by Erin Lee
“Oh, he will! We will train him! Besides, he’s male. He’ll eventually mature.” I can’t help taking another jab at her.
“I already said fine,” she says, warning me the conversation is over, but smiling.
“Thank you!”
“No,” she looks at me warmly. “Thank you.”
Epilogue
It takes a full year for me to truly get over Austin’s fling. Tristan, of course, makes it easier. Today, as I snap a periwinkle bowtie around his neck, and tell him—no, he cannot play with Rocky right now—I can’t help but laugh. I smile at the panic I felt the day Sally O’Mason left me with him—the snot-faced little boy who has become our world:
How am I supposed to know what to do with a three-year-old? I’m barely a grown-up myself. I have to get to Maggie’s hospital room. She needs me. And Austin? Oh, when I get my hands on him…
I squirm, trying to figure out what to do with all the paperwork as I watch Sally struggle with the latch on her briefcase. I hold my breath, opening Maggie’s door to let the little boy in. I peer out, to the end of her driveway where a winding gravel path tempts me to run. Sally grumbles about people “breeding too much” and hands me a crumpled business card. She tells me, for the millionth time, to have Austin call her the moment he returns. There’s “court” and “parental rights.”
I try to focus on her words, imagining this could be a nightmare or just a big mistake—knowing it’s unlikely. I’m glad she’s in a rush to leave, though, I have no idea what I will do with the kid when she’s finally gone.
Sally grunts and tells me only deadbeats forget to mention their son. I have no idea what she expects me to say. “We women don’t do that shit. Men are just weak. So anyway…”
I turn slightly, to see Tristan rolling on Maggie’s living room floor. He seems okay, I decide, and turn back to her. I give her directions to the Donavan’s, and tell her I’ll stay in touch. I promise to have Austin call. And then, she’s gone.
A three-year-old, it seems, is a mini-human with a perpetually runny nose. A three-year-old likes to roll, squeal, and climb on things. A three-year-old, this one anyway, has a smile brighter than Rainbow’s, laughs at his own burps, and is fascinated with the buttons on the clicker.
“Come on, we’ve got to go.”
Tristan looks at me, shrugs, and returns to the clicker. He takes in big gulps of air, purposely trying to give himself the hiccups. He waves the clicker at me, laughing. Finally, I take it out of his hands and put on the first cartoon I can find. He sits, cross-legged on Maggie’s area rug while I dash to the porch to see if Sally’s left a car seat.
Relieved, I return to check on him and figure out a plan. I sit on the couch, fumbling through paperwork. I tell Tristan—out loud—that his case manager’s “lost her mind.” I don’t look at him. Afraid I’ll get lost in his dimples, again, and preferring not to.
Resolved to do something—anything—I finally scoop him up and put him in the car. It takes twenty minutes to figure out how to get the car seat in properly. When I finally decide to go see Bess, I can breathe.
On the way, I let the wind massage my scalp and promise myself it will be okay. Through my open window, kids laugh and scream “you’re turn!” and “give it back, it’s mine!”
At Bess’s, Tristan stops to pick a wilting dandelion. He puts it close to his lips and blows its fragile seeds across the sky. I want to catch them too, like Pappy’s smoke rings and the bouquet I don’t expect to be throwing at my wedding now. Instead, I pick one of my own and make a wish. I wish Grandma was here. She’d know what to do. I wish we could go back to the way things used to be, even a few hours ago.
“Everyone makes mistakes. And that Hannah, she sure was tempting, dear. I doubt it was serious. Probably just a little fling. I wonder what your grandmother would say?”
“Well, I can’t exactly ask her,” I snarl. “I really need your help…”
Tristan dances, arms stretched out, spinning in circles on Bess’s lawn. I wonder if Grandma and Pappy can see the dandelion seeds flying above his head. I kick off my flip flops, tuning out Bess’s rambling. Who cares if you hate kids? I didn’t come here to talk about you. I came here to talk about him. Big mistake. All of it. I’m supposed to be with Julie, working on my something blue.
Little do I know, I already am…
***
“I think we’re all set. Herbert has the balloons. You should see it, Cal. I’ve never seen that many balloons in one place. Bess is freaking out. It’s hilarious. I just—” Julie stops, mid-sentence, when she spots Tristan in his tux. “Oh. My. God. Precious! Look at him!”
“I know. Adorable. But he’s going to make me late for my own wedding. He won’t keep the bowtie on and keeps trying to feed it to Rocky.”
“Why don’t you let me bring him to Austin? He looks ready enough.”
“Yeah. Smart thinking. Let’s do that.” I rub Tristan’s head and smile. “Julie’s going to take you to Daddy. Are you all ready?”
He nods, his head bobbing up and down eagerly.
“Now, do you remember your job?”
“Yep! I gotta do the rings.”
I hand Tristan the pillow. Attached to it are two plastic rings. The real ones, from Grandma and Pappy, are safe in Austin’s pocket. But Tristan doesn’t need to know that. “Be sooooooo careful! Remember, you have the most important job, bud.”
“Yep! The most-est!”
“Okay, bud. Come with me,” Julie says, extending her hand. “Let’s go see Daddy!”
“Fun!”
“Cal? Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m okay. I just need to get my dress and jewelry on. Don’t be gone too long. I feel like I’m going to puke.”
Julie laughs. “Normal.”
“For once.” I laugh, too.
“I’ve got you. Once you get that dress on, everything will change. You’re going to be such a beautiful bride,” Sonya says. “Austin’s a really lucky guy.”
Tristan breaks free of Julie’s hand, running toward me for a hug. He squeezes me and smiles with dimples even wider than his daddy’s. “I love you!”
My heart melts and all the butterflies in my stomach fade. A tear drops onto the buttoned shirt Pam told me to wear so as not to mess up my hair. I don’t bother to brush it away. “No. It’s me who is the lucky one.”
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the authors who have participated in the Happy Endings Resort Series, past, present and future. Together, we have created a quirky, magical place filled with every kind of character, plot, and personal triumph and failure imaginable.
Special thanks to Sally Benson, who kept the series going and had the fortitude to breathe new life into it with new authors. Working with you has made writing fun again and brought Callie into the world. Thank you!
As always, thanks to my favorite authors and writing friends, Taylor Henderson and Sara Schoen, who are always there to plot and brainstorm with. Stay aggressive! It will take you both far.
Thank you to Cowboy, who took the time to read this novel to inform me about things like the difference between grits and oatmeal. I’m sure this information will serve me well as I try to follow my son through his journey to a different part of these here, United States, ya’ll.
Thanks to my PA, Ebony whose mantra is “I’ve got you.” Ebony is my own Julie and will always be the first person I reach out to during times of self-doubt in the Indie writing community.
Thanks to Mom, who edits many of my books and stories and without whom there would never be paperback versions. And Matty G, who proofs them.
Last, and most importantly, thanks to my readers, who continue to challenge me and force me to try new things. You make the late hours and finger cramps worth it. Stay amazing!
About the Author
ERIN LEE is a multi-genre author and therapist living with her family in southern New Hampshire – the most “southern” thing about her. A lifelong Yankee about to
send her son south for college, she spent countless hours learning about southern slang and trying foods like fatback, greens and grit for this novella. She’s probably still got it wrong but hopes ya’ll understand.
She is the author of Crazy Like Me, a novel published in 2015 by Savant Books and Publications, LLC. She is also author of Wave to Papa, 2015, and Nine Lives, 2016, with Limitless Publishing. She also penned Alters, Host, Merge, Her Name Was Sam, Take Me As I Am, From Russia, with Love, Greener and award-winning When I’m Dead. She is also the author of Losing Faith and co-author of The Morning After with Black Rose Writing and many more.
In her free time, she works on her Zombie Cupcake Press Diary of a Serial Killer Series—the story of a serial killer who hunts women in New England under the guise of an ordinary man.
She’d love to holiday at Happy Endings Resort in real life and visits often in her daydreams. She still makes wishes on dandelions.
Let’s Connect!
ERIN LEE’s work can be found at:
www.authorerinlee.com,
on Goodreads, Author Erin Lee,
on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/gonecrazytalksoon
and on twitter at @Crazylikeme2015.
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Support this author’s work and win prizes and free books by joining The Outsiders’ Street Team, a group she shares with authors and fellow Happy Endings Resort Series writers Sara Schoen and Taylor Henderson at https://www.facebook.com/groups/596733930532264/
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No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and/or have been altered to suit the story.
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Original cover design by ERIN LEE.
Revamped cover by RJ Wright Design
Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Stock photos acquired via Life Pix, 2017 and Stock Snap IOS
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Formatted by Erin Lee.
Story copyright 2017, Erin Lee.
All Rights Reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1542700665
ISBN-10: 1542700663
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Looking for more by this author?
Check out the following HEA (happily ever after) novella excerpt from From Russia, With Love with Bella Tulip Publishing, which includes a special appearance from Austin Rivers:
Fifteen years earlier
The little girl peered up at her older-by-a-year brother. Even at four, she knew there wasn’t much he’d be able to do. He didn’t even know how to pour cereal. That was her job. Everything was, and always had been, for as far back as she could remember—not that her memory went back all that far.
She clutched the house key around her neck. Momma had tied it to a leather cord and put it on her a few months ago after the time she fell asleep and accidently locked Ahha (Russian for Anna) and her brother out of the house on a cold day. Ahha was big enough to unlock the door. She could do it on her tippy toes and having the key made her feel safe. She’d promised herself never to take the key off. Having it made her feel safe, like she had a plan and could take care of herself and her big brother. Her brother, Abram, still couldn’t figure out how to work a lock. It made her laugh. Boys were supposed to be smarter. It’s what everyone said. Maybe it was why Momma always brought new boys home. Maybe Momma just wants to learn.
It was getting cold fast. Of course, it was always cold in Russia, but this afternoon seemed particularly chilly to Ahha, who only wore a thin sweatshirt and a winter hat donated by the ladies from the church her momma got free bread at. She wished Abram would let her wear his jacket, which looked so fluffy and warm. She thought about asking him for it, but decided against it. She didn’t want her big brother to shiver. Besides, Momma would come back soon. She always came back. It will be okay, the little girl told herself.
Only, it wasn’t. Momma never came back. This time was different.
***
Present day
Anna told herself to lie in bed just a little longer. Fifteen more minutes. You can do this. Don’t rush it. Enjoy the moment. God, you sound like your shrink. Stop it. Just stay calm. There’s nothing to be afraid of. This is the day you’ve been waiting for your whole life. Jumping up to start the day would be a mistake, she reasoned. After all, the photographers weren’t scheduled to show up before 6 p.m. A midnight ceremony: It was what Elliot had wanted. It’s the only thing he’d asked for and she was going to see to it that their wedding day was perfect for them both. They deserved it. They’d come so far. She clutched the key around her neck and told herself to be fearless. With Elliot and the rest of her family behind her, there was nothing she couldn’t do. No, that was wrong, she decided, pulling the covers over her head. She didn’t need anyone, but it sure was nice to have people in her corner…
Want more Happy Endings?
Learn how it all began! Try out these books, the first ten in the Happy Endings Resort Series:
The Inheritance (The Happy Endings Resort Book 1) by Sally Benson
https://www.amazon.com/Inheritance-Happy-Endings-Resort-Book-ebook/dp/B00TXVMOL0
Anywhere With You: A Novella (The Happy Endings Resort Book #2) by Danielle Jamie
https://www.amazon.com/Anywhere-You-Novella-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B00VH7FWLC
Drunk on You (The Happy Endings Resort Book 3) by Glenna Maynard
https://www.amazon.com/Drunk-Happy-Endings-Resort-Book-ebook/dp/B00VXYTTHC
Finding Us (The Happy Endings Resort Book 4) by T.H. Snyder
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Happy-Endings-Resort-Book-ebook/dp/B00YAQV464
Summer Maintenance (The Happy Endings Resort Book 5) by Sally Foor
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Maintenance-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B010E4UZXS
Elastic Heart (The Happy Endings Resort Book 6) by Evelyne Stone
https://www.amazon.com/Elastic-Heart-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B012MMUEZY
Luring Shadows (The Happy Endings Resort Book 7) by Kristina Rienzi
https://www.amazon.com/Luring-Shadows-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B013XHGZM8
A Soldier's Dawning (The Happy Endings Resort Series Book 8) by Lisa Survillas
https://www.amazon.com/Soldiers-Dawning-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B014P63VV4
The Thinnest Veil (The Happy Endings Resort Series Book 9) by M. Stratton
https://www.amazon.com/Thinnest-Veil-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B0174E4EAG
Flowers for Marta (The Happy Endings Resort Series Book 10) by Jenn Braddock
https://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Marta-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B018Q4PHF4
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Already caught up?
Check out Take a Chance on Me, Book 29 in the Happy Endings Resort Series by Kathia Iblis and visit her page at https://www.facebook.com./Kathia.Iblis
Learn more about the full series at
https://thehersseries.blogspot.com/
