by Beth Rinyu
~ Jonathan
I smiled, letting out a huge sigh of relief while tears of happiness streamed down my face. It was over. I accomplished something that years of therapy were unable to do. I had confronted my past, a past that I had tried so desperately to forget, even though I wouldn’t go back and change it for anything. I knew that the day would come when Ryan would want to know who his real father was and when that time came, I would be honest and open with him about it. I folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope.
I tried wiping the tears from my eyes when I heard the front door open. “Hey, we’re getting ready-” Dailan stopped talking when I looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “What’s the matter?” He came outside and sat down next to me. I handed him the letter and he carefully read it over.
“He changed, Dailan, all because of Ryan.” I leaned my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, feeling very blessed. “I think we have lots to celebrate tonight, after Ryan and Ella are asleep,” I said as I lifted my head off his shoulder and smiled.
He kissed me on my head and pulled me on his lap. “You know, if it wasn’t for Ryan, you and I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. Ella wouldn’t be here and Tommy wouldn’t be freaking out over the thought of being a dad.”
“Nope, life would be a lot different, wouldn’t it?” He nodded. “Lucky for you, Ryan is here!” I joked.
“Yeah, I am very lucky,” he replied, sounding much more serious. “Your unplanned life changed my life and made it so much better.”
“Aw, you can be sweet when you want to be!” I ran my thumb along the scruff on his face and kissed him gently on the lips.
“Just remember that tonight, when we’re celebrating,” he joked.
“Um, Ella needs her diaper changed!” Ryan said, standing in the doorway and holding his nose.
“Talk about a mood killer,” Dailan whispered in my ear. I smacked him lightly on the arm and started to get up. “I got it,” he said, getting up and heading into the house. “Come on, Ryan, I think it’s time you learned how to change a diaper,” Dailan said.
“Eeew! Heck no!” Ryan said as he came outside and sat down next to me on the step.
“Wimp!” Dailan said, closing the door behind him.
“Do you have any clue how special you are?” I asked Ryan.
“No.”
“Well, you are. I love you so much, Ryan.”
“I love you too.”
I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him on the head, instantly being brought back to the darkest day of my life, the day I had given him up without even holding him. I knew that this was my moment, the moment I had never been given with my baby boy all those years ago. He let me continue to squeeze him and didn’t question the tears that were rolling down my face. “As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be,” I whispered in his ear.
Sometimes the best things in life are those that aren’t planned. Ryan was the perfect example of that. Never once did I regret the choice I had made. My sweet little boy was born for a reason and I knew now more than ever what that reason was: He was the bridge that connected my past to my present, the bridge that led me to Dailan, and most of all, the bridge that took me on my greatest journey - the one to my heart.
Epilogue
Nicole
Four months later…
The months passed and life was back to normal. My sister and Tommy were married in the fall; two days after her divorce was final. They were expecting a little boy in March. This time, I had no excuses. I had to be in her wedding. I didn’t mind it so much, knowing that the best man was my incredibly sexy husband.
We were spending the week between Christmas and New Year’s visiting Dailan’s mother. We sat in the airport, waiting to board our early morning flight. Ryan was still half asleep after all of the excitement of opening his presents yesterday. Christmas Day had been perfect. Ella was running all over the place and was now having a squirming fit when Dailan finally contained her on his lap. He finally got up and held her hand as she led him around in a circle. He picked her up and pretended to bite her neck. She did her deep belly laugh and kissed him all over his face. When he sat back down with her, she seemed much more content.
“I couldn’t help but notice what a beautiful family you have,” an older woman who had been sitting across from us with her husband said to Dailan.
“Thank you,” Dailan responded.
“And that baby, she is just as sweet as an angel.”
Dailan smiled. “Let’s see if she is saying that a few hours into the flight when Ella’s having a meltdown,” Dailan whispered to me.
“A few hours? I hope we’re that lucky. I was thinking more like a few minutes,” I joked. “You know, we are absolutely crazy for doing this.”
“Ah, it will be an adventure,” Dailan said.
“Do you think we’re going to be the most hated people on the plane by the time we get there?”
“It’s a good possibility,” Dailan joked.
“Ready?” Ryan asked excitedly when the announcement was made to board the plane. He flung his backpack over his shoulder and waited impatiently. Dailan grabbed his bag and stood up with Ella in his arms. She again was doing her best to get down and walk. He placed her down and took her hand. She lifted up her other hand to Ryan and he grasped onto it. I took a deep breath, preparing for the long flight ahead. I couldn’t contain my smile as I walked behind Dailan and my two beautiful children walking hand and hand. It felt so good no longer to be dwelling on the past. Instead, I was focusing my energy on the three people that mattered most: Dailan, Ryan, and Ella, my present, my future – my everything.
~ The End ~
Keep Reading for Excerpt from Beth Rinyu’s Drowning In Love! Available where all great books are sold, in e-book and printed formats!
Also, a preview of A Cry for Hope (Releasing 2014)!
Drowning in Love
Christmas Day was here and I was so happy to be spending it with Travis and my family. We had spent Christmas Eve with Travis’ family. I had a wonderful time and really loved being in their company; but I was so looking forward to being at my sister’s for Christmas Day. I snapped a million pictures of Paige opening up her presents. This was my favorite part of Christmas, watching her open up her gifts. My sister walked over to clean up the wrapping paper that Paige was getting swallowed in.
“Maybe in a few years, I’ll have a niece or nephew that I can spoil,” my sister said with a smile. I raised my eyebrows at her and shot her a look of displeasure for saying such a thing in front of Travis. Travis and I talked about a lot of things, but kids were never part of the conversation. It was just too soon to be thinking about that.
“She’s kidding, Travis. Don’t pass out,” I said.
“Why would I pass out? I want kids someday.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, especially if it’s with you.” My stomach did a triple flip.
“Aw,” my sister said upon hearing his statement. “Let me take a picture of you guys.” I moved closer to Travis as my sister snapped the picture with her phone and immediately sent it to mine.
I was really feeling down by the end of the night. I had a great time and didn’t want to leave. My mom tried her best to try and coax me and Travis to stay over her house, but I had to be at work in the morning, so I knew that wasn’t an option.
Travis and I arrived back at his place a little after nine. I was exhausted from all of the excitement of the day. I changed into my pajamas and snuggled up with him on the couch, watching TV. He reached behind his back and handed me an envelope and a box. I was a little taken off guard. We had already exchanged presents earlier that morning. I had gotten Travis a new watch and another bottle of his favorite cologne. He had gotten me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings, which I’m sure he spent more on than I cared to know.
“Travis, what is this? We exchanged presents already.”
“Just a couple of things I forgot earlier.” I shook
my head and smiled. I opened the envelope and my eyes widened to find an itinerary for a week-long trip to Saint Lucia, leaving on Valentine’s Day. “Oh my God, Travis, This is awesome! I just hope that I can get-”
He stopped me mid-sentence. “It’s already taken care of. I talked to Juan, and you have the week off. It’s going to be just you and me in paradise, celebrating Valentine’s Day for a whole week.”
I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. “That sounds perfect!”
“And I will get you to swim in the ocean.”
“We’ll just have to see about that one.”
He smiled and rubbed his forehead against mine. “Open the box,” he said.
“Travis, why did you -”
“Just open it.”
I removed the lid to find a necklace with a beautiful gold heart.
“Read the back,” he instructed.
I flipped it over. To Mia, the girl with the heart of gold and my girl forever. The tears rolled down my face as I ran my thumb over the inscription.
“Okay, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it, but don’t cry about it,” he joked.
“I love it, Travis. I just never thought I could be this happy again. Thank you so much for this beautiful necklace and for allowing me to open my heart again. I love you so much.” I wrapped my arms around him and nuzzled up against him. I had never felt happier than I did right now. I watched the dancing flames in the fireplace while Travis held me tightly in his arms. After living out a yearlong sentence of hell on earth, I had finally made it back to Heaven.
A Cry for Hope
Prologue
I sat at the ocean’s edge as Charlie jumped the waves. This was our happy place. The place where we had spent most of our summer days. At eight years old, Charlie was quite the swimmer. Still, I always made sure to keep a close eye on him. The ocean was a dangerous playground and, as much as Charlie loved it, I knew that it could turn on him in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, on that warm August day, it did, and there was nothing I could do to save my little boy. He became one with the ocean and my entire world ceased to exist…
Anticipated Release Date: Spring 2014
