Restraint (Heaven Hill Generations Book 5)

by Laramie Briscoe

The two of us break apart and I head back over to where Justice sits behind the table. She looks so small, covered in a big sweatshirt. I’m reminded of the night with Travis. Immediately I remind myself that didn’t break her, and if that didn’t, this isn’t going to. Having a seat next to her, I lean in. “All you’ve got to do is tell them what happened.”

  “Can’t they see that?” she questions, her voice thin.

  “They can, but they need it in your own words.”

  “Am I going to be in trouble for shooting him?” she hisses.

  “No,” the entire room answers her.

  The county prosecutor comes forward. “That’s not what this about. This is about an official record, and I promise you, we’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

  Her blue eyes are tired and almost lifeless as she begins the story of how she got here. Grabbing hold of her hand, I rub the back of it, letting her know she’s never going to be in this alone.

  Three hours later, we come out of the police station. Our family is still there, waiting on us.

  Everyone rushes for Justice, but the one person she runs for is Caelin. He envelopes her in his arms, lifting her off the ground. I can’t hear what they’re saying to each other, but I know it’s not meant for the rest of us. Instead I turn to my husband, letting his strong arms hold me not only up, but together at the same time.

  “Is she okay?” he asks.

  I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

  “I’m fine,” I hear Justice speak strongly.

  “She’s amazing,” I whisper, letting go of Drew and reaching out to hold her hand. “She’s stronger than any of us have ever given her credit for. I’m sorry,” I feel the tears coming to my eyes. “Sorry that I haven’t seen it.”

  “None of us have,” Drew sighs. “We’ve always wanted to keep you safe, but I think we’ve realized today how you’ve managed to learn to take care of yourself.”

  “I have,” she smiles softly. “I’m not blameless,” she continues. “I’ve let people treat me that way. Like, I hate baked beans…”

  “You always ask for them!” I gasp. “Every time, you ask for them.”

  She shrugs. “Because you got it into your head I loved them and constantly made them for me.”

  Closing my eyes, I reach for her. “I love you, and I hope you can forgive us for not treating you the same.”

  “Consider it forgiven. I love you too.” She hugs both me and Drew together.

  Around us, our family piles on, and there, in the middle of town, we hug our daughter, thankful she was able to overcome yet another situation that would have broken someone not as strong as her.

  Pride doesn’t begin to cover how I feel as I take it all in, blessed to have the family I do.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Caelin

  “So when we leave,” I tell Will and Meri, “you two are going to have to let us know which puppies you’re taking with you. The rest of them are going to be at the clubhouse, and you can’t decide on one now and then after you see them at the clubhouse, decide to get another. This will be your final choice.”

  They both look at me, extremely serious, nodding.

  “So how are you going to do it?” Justice asks. “Play with them for a while? Pick on guy instinct?”

  “How would you do it?” Meri asks her.

  Since everything that happened at the courthouse, Justice has become Meri’s favorite person. She wants to be like her when she grows up, and she’s been begging Addie to put her into Justice’s class.

  I, overall, think it’s a great idea, but I’m not sure I wanna see my niece hanging out where I came all over my thighs. Clearing my throat, I send a bemused grin over to Justice, who answers it with an inquisitive coming together of her eyebrows.

  Turning to Meri, she gives her her full attention and answers the question. “I think I would go on gut instinct first, and then I’d see how he or she does with playing. If they match what you envisioned them to, then I would pick that one. If not, I would try another. We have all day,” she reminds them.

  Will and Meri look at one another, and then get to work trying to figure out which puppy the want out of the litter.

  Justice and I walk a little farther out in the dog park. We brought a Chuck It, and throw a tennis ball for Joanie. This is a new trick she’s learned recently. She loves to play fetch, and as soon as the ball is in the air, she takes off running.

  “I’m so glad we get to do this today,” Justice says as she tilts her head back, basking in the sunshine. “When I was in that room with Fogel and Alec, there was a part of me that wasn’t sure if we’d ever get to have days like this again.”

  She’s slowly been sharing her feelings with me about what happened that day. I’m willing to wait forever, and to be honest it’s kind of hard to hear, so as she’s feeling comfortable, I’m here to listen. “I worried the same thing.” I tuck my arm around her shoulder, kissing her on the forehead. “But I also know you, and I know how stubborn you are. You weren’t about to leave your family and friends.”

  “I didn’t want to,” she confirms. “But sometimes what you want and what happens are two totally different things.”

  Don’t we all know it. This is the second time in our lives we’ve been confronted with our immortality, and I’m not sure if I’m willing to let her be without me for much longer. “This might sound crazy.”

  She grins. “Nothing you could say would sound crazy.”

  “Oh, but it could.” I raise my eyebrows at her. “I have two things I want to tell you. Things I should’ve told you before.”

  “I’m all ears.” The smartass response from her feels me with joy. She’s slowly been coming back to the person she was before the courthouse. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, I will wait until my hair falls out, or I get a gut.

  Joanie picks this moment to bring the ball back, and I concentrate on throwing it for her again. I’m not the type of guy who needs to make a big production over anything, but I need her to hear what I’m saying. Once Joanie is off and running again, I go about telling this woman what’s in my heart.

  “I know you’ve probably been waiting a long time to hear this,” I start, turning to face her. “But I wanted you to know I wasn’t saying it just because you’d been in a dangerous situation. Instead, I wanted to make sure you know I love you even when your life isn’t in danger. When you’re standing here with me in the heat, playing fetch with our dog. The moment you get up in the morning and your hair is everywhere. When you don’t think you look your best, I still think you’re beautiful. And even when you’re snorting at a funny show on TV…” I stop for a moment, collecting my thoughts. “I think that’s when I love you the most.”

  She gasps, those expressive eyes of hers showing every bit of emotion I’ve always wanted to see there. “I’ve waited,” she fumbles. Tears popping to her eyes.

  “I know.” I cup her cheek with my hand. “You’ve been patient and I appreciate it. Even though I’ve known how I feel about you for years, it’s hard for me to put those feelings into words. I love you for the woman you are, and hopefully,”- I dig into my pocket, holding out a necklace to her - “for the wife you’ll become.”

  Her eyes cloud with confusion.

  “My parents are married, even though people don’t really believe they are because they don’t wear rings. It’s kinda their thing,” I explain.

  “Oh yeah, I remember hearing about that when I was younger.”

  “They wear a necklace, and I love it. It’s almost more romantic to me. The pendent is way closer to the heart than the ring is.”

  “Cael…”

  “So I got you this pendent.” I show her a heart. “If you said yes to marrying me and if you do marry me, I have a special one for that too.”

  Now she’s full-on crying.

  “What do you say?”

  “Yes.” She nods, just as Joanie comes in between us, holding the ball between her teeth, that smile she alwa
ys seems to be wearing on her face.

  As I look out at the grass, I see Meri T. and Will laughing as they chase the puppies, and I realize there’s absolutely nothing else I want in my life than what I have right here.

  Epilogue One

  Justice

  Christmas Eve

  “Do you think we should tell them today?” Caelin asks as the two of us are getting ready for the big clubhouse shindig.

  Lots of things have changed over the past few months. One of the biggest things? The necklace I wear around my neck. It’s been a life-changer. No one ever thought to ask me and Caelin about them when we showed up wearing them.

  In fact, the only person who looked twice was Meredith, but then she never brought up the subject. I kinda thought she would, but she surprised me. No one in our families even thought anything weird about our weekend trip to Gatlinburg.

  And absolutely no one knows we came back married.

  For two months we’ve kept the secret, enjoying our time together, and loving the fact we’ve pulled one over on them. After our trip to the dog park, we knew we wanted to get married, but we also knew we didn’t want a big wedding. In fact, we just wanted it to be us, and Joanie.

  She was our necklace holder. In some weird way it was like having Doc Jones there. The one who helped us recover from the single most terrifying experience we’d had as younger kids. She pushed us together, whether she knew it or not, encouraging us to seek each other out and share our experiences.

  While there would always be hero worship from me to Caelin, I’m not sure we would’ve begun talking the way we did without her.

  “Yeah, I think it’s time.” I curl the turquoise streak in my hair. “I can’t believe no one’s realized it yet. We’ve dropped enough hints.”

  “I thought for sure Harley would get it when I asked what I needed to do about changing my life insurance policy through the garage,” he laughs. “But she didn’t, she just handed me the form and get on working.”

  “Sometimes she’s in her own little world.”

  “I even called you my wife the other day, Bishop looked at me slightly, but no one else picked up on it. I can’t wait to give them their gifts.”

  Turning around, I put my arms around his neck, pulling myself in close. He settles his hands on my hips. “You can call me your wife any day of the week, I’ll always pick up on it.”

  He leans in, kissing me with a ferocious hunger I pray never goes away. We’ve had a terrific time enjoying being married in the sex department. It was like as soon as he put the necklace around my neck, I lost all my inhibitions and wanted to do anything I’ve ever thought about. Needless to say, we’re tired most of the time, but fuck it if we aren’t happy.

  “You want me to put Joanie in her crate?” he asks after we pull apart and he grabs his wallet and keys.

  I remember thinking that was so intimate a few months ago – getting domestic and owning a dog together. Back then, I didn’t even really know the meaning of the word.

  Now, we’re so close I don’t know where he ends and I begin.

  “Yes, please,” I answer, grabbing the gifts for our families.

  The Blackfoots, Walkers, Evans, and Barnetts are having Christmas together this year. Luckily it’s working out so that we can make our announcement.

  “Alright,” he says, smoothing his jeans. “Let’s go.”

  We’re sitting around the tree, bellies full from an amazing Christmas dinner, opening gifts. Meri is having a great time with some new makeup she got, and Will is outside with Dalton trying out the brand-new ATV Mom and Dad got him.

  I pass out the last gifts from us, all of them are the same size, and they’ve got the same thing in them.

  Caelin and I sit together, him on the couch, me between his legs on the floor. “Okay, you can all open it together,” I tell them.

  “This isn’t a pregnancy announcement, is it?” Dad glares at him.

  “No,” I laugh.

  We watch as everyone opens their gift on their own time. It’s amazing when they all realize what they’re looking at. The reactions are everything and more than I could have wanted or asked for.

  “You got married!” Harley screams. “And you didn’t tell me?”

  “It was a surprise,” I defend.

  “I knew it!” Meredith yells. “Those necklaces, and it happened in Gatlinburg? This is the best.”

  Dad looks at me, some moisture in his eyes. “You look beautiful.” He holds the picture up.

  We’d gotten married in a cove at sunset, me wearing a lace dress with flowers that looked like the sky, and Caelin wearing a white shirt and dark jeans. Everything about it was us.

  “Thank you.” I get up to go hug him. “I hope y’all aren’t mad. It just felt right.”

  “And you always told me,” - Caelin looks at his parents - “when ya know, you know.”

  I smile as I look over at my husband. “And I’ve known since I was ten years old…”

  Epilogue Two

  Harley

  My hands shake as I shut the door to the bathroom. Last night was crazy, people are sleeping everywhere at the clubhouse, and I venture to say I’m the only one who isn’t going to wake up with a hangover.

  Acting like I was drinking, when I really wasn’t, was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I don’t think I’ve ever realized how much people pay attention to refilling your glass. Pretty sure I killed a spot of grass out on the back yard, where I casually dumped all the alcohol I was given.

  But, I couldn’t, in good conscience, drink. Not when I hold this test in my hand. Not when I already know the answer in my heart.

  Opening the bathroom door, I take a look at Bishop lying in the bed we share at the clubhouse. He’s dead to the world, not knowing what the hell I’m doing. I haven’t told him my suspicions, because I’m scared to death.

  We’ve been so careful.

  Except for that one night.

  Now here I am. Eighteen and about to face the biggest change in my life by myself. I wish I had Justice here to hold my hand, but she’s in a room down the hall with Caelin. It would be so easy to slink through the hallway and carefully wake her up, bring her down here and make her wait with me, but this is something I’m going to have to deal with myself.

  “Come on, Harley. You might be someone’s mom,” I whisper to myself, closing the door softly.

  I’ve killed enough time. Now I really have to pee and I’m unsure if I can wait any longer. Carefully I unwrap the package and then open the box. I read the instructions twice, just to make sure I don’t fuck this up.

  When I’m sure I’ve got it, I have a seat and do my business.

  Again with shaking hands I set the timer on my phone and place it on the bathroom counter next to the test.

  I can’t stand still, so I start pacing, remembering important times in mine and Bishop’s relationship.

  The night Dad invited him to stay with us after the football game.

  The times he snuck into my bedroom and we had way too much fun in the dead of the night, with no one around but us.

  The freedom we’ve had since Justice basically moved in with Caelin. Feeling like a true married couple and enjoying those quiet nights at home where Bishop lets me in on his biggest desires and dreams. It’s all playing over and over again in my head.

  Reaching down, I cup my stomach. If what I think is true, it will change a lot for us. But I pray it won’t change how we feel.

  The timer goes off and I slowly make my way over to the counter, eyes closed.

  “Harley.” I hear his voice outside the bathroom door. “You okay? You been in there a while.”

  This is my message. I have to let him in on it. Turning around, I go over to the door, opening it slightly. He’s mussed and ruffled, the remnants of sleep and the hard night he had on his face.

  “You have to promise you won’t freak out,” I whisper.

  His dark eyes meet mine, so serious. “I won’t freak out
.”

  Grabbing his hand, I pull him into the bathroom, but stop before we get close enough to see what the test says.

  “Is this what you’ve been worried about the past week?” he asks, putting his big arm around my chest, pulling my back to his front.

  I’m so safe when he holds me like this. No one can touch me, nothing can hurt me. I know this man will protect me with everything he has. “Yeah.” I push the words out from in between my tight throat. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “Easy.” He bends down, speaking into my ear. “You just open your mouth and say the words, babe. There’s nothing you can’t tell me.”

  I reach up, grabbing his fingers with mine. “This could change everything.”

  “Probably will, but as long as we’re together, nothing is going to break us.”

  I wish I had his belief in us, but I’ve always been a bit of a realist. Together we scoot toward the counter. My stomach rolls and I wonder if it’s because of nerves or the possibility of a baby starting to form in my womb.

  He reaches down, his long arm reaching for the test. He holds it where we can both see it. There in black letters are the words that change our lives forever.

  Pregnant.

  Without a doubt I realize I’m carrying the next generation of Heaven Hill, and as it dawns on me, I scramble out of his embrace, getting to the toilet in just enough time. When I’m done, I grab my stomach, rubbing in a circular motion to calm it down.

  Closing my eyes, I breathe deeply and slowly.

  The final ride starts now…

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  About the Author

  Laramie Briscoe is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of over 30 books.

  Since self-publishing her first book in May of 2013, Laramie has appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling E-books Lists on Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Her books have been known to make readers laugh and cry. They are guaranteed to be emotional, steamy reads.