“Okay.”
He spun her around and carried her to his bed, kissing her tenderly, passionately, and making love to her all night long.
Epilogue
****
Megan stood in front of the full-length mirror looking at her reflection. She wore a simple floor-length cream-colored dress with lace and sequins woven within. Carlana stood beside Megan pinning up her hair as she placed the flowered crown on her head. “Perfect.” Carlana said as she wiped a tear from her eye.
“You look beautiful.” Megan turned to find her mother and Maggie standing in the doorway looking at her. They had become great friends over the last few months, both helping to plan her wedding.
“Thanks,” she smiled, and turned back to the mirror. She was now eight months pregnant and felt like a beached whale, but both she and Matt wanted to be married before their baby, their little girl, arrived.
“Ready?” Carlana asked.
“Yeah, I’ve been ready.” She smiled at her friend.
The little church sat full with friends and family. They decided to have the wedding at Maggie’s church so all of her friends could attend, along with her mom, Colin, Carlana, and Eric. Dave and Derick, along with a few others from Matt’s company attended as well. The only person that didn’t make it was Austin. He had called to congratulate her, but she still missed him. He had started college in North Carolina, though, so she understood.
The music played softly as Eric walked her down the aisle. Matt stood at the end with a grin on his face. As they neared, Matt reached out for her and said to Eric, “How many times do I need to tell you, let go of my girl.” Everyone chuckled.
They exchanged vows and with rings on their fingers, they turned to the crowd as the preacher announced, “May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Bryant.” Matt gave her a passionate kiss and when it ended they were nose to nose.
“Hello Mrs. Bryant.” He whispered and she grinned, happiness evident to everyone who watched.
The End!
Thank you for reading “Finding Megan.” If you enjoyed it, feel free to leave a review.
If you want to be notified when new books are available, you can follow the author on Goodreads or email her at [email protected]
The next book in the series will be Austin’s story, which will be available this year. Read on for the first chapter.
The Kiser Series
Book one: Trying to Survive
Book two: Finding Megan
Book three: Coming soon
Austin, the only child to Carlana and Grayson, thought the world of his parents. However, that world shattered when he was sixteen. A drunk driver killed his father, leaving him to take care of his mother. That was his job, or it was until she met Colin.
With no direction in his life except his college classes, Austin and his roommate started a band. Playing the guitar and singing always helped when he felt low or depressed, so music was his escape. With one semester left in college, they’re offered a record deal.
Although he should be happy, he’s not. He’s angry and he can’t get the drunk that killed his father off his mind. His dad’s still gone but the man who killed him is already out of prison enjoying life. Did he ever think about them, the family he destroyed? When the anger gets the best of him, he has to find out.
Austin
Prologue
Sitting at Dad’s grave, I have no idea how to move on. We just buried him last week and Mom cries every day. I have to be strong for her; I have to be the man of the house. That’s what Dad would want. “Hey, Dad; I miss you. I don’t know what to do or how to help Mom. She cries all the time, and I feel helpless.” Wiping the tears from my eyes, I say forcefully, “You weren’t supposed to die!” I want to change everything back to the way it was, want to kill the man that did this to us. “Playing my guitar is the only way I can relieve this pain that I feel in my chest. Last week when I had to carry Mom away from here, I wrote you a song. I haven’t played it for anyone, just you, Dad.” Pulling my guitar onto my lap, I began to strum a melody before I start to sing.
I woke up this morning
To a another day
I don’t feel the same
As I did yesterday
They keep telling me
It’s gonna be alright
But they’re not the ones
That sleep with our memories at night
What am I supposed to do?
I can’t stand the thoughts of leaving you
Although it may be the cold dark truth
They say accept it
But I don’t want to
I don’t want to
Wiping more tears away I say, “Sorry, Dad. I thought I could sing the whole song, but I can’t, not yet. I feel so lost, and I don’t know what to do. All I know is that I miss you, Dad. SO. DAMN. MUCH!
Chapter 1
“Hey Austin, you coming, man?” Alex asked, as he stuck his head in the door of my room.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” Alex was my college roommate and best friend. We were in our fourth year at UNC, but music was what we dreamed about. Alex was the lead guitarist and I was the lead singer of Shaken Thought. We sang original rock songs and had a regular gig every Friday night at Barry’s Bar. That was where we were heading now. Grabbing my guitar, I turned the lights out and headed out the door.
“You okay?” He looked at me from the corner of his eye.
“Fine. Why do you ask?”
“You just seem distracted. You need to be on you’re A-game tonight. There’s supposed to be some big wigs there tonight to watch us perform.”
“I know that, asshole. You don’t need to fucking remind me every thirty minutes.”
“Now, I know something’s up. What the hell is it?” He grabbed my shoulder, but I shook him off.
“It’s none of your fucking business, so just fuck off!” I glared and then walked past him, leaving him standing there with his lips smashed together. There was no way I could talk about my feelings with him. I only shared things with my mother and since she remarried, I don’t do that very often.
There was no way I could tell Alex how angry I was right then. Today is the anniversary of the day my dad died, six years ago, and the son of a bitch who killed him was out of jail already. He’s out of jail but I still had to live without Dad because he decided to drink and drive. I think about the driver all the time and wonder if he ever thinks about Dad… us.
I’ve tried everything I know of, to get rid of the rage I feel. I work out every day; now, I’m six-feet-two, and two hundred and thirty pounds of pure muscle, but the rage was still there. Mom has tried to get me to go back to counseling. It helped when Dad first died, so maybe I should consider it. I just don’t know.
On stage that night, with at least two hundred people drinking and dancing, I sang my heart out. I sang with every emotion I possessed.
Do you care what you did?
The decisions you made
It’s your selfish attitude
And it’s me who you made
Hate that you made
When I finished pouring my fucking heart out, the crowd went wild. Of course, they had no idea that the song was personal. Strumming the guitar, I sang song after song until sweat was dripping off my brow and my chest was heaving.
As I was walking off stage to grab a bottle of water, a man in a suit walked over.
Handing me a card, he said, “Hi Austin, I’m Eric Kincer, and I work for MEC records. I would like to talk to you about managing your band, and signing you to a two year contract.” I looked down at his card and then back up to find him staring at me. I nodded to a table in the corner.
Sitting down I said, “I’m listening.” He told me how he would like to manage the band, set up venues and promote us. I would have to sign a contract, agreeing to their terms. I knew this was something I needed help with and I knew just who to call. “That sounds good, but I would like my stepfather here with me when w
e go over the contract.” I only called Colin, my stepfather when I needed to use his name. I knew it was an asshole move, but he didn’t mind. In fact, he told me that anytime I needed to use his name to go ahead.
“That’ll be fine. I’ll have the papers drawn up and we’ll meet next week to go over them. I’ll call you.” I shook his hand and then left to find the rest of the band.
Finding the guys in the back room looking anxious, Alex was the first to speak when I walked in. “Well, what’d he say?”
Taking a seat I answered, “He said he works for MEC records and he wants to sign us to a two-year contract. He says he’ll manage and promote the band, setting up gigs and so on.” The guys all shouted with excitement as I sat there grinning at them. We had worked damn hard for this and we deserved it.
“When are you meeting him?” Alex asked.
“I told him that I would meet him next week and I wanted my stepfather present.” Alex broke out into laughter.
“Does he have any idea who he’s meeting with?” I smiled a mischievous smile.
“Hell, no!” I laughed. “Colin will make sure we get a good deal and won’t let us get screwed.”
“Speaking of getting screwed, I’m going out to mingle,” he wiggled his eyebrows and then left.
Deciding to call mom before finding my own chick for the night, I pulled out my cell. I tried to talk to her at least two or three times a week. Dialing her number, I watched as the guys filed out one by one, looking for women. After a great set like tonight, we had to get rid of this pent-up energy, somehow.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Mom, how are you?” I asked, while taking a seat on the old worn-out couch.
“I’m okay, how are you? I’ve been worried about you today.”
“I’m okay. Actually I’m not. I think about that man every day and I hate him. I miss Dad today just as much as I did six years ago.”
“I know, honey. Even though I’m married again now, Colin understands that he didn’t take Graysen’s place. I miss him too and I’ve thought about him a lot today.”
“I just wish I could move forward,” I said, in almost a whisper.
“Maybe you should seek counseling again. Just remember it’s much easier to hate someone than it is to forgive them. That’s why we have to strive to forgive.”
“I know Mom, I’m trying. On a better note, a man from MEC Records approached me tonight and wants to sign the band.”
“That’s great sweetheart, but what about college? You’re in your last year.” I’d known she’d worry about college, but I also knew she would support whatever decision I made.
“I want to try this Mom. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll only have one semester left to finish.”
“Okay, honey. All I want is for you to be happy. But if this doesn’t work out, then you will finish college.”
“Okay, deal. Now I need to talk to Colin.”
“I’ll put him on. Bye sweetie, love you.”
“Love you, too.” I’d known she would be okay with everything. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother and even though it was hard in the beginning, I was happy she found Colin.
“Hey man, what’s up?” I liked that he spoke to me as another man and not a child. He had always treated me as an equal.
“A Mr. Kincer from MEC Records wants to sign us and he’s drawing up the contract. I would like you there too, just to make sure he isn’t screwing us over.”
“Okay, I’m writing this down. I’ll have Janice look into the company and this Mr. Kincer, just to make sure he’s on the up and up. I’ll be there to go over the contract with you, just let me know when and where.”
“Thanks, Colin.”
“Anytime Austin.” Hanging up, I decided to find someone help get rid of all this pent-up energy. Grabbing another bottle of water, I headed out to the bar, to the crowd, to the chicks.
‘I Don’t Want To’
By
Holder & Bowen (Now on YouTube)
Austin’s Story Coming
2016
I hope you enjoyed reading the book!
Thank You!
Read on for the first chapter in Trying to Survive.
Prologue
I sat in the cold metal chair as my husband lay in the casket along with all of our dreams. My life was over. My life lay there with my husband, my only lover, my best friend and my everything. Holding a red rose a tear slipped down my face, and I couldn’t bring myself to lay it on his casket. This could not be the end, it couldn’t be over.
Everyone had long since left, except me, but I refused to let him go. Looking toward Heaven, I sobbed and asked the one question I knew I’d never get the answer to. Why? Why did you take him? Why did this happen? Sobbing I found my legs, walked to his casket and threw my body over the top and while I cried, I begged, “Please don’t leave me! I can’t do this without you!” I didn’t understand why this had happened; I was the one with health problems. I was supposed to go first, but not for a long time. We had plans, had dreams and we still had to finish raising our son.
I don’t know how long I lay on top of Graysen’s casket but my crying had stopped when I felt strong warm arms wrap around me and when I looked up, I looked into Graysen’s eyes. It wasn’t Graysen, however, it was our sixteen-year-old son, Austin. He lifted me up and carried me to the car. “It will be okay Mom; I’ll take care of you.” I heard his words and although they gave me comfort, it wasn’t right. He didn’t need to take care of me; I needed to take care of him. He was my child, and that’s what mothers do.
Chapter 1
Two Years Later
“Mom, where are you?” Austin yelled as he came through the front door. Smiling, I thought about how some things never changed no matter how old he got. Walking into the kitchen where I had been making dinner he said, “There you are. Why didn’t you answer me?”
“I didn’t want to yell. I knew you would find me, eventually.” He made his way over to the bar and took a seat on the stool. “What did you need?” I asked while stirring the pot of chili I was making for dinner.
“Nothing, I just didn’t know where you were.” Austin had grown into a fine young man but at times I worried about him. He spent too much time worrying about me and not enough time being a teenager.
“I’ve been here all day.” I smiled. “Are you going to the ball game tonight?” He loved to watch football, especially with Graysen. They went to all of the high school games on Friday nights and watched college games on Saturdays. The two of them made a day of it with chips and salsa in front of the TV. The first year after Graysen passed away, Austin just closed down, refusing to go by himself. I knew he took Graysen’s death hard and with him suddenly thinking he was the man of the house, he internalized his grief. A few months later, I made an appointment for us both to talk to a counselor…not together of course, although they did have us come together a time or two. Counseling really helped us both and I’m not sure where we would be today without it. Oh, it was still hard. I still missed Graysen every single day but I was learning to live without him.
“No, I think I’ll stay home,” he said solemnly. I stopped and looked at him, I mean really looked.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you going?” This was his senior year and I wanted him to enjoy it. He was doing so well this year, I wanted him to go and have a good time.
“Nothing’s wrong, I just don’t want to go that’s all.” He never made eye contact so I knew something was up.
“Talk to me, Austin. Please tell me what’s bothering you.” He looked up and I saw the pain in his eyes. Walking over to him, I pulled him in for a hug and he threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly.
“I miss Dad,” he whispered. It made my heart hurt because I missed him too…so much. I knew I couldn’t be mom and dad, so I didn’t even try. “I want him here for my senior year; I want him to go to the games with me.” I heard his voice break and a tear slipped out of my eye. Austin might have been si
x-feet-two, with muscles everywhere, but to me he was still my little boy, my beautiful little boy.
“I know honey. I miss him, too.” A few minutes later, while I was still embracing him, I said, “I can go and you can teach me all about it.” He laughed as I knew he would.
“Mom, you hate cold weather.” And just like that he felt better. His shoulders were more relaxed and he wore an easy smile on his face. I moved back over to the stove while he sat back down. “Kaitlyn asked me to meet her there,” he said, without looking up.
“Oh, she did, huh?” A brief smile graced his face. For some reason, he didn’t talk about girls that often. I always felt like he thought it would bother me though I couldn’t imagine why.
“Yeah, she did. I thought afterwards I would take her out for a pizza.” He still wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Austin?” I waited. “Austin looked at me.” When he did, I could see something in his eyes. It looked like guilt but I didn’t know why. “Honey, I think that’s wonderful.” I gave him my best smile and saw him relax again. “You should go and have a great time. You’re eighteen years old and that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
“I know you keep telling me that but I don’t want you to be alone for so long.” My heart melted at the thought of having such a caring son.
“I’ll be just fine. It makes me feel better to know that you are living your life and having a good time. Your happiness gives me happiness.”
“I can’t help but worry. You never go out and do anything and you haven’t dated anyone.” I glanced his way. This was a sore topic for us.
“Do you really want me to date?” I could see how uncomfortable that made him.
“No, but I don’t want you to be alone either. You’re still young and you should have some fun too.” I didn’t feel that young, even though I was only thirty-five. I had Austin when I was seventeen and had spent my whole life raising him. I didn’t mind though. I actually felt lucky. With my disease, the doctor had told me that the chances of me having children were very slim. At thirteen, I met Graysen, at fifteen we started dating, and at seventeen I found out I could have children after all…at least one. It never occurred to me to try and prevent pregnancy.
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