9781631056314TattooedHeartsJolieNC
Page 29
Time.
For what?
She blinked again, forcing her head out of the clouds and focused. He looked…susceptible to being wounded. “I need you.” She could have sworn he let out a breath. “I want you.” She kissed the dark shadow of stubble along his angular jaw line “God, Forrest–” Unable to continue, she buried her face in his chest and clutched tightly to him.
At times, love needed no language. With his arms holding her, they sat in a beautiful silence for a beat. When he stood, he stepped away, her gaze immediately followed him.
“I would have come sooner,” he said, voice coiled with emotion. “But I needed to find someone to cover the clinic.”
“I’m your home.” The thought made her heart melt. Tears ran unchecked down her face.
“Yes.” He extended a hand, which she gladly took. “Don’t cry.”
“Tears of happiness.” She sighed in pleasure as his strong arms closed around her. “You’re my home too. You always have been.”
“Good to know.” His voice was strong and undisguised with relief as he pressed his lips against her forehead. Then he buried his face in her hair and released a long, rough breath that seemed to come from the deepest part of his heart and soul. “Claire.”
“Forrest.”
“I love you.”
Epilogue
“And at the heart of mathematics lies the concept of infinity.”
Anonymous
The summer breeze rustled Claire’s blouse and hair. Laughing, she tilted her head back and inhaled a lungful of the salty ocean air.
“We’re here.” Forrest’s mouth brushed against her ear.
Moaning, she pressed her back against the wall of his chest, and listened to the sea crashing against the side of the ferry as its engine stopped.
“Ready?”
She turned to face him, as always her breath caught by his sheer beauty. Tiptoeing, she placed a lingering kiss on his lips then slipped her hand in his. “Let’s go.”
With fingers threaded together, they stepped off the ferry in Vineyard Haven and were greeted by blue skies, and the sweet air of the island. There was something about the Vineyard that automatically relaxed her body.
Perhaps that was why she loved it here so much–it stabilized the rapidity of her thoughts, grounded her in a place where ticking of clocks did not govern a lifestyle.
“Did I tell you Chappy and the rest of the island have reconnected?” Forrest asked as they walked off the pier.
Chappaquiddick, a peninsula of Martha’s Vineyard, stood as a truly separated island after its bay broke through the beach and joined the ocean. For almost a decade, Chappy and the rest of the Vineyard had remained separated.
Until now.
It had to be an omen. A good one for sure. Her worlds were merging, joining. Seagulls wheeled over their heads and cried, welcoming them home. “No more gap between our worlds.”
“None.”
She pulled out her phone to send a text to her family and friends and realized she had no phone signal. Oh well, cell phone was officially off, a fortunate stroke of serendipity. Just her, the island, her family, friends, and Forrest.
Free therapy.
Reboot. Reset.
Home.
Lily had given birth to a beautiful girl. Claire was looking forward to playing auntie. She slid into Forrest’s parked Jeep that Blake dropped off earlier in the day. “How does it feel to be back after months on the road?”
He revved up the engine. “It feels nice. But I’d walk away from here to be with you. Don’t ever forget that.”
She knew that. He’d spent the last three months following her around the globe, not once mentioning the need to be back on the island. Her heart did that funny little dance reserved for the man sitting beside her. The last time she’d been this happy had been…here with Forrest. His love was infinite and without limits, as was hers. She understood that.
“I want to be here with you,” she reassured him.
“I never want to be the reason you walk away from your career. You were meant to sing.”
When she informed Forrest she would be taking a break and not focus on recording another record until a year or two, he had been adamant about her not choosing between him and her career. This wasn’t about two possibilities. She’d continue to sing and travel, just not the grueling schedule she maintained for so long. Living became more important. “I’m not walking away from my career. I’ve readjusted my priorities. Do you know how I coped with you not being in my life the last decade?
“Tell me.”
“I worked until I couldn’t think. Whenever James brought up a project, I did it as long as it didn’t interfere with my singing.” She turned to face him and slid her fingers into his hair just for the sheer pleasure of touching him. “I love to sing, I won’t give that up. But I don’t want to be a full-time actress. As for designing, I’ll design a wedding gown when and if I feel like doing it.” She smiled and said, “I want us.”
His eyes darkened behind the glasses as if he was contemplating something then he turned his attention to the road. “I want to take you home but everyone is waiting for us at Vapor.”
Brisk wind ruffled her hair. Tucking a few strands behind her ear, she sat back and put on her shades. “Let’s go.”
As they drove down Main Street, Claire took in the scenery of the island now fully awake with tourism and those who always departed for the winter months. A bicycle bell rang from the bike path and Forrest waved at Mrs. Kane. The streets with no traffic lights were busy but flowed smoothly. After a short drive, Forrest pulled the Jeep into the parking area at the pier across from Seafood Shanty.
As always, Downtown Edgartown, the heart of the island, was full of life and energy. The restaurants, ice cream parlors, and bike shops were all open for business. With her hand encased in Forrest’s, they walked the short distance to Vapor.
To Claire’s surprise, the place was quiet. A rarity. The only people inside the island’s favorite hangout spot were their friends, her mother, Ralph, Charles, and Marjorie.
Confused, she looked at Forrest. “Why is Vapor empty? Did something happen to Adam and Jason?” She spoke to everyone often, but her time had been limited, she might have missed something.
“Vapor is closed for a few hours.” He released his hand from hers to place it on the small of her back and led her to their family. Hugs were quickly exchanged, welcoming her back.
“Welcome home,” Jason whispered in her ear. “And thanks for making the big guy whole again.”
“How are you, Minka?” she asked her friend, now three months pregnant.
“Other than I keep snapping at my husband.” Minka gave Jason a secret smile. “I’m well. But I can’t wait to give birth and hold these babies.”
Claire grinned and turned to Adam standing next to Lily with a tri-blue colored wraparound baby carrier on his chest. A gift she’d personally picked out and sent to the happy couple after receiving a text with the picture of their newborn. “She’s tucked in there somewhere.”
Adam nodded and pulled back the cotton material to reveal a cozy, sleeping baby with a mass of dark hair and tanned skin like her father. “Meet your niece, Christina Sofia Aquilani.”
Claire’s heart squeezed. The name was a nod to his parents. “Can I hold her?”
“Of course.” Very gently he removed the sleeping baby from the safety of his chest and handed his daughter to Claire.
The newborn opened a set of big brown eyes and gripped Claire’s thumb. She let out one of those soothing baby sounds and gave Claire what she thought looked like a smile, then let out a sharp, high-pitched sound that went straight through Claire’s head.
“I’ll take her.” The proud papa took his daughter and rocked her on his chest, whispering to her in Italian.
“She’s all about daddy right now,” Lily said. For proof, the cry had subsided and Christina was once again safely pressed against her father’s heart.
Claire glanced over at a smiling Lily as she watched her husband and their daughter bonding. So much love in the room, this time there was no hollow space in her gut.
Charles walked over to Forrest and placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. Aware the two had been working on mending their relationship, she was glad to see the tension that was once so thick between them had dissipated. Not that Forrest would ever be ready to refer to the other man as his father, but she knew in his heart he had accepted the role Charles played in his life.
“Go ahead,” Charles said to Forrest. “You made those two shut down Vapor for you.”
Forrest slid his father a look. Charles shrugged his broad shoulders and looked amused. She was utterly confused about what was just said between the two men. She peered at Forrest. He stared at her, his expression faded from relaxed to serious.
“Claire.” Forrest pulled a small velvet box from the pocket of his jacket and crouched before her.
Someone let out a smothered laugh. She couldn’t tell which of the guys it came from. It didn’t matter. The sound faded. The vicious thumping of her heart made her forget about everything except what was happening at the moment.
“I asked everyone to meet us here,” Forrest said, voice thick and gruff. “Because I thought it was fitting for us to be surrounded by the people we love the most when I ask you to marry me.”
He opened the box and revealed a stunning ring with an open curved diamond band in the shape of the infinity symbol. There was a huge gap of silence, not even a sound from baby Christina. Then Claire’s lips parted and released a breath.
“Marry you,” she said, and her voice made a funny noise as it cracked with emotion.
Forrest smiled. “You’re crying again.”
“I am?” Oh God. She’d been doing that a lot lately. She quickly swiped her cheeks. “Happy tears.”
“I love you. I want to be your home as you are mine. Say yes so those jerks can stop staring at me with those silly grins on their faces.”
She stared down at Forrest, the big, calm man, who always knew what he wanted. She’d loved him forever. “Yes.” She blinked to stifle incoming tears and looked into his beautiful eyes. He was a man of few words, but his eyes…they always spoke to her. And he meant every word. She cupped his scruffy face as he rose to his feet.
“Yes,” he repeated her word, his voice raw with relief.
Claire let out a chuckle. She went up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes,” she whispered once more against his lips. “I’ve loved you for so long.”
He kissed her again. In the back of her consciousness, she heard a few cheers and clapping. Forrest scooped her up in his arms. Claire let out a scream filled with delight and held on tight. “I’m officially spoiled.”
“Good,” Forrest muffled against her lips.
“Hey,” Charles said, his voice echoing the happiness inside Claire. “Are we celebrating?”
“Tomorrow,” Forrest answered. “Claire and I are going home.”
Then he was kissing her again as he carried her away. She lost Forrest and found him again. The second time, guided by not only their hearts, but with maturity, things made more sense. Timing had a lot to do with everything in life. Sometimes regardless of what the heart desired, love continued to run away and escape…because ten years ago, they hadn’t been ready for each other yet.
Now, they were in a suitable mindset and primed for their infinite journey together.
Everything within her flooded with happiness, need, lust…love. “Thank you for waiting for me.”
“Forever, Claire. I’d wait for you forever.”
She loved him.
She loved life.
She was happy.
She was home.
*The End*
About the Author
Mika lives in New Jersey with her Happy Chaos – her husband and their two energizer bunnies. She’s addicted to Spotify, lip balm and a cute scarf.
When she does have time to breathe, and isn't behind her computer, you can find her working on her garden, reading, hiking with her camera slung over her shoulder, or practicing her knitting skills.
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Books by Mika Jolie
Martha’s Way Series
The Scale – Book One
Need You Now – Book Two
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com