by B. L. Mooney
“I have a gun on you, and you’re telling me you feel no danger. Huh.” He turned the gun on the ADA and shot her in the shoulder. She fell next to her briefcase on the floor.
I stood and backed up away from the table and the other gun.
“Do you feel a little danger now?” He picked up the gun and tossed it to me. I caught it and put it on the chair. He shook his head and rounded the table toward the gun.
Louder and heavier pounding started, and they had started counting before each hit as if they were synchronizing efforts. I could actually see the door move with each contact. He looked at the door and turned back to me. “Time’s up. I suppose there’s only one way for Elaine to get the justice for her grandson. May you rot in Hell.”
He lifted the gun and aimed it at me. I screamed as two shots rang out. McCoy fell as the door burst open. I looked as the ADA slid her gun across the floor to unarm herself to the incoming police.
The room filled with noise, people, and chaos as I stood in the corner, completely dazed. I watched as they took vitals and started CPR on McCoy. I started to slide down the wall and Marshall reached out for me.
“Let’s get you out of here.”
I sat in the Captain’s office by myself. I may have been the only one in the room, but I wasn’t alone. I felt the eyes of everyone on me as they sat at their desks. I would probably stare, too.
The door opened, but I didn’t turn around. The Captain came around the desk and sat down, looking defeated. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of antacids.
I sat there in silence and watched as he self-medicated. First with the antacids and then with a swig from a flask. He pointed the flask to me and I shook my head.
“I owe you an apology.”
I was stunned. “Why?”
“I should’ve shut this case down long ago. It was my decision to let him keep it open. I knew no one would take this to court. I thought it was harmless to give the guy a little confidence booster and think he was going to be the one to crack it.
“I told him to only review the evidence. He was never supposed to interview you or other people. A lot of that he did without my knowledge.” He took another drink from the flask and put it away. “Had I known how serious he was taking this, I would’ve shut it down. It wasn’t until Marshall got involved that I was alerted to his obsession with it.”
“I was never going to be prosecuted for this?”
“No.”
I burst into tears. Joseph was right. I wasted so much time worrying about what was never going to happen. I wasted so much time not trusting Mick and not trusting myself.
“Oh, geez.” He came around the desk with a box of tissues. “I really fucked this up. I knew Mick was a hothead over it, but I thought he was just being protective of his girl. I had no idea you actually thought this could go to court.”
I took a couple tissues and tried to stop crying, but it was no use. I was relieved and pissed all at the same time. The last year of my life still would’ve been Hell, but I wouldn’t have been frozen in fear thinking I was going to prison.
He sat in the chair next to me and put his hand on my knee. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’ve lived with McCoy’s harassment, and I’m sorry you had to go through this tonight. I take full responsibility for it. I know that doesn’t make it any better, but it’s all I’ve got. My deepest, deepest apologies.”
He stood up and walked to the door. He opened it and yelled, “Mooreland, come take your girl home.”
I stood up and turned just as Mick walked through the door. I ran and jumped into his arms, crying even harder. He started walking, and I lifted my legs and wrapped them around him. “Don’t let me go.”
“You’re never getting rid of me now.”
I leaned my back against Mick. “The water’s getting cold.”
“Do you want to add more or get out?”
I held up my wrinkled fingers. “I think I should get out.”
“Okay.”
He got out before me and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his waist as he held one open for me. I stood and let him wrap me in it then kissed him. “Thank you.”
He smiled. “I like taking care of you.”
I tucked the towel around me and headed out to his bedroom. The bag I had put in my trunk earlier was on the bed. I looked at his dresser. I pulled out some pajamas to change into but started to put the rest away. I seemed to have brought over too much for what space he gave me. I opened another drawer to put a few items in. I’d just make sure to wear that first and not return them, so I didn’t take more space than what he had offered.
I moved his socks over and saw a black box. His hand came around me and picked up the box. “I bought this a little prematurely, but when I saw it, I knew it had to be yours. I just wasn’t sure when to give it to you.”
I turned and looked at him, but he wouldn’t let me talk. “I wasn’t sure when the right time would be. I wanted to give it to you the day I bought it, but I knew it would be rushing you. I hadn’t even told you I loved you yet.
“Then I wanted to give it to you after I told you I loved you, but I was dumb and handcuffed you to the bed. It felt like I would be proposing for the wrong reasons.”
I covered my mouth and my eyes grew big. Had he just said ‘proposing’?
He smiled. “I wanted to propose before any action was taken on your case to prove I would be with you no matter what, but I thought you’d turn me down. However, if I waited until after you were officially cleared, would you have believed I wanted to no matter what, or would you have thought I only wanted you because you were free?”
He leaned forward and whispered. “You’re quite complicated.” He opened the box and showed me a beautiful ring much bigger than I expected. “They call it a pear cut, but it looked like a dewdrop to me.”
He dropped to one knee but almost lost his balance with the towel. It didn’t want to cooperate. He flung it off to the side and looked back up to me. “Will you marry a naked chef who loves you more than anything?”
I fell to my knees, kissed him as I threw my arms around him, and hung on tight. “Yes!”
He wrapped his arms around me. “Why didn’t your towel get in the way?”
I laughed and threw it off to the side with his. “Because I went on both knees, but who needs towels?” I pressed my nude body to his and kissed him again.
He took my shaky hand and placed the ring on my finger. “You’re cold.” He wrapped his arms around me. “We should get into bed.”
I smiled and looked at my ring again. “I love you.”
“Are you talking to me or the ring?”
“Both.”
He smiled. “You’re really cold. Come on.”
We stood and he picked my pajamas off the bed. “We don’t need those tonight.” He looked at me. “I’m not saying we need to have sex.” He picked the pajamas back up. “You can wear them. I’m sorry.”
I took the pajamas and tossed them on the chair. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to bed. “I’m not saying I’m up for sex, but I’m not saying I’m not.”
We got in bed and I snuggled up to him. He told me he didn’t want to talk about what happened that night. Mick wanted to give me time to adjust to it, but I needed some things answered.
“I need to talk, Mick.”
“I know. We can talk if you’re up for it.”
“Why couldn’t your dad close it if the Captain had known it wouldn’t go to trial? I don’t understand why it was kept open.”
“The Captain is a good guy, but he needs to retire. McCoy should’ve been let go or transferred to desk duty long ago, but he kept covering for him. I’m not sure what all happened, but I know he’s already cleared out his desk.”
“How is McCoy?”
“From what I’ve heard, he’s critical but stable. They expect him to make it, but he won’t want to.”
“And the ADA?”
“She’s fine. Her ego is a l
ittle bruised that she was played, but they have so many cases they can’t keep up. They trust us to bring them the facts and he didn’t.
“He’d been shopping around for someone to take on this case, but when everyone said the same thing and declared it self-defense, he removed the evidence which didn’t suit him and found someone new to take it on.”
“Was that really Craig’s grandmother?”
“Probably, although we couldn’t find any family who still had contact with him. We know where his parents are, but they wanted nothing to do with him. I guess they gave up on him a long time ago.
“I wouldn’t doubt it if she was his grandmother, though. It makes sense that she would want to lash out at you for things, but I don’t care enough to follow up. I’m sure someone will, but she’s gone and can’t hurt you anymore.”
“He put a photo of Craig in the casket in my car.”
Mick took a deep breath. “Kelly’s been intercepting your mail. We’ve seen the photo sent to you before, but we didn’t let you see it.”
“I figured something happened to have it all stop.” I propped myself up on my arm and looked down at him. “Can we stop hiding things from each other now?” I put my hand on his chest and looked at my ring. “I only want a relationship that will be open and honest.”
He took my hand and kissed it. “Yes. Completely.”
I sat up and yelled, “Ahhhh, fuck!”
“What?” He sat up and looked at me.
I lay back on the pillow. “I have to replace Kelly now.”
Almost six years later
It was amazing how the world opened up when you allowed yourself to believe in it. To believe the magic that can happen and the love that can grow. It was a different world to me than when I was growing up or even most of my adult life.
I looked to my husband and smiled as I saw him dancing with our daughter. The son who would complete our family was kicking in my belly. He knew it was a party and he wanted out. Honestly, I wanted him out, too, but it was too soon. A few more weeks and we would meet him.
I looked at my parents and even though it was clear they were getting older every day, I was still amazed by their energy. You never would’ve known my father had a heart attack. My mother did her best to keep him in line and on his medication, but even she was growing older and needed her own straightening out occasionally.
I hadn’t taken on that role on my own, though. My brothers and sister stepped up and helped me care for them. It was good to finally be working as a team with them.
Drew and Rachael were headed my way and I smiled. They’d become the closest friends I never thought I’d have. Drew and I laughed and cried over similar stories of the hell Craig had put us through. Her ordeal lasted much longer than mine. I had the protection of the prison when my time with him started. Either way, it was healing for both of us to share our experiences.
“Hey, you look like you’re reminiscing again.” Rachael sat down and rubbed my large belly. “Are you doing okay?”
Drew sat on the other side of me and put her arm around my shoulders. “I think she’s doing great.” She turned to me. “I know how uncomfortable this stage of pregnancy is and I’m happy you could come to Cody’s birthday party, but you don’t have to stay.”
Cody was her five-year-old son. Drew had become pregnant on their honeymoon and started family life right away. He was the first of three children. Dennis couldn’t have been happier. Unlike the wedding planning, he got right into the pregnancy. He went to every appointment and studied up on every phase of pregnancy. He knew what was going to happen before Drew did, but when the twins were born, it surprised even him. I smiled, remembering how scared he was to have two babies at once.
“Mom, CJ stinks.” Amy was growing into quite the young lady. She still loved being a girl, but she outgrew her princess dresses. CJ was the only child Rachael and Carl decided to have together. He was almost two.
“Wonderful. I’ll be right there, sweets.” She turned to us. “Sure, come tell Mom the baby stinks while Dad laughs it up with the rest of the guys.” She stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Drew and I laughed. It was funny to watch Rachael be a mom. She was great at it, but I understood why she only wanted to go through this phase once. If she could pop them out potty trained and talking, I think she’d have more.
Drew sat back and watched the family with me. We laughed as Rick got pummeled by the children old enough to attack him.
“I never would’ve thought things would turn out this way.” Terri sat in the seat Rachael just left. “Both of you friends, all of us here together and we’re actually getting along.” She motioned to the backyard. “It’s funny how things work out.”
Rachael came back and sat on the ground in front of us, letting CJ crawl all over her. I smiled and looked out again to the family I once tried to push away, grateful they accepted me back. I closed my eyes and put my head back on the chair.
“Oh, God. Someone get some tissues. The waterworks are about to start.”
“Shut up, Rachael.” She was right, though. I was always an emotional wreck when I thought about it. The hormones from the pregnancy weren’t helping.
“I read the review Mick got in the paper again.” Drew tried to change the subject, but that could make me just as emotional.
I was proud of the work my husband put into his restaurant. It was a hit even his father couldn’t resist. Fighting McCoy to close my case had brought them closer together again. If I had to go through it for that reason alone, I would do it all again. No one should be without their parents.
I sat up and reached for the tissues Terri handed me. “I’m so glad I’ve only got a few more weeks of this. I don’t think my sinuses can take it much more.”
“Your sinuses? I can’t take it much more.” Rachael lay back on the grass and held her son in the air. “But I shouldn’t make fun. You’ll be giving me a hard time in about eight months, too.”
We all looked at Rachael. She sat up and let CJ run off with the other kids. Drew reached her hand out to Rachael. “Congratulations!”
Rachael took her hand and squeezed. “Thanks.”
I sat forward as much as my big belly would allow. “Is this a happy thing?”
Rachael smiled. “Yes. We talked about it, and I really want one more before Carl gets snipped.”
“Wow.” Terri sat back. “That’s fantastic, but wow. I thought you didn’t like the baby stage.”
“It doesn’t last forever.” She started playing with the grass. “I mean, CJ is practically talking now and that time flew by.”
I smiled. “I think it’s great, Rachael. You’re a wonderful mom.”
She leaned forward and squeezed my hand. “I had a great role model growing up.”
It’s a bittersweet feeling to finish this series and say goodbye to my friends of the past two years. I’ve loved all the characters or at least have loved to hate some of them. I’ve grown with them and learned a lot about myself, as well as writing. It’s been an absolute joy to get to know the characters of these books. I hope you’ve enjoyed their company as much as I have.
None of this would have been possible without real life support and friendship. These people are some of the key people to help me see this final installment come to life. I appreciate each and every one of them more than words can say.
Thank you to Heather Szczesiak, Sandi Laubhan, and Paige Maroney Smith for amazing feedback. Asking someone to read a story before editing is very difficult and humbling. You see all the mistakes, read all the first draft inconsistencies, and come out with suggestions instead of judgment. Thank you for being the first step in helping me to bring this story to life. I appreciate each and every comment.
Hot Tree Editing: Simply the best. I couldn’t ask for a better, more professional editor. Becky Johnson ensures all aspects of editing are completed on time and with maximum effect. When I received my first edits back from Kristin Scearce, I was amazed at the honest
y and help she provided to my story. It literally would not be the story it is today if it weren’t for her amazing feedback. I will be forever grateful for Kristin’s and Becky’s assistance.
Perrywinkle Photography: I’m not sure how, but Lauren Perry deciphered my ramblings about what I thought my cover should look like and provided exactly what I needed. Thank you so much for listening and providing such beautiful photos. I can’t wait to work with you again!
Cover to Cover Designs: Not only is Kari Ayasha a fabulous cover designer, she’s also a very patient person. Thank you for putting up with my indecisiveness and going over all the different options with me. It was truly a difficult decision to choose the right photo, but you stuck with me and talked through each option. Thank you for another beautiful cover.
The models: The main characters for this book had a very specific look. I’m so blessed Lauren found Megan Nall and Kolby Bering. They were precisely the look I was going for. Thank you so much for signing on as Deb and Mick. You did an amazing job.
Integrity Formatting: Tami is an absolute joy to work with. Fast and professional, she helps to make the pages inside just as beautiful as the cover outside.
To the readers: Thank you for giving the Striving Series and me a chance. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know (and sometimes yelling at) the characters as much as I have.
B.L. Mooney started writing when the voices and storylines in her head ran out of room. They were getting too cramped and neither B.L. nor the characters could take it anymore, so she did the only thing she could do—she made room. She always knew she wanted to write, but vowed to make time for it later. Now that she’s made time for writing, most everything else falls to the wayside. That seems to suit the characters that keep popping up in her head just fine.
B.L. lives in the Midwest, and her other talents include in-demand cookies, a very dry sense of humor, and stealth eavesdropping. Some mannerisms, attitudes, or twists come from random sentences picked up while passing by strangers. So speak up the next time you have something to gossip about. You never know, it may just end up on the pages of the next book you read.
