Forever Falling

by Paige Randall

  “Everyone’s up early today. Are we all a little excited?” Victoria asks from the doorway, coffee cup in hand.

  “Yes, that reminds me!” Marina jumps to her feet and runs off the porch. “We have a surprise. Don’t eat breakfast. Come over at ten o’clock, not earlier. Okay? Text me before you come.” She runs a few steps toward Grace’s house, stops and turns back. “I love you both,” she says, before running the rest of the way.

  “Love you too Marina,” they each call to her.

  Victoria sits on the swing by Callum’s side.

  “Oh my God,” Callum says, when Marina is out of sight. “My heart. It is so full, it might burst.”

  Victoria lays her head on his shoulder. “What do you think the surprise is?” she asks.

  “Anna, John and the kids are hiding out over there. I saw them sneak in late last night. Probably my mother too. I think John is probably already cooking a very large breakfast.”

  “I bet Anna is making scones.”

  Callum nods in agreement. “Marcus is still sleeping?” he asks.

  “He is a sleepy boy today.”

  “I have a thought. How about we go inside and we can enjoy one last morning in bed as singles.”

  “You read my mind perfectly,” Victoria agrees.

  “I was thinking this might be a banner day to start trying to make a baby together,” Callum says.

  Victoria laughs out loud. Babies were not the conversation she expected this morning.

  “Is that funny?” Callum jokes. “Do you not want a baby with me?”

  “Of course I do, Callum. Are you ready for another baby though?” she asks, but the answer is obvious.

  He sets his coffee down onto the wood of the porch and pulls Victoria into his lap. “I am ready to take on anything as long as I am with you.”

  Callum slides a hand under her shirt and begins his campaign on her very smooth, quickly warming skin. Her lips on his are all the answer he needs. He leaves the coffee and carries her prematurely over the threshold.

  “I love you in a way I never thought I could love, Victoria. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Callum whispers into her neck. “Before I knew you, I was broken and you fixed me.”

  “No Callum,” she says seriously, holding his face in her hands. “You fixed me. You made me be a better mother for Marina. You made me do the right thing, even though it was so damn hard. You were right about everything. You saved us both.”

  He kisses her deeply and lays her on the bed.

  “I’m having thoughts of undressing you and doing things to you with my mouth. I could do wonderful things to you with my mouth,” he says just like he said that day in Park City.

  “By all means, do wonderful things to me with your mouth. Then let’s make a baby together.”

  Callum closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath, feeling grateful for all he has. He remembers the day he landed in the states feeling alone and hopeless less than two years before. An entire life can change in just eighteen months. If he had met Victoria on that day, she would never have taken him seriously. To marry her and have a family with her is the dream Callum never dreamed.

  "I read that women over thirty are more likely to have twins. What do you say, Victoria? Let’s shoot for a matched set,” Callum pulls off his sweatshirt.

  “Callum,” she laughs. “Knowing you, you could probably make it happen.”

  “Together, Victoria, we can make fucking magic.” he says and indeed, they do.

  -THE END-

  Sunshine and Moonlight continues with Book Three

  Coming

  To

  Brooklyn

  Acknowledgments

  It is difficult to list everyone who has supported me through this second novel. Writing is all consuming sometimes. The energy pulls from other places and not always in a good way. Sometimes written words take the place of human interactions.

  My daughters are incredibly indulgent. Having a Mom who wears heels to an office by day and sits for countless hours in yoga pants in front of a laptop writing novels by night (and weekends, snow days, sick days, vacation days, etc.) has to be weird. They have both always let me know that they are 100% okay with this and proud of me and that has been kind of awesome. I was struggling to name Victoria’s daughter during the first draft (and NO she was not inspired by my girls in any way). My younger daughter came up with the perfect name…Marina. She also drove the thousand miles roundtrip to Asheville with me to take the cover photo. Time I spend with my girls is magical. I have to love my girls. It is a requirement. But I like them. They intellectually surpassed me about the age of eight. They are just amazing kids. They tolerate my social media nasty talk and agree to keep it to themselves if they read my books. However, I was at the pool this summer rereading Circling The Shadows and a neighbor said, “How funny, I saw your daughter reading that same book a few days ago.” None of us is ready to discuss the fact that I write sex scenes. As far as they know I had intercourse twice in my life since I have two girls. End of story.

  My family is kind of awesome. They don’t always understand me, but they do always love me. They are insanely talented and funny and all vote the way I vote, thank goodness. (I write this on November 6, 2016, two days before a presidential election.) We all drink bourbon, thanks to my Kentucky sister. We love the beach, loud music, our kids, food and the list goes on and on. I truly appreciate each and every one of them. Special shout out to my Mom because she has been incredibly supportive of me during a very tumultuous time in my life, even though it was hard on her at first. It doesn’t matter how old you are, feeling good with your Mom makes life so much better. LOVE YOU MOMMA!

  This has been a big year of change for me. I have made a few new really good friends and have been lucky enough to keep some I have known for many years. My friends are more important to me than ever. Occasionally you need a good friend to move you into a new apartment on a 95 degree day or empty mouse traps or cut your hair for free or just call you during a dog walk and make you laugh endlessly. You know who you are and what you mean to me. I love you all.

  Thank you to the cities of Asheville, North Carolina and Park City, Utah. These cities are absolutely beautiful and fun, with amazing music, restaurants, sites, shopping, and full of wonderful people.

  Not to be missed… thanks to my Starbucks baristas, bartenders, gastroenterologist, pharmacist, Ulises, bank lady, “special store” lady, Radiohead, Civil Twilight, Foo Fighters, strangers on social media who feel more like friends, my IT Director who taught me how to put windshield washer fluid in my car without laughing at me, and everyone else I should list by name and I’ll regret not adding later.

  Bottom line – thank you all. I am grateful…