by Claire Adams
“I do. I’m sorry for everything. I love Kylie so damn much, and I messed up. I was just scared of loving and losing again, but I should have followed my heart. I hope you’ll forgive me for hurting your daughter.” My heart was racing, but I had to get all this shit off my chest. I needed Kylie’s mother in my corner. She’d soon be my mother, the only one I had.
“I do forgive you.” She smiled over at me. “You look happier, more full of life.”
I stood up straight, listening to what she might have to say. Kylie’s mother knew her more than anyone else. She had loved her so much. Seeing her daughter loving Vince as if he were her own, she had treated my son as his grandson by blood.
“I’m beyond happy and Vince is too, thanks to you and your beautiful daughter. She’s the light of my life.” I slipped my hands into my pockets and moved between my feet as nerves tore up my insides. I wanted her mom to like me, but I had some rebuilding to do for sure.
“Well, I thank you too. She’s become a complete woman. I can’t believe how Kylie has changed since you two got back together. I had never seen her this happy and content in her adult life, and it’s because of you and Vince.” I felt my heart swell in my chest as she continued. “She truly loves you. I know you are well aware of that, but I just wanted to let you know how I see things from my perspective. You don’t know how devastated she was when you two parted ways.” She took a red velvet cupcake from the rack, handing it to me. “But that’s in the past now. We have the future to look forward to.”
“Thank you for everything, Mrs. Tomms. You have become a mother figure to me and my son too. I owe you a lot of things, and my relationship with Kylie would not be as strong as it is now without your support.” I was grateful for her unending help. She was truly a part of my new found family.
She looked at me with blissful eyes, her smile bright and gleeful. “There’s nothing to thank me for, Hunter. Anyone my daughter loves, I love too. You are like a son to me, and Vince is my grandson whether he likes it or not! You know how much I enjoy reading books with him.” She looked at me and then turned her attention to the two. I followed her gaze, watching Kylie and Vince finish their task together.
They shared a high five as they walked toward us. The smiles on their faces were enough to melt my heart. Everything was perfect.
“What are you grinning about, Hunter Yonnie?” Kylie asked and stopped in front of me, plucking the red velvet cake from my hand. “See something you like?”
“Nope.” I wrapped my arms around her, not caring who was watching. “I don’t see something I like. I see someone I love.” I leaned in and kissed her.
The sound of her mother and my son gagging was enough to cause all of us to laugh. My family was officially together, and we’d never break apart again. Not if I had something to say about it.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Kylie
“So, why did you take the day off? It’s the start of the week, and you’re skipping work?” I asked Hunter as we reached the lake where we fished every week. It had become a regular trip for us to come and visit this scenic spot, being one with nature under the beauty of the bright skies and green trees.
He looked at me with a genuine smile, pulling up the car to park it near the dock. “It’s a beautiful day, and I just realized, why not come to the lake and go fishing?” He opened the door and got out of the car.
I followed his lead as Vince got out as well, taking the things from the car’s compartment and helping his father to carry the things we brought for the trip.
Vince had grown into a responsible, diligent kid with a bright mind and healthy body. He performed exceedingly well in school, excelling in everything he did. He was commended by his teachers for his outstanding intellectual performance and a vast range of skills. He was the kind of kid who everyone found a joy to be with.
I still couldn’t believe how time flew by so fast. I could still recall how he ran toward the dock every time we come to this place. Now, he was still the same enthusiastic kid, but he opted to help his dad in carrying stuff.
“Thanks, Vince. You’re doing great.” I tried to encourage him.
His big, green eyes were sparkling before me, warming me up like the sun might. “I don’t want you to carry stuff, Kylie. You are the queen, and we need to pamper the Royal Highness.” He bowed before me, pretending to be a loyal knight to his queen.
I had patted his back before he ran toward the dock. It was a sunny day today, the beautiful lake clear and radiant under the sun’s rays. My sightseeing was soon stopped by the ring of my phone.
As I scrambled through my bag to find it, Hunter walked past me. He smiled at me sweetly as he dropped the tackle box near Vince. I signaled for him to wait as I picked up my phone, finally answering it on the third ring.
It was Bailey’s voice that greeted me a good morning. She never called unless it was urgent and important. “Hey, Kylie? Where are you? I need you around here!” Upon hearing her agitated voice, I remembered we had something to do together.
“Oh! I forgot to text you, Bailey. Hunter and Vince pulled me out today for a surprise trip here to the lake. I’m sorry, I might not get to stop by today.” I slapped my forehead, realizing that I needed to be there. She might get angry over my absence, but driving back home sounded like hell.
“What is it?” Hunter walked toward me.
I signed with my hand that it was Bailey, reminding me of a catering gig we needed to attend to.
“Come on, I’ll talk to her,” Hunter said and reached for the phone.
I handed over the phone, letting him speak to my best friend and business partner. It had been two years since we decided to establish a catering and baking service in town. The business had grown successful due to our hard work and determination. Hunter was always praising us for how great our food was. I could not be more than grateful for his support.
I watched as Hunter walked further, enough to keep distance as he spoke to my best friend. He looked calm as he spoke and even laughed several times over the course of their conversation. I wished I could listen to what he had to say, but he was not willing to share that, signaling for me to stay put at where I stood.
Hunter finally strolled back to the dock, approaching me as he continued speaking to Bailey. He handed over the phone to me, giving me thumbs up as I placed my phone over my ear.
“Hello, Bailey? I’m really sorry for leaving you to meet up with a customer today.” I hoped for her to calm down and forgive me, but that was a greedy wish. I closed my eyes as I prepared for the worst rants to come, but instead, I heard her laughing over the phone.
“It’s okay, Kylie. I can handle things from here. You should thank your guy for being supportive and loving. Anyway, Garren is coming to pick me up and help me out during his break.”
I looked at Hunter, baffled by the sudden change of events. I just managed to nod; my head still messed up with things. “Okay, then. Sorry, Bailey. I’ll never do this again.”
“It happens. Enjoy your day off.” I could tell that she was smiling on the other end. As the line clicked, I looked at Hunter with a puzzled expression. He shrugged his shoulders, keeping a smirk on his face as we walked toward Vince’s direction.
Thankfully, Garren was a trustworthy guy. Not only did he manage the gun shop, but he had stolen Bailey’s heart along the way.
It had been a year since we introduced our best friends to one another.
Garren seemed to be challenged by Bailey’s tough exterior and unwillingness to give in, no matter how hard he tried. It was cute, and Hunter and I loved watching every second of it.
“Thanks to Garren, Bailey’s in a great mood,” I told Hunter as we walked side by side, my hand clasped in his. He looked at me with a skeptical look, but then a smile spread all over his handsome face.
“Yeah, it’s the only time we’re thanking him though, lest he gets a big head over it,” he responded playfully. I could see his eyes twinklin
g. I melted under his gaze, the stare of the man I had loved with all of my heart. I squeezed his hand, blissful that I got to spend every day of my life beside him.
He held my hands and stood before me. His green, beautiful eyes stared at me, melting me under the warmth of his gaze.
“You know, I needed to thank someone else important in my life. It’s the woman who gives me chills every time I come close to her.”
I looked at him with passionate eyes. Vince stopped fishing to watch us, smiling at his father as he waited for his further words.
“Oh, yeah? Someone, I know?” I gave him a cheeky grin.
“You know her too well. She’s the reason I get out of bed in the morning, the reason I work so hard every day. She leaves my heart racing and my body so hard it hurts most nights,” he whispered the last part just for me.
“You’re too cheesy today, Mr. Romantic.” I kidded, trying to hide the blush on my cheeks. That he felt that way about me was enough to leave me panting for air. I loved him with a fire that would never die.
“No, Kylie, I’m serious. Thank you for coming into our lives. Without you, we wouldn’t know how to be this happy. I am forever grateful to you for teaching me how to love again.”
Tears blurred my gaze. “I feel the exactly same about both of you, baby.”
He took my hand and pressed it to his chest where his heart was. The beating under my fingers frightened me. His heart was racing.
“Feel that, Kylie?” He was smiling at me as I gazed on his chest.
“Yes, it’s beating fast. Why?” I wanted him to tell me everything he felt. What the hell was going on?
“You’ve changed me into a better man, a better father. You’ve given Vince another chance to feel how it was to have a mother. You gave us a new perspective on life.”
“Okay, but tell me what’s going on with your heart. You’re scaring me.”
“Nothing to be scared of. I’m just lost to you right now. It’s all good.” He touched the side of my face. “I want you to know that I’ll be right here to protect you, to take care of you, to love you forever, baby.”
“Thank you, Hunter. You don’t know how happy I am right now. You’re making me cry.” Tears filled my eyes again, blurring my sight as I stared at the man standing before me.
The memories of the past two years flashed before me, reminding me of the things we had been through. Everything was tough and challenging, but we managed to overcome each thing together. Now that he was telling these things to me, it felt like we were on our wedding day. The sun and the lake stood before us, witnessing the beautiful, heartfelt vows we promised to each other.
“Well, I don’t plan to make you cry but…” He turned to look at his son, nodding at him as a signal for him to do something.
I bit my lower lip and wrinkled my brows, thinking of what was happening around me.
“...Vince and I had a man-to-man conversation last night when you were asleep.” I turned my eyes to watch Vince. He opened the tackle box and scrambled for something inside. When he finally found what he was looking for, he threw it to his father.
Hunter caught it. It was a tiny, square box with suede covering it. My heart began to beat faster, my head spinning fast.
“Hunter,” I whispered as he moved to his knee and lifted the box up to me.
I heard Vince squeal his delight from the back, thrilled with the success of their plan.
I spotted Hunter winking at him, approving of his job well done. He stared into my eyes again, his green, captivating eyes stealing my heart. I felt the tears rolling down my cheeks as he spoke, continuing what he had to say.
“Ms. Kylie Tomms. You are the most incredible woman in the world. You’ve stood beside Vince as his mother, and you’ve supported me like you were already my wife. You are the most beautiful woman in the world, and you’ve loved me for who I am. I cannot imagine living even a day without you beside me, Kylie.” He took a deep breath as my heart pounded in my chest. “Be my wife. Marry me, baby.”
My whole body filled with a joy that I could explain. “Yes!”
He put the ring on my finger and stood up, pulling me close and kissing me. “Good. I wasn’t sure what plan B was if you said no.”
Vince snickered behind us.
I pulled Hunter close and kissed him again. “I would never say no to you. I love you with all of my heart.”
“I love you more than you love me, pretty girl.”
Vince ran to embrace us, kissing my cheek after he kissed his father’s. “I have the best family in the world!”
I wrapped my arms around both of them and hugged them tightly. “Yes you do, and I’m glad it’s my family too.”
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PRIEST
By Claire Adams
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 Claire Adams
Chapter One
jace
I stood in front of the floor-length mirror in my room at the church where I’d served as parish priest for the past two years. I stared at myself in my black cassock and thought about the days ahead.
It wasn’t moving to a new church that troubled me — it was moving forward with a crucial piece of my life no longer intact. I’ve been devout in my faith since I was a child. But as I gazed at my reflection…I was having doubts.
I looked at the man in the mirror and instead of seeing Father Jace, I saw the reflection of a frightened little boy. That little boy had been brought to where he was through the love and devotion of a woman — and now she was gone and I was questioning everything about my life.
My grandmother used to say, “Be humble and respectful to everyone, whether you are sure they deserve it or not.” She taught me not to judge people too harshly and that if you worked hard and did good things, you would always prosper.
When Grandma talked about prospering, she wasn’t talking about money. She taught my brothers and me that prosperity was about your family and your friends. The people that you kept within your inner circle said more about you than anything, according to her, and I had come to believe that myself.
She also always said if you looked hard enough, no matter how far you stray, it was always possible to find a path back into God’s good graces. That one I used to believe without a doubt, but those doubts had started to work their way in.
I had strayed from my faith the moment they told me she was dead. I had spent most of my nights since railing against God, instead of praying to Him. My grandmother didn’t need my prayers for her soul. She was the purest soul that ever existed. The irony is if she were still here, she would be the first to tell me to hit my knees and pray hard for forgiveness.
I was holding out hope I’d be ready to do that soon, but for the time being, I’d have to fake it. That day, repentance was not on the agenda. I knew that when I had to stand there and helplessly watch them lower her into the ground, instead of rejoicing for her soul, I would be agonizing over the pain in mine.
I was angry, but I was not supposed to be. I was a priest, but damn it, I was also human. My grandmother was dead. She was the light that always beckoned me home, no matter how lost I’ve been. I was angry and sad and confused, and no amount of praying would give me the answers to my questions. How was I supposed to find my way any longer?
It was just after 12 o'clock. The old church bells rang out, and from my second story room, I could hear the flock of pigeons the bells sent into disarray as they co
oed and flapped violently away from the bell tower of the old church.
I heard the echo of each slow chime as I made my way through the cavernous inner halls on my way to the vestry. The sounds reverberated off the stones that held the sacred building together and bounced off the stained-glass windows and polished, oak pews.
With a heavy heart and a deep ache in my soul, I draped the white stole about my neck in preparation for the mass I was about to say, as was tradition. I begged God to give me on the last day the garment of immortality that was forfeited by our sinful first parents.
I was on autopilot. I was a priest; it was what I did, what I knew to do.
The mourners filled the church, and I believed I handled the mass with as much dignity as humanly possible. I had a hard time suppressing my own grief as I watched the broken faces of my brothers in the front pew. I managed to keep it together, and even remain pious in my thoughts, until we reached the cemetery.
When I stepped out of the black car into the brilliant sunlight and looked around at the vibrant colors of spring that surrounded me, my anger returned with a vengeance. My grandmother was dead and the sun was offensively bright and cheerful.
It was as if God and the elements were conspiring to show me that the world would go on just fine without her. It shouldn't, and that’s why I was so angry. As far as I was concerned, everything should be as dark and gray as my emotions were. The weather should have been damp and cold, and the birds should not have been singing in the trees overhead.
I walked through the cemetery like a silhouette of myself. I wished I was as insubstantial as the shadows. Shadows don’t have to feel the tangle of emotions that were twisting around in my gut. I stood near the freshly dug hole and waited for the coffin to arrive.
I was no longer apologetic to my Father in Heaven. I was pissed.
******
“Touching service, Father,” a young congregate said to me as she shook my hand after the funeral. I forced a smile and nodded at her.