by Holly Hood
On top of that, I’ve slept with my boss who no longer feels like a boss; he feels like so much more. I haven’t had a chance to tell him just how much that night meant to me.
I give his hand a squeeze and walk over to Lee’s table.
“Well, if it isn’t the prettiest girl in the entire place.” Lee puts down his fork.
“I’m Savy, but you can call me that if you like.”
“What a pretty name.” He looks me over. “What a pretty girl.” He digs in his pocket pulling out something. “This was my Sara.”
I take the only photograph I’ve ever seen of Sara. It’s like looking at a version of myself, an older more classic version.
“The same brown hair, the same eyes.” He scratches his head.
I sit down. “Lee, I know this is going to sound strange, but did Sara have any children?”
He picks up his fork. “There was a time when she was happy.”
“I bet there was.” I take his hand and stare at him until he looks at me. “I think Sara was my mother. And I think you know that. Do you remember anything about me? Do you remember taking me to Andrew Arnold when I was two…after Sara died?”
Lee looks away. “She was a good girl.”
“Yes, I believe you. And I think you were trying to help her and me.”
He finally turns his head. There’s a twinkle in his eye at the mention of it. “That’s what Sara would have wanted me to do.” He rubs his nose. “That’s what she would have wanted.”
I squeeze his hand. “I think so, too.” I understand that Lee isn’t all there anymore. He’s old and still grieving for the daughter he lost. “Thank you for what you did.”
He squeezes my hand, and I wonder if maybe there’s more that’s hidden behind his tired eyes. I wonder if there’s a part of him that does remember, but is choosing to pretend he’s forgotten. Maybe he’s scared.
I open my purse and take out my wallet. “I have something I want you to see.”
I hand him a family picture we took last year. I point at my father. “Do you remember this man?”
His hand trembles and he nods but he doesn’t say anything else.
“This is my father. The man who took care of me my entire life. And this is my brother. And the woman I call mom.”
He smiles at me and studies the picture again.
“You can keep it if you like.” I touch my ear. “Was it you who brought me to them when I was two?”
“Yes. It’s what Sarah would have wanted.” He puts the picture down. “She loved you.”
Chapter 21
Who knew that the car accident I was in four years ago would play such a big part in bringing me to this point in life now? I would have never guessed that Ryker and I would meet up again to discover that our crazy relationship had been waiting for us to give it new life.
Or that I would be sitting here watching him compete in a professional skateboarding competition? I enjoyed watching him and sharing in his success. I like when he looks to find me in the crowd and smiles that special smile just for me. When he’s done and he’s collected his trophy, he walks over to me, lifts me off my feet, and we hug.
“You were amazing.”
He wipes his forehead with a towel he takes from his bag. “Thanks for coming.”
“You’re welcome.” I say, as I follow him back to the lockers. ”I wouldn’t have missed it.”
He drops his bag on the bench and pulls his shirt over his head. “Don’t you have to get back to your boss?”
I roll my eyes. “I do. But before I go I wanted to apologize.”
“For?”
“For hating you for something you had no control over.” I raise my chin. “I’m not proud of how I acted. It wasn’t your fault. And I know that now.”
He stands up and kisses me on the cheek. “I’m always here for you. And I will see you around the next time I come to town.”
“I know,” I say. “No matter what.”
“Don’t let him talk you into marrying him.”
I shake my head. He always says this now. “Marriage is not on my agenda.”
“One day it will be.” He smiles. “Hopefully, it’s with me.”
I laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“Okay, okay. Maybe the thought of marriage makes me sick. But if I were forced into it I’d take you down with me.” He winks.
I wave and leave the locker room. I’ve been invited to have dinner with my parents, so I text my father and tell him I’m on my way.
***
“Mom, Dad, this is Jackson Luckman,” I announce to my father and my mother.
“Nice to meet you, Jackson. We’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about you.” My mother graciously welcomes him into the home.
“This is for you.” He hands over the bottle of wine. “One of my favorites.”
“Let me get some glasses. This is wonderful,” she says. She gives me her look of approval.
After settling in the living room, my dad and Jackson start talking golf. I use that opportunity to excuse myself to help Mom in the kitchen.
I know why I’m here, and I know what I want to tell her.
I help her get the glasses down. “Thank you.”
She makes a face. “For what?”
“For always being there for me.” I watch her search the drawer for a bottle opener. “Because I know that you didn’t have to be there for me.” This is when she looks up at me with glossed-over eyes, realizing what I’m really saying. “But you were and that means a lot. And I don’t care if we never speak what I know we’re both thinking. I just want you to know that I love you no matter what.”
She sets the wine on the counter. “Savy.”
I nod.
“We were doing the right thing.” She comes over to me. “If you should know anything about the situation you should know that. We were doing what we thought was the right thing to do.”
“You were trying to protect me.” I look at her, and she nods. “And you have protected me my entire life. I understand now why you both were so upset with Ryker after our accident.” It wasn’t Ryker they hated. They hated the idea of losing someone they cared so much about.
“I really wish you wouldn’t mention this to your father.” She starts pouring the wine. “He likes to think that part of his life is done, and there isn’t anything to worry about anymore. He doesn’t want to involve you in any of that.”
“I understand. And I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you, Savy.”
I do have one question. “How did this not end your marriage?”
She looks at me. “Most people would think that it would. But we saw it as a new beginning. You need to know that your father never betrayed me. We weren’t together when she became pregnant. When you were two and you came into our lives, we knew we’d made the right choice. And I would do it again, because becoming your mother was the best thing that I ever did.”
I hug her. She smooths my hair and kisses me on the cheek. “Now let’s feed these men.”
***
“Did anyone ever tell you how sexy you look using a calculator?” Jackson asks, coming into his office.
I look up. “No, they haven’t. You do realize you haven’t paid bills here in like three months right?”
He takes a seat on his desk. “I didn’t know you were an accountant.”
I lift a stack of bills. “Someone needs to be one.”
“I might have to give you a raise,” he jokes. “You seem to be taking on so many tasks in my life.”
I stand up, slipping into his arms. “I know what my favorite part is.” I kiss him.
He nods, pressing a kiss into my cheek. “The lunch breaks, right?”
I slap him playfully. “No. How amazing you make me feel.”
“Well, that’s easy to do when you’re amazing.”
I smile, enjoying his blue eyes staring me down.
He takes the calculator. “Let’s do lunch.”
�
��I can’t. After all you’ve done for me this last month we have seriously neglected this place.” I run a hand through my hair. “Someone needs to clean up this mess.”
He shakes his head. “It can wait.”
“What do you say we indulge in some crab cakes and oysters?”
I nod my head. “I say that sounds amazing--but no oysters.”
“Are you calling it a day, Jackson?” Lisa asks in the hallway.
“I’m calling it a personal day. With my favorite person.” He winks at me.
I don’t know what Jackson and I will become. Or how soon if at all the relationship with Ryker will unravel. I do know that everyone comes into your life for a reason. And I am content with that. And I am happy knowing there’s a lot more of it to come.
Good or bad--it feels good to me.
Do I think there’s more to the secrets of Sara Rose? Of course, I do. I’m also afraid to know what’s behind that door if I ever decide to open it.
So for now I leave that door closed.
THE END
Acknowledgements
I don’t even know what number book this makes me. But I am going to take a moment to thank a few people for putting me where I am currently with my writing career.
First I want to thank my best friend Brandi. If not for her I wouldn’t have even been a part of this collaboration.
I also want to thank Andrea Turner for being the most supportive person every day! You don’t have to pimp me out every day but you do and that means so much to me! Like I said she is forever in my heart.
I want to tell my husband that he is amazing, although he already knows it.
A thank you to my new editor. This is the first book of many that I can’t wait to work with you on. You have made my life so so so much easier! So, thank you Mitzi!
A big thank you to the readers. You guys always have kind words and things to say. I love hearing from each and every one of you.
To my kids. I know sometimes I am grouchy when I have a deadline. Thank you for putting me in my place and keeping me on my toes I love you four more than you will ever understand. I thought it would be cute to say something about each of you in this so one day when you happen upon it you can smile.
Zoey- You are growing into such a beautiful girl. And right now the amount of time you obsess over clothes and hair proves to me that soon you will be complaining of cramps!!
Zaynah- You are my crazy dancer. You my dear dance like nobody is watching—ever. And I love it.
Rlee- What can I say, you charm me every day. And I think you will continue to do it no matter what.
And Oliver- You are the smartest most adorable almost 2 year old I know. I’m serious I think you are a genius and a ninja.
And to my mother, thank you for sending me such positivity everyday via facebook. And thank you for constantly bragging about me and forcing my bookmarks onto strangers.
And last, thank you to all of the people that annoy me in my life. If you guys didn’t annoy me I might not have such colorful stories to create! You know who you are I’m sure.
About Holly
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Book 2 of the 8th Sin Series coming soon!
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