Finding Bliss (Bliss #1)

by Cassie Strickland

  “That’s sad.” But I could relate.

  “It is what it is. She found a new family here, and we’ve got her back.”

  “Hmm,” I hummed, taking a sip of wine.

  “Speakin’ of families…isn’t Galen coming for Christmas?”

  I nodded, smiling, glad that conversation was turning to a more joyous subject. “Yeah, he’ll be here for a week. I can’t wait. In the time I’ve been with him, this is the longest we’ve been apart.”

  “Yeah, can’t wait to meet him,” Sam replied, her mood shifting.

  “Meet who?” Emma asked as she joined us in the kitchen.

  Sam poured her a glass of wine and handed it over. “Galen’s comin’ for Christmas,” she told her, her tone sarcastic.

  “Sam…” Emma warned.

  “What’s wrong with Galen?” I asked, wondering what she had against him.

  “Nothin’,” Emma tried to say, but Sam wouldn’t let it go.

  “I don’t think very highly of him for sendin’ you here all alone. He should’ve been there for you at the funeral.”

  Well, isn’t this lovely.

  It seemed she had something in common with Grey. He wasn’t too keen to see Galen, either.

  “Galen had his reasons,” I explained. “Honestly, looking back, I think it worked out for the best.”

  Sam was dubious as she inquired, “Even keepin’ Bella’s existence from you?”

  “Yes, even Bella.” Since dinner was ready and all we had to do was wait for Grey, Adam, and Brad to return from picking up the tree, I walked around the island and took a free stool as I continued. “Galen was protecting me. I, um, can’t have children.” Emma and Sam stared at me, surprised by my admission. “It’s been very hard for me to come to terms with this. Because of that fact, Galen thought it was best to wait until Grey knew for sure that I’d be her legal guardian. I was upset at first, but after he’d explained it to me, it made perfect sense.

  “You might not know a lot about my situation,” I went on, finally letting them in on a few details. Even though they’d been here a lot and we’d grown close, I hadn’t shed light on my past. “Galen took me in when no one else was there, and he’s been there for me in more ways than you can imagine. He’s an honorable, good man, and I know that both of those decisions cost him. He knew that it could backfire on him and he’d lose me forever, but he did what he thought was right. And it turned out fine, so all is well.

  “You don’t have to understand his logic, but if I can say all of this and truly mean it, there isn’t a real reason for you to hold a grudge against him. In fact, once you meet him, you’ll like Galen. And you’ll see how much he loves and adores me. I’m all he has, too.”

  Sam was chewing on her lip by the time I finished, considering my words, while Emma seemed pleased, stating, “I like that for you, Clara.”

  “Me too,” I agreed.

  Sam dipped her chin, backing down. “Fine… I’ll give him a chance.”

  “That’s all I can ask of you.”

  Emma’s expression morphed into one of pain. Seeing this, I asked, “What’s wrong?”

  Emma shook her head quickly. “Sorry… Just…what you said about not havin’ children. I couldn’t imagine, sweetie.”

  When reminded of this, the heartache was usually agonizing. Now, it was a dull ache. Bella’s role in my life was soothing it.

  “It’s okay. Time has been helpful.”

  “And Bella,” Sam guessed, her mind calculating behind her eyes.

  “Yes…and Bella.”

  “But what about the future?” She tilted her head to the side, no doubt worried about her brother’s future. “Do you want more kids?”

  This was something I’d thought on a lot, but Grey’s eyes were wide open when we started our relationship. We would have to discuss it at some point in the future…but we were far from having a discussion about kids.

  It was too soon.

  I knew that Grey and I were both serious in regards to our relationship. Since moving into my house – which was now in perfect order, looking exactly how I wanted it to – we hadn’t spent a night apart. He practically lived with me. This seemed like a normal progression, nothing forced or too intense. The sex was out of this world, too. Grey was showing me what being comfortable with your sexuality truly meant. I loved it. I loved what we had. And all I wanted to do was go with the flow, not worry about tomorrow.

  “Sam,” Emma chided, “that’s none of your business.”

  I patted Emma’s arm. “No, it’s fine. I see where she’s coming from.”

  “No, you don’t have to-”

  “Honey, I’m home,” Adam yelled as the front door opened, halting the conversation.

  “In here,” I called out, relieved.

  Their boots sounded heavily on the hardwood floors as the guys marched down the hall and into the living room.

  “Jeez, Clara. You picked the biggest tree just to torment us, didn’t you?” Adam complained as they placed the tree next to the wall.

  I rolled my eyes at him, returning, “Of course…my mission in life.”

  Adam slapped Grey’s back, grinning. “See! I told you she was doin’ this on purpose.”

  Grey stared at his boots, shaking his head back in forth in embarrassment for his friend.

  “I find it hard to believe that you work in construction,” Sam taunted him. “How do you get jobs when you’re constantly complainin’?”

  Adam smirked at her. “I’m the boss, beautiful. My lackeys do the grunt work.”

  “Of course they do. You wouldn’t know hard work if it bit you in the ass,” she countered, batting her lashes at him.

  “Children, children,” Grey interjected. “Reel in the hostility.”

  “What hostility?” Adam questioned, playing confused. “This is Sam’s way of showin’ she wants me.”

  Sam picked up the top of one of the bread bowls and threw it at his head, exclaiming, “Do not!”

  Adam caught it and took a bite. “See,” he said around his mouthful. “She’s feedin’ me, too, making sure I have enough sustenance to increase my stamina.”

  “Sustenance and stamina are two words I never want to hear associated with my daughter,” Brad advised, his mouth soured, as he came up behind Emma and threw his arm around her shoulders. “Do you two always have to joke about sex? It gets old.”

  “Gets old?” Adam blanched mischievously. “I think it’s you, old man. Have you heard of the little blue pill? You should try it. Emma will be thankin’ you.”

  “There’s nothin’ wrong in that department, nor am I unhappy with anythin’ – I can assure you of that,” Emma informed us, a broad, teasing smile on her face.

  Adam and I laughed as Grey and Sam made gagging noises.

  “All right, enough of that,” Emma warned as she stood, slipping into her motherly role. “Since everyone’s here, it’s time for dinner.”

  “You expect us to eat after that?” Grey questioned, grimacing.

  “Of course I do.” Emma gave the evil-eye to her son as she ladled the stew into the bread bowls. “Your girlfriend has worked hard to make us a meal. Damn right, you’re gonna sit your butt at that table.”

  “I put it in the crock pot this morning,” I offered sheepishly.

  “Riiight,” Grey drawled. “She did that before she tortured me with a daylong shoppin’ excursion.”

  I bit my lip, trying not to laugh.

  “I hate those,” Brad agreed, nodding his head with a pained expression. “Your mother likes to do that a lot. At least you aren’t footin’ the bill.”

  “Hey,” Emma griped, extending the evil eye to her husband. “You said you liked spendin’ the day with me. You didn’t have to go.”

  “Riiight,” Brad drawled, sounding exactly like his son.

  Bella chose that moment to wake, and a loud screech came through the baby monitor.

  “Help Mom, darlin,” Grey murmured as he kissed my cheek. “I’ll go
grab her.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled before turning back to Emma.

  “Here, Sam,” Emma said, her face full of humor as she handed a couple of bowls over the island. “Why don’t you set these on the table while I fix Bella’s bottle? Sounds like Clara’s had a busy day – she deserves to get off her feet.”

  “Seriously?” Sam asked, laughing over Bella’s cries. “Who do you think worked at the B&B all day, while Grey gallivanted around Asheville?”

  “I’ll grab the wine,” I proposed, grabbing our glasses.

  “At least someone cares about me,” Sam whispered under her breath, her laugh never dying, as she ambled into the dining room.

  “I heard that!” Emma shouted, rolling her eyes at me.

  “I’ll grab a beer,” Adam joined in, shaking his head at the rest of us.

  “Grab one for Grey and Brad,” Emma ordered before turning to her husband. “Go, sit. I’ll be there in a sec with everythin’.”

  I was following Sam when I heard Grey in the monitor. “Hey there, sweet girl. That face is far too pretty to be cryin’ like that. Come here.” I smiled to myself, my heart overflowing.

  This was what it was like to be a part of a family.

  ♥♥♥

  “Have you heard from Grandma and Grandpa since they left?” Sam asked Brad once we were back in the living room.

  Grey was under the tree, fixing the stand, while Brad untangled lights. Sam and Emma were organizing the many boxes of ornaments I’d bought on the coffee table. I had just finished laying out the garland for the fireplace on the floor and was sitting on the couch next to Emma. Adam observed from the loveseat with Bella on his lap playing.

  “Yep. They’re in New Orleans for now,” Brad answered, his eyes on the lights. “They are headin’ to your Aunt Deb’s place in Alabama before Christmas since they were here for Thanksgivin’.”

  “Thank God for that,” Grey muttered.

  “Watch yourself,” Brad cautioned, nudging Grey’s thigh with his boot. Grey chuckled, finding it funny.

  “I happen to agree,” Emma whispered to me, winking.

  “What are they doin’ in New Orleans?” Sam continued questioning.

  Brad heaved a sigh and shook his head. “Mom’s got some lady there she wants to see. She’s supposed to be some type of Wiccan high-priestess or some shit like that – how the hell am I supposed to know?”

  “Where does she come up with that stuff?” Grey snickered as he stood. “High-priestess?”

  “Wish I knew, son…wish I knew. It didn’t start ’til right before you were born. No idea where the idea came from to begin with,” Brad enlightened us, huffing a bit in annoyance. “Thank God it didn’t come when I was a kid. The hell that would’ve reigned on me if word got out.”

  “I’m totally goin’ to be Grandpa Raiden when I’m older,” Adam declared, grinning down at Bella.

  “That says a lot about you,” Sam remarked dryly.

  Confused, Adam lifted his head and asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Sam gave him a duh look. “He’s a dirty old man.”

  Adam shook his head, denying it. “Is not. He’s just a big jokester, lookin’ to get a rise out of people. He isn’t serious.”

  “Why don’t you tell that to Shelley,” Sam argued.

  “These are pretty,” Emma said, breaking into their banter, as she held up some crystal ice sickles. I adored them when I noticed them at the store and had to have them. “You might want to put these on top of the tree next year. Bella will be walkin’ by then. She’ll see them sparkle and try to pull them off the tree.”

  I looked at the rest of what I’d bought, wide eyed. The thought never crossed my mind. “I’m gonna have to do that with a lot of this. There're a lot of breakables.”

  Sam and Emma laughed at me while Emma patted my hand. “It’ll be fine, sweetie. You’ve got time to prepare.”

  “I think I’ll buy plastic next year, just to be safe.”

  There were a lot of things I’d need to start figuring out when it came to Bella – the dos and don’ts. I guess it all came with time and experience.

  I glanced at Bella quickly, seeing her watch her hands on Adam’s lap, and wondered what our future held.

  “I’ll help you along the way, darlin’,” Grey said as he walked over and bent down to kiss my lips. “Don’t you worry.”

  “Am I the only one that realizes that Grey went from being single to pretty much playin’ house?” Adam questioned, observing us. “Seriously, Grey, it was like one day you were single, and then poof…wife and baby.”

  Grey straightened and flipped him off, turning without giving him a response.

  It was kind of true, so I didn’t take this to heart and snickered with everyone else.

  “Jealous much?” Sam mocked, smirking at Adam.

  Adam’s eyes bugged out. “You’re kiddin’, right? Relationships and I don’t mix.”

  “I cannot wait for the day some woman gets her claws into you,” Sam countered, her eyes twinkling at the prospect. “It’ll be hilarious to watch. And when it does happen, I’m gonna remind you of this conversation.”

  “Whatever,” Adam muttered as he stood. He stomped over to Bella’s swing and strapped her in. He couldn’t leave it at that, though, and bent over to place a kiss on her hair.

  “He’ll be a good daddy,” Emma commented as she took this in.

  “Daddy, my ass,” Adam muttered again and stomped to the kitchen. “I’m getting a beer. Who wants one?”

  Grey and Brad hollered that they did as the rest of us laughed at him.

  Sobering a bit, Grey asked, “Clara, didn’t you say that you wanted some of your parent’s ornaments on the tree?”

  “Oh, crap.” I smacked my forehead lightly, feeling like an idiot. It was some of the only things I had left of them. “How could I forget? I’ll go grab them.” I stood to run upstairs, but Grey stopped me before I could go.

  “I’ll get them. Just tell me where they are.”

  I waved him off. “No, it’s fine. I’m not entirely sure where they are. I’ve got to look around.”

  “You sure?”

  I scrunched my nose up at him. “You can’t do everything, Grey.”

  He tapped it with his finger, then kissed it. “Okay. I’ll finish helpin’ Dad.”

  Brad let out a small growl, his strand of lights tangled all to hell. “I hate these bloody things.”

  I laughed at his frustrated expression and climbed the stairs, trying to remember what I did with the box of ornaments. I checked my closet first and then the hall closet. When I didn’t find them there, I went into the guest bedroom – we’d stored a few things in there. When I didn’t see them in that closet either, I remembered Paige saying she’d put some stuff under the bed. I dropped to my knees and looked under the bed. Sure enough, the box was there, right behind another one.

  Feeling triumphant, I slid the first box out and picked it up, setting it on the bed. Finally grabbing the right one, I placed it next to the other. It was a lot heavier than I remembered. There was no way I’d be able to carry it down the stairs.

  I ambled to the stairs and called out, “Grey? Can you carry this down? It’s too heavy for me.” He didn’t answer. Instead, he mounted the steps, heading right for me. “Thanks,” I told him and turned toward the guest bedroom again.

  He saw the two boxes sitting on the bed and asked, “Both?”

  “No. Just that one.” I pointed to the right one, and he immediately picked it up. “Thanks.”

  “No problem, darlin’.” He turned, ready for me to follow.

  “I’ll be right there. I’m going to put this one back.”

  He gave me a cheeky smile and disappeared through the door.

  Sighing with happiness – the night was turning out great – I picked up the box and sat it on the ground. I was about to push it under the bed when I noticed something laying on the ground. It looked like a piece of paper. Puzzled, I tried
to reach it, but it was too far under the bed. I laid down on my belly and scooted further beneath the bed. When the paper met my fingertips, I was able to grab it with two fingers.

  Sitting back on my heels, I looked at an envelope. Envelope? My brows lowered as I studied it. It was addressed to me, written in a feminine hand. What really surprised me was the address, though – it was sent to my apartment in Chicago.

  “What on earth?” I whispered to myself. “How did you get here?”

  Suddenly, I remembered the day Paige gave me my mail. She had it in her hand when we walked out of this room, and she handed it to me on the stairs. This must have fallen out at some point. It was the only plausible explanation I had.

  Interesting.

  Not thinking much about it, I opened it and unfolded a couple of pages. As soon as I read my name, my heart dropped and a deep chill settled in my bones.

  Dear Clarabelle,

  You don’t know me, but I figured that you’d want to hear what I have to say. My name is Stacy Vincent. Yes, Vincent. I am your sister-in-law.

  I married your brother, Jonathan, years ago. I’ve known some about you since the beginning of our relationship, though it wasn’t until I fell for Jon that I saw a picture of you. I couldn’t believe how much we looked alike. It bothered me at first, and when I pointed it out to Jon, he acted like he didn’t realize it. He said it must have been a coincidence. I believed that for a long time.

  I’ve noticed a lot of odd things about my husband that I’ve ignored. I wanted to believe he was good and just. I wanted to believe that he was everything he presented himself to be. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.

  You see, I’ve had certain mental health issues since I was a kid. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I mentioned this because I thought my condition was the cause of my confusion. Jon convinced me of it. He said I was seeing things that weren’t there and I needed to take more of my medication.