Let Love Stay

by Melissa Collins

  “Thanks, Maddy. Why don’t you go out there and dance. I don’t want to bring you down. I just miss Bryan, that’s all.” Averting eye contact, she starts picking at the corners of a napkin on the table.

  “I know, Mel. I wish he could be here too. It’ll all work out.” I want my words to be true, but their road has been such a bumpy one, I’m just not sure anymore.

  As she offers up one last lame-ass smile, Dylan comes up behind her. “Would you care to dance with me?” he asks as he stretches out his hand.

  She stands from her chair and places her hand in his. “I would love to, Best Man slash Godfather.” She winks at me as they make their way to the dance floor. I want so badly for both of them to find their happiness. I can’t think of two people who deserve it more.

  I’ve loved every minute of it, but when it’s time to pile into the car and head home for the night, I’m more than thankful to curl up in my own bed with my new husband.

  We talked about getting a hotel and leaving Braden with Momma, but Reid refused. “I want to spend our first night together as a family. He’s our son, and it’s important that on our first night as a married couple, that we’re also together as a family.” Needless to say, I couldn’t come up with a valid argument.

  As we walk through our door, Reid drops his keys into the small bowl on the beat-up side table that Momma gave us when we moved in. On top of the table sits some of our most cherished items: the picture of Reid and Shane, a picture of Reid, Braden and I from the day Braden was born, and my parents’ jar of sand.

  It’s midnight by the time we crawl into bed and it doesn’t take me more than five minutes to cuddle up against Reid’s newly tattooed chest and fall asleep. My new favorite place to rest my head is on the tiny and freshly inked footprints of our son that are etched over my husband’s heart.

  Sometime in the early dawn hours, I roll over and feel around in the bed. Reid’s not here, but the distinct creaking noise coming from Braden’s nursery is a pretty clear indication of where he is.

  Leaning against the door jamb, I see the sweetest vision I could ever imagine. Braden is wrapped in a blanket, and the only thing I can see from my vantage point is his tiny hand pressed up against Reid’s bare chest. Opposite Braden’s name and footprints is a beautiful pair of angel wings. In the feathers, in a bold script that still looks masculine enough to decorate his perfectly sculpted pecs, is scrolled “In Loving Memory of Becca and Shane.”

  He catches me staring and smirks at me from the rocking chair. Reid stands and gently places a now sleeping Braden back into his crib. Walking over to me, he whispers, “Hey wife.” His lopsided goofy grin is visible even in the low light of the rising sun.

  “Hey husband.” It’s cheesy and I wonder how long we’ll go on calling each other by titles instead of names, but I’ll let it slide when it makes him this happy.

  When we get back into our bed, my head resting on his beautifully tattooed chest again, we lay together watching the sun rise through the window. Light fills the room and my heart.

  I’m not foolish enough to think that things will always be easy, that we’ll always be perfect. We’ve still got mountains to climb, college to graduate, jobs to work. But as we bask in the light of the rising sun together, I know that Reid will always be my perfectly imperfect happily ever after.

  There are so many people who helped make Let Love Stay possible. I would be no where without the love and support of my family. My husband, James, is my rock – and my soft place to fall. Thank you so much for every single motivating word, complimentary remark, and gentle nudge of encouragement.

  I owe a huge thank you to an amazing group of Indie Authors – you all know who you are. Saoching, Michele, Ana, Chelle,Suzanne and Antoinette - you’re all amazing and I’m so proud to be a part of this little family we’ve got going on. To our fearless ninja leader, Jennifer Short, thank you so much for, well, for everything.

  To my amazing beta readers – Kristy Bruno, Chelsea Camaron, Kim Rinaldi, Jennifer Mirabelli, Nicole LoCrichhio, Mollie Minard, Kimberly Shepherd, Katie Lock, Emily Hightower, Jennifer Diaz, Pam Schaeffer, Laurna Hamilton and Jennifer Short – thank you so very much for becoming invested in my characters and my books. Your feedback is hugely invaluable and I can’t wait to work with you on future novels.

  To my good friend and fellow author, Carey Heywood. I can’t say thank you enough for all of your support. I’m so lucky to have developed such an amazing friendship with you. Thank you for everything. I can’t wait to stalk our books for many more years to come.

  I have a distinct feeling that no one would even know who I am without the tremendous support of the blogs that have promoted me and spread the word about my books. Debra from Book Enthusiast Promotions, Mindy, from Talkbooks, Dani from Just Booked, Katie from Bookaholics Blog, Emily from Rate my Romance, and so many more – thank you so much for everything you’ve done. You’re such a huge support system.

  Arijana from Cover It! Designs, Becky from Hot Tree Editing and Angela from Fictional Formats – thank you all so much for putting the finishing touches on Let Love Stay. It wouldn’t have turned out the same without your help.

  Lastly, thank you so much to all of my readers. Your comments, notes of encouragement (and yes, even the “are you kidding me” comments from the end of Let Love In) really do make my day. I absolutely love interacting with you and I am so thrilled that you are enjoying my work. Thank you for everything.

  I’ve always been an avid reader. Majoring in English Literature was a no brainer. Becoming a teacher and instilling my love for reading into my students was also a no brainer. I’ve spent the last ten years teaching and I’ve loved (mostly) every minute of it. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I discovered a new genre that sparked my creativity. My passion for writing sprang from my love of reading and once I knew I had a story to tell, I couldn’t wait to get it out there. I only hope that my readers enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  Future Projects:

  Let Love Heal, Melanie’s story, will be the next book in The Love Series. I am hoping to have this out in the late fall of 2013. And yes, Lia, Logan, Cammie and Jack – and even Dylan- will all have their own books as well. I am also working on a standalone, From The Wreckage, which is a contemporary romance. This novel should hopefully be out in late 2013 / early 2014. Be sure to get all the updates by following me:

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  Twitter - @mcollinsauthor

  Web – www.melissacollinsauthor.com