Ever-Greene

by Annabella Michaels

  “Mom and Dad, you have always been the most amazing parents,” Emma started.

  “You’ve shown us, by your example, what kind of individuals we want to be,” Michelle continued.

  “You’ve supported us in all of our decisions,” Landon told them.

  “You’ve shown us how to love and be loved,” Carter added.

  “And you’ve opened your hearts and your home to not only us, but countless others,” Giovanni said.

  “Giving all of us a place we could call home,” Ryan added.

  “And a family we could count on,” I said.

  “We know that you never got to go on a honeymoon. So, we all pitched in to get you this,” Caleb told them, smiling as he handed them the folder.

  Kathy already had tears in her eyes as she moved closer to her husband to get a better look, but when he opened the folder, revealing the six-week deluxe European vacation, she broke down in gentle sobs. Rick wrapped his arms around her, but I could tell how moved he was as well by the moisture in his eyes. It was a tender and joyful moment, one that I was sure we would remember as one of our favorites when we relived Christmas memories in the years to come.

  After breakfast, we helped clean up the wrapping paper strewn all over the living room floor and then loaded up Kathy and Rick’s van and piled into our cars. There weren’t many drivers on the road at that time. Most people probably deciding it would be better to stay where they were rather than face the slick roads, but we moved along carefully with one destination in mind.

  Matt met us at the door of Agape House with a wide smile and ushered us inside. Morgan and Akio were there as well, and they went with Hudson and Isaac to get the rest of the packages from our cars. When everything was unloaded, we carried them into the dining hall where the kids who lived at the center were gathered.

  Lachlan, Rylie, and their two boys arrived as we were handing out the last of the presents and they joined in the fun. We’d all worked at the center long enough and gotten to know the teens quite well, so it hadn’t been difficult for us to choose gifts suited to each of their individual interests. Matt kept thanking us over and over again, but the surprised and happy expressions on the kids’ faces were all the thanks we needed.

  “I’ll be right back,” I told Landon when my phone buzzed in my pocket. He gave me a curious look, but offered me a quick kiss before I stepped out in the hallway. “Jeremy? What have you got?” I listened for several long moments, firing off questions and listening to his responses. Finally, I hung up and walked back inside.

  “Everything okay?” Landon asked when I returned. He’d been talking to Hudson, Matt, and Isaac and I looked at all three of them before saying anything.

  “I just got a phone call from one of my men. Jeremy.” Hudson stiffened, and I saw Isaac and Matt look at him in concern. Hudson had been in touch with me almost daily, so he recognized the name. “I don’t want to get your hopes up too much, things are still too early to tell, but he thinks he may have his first solid lead on locating your brother.”

  Matt and Hudson’s arms went around the younger man as Isaac covered his gasp with a shaking hand, but his blue eyes stayed trained on me. I worried that maybe I should have waited to say anything until I had more information, but then Isaac launched himself at me, hugging me to him.

  “Thank you so much, Micah. This is exactly the news I needed to hear today,” he said. I looked at Hudson and Matt and saw the tenderness in their eyes and I hugged him back, grateful that I was able to make him happy, but wishing I could do more. I felt badly for the two brothers who had been separated under such terrible circumstances and I was determined that, eventually, I would reunite them.

  We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the kids at the center and paying forward some of the love and happiness we’d all been blessed with. I looked around at the smiling faces, of the kids and the staff and the ones I loved most in the world, and I knew without a doubt that this year had been the best of my life. I had a job I loved, friends and family that would always be there in times of need, and I got to wake up each and every morning in the arms of the most incredible man, my soulmate, my Landon.

  As if he’d heard my thoughts, he looked up from across the room and smiled at me. I smiled back, my heart feeling full with just one look from my husband. Life most certainly didn’t get any better than that.

  One Year Later

  “Merry Christmas, my angel,” I heard Rick say.

  The smell of freshly brewed coffee teased my senses and made it easier to pry my eyes open. We’d been up late the night before, spreading presents around the tree for our children and grandchildren. Finally, we’d gone to bed, but I’d stayed awake so that I could listen to Carter playing Silent Night as soon as it turned midnight. He’d carried on that tradition for many years and it was one of my absolute favorites.

  “Merry Christmas, love,” I responded, smiling at his handsome face as I sat up in bed and took the steaming mug from his hands.

  My husband always did like to spoil me, whether it was bringing me coffee in bed or filling my car with gas so I wouldn’t have to. I wasn’t the type of woman that needed grand gestures and he knew that. Rick was a man who paid attention to details, who knew that it was the thought you put into the small, everyday things that showed a person how much you cared. I never, for one moment in all our years together, had to doubt his love for me. The man overflowed with it in every word, touch, and look he gave me.

  “Did you sleep well?” he asked as he settled onto the bed next to me, leaning his back against the headboard.

  “Yes, I did. There’s nothing like going to sleep, knowing that everyone you love is safely tucked under the same roof,” I answered.

  “We’re very blessed, aren’t we?” Rick said, reaching over to take my hand.

  I threaded my fingers through his and held our hands in my lap as we finished our cups of coffee and talked about the day ahead. When we were finished, we each showered and got dressed so we could get downstairs and start breakfast. Rick stopped me before I could leave our room, placing his hands on my waist and turning me around to face him.

  “I just need one more minute alone with you,” he whispered, nuzzling his face into my neck and causing goose bumps to break out all over my skin. He kissed a line up the side of my neck and onto my chin before finally landing on my lips. I slid my arms around his neck and he held me securely as I melted into him. I was a bit dizzy by the time the kiss ended so it took me a moment to realize what was happening when he slid his hand between us, and opened it to reveal a tiny blue box.

  “What’s this?” I asked, looking at him in surprise.

  “Just a little something I wanted to give you without everyone else around,” Rick answered as he flipped the lid open and I let out a gasp at the ring inside.

  I reached out and ran a finger carefully over the smooth silver band then pulled it out of its case so that I could see the colorful stones inlaid around it. My eyes welled as I recognized the various birthstones of my entire family.

  “I love it,” I managed to choke out around my tears. Rick chuckled as he slid it onto my finger.

  “You are the one who holds this family together. You give us strength, wisdom, and encouragement, and you’ve given us all more love than we could have ever imagined. I wanted this ring to be a symbol of the people who love you most in the world because you are our whole world,” he said. I reached up to cup his cheek with my hand and noticed tears welling in his own eyes.

  “Thank you. I love you so much,” I whispered.

  Rick held me a few more minutes, resting his chin on my head. I snuggled my cheek against his chest and listened to his heart beating steadily against my ear. It was the perfect way to start the day, enjoying a few quiet moments to ourselves before the chaos took over.

  Once everyone got downstairs, we gathered around the tree to open presents. Our family had grown over the past year, with Landon and Micah adopting newborn twins. Spence
r and Lilyana had joined our family in the fall and the two fathers were still adjusting to the changes the sweet angels had made in their lives. But, I could honestly say, I’d never seen my son happier.

  Carter and Ryan had decided to use a surrogate and were blessed with a little boy, Joseph Caleb Greene, right before Thanksgiving. My other children had all had their share of laughs at the four new fathers’ lack of knowledge when it came to newborns, but they’d also pitched in to help as well.

  Caleb and Giovanni made sure that their freezers and pantries were stocked and would sit with the babies while the new dads got some rest. Emma and Michelle had shown up at each of their houses with packs of diapers, staying to help fold laundry. That was the thing I loved the most about our family. No matter what was going on in each other’s lives, good or bad, we could all count on each other to be there.

  I got up and started a fresh pot of coffee and then stood in the doorway as it brewed. Rick came and stood beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist as we watched our children joking and laughing and just enjoying each other’s company.

  “I am, without a doubt, the luckiest woman in the world,” I murmured. Rick grabbed my hand and lifted it, so he could lay a gentle kiss on my wrist.

  “I’m not sure luck had anything to do with it,” he said quietly. I looked up at him curiously and saw him staring out over our family. “I think it was a mixture of hard work, determination, and compromises. It was knowing when to talk and when it was better to just listen. It was encouraging and strengthening each other and helping each other reach our goals. It was prayer and hope and an abundance of love.” Rick looked down at me then and my breath caught in my throat at the look of total adoration in his eyes.

  “Each of our children have found the person they belong with in this world, the person who loves them unconditionally and beyond reason. And it all started with you and me. Because we loved each other that way we, in turn, taught our children to love that way also. I can’t imagine anyone else that I’d want to be on this epic journey with other than you. You are my best friend, the love of my life, and my soulmate and I thank God every day that you chose me.”

  My heart felt like it was going to burst with the love I felt for him. Tears streamed down my face and emotion clogged my throat, making it impossible for me to speak, so I raised up on my tiptoes and kissed him instead. His arms went around my waist, pulling me tightly against his body and I melted into his familiar embrace.

  “Aw, man!” Michelle whined.

  “Get a room!” Landon exclaimed.

  “Not in front of the children!” Carter complained, covering Caleb’s eyes with his hand. Caleb batted his brother’s hand away playfully as we all laughed. Rick and I laughed too as we went over to join our family.

  We may be loud, wild, and a bit crazy when we were all together, but it was just because we loved each other so much. And really, when I thought about it, what more could anyone ask for in their lives than to be loved?

  As always, my first thanks go to my family; my husband, my children, my siblings and my parents. You have stood by my side from the moment I started dreaming up the Greene family. You offered your support, your wisdom and your encouragement and none of this would have become a reality without you. I love you guys. You are my heart and soul.

  Thank you, Aimee for your wisdom, your support and your belief in me.

  Thank you, Deena for always being someone I can always count on. Your friendship means everything to me and I love you.

  Thank you, Jenn for showing me unwavering support, encouragement and friendship. You are the epitome of unconditional love and I don’t know what I’d do without you. I love you, PD.

  Thank you to my team: Pam Ebeler of Undivided Editing, Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art, Judy Zweifler of Judy’s Proofreading, Stacey Blake of Champagne Formats and my beta readers; Lee Rey, Melissa McIntyre, Jenn Gibson, Allison Hopfazel (for your work as my PA and editor), Meredith King, Lori Greis, Wendy Lynn, Nemerald and Jodie Temple-Harding. Writing this series has been an amazing journey from beginning to end and I’ve been very blessed to have the same people working with me and encouraging me throughout the entire process, while adding a few new friends along the way. You all have shown me more support, encouragement and enthusiasm than I could ever repay you for. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

  I am married to my high school sweetheart who let’s face it, is a saint for putting up with me all of these years. Together we have been blessed with the chance to raise two amazing human beings and so far we haven’t screwed it up; I’ll let you know for sure later. I am a business owner and spend more time laughing than actually working most days. I love watching movies, cooking, going to the beach and spending time with my family and best friends. I am an obsessive reader who is a complete sucker for a good love story, but loves to feel a broad range of emotions throughout a book. I think real life is hard enough and so my books offer twists and turns, but always with a happy ending.

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