Forsaking All Others (From This Day Forward Book 2)
Page 1
By
Shannon Myers
Copyright © 2016 by Shannon Myers
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to- being stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, groups, businesses, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design by: The Final Wrap
Photographers: DesLaurier Media/Sheridan Davis
Models: Travis DesLaurier & Ashley Williams
Formatting & Interior Design: Daryl Banner
First Printing: 2016
ISBN 978-0-9975348-2-5
DISCLAIMER: This story contains disturbing situations, graphic violence, sex, and strong language. This could be a trigger for some. That being said, it does have a happily ever after.
This book is dedicated to my readers. Thank you for loving David & Elizabeth as much as I do and for taking a chance on a new author.
Acknowledgements
This book wouldn’t have been possible without some pretty amazing people.
Zach – Thank you for supporting this crazy dream of mine. You’re always up for being my soundboard, even though it ruins the surprise for you. Z+S. Always, my love.
Parker & Owen – You’re both so proud of Mama’s story, even though you’ll never be allowed to read it. Thank you for telling everyone we meet about it. I love you both to the moon and back.
Jennifer & Olivia – Thank you for being my Lauren. Every good writer needs a redheaded best friend. I’m lucky enough to have two. You’re both the best unpaid PAs I could ever want. I see many patio nights in our future.
Sheridan – Thank you for taking such beautiful pictures. You captured exactly what I wanted. You’re the best awkward penguin I know.
Rebecca – God bless you. Thank you for having the patience of a saint when it comes to me and my book covers. I know you secretly enjoy my last minute changes. If I ever make it to Arizona, I am bringing you a big bottle of wine and we’ll have porch karaoke.
Ashley – Thank you for being my own personal hair savior and an absolutely stunning cover model. You made the perfect Elizabeth and maybe someday, we can get you and Travis together for pictures.
Travis – Thank you for agreeing to work with me and for providing the perfect picture to use for the cover. You took David’s character seriously and I will forever be grateful.
To my readers – This book wouldn’t have been possible without the support I received from all of you. Every review and rating pushed me to make this story perfect. All of the feedback went toward giving you all the happy ending you deserve.
I wanted my book to be as factually accurate as possible and these amazing people helped me do just that.
Celeste Botros – Thank you for your expert advice in family law. While it didn’t play out like a courtroom drama, your advice ensured that the story remained realistic.
Christi Wilson – I’m so glad you enjoyed the first book. Thank you for taking time out of your day to answer my labor and delivery questions. Your input was crucial to the story.
Lindsey Pierson – Thank you for sharing your birth story with me. Hays is truly a miracle and I’m glad that we get to see him at the office.
Elizabeth Addington – Thank you for patiently answering all of my questions regarding medevac transport. Writing a scene like that seemed daunting until I talked with you. Your expertise lent a lot of credibility to David and Elizabeth’s story.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Epilogue
About The Author
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess. She didn’t see the world as everyone else did and that made her anxious. She thought she was destined to live a life of solitude locked inside the castle of her emotions until she met him. The dashing prince literally swept her off of her feet inside an enchanted bar one evening and she swore she’d never feel with anyone what she felt with him. The dashing young prince asked the beautiful princess to marry him and she agreed. They lived happily ever after…for a while.
The King died unexpectedly, leaving the prince to manage the entire kingdom alone. He was distraught and nothing the princess did could shake him from his grief. Even worse, there was an evil enchantress, masquerading as the princess’s best friend. She waited patiently before casting a spell over the prince and claiming him as her own.
Another prince arrived from a foreign land. The princess fell hard and began spending all of her time with him. The prince and princess took their fairy tale and fucked it up beyond repair while their kingdom burned down around them.
My Dad was the best man I’d ever known. He worked his ass off making a life for me and my mom. He’d be at work before the sun was fully out most days and he wouldn’t pull into the driveway until it set. He ran his own construction company and I wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps.
My mom said I was always tagging along, eager to be near him—needing to just be in his presence. I could call him up, no matter the problem, and he’d always be willing to offer advice. He was just that kind of person. The man stood over six feet tall and had his arms sleeved in tattoos. He even drove a Harley, just to complete his bad ass biker look. He looked a little rough around the edges, but I watched how he was with Mom. That man would’ve given his life for her at any moment. It was like she was the fucking sun and he was content to spend his days revolving around her.
There were countless times that I’d walk into the kitchen or living room only to find the two of them making out like a couple of teenagers. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention to it—I thought everyone’s parents were like that. It wasn’t u
ntil I was much older that I realized how rare of a thing it was—this passion they still had for each other, even decades later.
I assumed I’d marry and my marriage would be just like theirs. Hell, I grew up surrounded by this love they shared, how could it not? I dated some, but with the bar set so high, I knew it was going to take someone special to catch my eye.
That night at Nick’s, I was beyond exhausted and had tried to get out of going out, but Mike was having none of that. I was just about to call it a night when the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life fell into my arms, dousing me in pineapple and rum.
Beth was this teeny-tiny little thing with a fetish for large heels that were damn near impossible for her to walk in. She was incredibly funny and sarcastic as hell—and I knew she was the one within five minutes of talking to her. She was clumsy and had a tendency to say whatever was in her head without considering the consequences. And I wanted nothing more than to be her man, to wake up next to that mess of blonde curls for the rest of my life.
The first time I took her down to my parent’s house, my dad pulled me aside. He said he’d seen the look on my face one other time; when he was looking in a mirror thirty-five years ago. We were sitting on their back porch drinking beer when he spoke up.
“David, Elizabeth is something special. You love her?”
I grinned at him, “Yeah, I damn sure do.”
He tipped his beer in my direction, “Well, then don’t waste any more time and get a goddamn ring on that girl’s hand before someone else does!”
So, I listened to my old man and I proposed. We were happy, until the business took center stage and I stopped noticing the way her nose crinkled when she was trying not to laugh or how her hair looked almost golden in direct sunlight. I didn’t notice anything unless it was construction related.
One evening my dad called me up to talk about it. I tried making excuses, but he was having none of it.
“David, I watched her when we were there a week ago. She’s not okay with you being gone this much. A marriage can’t work like that.”
“Dad, I know, I just need to get this off the ground and I don’t know—we’ll take a trip. Get back to normal.”
“Son, I don’t think you need to wait. The business can wait, but I saw the look in her eyes—this resignation. You can’t put this on the back burner right now.”
“Fuck, Dad, I’m under a lot of pressure here.” I added sarcastically, “We can’t all run a business like you.” It was a low blow, but I wanted him to see all the labor going into Greene Construction, not get tied up with thoughts of my marriage failing.
“I love you and her both, David. I just don’t want to see you two grow apart. You’ve got something special. Don’t take it for granted.”
I didn’t answer him right away.
“David—”
“Yeah, Dad, I’ve got another call coming in. I’ll talk to you later.” I ended the call.
The next morning Beth and I sat on the patio together—the first weekend that we’d had to ourselves in a long time. I was watching her drink her coffee and I thought that maybe my dad was right when my phone rang.
“Hey Mom.”
“David—” Her voice broke and I knew something was wrong, “Your dad…he…he had a heart attack. Sweetie, he’s gone.”
I hung up after failing miserably at trying to comfort her. Everything felt surreal. My dad—gone. The biker who never got so much as a cold—dead.
I told Beth and she immediately began sobbing and asking me questions. I got up and walked away from her—needing to be alone. It wasn’t until I was under the shower head, scalding water hitting my body that I realized I never told him I loved him back. My old man wanted nothing more than to see me happy and I didn’t even tell him I loved him during our last conversation.
It’s been six weeks. Six hellish weeks without her. I’ve been living in hotel rooms and while I originally tried to make sure all my jobs were done close to home, I’ve had to take some out of town jobs in order to ensure all of our bills remain paid while Beth’s recuperating. I’ve also tried to stop by and see her a few times, but each time I show up, I’m met with the door in my face.
While I’ve been actively trying to put my marriage back together, I’ve been dodging calls and texts from Jess. When I told her that Beth knew everything, I expected her to show some remorse. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She seemed happy by the news and almost immediately began trying to plan our future together. It’s like she couldn’t get it through her thick skull that I wasn’t going to throw away my marriage and my life over several instances of drunken, meaningless sex. Unfortunately, Jess doesn’t give up that easily. Between that and her pregnancy, I’m screwed.
I rub at my eyes as the phone rings. I haven’t slept in days. As I lift my arm, I smell myself. “David, you really need to shower.” The memory of her whispering in my ear as she lay in that hospital bed after the wreck is almost enough to overtake me. Mike finally picks up, saving me from my emotions.
“Detective Sullivan speaking.”
“Don’t you just sound real professional, Detective,” I put on a thick southern drawl in an attempt to throw him off.
“Nice try, dickwad. You still drowning your worries in a bottle of Pendleton?”
I sigh, “No, I gave that shit up. I’m not going to get her back drinking like that.”
I can hear him clicking a pen on and off, it’s a nervous habit he’s had as long as I can remember.
“So, she’s still shutting you out? What did I tell you that night you both got home from the hospital? I told you the lies were going to come back and bite you in the ass, didn’t I?”
His words leave a sour taste in my mouth, “Yeah, you did. I just thought we were getting a second chance—a clean slate. You ever find out anything on Landon?”
Mike clears his throat, “He’s clean, David. Guy doesn’t even have so much as a speeding ticket. So, there’s no chance of me bringing him in and holding him indefinitely as you so helpfully recommended the other night. Why are you so focused on him?”
“I don’t know, Mike. I just have a bad feeling about this guy. The way he looked at her, acting as though she was his possession—I still think he’s the one who broke into the house that night—”
He cuts me off, “David, we’ve been over this. No prints were ever recovered and when we questioned him, he had a rock solid alibi. He’s not the perp. Tell you what, I know you haven’t had a decent meal in quite a while. I’m taking off around five tonight, let’s meet for dinner.”
“Where?” The idea of eating a meal at a table and not in my truck is really appealing right now.
“I’d say Nick’s, but I don’t wanna send you on a bender again. Let’s just meet at West End and grab some pizza.”
I agree and forty-five minutes later, after a long shower and a change of clothes, I’m sitting across from him. I’m messing around with the coaster my beer is resting on when he interrupts.
“So—she won’t see you, but is she still seeing him?”
I stiffen immediately and my jaw clenches, “I don’t know—I guess I just assumed she was keeping us both at a distance while she sorted everything out.”
He takes a swig from his bottle of Guinness and nods, “I know I asked when you first told me, but did you ever suspect she was screwing someone else?”
I struggle to find the right words as I mull it over. Beth was always so happy to have me home, she’d practically throw herself at me the minute I’d come through the door. Maybe out of guilt? It’s as if a bucket of ice water has been thrown on me and I feel physically sick from it.
It was right in front of my face the whole time—the house was always spotless, and I knew for a fact she cleaned like that to deal with stress. That, and she startled at the slightest sound. It’s how I’d gotten away with my crimes against her, we were both so preoccupied with our own guilt that we missed each other’s.
I finally f
ind my voice again, “I never saw anything out of the ordinary. Looking back on it though, the signs were there.”
We’ve fallen back into a comfortable silence when a beautiful woman with long blonde hair walks up. She looks so much like Beth, I have to do a double take.
She smiles uncertainly, “David Greene?”
I nod, encouraging her to continue.
She thrusts a large manila envelope in my hands and looks almost apologetic as she does so.
“You’ve been served.”
Cheater. Adulteress. Unfaithful. Philanderer. Fraud. The words are on a constant replay in my mind. I’m still struggling to make sense of all of my memories—to sort fact from fiction. What I do remember is enough to disgust me. I alternate daily on whether I hate David or myself more.
I feel like a part of me knew about what went on with David and “she who shall not be named,” enough for my brain to leave me bread crumbs at least. And can we pause for a moment to think about the level of assholery one must be at to call up their best friend to come take care of them when they’re actively screwing said friend’s husband and their own spouse has left?
“Right after my Dad died—and then the night you admitted you were on birth control. I took off and ended up drunk in a bar. She showed up and uh, one thing led to another.” My throat burns at the memory of his confession and in remembering that it was Jess who suggested that I get on birth control in the first place. The bitch suggested it and then used it against me to get my husband into her bed. My best friend.
I waited six weeks, hoping there’d be some clear answer on how to fix everything. There wasn’t. He and I were two people who had hurt each other beyond reconciliation. I did the only thing I knew to do. I finally Googled “How to file for divorce in Texas,” and they were going to be serving him the papers within the next few days.
I couldn’t face him on my own and I knew there was no way in hell he’d agree to it. If I had to talk to him face to face about my decision, he’d either end up in bed with me or on the floor bleeding out. Yeah, the man stirs up some pretty conflicting feelings within me. No, it was safer this way. Plus, with Jess having his baby—ugh, I may vomit—I had no other choice. I wasn’t willing to stay with him, somehow try to get past all the hurt we’d caused each other, all while playing step-mom to Jess’s kid. That was daytime talk show-level crazy.