Shadows of Our Past

by Tanya Jean Russell

  “Thank you, Amory. I am ready to face the consequences. I just hope the people here aren’t affected too badly.”

  “You know we’ll both do whatever we can to help if the estate is in jeopardy,” Jackson said.

  “Ready to eat?” Maggie said, bustling into the kitchen, juggling bottles of wine in her arms.

  Amory jumped up to help her and he grinned at the warm smile Maggie gave the woman he loved. He couldn’t wait to get his sling off and start helping out again. Although watching Amory’s tight jeans flex as she moved across the kitchen, he admitted there were other priorities that would have his complete attention once he was fully mobile again.

  As Amory walked past him, he reached out with his good hand and gave her bottom a squeeze. It was a mistake because the feeling of her firm flesh through the denim had his body paying all sorts of attention. She’d been stubbornly determined not to do anything more than kiss him until he was well enough to lose the sling and it was driving him insane.

  “Amory, would you mind serving up the pie?” Maggie asked as she passed the bottles to Ed who started to open them.

  Amory looked pleasantly surprised that Maggie was letting her do it but quickly agreed.

  “Excellent. Jackson, I need your help with something. Would you come with me for a moment?”

  Jackson looked puzzled at the woman who was part aunt, part mother, and wondered what on earth he could do with his arm in a sling that William or Ed couldn’t do. He nodded his agreement and followed her from the kitchen.

  She headed toward the main staircase before he could ask so he dutifully trailed behind her. Once they were out of sight of the kitchen, she peered back around the corner before returning her attention to him.

  “What do you want me to help with at the foot of the stairs?” he asked with amusement.

  “Ah, well, I might have told a little white lie there,” she said with a crafty smile. “I needed you on your own and I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance if I didn’t make one.”

  “What do you need me on my own for?”

  “This,” she said, slipping her hand into the wide pocket at the front of her apron and pulling out a dusty velour box. “I thought you might be in need of it.”

  As he took the familiar box from her outstretched hand he held his breath, half wondering if he already knew what was inside. The corners of the box were rough with age and wear, but the sides still held the softness of the navy fabric. Flipping it open, he took a deep breath at the sight of the square emerald set in a simple gold band.

  “Mother’s engagement ring.”

  “She gave it to me for safekeeping just before she passed,” Maggie said.

  He looked from the ring to Maggie, and her eyes glittered with unshed tears. She sucked in a breath.

  “She asked me to give it to you when you needed it,” she finally added.

  “For Amory?” He asked the question, even knowing he didn’t need to hear the answer.

  “For the woman worthy of you.”

  “But you didn’t like her.”

  “I knew there was something she wasn’t telling us. I don’t like anyone who could upset my boys,” she corrected. “She’s more than proven herself, but even if she hadn’t she’s given you her heart, and you’ve given her yours. I want you to be happy.”

  “Thank you, Maggie. I love you, you know that, right?” he said, pulling her into a hug.

  “Of course I do, you daft boy. Now, I’m not telling you to do anything with that ring, that’s up to you, but I had a feeling you might be needing it.”

  She pulled back from him and he looked back at the box in his hand. It was perfect.

  ****

  Sitting at the table he let his hand wander to the box that was now safely in his own pocket. He’d already known he wanted Amory forever, Maggie had just given him exactly what he needed to make sure she knew it. As he patted the box, Ed gave him a knowing smile and placed a glass of wine in front of him.

  Picking up his fork, he cut into Maggie’s pie. Amory had given him a huge portion which he would normally be grateful for, but right then he didn’t know how he was going to eat any of it. Anticipation churned his stomach as his mind wandered to how he could find the perfect moment to ask the question he desperately wanted to ask.

  His heart pounded with the realization that he wasn’t going to wait. Lifting the loaded fork to his mouth, he started chewing the first mouthful of pie, and putting the fork back down he took the box from his pocket and placed it on the table, sliding it over to Amory. She looked at him questioningly and he gestured with his head for her to open it.

  As she eased the lid back her eyes widened at the sight of the ring nestled in the shrunken padding.

  “That’s Mother’s engagement ring,” William said.

  Jackson didn’t take his eyes from Amory, watching every nuance of her response, but he was glad his brother’s tone was one of pleasant surprise. He was doing this no matter what, but knowing he had William’s support mattered.

  Amory’s mouth formed a perfect O as her head swiveled from the ring to William and then finally to him.

  Meeting her eyes, he swallowed hard before speaking, not because he was unsure of the question, but because he wasn’t as sure of the answer as he wanted to be.

  “Will you marry me?”

  She smiled and the sight lit him up from the inside.

  “Yes,” she said, the simple word coming without any delay or hesitation.

  He slipped off his stool and pulled her to him.

  “Thank God for that,” he said.

  He was just about to kiss her when Maggie whipped him around the head with a tea towel.

  “You were raised better than that, boy. What sort of proposal was that supposed to be?” she demanded.

  “One that got her to say yes,” he replied with a laugh. He lowered his head and kissed the woman he was going to marry.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Two weeks later Jackson silently crept across the landing into the room opposite his, flexing his arm with relief at the fact the sling had finally been removed the afternoon before. Amory hadn’t stayed in “her” room since he’d returned from the hospital as they had spent most of their time in his home, well, their home now, or in his bedroom whenever they were at the estate, but she and Holly had slept here last night.

  “You’re not supposed...” Holly began and he raised his finger to his lips, silently begging her not to give him away.

  Nodding to the door, he hoped she’d take the hint and step out of the room. He should leave Amory alone to prepare, but being parted from her since the evening before had become too much.

  Since he’d woken up in the hospital that night just a few weeks ago, his life had been perfect, and every time he thought about the fact that they were to be married that day, that she would truly be his wife, his partner for the rest of their lives, it caused any semblance of self-control to completely elude him. He had to see her, had to reassure himself that this wasn’t all a dream.

  Despite the arduous journey he’d made through his initial recovery, and the many months of physical therapy ahead, the woman he loved made everything worthwhile. Just as Holly slipped out closing the door behind her, Amory emerged from the bathroom. A towel was wrapped around her head as she pulled the belt of her thick white robe tight around her waist.

  “Jackson’s eyes are going to pop out when he sees this getup,” she said with a giggle, the sound stopping abruptly as she spotted him standing there.

  The adorable pink of her blush crept over her cheeks and her eyes darted around.

  “Holly has stepped out for a moment,” he said with a smile.

  “You’re not supposed to see me,” she smiled, clearly delighted to see him regardless. “It’s bad enough we’re getting married fast enough that everyone is going to be looking for the baby bump, can’t you at least follow one tradition?”

  “We’ve lost ten years, I’m not wasting any more, and
I’m sure as hell not giving you enough time to change your mind about marrying me,” Jackson confessed, a half-smile curving the corner of his mouth. “But now I’m really intrigued about what you have under that robe.”

  He stepped closer, his shoulder incredibly stiff after weeks in the sling. It was his physical souvenir of that night and one he’d be keeping forever, no matter how much physio he did. He eased his hands through the flaps of Amory’s dressing gown.

  Feeling the warmth of her soft skin beneath his calloused fingertips, his desire swelled, and when he pulled the robe apart a deep groan escaped his lips. It had been far, far too long since she’d let him touch her.

  She was incredible without any adornment, but wearing a skimpy concoction of white lace and satin, she looked exquisite. He pulled her closer, pushing the robe off her shoulders and leaned forward to gently kiss the skin revealed there. Her sigh as she arched her body into his, tilting her head so he could run his lips across her shoulder and neck and down toward her breast, echoed through him and he couldn’t imagine how he’d survived without her.

  Who would have expected that waking up in hospital would be the moment their life would finally become completely fulfilled? Pressing his lips against her bare shoulder, his tongue tasted her sweet, clean skin. His pulse rocketed as his hand slid toward the white bra, the curve of her breast making him groan as he imagined pulling the fabric down and stroking every inch of her bare skin.

  An amused cough from behind froze his actions and he looked up at Amory, her already flushed face burned a deeper red as she peered over his shoulder at their intruder.

  “I’d tell you two to get a room, but I think that’s the problem. Seriously, guys, can’t you keep your hands to yourself for a couple of hours?”

  “Piss off, Holly,” he grumbled.

  He’d come to really like Amory’s best friend, but right now he’d happily shove her out of the room without a word. His affection for the other woman who had also become a big part of their family was the only thing holding him back from doing exactly that.

  Amory looked down and gave him a reluctant smile.

  “Fine. I’m going,” he said without taking his eyes from Amory’s. “You can’t blame me though.”

  “Of course not. I’m her best friend, I know how amazing she is. But you are still leaving,” Holly said with that determined tone she used with her team.

  “Go on, you can keep it in your pants for a few more hours, out, shoo!” she added when he didn’t move.

  Taking one last look at Amory, attempting to absorb how spectacular she looked, Jackson felt his heart expand.

  “One hour and you’ll be all mine to do what I want with,” he whispered into her ear, feeling a deep satisfaction at the shiver of anticipation that ran through her.

  Reluctantly he gave her one last hug, cursing Holly’s timing and wishing he’d had more time to explore the treat that would now have to wait until later. He relished the feel as she curved into him, giving one last squeeze before he finally let go.

  “See you soon, Lady Halland,” he said as he was leaving the room.

  He laughed when something hit the door as he closed it. She hadn’t been impressed when she’d realized she was gaining a title as well as a husband, something he was going to enjoy spending the rest of their lives teasing her about.

  ****

  An hour later the butterflies in Amory’s stomach were going crazy, but she felt happy in a way she could never remember feeling before. How had she gotten so lucky? She was about to marry the love of her life.

  They had been together every day since that awful night, and while her girls’ night with Holly the night before had been fun, she’d missed Jackson. If she’d known he was going to get permission to remove the sling just that afternoon, she’d never have agreed to spend the night apart. Despite being told no physical activity until the sling was off, he’d tried everything to get her to ignore the medical advice, something that had been a damned sight harder to stick to than she’d dared let him know. Now she just had to get through the next few hours and she could show him just how thoroughly they belonged to each other.

  “I can’t believe you won’t be coming back to work again,” Holly said.

  “I know, it’s going to be strange, closing that part of my life completely,” Amory said.

  “I’m going to miss you.”

  “You know you don’t get rid of me that easily. We’ll still see each other.”

  “It won’t be the same as having you there every day,” Holly said with a small smile.

  “Only because you’re stuck in the office while they do their arms discharge investigation.”

  “It’s driving me nuts,” Holly said with a shrug.

  “No sign of a hearing date yet then?”

  “Nothing. It’s going to be months at the rate they’re moving.”

  Amory hugged her friend. “You did the right thing. You saved me and you kept our promise to Katja.”

  Her nightmares had finally vanished and while she knew part of that was due to curling up next to Jackson every night, it was also because they had done what they’d set out to do.

  “Stop that,” Holly said giving her a gentle push away. “You’ll wrinkle your dress.”

  Her friend’s tone was light but she couldn’t hide the tension in her eyes. The sooner the professional standards department finished their investigation, the sooner they’d confirm what she already knew. Holly had done the world a favor, and if she hadn’t Amory would be dead instead.

  “Right, no more of that,” Holly said, using her best team commander voice. “You are about to go and marry a man who loves you so completely it makes me insanely jealous. Let’s focus on that.”

  They smiled at each other.

  “Although, I still can’t believe he proposed to you in the kitchen over a pie,” Holly added as she brushed imaginary bits of fluff from Amory’s dress.

  “It was perfect,” Amory said, smiling as she took once last look in the mirror. Her hair, now back to its normal red, tumbled down her back after being brushed into its natural waves. The simple white shift dress clearly marked her as the bride, but she looked like herself—simple, comfortable, and above all happy. After ten years she finally felt ready to face the world as herself and she wanted to be certain that the person walking toward Jackson, and their future together, was all her.

  ****

  “I’m sorry the weather didn’t hold enough for your garden wedding,” Holly said as they peered into the ballroom.

  Amory squeezed Holly’s hand. The elaborate decoration of the ball was long gone. In its place a simple white aisle was laid along the floor with a flower-laced archway standing at the end. Gathered in the linen-covered chairs were a select group of the people who mattered most in the world to them both. Every single head was turned to face her with beaming smiles.

  She shrugged, unconcerned. The unpredictable nature of early spring weather was the last thing she cared about as she beamed at the people waiting. Looking to the end of the white carpet, she saw William grinning. Despite her teasing words to Jackson earlier, she was grateful that they had been able to arrange the wedding so quickly. His relationship with William was stronger than ever and she knew he wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to be his best man.

  Finally she allowed herself to look at the man waiting for her. Standing in a dark suit, the white of his shirt highlighting the tanned tone of his skin, his blond hair smoothed and tidied and his jaw freshly shaven, was the only man she had ever loved. The expression in Jackson’s eyes promised a forever filled with love, passion, and respect, and took her breath away. Her heart leapt with joy at the sight of the only man she would ever love. The world around her shrank until all she could see, all she could think about was him, of being his wife.

  Finally, as the music started she took a deep breath and stepped forward, walking toward Jackson and the rest of their lives.

  The End

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ajeanrussell.com

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