He asked, “I take it that Nick has something to do with that analogy you just tried to use, right?”
“Once upon a time, he was, but no more. I haven’t seen or spoken to Nick since I left New York after mama got sick. You do know he married Karen, and they had a baby boy of their own,” I said. “I am not the only one that found love again.”
“I guess not. I am so happy you found it with me, because I don’t know how to live without you.”
I said, “Well, good to know, because I’m right there with you, now and forever. Shall we go?”
He leaned in to kiss me, and then down to my stomach to kiss his soon-to-be son. Carter was mine and I was his, but even knowing that, sometimes he was still vulnerable to the unknown, and he never held back when voicing his feelings to me. He stepped out with our daughter and then leaned in to help me from the car.
Clarissa was such a good baby, and gave us no trouble on the flight. Carter preferred to fly privately than to deal with an overbooked commercial flight with strangers all around us. He was very protective of her and me, another thing I would never challenge him on. This was Carter’s way, and I loved him for it.
By the time we arrived in New York and reached my family home, I was pretty exhausted. We walked up to the porch where a colorful “Welcome Home” banner was displayed across the railing. Mom never missed an opportunity to remind me on how much we were loved. I knew she missed us, especially being so far away from the baby. This would be the first time for Clarissa, and her grandma wanted to make it special for her.
“Oh, my Thea, you’re home,” she said as she took me in her arms. “You look beautiful and are hardly showing at all.”
“Did Carter pay you to say that to me? Mama, I am huge and very pregnant.”
“Oh, hush now, you are gorgeous. Come on in and put your feet up while I finish with dinner.”
After we all caught up and feasted on mama’s delicious home cooking, Carter took the baby upstairs so I could have some private time with my mom. We would have tonight and all day tomorrow, with us leaving the following morning.
“I swear that husband of yours just gets better looking with each passing day.”
“Mama! You are the biggest flirt.”
“You know I’m only kidding! Okay, just a little,” she laughed as we drank our tea and enjoyed the warm fall night. “What is it, Thea? You look as if you are a million miles away.”
“I’m fine, mama, just doing a little reflecting. You know this porch was always a great place to do the heavy thinking. I remember sitting here for hours when I was younger, and even though you can hear the city noise, on this porch was a calm that always washed over me. Does that make any sense at all?”
“Of course it does. This is your home, a place where you grew up and with love all around you. It’s a safe zone for any emotion you want to express.”
“I’m sorry I don’t come home as much as I should.”
“Thea, look at me, please.”
I did, trying not to cry.
She said, “This porch, this house, will always be your home. You are welcomed to it as much as you like, but I also know you have a life of your own out in California. Two years ago when we had a similar conversation, you were a different person with so much weighing on her shoulders. Now, you are married to a wonderful man. You have given me the most beautiful granddaughter and soon a grandson to love. When I look at you, I don’t worry as much as I used to because I know how happy you are, and before you ask, Nick is too.”
“I wasn’t going to ask.”
“He’s come a long way just like you, and I truly believe this is how it was supposed to be. It just took a little longer to place all the pegs in the right holes to complete the puzzle.”
“Mama, another ‘life has come full circle’ metaphor? I swear you never change, but thank you for making me smile.”
“You are most welcome. Now, let’s get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
Mama reached for my hands and pretended to help me off the swing, right into her loving arms.
She said, “I love you, baby, so much.”
After church, we all gathered at the cemetery to place flowers on my father’s grave. Mama took a few minutes to herself, and then we made our way over to Flushing Meadows for the afternoon festivities. This year instead of hosting a ladies’ luncheon, they went with a fun-filled day at the park. It was not just a day of remembering who we lost, but also reconnecting with friends. Mama was busy chatting with her friends while holding Clarissa. She waited a long time to become a grandmother, so I stood back and watched her have her moment. Stella said hello and looked equally happy holding Nick and Karen’s son, Nico, while laughing along with his daughters.
“Are you almost ready to go?” asked Carter, and bringing me out of my overthinking mind.
“Are you? I was hoping to stay a little while longer, and look how much mama is smiling with Clarissa over there.”
“It’s been a great day, but a long one too. You’ve been on your feet, and I know you didn’t sleep that well last night.”
“Carter, I’m fine. I love how much you worry about us, but I am fine. It’s just the day, you know. The cemetery is always hard for me, but it’s been fun seeing everyone again, and you have to admit you did love playing soccer with Wally.”
“Yeah, it was. I think Trudie has the next David Beckham on her hands.”
“That she does.”
“Okay, five more minutes, and then I am going to try to pry our daughter away from your mom so we can go.”
“Okay, I wouldn’t mind a cold water,” I requested.
“Stay here, and I will be right back.”
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warm sun on my face and then I sensed I wasn’t alone any more. I opened my eyes to see Nick, holding his sleeping son in his arms.
“Hi, I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to say hello before I missed my chance. So, hello.”
“Hi, Nick, how are you?”
“Wow, five words in a greeting! I feel so special.”
“Shut up,” I laughed.
I saw Karen talking to Carter, and they both waved over at us. The irony of Nick talking with me, and Karen keeping Carter busy was not lost on me, but I guess we all would interact sometime today.
“You look happy, Thea, and I must say, beautifully pregnant. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good, just tired. This pregnancy has been a little rough on me, so Carter is forever hovering.”
“Yeah, I was like that with Karen too, but look at what we get to have when it’s over.”
“He’s beautiful, Nick. He looks just like you.”
“Thank you, we think so. He has quite the personality too. And your daughter, she’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you. We love her.”
“So before we run out of polite things to say here, I just wanted to say something that is long overdue.”
“Oh goodness, you’re not going to stand on a table in front of everyone and make an announcement, are you?
“Shut up,” he said as we both laughed. “No, seriously. What I wanted to tell you is that I’m sorry.”
“For?” I asked.
“You want a list?”
“Yes, I do.”
We laughed.
He said, “I’m sorry for two years ago when I forced our past in your face. I shouldn’t have done that, but in a way, it has led me here to what I have now with Karen and our children. You coming home when you did changed my life for the better, and I wanted you to know that.”
“Thank you, Nick. That means a lot to hear coming from you, but I think it works both ways. I’m sitting here, looking all around, and I still can’t believe how much has changed. I have changed. I’m in a really good place, and I don’t believe that would have happened if not for finding acceptance and a whole hell of a lot of truth between you and me, you know?”
“I get it. Believe me, I do.”
&nbs
p; “Nick, I guess being back here and seeing how far we’ve come from where we were two years ago just makes it very surreal for me.”
“Yeah, me too. I wish you nothing but the best, Thea. I really mean that.”
“Thank you, Nick. Friends?”
“Always. It’s where we started, right?”
“Right,” I said.
“Daddy, daddy, mommy said we can have ice cream,” Trinity screamed out.
“Okay, princess, I’ll be right there,” he said to her.
I said, “She’s lovely, Nick.”
“And quite the handful, but happy to say I am completely wrapped around their fingers and drowning in ballet slippers, tutus, and god, the nail polish and hair ribbons.”
“Sounds like a great life.”
“It’s the best.”
We gave each other a hug, and then I watched Nick catch up to his daughters and hand off Nico to Karen, who waved back at me.
“Are you okay?” Carter asked as he hugged me from behind.
“I am, and better now that you’re here.”
“Good, because I am not going anywhere. I love you. I love our family. I love our life together.”
I hugged my amazing husband, and then said, “Let’s go home.”
Mama was right about many things over the years, but never more certain on how life can truly come full circle. When I lost my father, I thought I would never smile again. When I lost Nick, I thought I would never love again. I was so happy I was wrong on both counts. For a long time, happiness took a detour and I was lost for a while, but then I met Carter, and he showed me how destiny was not a matter of chance, but a choice. If I waited for love, I may have not have found it. It was right in front of me, and when I finally opened my eyes to see it, I knew making a life with Carter would be my biggest achievement, one that would sustain me for all the days of my life.
Before we left for home, I had one more stop to make. Carter never stopped touching and comforting me until we arrived back at Ladder 4. When I walked in this time around, I felt an overwhelming amount of peace wash over me, and the anxiety I once carried was gone.
The firehouse dedicated a wall to all the firefighters who died on September 11th, including my father. I read all the names and ran my finger over each one. When I got to my father’s name, I took a moment to remember him.
Mom had her fair share of advice she dished out over the years, but sometimes a girl needed her daddy. One morning before school, I remember feeling frustrated. My dad sat down beside me, took a sip of his coffee and then said, “Thea, I wish I could shield you from anything that has the power to hurt you, but I can’t. As your father, I can promise you that I will always be here for you, and in the moments that I’m not, just know how much I love you. Don’t ever forget. We are not given a good or bad life, we are just given a life. It is up to you how you choose to live it.”
“Thank you, daddy. I remember it all, and I promise never to forget,” I whispered to myself.
I left New York with a full heart.
Life was good, and it had come…full circle.
Best-Selling Author Mary A. Wasowski introduces a stirring new book that can be read as a standalone but will bring back the characters you fell in love with in Return to Kildare.
You Belong to Me is the continuing story of Jesse and James, the other couple from Return to Kildare who were trying to find their way and have their own happily ever after.
In this romantic, new novella, James and Jesse have newly committed themselves to each other and are looking forward to an amazing future loving one another and becoming a family. But they find themselves faced with a harrowing hurdle to overcome on their way to their happy ending. How can their relationship survive?
You Belong to Me will be my first m/m published work.
Writing this part of a book is probably the hardest. It’s like the actor or actress who just won the Oscar, and they fear they will forget to mention the people who supported them along the way. Acknowledgments in books are like that too.
This journey of mine that began four years ago has led me here: Book Number Ten. Pieces of me are layered within the pages of every book I pen. Life experiences have allowed me to take my imagination to the next level and create a legacy for my children and hopefully inspire them to take a leap of faith while they write their own stories.
After four years as an Indie author, I’m still chasing the dream, one I could not have without the love and support from my family and the friendships that I value with all my heart.
For KAREN and TRUDIE: Friendship is not measured in time, and it’s not about who you met first or who you knew the longest. It’s about who came into your life and stayed. You two have a forever place in my heart. You are the sisters I got to choose.
Joseph Marron: My diligent editor, you get what I am trying to say before I even write it. I sometimes think we share the same brain during the editing process…except for when you read all my characters with British accents!
JT Formatting: Transforming my words into a work of art, thank you, Julie, for all you do.
Mindy Guerreiros: Your talent knows no bounds and has been a godsend in helping me, especially when it comes to choosing the right cover for my words. Thank you for always picking up the phone and giving me hours of awesome conversation. I love you, my sister.
RE Creatives: Thank you, Renee, for taking what I wanted and making it come to life in a breathtaking cover.
Alice Tribue: Hail to the goddess of writing blurbs! You know I love to be wordy, but thank you for helping me break it down to a simpler flow.
For the bloggers: Thank you to Kylie McDermott of Give Me Books and her astonishing team of dedicated friends who helped share Revive to the blogging community. Thank you always for your support of my work.
For TEAM SPARKLE: My circle may be small, but it’s huge with friendship, loyalty, and trust. I have been incredibly fortunate to work with professionals who have remained with me throughout my four years of writing, and it’s their creativity and talent that brings my words to life. Thank you so much for all that you do.
To my readers: Thank you for your support. Stay tuned for more book boyfriends to love!
Sparkle…
A Changed Life (standalone)
Forever Series:
Forever: Book One
Second Chance at Forever: Book Two
Our Forever Promise: Book Three
Happily Forever After: Book Four
Forever More: Book Five
All Roads Lead Home (standalone)
An Unfinished Life (standalone)
Return to Kildare (standalone)
MARY A. WASOWSKI is a Best Selling Author who writes adult contemporary romance. Best known for her Forever Series, Mary loves creating sexy alpha book boyfriends for you to swoon over. When she is not writing her happily ever after love stories, she is an avid reader of all romance titles on her Kindle.
A romantic at heart, she shares her zest for life with her husband, Henry, and their three sons. Proud to be an Indie Author, she lives in North Carolina and works as a full-time writer.
Stay in Touch
I would love to hear from you. Please stay connected wherever you are.
EMAIL:
[email protected]
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/Author-Mary-A-Wasowski-332971356804341
TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/wasow6
INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/authormaryawasowski/
GOOGLE +:
https://plus.google.com/+MaryWasowski
ilter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
Revive Page 45
