Matt walked out of the tattoo room, stripping his black latex gloves off as he went. He tossed them into the trash and pulled out a manila file folder. “So, your appointment says tattoo, but I don’t have any drawings in the file for you. Was this a—” He stopped short as he finally saw Brenna standing by the couch.
“Hi,” she said with a little wave. It felt like her heart had stopped, like there wasn’t any air in the room, like the next thirty seconds would determine the outcome for the rest of her life.
Was he still mad? Could he ever forgive her?
“Hey,” he replied simply. “You’re not really here for a tattoo. Are you?”
There weren’t any sparkles in his eyes like when they’d built the snowman, or when they’d watched the Northern Lights from the back of his truck. He was all business. It was a side of him she’d never seen before, and even though the tattoo parlor was well heated, Brenna shivered as it felt like the room dropped a few degrees.
“Yes, I am,” she insisted, walking over to the inking room and plopping down in the chair.
Matt sighed heavily as he followed her. “You don’t have to do this. We can talk if that’s what you really want.” He sat down on his wheeled stool and wrung his hands in his lap.
“I came in to talk, but I also wanted to get a tattoo.” She took off her fleece jacket and rolled up her sleeves.
“So what am I putting on you?” Matt asked as he slowly put together the equipment. He pulled down a few bottles of ink and lined up little cups on the tray next to the chair.
“I don’t know,” she confessed with a nervous titter. She’d rehearsed this so many times in the days leading up to this appointment, but now that she was really here. Now that Matt was so close… she couldn’t mess this up. Her performance needed to be flawless and one hundred percent straight from the heart.
“What do you mean?” Matt stopped putting the tattoo gun together and stared at her.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think since I got out of the hospital, and I’ve rehearsed speech after speech and probably a thousand different versions of the same apologies.” Brenna took a deep breath and forced herself to keep eye contact, even though it would have been easier to look away as she finally confessed everything he needed to hear.
Matt had his head down, looking at the floor. “Look, I—”
She held up a hand. “No, let me finish, please.”
Matt looked back up and gestured for her to continue.
“I know that I could talk forever and not really prove what I’m trying to say, so instead I want you to draw my new tattoo. Whatever you want.” She reached out and put her hand under his chin. “Because I trust you.”
“It could be the worst decision you ever made,” he warned.
“Or the best one.”
For the next few hours, Matt worked on her shoulder, dipping his needle into various inks as he went. Brenna wished she could watch the work, but it was important that she didn’t try to see. She needed to show him how much she trusted him, so instead she told him about the various things he’d missed since their fight.
She talked about her mother sorting things out with the insurance company and the plan to come up for a visit. She recounted the night of the dance, meeting with Hunter, and finding out how much he’d done to help her even after they’d parted ways at the hospital. Most of all, she told him that none of those moments had been as happy or as special without him at her side.
Matt finally finished up and pulled off his gloves. “You can check it out in the mirror.”
His voice was still flat, and Brenna could feel her heart breaking all over again. But she’d done all she could, and if this had to be the end of their relationship, hopefully Matt could go on a find a girl that would look beyond his past.
At one end of the shop hung a three way mirror so people could look at back tattoos and any others that were nearly impossible to see without breaking your neck.
There, on her shoulder, was an ornately drawn snowflake against a watercolor backdrop.
Her heart swelled, and she saw in the mirror that Matt was behind her and the sparkles, once missing from his eyes, had returned. She rushed into his arms, ignoring the twinge of pain from the movement of the fresh tattoo.
His arms wrapped around her and she thought back to the night watching the Northern Lights in his truck and to the day spent playing in the snow as he helped her build her first snowman.
“What do you think?” he whispered against her neck.
“I love it,” she said. She’d never have chosen this design for herself, but now that she saw how it looked against her skin, she knew that it was perfect.
She turned toward Matt, took in everything about him in this moment. Which was also perfect and would be one she’d remember forever. “I love you,” she said.
“Finally!” Matt cheered, lifting her gently by her waist and bringing her lips up to meet his. “I was beginning to think you’d never admit it.”
“Well, now that I have, I’m never going to stop. You’re going to get sick of me, Matt Sanders.” She laughed against his lips, stealing another string of kisses.
“I could never get sick of you, Brenna Barry. I love you so much.” He kissed her again.
“I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you…” She chanted, at first as a joke, but then because she wanted to declare her love for Matt at least ten times for every time she’d told her father she hated him.
Hate was powerful, but love…
Love could heal.
Love made the impossible happen.
Love was all she needed to start her new and better life.
~ COMING SOON ~
Kate Griffin can’t believe she’s losing her mother. For as long as she can remember, it’s been the two of them against the world. That is, until early onset Alzheimer’s robbed them both of the relationship that had always been so special.
Now she’s working as a ranch hand in Anchorage while her mother undergoes treatment at the much acclaimed Memory Ranch. Kate came to keep an eye on her mom but is left to wonder if she’s the one who really needs to heal. Especially as a certain handsome therapist named Jack keeps finding more and more reasons for them to spend time together.
What will be left of Kate when her mother leaves her behind? And can she justify spending time with Jack when she knows her mom’s time left on earth is limited?
Find out in this moving tale filled with faith, horses, and the unyielding power of love. Pre-order your copy today!
Memories of Heaven will be here on March 12, 2019! Pre-order your copy at www.MelStorm.com/Heaven
Also by Melissa Storm
Sign up for free stories, fun updates, and uplifting messages from Melissa at www.MelStorm.com/gift
Sweet Promise Press
Saving Sarah
The Sled Dog Series
Get ready to fall in love with a special pack of working and retired sled dogs, each of whom change their new owners' lives for the better.
Let There Be Love
Let There Be Light
Let There Be Life
Season of Mercy
Season of Majesty
Season of Mirth
The First Street Church Romances
Sweet and wholesome small town love stories with the community church at their center make for the perfect feel-good reads!
Love’s Prayer
Love’s Promise
Love’s Prophet
Love’s Vow
Love’s Trial
Love’s Treasure
Love’s Testament
Love’s Gift
The Alaska Sunrise Romances
These quick, light-hearted romances will put a smile on your face and a song in your heart. It's time to indulge in a sweet Alaskan get-away!
Must Love Music
Must Love Military
Must Love Mistletoe
Must Love Mutts
Must Love Mommy
Mu
st Love Moo
Must Love Mustangs
Must Love Miracles
Must Love Mermaids
Must Love Movie Star
The Church Dogs of Charleston
A very special litter of Chihuahua puppies born on Christmas day is adopted by the local church and immediately set to work as tiny therapy dogs.
Little Loves
Mini Miracles
Dainty Darlings
Tiny Treasures
Bitty Blessings
The Memory Ranch Romances
This new Sled Dogs-spinoff series harnesses the restorative power of both horses and love at Elizabeth Jane's therapeutic memory ranch.
Memories of Home
Memories of Heaven
Memories of Healing
The Finding Mr. Happily Ever After Series
One bride, four possible grooms, unlimited potential for disaster to strike. Is the man waiting at the end of the aisle the one that’s meant to be Jazz’s forever love?
Nathan
Chase
Xavier
Edwin
The Finale
Stand-Alone Novels and Novellas
Whether climbing ladders in the corporate world or taking care of things at home, every woman has a story to tell.
Angels in Our Lives
A Mother’s Love
A Colorful Life
Special Collections & Boxed Sets
From light-hearted comedies to stories about finding hope in the darkest of times, these special boxed editions offer a great way to catch up or to fall in love with Melissa Storm’s books for the first time.
Small Town Beginnings: A Series Starter Set
The Sled Dog Series: Books 1-5
The First Street Church Romances: Books 1-3
The Alaska Sunrise Romances: Books 1-5
Finding Mr. Happily Ever After: Books 1-5
True Love Eternal: The 1950’s Collection
Also by Kay P. Dawson
HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCE:
Wilder West Mail Order Bride Series
Everly
Sarah
Beth
Maggie's Gift (Short Story)
Oregon Sky Series
Phoebe's Promise
Audrey's Awakening
Ella's Embrace
Hope's Honor
Sylvia's Spirit
Love's A Gamble Series
A Gambler's Heart
A Drifter's Fortune
A Lawman's Reward
Jesse's Bargain (Crossover from another series)
Mail Order Mounties
RNWMP: Bride for Elijah
RNWMP: Bride for Preston
RNWMP: Bride for Nathaniel
RNWMP: Bride for Malcolm
RNWMP: Bride for Andrew
RNWMP: Bride for Aaron
RNWMP: Bride for Liam
CONTEMPORARY WESTERN ROMANCE:
Roberts of Silver Springs Series
Rocky Mountain Soul
Rocky Mountain Heart
***
Burnt River Series
Harpur's Secret
Brody's Shelter
WESTERN TIME TRAVEL:
Timeless Hearts Series
Timeless Hearts (Prequel)
Timeless Spirit
Timeless Captive
Timeless Devotion
About Melissa Storm
Melissa Storm is a mother first, and everything else second. Writing is her way of showing her daughter just how beautiful life can be, when you pay attention to the everyday wonders that surround us. So, of course, Melissa's USA Today bestselling fiction is highly personal and often based on true stories.
Melissa loves books so much, she married fellow author Falcon Storm. Between the two of them, there are always plenty of imaginative, awe-inspiring stories to share. Melissa and Falcon also run a number of book-related businesses together, including LitRing, Sweet Promise Press, Novel Publicity, Your Author Engine, and the Author Site. When she's not reading, writing, or child-rearing, Melissa spends time relaxing at home in the company of a seemingly unending quantity of dogs and a rescue cat named Schrödinger.
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About Kay P. Dawson
Kay P. Dawson writes sweet western romance - the kind that leaves out all the juicy details and immerses you in a true, heartfelt love story.
Happily married mom of two girls, Kay has always taught her children to follow their dreams. And, after a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 39, she realized it was time to take her own advice. She had always wanted to write a book, so decided that the someday she was waiting for was now.
She writes western historical, contemporary and time travel romance that all transport the reader to a time or place where true love always finds a way.
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Memories of Healing Page 13
