Running Into Love - The Complete Box Set

by Annalisa Nicole

  “I love you too,” she returns.

  Before my knuckles land on the door, my mother pulls the door open, pushes me out of the way, and wraps Willow in a hug. I guess my brothers and sisters are already here and have been doing some talking. Taking the pie from Willow, Mom takes her hand and pulls her into the house, leaving me standing in the doorway.

  “Good to see you too, Mom.”

  “Oh, hush, close the door, it’s cold outside.”

  Walking over to Willow, I take her hand and take back possession of my girlfriend and say, “Willow, this is my mom, Samantha and my dad, Samuel.”

  Instantly her hand flies to her mouth and covers a giggle.

  “You’re Sam and Sam,” she giggles.

  “I like her son, not afraid to speak her mind, this one,” Dad says and winks at me.

  Aiden, Adrian, Amelia, and Ava are all standing in the kitchen and welcome Willow into their conversation. Dinner is wonderful, and everyone is laughing and having a good time, talking about old times. Aiden starts to tell a story, “Remember the time Asher and Olivia . . .”

  Instantly, his face falls, and he snaps his head toward Willow. Everyone stops mid-conversation and stares between Willow and me.

  Willow smiles and says, “Please go ahead, I love hearing stories about Asher and Olivia, he’s told me so much about her. Memories of Olivia should be shared, not hidden because of me.”

  As I look at Willow, I didn’t think it was possible to love her any more than I already do, but she keeps proving time and time again that she’s the woman I can see spending the rest of my life with. My mom smiles warmly at Willow, then at me. With tears in her eyes, she excuses herself from the table.

  Excusing myself from the table, I follow her into the kitchen. She’s standing at the sink looking out the window, with her back turned to me.

  “Mom, are you OK?” Turning around, she has tears running down her face. I wrap her in a hug and ask, “Mom, what’s wrong?”

  “Asher, I know you told me about her and your brothers and sisters have said the most wonderful things about Willow, now I see it with my own eyes. I was so worried after Olivia died, that it destroyed you. I have prayed and prayed that God would send someone into your life. Seeing the two of you together, I know my prayers have been answered, I’m just so happy for you, that’s all.”

  “Mom, I am happy, truly happy. I love her.”

  “She’s alright, though, right?”

  “Everything is pointing in the right direction. She has some testing coming up this week, but everything looks good.”

  “We better get back out there before they all come in here, let’s get this pie dished up and get back to our family,” she says with a teary smile.

  The comment about it being our family didn’t escape me, and I’m sure my mom said it like she meant it. She just met Willow, but she already thinks of her as a daughter.

  Chapter 17

  Willow

  Meeting Asher’s parents was nothing like I feared and I don’t even know why I was so scared. I already knew his brothers and sisters. I know what type of people they are. Obviously, they were raised by amazing parents. His mom and dad make me feel like I’m already a part of their family. All of them give me hugs as we head out the door, with an open invitation to every Sunday dinner. At the curb, Simon is casually resting against the car, patiently waiting for us.

  I settle into the back seat of the car, holding Asher’s hand. On the drive back to his house, I have the biggest smile plastered on my face. I went from having only a mother who barely spent any time with me, to having a big loving family welcoming me with open arms. It makes me think of my own mother and how I really should try and find her. Will she even want to talk to me? What if I call her and she hangs up on me, never wanting me to contact her again. It’s thoughts like these that keep me from even beginning to try. Asher senses my mood and gently squeezes my hand, I look over and smile at him. He always seems to know when something is on my mind.

  Getting back to his house, I feed Lucy then make my way to Asher’s room. It’s been an exhausting day. I plop face first long ways on his bed.

  “You’ve had quite a few busy days, how about I draw you a bath, and then we get some sleep,” he says.

  With my face still in the bed, I say, “Yaa oww a wiissevr.”

  Straddling my body on the bed, he tickles my sides, and says, “You want to say that again, sweetheart?”

  Giggling, I turn my face to the side and say again, “You are a lifesaver.”

  Getting off of me, he walks into the bathroom and runs the bath water. The smell of vanilla invites me off the bed and into the bathroom. The lights are dimmed, and several candles are lit and placed around the room. Millions of bubbles fill the tub. Placing his hands on either side of my arms, he rubs them up and down. Reaching for the hem of my sweater, he pulls it gently over my head. He unbuttons and unzips my jeans and peels them, along with my panties, down my legs. Stepping out of them, he unhooks my bra and slowly eases it down my arms. Lastly, he removes my socks one at a time, while my hands rest on his shoulders. Grabbing a hair tie, I throw my hair in a messy knot on the top of my head. He takes my hand and helps me into the tub.

  Stripping down himself, he eases in the tub behind me. Leaning back into his strong arms, he massages my shoulders softly. As he kisses my neck, shivers run down my entire body. Turning around I straddle his hips while kissing him. Reaching down in the bubbles, I grab his erection and guide him ever so slowly inside me. I begin to move slowly up and down, as he kisses my chest. Holding his head tight to my chest the water sloshes over the sides of the tub. Feeling the familiar tingle taking over, I let go while whispering his name. He grabs my hips, then stills me with his own release, saying, “I love you, I love you.”

  Keeping our connection, he stands, wraps a towel around my back and carries me to bed. Only then does he pull out and lays me down on the bed. He covers me with the warm comforter, removes my hair tie, and climbs into bed behind me, wrapping me in his strong arms. Lucy jumps onto the bed and curls into a tight ball just below our feet. I’m just about to fall into a peaceful sleep when Asher whispers, “I love you, sweetheart, good night.”

  Too tired to respond, I fall asleep.

  The next morning, we leave Lucy at Asher’s and head into work together. It’s a good thing his sisters bought extra clothes; I had several outfits to choose from this morning for work. Following our usual ritual, holding hands until I get off on my floor, with a kiss and a lunch date set for noon, I get to work.

  Asher

  The entire weekend is just one wonderful memory after another. My whole family loves Willow. She’ll be getting her test results back Friday and hopefully get her port out that same day. I glance at the files sitting on the corner of my desk and Willow’s mom’s file catches my eye. She’s told me she wants to try and get in contact with her mom, that she misses her. I think only her pride is standing in the way of contacting her. Picking up the phone, I dial the number written in the file. A woman answers on the second ring, “Hello?”

  “Yes, hello. Is this Ms. Emery?” I ask.

  “No, my name is Mrs. Conner, but I was Ms. Emery years ago. Who’s calling?” the woman asks.

  “Ma’am, you don’t know me, I’m Willow’s boyfr . . . I’m a friend of Willow’s; my name is Asher. She’s told me about you, but she doesn’t know that I’m calling you. I thought . . . well, I thought I would help her along and find you for her.”

  “Willow? Oh, I’ve prayed so long for this day. How is she? Is she well? Can I talk to her? Where is she?” she asks excitedly.

  “Mrs. Conner . . .”

  “Please, call me Judy.”

  “Judy, I’m not sure how much information I want to give you. I can assure you she’s happy. I won’t lie. I was concerned about the fact that she didn’t have any family here for her.”

  “What do you mean, for her? Has something happened?”

  “Judy, I’
m trying not to betray her trust here by giving you information that should come from her. I was hoping to get confirmation that the possibility of reconciliation was something you were open to.”

  “Asher, I have waited twelve years for this phone call. Yes, absolutely I want to see my daughter again.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, I’m so glad to hear that. She’s been worried you wouldn’t want to ever see her again, after how she left.”

  “She’s my daughter and I love her. I’ve always loved her; it’s killed me all these years that I couldn’t find her. I know I didn’t always do right by her as a child. I’ve come a long way since then. After Willow left, I put myself through college; I own my own hair salon now. I got married and I’ve turned my life around. Please. When can I talk to her?”

  “I want to tell her all of this; I need some time. I need to make sure the timing is right. I know she wants to talk to you, give me a few days. I want this to work out for the two of you. I’ll call you back by the end of the week.”

  “OK, Asher, she’s really alright? You have me worried, I just want to talk to her, tell her how sorry I am for everything. Tell her I love her.”

  “She’s doing great; I’ll talk to you later, bye.”

  “Bye Asher, thank you so much for calling. Goodbye.”

  The next few days go pretty much the same. Willow has been staying the night at my house every night. We go into work and leave together. We eat all our meals together and walk the dog at night. Our passion for each other hasn’t changed either. If anything we’ve grown stronger. With each day closer to Friday, I can tell she’s getting nervous. It’s Thursday, and I want to do something nice for her to ease her mind. I think I should tell her about her mom, tell her that all her fears of being rejected are unfounded. Her mom misses her just as much as she does. She’s due here any minute for lunch. I’ve made up my mind; it’s time to tell her.

  Chapter 18

  Willow

  Knocking on his office door, I don’t even wait for an answer. I just walk in knowing he’s expecting me. I stopped by Charlotte’s desk to pick up the takeout she ordered. Placing the containers on his desk, I wait for him to get off the phone. With a smile and a wink, it only takes him a few more minutes.

  “Willow, before we eat, I want to talk to you about something.”

  “OK, shoot, what’cha got for me?” I ask.

  “I hope I did the right thing here. First, let me start by saying I love you, and if this blows up in my face, Amelia and Aiden will never let me hear the end of it.”

  “You’re scaring me, what is it Amelia and Aiden know?”

  What does he have to tell me? He’s not going to ask me to marry him at the office is he?

  “I’m just going to come out and say this.”

  Oh God, he is going to ask me to marry him. Be cool, Willow. Let him get it out before you jump him, saying yes, yes, yes. GOD yes!!

  “I contacted your mother.”

  My face goes from grinning so bad it hurt, to falling on the floor in half a second.

  “YOU DID WHAT!” I shout.

  I stand up so fast, I knock over the chair. What is it with me and knocking over chairs?

  “Why would you do that? You had no right to just go and do that!”

  Oh my, God, Amelia knows about this too. Hot tears stream uncontrollably down my face. I need to get out of here. I can’t even stand to be in the same room with him. I can’t even tell Amelia I’m leaving, she knew too and didn’t tell me. I rush out of the room, run to the elevator, and then stab at the down button repeatedly.

  Asher runs after me shouting, “Willow, please wait.”

  Seeing he’s getting too close, I rush to the stairs, clanking down the steps in my heels, sobbing hysterically. I don’t even have my car here. I need a cab. Opening the doors, Simon is standing at the curb leaning on the car reading the paper.

  “Ms. Emery is everything OK?” he asks concerned.

  “Simon, I need to go home, can you please take me?” I beg.

  “Yes Ms. Emery, right away. I’ll take you to Mr. Wellington’s,” he replies.

  “No, take me to my home please,” I clarify.

  “Yes, Ms. Emery.”

  Just then, the phone rings over the stereo system in the car; I just know that it’s Asher.

  “Hello, Mr. Wellington,” he answers.

  “Simon, is Willow with you?” Asher asks.

  “Yes sir, she has asked me to take her home,” he answers looking at me the rearview mirror.

  “OK, good, Willow sweetheart, please let me explain,” he says, directing the conversation to me.

  Shaking my head, Simon eyes me in the rearview mirror again. I bury my face in my hands and cry softly.

  “Mr. Wellington, Sir. Ms. Emery is not able to talk right now.”

  “What do you mean she can’t talk, is she alright? Is she feeling OK?”

  “I’m not sure, Sir. She just asked me to take her home.”

  “Alright, I’ll take a cab. Willow, when I get home, we’re going to talk about this, you have to let me explain.”

  “Mr. Wellington. Ms. Emery has asked me to take her to her home.”

  “Alright, Simon, after you take her home, please come back to the office and pick me up. Willow, I’ll be over as soon as I can. Please, sweetheart, just listen to me, it’s not what you think. Please let me explain.”

  Shaking my head, I know there’s no stopping him if that’s what he wants to do. But, I don’t have to hear what he has to say or let him in.

  Running into my condo, slamming the door, I just want to scream I’m so furious. Lucy, oh no, Lucy is at Asher’s. I have to sit in this condo all by myself without my furry friend to cuddle with. Stripping my clothes, I start a hot bubble bath. I grab a bottle of wine and a glass, I sink into the hot water and sob quietly to myself.

  A banging on the door startles me, but he can keep banging all night, I’m not letting him in. He had no right to call and talk to my mom without my permission. I can hear him still banging on the door begging, pleading for me to open it. It’s not going to happen; there’s no way I’m letting him in.

  After a few glasses of wine the banging stops. Getting out of the tub, I put on my soft pink bathrobe. I tiptoe to the front door and look out the peephole. I see Simon waiting in the car at the curb. But I don’t see Asher anywhere. A soft thump comes from the bottom of the door. Asher must be sitting against the door. Another thump, I think he’s banging the back of his head on the door.

  It’s been hours and Simon is still sitting in the car. Poor Simon, I didn’t mean for him to have to wait in his car like this. Asher is still sitting against the door and now I’m starving. We never got to eat lunch, and since we’ve been eating at his house, I don’t have food in my house. I left the office without getting my purse, so I don’t have my cell phone, and stupid me doesn’t have a house phone.

  After a few more hours, Simon is finally gone. I think Asher is too, but I’m not going to open the door to find out. Laying on the couch in the dark, my doorbell rings. I check the peephole, it’s a delivery guy. I’m not falling for it. I’m starving and I could rip into whatever he has in those bags, but I’m not opening this door.

  Then I hear a soft knock and an equally soft voice from the delivery man, say, “Ma’am, I’ve been instructed to leave these bags at the door for you and to tell you he’s not here and to please call him. Whatever all that means. So, I’m going now. Enjoy your dinner.”

  I wait a few minutes after he leaves, to see if it’s a trick and that Asher is really not here. Nobody seems to be out there. Cautiously opening the door, I grab the two bags, then slam the door locking it behind me. Inside one bag is Chinese food, the exact same order, we had the first night we ate dinner. In the second bag are my purse and a card. I throw the card on the coffee table and dig into the food.

  Not only do I eat my order, but his order too. My cell phone is chirping every few seconds, alerting me to a text. F
inishing both helpings of food, I dig my phone out of my purse. I have twenty-seven missed texts. Scrolling through them, most of them are from Asher, I ignore those. A few are from Amelia, begging me to please call her. There’s even a text from his mom, who I didn’t even know had my number. I feel bad for ignoring the ones from his mom and Amelia, but I just can’t talk to anyone right now.

  Laying down on the couch, tears pour from my eyes. I didn’t know I had this many tears to cry. The card sitting on the coffee table is burning a hole in my vision. Placing my foot on it, I shove it off the table. I fall asleep alone in the dark silently hiccoughing.

  Asher

  I never would’ve thought Willow would have reacted like she did. When Simon told me she wanted to go back to her house, I knew it wasn’t a good sign. I bang on her door, pleading for her to open it and talk to me. After hours of not a sound from her, I have to let Simon go home. He drops me off at my house, then I get in my car and go back to the office to talk to Amelia. Earlier I rushed out of the office so fast after Willow; I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving.

  Back at the office, Amelia already knows that Willow took off upset and that I disappeared shortly after that. Sitting in her office, I tell her everything that happened.

  “Asher, I hate to tell you I told you so, but I told you I thought this was a bad idea.”

  “I honestly didn’t think it was a bad idea. Her mother was so open and willing to get back in touch with Willow.”

  “Honey, she hasn’t seen or heard from her mom in twelve years. I know she doesn’t see the bigger picture here, but right now she thinks you betrayed her.”

  “I tried to explain, she wouldn’t hear me out. Can you talk to her for me, please?”

  “I’ll text her Asher, but I think the best thing right now is to give her a little space.”

  “The results from her testing are tomorrow morning and she’s supposed to have her port taken out. She can’t go through that alone.”