“We have to go, but I wanted to thank you so much. Thank you for helping her and thank you for staying with her.” I tell them honestly. I’m in debt to them.
“No need to thank us, we are just glad to see she is okay. Thank you for coming to see us.” Carina tells us and Winter hugs her again. This time, she walks over to Harry and gives him a hug too. I hear her whisper “Thank you for caring about me.” And walking over to me. We say our goodbyes, and I know that my woman is happy. She finally has done everything she wanted to do, to truly move forward in her life.
“Thank you for coming with me Sammy. It meant a lot, and they are such nice people. I love you.” I can see her brown eyes are swimming with so much love for me.
“Love you, Sweets.” I kiss her lips and we walk back to my truck.
Epilogue
Six Months Later:
Sam
“Have fun Aunty Winter. I’m going to stay with Sophia and watch.” Katelynn says, she is so happy, we went to Mom’s yesterday to get her, we have her for the full week, giving Mom time to herself and let Katelynn and Winter spend time together.
“I don’t know if I will have fun but I’m betting you will probably hear me scream from here.” Winter tells her with a laugh. They get on like a house on fire, it’s Aunty Winter this and Aunty Winter that, it’s never Uncle Sammy anymore. I don’t mind, I’m glad that they are so tight.
“Do you think I will hear Uncle Sammy scream?” Katelynn asks making Winter laugh.
“Nu-uh, he won’t scream, Uncle Sammy is a knight in shining armor, knights don’t scream do they, little princess?” She’s been calling me that since the day we met Carina and Harry.
“No, they don’t and Uncle Sammy is strong, he isn’t scared of anything,” Katelynn answers she nods her head as she does. That isn’t exactly true, the thought of losing Winter scares the ever loving shit out of me and knowing how close we came to losing her when David got hold of her made that fear surface and I haven’t been able to shake it since.
“That’s not true, your Uncle Sammy is scared of Sophia.” Winter laughs as she tells my niece that I’m frightened of a woman.
“Really?” Katelynn asks and she doesn’t have to sound so amazed, she turns to Sophia with what can only be a look of sheer adoration on it.
“Yep, so how is the gymnastics going?” Winter asks and its genuine interest, not the fake shit to placate Katelynn or me.
“It’s so much fun, I can do loads of stuff. I can do a handstand; do you want to see?” She’s five, and you’d think she was thirty the way she carries on. She is so animated; her hands are moving as she talks.
“Yes, show me!” Winter has a massive grin on her face and watches as Katelynn does a handstand and manages to hold it for five seconds, her longest yet. Yes, I get a running commentary on them.
“Oh wow, you did it for ages. You're really good.” Winter tells her causing Katelynn to smile. I hear a whistle and I look over at Ryder who is walking perfectly. He worked hard to get where he is. He nods and it’s time for us to go.
“Sweets, it’s time.” She turns to me and I see the excitement and fear in her eyes and I know that she will be okay. She has done a really good job and raised a lot of money.
“Okay, I’ve got to go. Remember let me know if you can hear me scream and if anyone other than a girl screams, tell Sophia to record it.” They both laugh and she walks Katelynn to Sophia and kisses her on her cheek and gives her a hug. She walks over to me and kisses me. “You know, you never did tell me why you call me, Sweets?”
I laugh. “The first time I saw you, you looked so sweet standing there and you know how much I love sweet stuff, the name just stuck. Lame I know.” I tell her with a shrug.
“I love it when you call me Sweets, it makes me feel special.” She tells me as we walk towards the others.
“Good, because you are special.” I kiss her lips lightly. She smiles at me and once again I thank God, for the day she came into my life.
We’re currently twelve thousand five hundred feet above ground level. Today is the day. Operation Freefall. We have raised money and there is a good turnout. Everyone has decided they are jumping with us. Ryder, Nathan, Luke, Scott and Asher. They signed up without any hesitation. The girls were another story, as Soph is heavily pregnant she can’t do it and neither can Skye, but that’s a story for another day. Morgan is able to do it; she’s fully healed from the situation that occurred the day after the wedding. Hailey and Asher’s girl Kellie are also participating, and Kat and Nick have decided to do it too. Winter hasn’t stopped smiling. All the love and support she has gotten is overwhelming. But my girl is happy and that is all that matters. We’re jumping in partners so the first one to go is Nathan and Ryder. Then after them, it’s Luke and Morgan, followed by Asher and Kellie, then Kat and Nick, Scott and Hailey. Then Winter and me.
So, were standing on the edge of the plane. Both of us strapped up and have some guy behind us. Winter puts out her hand and I take it. Next thing I know we are in the air and falling. It’s exhilarating. It goes so fast. The guys told us that it would, you freefall for about ten thousand feet before deploying the parachute. It’s such a rush, I can’t move my head as the air is pulling it in one direction. I feel a jerk and I know that the parachute has been deployed. We make it to the ground and I see Winter beside me a huge smile on her face. We detach from the guys and she rushes over to me.
“Oh my God, Sammy that was amazing.” She shouts as she jumps up and down on the spot.
“Yeah, Sweets. That was pretty amazing. How did you feel?”
“Like I was flying free.” Is her instantaneous response.
“Fly free every day, Sweets. I’m here to catch you.”
The End
To all those beautiful, amazing, survivors. You are strong. You are amazing, and you are never alone.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, please seek help.
Contact RAINN on 800.656.4673
https://centers.rainn.org/
Contact SOAR on – 321-278-5246
http://soar99.org/blog/
Acknowledgements:
Darren: I love you so very much, thank you for always being there for me. Throughout all the tears.
My P.A: Emma Johnston! I love you! You are amazing. I thank my lucky stars for the day I met you. You are not only my P.A but my best friend.
My beta readers: Girls you all are amazing! I love each and every one of you. I got lucky. You girls mean the world to me. Thank you all for you hard work. Alice Ballinger, Brandi Zalenka, Emma Johnston, Jessica Davey, Julie Tinkler, Rachel Roy, Sophie De Vries and Stefanie Carney.
The Girls at SASS: I couldn’t have done half of this if it wasn’t for you. Julie, you have done so much for me! Mel, Damn girl. You need to seriously believe in your talents. You do amazing Teasers, Banners/Graphics. As well as all the tours/promos. Thank you for doing it all for me. Stacey! What can I say about you? You have had my back from the very beginning, you have been there to listen to me whine and moan. You talk sense into me when I need it. You’re an amazing woman.
Danni (Elle) Williams: My editor. You have helped so much. Not only with my editing and helping me become better, but also talking with me when things got rough, and I started to doubt myself. Thank you so much, hun.
Kennedy Kelly: Thank you, yet again for the amazing cover. I love it so much.
CP Smith: Thank you for making my book complete, and at such short notice too. I can’t thank you enough.
Brandi Zalenka: You are amazing. Thank you for the proofread and the double check of everything. Thank you for answering all my silly questions and acting if they are normal. Thank you for being you.
Thank you to the amazing people in Fans of Deadly. You guys are amazing!
To my girls in K.L’s Heroes. You girls rock! I’m so lucky to have a group of amazingly beautiful women.
adly Obsession
Deadly Obsession Page 27