Mirrored Hearts: Sealed by Fire (Encounters of the Heart Book 2)

by Ann Marie Bryan

  Madison laughed so hard, she bowed over and even Larry let out a loud chuckle.

  “You’re on time out,” Rozene threatened Mason.

  He ran over and kissed her cheek before walking away with Madison who was still snickering.

  “You’re still on time out,” Rozene yelled as the door closed behind them. She nestled closer to Larry and half buried her face in his shoulder. Her hand was warm on his chest, Larry made a pathetic attempt to move away, then stilled when she began to rub her cheek against his shoulder. She tilted her head to look up at his face, and placed a soft kiss against his jaw.

  His heart thumping, Larry watched as she ran her fingers over his rippled chest.

  “I love you so much,” she murmured.

  His eyes tracked the descent of her fingers on his stomach, and when the heat of her fingers burned against his skin, a low guttural sound burst from his lips.

  At the sound of his pleasure, she grew bolder. Smiling up at him, her fingers toyed with the cord of his pajama bottom.

  He tensed to keep his composure. “You will have to excuse me.” His voice cool, despite his rising temperature. No way was he going to be sidetracked by her beautiful body … or by his reaction to her. Plus, his conscience would not allow him.

  Embarrassed, Rozene rolled away from his chest, her back to him. Dread and a sense of inadequacy swept through her. She tried to calm her mind but when she couldn’t get a handle on what had just transpired, tears flowed freely down her face.

  Larry eased himself off the bed and walked over to the daybed. Every nerve in his body taut, begging him to return to the cozy spot. He held his head high. Will not, even if I have to twitch for the rest of the night.

  CHAPTER 23

  My family is still intact. Rozene smiled inwardly as she hunched over her laptop on the bed, typing away. Her gaze shifted to Larry who was stretched out on the daybed watching CNN. He was engrossed in the show. She took a breather and lay back against the pillows, and before she knew it, she was sending up silent praises for the great worship service they’d attended that morning. They had left church before the service actually ended. She and Larry had decided to go that route since they hadn’t been to church in a long time, and definitely wanted to avoid the wagging tongues.

  After leaving church, she and Larry had visited their parents with the children, before taking in the world renowned Cirque du Soleil show and heading home.

  Rozene heard knocking on the door. “Come in,” she yelled, glancing over at Larry who was still deep in the discussion.

  The twins appeared, ran and sprawled out on the bed before her.

  Rozene eyed them, teasingly. “At least try to make me miss you when you’re gone.”

  “Sorry, Mom. That was Madison’s idea.”

  Madison sighed, and then pursed her lips at Mason. “Why can’t you behave like a normal young adult, Mason? Come on, let’s try that again.”

  They both exited the room and closed the door. They knocked but Rozene did not respond.

  Larry strolled to the door and swung it open. “My children.” He grinned at them, and they group hugged him.

  “Oh, Daddy! Our Dada!” Madison exclaimed. “Thank God for you!”

  “At least somebody wants us,” Mason added.

  They both looked at their mother who was setting aside her laptop on the nightstand. She turned and opened her arms to them. “Come and give your Mama hugs.”

  The twins were delighted, burying themselves in her arms.

  “My babies. I love you.” She kissed each of them on the forehead.

  Larry observed them from where he sat at the foot of the bed. “Hold still, let me take a pic. He retrieved his cell phone from the daybed and took the picture.

  “Nice,” Larry said, looking at the picture, and then moving in closer so they could view it. He chuckled. “The babies aren’t babies anymore.”

  Mason and Madison began to grumble in disagreement.

  “You’ll always be my babies,” Rozene offered, smiling.

  “Thanks, Mom,” the twins said in unison, cleaving to her side.

  Larry smiled at them. “Is it prayer time?”

  “Yes, Dad, but …” Madison eyed her father, squeezing both her hands together. “Dad, you know I’m all about school and my ministry right now but I really, really like this guy.” She paused to gauge his reaction.

  “Say more,” Larry said, observing he was the last to know.

  “His name is Tyler. He’s actively involved in church and he has another year left in school. He is pursuing a Civil and Environmental Engineering degree. The thing is - we do a lot of church activities together but that’s about it. His focus is definitely not on me in that way, even though we chat about everything else.”

  “Have you been praying about it?” Larry asked.

  “Yes, Dad. But, I’m asking you and Mom to please pray for me.” Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged her mother’s side.

  Larry briefly touched her feet. “Fear not. You only want God’s best for you. What is yours is yours. In the meantime, continue to work alongside him and observe him. Make sure he is who he is portraying himself to be. Don’t forget you are precious to God and to us. Any great God-fearing man would be happy to have you in the right season.”

  Madison heaved herself from her mother’s side to hug her father. “Thanks, Dad. He reminds me so much of you.”

  “You are welcome, baby girl. Thank you. That’s a great compliment.” Larry smiled at her as she returned to her mother’s side. “Are you sure Mason isn’t threatening him under the quiet?”

  “Dad, no!” Mason hollered, knitting his brows. He just had to declare his innocence, especially with Madison becoming unglued like that. “I actually like the dude. He’s okay and he loves the Lord. We have a growing friendship, but he’s private. He has never mentioned Madison and I get the feeling I shouldn’t ask. You know how hard it is to find men like us Dad, so if Madison found someone like us, I’m seeing the green light.”

  Larry high-fived Mason. “We are pretty special.”

  Rozene and Madison could only shake their heads.

  A few minutes later, after they prayed, the twins were about to leave the room when Madison asked, “Mom, I’ve been seeing re-runs of your TV program. Are you planning to do new ones?”

  “Yes, dear. We’ll have new ones showing this coming week and I’m doing more tapings next week.”

  “Great. Looking forward.” Madison smiled at her before leaving with Mason.

  An hour later, Larry was roused from his deep sleep on the daybed by a shriek. “Roz,” he called out.

  There was silence.

  He turned on the lamp on the table nearby and glanced around the room. There was no sign of Rozene so he hastened to the bathroom and found her sniffling while running water on her hand at the sink.

  “What happened?” He came up behind her to inspect it, and then grabbed her hand to apply pressure to the spot that was bleeding.

  The concern in his voice made her heart thrash about in her chest, despite the burning sensation from her finger. “It hurts,” she lamented, tears running down her face.

  “Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay,” he told her softly.

  She groaned as his hand worked to stop the bleeding. “Shhh,” he said gently. “You’re going to be okay.”

  She could feel his chest on her back as he leaned over her. With his lips close to the nape of her neck and his breath warm on her cheeks, all thoughts of pain flew out of her mind, and she relaxed against him.

  Larry lowered his head to inspect the wound on her finger and the smell of the perfume behind her ears filled his nostrils. He stilled. “You’ll be fine. I’ll wipe it with peroxide, and then put a Band-Aid on it.”

  He felt her shiver and goosebumps rose on her arm, as her finger started bleeding again. “You’ll be fine,” he encouraged, running water over her finger while applying pressure. “Relax.”

  Rozene closed
her eyes and leaned against Larry’s shirtless body while she took slow relaxing breaths. He made her feel safe. She turned her head so that it rested on his shoulder, and then she snuggled into the crook of his neck.

  The heat of her breath on his neck sent a warm current flowing through Larry’s body, and his heart bottomed in his chest. Immediately, the hairs at the back of his neck stood on end.

  Kiss me, she willed him. It had been a while, and she was no stranger to his kisses, and right about now, she needed one. The taste of his lips would be the perfect cure for the pain … and the excruciating pain in her heart as well.

  Larry knew exactly what she wanted. It was the same thing he wanted. He had long passed denying that. But he was not about to give in. “What happened?” he asked.

  “Slammed my hand in the drawer at the sink,” she said, her voice but a whisper as if she couldn’t quite catch her breath, “and, and a piece of the wood got stuck in my finger. I had to pull it out”

  Larry quivered slightly as her voice vibrated in his ear. He desperately needed an out.

  Noticing that blood was no longer flowing, he turned off the tap and bent slightly to inspect her finger again. “I think you’ll live,” he teased.

  She turned quickly and tilted her face towards him. “Thank -” She paused at a loss for word.

  He had shifted too, and their lips were a breath apart.

  She gasped softly, anticipating the coming moments.

  Her ragged breath tickled Larry’s lips and his body responded feverishly, and instinctively, he pressed her against the sink.

  Her eyes widening, Rozene clutched his shoulders. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

  Everything stood still.

  Everything.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t summon any words.

  His fervent eyes were locked on hers, for what seemed like an eternity, and he didn’t show any signs of easing up from her. And she didn’t want him to. He’d always wanted her, with a passion that threatened to overwhelm them both. Just that thought caused her to become even more breathless and a guttural sound came from her throat.

  Instinct held Larry steady. For even as his body responded like it had a mind of its own, some part of his brain knew he shouldn’t go there. He stepped away from her, letting out the breath he was holding.

  “Peroxide,” he said, moving towards the First Aid kit on the wall.

  He took his time taking out the bottle of peroxide, a Band-Aid, and cotton. He couldn’t be bothered to deny how his body responded to hers. After nineteen years of marriage, his body was on auto pilot. And it certainly didn’t help that she was decked out in his favorite white lace and mesh teddy.

  He closed the First Aid kit and approached her, forcing himself not to swallow hard as her eyes raked him up and down.

  She was still standing where he’d left her. He drew close, and stood in front of her. He placed the Band-Aid on the sink and dabbed peroxide on the cotton. “Give me your finger,” he said after corking the bottle of peroxide.

  She held out her hand and he wiped her wounded finger with the cotton.

  “Thanks,” she said softly, as he wrapped the Band-Aid around her finger. She shifted position, her leg brushing against his and as their eyes met, he had to fight to keep from leaning down and kissing her.

  However that was short-lived. His expression became stone cold as images of her and her new man rushed to his brain. His bow-shaped lips turned up, before coolly telling her, “You will have to excuse me. Have a good night.” With that, he turned and walked out of the bathroom.

  Rozene was too stunned to speak. Overwhelming loneliness swept through her and tears she could no longer hold back, rushed down her face.

  CHAPTER 24

  The sound of chuckles jolted Rozene awake. She squinted against the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains, trying to make out the figures huddled at her bedside.

  “Mom, wake up. We’re leaving,” Madison said.

  Rozene’s eyes widened. “Oh, my, gosh! What time is it?”

  “Don’t worry, Mom,” Mason said. “Dad told us you’re tired.”

  Rozene’s brow furrowed. “Where is he?”

  “He’s putting our stuff in the car.”

  “Stuff? You raided the house.”

  They grinned at her.

  “Yes, the usual stuff,” Madison filled in. “Although I tried not to take all your jewelry.”

  Rozene sat up against the pillows. “Just don’t leave us with only the clothes on our backs.”

  Mason jumped in. “Madison intended to do that, but as usual, I had to save the day.”

  “Right,” Madison quipped, rolling her eyes.

  Rozene smiled at them both. “Do you need any money?”

  “No,” they said in unison.

  “Dad gave us money. Plus our monthly allowances have been more than enough,” Mason said, squeezing his mother’s hand. “Thank God for generous parents.”

  “And full scholarships,” Madison chipped in.

  Rozene looked at them and couldn’t help but thank God for her blessings. “I know I’ve been up late every morning since you’ve been here,” she told them. “I’ll make it up to you both. I promise.”

  “It’s okay, Mom. It’s the first time, so we forgive you.” Madison flashed her an encouraging smile before looking at Mason. By now, Rozene knew the signal. They had something to say and they hadn’t decided who should say it.

  “What is it” Rozene prompted. “Just say it.”

  “Mom, is everything all right with you?” Madison asked. “You seem rather edgy. Are you sick? Is there something we should know?”

  Rozene knew she must look a mess after last night’s debacle. She was thankful they were careful not to mention her swollen eyes. “No,” Rozene responded. “I am well. I have a couple of issues working out, but other than that, I am fine.”

  The twins gave each other the signature look again. Madison gave Mason the go ahead. “Are you and Dad okay? We noticed a change in the way you’re relating.”

  Rozene paused to choose her words carefully. “Dad and I are going through an issue.” Her countenance fell further, if that was possible. She gathered herself. “It’s my fault so I’m trying my very best to fix it. Please pray for us.”

  The twins eyed each other and nodded. “We will, Mom,” Madison said, knowing they shouldn’t press their mother any further.

  “Try and cheer up though, Mom,” Mason added. “You look broken.”

  “I will. I love you both. Hugs, please.”

  They both hugged her tightly, breathing in her enduring love.

  “I’ll see you downstairs in a few,” Rozene said.

  After the twins left, Rozene brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and then put on her robe before making her way to the garage. She found Larry leaning against the SUV, deep in thought while waiting for the twins.

  A smile curved her lips as her mind flashed back to their goodbye kisses on the hood of whichever vehicle he would be driving before he left for work in the mornings. But those memories dried up fast as what transpired between them the previous night overwhelmed her. She gave herself a pep talk to keep from running back to the bedroom.

  “Good morning.” she called out to him.

  He eased up and glanced at her. “Morning.” He didn’t make an attempt at further conversation. It was best. He hated who he was becoming in her presence.

  “Sorry, I’m not coming to the airport with you. I wanted to but it’s a little too late now.”

  He nodded.

  She fought against the impulse to stare at him, but couldn’t resist it. So, she let herself admire him as he stood there with his hands in his back pockets, showing off his impressive physique. He was decked out in a black polo shirt that fitted his toned torso like a second skin, tapering near the black leather belt that looped through his black jeans.

  Larry’s eyes shot to his brows as he watched Rozene. He wondered
if she knew she was drooling. Even that, he couldn’t understand.

  Just be cool and smile, Rozene told herself when her eyes returned to Larry’s face. But all her intentions to act blasé disappeared when her puffy eyes met his cold steely gaze. Completely mortified, light beads of perspiration speckled her forehead, and her eyes brimmed with tears.

  Larry swallowed hard. Her expression was haunting and wary, cutting into him. And he hated to see her cry. He shot her a warning glance. “The children will be down any minute.”

  “Okay,” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. Then she remembered he was off work until tomorrow. “Will you be coming home after you make the airport run?”

  “Yes,” he answered in a monotone.

  She linked her fingers at her chest. “Are you going to be busy when you get back?”

  “What is it, Rozene?”

  “Can I speak to you when you get back?”

  He took his time to answer. His expression asking, What do we possibly have to say to each other?

  Heat rushed to her face, and she turned away from him.

  Swallowing his bitterness, he responded, “Yes.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Please wipe the sadness off your face, even for the children’s sake.”

  “Okay,” she said, straightening her shoulders as the twins arrived.

  She smiled and hugged them. “I love you. Call me every day.”

  “Sure, Mom,” Mason told her, giving her another squeeze. “I love you.”

  Tears filled Madison’s eyes as she hugged her mom again. “I love you so much.”

  Rozene squeezed her tightly, telling her, “I love you more.” Rozene released Madison, and then hugged her again when she saw her tears. “We’ll talk every day,” she reassured her, putting her at arm’s length. “I know you’re going to miss us and we’ll miss you too. We’ll see you both in December.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Madison said, giving her another squeeze.

  “Okay, let’s pray,” Larry said to them.

  “Yes, Dad,” Madison responded, walking with her mother towards Mason and her Dad.

  Larry prayed and the children hugged their mother again.