by Maree, Kay
“I know,” I murmur.
“But he had Janice and the baby, they should have been enough.” I pause, replaying every word he said.
“He told me I should have known my place.” My words are whisper soft.
Nash’s touch grounds me to him and I know he is right.
Too much time has already been wasted on trying to figure Patrick out.
I feel like my head is going to explode with everything Nash just told me.
“Arghhh... it’s all just too confusing to try and piece together. You’re right, we shouldn’t be wasting our time trying to figure him out. Just knowing he can’t hurt me anymore is enough,” I nod, “and as much as I hate Janice I feel sorry for her now she has to raise that baby alone.”
“Little Mare,” he says slowly, his words strained, setting my back teeth on edge.
“What’s wrong?”
“He murdered them.”
“Oh god are you serious?” the words choking out of me sounding watery to my own ears.
Tears slide unchecked down my cheeks.
My heart hurting for the friend I once knew and the innocent life of a baby.
We may not have been friends in the end but no one deserves that.
“They didn’t deserve that,” I hiccup.
Sniff.
“Shhh, baby,” he whispers, pulling me down onto his chest.
Rubbing a hand up and down my back.
We lay there like that, just holding each other until my tears dry up and I’m breathing normally again.
“I got you,” he whispers over and over again.
“I love you.”
“I love you more,” he says, kissing the crown of my head.
The aroma of rich hot chocolate floats through the room when Nash walks in with two ceramic cups in his hands, closing the door with the heel of his bare foot.
Licking my lips as my eyes travel the length of his body, grey sweatpants hanging low on defined hips, his bare chiselled chest with that white bandage sticking out like a beacon in the night. A hard jaw and even through his beard that dimple pops out, making my insides contract as those grey stormy eyes roam down my every curve.
Setting my cup on the bedside table beside me.
“Are you going to tell me how you hurt yourself?” I nod to the bandage as he moves around the bed to his side.
“I didn’t hurt myself,” he winks, confusing me.
“Okay,” I say slowly squinting my eyes at his cryptic reply making him chuckle.
Placing his cup down beside him, he turns and begins to pull at the tape.
My hand flies to my mouth when I see he got a tattoo.
“What did you do?” I gasp.
Leaning forward I run my nail gently across the detail of a cowboy boot with a Stetson sitting on top, a rope lassoed around the bottom of the boot until the end of the rope is curled into a heart.
It’s beautiful and so detailed I have no words.
A small breathy moan slips off my tongue as my nail traces over the script laying underneath.
3:36 pm Monday the 6th of January 2020
Time stood still when the woman of my
Dreams fell into my arms
“I can’t believe you did this,” I breathe out, not wanting to pull my eyes away from the beautiful piece.
“That day is branded onto my soul.
That day my eyes opened for the first time.
Before you, I thought my land, my horse and Yogi were enough.
Then you stumbled into my arms and I realized you were the one thing I never imagined I could want but never wanted to give up.”
“You are going to make me cry again,” I sniff, smiling.
Brushing his lips over mine from left to right, the tip of his tongue slides across at the same time making me hum as rich chocolate and Nash blend together across my tongue setting my body on fire.
“Delicious,” I say, making him chuckle.
“Come on babe, lay down with me.”
“Okay,” feeling heat starting to creep into my cheeks.
Pulling the blankets over my legs, turning slightly to fix my pillows.
“Uh, babe what the fuck are these?”
He holds up a bunch of pamphlets the doctor gave me about the Endovaginal ultrasound.
And I may have cheekily placed them on his bedside table when he went to make hot chocolate.
I try to fight a giggle.
“I thought you might want some reading material,” I shrug, turning my face away, so he doesn’t see my wicked smile.
“What the fuck?”
I can’t hold it in anymore and I crack up laughing.
“This shit is not funny,” he tightly grips the stack of pamphlets in his hand, shaking his fist.
“Oh Cowboy, it really is,” I gasp laughing when he lunges for me making me squeal.
Instead of being rough like I thought he would, he’s gentle as if I’m spun glass, and he's worried I will break.
“I love you babe, but this shit is not happening,” he growls.
Using his nose to slide up his shirt I’m wearing, pressing soft kisses against my belly button as he goes, making me giggle.
“It will happen, Nash, you heard the Doctor.
It’s the only way,” I gasp.
Cupping his face in my hands and pulling him up my body where he proceeds to bury his face into my chest growling like a rabid dog making me giggle.
“I’ll get your mum to come with me then.”
“Yeah that ain’t happening either, I will be there and the female doctor, that’s it.”
“Okay,” I concede smiling, knowing I won this round.
Running my fingers through the back of his hair he groans relaxing into me making me grunt.
“Sorry Babe,” he rears back a bit, lifting his weight off me.
“Come back.”
“I’m too heavy for your little body,” he rests his hand over my flat stomach.
“I like your weight on top of me,” I protest in a breathy voice as he rests his lips against my belly again.
“Too bad babe,” he mumbles.
“You’re carrying precious cargo and my boy doesn’t need to be squished by his old man.”
“Boy?” I ask, surprised.
“Yep,” he nods as if it’s a done deal.
“What if we have a little girl?”
He visibly shudders.
“It can’t happen, babe.
My girl wouldn’t leave our land, and if she did I would be following her around with a shotgun to make sure no little punk touches her.”
“I think you just sealed your fate,” I smirk.
“Shhh woman, we are having a boy and that’s final.”
“Ah...ha Cowboy. Whatever you say.”
Secretly praying for a girl just to see him lose his mind trying to handle her.
“Now kiss me.”
“Anything you want, Little Mare,” he murmurs, sliding up my body.
Sucking my bottom lip into his mouth before sealing his lips against mine.
And just like every other time when his lips touch mine my soul ignites and bursts into blinding passion and I let myself drown in it.
Who knew travelling to bum fuck nowhere in a tin can with wings and sending out a random prayer to anyone that was listening that it could lead me here.
To this town.
To this family.
To this man.
My story wasn’t over...
It was only hitting the best part, and all I had to do was be brave enough to turn the page.
And when I did It had me getting everything I ever wanted and so much more…
Cora
5 months Later…
Smiling wistfully out the French doors in our bedroom.
My hand rests against my growing belly as the sun begins to set.
My one main input into marrying Nash w
as it had to be done at twilight.
When the rich colours from the sun shine over the rolling hills.
Bouncing off the water in the pond, making the water look like tiny diamonds are dancing across the surface.
I wanted that feeling from that night so long ago when he took me up to the second landing in the barn.
The night I gave in and realised all along the me I was trying to find was already right there.
I just needed to open my eyes.
I wanted that feeling consuming me on the night I married my soulmate because he gave me back the me I thought I lost so long ago.
No longer was I the forgotten girl.
Pushed aside when something else better came along.
Instead, I was wanted by the amazing people of this town.
I was welcomed with open arms into June and Lou’s family, and I was loved by the one man I thought at some point would break me but instead ended up loving me.
When I told Nash this he quickly agreed saying I could have whatever I wanted.
Then upped the ante by organizing the ceremony to be held by the water’s edge.
So that when the sun finally set, we would be bathed in the last rays of bold rich reds, oranges, purples and pinks of the day and I couldn’t think of a better way to start our new life together.
“Cora, you are breathtaking. My son won’t know what hit him when he sees you,” June laughs.
Pulling my eyes away from the stunning view.
They lock with June's watery gaze as she takes me in from the bedroom door.
Holding her hands out as she walks towards me, softly resting them on my shoulders.
“This dress looks more stunning than I remember,” she sniffs.
A soft smile touches her lips as I run my hands over my stomach.
The dress is called a high low dress, it’s layered in white silk and tan lace.
It hits just above the knees and then cascades down the sides leading to a long lace train at the back. With a sweetheart neckline, tan lace trimming that chases down the sides of my back, coming to rest just inches off my ass so the middle of my back is bare. Looking down at the shoes that took me months to find I smile falling in love with them all over again.
They are an elegant take on the traditional wedding cowboy boots.
Instead of leather encasing my legs tan floral lace covers the white satin four-inch pumps then travels up to just under my knees.
Down the outside on each leg satin white ribbon crisscrosses up my leg and ties into a pretty bow at the top.
The best thing is.
The lady at the store had them made from the same white silk and tan lace from my dress.
“Thank you, mum, for everything,” I choke out.
It still hits me hard every time I call her that.
“Now don’t you start crying,” she scolds playfully, making me giggle as she wipes her own eyes.
“You heard her don’t bloody start, you will ruin your makeup and if you start with the waterworks, it’s like a domino effect, and then we will all bloody start,” Lucy pipes up from across the room making us laugh.
“I don’t have time to redo anybody's makeup so no more sad shit,” Sophie speaks up walking into the room with a bottle of champagne in one hand and a glass of orange juice for me in the other.
“Please don’t tell me you ladies are going to drink straight from the bottle,” I laugh.
“Not that Sophie hasn’t done that before,” Demetri says in a thick Italian accent from the open doorway, followed by a deep chuckle holding up three glasses.
“But no, not this time,” he smiles, handing over the glasses.
“There is no point dirtying glasses when it’s only me,” Sophie defends.
Cutting her eyes to her husband.
“Plus, all your brother’s women can’t drink with me, so I think it’s my right to drink for all of them,” she smarts back.
Holding his hands up in the universal sign of giving in, he just smirks.
Winking as I try to smother a giggle.
“You and that smart mouth will keep little Butterfly,” he smirks.
Licking his lips as his eyes slowly caress up and down her body, taking in every inch.
Nobody misses the blush staining Sophie’s cheeks.
“Don’t listen to her, Demetri. Sophie is a pain in the ass, she could do with a good spanking,” Lucy pipes in, slipping her brown cowboy boots on, making us all laugh.
“Butterfly, I’m going to head downstairs,” leaning down he plants a small kiss on her lips before heading out the door chuckling when we all Awww over the sweetness of the moment.
Sophie ignores all of us, rolling her eyes as she pops open the bottle with a flourish and pours out three glasses, passing them to Lucy and Mum.
We all clink our glasses together.
“To forever,” Sophie says.
“To saving the horse and riding the cowboy,” Lucy throws out, making us all burst out laughing.
I gasp as a stitch forms in my side.
“Shit,” I gasp again, holding my side.
“You did not just say that,” Sophie gasps out between her laughter.
“Oh, I did,” Lucy pumps her eyebrows.
Taking a few more sips, we gather ourselves.
Lucy downs her glass, which has us all looking at her.
She simply shrugs, placing her cup down.
I don't know what it is but Lucy seems a bit different lately but every time her sister or I ask her about it she shrugs us off.
So for now, Sophie and I have agreed to let it go.
But at some point, we will get her to spill her guts.
“I must say, Sophie, you have done really good for yourself,” Mum pumps her eyebrows making us all crack up laughing again.
Mum winks at me as if saying she sees the difference in Lucy too.
“What can I say, it's the accent,” Sophie winks.
“Oh yeah, that’s what got you to marry him,” Lucy says saucily.
“You girls look great,” Mum says.
Breaking into what no doubt was about to turn into a TMI conversation.
Giving them each a hug.
I have to agree.
The silky Champagne A-line V-neck long floor-length dresses go well with their natural light tanned skin and the long split running down their left legs pulls the whole dress together.
Even though it probably shows off a lot more leg than we all originally thought.
The girls don’t seem to mind since they are wearing the classic tanned cowboy boot but with a spiked heel.
I just hope we all don’t start aerating the lawn or fall on our asses.
“I’m gonna go make sure my son is good to go, and possibly let Lou know he’ll have to hold Nash back from running down the aisle to get you,” she giggles.
Coming to stand in front of me, kissing my cheek.
“I am so proud to call you my daughter,” she whispers in my ear, my eyes glass over, blinking rapidly a few times, willing the tears not to fall.
“Oh, my God, June,” Lucy huffs playfully, folding her arms across her chest.
“Stop trying to make her cry.”
“Bite your tongue, Little Miss Lucy,” Mum scolds, before walking out of the room.
“She is lucky I love her,” Lucy huffs again heading towards me and starts pulling the pins out of my hair so my hair hangs down in a natural wave of curls.
“I heard that,” Mum calls out.
“Shit,” Lucy hisses, making me laugh.
“I swear that woman has the hearing of a fox,” she mutters.
“She never misses a beat.”
“Oh, I know,” I giggle.
“Okay, so we have something old?” Sophie asks.
“Yep,” I point to the antique rustic clip in my hair that June gave me last night.
“Something new?”
I point to the chandelier earrings I’m wearing.
“Borrowed?” Lucy pipes in.
“Yes, Sophie lent me her diamond bracelet,” lifting my arm to show it off, smiling.
“Okay, but what about something blue?” Sophie asks.
Lifting my dress a little so they can both see the cream lace garter with blue ribbon woven throughout.
Everyone smiles.
“Okay, well, we better get our butts downstairs. John is waiting for us at the back door,” Sophie says, looking towards the clock on the bedside table.
My eyes looking back out the glass doors, watching as the sky begins to change colour.
Picking up my bouquet of champagne roses, Lily’s of the valley and native gum leaves, I admire the stems wrapped together in tan lace as the sweet aroma swirls up my nose making me smile. We decided to go with the whole modern rustic look with a splash of western.
I must say with everything I have seen so far it's’ going to be perfect.
If I’m being honest, the dresses, flowers, cake and everything else is just trimmings and what I can’t wait for is those two words coming out on that smooth whiskey whisper I crave so much. Just that thought has my body primed and ready to run to him.
Knowing he will catch me once again.
“Are you ready to be happy?” Sophie asks in a soft sweet voice, a smile kissing her lips.
“I am,” I nod.
“You are going to rock this Happily ever after shit,” Lucy says, running her hand over my belly.
“I love you girls,” I blurt, waving a hand in front of my face trying to stop the tears.
“We love you too,” Sophie whispers in my ear as we all wrap our arms around each other.
Lucy sniffs in my other ear.
When we pull apart, we all have glassy eyes.
“We’d better get your cute ass down there before Nash sends out the search party,” Lucy says.
“Let’s do it,” I say as we exit my room.
Taking the stairs slowly so I don’t catch my heel on my dress, the girls behind me each lifting the back of my dress up.
“You deserve this Baby Girl,” John's voice is rough like he is fighting off tears.
Looking into those kind brown eyes, my heart beats a little faster.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without you,” I breathe out.