you’ more times than I can count. All I want to do is kiss her, those perfectly pouty lips make me crazy as hell. So, I wink again, and she beams. Damn.
“Malone? I need you to take your time talking at first, your throat will be sore. We’ve asked Ms. Lloyd to give us some privacy, but she’s very stubborn. My understanding is, you are no longer engaged, is it okay if she stays? Just nod.” Doctor Dru explains.
My eyes connect with Hadlea’s, and she gives me every answer I’ve ever needed in my life and no matter what advice I get, my first words will be to her.
“I love you. Marry me?” It’s a hoarse whisper, but she hears it. Her lips crash against mine as she cries, begging me for forgiveness.
“Yes. A million times, yes. I love you. Please, forgive me? I’m not sure your family will, but please tell me you forgive me?”
Reaching for her, she feels my tug as she climbs on the bed with me. My side is fucking killing me, but Hadlea pays close attention to it. Placing my hand on her face, I trail her bottom lip with my thumb.
Searching for understanding, the connection we’ve shared from minute one. Electricity shoots through my body as she leans in, touching her lips to mine. Our unspoken love and desire crackles throughout the room. A few giggles and a cough later, we refocus on the task at hand.
Our family gathers around the bed making small talk. A knock at the door gets everyone’s attention, as Aksel and Emerson walk in with Wren and Harlyn.
“Hey, man, good to see you. Couple more people here to say hello.” He comes to my bedside as Hadlea takes Harlyn then she sits close to me again.
“To hell with orders, I want him.” Aksel hands me Wren as a collective sigh is heard.
I kiss his hands, lightly stroke her hair. All the while, staring Hadlea in the eye as we speak to our hearts. Here, this family. This is all we need, all we want. Before we know it, we’re kissing, Hadlea’s hand is on my chest, her ring on her finger. Pulling away is the hardest thing ever.
“Hadlea and I are getting married as soon as I can walk. We love each other. She saved my life, gave life to our children. All eight of them. These young men are mine, if they’ll have me? And as for the twins, Wren and Harlyn, they are mine. The tests were fake, Doctor Michaels verified them. This is our love.
EPILOGUE
Us
A few weeks later…
My bare feet sink into the sand, taking the same path I took over a year ago. Watching the ocean turn in on itself, although not angry and cold this time. Its tranquil blue-green swells lull Wren and Harlyn as they lay in their grandparents’ arms. Latham takes my arm as we walk to Hawkins. Hawkins walks me further down the path to Aksel, who kisses me while taking me by my arm.
Finally, I see him. Malone stands under the arch draped with white organza and Lilies of the Valley. Perfect pink rose petals line the white sandy beach we walk through, matching my bouquet of lilies.
Malone is dashing in his navy slacks and white cotton twill shirt. Me, in my bare feet and flowing tea-length gown in white with an empire waist. My hair lays in waves down my back, just the way Malone likes it. My mother’s bracelet on my right wrist, the sapphire ankle bracelet my boys bought for me, on my left ankle. I’m wearing a pale pink demi-bra and panties from my girls. That’s for later.
Malone smiles as every dark place in need of light bursts with love. I shine as brightly when my own smile meets my lips.
Malone takes my hand as Aksel says, “My sisters, brothers and myself, happily accept these two as our parents. We are eternally grateful for their love.” He hugs Malone after kissing me again.
We stare at each other until suddenly I’m in his arms as his lips press against mine, eagerly. Laughter erupts as the minister tries to stop us.
“As we all know and love about these two, everything happens quickly and at their pace. Let us move this along for them. Do you, Brady Malone Woods take Hadlea Sarah Lloyd to be your wife?”
Malone gives his most breathtaking smile. “A million times over, yes.” My words from the hospital, it makes my smile even broader.
“Hadlea Sarah Lloyd, do you take Brady Malone Woods to be your husband?” Flashing him his most favorite wry smile, I answer.
“You’re the One. Yes. A million times over, yes.” There are chuckles and giggles.
“Now, I understand you have a few words for each other. Malone.” He takes my other hand and places it over his heart.
“Hadlea. This life you have given me can never be matched, will never dull. Will produce more love than can be contained. We may have an imperfect love, but it is perfect for us. Your love didn’t come easy, but anything worth having is worth working for and baby, you worked my ass off. To our children, my love for you only pales in the shadow of the love I have for your mother. Do you feel it, Hadlea? That beats for you, for them. My love for you and our family beats strong and will never fade. I love you.”
Everyone clears away tears and the minister turns to me.
“Hadlea.” Again, I smile wryly.
“If I must. Malone, our children have never known another father and never will. Your love chases out the dark and washes over me. Chase the light with me, Malone. Join me on adventures. Love me when I can no longer love myself. Help me when I can’t ask. Be by my side through every dark night, until the dawn rises and washes it all away. Love me, as I love you, perfectly imperfect. Love my crazy. Crazy to a fault. Run with me as we chase bliss. Kiss me when I don’t deserve it. Kiss me deeply when I do. Hold my hand as we grow old. With sand between our toes and an ocean to cross, love me forever, as I love you. Marry me, just because you can. Love me because you can’t help yourself. I will never be able to repay you for this extraordinary life you have given me. So live it with me. Enjoy it with me. Love it with me.”
Malone holds me close, his hand in my hair, the other wrapped around my back.
“Of course I will, you gorgeous, extraordinary, maddening, perfect woman.”
As his lips devour mine, I let them.
The Beginning
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am certain to forget someone, so please forgive me. I never thought I would be here, if not for you, I wouldn’t be. If I could tell you one thing, know that you deserve love. No matter the circumstance, believe in yourself and know that you deserve love.
My readers, thank you for giving me a day of your time. A place in your heart. Your encouraging words and enthusiasm that could not be contained.
Cheryl, what can I say? You were a beacon from minute one. My friend, who shoots from the hip and loved me through all the months I didn’t think I would survive. I love you, my friend.
Author TE Black, can you say badass? Where would I be without you? Never one time, did you sound exasperated or aggravated with me, even when you should have been. Thank you is not enough.
Beach Betas; Louanne, Flora, Amber, Cheryl, Sarah, Stacey, Melissa, and Holli, Sallie, Joyce, what in the hell did I get you into? How in the world you withstood it shocks me? My undying love and gratitude belongs to you, thank you. Never once did you say to my face, stop! Your confidence in me astounds me.
Stacey, you are the fucking bomb! Thank you for being by my side and being my friend.
Robin, thank you for taking a chance on me.
Beach Bunnies, y’all are the best. Thank you for all your time and love that you show me daily.
Sallie and Dianna, thank you ladies for all you do, I love you.
Melissa and Maria, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate all that you have done to get me here. Thank you for your patience and your time.
My daughter in law; my very first willing beta that never gave up and never lost hope. You encourage me from minute one. From draft after draft, after mess. I have a handful of friends and I’m thrilled to count you as one. I’m honored to call you friend and blessed to call you mine.
