Tristan frowned. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I left you at home, and that man came and got his claws into you.” She let the guilt she felt fill her, hoping that he would see it in her face. He had to understand that even though they would all feel some measure of guilt for the part they played. That none of them bore any real responsibility for the result.
“You didn’t know he was going to come around.” Tristan put his hands over hers.
“It doesn’t matter. I should have protected you. I should have taught you better, done something better—differently—so that you never doubted your mum.”
“If she’d never left I wouldn’t have.” There was still the tiniest hint of anger coloring those words. Anger that Morgan had left them—him.
“She only left to protect us from him.”
“I know that. That’s why I said what I did to him.” He wiped his eyes. “I get it, Mum. It all goes back to him. If she wasn’t scared of him, the letter wouldn’t have made her leave, and then everything else would have never happened. Him, not me.”
She kissed his forehead. “Exactly. You get your brains from me.”
He shook his head. “Nah, Maddie got your brains, I got your eyes.”
Maddie climbed off Chris’s knee and snuggled on the other side of Erin. “I got Mum’s eyes.”
Erin kissed the top of her head. “Yes, you did, sweetie.”
Tristan smiled. “Does that mean I got Mum’s brains…I forget.”
“Very funny. I’ll tell her you said that when she wakes up.”
“Mummy, what if she has forgotten again?” Maddie kicked her feet under her chair, not quite able to reach the floor yet.
“Then we tell her who we are straight away. No waiting, like last time. If she doesn’t remember, we’ll remind her. She’s ours, and we’re not letting her go. Right?”
They both agreed. There would be time later to deal with her feelings of failure and the aftermath of the violence they had all witnessed. Tristan’s feelings of guilt wouldn’t just disappear, and she knew they’d have to be dealt with again. She rested her head against the wall and let out a huge sigh. Later. It could wait till much later.
Chapter Forty-two
Morgan smiled as Erin pulled back the curtain and stepped toward her. “Hey. You okay?”
Erin smiled. “I should be asking you that question.”
“Why? The doctors have already checked me over. Twice. Are the kids okay?”
Erin frowned. “Maddie’s worried you’ll have lost your memory again, and Tristan’s having a tough time. He blames himself.”
“Have you—”
“Told him it’s not his fault? Only till I’m blue in the face.”
“Sorry.”
Erin waved the words away. “Doesn’t matter. I think maybe seeing you on the mend will help.”
“Bring him in.”
“I will.”
“Why does Maddie think I’ve lost my memory again?”
Erin shrugged. “Probably just because she hasn’t seen you yet and you’re back in the hospital. She’s worried what to expect.”
“Bring them in then.”
“In a minute. We need to talk first.”
“Those words scare the crap out of me. You know that, right?”
Erin smiled, cradling Morgan’s hand in her lap as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Your dad’s back in prison.”
“Good.”
“Jimmy Davidson’s been charged with grievous bodily harm. He’s been convicted twice before so the Crown Prosecution Service is throwing the book at him.”
“Good.”
“It’s usually a five year sentence, but with the information that your dad set it all up and there was so much more to it, the CPS are trying to get more. Anna is being charged as an accomplice.”
“Right.” Morgan slid her hand over Erin’s thigh.
“John Yorke recorded the whole thing on his phone. Your dad’s confession and his assault on you.”
“Really? Phones can do that?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.” Morgan tugged Erin closer to her and closed the distance between their lips. She felt possessive, needy, hungry. She caressed Erin’s lips with her tongue, eliciting a beautiful whimper from Erin’s throat. She drew her fingertips down her neck, relishing the tiny bumps that erupted in her wake.
“Morgan, we’re still in the hospital.”
She wrapped her fingers around the back of Erin’s neck, holding her close. “Don’t care.” She placed tiny kisses down her throat. She could feel the muscles in Erin’s neck working beneath her lips as she swallowed.
“I noticed.” Erin groaned as she wrapped her fingers around Morgan’s wrist.
“Good.” Morgan traced her tongue from the small dip at the base of Erin’s throat to her chin. She nipped with her teeth before soothing the tiny hurt with a kiss and then claiming her mouth again. It felt so good to feel Erin responding to her. Everything from the way she shifted on the bed, to the tiny moans, and soft whimpers, made it feel so natural, so easy to be with her. She knew she needed to stop—they needed to stop—she loved and respected Erin far too much to do anything else, but she knew she could have easily kissed her for the rest of her life.
“Oh, God, we have to stop.”
Erin pressed her lips to Morgan’s ear. “We’ll finish this when we get home.”
“Promise?”
“Definitely.” She planted one final kiss on Morgan’s lips and then backed away. “The kids are with Chris in the cafeteria. I’ll go and get them.”
“No, please stay with me.” Morgan kept hold of her hand.
“Forever.” She kissed the top of Morgan’s head. “I won’t lose you again.”
Morgan looked up quickly at the sound of Erin’s voice. “Are you angry?”
“Yes.” Erin’s eyes burned with rage.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d mind me kissing you here.”
“I’m not angry about that.” She kissed Morgan again, exploring her lips to emphasize her point. “I’m angry about what we lost. All these weeks, not knowing, thinking you were cheating on me, the kids, all of it—because he wanted some money from you!”
“It wasn’t just about money. That was a bonus for him. He wanted revenge. He wanted to punish me. But, Erin, it’s over now. We know everything that happened, we know why, and we can deal with it all.” She held her hand out for her, wanting desperately to touch her. “Please don’t be angry. Let this draw a line under it all so we can move on and be happy together, our whole family. Like cleaning the slate and starting over. My mum used to say that.”
Erin took her hand and leaned down. “Okay. I just need to tell you that I’m really glad you punched the old bastard. If you hadn’t, I was going to.”
Morgan laughed as she brought Erin’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. “I’m glad you didn’t. I have plans for these hands when I get out of here.”
Erin’s mouth popped open and her eyes widened. She leaned forward, but the door opening stopped them before they could kiss.
“Mum!” Maddie skipped into the room and hoisted herself onto the bed beside Morgan.
Erin leaned down and whispered, “Later.”
“Do you remember us?” Maddie’s forehead creased in a frown, her lips pouting slightly.
“Well, I remember Tristan, and Chris…I think you might be Father Christmas. So yeah, I’m good.”
Tristan sniggered as he walked into the room. He met Morgan’s eyes and tipped his head as Maddie launched herself at Morgan, knocking the wind out of her.
“Okay, you’re a wrestler, not Father Christmas. My mistake.”
“Mum! Stop it. I was worried.” Maddie slapped her belly.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I’m fine, and yes, I remember. Still got the big gap from the past, but no new ones.” She held Maddie’s hand, stroking across the back of it.
“When’s my birthday?”
“What Brownie badge did I just get?”
“Something to do with pandas.” She tickled more.
“World cultures.” Maddie tried to push her hands away and catch her breath.
“But you had a panda mask. Do I pass the test yet?”
Maddie sat up, looking intently at Morgan. “Okay, you’ll do.”
“Well, thank you, Dr. Maddie.”
Maddie laughed and snuggled beside her on the bed. “I might be a doctor when I grow up.”
“If that’s what you want to be, then you do it, kiddo.” She looked over at Tristan where he leaned against the wall. She held her hand out. “Come here.”
He walked forward slowly, taking her hand when he reached the bed. “I love you, both of you.” She looked up at Erin. “All of you.”
Tristan cocked his hip and perched on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”
She tugged him into her arms, hugging him awkwardly. “I know. It’s not your fault, and I am absolutely fine. The doctors were being cautious because of last time. That’s all.” She kissed his head. “We’re all fine, we’re a family, and that is all that matters.” She cupped the back of his head and looked into his eyes, determined that he see the truth of her statement. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mum.” He wrapped his arms around her and laid his head against her shoulder.
Morgan took in her beautiful family and met Erin’s tender gaze.
Home.
Chapter Forty-three
Morgan shifted the pad on the blanket and breathed deeply as she drew her outline of two swans, swimming across the lake, side by side with their heads close together. She lay on her stomach, taking in every detail as Erin lay with her head resting on Morgan’s back watching the children play across the field. The remains of a picnic were scattered around them, and the late September sun shone down on them all.
“Erin, I’ve been wanting to ask you something.” She felt Erin’s head move on her back.
“What?”
She pushed the pad aside and rolled onto her side to look at her. Erin looked at her curiously and propped her head on one hand. The sunlight made her eyes sparkle and her hair shone, and Morgan knew that forever with her wouldn’t be enough. She took hold of her hand and brought it to her lips, turning Erin’s wedding band around her finger. “Will you marry me?”
Erin smiled. “We’re already married.”
“I know.” Morgan leaned close and pressed a gentle kiss to Erin’s lips. “But I don’t remember it.” She kissed the band on Erin’s finger. “And I really think I should remember one of the three most important days of my life.”
“Oh, so you want a do-over.” Erin laughed as Morgan turned her hand over and kissed her palm. “Well, I’m not going through labor again, no matter how much I love you.”
Morgan grinned. “So will you marry me again?”
“Yes.”
Morgan pulled her close and kissed her. Her tongue and lips soft and gentle until Erin parted her lips and let her in. The slow, tender kiss of lovers knowing they had the rest of their lives to touch, explore, to love each other.
“Oh, get a room!” Tristan’s voice pulled them out of their miasma.
“Isn’t it their bed time yet?” Morgan smiled against Erin’s lips.
“You wish.”
“Don’t you?” Morgan missed her closeness as she moved away, smiling.
“Later.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” She ran her fingers down Erin’s cheek. “Hey, Tristan, want to be my best man? You’re mum’s agreed to marry me.”
“What? Again?”
They burst out laughing. “Yes, again.”
“Do I get to be bridesmaid again?” Maddie dropped down onto the blanket next to them and picked up a small bunch of grapes. Erin ruffled her hair.
“Of course.”
“Cool.” She munched away slowly. “Is this something you’re gonna do over and over? I need to know so I can pick an extra special dress if this is the last time I’ll get to be your bridesmaid.”
“Oh no, this is the last time.” Erin smiled over at Morgan and leaned in for another quick kiss.
Morgan smiled back. “This time is forever.”
About the Author
A Stockport (near Manchester, UK) native, Andrea took her life in her hands a few years ago and crossed the great North/South divide and now lives in Norfolk with her partner, their two border collies, and two and a half cats (one isn’t sure if she wants to be theirs anymore as the lady down the street feeds her Whiskas rather than whatever is on offer at the supermarket, like they do!). Andrea spends her time running their campsite and hostel to pay the bills, and scribbling down stories during the winter months.
Andrea is an avid reader and a keen musician, playing the saxophone and the guitar (just to annoy her other half—apparently!). She is also a recreational diver and takes an opportunity to head to warmer climes and discover the mysteries of life beneath the waves! Her first novel, Ladyfish , was the recipient of an Alice B. Lavender certificate for 2013.
Books Available from Bold Strokes Books
At Her Feet by Rebekah Weatherspoon. Digital marketing producer Suzanne Kim knows she has found the perfect love in her new mistress Pilar, but before they can make the ultimate commitment, Suzanne’s professional life threatens to disrupt their perfectly balanced bliss. (978-1-60282-948-0)
Show of Force by AJ Quinn. A chance meeting between navy pilot Evan Kane and correspondent Tate McKenna takes them on a roller-coaster ride where the stakes are high, but the reward is higher: a chance at love. (978-1-60282-942-8)
Clean Slate by Andrea Bramhall. Can Erin and Morgan work through their individual demons to rediscover their love for each other, or are the unexplainable wounds too deep to heal? (978-1-60282-943-5)
Hold Me Forever by D. Jackson Leigh. An investigation into illegal cloning in the quarter horse racing industry threatens to destroy the growing attraction between Georgia debutante Mae St. John and Louisiana horse trainer Whit Casey. (978-1-60282-944-2)
Trusting Tomorrow by PJ Trebelhorn. Funeral director Logan Swift thinks she’s perfectly happy with her solitary life devoted to helping others cope with loss until Brooke Collier moves in next door to care for her elderly grandparents. (978-1-60282-891-9)
Forsaking All Others by Kathleen Knowles. What if what you think you want is the opposite of what makes you happy? (978-1-60282-892-6)
Exit Wounds by VK Powell. When Officer Loane Landry falls in love with ATF informant Abigail Mancuso, she realizes that nothing is as it seems—not the case, not her lover, not even the dead. (978-1-60282-893-3)
Dirty Power by Ashley Bartlett. Cooper’s been through hell and back, and she’s still broke and on the run. But at least she found the twins. They’ll keep her alive. Right? (978-1-60282-896-4)
The Rarest Rose by I. Beacham. After a decade of living in her beloved house, Ele disturbs its past and finds her life being haunted by the presence of a ghost who will show her that true love never dies. (978-1-60282-884-1)
Code of Honor by Radclyffe. The face of terror is hard to recognize—especially when it’s homegrown. The next book in the Honor series. (978-1-60282-885-8)
Does She Love You? by Rachel Spangler. When Annabelle and Davis find out they are both in a relationship with the same woman, it leaves them facing life-altering questions about trust, redemption, and the possibility of finding love in the wake of betrayal. (978-1-60282-886-5)
The Road to Her by KE Payne. Sparks fly when actress Holly Croft, star of UK soap Portobello Road, meets her new on-screen love interest, the enigmatic and sexy Elise Manford. (978-1-60282-887-2)
Shadows of Something Real by Sophia Kell Hagin. Trying to escape flashbacks and nightmares, ex-POW Jamie Gwynmorgan stumbles into the heart of former
Red Cross worker Adele Sabellius and uncovers a deadly conspiracy against everything and everyone she loves. (978-1-60282-889-6)
Date with Destiny by Mason Dixon. When sophisticated bank executive Rashida Ivey meets unemployed blue collar worker Destiny Jackson, will her life ever be the same? (978-1-60282-878-0)
The Devil’s Orchard by Ali Vali. Cain and Emma plan a wedding before the birth of their third child while Juan Luis is still lurking, and as Cain plans for his death, an unexpected visitor arrives and challenges her belief in her father, Dalton Casey. (978-1-60282-879-7)
Secrets and Shadows by L.T. Marie. A bodyguard and the woman she protects run from a madman and into each other’s arms. (978-1-60282-880-3)
Change Horizons: Three Novellas by Gun Brooke. Three stories of courageous women who dare to love as they fight to claim a future in a hostile universe. (978-1-60282-881-0)
Scarlet Thirst by Crin Claxton. When hot, feisty Rani meets cool, vampire Rob, one lifetime isn’t enough, and the road from human to vampire is shorter than you think… (978-1-60282-856-8)
Battle Axe by Carsen Taite. How close is too close? Bounty hunter Luca Bennett will soon find out. (978-1-60282-871-1)
Improvisation by Karis Walsh. High school geometry teacher Jan Carroll thinks she’s figured out the shape of her life and her future, until graphic artist and fiddle player Tina Nelson comes along and teaches her to improvise. (978-1-60282-872-8)
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