Conflicting Hearts
Page 23
“Yes, Ian Alexander Richards, I’ll marry you.”
He takes out the most beautiful ring and slips it on my finger. I’m dazzled over the sparkling diamond. The little girl inside of me smiles, and at that moment, I see her grow into a confident woman. My tormentors behind the dark door have left, because they have lost their bid for my soul.
Ian stands up and brings me to my feet with his cold, nervous hands.
“Come on, kiss her,” Jack encourages him loudly.
Gently, he places his palms on the sides of my face. As I gaze into his beautiful blue eyes, I am lost in the love and adoration that he shows me. His mouth comes down over mine, and his sweetness fills my soul. When he pulls away, a tear rolls down my cheek.
“I love you, Ian.”
“I love you too, sweets.”
Now I know that men really do love, because the evidence is holding me in his arms. All of a sudden, I believe in fairy godmothers, angels, and heaven above. It feels glorious to be loved and to love someone I can trust. My worth has returned, and my redemption is complete.
Epilogue
The last box is finally unpacked. I can’t believe the move is over. As I survey the work that’s still ahead to get everything in order, I feel a bit overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I can’t complain. How could I complain when I’m living my dream life?
After pouring myself a much-needed cup of coffee, I walk over to the French doors that lead out to the back deck. The view is breathtaking, but part of me misses the old. Though we’re only another mile south of where Ian’s former house in Cannon Beach stood, it still contains so many memories. Yet, as I look around at our new home, with the much-needed extra space, I know that we have a lifetime to build memories together here.
Whiskers wraps himself around my legs a few times, then goes over and lays in the sun. He’s a happy cat. I sip my coffee and then shade my eyes with my left hand. The afternoon sun is lowering to the water, and my husband is off in the distance playing with our toddler, now entering her terrible twos. She’s in no way terrible and looks a lot like me when I was her age.
Ian and I married three years ago in a beautiful wedding. My brother gave me away. After a long, hard road to forgiveness, we mended our relationship. I knew if I were to heal totally, I had to pardon whatever wrongs I harbored against him.
To my surprise, Bob swears he never knew what happened to me in that upstairs bedroom. At first, I didn’t believe him; but when I see the clueless look in his eyes, I know it to be true. He had always been sort of a naïve dork, and he was only eleven or twelve. Of course, it wasn’t his fault, either, that I kept returning for another candy bar until the abuse finally ended.
As far as Bob’s inability to keep in touch, that was a characteristic he never possessed. I accepted the way he was and released him to be the man he had become. The gap between us had been mended at the wedding, but I knew in my heart he’d probably drift away again in the future, and he did.
Jack and Karen had their first child, a boy, a year after we wed. Then Ian, surprised me one day by announcing he had been hired by a small firm in Seaside, Oregon, about twelve miles north of our new home. I was thrilled to think living on the coast would be my fulltime job, as well as being a mother to a darling little girl.
As I continue to watch Ian and Rebecca play together, I’m thankful that she is still an innocent child. Each day I pray to God that she remains innocent and untouched until she is a young woman and meets the right man who will give her love. I never want my tender baby to endure what I endured. Ian is diligent, as well, to see that she grows up unscathed. He is a wonderful, loving, and gentle father.
Ian picks up Rebecca in his arms and walks back toward our home. The sun is setting, and it’s getting chilly outdoors. As he arrives at the deck and climbs the few steps, my heart warms at the sight of him. I love him more than I can express in words and am so thankful that he gave me the unconditional love and patience that I needed to heal from my past.
“Hey sweets,” he says, coming up and giving me a peck on the cheek. His endearing term remains.
Rebecca reaches out her arms to me, and I take her from Ian. Her brown hair is blowing in her eyes, so I carefully brush it away until her beautiful face is no longer hidden.
“You know what, Rebecca?” I give her a kiss on the cheek. “Fairy godmothers, angels, and heaven do exist. Don’t ever doubt it.”
Ian smiles, knowing exactly what I mean. I look at him lovingly, thankful to God for the gracious gift that came into my life.
The End
Available Now!
Short Story Prequel to Conflicting Hearts
“Fated Occurrence”
There are two sides to every story.
When Ian Richards dresses for work, he accidentally drops a picture of his ex-wife on the floor. He finally decides after three years that it’s time to throw away the photo and bury the past. He rips it to shreds and shoves it into a garbage bag, hoping the symbolic act will finally do the trick.
After visiting the rubbish bin, he climbs in his car and heads for work. Little does he know that he’s about to collide with another woman. His fated event will present even a greater challenge in his search for love than the one he just left behind.
“Fated Occurrence” is a short story prequel to “Conflicting Hearts,” an adult contemporary romance.
This is not a full-length novella or novel.
Buy Here
About the Author
J. D. Burrows is a pen name for the author’s contemporary romance work. She also writes under the name of Vicki Hopkins in the historical fiction and historical romance genre. Her other works include:
The Price of Innocence
(Historical Fiction)
(Book One – The Legacy Series; Released February 2010)
The Phantom of Valletta
(Historical Fiction)
(A continuation of Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera; Released July 2010)
Received Recognition from The Sunday Times, Malta
The Price of Deception
(Historical Fiction)
(Book Two – The Legacy Series; Released October 2011)
Dark Persuasion
(Historical Romance)
Released May 2012; Five Star Top Pick Award and Award-Winning Finalist in the 'Fiction: Romance' category of The 2012 USA Best Book Awards, sponsored by USA Book
For more information, visit the author’s websites at:
http://vickihopkins.com
http://conflictinghearts.com