A Home for my Heart (Matters of the Heart #3)

by Velvet Reed

  Damn! She’s serious, but I can deal with that. “You have my word, Beautiful. Now put that sweet little mouth back to work. Suck it… Suck it hard!”

  Wasting no time, my dick’s at the back of her throat again and she’s bobbing up and down, stroking as she goes. The wet slurping sounds her mouth produces when she gets back to the head is the most unexpected turn on and has my balls drawing up tight.

  Climbing closer to the edge, my orgasm eminent, I thrust both hands into her silky hair and apply a little pressure to guide her movements. She sucks harder and as I watch my dick disappear into the depth of her mouth one last time and I groan, “I’m gonna cum.” She releases me with a pop, and grabs hold of her tits, pushing them together while I take over pumping away at my erection with wild abandon.

  Roaring out my explosive release, I’m completely enthralled as I watch my thick seed cover the flawless swell of her breasts. It’s a sight I know will remain with me for a long time to come, because I just branded Ashley Brookes as mine.

  That whole experience wore me out and her heavy-lidded eyes tell me she’s exhausted, too. I’d love nothing more than to take her to bed, hold her and get some rest, but we need to get ready and meet the others for dinner. Cupping her cheek, I give her a sleepy smile, “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up,” I say, helping her to her feet and extending a hand as she gets out of the tub.

  We’re both utterly replete as we step into the shower and go through the motions of washing each other without making it sexual. Nothing I do with Ashley feels like it ever has with other women, it’s deeper somehow, more involved. All I know is I’m having the best sex of my life and that my slightly inexperienced little minx gives the best damn blow job known to man. I’m not sure I’ll ever get enough of her.

  I wake up to Olivia, Ruby, April and Allison standing at the end of my bed and Ashley kneeling beside it serenading me with ‘Going to the Chapel’ by the Dixie Cups. When she gets to the chorus, the girls all join in, and I’m giddy with happiness and excitement.

  I’m marrying Cole today. I’m becoming Mrs. Grace Tierney.

  I sit up, raise my arms and swing my shoulders, doing a little pre-wedding dance that has the girls giggling at me.

  “Today’s the day, Gracie Rivers. Room service has arrived; our spa appointment is at ten and we have a whole day of pampering prepared, so you can knock Cole’s socks off when you walk down that aisle,” Ashley declares. “Get your butt out of bed, so we can get this day started.”

  “Good morning to you too, Ash,” I retort. “And thank you all for that little wake up concert."

  There’s a chiming chorus of ‘good morning’ before they exit the room, leaving Ashley and I alone.

  “This is it,” Ash whispers.

  I nod my head in agreement. “By the end of the day I’ll be a married woman.”

  “Yeah, you will. It’s going to be one of the best days of your life, Gracie.” She reaches in for a hug and I readily oblige. I love this girl so much. She’s been by my side through everything and I know she always will be.

  Getting to her feet she flings back my covers and pulls me out of bed. “Come on, Ms. Rivers. Some amazing food and mimosas are in order. We’re starting this day out right.”

  I follow her out and we join the others, who are sitting at the table that’s covered with a banquet fit for a queen. As we eat, laugh and discuss the schedule for the day, I watch them all, each different in their own right. Over the course of the last year, I’ve gone from only having Ashley to having this group of amazing women. I consider them all my family, but they are so much more than that. I feel so blessed and I know I’ll never take any of them for granted.

  When we’ve finished eating and the others leave to get ready, I go for a quick shower and get dressed. The spa appointment isn’t for a while so I sit with Rubes and spend some real quality time with her. Cooper’s usually always with us, but since he’s with Cole for most of the day, I’m going to spend some quality time with my niece. We do some coloring and play with two dolls she brought with her, and then we spend a good ten minutes just sitting on the couch cuddling. I’m really going to miss her when she starts kindergarten in the fall.

  At a quarter to ten, Ashley and I take Ruby’s hands and make our way to the day spa where the others are already waiting for us. Ready for the pampering to begin, we walk through the doors and are greeted by a group of smiling beauticians; it’s then that the butterflies take flight in my belly and my heart starts to race.

  I’ve had a massage, a facial, a manicure, a pedicure and been completely re-waxed. I’ve been waited on hand and foot all day. At lunch the butterflies became frenzied and I didn’t eat much for fear that my stomach might revolt. It’s not like I’ve got cold feet or anything. I can’t wait to marry Cole, so I don’t understand what my body is doing.

  The hair stylists and makeup artists came to my suite and set about transforming us all. I was the last one they worked on, so the girls are all relaxing on the couch. Excusing myself to the bathroom, I escape and stand at the vanity looking at myself in the mirror. With my hair pinned up and my makeup done, I’m impressed and think I really do look beautiful. But I can’t control this feeling.

  Supporting myself against the counter, I lower my head and start taking deep, slow breaths, keeping control as I breathe in my nose and out my mouth. I repeat this over and over, but it doesn’t seem to be having any affect in calming my chaotic stomach.

  A knock at the door startles me, and not knowing who it is or what they want I call out, “Just a second.” I hope they’ll walk away. No such luck, though, since I didn’t lock the door. When it opens I look at the reflection in the mirror and see that it’s Ashley. Moving in she closes the door behind her and has the mind to turn the lock so no one else can interrupt us.

  “What’s going on?” she asks, her concern evident in both her voice and the look on her face.

  I’m so unsettled that tears prick my eyes and I drag in a stuttered breath. “I don’t know,” I admit and I know if I don’t pull myself together I’m going to end up bawling and ruining my makeup.

  Ash doesn’t make a move towards me as if sensing that any comfort she offers will tip me off the edge. “Are you having second thoughts?” she asks and I’m suddenly fearful that if that’s what she’s thinking, then the others are probably thinking that too.

  “No,” I blurt out and shake my head furiously in denial. “No, definitely not. I love Cole with everything I am. I can’t wait to be his wife.”

  “Then why are you hiding in here?” She moves closer now, though I can tell she’s being extremely cautious.

  “I’m not hiding!” I rebuff. “I only just came in here.”

  Ashley’s eyes widen and then furrow in confusion. “Gracie.” She stops and so I meet her gaze and wait for her to continue. “Gracie, you’ve been in here for over twenty minutes.”

  I close my eyes and suck in more air. Over twenty minutes? That’s not possible.

  “It’s this feeling. My stomach feels like there’s about a million butterflies in there and my heart’s beating so fast.”

  “You’re nervous,” Ashley offers, but I know that’s not it.

  “I’m not nervous. It’s just… something. I don’t know.” Walking to the toilet I sit on the closed lid.

  We fall silent for several long minutes until Ashley says, “Look, the others were already dressed when I came in here. If you’re sure it’s not nerves, then we need to go out there, put that gorgeous gown of yours on and get you over to that chapel so you can marry Cole.”

  I know she’s right. She’s not dressed yet, either, and I’m sitting here with my hair and makeup done, my earrings and matching bracelet on, in a fluffy white bathrobe. I certainly can’t marry Cole dressed like this.

  “Okay,” I say and get to my feet. “I have an amazing man waiting for me and I’m not going to be late.” I try to ignore the riot in my belly and follow Ash out of the bathroom. I get a mix o
f sympathetic and concerned stars as I step into the lounge area, but choose to leave them unanswered.

  “I think it’s time for my dress,” I announce, and an audible breath whooshes out of Olivia. She brings the dress over to me, her eyes seeking some sort of reassurance. “I’m ready,” I say and she smiles and nods.

  When my heels are on my feet and my dress is zipped at the back, I stand before a full-length mirror. No matter what’s going on on the inside, the outside shows a blushing bride, standing tall and composed, ready for her future to begin.

  “You take your old man’s breath away, Sweet Pea.”

  My dad’s voice washes over me and the fluttering subsides a little. I turn from the mirror and he’s standing just inside the doorway. He looks so handsome in his suit and I feel a rush of sadness sweep over me that my mom’s not standing there beside him. Sucking in a shuddered breath I command myself not to cry, even as my eyes fill with tears.

  “Hey... hey! What’s all this?” He hurries over to me and the alarm in his voice almost has the emotional dam breaking.

  “I don’t know,” I whimper, and he pulls me into his arms, the place that has always given me comfort and support.

  “Can you ladies give us a few minutes?” he asks the others, then there’s murmuring and shuffling before the door closes, leaving us alone. “Come take a seat and tell me what’s going on.”

  Guiding me over to the couch we sit down, his body turned to mine and my small trembling hands firmly encased in his large, work roughened ones. “It’s not cold feet, if that’s what you’re thinking,” I manage to say.

  His brow arches and the skepticism in his eyes has me frowning. “It’s not!” I bark, his brows shoot even higher up his forehead. Lowering my gaze and voice I continue, “It’s not cold feet, Daddy. I love Cole more than anything and I can’t wait to marry him. This is something else. Something I don’t understand, let alone dare to try and explain.”

  Studying me a moment, he reaches inside the breast of his suit and removes a piece of paper. As he sits there silently rotating it in his hands over and over, I realize it’s actually an envelope. What on earth is it?

  “You know, Sweet Pea, I don’t think there’s a father on earth as lucky as I am. It amazes me on a daily basis how someone like me, a lowly mechanic, could have raised a daughter like you.”

  “Daddy, don’t say that…” I start to say but he interrupts me.

  “Just let me finish, okay?” he implores, while still moving that mysterious envelope round and round. My fingers itch to get hold of it. “When your…” This time he stops and I watch as he swallows and steels himself to continue. “When your mom died I was so damn scared. Scared of living without her, of course, but mostly I was scared because I had no idea how I was going to raise a daughter by myself.”

  “When I look at the woman you’ve become, Gracie…all your accomplishments through school and college, how you gave up your career to be here for your brother and niece and the incredible things you’ve done for not only the garage but for Ashley’s business, too…I know I must have done something right.”

  “You did everything right, Daddy,” I promise and reach over to hug him. “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything without your love and support.”

  Patting me on the back softly as he holds me, he whispers. “That’s good to know.”

  “So, anyway,” he starts again, pulling away so he can look at me. “I want you to know that I’m so damn proud of you, Grace Margret Rivers. I’m proud of the woman you’ve become. You’re an amazing daughter and you’re the best sister, aunt and friend anyone could ask for. And little Coop... He’s so lucky that you’re his mommy.” Pausing again he looks down at the envelope and then back at me, his eyes filled with tears. “And I know with all my heart that your mom… Your mom would be so incredibly proud of you, too.”

  The butterflies in my stomach take flight with the ferocity of a tornado at the mention of my mom. Is that it? Am I feeling this way because I’m missing my mom? Resting my hands on my stomach I try and quell the unease.

  “A few weeks ago, I was looking through some important stuff at home. I was actually looking for this.” Between two of his fingers is a ring. It’s platinum with a large round yellow gem stone as the focal point and surrounding it are dozens of small diamonds. It’s spectacular and I immediately recognize it as being my mom’s. “This was your mother’s eternity ring. Her engagement and wedding rings were simple but this one… This one I saved for years to buy.”

  “On our fifth wedding anniversary I gave her this ring. An eternity ring is supposed to have gems around the entire band to signify never ending love. Since I wanted your mom to wear it all the time, I got the round citrine stone and surrounded it by the smaller diamonds, which still created the circle and kept the meaning of eternity.”

  “I remember it. She never took it off. Why the citrine stone, though?” I ask curiously.

  My dad shrugs his shoulders. “Yellow was her favorite color.”

  “Just like me,” I say with almost childlike wonder.

  Chuckling he shakes his head. “I don’t think you remember or even realize that you never liked yellow before your mom passed away. Everything was pink with you. I think that’s where Rubes gets it from.”

  I try to think back to a time when I never liked yellow but I can’t. It’s always been such a prominent thing in my life. My Camaro, my clothes, the flowers in the gardens at both my old house and now Cole’s and mine. Even my bridesmaids are wearing yellow. Could this be my way of keeping my mom in my life?

  “I know today’s the day when she would want you to have this. It was a symbol of our eternal love to each other and now it’s a symbol of our eternal love for our daughter,” he says, taking my right hand and sliding it on my middle finger.

  Tears break free and run unchecked down my face. I have a piece of my mom with me on my wedding day. “Thank you, Daddy,” I cry.

  Wiping away a few of his own stray tears, he says, “Come on now, Sweet Pea. You’ll ruin your makeup.”

  “It’s a bit late now.” I shrug and stare in wonder at the beautiful ring that once graced my mother’s hand now resting on mine.

  “There’s one more thing,” Dad mumbles, and I look back at him, as he clears his throat. “I want to apologize first because I didn’t know she’d even done anything like this.”

  “Like what?” I ask, curious again about the envelope and his anxious tone.

  “When I was going through things, I found a box that I’ve never noticed before. I mean, it’s been fifteen years since we lost her. You would think I would have found it before now.” He shakes his head as if in disbelief.

  “What was it, Daddy?” I ask again, my need to know a violent tug of war with the chaos in my body.

  “It seems that your mom was quite busy without any of us knowing. The entire box was filled with envelopes. A pile for me, and one each for you and Charlie.”

  My breath hitches and my gaze flies instantly to the envelope in his hands. I’m mesmerized by it.

  “I went through some of mine. Letters, birthday cards and other things. Each is labelled on the front with the name and occasion it’s for, so you can imagine that there’s quite a few for you to go through when we go home.”

  My hands begin to shake terribly and my heart’s hammering like a jack hammer against my chest.

  My dad stands and I look up at him from my seated position. “I know you’re not having cold feet, Sweet Pea. I know it because there’s no other man who could make you as happy as Cole Tierney does, and I’m sure your momma had a hand in you two finding each other.” He chuckles at the thought and so do I. “You’re missing your mom, Gracie. Any girl getting married without her mom by her side would. I’m going to give you this and I’m going to wait right outside so you can have some privacy… So you can have a minute with your mom.” Handing me the envelope, he bends and kisses my forehead, then turns and walks out of the room, closing
the door securely behind him.

  I stare spellbound at the envelope still clutched tightly in my outstretched hand. This is something from my mom. Slowly I bring it closer to me and it’s then that I notice the beautifully handwritten script.

  I don’t hesitate and quickly flip the envelope over, carefully prying open the flap. Lifting the yellow writing paper out, I unfold the page and blink back more tears as I begin reading my mother’s message to me.

  My darling Gracie,

  Today you’re getting married.

  I can only hope that means you’ve found someone you love with all your heart and who loves you with all of his. I know he must be wonderful, because your father and brother wouldn’t allow anything else.

  I can imagine you must be feeling my absence more today, but I need you to know that I’m there.

  I’m there as you slip into your beautiful dress, knowing there has never been a bride as beautiful as you.

  I’m there walking beside you as you make your way to your husband, and I’m giving him my blessing.

  I’m there watching my little girl become someone’s wife and praying that he’ll cherish you forever.

  I’m always with you, Gracie. Always watching over you and loving you more than you could ever understand.

  Don’t be sad, Gracie. This is a happy day. A day when nothing else matters, except you and the man you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with.

  But I want you to promise me something.

  Love each other fiercely. Forgive quickly. Talk freely. Be willing to make sacrifices for each other and compromise.

  Life is but a fleeting moment in time, my darling. Don’t let a second pass you by.

  Congratulations, my beautiful girl. I’m so happy for you and so proud of the woman you’ve become.

  Love you forever and always,

  Mom xxoo

  The moment I read the last words my stomach calms, my heart slows to a normal rhythm and my shaking stops. I take a deep breath as a serene calmness surrounds me like a warm hug. She’s with me. My tears disappear and a small content smile turns up the corners of my lips. The visit from my dad and the gifts from both him and my mom have put me at peace.