Steve looked down at his notes. “Synn Romeo and Craig Collins, today, in front of your family and friends, you start this next chapter of your life together. As with any new endeavor, it is best to start with a clean slate, putting problems big and small behind you.
You come before everyone present, acknowledging that your spouse is not perfect, yet fits with you in a way no other person can. Today you have decided your love is bigger than any difficulties of your past or future, and have chosen to commit to each other.
Water brings forgiveness, for others and ourselves. As you wash your hands, forgive and be forgiven.”
Craig placed his hands in the bowl of water. With love shining in his dark eyes, Synn washed Craig’s hands. When he was finished Craig washed Synn’s.
Steve spoke. “Allowing yourselves to have your hands dried by the other signifies your vulnerability. This allows more caring and understanding and will bring a more compassionate marriage.”
Craig and Synn picked up the towels lying next to the bowl and dried each other’s hands. Tears made it hard for Craig to see Synn’s beloved face clearly.
“Do you Synn Romeo and Craig Collins begin this new chapter of your lives with grace and compassion?”
Craig’s answer of “We do,” was in unison with Synn’s.
Reaching into his pocket, Craig took out a silver band as Synn, too, took one out of his pocket. Together he and Synn put the matching silver rings on each other’s fingers. Tears spilled down Craig’s face as he looked up at Synn. A trail of tears made their way down Synn’s cheeks.
Steve finished the ceremony with the wedding prayer of Synn’s ancestors.
“Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other,
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other,
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be a companion to the other,
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth in togetherness.”
With Steve’s last words, Craig fell into Synn’s arms. He clung to his lover as their lips met.
The crowd around them erupted with cheers and applause.
Later the party was in full swing with the guests full of spirits and good food. Craig and Synn were slow dancing in the middle of the back yard, lost in their own world.
“I love you,” Craig whispered, staring deeply into Synn’s dark shining eyes.
“I love you, too,” Synn whispered back, before he picked Craig up and raced out of the yard and into the adjoining woods. Nobody saw the couple for the next week.
Only the sheriff knew that deep in the woods a honeymoon teepee had been set up for the couple by Synn’s brothers.
Early on the morning they would have to go back and join the world, Craig lay in Synn’s arms, looking up at the blue sky through the hole at the top of the teepee.
“When I was lying all alone in that hospital bed, the pain so bad I wanted to die, I never imagined that one day I would be so happy,” Craig confessed.
“I’m glad you fought to live, baby.” Synn kissed the top of Craig’s head.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
Laughing Craig turned over and looked into his husband’s handsome face.
“I have news,” he said.
“What news?” Synn asked.
“We’re going to be grandparents,” Craig announced to a now-shocked-looking Synn. In his mind he saw the four tiny dark white eggs snuggled in a nest of paper, in the corner of Pete and Lola’s cage.
Epilogue
Cooper Collins woke with a jerk. Blinking, he looked around. Rows of high seats surrounded him. The constant hum of tires against the pavement soothed Cooper’s frayed nerves. Every turn of those tires meant freedom. He had gotten away.
A wave of shivers washed over his body, and Cooper huddled in the corner of the bus seat, desperately trying to keep warm. He knew his body was in shock, but until the bus stopped there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He only managed to grab Oliver’s oversized T-shirt, a pair of sweatpants, and his flip-flops before fleeing into the night. For months, he had pilfered a dollar every few days from Oliver’s wallet until he had enough for the bus trip to Craig’s place, and hopefully sanctuary.
He found it ironic that his brother, Craig, was a cop, and yet until now, Cooper hadn’t asked for help. He wondered if he would ever be able to get over the guilt from all the lies he had told his twin. No matter how many times Cooper went over everything that happened, he still didn’t know how he managed to get himself so deeply into that awful situation.
After his older brother Clark died, Cooper had turned to cutting himself. It was the only way that he could let that nonstop horrible pain out. It worked, too, for a while. He thought he was handling it pretty good until he met Oliver. The want-to-be Dom told Cooper he could cut Cooper safely and help him deal with the overwhelming feelings that needed to be released. He promised he would provide Cooper with the structure he needed to feel secure.
Oliver was wonderful. For the first time since Clark died, Cooper felt content inside. It had been exciting and fun to work together and build a life as a couple. Cooper had strived to follow Oliver’s rules and had never felt so fulfilled.
By the end of their first month together, without him realizing it, Oliver had distanced Cooper from all of his friends and family. Next he convinced Cooper to quit his job and become Oliver’s submissive twenty-four-seven.
When the light healing cuts turned into vicious slashes, Cooper had no one to turn to for help. His cell phone was gone, and Oliver started moving them to different apartments when his screams caused trouble with the neighbors.
Sometime near his and Oliver’s first year anniversary, Cooper had felt great pain through the twin bond. He knew Craig was hurt, and he couldn’t do anything about it. That was when he started taking the money.
A piece of tape held the bottom seam of one pant leg together. In that seam was the last of the money he stole. Tape also held his thigh together after last night’s horror. Oliver had sliced through the skin and muscle of his thigh before Cooper managed to grab a heavy glass vase holding pink orchids and smashed it over his head. While Oliver was unconscious, Cooper found the duct tape from the bottom kitchen cabinet drawer, and in desperation, taped up his bloody leg before using it to secure Oliver’s wrists and ankles.
Cooper ducked down lower in the seat. The bus driver was giving him funny looks and was talking into the bus radio. The bus should be arriving in Granite City soon. At least Cooper hoped so. The water he had taken from the refrigerator before he left was gone, and he was getting light-headed. His stomach pitched and rolled. Sweat coated his body in the air conditioned bus, bringing on another bone-jarring shiver. His teeth wouldn’t stop chattering.
The bus’s airbrakes squealed, and Cooper’s body slammed against the seat in front of him. Gritting his teeth, he managed to struggle to his feet. Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Cooper used the backs of the seats to lean on. His only goal was to get off the bus and find Craig.
Somehow, even though he was forced to drag his leg behind him, Cooper made it to the front of the bus. Cooper ignored the lady bus driver who was waving her hands at him and saying something. Turning, Cooper tried to hold onto the railing, but his hand slipped, and he pitched down the metal steps and through the open bus door.
Cooper landed in the arms of a policeman.
THE END
WWW.AUTHORBELLAN.BLOGSPOT.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bellann Summer lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband and children, surrounded by lakes and woods. In the summer Bellann enjoys fishing, camping, gardening, and growing flowers. Autumn is spent out in the woods exploring the beautiful colors and nature at its finest. In the winter there is ice fishing, snowmobi
ling and sitting in front of the wood fireplace. She has always loved to read and any free time is spent with a book in her hand. When major life changes occurred, she decided to try writing what she liked to read. And it worked.
For all titles by Bellann Summer, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/bellann-summer
Siren Publishing, Inc.
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Adjusting to the Situation [Granite County 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 10