“Just like becoming a partner didn’t change my work habits, your promotion isn’t going to stop me from giving you shit.”
“Of course it won’t,” Lex said with a sigh as the rest of the room chuckled.
“Oh, I want to do the next one, if that’s okay with you Jazz,” Ishkode announced.
“Sure.”
Ishkode stood up and grabbed two envelopes from under the tree, one small and one big. Stepping in front of Tally and Lex, he began his speech. “I planned to speak to you both privately, but things don’t always happen the way we expect them to.”
“That’s true,” Mack agreed with a belch. “Excuse me.”
“Mack,” Jazz scolded, “Can’t you see they’re having a moment here? Stop interrupting.”
“Sorry, Babe,” Mack apologized as he gestured toward the handsome man center stage. “You have the floor, Kode.”
“Ah, thank you, I guess,” Ishkode replied. Shaking his head, he focused his attention back to the couple on the love seat. “As I was saying, I was going to do this privately, but honestly, it’s probably better to share this with our friends anyway.” He gave Lex his envelope first. It was the larger of the two. “Honey, before you open that, I just want to say I love you. I realize I’m not always an easy man to deal with and I often fail, making stupid mistakes. I’m not worthy of someone as wonderful as you, but you’re the love of my life and I’m honored to be your husband.”
Crying, Lex interjected, “I feel the same way about you, Kode.”
Ishkode smiled as he clasped Lex’s offered hand in his. “What I strive for most in this life is to give you all the things you deserve, so being that mind, please open your gift.”
Drawing his hand back with a sniffle, Lex tore opening the envelope he’d received. Peeking inside, Lex gasped, squeezed his eyes shut, and covered his mouth as he sobbed. It took him only a moment to jump up and cling onto Ishkode. “Oh, Kode.”
“Did I do good?” he asked, pushing his spouse back to see his expression.
“Yes!” Lex gasped. “Yes. I love you so much.”
“What is it?” Nina wondered, looking between the people seated around the room.
“Do you want to tell them?” Ishkode asked Lex, who nodded in response.
Licking the salt from his lips and wiping the tears from his cheeks as Ishkode wrapped his arms around him from behind, Lex said, “Kode’s giving me a divorce.”
“What?!” Janet bellowed in surprise. “How’s that a good thing?”
Nina looked baffled. “I don’t understand.”
While Keller shook his head in confusion, Jazz explained, “It has to do with why he’s divorcing him.” She glanced down at Mack, who smiled, already in ‘the know’.
“Jazz is right,” Ishkode remarked and then, after whispering something to Lex, he turned toward Tally. Keeping one arm around his husband, he used the other to extend Tally’s envelope in her direction.
“Thank you,” she said softly, obviously nervous and unsure. When she’d opened the small envelope, her confusion remained. “‘Look up.’ What does that –” she started to ask, but when she instinctively raised her eyes, she was stunned to silence. Kneeling before her were Lex and Ishkode, each holding a hand beneath the same black ring box.
“Tally Maia Abrams, will you marry us?” Ishkode asked as he opened the box to reveal a diamond ring. “Or, more pointedly, will you marry me?”
“And have a baby with me,” Lex added.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Tally muttered as she lurched forward, tackling the men in a group hug that ended in a pile on the floor.
EPILOGUE
“Do you have any regrets?”
Tally knew her answer instantly. “No,” she replied confidently. Looking into the angelic face of her daughter, cradled in the crook of her arm, she thought, I couldn’t feel more blessed. “Everything’s perfect.”
The joy evident throughout Lex’s features made Tally’s heart sing. “Me either,” he said, bending his head to kiss the little girl swaddled in a receiving blanket. “She’s perfect.”
“She is,” Ishkode agreed. “She was definitely worth the fight.”
Tally raised her eyes to the sleek and muscular man. My husband. Though he was leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his feet crossed at the ankles, pride emanated off the powerful man. His sharp features bore the ease of happiness as his eyes glowed with love for the infant in her arms. I don’t think there’s ever been a child more treasured than ours. Opal Maia opened her quivering mouth as her little face pinched. She gave a little cry, adding her two cents to the conversation. Tittering softly, Tally gestured toward the side table. “Could you please hand me that?”
Without delay, Lex passed her the small bottle. He seemed infatuated as the child greedily pulled the nipple into her mouth. She cooed and moaned as she suckled, her little hands waving uncontrollably in the air. “It’s like magic how it just cuts off her complaint.”
“Thank God for that,” Ishkode said, only partially joking. “She’s only two days old and she already has a set of lungs on her that can rival a fog horn.”
Lex nodded. “That may be true, but I’m still glad Tally moved in with us so we can all be on the same floor. I didn’t like the idea of her two-story apartment.”
“Are you ready for this, Kode?” Tally asked, quirking an eyebrow and smirking. “I mean, she’s only going to get louder and more opinionated as she grows.”
“Like I can say no now,” Ishkode teased with a smile of his own. Straightening himself, he moved to sit beside Tally on their couch, allowing Opal to latch onto his finger with her tiny hand.
Lex chuckled from where he leaned over the couch, watching. “When were you ever able to say no and mean it?”
“I say no all the time,” Ishkode complained.
“And mean it,” Lex repeated the key aspect of his comment.
“Yeah, you never could deny Lex anything, and once we got married, you extended that to me as well.” Tally laughed and added, “You know, I think you’re in trouble with this little darling here.” He’s going to spoil her rotten. We all are.
Ishkode bobbed his head in agreement. “I think you’re right. I also think she’s going to need siblings.”
“What?” Tally asked in a high pitched voice as Lex came around the couch, sitting on the coffee table so he too could fawn over their daughter. I can’t believe he just said that.
“You do want more, don’t you?” Ishkode asked, looking vulnerable. “I mean, genetically speaking, I’m not Opal’s father.”
“Are you saying you want to father a child of your own?” The admission was a surprise that touched something deep inside Tally. I’d love to have a child with Kode. I’d love to have another with Lexi for that matter, too. I just don’t think I want to go through in vitro again. That sucked, but it was the only way to ensure Lex was the biological father, enabling us to get the three-parent ruling for custody.
“Yeah, I think I am.”
Lex placed his hand on Ishkode’s shoulder and rubbed it affectionately. “I’m not opposed to having more children together, but I want you to know, you’re Opal’s father; same as me.”
Ishkode smiled lovingly at the husband-of-his-heart. “I know, but thanks for saying it. I guess what I’m trying to express is that, moving forward, I don’t want clinical intervention or DNA testing. I want to grow our family the natural way.”
“Oh,” Lex responded, sitting up straighter, “I like the sound of that.”
“Me, too,” Tally concurred. “I greatly enjoy sex with husbands, and I don’t like trying to label our family in any way.”
“Right,” Ishkode agreed. “I don’t either.”
“Well, it was necessary to do things the way we did with Opal, but now, with everything legally in place, we should be able to handle things with a simple petition.”
“I think you’re right, Lexi,” Tally replied. And thank God for that. I
hate quantifying and categorizing life. There isn’t one perfect mold for anything, so I’m glad we found a way to shape our family the way we want it to be. “I feel incredibly happy. The future looks bright and I’m so grateful we’re adventuring into it together.”
“Me, too,” Lex said, “I love our family.”
Ishkode kissed his husband. “And we love you, babe.” Then, he turned to his wife and kissed her. “I’ve never been happier in all my life.” Lastly, he kissed Opal Maia Ackermann. “Your Mommy and Daddys love you, baby girl. We walked through fire for you, and you know what? We’d gladly do it again!”
Glossary
Agokwe – One of the four Ojibwe genders (Inini, Ikwe, Agokwe, and Agowinini). This term refers strictly to gender and not sexual orientation. Generally speaking, Inini is masculine/male, Ikwe is feminine/female, and the Agokwe is gender-variant. From my understanding, Agowinini isn’t really used anymore.
Bisexual – A person attracted to both men and women emotionally, physically, or sexually.
Gan Eden – A place of spiritual perfection in the afterlife of Judaism. This is a place of peace that is a reward to the righteous.
Gehinnom – This is a place of punishment or purification for souls in the afterlife of Judaism. Put simply, this is comparable to Christianity’s purgatory.
Gender fluid – This refers to a person whose sexual gender is identified as a mix of both male and female. Individuals may feel more male one day while identifying as more female on another day.
Gichi Manidoo – Translated from Ojibwe, this means The Great Spirit or God. This is also known as Gitchi Manitou in other Algonquian languages.
niizh manidoowag – Translated from the Ojibwe language, this means “two-spirited” and is used to express someone who encompasses both a masculine and feminine spirit. It is used to represent gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other gender-variant persons. This term is used in regards to sexual orientation.
Ojibwe – Indigenous peoples of North America known as Ojiway, Ojbwa, Chippewa, or Ojibweg (plural).
Pansexual – Someone who is sexually, romantically, spiritually, or physically attracted to all gender identities, such as male, female, transgender, and transvestite.
Polyamorous – This refers to honest relationships that are ethically and consensually non-monogamous relationships. It’s the romantic and/or sexual relationship between more than two people.
She’ol – This is similar to and sometimes thought of as Gehinnom. Simply put, this is hell. It is a place of darkness where the dead go.
Zagime – This translates from Ojibwe to mean a mosquito. This has been used as an insult to call someone a blood sucker or mooch.
About the Author
J.M. Northup is an American author.
She launched her career with her debut series, The Fears of Dakota, which includes the novels A RIPPLE OF FEAR and FEARS OF FARKNESS.
Other works include: A PRISONER WITHIN, FELINE FASCINATIONS: The Adventures of Boris and Olga, SOUL SEARCHING, and the Snoqualmie Valley Sasquatch series, which includes REVIVED, UNVEILED, BEREAVED (coming soon), and LEGACY (coming soon).
J.M. Northup and co-author, Simone Beaudelaire have released The Wounded Warriors Series, which includes the novels SAVING SAM, JUSIFYING JACK, and MAKING MIKE.
She continues to develop and research new projects in various genres.
Betrayed Again
A Sapphire Springs Christmas Story
Savannah Morgan
Copyright © 2016 by:
Savannah Morgan
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Cover art by Savannah Morgan
Cover image licensed through Shutterstock and graphically altered by Savannah Morgan
Story edited by Style Writer and Beta Team
This book contains mature themed content that is not suitable for readers 17 and under.
This book was built at IndieWrites.com. Visit us on Facebook.
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Dedication:
For the Savvy Stalkers, my outstanding street team, who have been so encouraging and patient. Love you, ladies.
Author Note:
Due to this story being published in an anthology, I decided to not use the Russian or Slavic languages. I may at some point expand the story and use Viktor and Nicoleta’s native languages in that version. I hope you enjoy their story.
Chapter 1
“Beautiful.”
Viktor Mitchel spoke softly to no one. He stood on a rise, overlooking Eagle’s Valley below. The view was, in a word, spectacular.
He continued down the path from his mountain home at the plateau of Eagle’s pass, which led down to the town of Sapphire Springs. It was a town of medium size but held most of its small town charm. The community as a whole didn’t warm to outsiders easily and were protective of their town as well as its residents.
After the trouble this past year, Viktor understood their lack of welcoming to strangers. If it weren’t for his daughter’s connections in town, he too would have received the cold shoulder outsiders were given. Thankfully, Tiana was well established in the town, and much loved from what Viktor could tell.
The late autumn air was crisp with a hint of colder weather to come. Soon it would snow, making the path he walked daily from Eagle’s Pass to town impassable. Viktor didn’t mind. He was looking forward to the snow, as well as his first Holiday Season with his daughter in twenty years.
Viktor had struggled with making his daughter see he had only pretended his indifference toward her over the last decade. It had been for her protection, a means to an end. The end being her freedom from the Petrovich and DeMarco families. He knew his daughter loved her grandfather, but Viktor and his late wife’s only desire had been their only child not be connected to organize crime. He had been willing to do anything, give up anything, for Tatiana to be free of the consequences of her mother’s birthright and his own foolish decisions.
The ultimate sacrifice had not been called for, but he had made some powerful enemies in the process of gaining her freedom from the Petrovich Eurasian Crime Organization. Viktor would live the rest of his life with a target on his back. It was why he had not wanted to move to where Tia lived. He wanted to be far away from his daughter so as not to bring any trouble to her.
When he made the arrangement to turn state’s witness against Aleksandr Petrovich, he had not asked for special treatment. Viktor had believed it would be best for his daughter if he went to prison for his crimes and let what would be, be. The US Marshal assigned to him had been Duncan McKinnon, who just happened to know of Tia, but as Tiana Mitchel. The young Marshal had actually been friends with Tia’s best friend here in Sapphire Springs.
It was true what they said about degrees of separation. It was certainly a small world, and his current situation only proved that. Duncan’s brother, Devin, was married to Kylie James. Kylie James was the daughter of Kyle and Lily James. Lily James had been born Lilianna DeMarco and was the cousin of Viktor’s late wife Elena DeMarco, which made Viktor’s daughter Tatiana a distant cousin of Kylie James Blackthorn. If one wanted to look at the whole picture they could say Viktor and Duncan McKinnon were distantly related through marriage.
That thought made Viktor laugh. It wasn’t true of course, but it was comical to look at it in such a way. Marshal McKinnon was a letter of the law type of man. To think he was distantly related to not one but two branches of organized crime was laughable. Even more humorous was how Duncan had created a haven here in Sapphire Springs for many notorious criminals, such as Viktor and Duncan’s own fiancé Amara Davis.
Viktor took another look around. His soul was lighter today than it had been in years. He felt a sense of renewal. A sense of purpose, as if her were on the precipice of something new and wonderful. He couldn’t say what made him believe that, but he did.
&nbs
p; He reached the end of the path and noticed someone was moving into Tia’s old cottage. He recalled her mentioning selling it now that she was moved in with Cole Lawson. Viktor wasn’t thrilled about his daughter living with her boyfriend. She should be married to him, especially now that she was pregnant.
He had to give himself a little shake to stop that way of thinking. As Tia said this was the twenty-first century. A man and woman could be committed to one another without a license between them.
Viktor couldn’t help to think the way he did. From the day she was born, he’d envisioned walking her down the aisle, giving her to the man who would honor and love her for life. Admittedly, in the early years, he had begrudged that duty. These days, it was more about wanting to do something normal with his daughter. Something any father would do.
He supposed he would have to settle on taking things slowly with her. After all, they were still repairing their relationship. He would just have to be happy he was spending the Holidays with her, rather than visiting with her through bars. He would actually get to have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with her.
“That will be enough. This year.” He smiled. He was a free man. He had time to influence and guide her to a church wedding, rather than that pagan ritual she’d taken part in at Cole’s family’s Living Rock. “Who had ever heard of such a thing?”
Viktor started to shake his head at the craziness of it all when he noticed a woman struggling to pull something from the house. Without thought he rushed down the final bit of path, picked his way across the small brook that separated Eagle’s valley from town, and quickly made his way toward the woman.
Flawed Perfection: A Collection of Winter Wishes Page 27