I glance around my condo living room, Matt’s picture on my mantle catching my eye. I pick it up and hold it in my hand. The sparkle in his eye clearly evident, the life he lived staring back at me. Brave, he took chances. He died doing what he wanted to do, living his life to the fullest. Those blue eyes staring at me through the picture give me all the reassurance I need.
“Dina, call the realtor. I’m in. I don’t need your investment though. I want and need to do this on my own as much as possible.”
After that simple call, life becomes a whirlwind for me. Harrison and I decide I should move into his apartment until we can find a place to live together that we both like. I gave Susan my notice and worked for a month, helping her train someone new. While getting all of that squared away, I applied and received my business license, acquired my storefront, and began my advertising. Within two months, I was in my own shop, living in Charlotte, and settling down. My belongings in storage as Harrison and I haven’t found the right place yet. Business is steady, and I’m still getting my name out there.
We are all taking the weekend off to go on a motorcycle ride. The Lawson’s and their motorcycle club are coming up and we are all going out to ride somewhere on the North Carolina and Tennessee border. Dina’s nanny is following in the car with baby Lauren so Dina and Ryder can make the ride, but not be away from her long.
Harrison
Tiffany and I have ridden to a lot of places together, but I’ve yet to take her on the tail. This is a ride of a lifetime. My parents are meeting us there with all the Hellions. The prospects must complete the Dragon’s Tail ride as their last rite of passage to become a fully patched member. I did it when I was nineteen before joining the Marines. When I got so wild it was the MC that sat me down with my dad and got me on the right path.
Dina’s dad was a founding member of the club; Ryder was patched in not long after they were married. We patched Brayden at his five year clean and sober mark. Jake is not patched. We live in Charlotte, the club is based on the coast, and he doesn’t go back with us often. He rides with us and everyone considers him family, but he just doesn’t wear the rockers. Haywood’s Hellions are a great group of guys, a real brotherhood. Some of the affiliate clubs will be around for the ride too.
With all of our family and friends with us on this scenic ride, I’m going to put it all out there. Saddlebags attached and packed. I’ve adjusted the sissy bar to make sure Tiffany is comfortable and secure on this ride.
Ryder and Dina, Brayden and Maggie, Jake and Kenna, and Tiffany and I are all ready to go. We ride easily to the meeting point in Deal’s Gap. Having Tiffany on the back of my bike again is soothing. As much as possible I keep my left hand on her thigh as she has her hands wrapped around my waist. She’s not clutching me like she’s scared, just holding me close. I love this woman with all that’s in me.
My parents are waiting out front for us when we arrive. Knowing I’m ready, I start looking for a location to pull Tiffany aside. The mountain scenery around us, the quiet of a small town, and family with us, it’s perfect. I go to the saddlebags and put the small velvet box in my pocket.
I find Tiffany off to the side looking over at a mountain. I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.
“You okay? You’re not too sore are you? The ride’s in an hour.”
“I’m perfect. I’m just watching the hummingbird over there.” She replies.
“It’s beautiful here. You seem lost in thought babe.”
“Not really lost in thought. The hummingbird, it just brought some tranquility over me all of a sudden. It’s like everything is exactly how it’s supposed to be. I can’t explain it Harry. I saw the bird and all feels right in my life.”
Turning her to face me, I drop to one knee in front of her. The gravel under my bum knee doesn’t feel good, but the nervous energy jump starts my adrenaline quickly dissolving my thoughts of my knee.
“Tiffany, you are what’s right in my life. I love you. I want forever with you. Will you marry me?” I ask, slowly opening the box to show her the full carat emerald cut diamond solitaire.
Tears immediately form in her eyes, they trickle down her face as she nods her head yes. With shaking hands I put the ring on her finger. Standing, I wrap my arms around her and kiss her. She breaks off our kiss.
“Harrison, I love you too.” She kisses me again.
After sharing our news with everyone, I climb on my bike, my fiancé now behind me. We make the eleven mile ride with ease, keeping a slow pace, so no one lays their bikes down in the three hundred and eighteen curves found throughout the tail of the dragon.
Lean left, roll right, and you’re old lady holding on tight, not a better feeling in the world. Mountain air, the rumble of Harley’s around me, and a true peace and tranquility in my soul, all is as it should be.
Chapter Twenty
Tranquility
Tiffany
We’ve been engaged for six months, planning the wedding. We bought a house in the same subdivision Ryder and Dina live in. Jake and Kenna are next door to them. We are two streets over. Business is good. Everything is perfect.
For my bachelorette party we had an evening of tattoos that Sophia joined us in at the shop she works at. She cares for Harrison, but definitely has her heart attached to someone else. I now have a beautiful hummingbird on my foot with the word tranquility around it. Harrison has brought tranquility to my life. He’s grounded me, calmed me. He’s given me strength and encouragement. He’s held me up so I wouldn’t fall down.
Today is the day all my dreams come true. With our closest friends and family we are going to commit our lives to one another forever. Elodie is here to be my maid of honor. Maggie, Dina, and Kenna will all be standing with us as my bridesmaids. Harrison’s dad, Harold is standing in as his best man, followed by the boys. The ceremony is back in Emerald Isle, on the beach, in front of Dina’s house there. The girls are wearing simple purple sundresses and no shoes. My dress is simple, form fitting strapless top, with a loose flowing bottom to the ground.
The music starts announcing my time to make my way down to my future.
Harrison
The moment I saw her in that dress, she took my breath away. Today I commit myself fully to her. So many thoughts are running through my head as the time arrives for our vows. I look over at the memorial candle burning for Matt. I know he is watching over us, always our angel.
“Life is short, tomorrow isn’t promised. I want every breath I have left to breathe, to be one loving you, Tiffany. Today, before our family and friends, I, Harrison, take you Tiffany to be my wife. I take you as you are, accepting who you were, loving who you are, and who you are yet to become. I promise to love you unconditionally and without hesitation. I vow to love you, encourage you, trust you, and respect you. Today you become my wife, and I your husband. I promise to care for you, stand beside you, share with you in all of life’s challenges and all of its joys, from this day forward and for all of the days of my life. You and me against the world, baby, always and forever.”
With tears in her eyes, Tiffany begins her vows. “Today you become my husband, and I your wife. You’ve always been the one I wanted, Harrison. More so, you’ve always been the one I needed. You’re my calm in the storm, my tranquility amidst the chaos. You’re my rock and safe place. Today, I promise to love you unconditionally and without hesitation. I vow to laugh with you in times of joy, and comfort you in times of sorrow. I will share in your struggles and triumphs equally, from this day forward and for all of the days of my life. You and me against the world, baby, always and forever.”
We exchange rings with an ‘I love you.’ I kiss my bride with every bit of love I’ve ever had. Today is the best day of my life and I’m finally complete.
Epilogue
5 Years Later
Tiffany
“Maggie, how the hell do I tell him this?” I ask in a panic.
Maggie is laughing hysterically at me. “With baby rattles like always
, silly. Come on let’s go get them.” Family tradition, all the ladies have given their men baby rattles to tell them they were pregnant. Maggie started it when she found out she was pregnant the first time and it stuck.
“Maggie, this isn’t like being an aunt and uncle for us. We can’t send them home after we spoil them.”
“You guys will be fine, Landon and Cole love you.” She replies. My nephews, Landon and Cole, Maggie and Brayden’s sons, are amazing. They are all boy. Fearless dare devils, those two are and into everything. Brayden now ten years clean and sober. They all live next door to us which is nice to see our nephews so much.
“And Kenna and you will be less than two months apart. This is going to be great.” Maggie replies, still giddy at my current situation.
“Um, yes, easy for Kenna, she’s done this before.” I retort, feeling unprepared. Kenna and Jake have a son, Jake Jr, and another baby on the way.
“Just think, boy or girl we all have you covered. Dina still has all the girls, stuff even though they are done having babies.”
“They have two girls, Dina may say she’s done, but Ryder is still holding out hope to get a boy.” Yes, two nieces, I have thanks to Dina. Lauren Renee and Jennifer Rose are the princesses of our group. Those two little girls bring each of these tattooed boys to their knees with a smile and a please.
Harrison and Brayden have been gone for three weeks at a car show, then an auction. They will be home in an hour or so. I’ve been sick with what I thought to be the flu. At the doctor’s office I found out we’re expecting a bundle of joy all our own. They did an ultrasound to determine how far along I am, sure enough I’m pregnant, and nine weeks along. Maggie and I go to the store and pick up a pink and blue baby rattle. I guess this is how I’m going to tell him.
An hour later, I’m on the couch when Harrison comes in.
“Hey baby.” He says before kissing me. Damn, I love this man. I still get lost in our kiss, ready to take him to our bedroom. He feels the item in my hands and pulls away.
“What’s this?” He questions.
“Oh, um… here.” I hand him the rattles. He studies them.
“Does this mean what I think it means?” He asks, a smile forming across his face. I can only manage to nod.
“When did you find out?” He says pulling me closer as he kisses my forehead.
“Today, I haven’t been feeling well. Maggie took me to the doctor. They had me pee in a cup. It was positive. We did an ultrasound to see how far along I am. Do you want to see our babies?” I ask.
“Of course I want to see our baby.” He responds. I pull out the ultrasound.
“See that little nugget?” I ask. He looks at the small black and white blur.
“Yes, is that it?” He asks. I nod.
“See that other little peanut right there?” I ask. He nods his head, it’s not sinking in.
“Harry, honey, we’re having twins.”
~The End~
Sophia’s story isn’t over. She’s spent years holding back in her life waiting on her chance with her son. Find out how her story unfolds in the final bonus story to the Love and Repair Series, Stalled.
Stalled
Copyright © Chelsea Camaron 2014
First E-book publication February 2014
Published by Whiskey Girls Publishing
Cover Design by: Jessie Lane
Editing by: Asli Fratarcangeli
Formatting By: Indie Vention
All Rights Reserved: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction in whole or in part, without express written permission by Chelsea Camaron.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This work of fiction is intended for mature audiences only. All sexually active characters portrayed in this ebook are eighteen years of age or older. Please do not buy if strong sexual situations, violence, domestic abuse, and explicit language offends you.
Dear Reader,
This is a bonus short story to finalize the Love and Repair series. The other books in this series have taken these characters on some pretty serious journeys. Sophia did not get her Happily Ever After in Beyond Repair. I had so many messages asking to give Sophia a story so here it is. I hope you enjoy and thank you for your support and reading the other books in this series. This is the final story for this series.
Reading Order is:
Crash and Burn (Prequel/Book One- Dina’s story)
Restore My Heart (Book Two- Ryder and Dina)
Salvaged (Book Three- Brayden and Maggie)
Full Throttle (Book Four- Jake and Kenna)
Beyond Repair (Book Five- Harrison and Tiffany)
Stalled (Book Six- Sophia)
Much Love and Appreciation,
Chelsea Camaron
Prologue
“Excuse me, nurse.” I manage to squeak out. My body is crying out in agony. I’m exhausted, but this is more important than any pain my body will ever endure.
“Yes.” She replies, with a softness to her voice that momentarily eases my anxiety.
“Where is my baby?” I ask, barely above a whisper; afraid to hear the answer, but needing to know.
“You gave birth to one strong, healthy, and well cared for baby boy. He’s in the private nursery. You don’t need to worry, honey, it’s all been handled. Your son is well taken care of.” The sympathy in her voice does nothing to soothe me.
Taking a deep breath, I ask the question that I know I shouldn’t ask, but I can’t stop myself.
“Can I see him?” I fight back the tears.
“Sweetheart, this was explained when you signed the papers with your mother. You can’t see him. I’m sorry. I know this is hard, but it’s for the best. You’re young. Try to move on, let him go. You have your whole life ahead of you. You’ll have more babies one day. Your son is going to live a full, happy, and well provided for life. They are going to give him things you can’t.”
I can only silently nod my head in agreement. Words are unable to form as I fight to keep from breaking down. Money is the only thing they can give him. I can give him every ounce of love inside of me; why isn’t that enough? Giving up my son to save my mother and myself from deportation; this is wrong. She came to America to have a better life, not to be held back by her past.
The nurse leaves. Her words resound in my head over and over again. Move on, let him go. You’ll have more babies one day. No, I will have no more babies until I have my son back. He is my world. He is my heart; without him, I have nothing. Everyone says, you’re only fifteen, you don’t know what love is. Part of that is true; I didn’t know what love was until I carried that life inside of me for nine months as it grew so did my love. Every breath I’ve taken since the day he was conceived has been breathing life into him. He’s now breathing on his own, in a room somewhere in this very hospital. I may not be able to hold him, feed him, or care for him, but my heart will forever beat for him.
Somehow, someway, I will be with him again. Oh my precious baby boy, I promise you, I will love no one above you, no one but you, until you’re in my arms again, I will wait just for you.
Chapter One
Letting Go
Harrison is a good man. He’s broken through my walls and gotten to me more than anyone has in a very long time. Always keeping everyone at a distance, for the last fourteen years, hasn’t been easy and it’s been overwhelmingly lonely. Doesn’t really matter, no one could fill the void left inside of me, no one can fill the missing piece of me, no one can replace my baby. Yes, my baby; half of my soul lies in that little boy that is now growing into a young man.
For once, though, I sort of had companionship with someone. I allowed myself to have more than sex, more than a release. H
arrison was my lover, yes, but more than that he was, and is, my friend. He was willing to give me it all. He was willing to be the one to catch me when I fell. The thing is, I fell years ago and never picked myself back up. As much as it pains me, I can’t give him, or anyone else, what they truly deserve.
The saying goes, ‘If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it’s yours forever. If it doesn’t then it was never meant to be.’ Well, I was forced to let him go. I can only wait and pray he comes back. No matter what, I’m his mom forever. No one can take that away from me.
When, once again, faced with the need to let something go, I did. Harrison is free from whatever you want to call our relationship. I’m sure the betrayal of my holding something so big back, for the past two years, is going to take us years to move past, even as friends. Maggie, Dina, and Kenna are a different set of problems. Will they understand why I’ve held back all this time? How can I call myself their friend when I’ve kept such a secret from them?
Dina is a mom now. She certainly won’t understand my situation. My hands have longed to have had the many moments holding the precious ten fingers of my baby. In my dreams, I’m haunted by the want to have those tiny fingers wrap around my index finger and hold on for life. My life. His life. Forever entwined. Will he understand? Can anyone understand that feeling of infinite longing?
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. The choices of my past…the choices of others and the domino effect on my life are inconsequential now. What’s done is done and most certainly can’t be undone.
The smell of his hair, the feel of his baby soft skin, the first smile, the first coos, his first words, steps, heartbreak, and so much more can’t be given back to me. All these were ripped heartlessly from both of us, just as he was ripped from my body.
Love and Repair Series Box Set Page 37
