by Syd Ryan
“I have no problem being on board with everything you have requested.”
“Gavin, are you on board? Kids are no easy task, are you up for it?”
“I’m on board completely. I live in a gated community, a very safe place for the kids. Jamie and the kids will be living with me. Anything you need from me, I will make sure you have it. I will set up a time with the Florida caseworker for her to inspect the house before we leave the state.” Gavin says all this with the confidence of a strong provider. I admit I’m far from used to it. “I will be hiring a lawyer to represent us.” I hope this didn’t piss her off. “I don’t expect any problems, but it’s good to have one on hand.”
“I think we have some kids who want to see their big sister. What do you think?”
“I can’t wait to see them too.”
“I will go and get them and be right out.”
The moment she walks out, I’m on Gavin like wildfire. “Are you trying to piss her off?”
“No, but I do not want any last-minute surprises. Jamie, it will kill you if we leave here without them. I will do everything in my power to make sure that does not happen. Legally, we want to be covered. I will call my dad’s friend and get a referral. He has connections that I don’t.” Listening to Gavin, I understand where he is coming from.
Chapter 42
Gavin holds my hand for dear life and, at this moment, I’m draining every ounce of support he can give me. I hear the rumble of footsteps coming down the hallway. The kids stick together as they walk into the room.
“Hi, guys.” We stand there looking at each other, speechless. The kids have grown up so much since the last time I saw them. My hatred for my parent’s seeps through a little more.
“It’s about time you got here. I need out of here. This is not working for me,” Jerrica says with confidence that she is sure as shit going to get her way. I walk up to her and give her hug.
“I’m so glad you are here, Jamie. I miss you,” Jordan says with a cocky smile that will break the hearts of girls someday.
J.J. is standing there with a book in her hand.
“What are you reading, J.J.?”
“Harry Potter. You are the only one who calls me that. Why?”
“I called you that because you and Jonathan were always together, and when I yelled that you both came running. After a while, you thought it was your name.” She smiles a cute smile that’s in need of a set of braces.
As I look at Jonathan, I get down on my knees to be face-to-face with him. “I missed you so much.”
He looks up with a face full of freckles. Before I know it, he has his arms wrapped around me so tightly. “I’m so happy to see you.” At this moment, everything is right with the world. I give him an even tighter hug, and I kiss his temple before I stand up.
“Ms. Michaels, do you mind if I talk to Julia for a minute? Can you take them to another room?”
“Come on, kids, let’s give your sisters a few minutes. I can step away to give you a minute alone.” Gavin says trying to give us some privacy.
“No, stay,” Julia says.
“Who is this little person?” A little girl with a pink unicorn shirt and tights is holding on to Julia for dear life and clutching her little pony. “That’s what I wanted to discuss with you. Jamie, this is our sister Jameson.”
Gavin looks as shocked as I am. “How old is she?”
“She is twenty-two months old.” Jameson has blonde curls, which is unusual because none of us kids have blonde hair. She has the brightest set of blue eyes, almost clear enough to see waves of water through them.
“Why didn’t you tell me about her, Julia?”
“I knew it would make you worry more, and I didn’t want to add it to your plate.”
I touch her sweet little arm; she is the most precious thing ever.
“I didn’t think Mom could have any more kids. With all the meds she takes, I’m surprised she can have babies.” I say thinking out loud.
“Actually, she stayed clean when she was pregnant. Jameson was born six weeks early due to Mom being high risk. As soon as she was home, she started using again. She disconnected from life, and we never got her back.” I completely understand that, having dealt with addicted patients in the emergency room.
I look up to Gavin. “Jamie, she is perfect.”
Gavin moves down to get a little closer to her. “Jameson, yes, you’re a perfect little thing.” His smile is so broad; he just fell in love with her. She holds her arms out for him to pick her up. Gavin scoops up the perfect little thing, and she looks so tiny in his arms. Gavin wraps his other arm around me. “Jamie, this is our forever. Our forever starts today.”
Epilogue
The last two months have been a whirlwind for the Jenkins-Rodgers household. We are a crazy family of unpredictables. Our lives are in a complete tailspin. My life of drinking and partying no longer exists, but my smartass mouth is still present. I have everything I want in my life.
I did visit my mom briefly before coming home. She is looking at a couple of years in prison. She is not about to change. The whole visit was about “me, me and more me.” She never once asked about the kids. I don’t care if she turns into Mother Theresa—the kids are not going back to her.
My dad has reached out twice, checking on the kids. He admits he isn’t capable of any more, and I’m finally able to accept that for what it is. The last contact he made was a postcard from Canada. I have no clue how he got past the border. I know he will never push me for custody of them.
Upon my return, I immediately dropped my status to casual call-relief. I manage to work eight hours a week. Gavin insisted on this. We don’t want anyone else watching Jameson. Gavin works ten-hour days, so the day I work he stays home with her.
After the kids get back from school, Jameson starts going to the front door looking for him. “Gav, Gav,” she says repeatedly. It’s so stinking cute, and he just soaks it up. She is his sunshine, and the day she held her arms out to him, he fell in love and never got out.
I never thought I would like not working full time, but I love being home with her. I ask her about going to preschool next year, and she says “No, home.”
Julia is getting ready for college, submitting applications everywhere. I think she is leaning toward NYU, but she is waiting for the most significant scholarship offer. Either way, Gavin and I agreed we are going to make it happen for her. The girl has got the smarts and can make anything happen. She manages to have time for a boyfriend named Scott, who is a surfer. He follows her around like a lost puppy dog, and she loves it. Finally, she is getting to live her life.
I caught Jameson smacking Scott’s hand when he tried to hold Julia’s hand. Clearly, she was letting him know that Julia belongs to her. Obviously, Jameson is running the adults in this house in the best of ways.
Jordan is spending all his free time playing ball. Gavin is coaching middle school baseball. They informed me my summer will be spent at the ballpark since he made the All-Star baseball team. Jordan and Gavin are the best of friends. Jordan was missing male support in his life and has gripped on to Gavin like life support.
Janet (J.J.) spends most of her time in Gavin’s office reading books. She’s the only one allowed in there. She loves the quiet and unlimited books at her disposal. I caught her telling Jonathan it was her special room. It starts World War III, but we managed to put that fire out somehow. The other night, I heard commotion in there. When I checked, I saw J.J. reading to Gavin. Gavin was just sitting there, and I didn’t think about interrupting her.
My sister Jerrica is the one I want to strangle. She has been the hardest by far. She is so much like our mother. Everything is a power struggle with her. The counselor believes she is oppositional defiant. I keep boundaries in place, but she pushes them every day. She is hanging around the “cool” kids who get everything handed to them. She adjusted the most easily to school because she has always believed that she is better than everyone else.
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This brings us to today. Regan and Grayson are getting married. Regan is wearing a long flowing dress and is marrying Grayson on a beach in front of fifty family members and friends. Regan has a little pooch in her stomach which consists of one tiny Matthews.
It’s my job to get the bride ready. Elias, her deceased boyfriend’s boss, was kind enough to offer his house for us to get ready in. Gavin has his hands full with the kids. All our people that help with kids are attending the nuptials therefore, we have no babysitters available to watch the kids. I told Gavin over and over Julia could watch them for us, but he was insistent they come with us. I told him that I didn’t want to hear him, complain about the kids all over the place.
The wedding goes by in a blur. Regan becomes Mrs. Matthews within fifteen minutes of the nupitals starting. Momma Patty is catering the wedding because that was the only request of the pregnant bride. She provides everything except the wedding cake.
I’m sitting at a table, and I’m people watching. Our kids are laughing and running around with Rowan’s three kids. Grayson and Regan are sitting next to each other looking so much in love. People are drinking and laughing, and this wedding is filled with so much happiness. Elias is staring at Rowan, trying not to be obvious about it. I’m soaking in the love coming from every direction.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Gavin says with a smirk.
“I think you spent all your money on my thoughts, I think you should be dirt poor.”
“OK, I will tell you mine. I’m thinking about letting Julia take the kids home after the cake. She can spend her energy getting the sugar-crazed kids to bed. I’d rather spend my time fucking you up against a wall in the bathroom. We can catch an Uber, and we can play a game called can we get Jamie off on the ride back home. Then, at home, we can fuck like bunnies, because the kids will be passed out.”
“I like your thoughts so much better, Mr. Rodgers.”
I take my maid of honor duties seriously by gathering up the troops for cake. Regan couldn’t decide on the type of cake in her pregnant want-to-eat-everything state, so she decided on a cupcake cake. I know she has ten different flavors, and she will be stuffing her face over the next couple of days with the leftovers.
They will leave for the honeymoon in Italy in a few days. Grayson wants to keep it romantic for her because they will have a baby and won’t have a lot of time for each other. I appreciate the romantic gesture.
I gather the troops, and the bride and groom feed each other a delicate piece of the cupcake. Regan would be pissed if the cake were smeared all over her face.
“James, here is your cupcake. I picked a strawberry shortcake flavor for you. I saw you eyeing it in the case at the bakery.” I get all the kids settled with a cupcake at the table. Jordan eats his whole cupcake in one bite. Jerrica looks annoyed at hers. I think it is more about the teenage boys not chasing her around. Jameson has chocolate in her hair, and it’s working its way down her frilly pink dress. I start to stand to get her cleaned up.
“Jamie, we got this. Enjoy your cupcake.” Julia says.
I feel like everyone is staring at me.
“Go ahead, eat it. So we can send the kids on their way.” Gavin says with a smirk like he is up to something.
I take my first bite and strawberry cream instantly hits my palate. “This is so good.” Everyone at the table starts to look at each other. “What is going on?” They are mumbling to each other, and I have no clue what is being said. I take another bite and realize something is in it. “Something...”
Gavin drops to his knees in front of me. Everything gets quiet. He gets a hold of my left hand, and I take what appears to be a ring out of my mouth. “Jamie, I love you more than anything in this world. I would never have thought the hot E.R. nurse would give me a minute of her time. Those snarky-ass comments of yours, your fun, feisty sense of humor, and your giving nature are all things I can’t imagine not having in my life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Jamie, you have given me so much purpose in my life. I’m truly nothing without you. I love the life I have with you, and the only thing that would make it better is having you by my side as my wife.”
“Yes, Yes, Yes!”
Gavin takes a napkin and wipes down the ring before putting it on my left hand. The ring is absolutely beautiful, a princess three-carat diamond ring with diamonds around the large stone. Gavin kisses me with a fury, without caring about the people around us, and the cheers start. The kids start clapping hard. Apparently, they were in on this proposal.
The wedding guests come around and congratulate us, and the last to join us are the bride and groom. “Were you in on this, Regan?”
“Yes, that is why we had the cupcake done differently.
“I hope this didn’t interrupt your day.”
“Stop it. I’m glad you came to your senses.”
“Me too, Regan.”
“May, I have a dance?” Gavin asks.
“Of course.”
We dance during Etta James’s “At Last.” “I hope I don’t disappoint you,” I say.
Gavin stops dancing and lifts my chin so I’m eye-to-eye with him. “It is my honor spending the rest of my life showing you how worthy you are to me. I’m the luckiest man in the world since you are willing to spend forever with me. We are forever, Jamie, you are my forever.”
Looking into this man’s eyes, I never saw it more clearly. I have no doubts that I deserve my forever with Gavin.
Acknowledgements
I’m not sure where to start... I’m actually speechless. I loved writing Worthy. Jamie was such a fun character to write. I can’t get enough of her. My only regret is that I couldn’t get it to you earlier. I can’t thank you enough for your patience. So, to my readers, you rock!
My biggest thank you goes to Stephanie Marshall Ward. You’re an angel in the indie book community. I finally got the great editing experience I have been searching for over the past year. Finally, a book I didn’t dread editing. Honestly, thank you for teaching me about my mistakes. Thanks for restoring my faith in editors and in the indie book community.
Many thanks to the woman who helps keep me off the ledge: my book bestie, Jacie Osborne (Author Kay Gordon). You are a rock star; I would have quit if it weren’t for you. Thank you for having my back and restoring my faith in each letter I type. One day, I want to cowrite with you. I think we could put out a great book!
Jessa York, thanks for the teaser clean-up. I have no doubt it will bring people in to read my book.
To my writing groups, Romancing the Manuscript and Kissing Books 101, thank you for the phenomenal direction and support during my writing journey!
To my counselor, Melinda Klippell, the wait in your office for your anger management group inspired me more than I’d ever expected. I appreciate your pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping me find a support system.
My boys, I would be lost without you. I love you to the moon and back, even when you are wrestling in my face as I try to write.
My coworkers, I hope you enjoy some of the name drops. I appreciate your not bitching about me writing in the classroom.
I’m looking forward to starting on Book Three, which will be Rowan and Elias’s story. Rowan’s story involves a cheating asshole, a single momma, and a man who never planned on having a family.
About the Author
Syd Ryan works as a qualified mental health specialist with troubled youth in a teen mental health residential facility. Concussions, aches, and pains don’t stop her. Syd works sixteen-hour shifts and her best writing happens after midnight. Syd is married, and a mother to three boys. She holds two college degrees: in nursing and exercise science. Worthy is Syd’s second contemporary romance novel.
She read over 300 romance books in her Goodreads challenge last year and a desire to write a novel wouldn’t leave her head. She developed her love of romance novels watching her mom reading romance and drinking Coke when she was little. She rekindled her love of books
after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. She enjoys her free time surfing social media, reading books, and being a crazy baseball mom.
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