Indelible Love Series + Entwined Bundle

by DW Cee

  “I don’t know, Jake. That’s a lot of work for your parents.”

  “Sweetheart. My parents can give them a bottle right before bedtime then do what they normally do—hold them to sleep. Ellie and James both sleep through the night, and we’ll be back before their first feeding—or maybe after their first feeding. Don’t you have a lot of milk stored in the freezer?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “No buts. We’re going. I’ll make sure no one is up there next weekend.”

  And this is how our life would be. In between Emily’s hectic days with the kids and my overscheduled days at the hospital, Emily and I would find time to love the children daily, love each other nightly, and live a lifetime of happiness eternally.

  Indelible Lovin’—Max & Jane’s Story Vol. 1

  D.W. Cee

  Copyright © 2013 by D.W.Cee

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, reproduced, transmitted, or downloaded, whether electronic or mechanical, without the written consent of the author.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Smashwords Edition

  This volume is dedicated to all my blog Reiders.

  You have brought new joys to my Mondays and Thursdays

  and have possibly helped me discover a new writing genre.

  Shall I try for a Romantic Thriller, next?

  Author’s Note -

  Welcome to the blog world of Jane Reid and Max Davis. This blog/book is a compilation of blogs that were posted every Monday and Thursday on my website from December 2012 to Aug 2013.

  This story stars Jane Reid, a fiery twenty-seven-year-old lawyer, whose tough girl persona is tested on a daily basis because of her relationship with Max Davis. You’ll all remember Max from the Indelible Love series. He never found his happily ever after, and he’s working overtime to earn it now with a girl who is so different from Emily.

  Each blog is a story in and of itself. It’s more casual than a novel and doesn’t go into much of the daily minutiae, but trust me when I say, it does not lack in plot line. In fact, you will soon discover as my readers did, (and cursed me on a weekly basis) that each story is filled with twists, turns , and of course, cliffhangers.

  The prologue and epilogue were not a part of the original blogs released on my website. And this book in e-form was split into two volumes because the blog ran for many months, and so many readers requested a book to read in one sitting. There are from several different points of views in the prologue and epilogue. But once you get into Max & Jane’s Blog, it will be only from Jane’s point of view. In keeping with the original e-book version, I kept the different book covers and still “separated” the books. Now, as a print version, you will have it all in one sitting, one book.

  With all the housekeeping matters done, sit back and enjoy the rollercoaster ride. It’s sure to be a thriller!

  PROLOGUE

  (Max) April 19, 2012 The End...Again!

  “Jane! Seriously? We’re breaking up, again?” I was sick of the cat and mouse game we’d been playing the last few months.

  “I can’t take not being number one in your life. I’m tired of being second choice.” She yelled in the maternity ward.

  “What the hell are you talking about? You’ve never been second choice to anything or anybody. What would make you think that? I just don’t understand you.”

  “That’s just it! You don’t understand me, I don’t understand you, we don’t belong together. It kills me whenever I see you looking at my sister-in-law. There’s so much love in your eyes. It’s like she’s never left your life.”

  “Are you nuts?” This time, I was the one who yelled. All the nurses stared at this idiotic conversation taking place in the middle of the corridor. “She’s married to your brother. She just had twins today! What could I possibly have done to make you think I was still in love with Em, and what can I possibly do now to change your mind?”

  Women! What the hell was wrong with them? I had enough trouble with one woman—trying to understand her and keep her happy. Did she really think I had the energy to love another one at the same time? Maybe this was for the best. When we first started dating, Jane lived in New York and I was here in Los Angeles, so whenever we saw each other, it was like a first date all over again. We were excited, eager, and willing to give in to each other’s demands. Once she moved here and we saw each other on a regular basis, everything changed.

  The fact that Jane lived at home, and I lived with three roommates, did not help our cause. We saw her family—who are all wonderful people—much too often. We had no privacy. This is where our troubles escalated. Since Jane lived on the same block as Em, I saw Em almost as often as I saw Jane, and Jane never warmed up to the idea of me and Em. It did not matter that Em and I had broken up ages ago, and that Em and Jake were beyond happily married. Jane didn’t like how emotionally involved I was with Em and there was no way I could make Jane understand that I would always love Em like family. That was something I couldn’t change...I didn’t want to change.

  “There’s nothing you can do. Let’s just end this now. I’ve decided to move back to New York,” she announced.

  “You decided to move away without discussing this with me?” Shit! I’d had enough. It was time to finish this conversation. “Go ahead, Jane. Move away. Hope you have a nice life!” I walked away from her, and went to visit Em in her room, instead.

  Em was lying in her bed, looking radiant with both babies in her arms. I couldn’t believe this was the same girl I met in Dykstra Hall on a hot September day. That timid girl—whom I loved, and who loved me with all our hearts—just became a mother to a baby boy and girl. There were few words to express my overwhelming joy for her. With so much goodness in her heart, and with so much love to give, she found her family to dote upon and to love the rest of her life. I couldn’t have conjured up a better man than Jake Reid and today, seeing her with the babies, I was convinced I did the right thing on graduation night. She was finally where she belonged.

  “Hey,” she smiled. “Did you meet Elizabeth and James?”

  “Em...” I was speechless. “...they’re beautiful! They look just like you.”

  “Thanks Max. I think they’re beautiful, too. Can you believe how both our lives have changed so much in a span of two years?”

  “They’ve definitely changed, and you’re exactly where you should be—here with Jake and your beauties. I see you named them after your mom and dad.”

  “Yeah...” My sweet ex-girlfriend and my dear friend started tearing. It always broke my heart when I saw her crying for the parents she lost too early in life. “I wish they could’ve met my babies. They would’ve loved them so much.” Now she started crying.

  “It looks like these babies are the reincarnation of your parents. From the pictures I remember, Elizabeth looks just like your mom, and James is the spitting image of your dad. You did right by naming them after your parents.”

  “I know this is going to sound ungrateful, but no matter how wonderful the Reid family is to me—and they have been beyond a dream where family is concerned—I can’t help missing my parents. Especially on such a special occasion, I wish Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa were here with me. The Reid family can’t quite fill that void completely. Isn’t that terrible of me to say such a thing?”

  “It’s not. I know how much you miss your family. That was something I could never complete for you either. But, I’m happy you found Jake. If I could have built a man out of dust for you, it would have been someone like him. He will fill in all your voids.”

  “He does...” She smiled her beautiful smile. I was a lucky man at one point, and Jake definitely will be a fortunate man to live with such inner and outer beauty the rest of his life. “Did Jane give you her big news?”

  “Yeah. She also broke up with me.”

  “WHAT? Why???”

  “She and I are like oil and water
. We just don’t work, Em. I don’t know what it is that’ll make her happy.”

  “But you love her, Max. Hold onto her. I know she’ll stay if you ask her to stay. Don’t let her go, again.”

  “I don’t know how I feel about her. She makes me feel like the luckiest man one moment, and then she drives me up the wall the next moment. Regardless of how I feel, I don’t think she wants to make this work.” I didn’t feel the need to tell Em about Jane’s unnecessary pettiness where Em was concerned.

  “Max Arthur Davis. I see the love in your eyes whenever you’re with her. Give in to her demands.” Em softly laughed, while giving each of her sleeping babies a kiss. “Jane grew up sandwiched between two overachieving brothers. She’s always felt the need to prove her worth and demand her rightful attention. In my mind, she outdid both brothers, but I don’t think she feels the same. I wish you’d stop her from moving away.”

  “I think it’s out of my hands. She’s made her decision, and she only told me after she broke up with me. I don’t have the energy to stop her.”

  “Do you want to break up with her?”

  “No...I don’t.” That was the last thing I wanted to do...I sincerely hoped this time we’d stick together—through thick and thin, for richer for poorer, till death do us part—type of together. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

  Em was right. I was already in love with Jane, and could envision a lifetime of battling the wills and learning to compromise. But, Jane needed to decide where I belonged in her life and she needed to battle her own insecurities, first. I’d miss Jane, but perhaps this was for the best and we’d try again a few months down the road.

  “Did you make my wife cry, Davis?” Jake walked in with more flowers for his family. “No one is allowed to make her cry,” he said ominously.

  “Congratulations, Jake.” I shook his hand. “The babies are beautiful, just like their mother.”

  “I know,” he smiled at his wife while answering me, and I knew it was time for me to leave so the Reid family could have some privacy.

  “Bye, Em,” I kissed her cheek one last time knowing I wouldn’t see her or the Reid family for a while. Em gave me a funny look and tried to hold onto my hand, but I gently shook it loose and waved good-bye to Jake as well.

  Walking down the corridor, I saw Jane talking to her family. I walked over to her one last time, and she had the good sense to meet me halfway.

  “I hope you find what you’re looking for in New York, and I’m sorry I couldn’t be what you wanted in a boyfriend. I’ll miss you...”

  I thought I heard her whisper my name, but I didn’t turn around to find out if my ears were playing tricks on me.

  And that’s how we ended...again.

  (Jake) July 4, 2012 Happy Anniversary

  “Hey, you got a moment?” I hadn’t seen my buddy, Donovan, in months. Between my life with the wife and kids and his busy schedule, we couldn’t meet unless he stopped by the house.

  “What brings you here?” We shook hands and gave each other a hug.

  Donovan was one of the groomsmen at my wedding and he was my best friend since our toddler days. Our fathers went to med school together and I had dated his sister, Kelley, years ago.

  “I just finished at the hospital and I have a favor to ask of you, so I thought I’d drop by. Plus, I haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “What’s going on, proud father of two? You have time for dinner or drinks tonight?”

  “No time for dinner or drinks, and even if I did have time, I’d rather be home with my wife and kids. I am in absolute heaven as a married man and a father of two children. I highly recommend it. You should try it too.”

  “No way, that’s not for me.”

  “Isn’t that why you came back to LA? Didn’t you want to slow down, find a wife, get married and have a kid or two?”

  “Speaking of women, how’s your sister doing? I saw her about a month ago when I was out in New York, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to her much. We were both busy at the firm and we tried to connect for dinner, but it didn’t happen.”

  “Yeah...keep it that way. Stay away from my sister. She’s not the girl for you. Don’t you think it’s a bit incestuous to be interested in someone you’ve known since her diaper days?”

  “No more incestuous than her dating your wife’s ex-boyfriend.”

  Donovan always had to rub that one in my face whenever I nixed the idea of him and Jane.

  “Hey my wife came to me as a virgin bride. It doesn’t matter to me that she had an insignificant relationship back in undergrad.”

  “Insignificant, my ass! Wasn’t she thinking of marrying this guy?”

  “Anyhow, the reason I stopped by was to ask you for a favor.” Donovan laughed at me because I cut off whatever he was about to say concerning Emily and Max. “Can you ask Kate and see if that house up in Napa is available for rent, from the fourth of July till Sunday? I want to take Emi and the kids there for our anniversary.”

  “Kate, as in Kate Beauvais?”

  “You know any other Kates? You remember that house we stayed in several years back? It belonged to a client of hers, and he used it as a rental?”

  “Yeah, I know which house you’re talking about. I’ll ask.” As soon as he said those words, my foot was almost out the door. I was itching to get home to my family. “You seriously bailing on me already? You won’t let me date your sister, you go incommunicado for months, and you only stop by when you need something from me. You’re a shitty friend, you know that?”

  “Oh well. If you don’t like it, find yourself a wife and kid and we can do family stuff together.” I laughed and dodged his prized A-Rod baseball I knew he wouldn’t throw at me. “See ya. Come by the house. Ellie and James say they’d like to see their godfather.” I threw in one last jab before leaving.

  Life these days had taken on an enjoyable routine. I’d get up early with my wife to help with morning rituals, go to work, and then come home for the nightly rituals. The number of diapers we went through on a daily basis could overflow a landfill. These kids had a good life! All they did was eat, sleep, pee and poop—interspersed with play dates, baby gyms, baby music classes, and outings with their mama. When I asked Emily about all these activities, she explained that if she didn’t have a scheduled activity once a day, she’d never see sunshine. I guess I understood.

  The Chief eased up on my schedule at the hospital, at least for the time being, and I enjoyed teaching at the med school, immensely. But of course, my favorite time was when the little critters fell asleep and gifted Emi and myself the evening. The happiest day for the both of us since the babies were born was not when they first smiled, nor when they learned to bat at their toys while lying on the floor, but it was when they both slept through the night. I was not one who needed much sleep UNTIL I had kids. Sleep deprivation caused by two beings who weighed less than a combined twenty-five pounds was nothing to laugh at!

  “Hello, Love.” I snuck up on my wife who was doing...laundry! This was one machine in the house that never got a break.

  “Hi,” she smiled her beautiful smile. “You’re home earlier than expected.”

  We made out in front of the washing machine until I realized something was not right.

  “Why are we stopping?” Emi whispered.

  “Why is it so quiet in the house at this hour? Where are our babies?”

  Emi laughed. “They’ve been hijacked by your cousins. Laney came and picked up James, while Sam got Ellie. Everyone is back on the block for the fourth of July, so I don’t know which house the babies are in right now. They may not even be in the same house for all I know.”

  “Fantastic. Can we go upstairs?”