Both Reginald and Bianca were working on mending fences but it was slow going as Brianna didn't trust easily.
It helped they and Brianna's farm family had all chipped in to get Jackson elected for Sheriff. Ray and Reginald met for breakfast once a week to talk about their kids and Ms. Williams, Evelynn, and Bianca had formed a knitting club.
Jackson loved that Brianna was finally getting the parents she had always dreamed of, not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but ones who saw her and not her twin.
Brianna fiddled with her toast but hadn't eaten a bite, yet. "Is she going to do it, do you think?"
"Hell, yes. And you'll be there to help her in case she has a flashback." Callie slurped her coffee before snagging a piece of bacon from Ray's plate this time. "Anyway, I told her I would be there the first few times … "
Jackson tuned out the rest of Callie's conversation as he focused on Brianna. She glowed. Gone was the hesitant woman who had only thought people loved her as long as she was Briony. Finally, Brianna saw everyone loved her for herself.
"Jackson?"
Brianna's voice jerked him from his perusal.
"Hmm?"
"Is it okay if Mother comes here?"
"I'm fine with it. But I do think you might want some backup in case she has a panic attack." He still had flashbacks of Christopher holding a gun on Brianna though they had come less often after the man was sent away to serve his time. If things had gone differently, if Bianca hadn't stepped in front of that bullet, if Jackson had frozen and not pulled the trigger … so many ifs. "Maybe I should be here too."
Ray laughed. "Forget it, Son. Ms. Williams and I can hangout in the kitchen in case there's trouble." Ray's gaze lingered on the woman, and Jackson paused his coffee cup halfway to his lips.
"Something you want to tell me, Dad?"
Ms. Williams blushed and Ray smiled as he answered. "Not yet, but when something happens, you'll be the second to know."
Jackson tipped his chin then drank his coffee as his family teased and bickered around him. His soul at peace now that he had found his home.
His gaze met Brianna's and she mouthed 'Love you'.
His heart filled to bursting with love for this woman and was so glad he'd taken a chance on them.
As he mouthed the words back to her he felt the ring box burning a hole in his pocket but refrained from taking it out. Callie would kill him if he ruined the surprise she had helped plan.
Next weekend the horse drawn carriage would be here and the sunset picnic next to the large pond in the back was the perfect setting. Their family in their home nearby ready to celebrate and Brianna's animals surrounding them when Jackson popped the question. There was no doubt in his mind she would say yes, they had both found their happily-ever-after in each other.
Author's Note
I loved researching this story, and during the process of writing it, I had a lot of feedback regarding identical twins' DNA and how the DNA testing would produce exact matches.
This is not technically true and has been proven since a few times now, starting with a 2008 study conducted by a collaboration of doctors in Alabama, the Netherlands, and Sweden the findings were published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.
I'm a sci-fi geek and a friend pointed out the study to me because they thought I would find it fascinating both because it debunked the whole identical twin DNA matches, which I found interesting, but also because one of the researchers was a professor of genetics, Jan Dumanski, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and I'm from Alabama.
Linked below is an article from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health that explains the groups' findings.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2427204/
I'm also including a link to the NY Times which breaks down the explanation in layman's terms. Both articles are interesting reads.
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/health/11real.html
Book One in the Woven Destinies Series
Set in the World of Amelorica
Betrayal cuts deeper than a double bladed knife.
Trained warrior, Birch McKennery learned the hard way to never trust anyone. Until Zev. She breaks all of her rules and falls in love with him. His betrayal stabbed so deep that Birch fled instead of fighting for what she wanted.
Battle honed, Zev Gridnev has one focus - finding his parents' killers. Until Birch. He becomes infatuated with the sexy warrior, lost in her. Then she disappears like mist in the sunlight. At yet another loss, he closes his heart and pours himself back into his first obsession.
When Zev sees an armed figure darting from the exploding medical center, he acts on instinct and tackles the fleeing suspect. Only to discover the suspect is none other than the woman who disappeared with his heart ten years ago.
Forced together, Birch and Zev work to untangle the mystery surrounding the bombing of Kliendorf Medical, and discover the plot to a war that began years ago with the murder of his parents. Now the web of deceit has grown to encompass the Mutants to the east, mercenaries, the military and the Brotherhood of Uriel. As they plunge deeper into danger, will Zev and Birch rediscover the love they both thought long dead? Or will it disappear like mist when their mission ends?
If you relish kickass heroines who take no prisoners and alpha males who stand by their chosen loves, you'll enjoy this new adult fantasy romance series.
Book One in the Scavenger's Bonded Series
Set in the World of Amelorica
What would you sacrifice to meet the man of your dreams?
Zroya lives a sheltered life within the Southern Installation. Protected from the 'contamination' that brought humanity to the brink of extinction, she's terrified to leave the safety of the known for the unknown. Even though women are treated like cattle within the Installation, it's still familiar. However, it's now Zroya's time to become a breeder, she balks and is imprisoned.
Slaughter D'Reaper has been free from Installation control for sixteen years and thanks the Creator every day for that privilege. Now, he and his brothers are hunting for Zroya, to give her that same choice. How does he know about Zroya? From dreams that have been sent to him since he was fourteen. His obsession knows no bounds as he tears apart the country of Amelorica searching for the woman he's come to love.
But is it true love? Or only a dream?
This story is a cross between sleeping beauty meets Dr. Jekyll and Miss Hyde.
Book Three in the Scavenger's Bonded Series
Set in the World of Amelorica
Can her free-spirit shatter his defenses and win his heart?
Sara Dover never met a stranger that didn't become a friend, until Kaos. With him she never seems to get it right, not matter how hard she tries. And she tries endlessly. In him she sees her perfect partner, if she could just breakdown his rigid control. Sara is sure behind those thick walls lurks an untapped passion and she is just as sure that she's the perfect woman to tap it.
MeleViolent L'Kaos likes everything, and everyone, to fall in line with his orders. Designed in a Scavenger Installation to bring chaos to the human race, Kaos himself hates disorder. Until he crosses paths with Sara, an impish villager who loves pranks and seems to thrive in the middle of mayhem. If he could force her to lose her spontaneity she would be the perfect partner for him.
At least, that was Kaos's thought until the Western Scavenger installation kidnaps Sara. The longer she's gone the more he realizes what he, and the village he now calls home, has lost. If given another chance, he's willing to do anything in his power to make Sara his. But first he needs to save her before the installation kills her.
Can two very different people find love? Or will they discover even love isn't enough to overcome their differences?
Book Four in the Scavenger's Bonded Series
Set in the World of Amelorica
Sometimes the future is a path set in the hardest of stone and can only be altered by love.
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br /> Oneyroi D'Naktmerié is a product of the Northern Installation, designed to be the stuff of nightmares. At fourteen his abilities proved deadly, and he shuts them away terrified of how uncontrollable his power is. He refuses to bond as that could unleash the dangerous abilities constantly roiling inside of him. Taking refuge in the village of Ketewah, Naktmerié's only pleasure now is spending the night with whatever willing woman catches his eye. Never spending more than one night with each.
Until he meets Shae, the Speyressa of Uanty.
Shae sees the future. All the paths in a person's life. But there is one vision that has haunted her since she was a child. One that she's done everything in her power to prevent. Choices make up the paths, and she's forced to choose between allowing Naktmerié to be kidnapped or the destruction and enslavement of the human race. She chooses to protect the human race and seals her fate as well as his.
Betrayed by the first woman he's ever opened up to, Naktmerié returns to Ketewah after freeing himself from the Flesh Traders. Months later he discovers the path Shae began all those years ago didn't end with his kidnapping; instead, it ends with her death and Naktmerié is the only one who can save her. Can he trust her enough to form the mental bond that will save her? Or will a forced bond drive her to madness?
About the Author
CeeRee Fields currently lives in Groningen, the Netherlands with her husband and cat. Since she was born in Alabama and moved to the Netherlands, Dutch is not her first language which gets her into mischief in various stores around town when she tries to speak it. She loves writing, building worlds that her characters can explore and break if they feel the need. Action, adventure and love are her favorite things. And when stuff gets blown up who says the guy is the only one who gets to do it?
She can be found at:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ceereefields.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ceereefields
Facebook: facebook.com/ceereefields
The Twin Contract (The Contract Series Book 1) Page 33
