by Kat T. Masen
Charlie is quick to inform me that Eric already has leave booked in, and although he hates to admit it, he loves Tristan and can’t imagine being apart from him.
“Yep, tomorrow I’m off,” Tristan says.
“I’ll miss you, kid, but I’m stopping over next month, so we’ll catch up then,” Julian adds before they man-hug it out.
Charlie is sitting on the steps with Lex. They both sit in silence as Lex is careful to keep a small distance between them. I take a seat beside Charlie, my feet throbbing from walking around for hours. Julian steps through the back door and sits on the other side of me. I lean my head on his shoulder as he kisses the top of my head. Taking a moment to let it all sink in, I relax knowing it’s all over, and everyone enjoyed themselves without any drama.
For the better part, that search to find Andy did wonders for Lex and Julian. Neither one of them will ever admit it, but ever since they came home, there seems to be some unspoken understanding between them. They aren’t the best of friends, and probably will never be. I don’t care as long as I have both these men in my life, the rest will just fall where it may.
Amelia and Andy are still running in circles chasing Blaze and Ash around the backyard. Ava attempts to follow them, her tiny feet walking unsteady, barely able to catch up. She tumbles over but is quick to stand without shedding a single tear. We watch as they continue to play, silenced by their overactive imaginations.
“Andy, Batman has to marry Robin. Ewic said they’re gay like him and Tristan,” Amelia informs him.
Andy has no clue what that means, shrugging his shoulders at her.
“Batman and Robin will have superhero babies,” Amelia explodes.
“Now that I have a daddy, Mama can have babies, too.”
“Is Jay your daddy?” Amelia asks innocently.
“Yes, because he loves Mama.”
“But you call him Jay?”
The question stumps Andy for a moment.
He runs over to Julian, followed by Amelia.
“Jay, can I call you, Daddy?”
Julian glances at me seeking approval, and I smile reassuring him. I couldn’t have thought of a more perfect present for Andy.
Julian’s face answers before his mouth opens. “I will be honored to be called that.”
Andy throws himself at Julian and hugs him tight. Julian buries his head into Andy’s hair, not letting go. I move in closer to them and kiss Julian on the cheek, then Andy on his head.
Charlie’s hormones are seriously out of control as she wipes away her tears. Lex tries to comfort her, and finally she leans her head into him and murmurs, “I love you,” and Lex follows, “Love you, too, baby mama.”
Andy pulls away enough so he can ask Julian a question. “Daddy, can you take me to school tomorrow, so I can show everyone you’re my daddy?”
Julian nods and grips my hand tightly, overwhelmed by emotions.
Eric walks over and takes out his cell. “Let me get a photo of you guys.”
I scooch over a little toward Charlie and rest my arm on Julian’s knee as he leans into my side.
“On the count of three, say crabs!”
The four of us groan at Eric, then laugh in unison, and we all say, “Crabs!”
Eric walks over and shows us the screen of his phone. The four of us are smiling at the camera, and I know by looking at this photograph, this is meant to be. It doesn’t matter how we got here or what happened, we’re here. Somehow, we have come together.
It’s far from conventional, you could even say it’s fucked up, but we’re all right where we belong.
We are one family.
And, as I look one more time at the picture, I see two orbs, one between Lex and Charlie—it’s small, but it’s there, right beside them. The other is just off to the side of my shoulder. There’s no question in my mind, and I don’t care about the light in the sky, the dust in the air, or the glare off the windows or whatever the skeptics might say, I believe it to be only one thing.
Elijah.
He will always be with us, inside my heart and in the eyes of our son.
I may have been a warrior, but he has been my protector. I was dying, and the darkness that surrounded me was my demon.
Today, I’m alive, and I have a purpose.
To be the best mother I can be to my son.
To love unconditionally.
And most importantly, to finally feel free to follow my heart and love the man who brought me back to life. Julian.
I may have fallen more times than I allowed myself to stand, but finally, I understand that the world isn’t an evil place. There is love, there is compassion, and we all have our battles, but we somehow draw strength when everything seems impossible. To conquer these battles is worth a celebration.
And I’ve no doubt my angel is finally dancing.
He’s proud, and I can now rest knowing that finally, I’ve let go of the anger and am able to happily follow his wishes.
I have learned to love.
Again.
Life changes in ways we don’t expect.
It’s always been my dream to open my own boutique and showcase my designs, but with Julian in my life, I found a greater purpose. His publisher signed him to a four-book deal, and it means he will continue to travel and write his stories. He initially declined the New York Times job, but they wanted him, offering him more money and flexibility to do video meetings rather than fly to New York.
After accompanying him on a few trips, there’s one thing I’m certain of—it isn’t the glam celebrities who need my clothing, but the countless women I’ve met abroad. They can barely cover their bodies due to low socio-economic environments, not to mention have several children who need basic necessities such as food and water. In turn, this leaves them open to the men of their villages who ravage them, and once again, they will end up with another mouth to feed.
Lex accompanied us on that trip along with my dad. It was an eye-opener for both of us. Julian is comfortable being in a third-world country and spending time with the families as is my dad, who will medically assist, but Lex and I, we’re sheltered.
Lex has the wealth, I have the creativity, and we came together to put our knowledge and wealth to use. Lex was able to negotiate fabric at a low cost, and I’m able to provide jobs to women who need work to provide for their families. It’s a win-win situation spending countless hours with these women in their homes, which brings me so much pleasure. I spend time showing them my creations, and together we create modest garments for ladies in the villages and school uniforms for the local children.
This trip, however, is different.
My palms are sweating profusely, but Julian doesn’t let go. The room is dim, the worn-out curtains are barely shutting out the light. With every inch, every step closer, my heart is beating louder. I want to drop to my knees, my heart aching as I take in how dilapidated the room is. The air is thick and humid, and my breathing is out of sync.
This is not fair.
The world is not fair.
Life is not fair.
The bed is small made of rusted steel pillars. Dirty stained sheets are all I can see lying on top of the bed, but then, like the flick of a switch, my world and heart are turned upside-down in one split second.
I’m floating toward the bed, and Julian is squeezing my hand for dear life. My eyes can’t fathom what I see, the beauty and life which belongs to us.
My dad stands beside the bed with his bag open wide. He takes out the necessary instruments and does what he’s medically trained to do. Julian and I watch intently, every move, every reflex down to the expressions on my dad’s face. Is it concern? Is it worry? My stomach churns nervously as we wait for his conclusion.
It happens an hour later, the smile which brightens up the room, the hope and prayers that have been answered.
My voice is hoarse, and with a nervous tremble, I ask, “Is everything okay, Dad?”
He doesn’t say a word, carefully
placing his instruments in his bag. Once zipped, he focuses his attention back on the bed and carefully, he lifts and cradles her in his arms. “There are just a few little things, but nothing that concerns me too much. You have my full consent to take my granddaughter home.” He smiles, carefully rocking her in his arms.
I stare at her tiny face—she is perfect.
I turn to look at Julian, his wide smile reassures me that we’ve made the right decision.
She belongs in our family.
The moment I’ve been waiting for over the last twelve weeks has finally arrived, and without a thought, she is placed in my arms. The emotions finally take over, and the happy tears flow freely as I lean down and kiss her face. She is exceedingly small for her age, but I try not to focus on the negative because the overwhelming feeling of peace finally settles over me. Julian places his arms around me and bends down to kiss her hair. Even Julian struggles to hold back his own tears, and with that sight alone, I hand him our daughter.
There are no words for how content I feel as I watch him cradle our child for the first time. Without any hesitation, his love and acceptance make me more complete than I have ever felt, and for the first time in my life, I’ll admit that. I will not compare nor will I allow myself to feel guilty.
The day Julian came home from that South American trip with my dad, I knew something was terribly wrong. He was withdrawn, and when he explained the terrible situations he found himself in, I understood why he was traumatized and unable to get the image of this baby girl out of his head.
That night when Andy went to sleep, he showed me the videos, and my heart wept along with his. She’d been found beside the decomposing garbage in a worn-out part of town in the middle of the night under the pale moonlight.
A local had handed her over to the nuns, and without the proper care, she’d have only lived a few days. My dad just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He treated her injuries and illness giving her a chance to grow up to live a normal life. All she needed was a family to love her and treat her as their own. The moment I saw the man I love weep openly about this little girl, I knew that both our hearts were entirely in sync, and this was our daughter.
And today, she officially became a part of our family.
Julian whispers softly, careful not to wake her, “She’s perfect.”
“I know,” I respond with a smile, stroking her soft curls and running the tips of my fingers along her precious skin careful to memorize every groove, every bump, finally landing a delicate kiss to the tip of her nose. Everything feels so familiar like she is a part of me that I’ve been missing. My affection toward her surpasses my expectations, and my motherly instincts instantly kick in. Is she hungry? Is she wet?
“She is perfect, Julian, and I think it’s time to take her home.”
The paperwork is done, and with my dad’s medical approval, we thank the nuns at the orphanage. Just before we exit the building, the nun who took care of her reaches out and gestures the sign of the cross on her forehead, blessing her before we leave. I thank her kindly and head outside to get into the car.
It’s a three-hour drive back to the capital city and being organized, I have all the necessary items to feed and dress her. In the car, I continue to stare at her face, mesmerized and unable to turn away. She is beautiful with slightly tanned skin, dark brown hair, and her long luscious eyelashes flutter on her cheeks as she sleeps. Her features are small, but that’s to be expected at her age. We hit a bump in the road which causes her to stir. Both of us wait in anticipation as her eyes begin to open. My heart is racing as I wait for the moment when her eyes connect with ours, and the second they do, all my walls break down, and I’m an emotional mess.
Julian tries to comfort me, using his spare arm to pull me into his side. “Hey, she’s with us now.”
My sobs are loud, but my dad reassures me everything is going to be fine.
“You promise me they can’t take her?”
Through streaming tears, I stare into her eyes. She seems to be able to see me, moving her pupils when my smile becomes a joyous laugh.
“Adriana, everything is done, signed, and sealed. We’re taking her home. I promise you with all my life that no one can take her.”
We arrive at the hotel and enter the suite where Lex and my mother are waiting. My mom is crying, carrying a yellow blanket covered in colorful stripes. “This belonged to you, Adriana, and now it belongs to your daughter.”
I embrace her for a long time, not wanting to let go. I’m not going to cry anymore because this is a moment worth celebrating. Lex is standing beside my mom, reserved and unusually quiet. Slowly, his face widens into a smile, and I encourage him to take a look. He peeks in the blanket, and the moment he does, his face melts, and he asks to hold her. Julian passes our little girl to him with ease, and I watch my brother cradle our daughter.
“Hey, beautiful girl, I’m your Uncle Lex,” he coos.
She makes a tiny sound, a baby gurgle.
“Look, Lex, she smiled at you.”
Proudly, he asks, “What’s her name?”
Julian and I glance at each other, and he motions for me to announce it.
“Luna Emily Baker.” I’m honored to be the first to tell everyone her name. “Because under the moon, on that dark night, she somehow defeated all odds until she was found.”
Lex repeats her name softly, gazing into her eyes. “This calls for a celebration.”
He passes her to my mom who’s desperately waiting to hold her and moves his hands toward the pocket of his shirt. I can see three cigars sitting in the pocket, and he pulls them out handing one to Julian and my dad. He follows with a lighter and clears his throat. “Congratulations, Julian. She’s beautiful.”
My dad puts his arm around Julian as the three of them laugh in the other room. I’m not quite sure what’s funny but seeing the three of them smile and be merry with one another melts me beyond belief. It’s a sight I never thought I’d see.
“You see that in there, Luna? That’s your crazy family,” I say to her.
Luna’s eyes follow my movement, and I smile hopelessly at our daughter. It’s time to take her home, back to the States, so she can finally meet Andy. My mom starts to pack her things, and as we all gather our belongings to leave the hotel, Julian politely holds the door open for me as we’re the last ones in the room.
“Ready to go home, Luna, to meet your brother?” Julian murmurs.
“Ready to go home, Daddy?” I reply with a smile.
Julian tilts his head and plants a soft kiss on my lips. “I love you.”
I giggle into his mouth, careful not to squash Luna between us. “Love you, too. But wait, I just have one more question…”
He rolls his eyes at me but follows through with a smirk. “Yes, Miss Know-It-All, what’s your question now?”
“When are you going to ask me to marry you?” I blurt out.
Unable to control the smile which lights up his entire face, he leans into baby Luna and whispers, “Finally, I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this question. Hopefully, Mommy says, yes?”
“Yes!” I shout, placing my arm around his neck as I stand on my tiptoes and kiss my future husband deeply.
Finally, we are a complete family.
Want more from the series?
Chasing Fate
An Enemies to Lovers Romance
The Dark Love Series Book 5
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BLURB
Triangular Relationship
Consists of two friends, one of which has introduced a romantic partner into their life, causing a feeling of alienation for the “abandoned” friend.
I screwed up my perfect bachelor life in one single night.
After that, I end up crashing at my cousin Charlie’s house with her family, which means kids.
It gets worse…
Charlie doesn’t care for my single life.
She has it in her head I am a heartless p
layboy—Noah Mason will never commit to a woman.
My only saving grace is Kate, Charlie’s best friend.
Kate is everything I need in my life right now—she’s sexy, intelligent, and willing to have unadulterated fun.
And we’re having the time of our lives.
That is until Kate dares me to commit to only one woman.
My so-called victim—a Hollywood movie star.
But I have to get past a roadblock first—her personal assistant.
Commitment is one thing, falling in love is another.
And I refuse to lose the bet.
There’s only one small problem….
Am I chasing the wrong woman?
CHARLIE
The morning after Lex finds out about Julian.
The key sits inside the lock, unmoved while I stand still battling with my thoughts as to what lies inside our home.
I lift my phone to see my inbox blown up with messages.
Lex: Answer my fucking calls Charlotte!
Lex: If you don’t answer me, he is going to be wishing he is dead.
Lex: Why does it always have to be between me and him? This was supposed to be fucking over. You are my wife so why are we back here again?
Eric: HOLY FUCKBALLS! Call me NOW.
Nikki: Charlie…I heard what happened. Shock would be an understatement, but it all makes sense. Lex must be livid. Call me when you’ve tamed your beast.
Kate: What the hell happened?? Lex is blowing up my phone and accusing me of covering for you? CALL ME ASAP.
Eric: Just so you know… your husband has blacklisted me. Beautiful asshole.
There is a heaviness all over my body. It tightens my chest, slumps my shoulders, causes my knees to weaken from the simplest task of simply standing. A shooting pain soars across my temple, a mild headache on the verge of something greater from the sheer stress of this situation.