Take Me Home: Book 4 The Wakefield Romance Series

by Hewitt, Theresa Marguerite

  I’m lost in thoughts of my guests and friends when I’m jerked to a stop, looking up and over to Jack and seeing him chuckling to himself. “Daydreamin’ much?” he whispers as it falls quiet around us and everyone starts sitting. I shrug his making fun off and turn my face back to Bobby, standing there next to the Pastor and he gives me that wide, mischievous smile again. He certainly does know how to break a haze and I stick my tongue out at him, my heart fluttering the entire time as Pastor Williams clears his throat.

  “Who gives this woman away to be married to this,” Pastor nods nonchalantly to Bobby, rolling his eyes and making the crowd laugh, “man.” He says the word sarcastically, laughing himself when Bobby just shrugs and he tells him he’s just kidding.

  “I do,” Jack speaks up, his voice deep and commanding of attention the way it always has been. I smile up at him as he looks down, his hand and arm squeezing my nestled fingers as if he doesn’t want to let me go. “In memory of our mother and in the sight of God, I give her away to be married.” He kisses the side of my forehead, releasing my hand as I step forward and under the canopy, finally facing Bobby. As Jack goes to step away to sit by Dana, Bobby reaches out to shake his hand, which Jack takes enthusiastically. “If you break her heart, I’ll slit your throat,” he says, not trying to lower his voice so no one hears and his stare is locked on Bobby’s.

  For a second, I feel as if I need to step between them; their eyes never leaving one another as I see their grips tighten around one another’s hand, but then I see the grin on Jack’s face. I hear the Pastor release a little breath as Bobby laughs. “No problem there, Man.” They both nod to one another and then Jack finally sits, taking the steely look I’m giving him with a shrug.

  “Alrighty then, let’s get this show on the road,” Pastor Williams breaks the little silence and I take another calming breath, handing my flowers over to Rhea and sliding my hands into Bobby’s when he holds them out. They are warm and slightly rough, the way they have always been and the feeling is so familiar I feel like melting. As the Pastor goes on about love and marriage, I’m not really listening. I’m just looking at my Bobby, whom is looking at me. Every now and then he smiles that crooked smile, squeezing my hands and rubbing his thumb along my fingers, the fluttering in my heart moving to my stomach as the twins kick away.

  I follow the vows that the Pastor lays out flawlessly, almost mindlessly, never taking my eyes from Bobby’s even when Rhea hands me the ring. As soon as that black titanium circle slides onto his finger it’s like a flood gate opens and I start to cry, feeling overwhelmingly happy that I just can’t help it. He’s the one who saved me, even when he hadn’t realized it yet. He’s the one who set my heart on fire from the first moment I met him, making me feel like a schoolgirl all over again and bringing me from the dark world that had consumed me for so long.

  Before I know it, the Pastor is calling for everyone’s attention. “By the power invested in me by God and the State of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” He winks to Bobby, who in a flash has me in his arms, his lips hovering over mine for only a second with a smile before descending and claiming as whistles and cheers fill our backyard. Clapping and shouting fades to this moment as his lips move with mine, his tongue seemingly mapping my mouth for the very first time and I sink into his kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck and stretching up onto my tiptoes. My belly bumps into him and right at a moment as I think we’re both lost in one another a strong kick comes from one of our unborn children, breaking us apart with smiles on our faces. I kiss him one more time, not wanting to let him go but knowing from now on, I’ll have as much time as I want to kiss him so I’ll let it slip for now.

  “I am overly joyed to introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Bobby ‘n Ellie Timmons!” Pastor Williams shouts over the cheers, and my guests and friends shower us in bird seed. Bobby takes my hand, pulling me back down the aisle as the seeds rain down on us, heading for the party tent.

  ****

  We’ve been partying and our guests have been enjoying the food and drink for hours now, the sun just starting to set, bathing us in an orange glow. Rhea is sitting on one side of me while Chelsi is on the other and we are just watching the different kids and adults shaking it out on the makeshift dance floor. I’ve been out there a little, but I’m taking it easy right now as I feel like I’ve got some sort of gas a’brewing. Nothing new with me and trust me, all of my friends and Bobby know to steer clear when I tell them.

  “Here come the guys,” Chelsi leans in and says, nodding off to the side of the tent and sure enough here comes my husband followed by Austin French, Elliot Uclid, Fred Black, Chad, Reno, Harlan, Garth, and Jude. They are all laughing and joking, beers in hand, and as Bobby sees me watching him approach he stops, doing a little spin on the dance floor and getting some whistles from the girls.

  “Well, look at Mr. Dance Machine here,” I joke, getting covered in sloppy kisses as he leans over, squishing my cheeks and kissing me obnoxiously while everyone whistles and shouts. He finally stops playing around, covering my lips and kissing me for real, not letting me go until I whimper into his lips and he releases me with a smile.

  “A lil’ later, Sweetheart,” he reassures me, kissing me lightly again before taking a seat next to me. His hand covers mine, his fingers lacing with mine and my skin seems to melt with his; wanting his touch even more than just this. I lean my head on his shoulder as my other hand rubs over my stomach and I look around us.

  Austin French is sitting next to Chelsi to my one side and they are deep in conversation, Chelsi laughing more than I’ve ever seen her and again, I wonder about them. She says they are just friends, taking it slow, so I don’t pry too much.

  Rhea and Chad are on our other side, Charlie on Chad’s lap. My favorite little guy is covered in cake and chocolate and his mother is trying to wipe it off his hands with a wipey before he gets it everywhere else. He’s screeching and flailing, finally having Rhea and Chad give up with most of the mess cleaned up before they let him go run amuck back on the dance floor.

  I can’t help but laugh at his cute little self, out on the floor dancing with his grandmother and Rosa with Marisol. “Don’t laugh too much,” Rhea leans across Bobby, talking loud enough for both of us to hear, “you’ll have two little monsters to deal with.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Bobby answers, kissing my forehead as Rhea sinks back into Chad’s arms and I lean into my husband the same way. We just sit here, the four of us chatting away before Austin comes in and first says something to Chad, making him jump from his seat.

  “Come on, boy,” he shouts to Bobby over the last few verses of Def Leppard’s ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’. Bobby hesitates, shaking his head, but Austin waves over his shoulder motioning to the DJ booth and the karaoke machine. “Come on, you cocky son of a bitch; let’s show these people how to party.”

  Bobby sighs and I’m totally confused as to what they are going to do, but he kisses me on the cheek, telling me not to laugh too hard and follows his friends. My brother joins them and they all huddle up near the DJ, talking to him and grabbing microphones.

  “What is about to happen here?” I ask Rhea as Chelsi and her scoot closer to me once more. The song that is pumping through the tent fades out and there is a moment of silence.

  “I don’t know,” Chelsi says, leaning in to whisper in my ear, “but I’m kinda scared.” All three of us can’t help but giggle, but all joking stops and my face goes blank when the first few chords of Styx ‘Come Sail Away’ fills the speakers. Then Austin steps out from behind the DJ booth and belts the first line.

  “I’m sailing away,” hitting the notes in what I think is pretty amazing accuracy. He gets into it, out in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by everyone sitting at their tables just watching him in slight shock. “Free to face the life that’s ahead of me,” is the last line he sings, stepping aside as we watch Chad come up behind him, looking right at Rhea.

  “On board
, I’m the captain, so climb aboard,” Chad belts out and the cheers erupt in the tent. I look to Rhea and we both start laughing, Chelsi saying he can really kind of sing as he keeps rocking it. When he gets to the “To carry on,” part everyone joins in and Bobby joins them in the middle of the floor, winking at me.

  “I look to the sea. Reflections in the waves spark my memory,” he sings, looking right at me and doing that boy-band thing when they reach out to the crowd, reaching out to me across the table and grasping my hand while singing. He’s an okay singer, but he’s having fun and I can’t stop smiling, blushing, and laughing lightly. My man is one of the silliest, but I wouldn’t change him for the world.

  Jack joins them as the guitar in the music kicks in. Bobby kisses my cheek to rejoin his friends on the last verse right before I know the beat picks up. Then Jack is down on his knees, the lights focused on him, giving the air guitar all its got and the tent erupts in cheers and shouts; everyone on their feet including Rhea, Chelsi, and I.

  The four of them sing together, moving around the tent dancing and letting others in on the microphones. Jack power slides back onto the dance floor, rocking out eighties style on his air guitar and I’m laughing a little too hard at all of this. No, I really mean it, I’m laughing too hard and a sharp pain runs up through my stomach, causing me to lean forward and grasp the edge of the table. I take a few deep breaths, everyone around me with their focus on the ruckus on the floor and I try to straighten back up.

  Just as the beat slows down again I feel a rush of liquid flow down between my legs and I gasp, gaining Rhea’s attention. She’s smiling as she turns and I can’t pick my jaw up off the floor as I feel the liquid running down my bare legs. I don’t want to look, no, not right now. How about in a couple of hours when all my guests have gone home? But my head falls slowly and I see the pool of liquid beneath me, surrounding my feet and now I have to believe that my water just broke and that I didn’t just pee myself.

  “Oh my God!” Rhea’s voice shouts over the noise around us, drawing Chelsi and Kendall’s attention and as I pick up my head I see the three of them with their faces turned to the floor. I’ve lost all rational thought and I don’t know what to do. I’m panicking inside and my heart starts to race. My hands are shaking as I reach out for my cousin’s hand and she grasps it tightly, motioning for me to sit down. “Bobby! Chad!” she yells out over the music and I look out onto the dance floor, spotting my husband when he turns my way.

  I must look panicked and scared, as Bobby drops the microphone and sprints to my side, his prosthetic leg not hindering him at all. He’s kneeling beside me, his hazel eyes roaming my face as his hand hovers over my stomach like he’s scared to touch me. I grab his hand and squeeze it as a contraction finds me, counting to ten and taking a deep breath when the pressure subsides I give him a smile; holding his open hand to my cheek.

  “Our babies are comin’,” I whisper, noting the fear, excitement, and worry run through his expression all at once. His hand trembles and he pulls me closer, touching our foreheads and kissing the tip of my nose. “Our babies…” I can’t help but let the tears of the occasion take over and as they slide down my cheek he kisses them away.

  He only leaves me for a second to shout, “Our babies are coming!” The tent erupts in another wave of cheers and then I’m surrounded by Brad Muncy and Fred Black. They are checking my pulse and blood pressure, asking me questions and my mind is swimming.

  After about the tenth question, I throw my hand up, stopping their onslaught. “Can we jus’ get me to the hospital?” All the chattering around me stops and Brad gives me a smile, his muscular tan arms pulling me up from the chair as if I’m nothing.

  “Clear a path, people!” he yells and we’re off, heading for his Jeep.

  “Bobby?” I shout, looking over Brad’s shoulder and seeing my husband on his heels.

  “I’m right here, Sweetheart. Remember? I’m never lettin’ you go.” He grabs my hand and scoots into the backseat with me.

  “Yeah, I know,” I breathe out with another contraction, leaning my head on his shoulder. “Let’s say Happy Birthday to these babies.” Brad’s blue lights come on and we’re racing toward the hospital, but I have no fear. My man is beside me and he’s never leaving me. Never.

  THE END

  BOOK 5

  IN

  THE WAKEFIELD ROMANCE SERIES

  Somebody’s Chelsi

  Coming late 2014

  Every girl wants to be a man’s everything. They want to be the one their man says “Yeah, that’s my girl,” with a huge smile on their face and pride in their eyes.

  Chelsi Ryder was someone’s everything, once, but that was a long time ago. Most said they were young and dumb, but ever since losing him Chelsi hasn’t given love another chance. She keeps her distance, making herself unavailable, that is until SEAL Team Lieutenant Austin French stumbles into her life.

  Austin French is no stranger to love, being both hounded and rejected more times than he can remember just because he is what he is; a Navy SEAL. He’s sick of the one night stands with the uniform chasers and with most of his friends settling down around him, he wants a piece of the paradise Wakefield seems to offer. He’s fascinated with the strawberry blonde girl with the light green eyes and wants to know more-no, he wants to know everything about her.

  Can walls be broken down in the hopes of finding a new love?

  Can two people be everything to each other and fill a space in one another’s heart that neither knew was missing?

  Keep reading for a special preview!

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  Book 5

  Somebody’s Chelsi

  PROLOGUE:

  Chelsi

  July 4, 2014

  The hospital is buzzing around me as I look out the waiting room doorway again, looking for any sign of Bobby, but nothing. I take a deep breath in and try and shake the queasy feeling and goose-bumps away from my skin. I hate hospitals. In my experience, they bring nothing but bad news.

  You see, the last time I was in a waiting room in a hospital was back in Norfolk where I grew up. I was just as happy as could be, waiting for a nurse to come and get me, telling me that my newlywed husband made it through his second surgery in treatment of a tumor on his brain. He had made it through the first no problem, so I wasn’t really all that worried. I was only eighteen and not ready for anything that would follow marrying Thomas Coleman.

  Watching the nurses and doctors milling around, the chatter behind me from Rhea and Chad makes me remember that day even more, and all that led up to it. Thomas and I had been high school sweethearts, only being separated for college as I went up in Pennsylvania and he stayed here in Virginia. It was only one semester apart and Tom started having really bad headaches, not being able to focus and he even passed out while walking down a staircase at school, falling and breaking his arm.

  Coming home for Christmas that year, I never thought I’d sit at Tom’s bedside and hear him tell me that he has a brain tumor, but it happened. For the first time my little world came crashing down and I cried for days, not knowing what to tell him to comfort him. On that break from school I went to every doctor’s appointment, holding his hand when his doctors told him they wanted to try a surgery and then going over all of the risks with him when we were back at his house. He decided to go through with it and I’ll remember what he said to me as we sat at his parents’ kitchen table until the day I d
ie.

  “So, if I make it through this I wanna marry you, Chelsi Ryder.” His dark brown eyes burned into me and he grinned, his mouth full of green beans making me think he was kidding. I just laughed it off, going back to my food, but when his hand covered mine I picked my gaze back up seeing that he was still staring at me. “I’m serious, Chels. I want you to be my wife; you’re already my everythin’. Be my everythin’ forever.”

  What girl could say no to that? So against my parents’ better judgment I dropped out of college, grabbed a full time job at a local factory, and sat in a waiting room while Tom had his first surgery. Everything went off without a hitch, they said they got all of it and that his recovery looked promising. No long lasting effects and eight months later Tom was almost back to normal, watching me walk down the aisle into his arms and becoming his wife.

  I was so happy and naïve and when I’m broken from my daydream by Dana Payne brushing past me, my smile fades into a frown remembering what came next. Sure we were happy, but blindly so. We had an amazing love life, Tom knew every inch of me and ways to make me scream out his name with only a breath. But we didn’t know what was growing inside of him until I came home from work one day to find him passed out on the floor in a pool of blood from a nose bleed.

  They ran test after test, sticking my husband with so many needles I’m sure he didn’t have an untarnished inch of flesh on his arms and hands. I hated seeing him like that, in pain every minute of every day unless I begged him to press his morphine pump. I never left him, losing my job only a week before the doctors came back and told us the tumor had grown back and that they wanted to operate again, this time followed with chemo.