by Cee, DW
Once accomplished, Donovan instituted another major change. With Roland’s blessing, Donovan turned AAP from one of the largest law firms into one of the smallest and most exclusive boutique law firms. They let go of underperforming lawyers and companies and focused on the ones that mattered to the bottom line.
Initially, AAP’s bottom line was at the lowest it had been in a long time. But with careful branding and re-imaging, they had raised their cache to the most elite level. Now, they were making almost as much money with half the clients. Fortune 500 companies begged Donovan and Jane for an audience. They were in an enviable position to refuse work.
“Let me hold him,” Laney insisted. “Aren’t you a beauty,” she cooed and kissed him on the head. “I love this newborn stage.”
Of all my grandchildren, I thought Laney would be the one to have a bus-full of kids. When she had her twins right before her second year of med school, I thought for sure she’d be forced to quit and raise her boys. Not that I didn’t understand my granddaughter’s fighter instincts, but I knew how impossible it was to attend school and raise children.
The first few years flew by and even the parents admit, it was all a blur.
Scott and Jamie, as well as Barbara and Henry, helped their children raise two very handsome, very strong, and very big boys. Laney brought the boys with her to school until she stopped nursing. Then, she left them at home with the grandparents and finished out the third and fourth years. At the start of her residency, she felt confident enough to have another child and hoped for twin girls. God only blessed her with one.
Donovan was a mess again. He begged his wife not to have another child knowing the organized chaos another child, along with a set of active twin boys, would bring into their lives. As expected, Laney won and she gave birth to a blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty. Delilah Rose looked identical to her mother. It was as if God had taken a Laney-mold and stamped it on her daughter. Donovan Taylor was in love all over again and Laney was in danger of falling off the favorite spot in the Taylor family.
The grandparents couldn’t get enough of their baby girl. At age five, Delilah was a delight to watch and get to know.
“How’s the practice, Laney? Your dad said you performed a rare and difficult surgery.”
“Pshaw.” Laney abashedly smiled. “I couldn’t have done it without Dad, Jake and Max. They do all the work. All I do is suture at the end. I’ve a mean hand with a needle and thread, now.”
The four practicing doctors took a detour in their hectic schedules to make their lives more accommodating to their ever-growing families.
Max, who was always going into pediatrics, decided to specialize in pediatric cardiology. Laney, who always knew she’d be some form of a surgeon, liked Max’s professional choice and also chose to specialize in pediatric cardiology.
When Laney was pregnant with Delilah, Henry wanted to help his only daughter excel as a doctor and a mother. He discussed at length with all the involved parties, especially Jake, and decided to form a private cardiology group. Henry and Jake still worked part time at the hospital and the university, but they each put in a day or two at their private practice. Max quickly joined this practice. This gave him time to spend a day at Robert and Scott’s free clinic. As for Laney, upon the end of her residency, she, too, joined the three cul-de-sac doctors. With the four of them in practice together, none had to work full-time. There was always a cardiologist to help those who sought medical attention.
“My turn?” Emily asked Laney, who carefully handed the baby over. “He looks just like his daddy.” Emily, too, was in love.
“Emily, what will you do now that you finally have your culinary degree?”
My sweetest granddaughter decided to head to culinary school as soon as all four kids attended school full time. Elizabeth and her responsible brother, James, were in middle school. JR, the easiest-going kid I’ve seen in my long life, was only a grade below them and as smart as his siblings. Jake and Emily loved the first three, but secretly, I could tell their deepest love was for their fourth child. Ian followed no tradition, no custom. By their fourth child, the parents found the freedom to raise him without much structure, and they delighted in their youngest. Knowing he was probably the last child, they spoiled him with the combined love they had for their first three.
Ian, for all the spoiling, was an even-tempered child who caused no trouble. All the gray hairs would come with Elizabeth. Jake and Emily were spared with their next three.
“Well, Gram, I thought about trying my hand at a few desserts and possibly opening up a small bakery. You know how much I love my coffee and cake.”
“That sounds wonderful, but can you do that with the four kids and a husband who depend on your every guidance?”
“I thought it was now possible, but my dream might have to wait a little longer.”
“Why?”
“Because, my dear grandmother,” Jake walked over and embraced me before sitting next to his wife, “I am in the middle of negotiating with my wife.”
“What are you negotiating?” I inquired.
“Hello, Gram.” Max also sat with us after a greeting. Donovan followed.
“Who’s watching the kids?” Laney asked her husband.
“Your cousins. I told them if they wanted to eat dinner, they needed to help with the kids.”
“So you were saying?” I urged Jake.
“Seeing Nick with another child makes me think we should have another one.”
“I agree.” Donovan didn’t differ much in thought from his best friend.
“Me too, Babe.” Max pulled his wife onto his lap. “Let’s have another one. I want a girl.”
“Yeah. Let’s all have another girl. We don’t have enough of them in any of the families.”
“Do you know how old I am?” Emily complained. “As much as this little one tempts me, I don’t know if I want to go back to the diapers and nightly feedings.”
“Look at Bee. She’s handling motherhood like a twenty-year-old.” Bee laughed at Jake’s statement. “That’s what Nick tells me—you’re even thinking of having another one right away.” The volume of Bee’s laughter rose.
“At the end of the day, all we are left with is each other. Think of how wonderful family gatherings are right now between your parents’ generation, your generation, and our kids’ generation, Gem. It’ll be sad when our kids grow up and find that they don’t have enough cousins.”
“Max. I’m too old for more kids, now.”
“Babe. I think Roland built this large house so we could fill every room with sons and daughters—preferably daughters at this point. What do you think, Gram?”
I returned Max’s conspiratorial wink. “I think you might be on to something.”
“I want an Elizabeth or a Lilah. I need a baby girl in my life who looks just like her mother and who’ll give me grief just like her mother.” Max knew his wife well as he wrapped her tightly in his arms to ward off an assault.
“Princess, I want one more girl, too. The boys are strong and healthy, Delilah will start school this fall, and you’re only in the office two to three days a week. Maybe we can have another set of twins?” Donovan looked happy begging his wife for another offspring or two. He soon took to whispering in his wife’s ear and she looked like her daughter, giggling away.
“You see, Emi. We’ve started a trend. Let’s beat everyone and get pregnant first. We can all have another wave of children. Poor Nathan needs cousins his age.”
“Your younger cousins like Sam will give Nathan playmates.”
“We can negotiate some more in bed tonight.” My favorite grandson threatened with a smile.
Watching Jake and Emily, Max and Jane, Donovan and Laney, and Nick and Bee love one another more with the passing seasons, I’m reminded of my love with Jerry and Roland. It pleased me that my grandchildren were as content with their lives as my children have always been.
“
Gigi!” I heard the familiar screech of my name. “You have visitors.”
“Visitors?” I asked no one in particular. “Who would be visiting me?”
“Oh Gram!” Laney’s face lit up. “I think your prince has arrived.” She pointed in the direction of the man walking our way, still looking as regal as the day we met.
“Your Grace.” My granddaughter, who almost became a Bennington duchess, walked up and embraced Harry Bennington the same way she used to embrace Roland. Upon greeting Ruby, her dear friend, Laney walked arm-in-arm with Harry and led him to me.
I stood to greet my old friend. “Harry.” We kissed one another. “What brings you to the States?”
“You’re asking a man, who could die at any moment, why he flew thousands of miles to see the woman who’s been avoiding him the last seventy years? You’ve always been a cheeky one, Estelle Cowper.”
“Gigi, who’s that?” Lilah came wrapped in her Sleeping Beauty bathrobe.
“You must be Delilah.” Harry, who was quite nimble for a ninety-five year-old man, picked up my great-granddaughter. “You look identical to your mother.”
“Sir. You can’t call me Delilah. My daddy says that name is only for him. You may call me Lilah.” Her statement had us all adoring her sweet face as she uttered each word with conviction.
“You’re as sassy as your mother, Lilah. Did your mom tell you about her life in London?”
“Uh, that would be a negative, Harry.” Donovan came and swept his daughter back into his arms. “How are you, Duke? From the looks of it, you’re going to outlive Michael.” Donovan helped Harry to a seat next to me. “Are you ready to rock and roll?” Donovan’s question made me wonder what he knew that I didn’t know.
After all the greetings were accomplished, I, too, was impatient, wondering why Harry was here on the cul-de-sac.
“Well?” I asked again.
“Damn woman pushes me off for seventy years and now she’s trying to hurry me up.” I raised my eyebrow in response. Harry chuckled. “I’ve come to live out the rest of my life with you, my duchess. I don’t give a damn anymore if you don’t love me. I love you and have always loved you. I’ve waited too long to make my declaration. From this day forth, I will be cohabitating with you until you or I die—which could be tomorrow.”
“Harry.” This was embarrassing in front of all the children.
“Nope. I don’t want to hear it. You’re mine and that’s that. I’d love for you to marry me and take my last name…”
“Another surname?” I asked in horror. “I have more last names than Jackie O.”
“Fine. Then we’ll live in sin.”
“Harry, be real. We’re almost at the finish line. I can’t go to heaven and find three husbands waiting for me.”
“You plan to outlive me and marry a fourth?”
“Shit,” I muttered to the amusement of everyone.
“The entire Bennington clan is here, and I’ve been in touch with your grandson-in-law the past few months and everything is set.”
“Huh?” I faced Harry, then Donovan, who had a knowing smile.
“Estelle Cowper. I’ll give you three hours to get your hair and makeup done. Put on your finest dress and meet me in Donovan and Laney’s backyard. I’m told all your daughter-in-laws are there putting the finishing touches on our wedding.”
“Our wedding?” I asked, flabbergasted. “Did you know this was happening?” Jake nodded along with the rest of my grandchildren.
“Why do you think Bee came out of the hospital as soon as she gave birth? This has been planned for months, Gram.” Nick hugged me.
“Did any of you think to inform me?” My family was nuts if they thought I wanted another husband at my age. “Harry.” I attempted to reason with him. “Your life is in England. Mine is here. We are too old to visit one another and too set in our ways to leave our families. This will not work.”
“Estelle.” Harry held my hands. “I won’t have the fifty years Jerry had, or the ten Roland had. Most likely, we won’t even make it in the double digits. I couldn’t start my life with you, but all this wait will be worth it if I can end my life with you. Will you take pity on a man who’s loved you for seven decades, and marry me? I am fully prepared to live the rest of my days on this cul-de-sac that bears my rival’s name.”
“Are you sure? What about your family?”
“Donovan helped me with the purchase of Billy’s home, so my family can come and go often. We are all willing to make this work. I only need your permission.”
“Could there be a more fortunate woman on earth than me?”
“Hot damn, I take that as a yes. The wedding is on!” Harry yelled to everyone’s cheers. “Jane.” Harry went into his duke-mode. “There’s a hairdresser waiting at your parents’ home. Take your grandmother and don’t let her out of your sight until she is at the altar with me.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Jane greeted Harry with a grin.
“I always knew you’d end up as my granddaughter, one way or another.” Harry never forgot the girl who stole his heart so many years ago.
“Welcome to the family, Grandfather.” Laney leaned in to kiss his cheek.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, Delilah?”
“Did Gigi’s prince finally come for her? Is she going to be the beautiful princess who marries her prince? Is Gigi going to wear a white wedding dress and will there be wedding bells chiming?”
“Yes, my baby girl. Gigi’s prince has come…again…” Laney snuggled her daughter.
“Hurray!” she clapped. “And they lived happily ever after!” Delilah Rose Taylor declared.
True to Delilah’s words, we would all live happily ever after…
Author’s Note:
Thank you all for loving the Reids as much as I do. I can’t believe I’ve come to an end with this generation of the Reid / Taylor / Davis stories. I’ve been writing about them the past three years and have loved every drama that’s unfolded in their lives.
Emily and Jake will always have a special place in my heart because they are who started the Reid saga. I know Emily is not your typical heroine in this new adult book world. She’s tenderhearted, kind, and as pure as a heroine could be. She is the ideal woman I’d love my daughter to grow up emulating.
Though my favorite couple is Donovan and Delaney, I love each and every couple as they define all of us. Though these stories are fiction, we find ourselves drawn to these characters because they are so much like us, or who we’d like to be when we “grow up.”
I am parting from the Reids to write Unfinished Melody and Perfect Harmony, as well as Finally, Love – Michael and Chloe’s Story. I will one day revisit the Reids with Estelle’s Story and Elizabeth’s Story. Who knows? Perhaps there could be a Delilah’s Story?!
As hard as it is to say good-bye to Reid Place, it is time to drive away and find new drama on a different block. (The new story about to unfold is only a page away, so keep turning)
I hope you’ll drive on over with me when the next two-part series is done.
Until then, I’ll see you on my web page.
Finally, Love! – Michael & Chloe’s Story
By
DW Cee
Copyright © 2015 by DW 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.
Ebook Edition
Chickygirl Publishing
Books by DW CEE
Indelible Love Series (ebooks)
Indelible Love – Emily’s Story
Indelible Love – Jake’s Story
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story Vol. 1
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story Vol. 2
Unlikely Attraction –
Delaney’s Story
Near Perfect Attraction – Donovan’s Story
Unyielding Love – Nick & Bee’s Story Vol. 1
Unyielding Love – Nick & Bee’s Story Vol. 2
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Wedding
Indelible Love Bundle + Entwined
Finally, Love! – Michael & Chloe’s Story Vol. 1
Harmony Series (ebooks)
Unfinished Melody
Perfect Harmony (Summer 2015)
Stand-Alone (ebook)
Entwined
Paperback Books
Indelible Love – Emily’s Story
Indelible Love – Jake’s Story
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story (combined volume)
Unlikely Attraction – Delaney’s Story
Coming Soon…
Perfect Harmony (Aug 2015)
Finally, Love! – Michael & Chloe’s Story Vol. 2 (Oct. 2015)
A Surprise Reid Book (Winter 2015)
To my Reiders who love the blogs. You’re the best!!!
Table of Content
Prologue
People: New & Old
Friendships: New & Old
Relationships: New & Old
Author’s Note:
Hello, again! Here we are back in the blog world. I seriously considered taking some time off from posting a blog story, but I couldn’t stay away. First, Michael and Chloe needed to have their say. Second, I felt as if I’d left a lot of things hanging with the Reids, Taylors, Davises, and Benningtons.
As usual, you’ll see plenty of everyone popping in throughout the story. Vol. 1 starts ten years ago and for those of you who didn’t read Max & Jane’s Wedding, you might be a bit confused with the timeline. Also confusing will be all the references to Unlikely Attraction – Delaney’s Story. Rather than going into too much of a rehash, I’m hoping you all have read that one. If you haven’t, I highly encourage you to read Delaney’s tales of her courtships with Michael and Donovan. That one is my absolute favorite!