Emily smiles as Lillian holds her and Cory grabs my hand as we walk up to the grave. David pulls me in for a hug and then kisses Emily’s head. Lillian brought the flowers this year and we all stand around and reminisce together. We stick around for as long as possible. It’s been a few hours before Emily begins to get fussy. She’s hungry and tired.
We hug everyone bye and I sit in the car and feed Emily and change her diaper. Once I buckle her into her seat, we begin to drive home. She’s passed out before we make it halfway down the road.
When we get into the apartment, I lay her down in her crib and turn the monitor on. Cory sneaks up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist. He kisses my cheek and I swoon right there.
“Would you be ok with Mom watching Emily for a few hours tonight? I want to take you out if that’s ok?”
“Yeah babe, that sounds perfect.”
“We’ll drop her off on our way out and then pick her up on the way home.” I smile at the thought of some alone time with Cory.
***
Cory’s mom Daphne, pulls me in for a hug as we hand Emily over to her. After explaining her feeding schedule and chatting for a moment, we head off on our own. Cory doesn’t tell me where we are going and I look a little baffled when we pull back up to the apartment.
“What are we doing back here?”
“Just trust me, Sybil.” He says with a smile.
He opens the door and I’m greeted with candles and roses on the table. Packages of my favorite chocolates are spread over the white tablecloth. My eyes widen as I turn to face him.
“What is all this? It wasn’t like this when we left.”
“Lillian came over and helped set it up.”
“Oh my god, it’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful. Come on,” he reaches for my hand and leads me further into the kitchen. He opens a bottle of champagne and hands me a glass. There is a tray of baked potatoes and steaks on the stove. He fixes my plate and we sit down to eat. He sets the plates in the sink after we’re done and then takes my hand helping me stand. I set the champagne glass on the table as he leans in to kiss me.
Before I can blink my eyes, Cory is down on one knee and my hand flies up to my mouth. Oh my god, is this really happening? He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a velvet jewelry box. He opens it and the most beautiful emerald cut diamond ring, is sitting inside.
“Sybil, there is no way that I could ever imagine this life without you and Emily. You are everything in this world to me. You’re my best friend, my lover, the mother of my child and I can never thank you enough for that. We’ve been through so much and we’re still standing strong. I can never express to you just how much I love you. I can never thank you enough for saving me. Sybil Hayes, will you marry me?”
Tears fill my eyes as I listen to those last four words. “Will you marry me? “There has never been an easier decision in all my life. Cory is the best father I could ever ask for our daughter to have. He is everything and nothing in this world would make me happier than being Mrs. Cory Fuselier.
“Yes! Yes, a million times! Yes, I will marry you!”
His grin spreads contagiously across his face as he fumbles to get the ring out of the box. It fits perfectly on my hand and I smile at it before he scoops me up into his arms.
“You just made me the happiest man on this earth.”
“You made me the happiest woman, so I guess we are even.” I grin.
He carries me into the bedroom and shuts the door. We’re getting married. All my dreams have come true because of Cory. He swooped in as my knight in shining armor and saved my life. Two years ago, I thought my life was over. I thought there was no way in hell things could ever return to any sort of state of normal. Throughout everything, it was all about saving us, and for that reason, I’ve just begun living my life.
The End <3
Songs that inspired
Saving Us:
Say Something – A Great Big World
Unconditionally – Katy Perry
This Is What It Feels Like – Armin Van Buuren
Hey Pretty Girl – Kip Moore
Livin On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
Like A Prayer – Madonna
Evil Angel – Breaking Benjamin
Just Give Me A Reason – P!nk, Nate Ruess
Dance The Night Away – Van Halen
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely – The Band Perry
Already Gone – Kelly Clarkson
Wonderwall – Oasis
I Hold On – Dierks Bentley
Drink A Beer – Luke Bryan
By The Way – Theory of a Deadman
Not A Bad Thing – Justin Timberlake
Footloose – Kenny Loggins
Between The Raindrops – Lifehouse
Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds
Hey Brother – Avicii
Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey
Lithium – Evanescence
Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
Love Shack – B52’s
Beat It – Michael Jackson
Caught Up In You - .38 Special
Acknowledgments
I can’t say thank you enough for this journey I’ve started. Thank you to everyone who has joined me. Your support has been absolutely unreal and like I said, I can’t thank you enough. If I could personally thank each and every one of you I would, but this will have to do!
I’ll never forget the first fan who told me how much they loved my first book. I was humbled completely and that’s when I knew everything I had worked for was worth it. Every person who has told me they liked it has absolutely made my heart soar. Thank you all so much
Thank you to every single one of you who took the time to review the book whether good or bad. All of it just fueled me to keep going.
Thank you to my fiancé and my daughter who continued to put up with me sitting here day after day writing my heart out. Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. My fiancé supported me through this whole process helping me along the way. When I would get off work and jump straight on the computer, he would just ask me how it was all coming along. I love you both so very much.
A big thank you to my Dad for being my best friend and the best dad in the world!! I consider myself very lucky to have you as my dad. All I ever want to do is make you proud! I love you so much.
Thank you to my Mom, you are amazing and I love you so much. You’re the strongest woman I know and I hope to be as strong as you one day.
Thank you to my Maw Maw for all the Nancy Drew books she bought me growing up. She and my Granny always encouraged me to read and most importantly follow my dreams.
Thank you to all my family…there’s so many people to name...just know who you are and that I love you more than anything!
Thank you to my beta readers. No way could I have done this without them. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of ladies. I can’t wait to work with them again:
Vanessa Wallace – Thank you for pushing my stubborn self to want to be better. Your support means more to me than you could ever imagine. I couldn’t have done a lot of this without you.
Also: MaRanda McCandless, Kylee Beck, Ashley Grimes, and Maureen Dollin..thank you ladies for everything you’ve done!!
Lisa Survillas – Thank you for supporting this crazy idea since day one and thank you for telling me not to scrap this book when I felt I’d hit a brick wall! Your support means the world to me!
Jessika Harper – I saved you for last hah!! I seriously think I’ve found my sister from another mister! Our conversations literally make my day. Thank you for putting up with my whiny hag self and thank you for threatening the jar to anyone who pisses me off. You’ve got my back and I’ve got yours! Get ready, we have lots of books to talk, just remember I can’t read as fast as you!
Thanks to my street team!! You ladies rock, I love you all so much!!
Thank you to Robin Harper for yet another amazing cove
r! I love you and couldn’t have done this without your support also. Thank you for also being a friend to me! One day we will meet, I know it :)
Thank you to my friend Kayla Leonard for always talking books with me and obsessing over just about the same characters I do. Thank you for always supporting me!
Last, I have to thank God for the ability to tell a story and the courage to live out my dreams. As long as there is someone out there who enjoys what I do, then I won’t stop.
I really hope I haven’t forgotten anyone. If so, I’m sorry.
All of your support means more than I could ever say so thank you again!!
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www.facebook.com/amjohnson84
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