I kneel in front of the battered trunk at the end of my bed. I had been meaning to go through it but haven’t been able to bring myself to it. I hear the shuffling of their feet behind me and take a moment to gather myself. I pull my keys out of my pocket, locating the one that opens the trunk, and insert it into the slot. I look back to them and nod my head. “Come sit down.”
Liza and Ollie sit next to me. She cradles Ollie in his arms and it makes me smile. I pull the first dusty shoe box out of the trunk. It’s been a long time since I’ve opened this trunk and looked at the contents inside. I lift the lid of the shoe box and a stack of photos stare up at me. My eyes glisten with tears as I stare down into the familiar eyes that belong to my sister.
“This is your Aunt Alexandra,” I say, handing the photo to Ollie. He stares at the photo for a moment before busting out laughing. “That’s when she decided that she was a superhero.”
“She’s wearing underwear on her head.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I never said she was smart.” I look at the next photo and smile. “Here’s one of her and your mom before she was pregnant with you.” I hand him the photo. My chest tightens as I remember when the photo was taken. “We went to the lake that day. We barbequed, your grandfather brought his boat, and all in all, it was a good day. Your aunt and mom were very close.”
We continued to do this for an hour. Box after box. Photo after photo and memory after memory. It was as therapeutic for me as it was for Ollie. And Liza. I should’ve done this a long time ago but I didn’t have anyone I wanted to share with until now. After a while I glance over and see that Ollie has fallen asleep in Liza’s arms. I gently lift him out of her arms and set him on our bed. I wrap my arms around Liza as we watch him sleeping peacefully.
“He looks just like her,” Liza whispers.
I smile and nod. “That he does.”
“I’m glad you shared all that tonight.” She wraps her arms tightly around me. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
I STAND IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR and straighten the tie around my neck. I look over at Ollie who is mimicking me and smile. Every day that passes by, the more I see his mother in him, and it warms my heart. The last six months have been a rocky road but things are getting better. Ollie has started seeing Liza’s therapist. He’s been making progress. He doesn’t scream or throw things anymore and he doesn’t shut himself in his room. Not too often, anyway. He’s a typical nine year old boy who thinks girls are gross and mud is the greatest creation of mankind.
After Lily passed, Liza stepped away from the agency to focus on Ollie. Over the past few months he’s grown attached to Liza. School just let out for the summer and the two have been joined at the hip.
My mother now lives in the house right next door to us. It’s a blessing and a curse. She might as well live with us because she spends the majority of her time at our house. She enjoys spending time with her grandson and I don’t dare take that away from her. However, the more time she spends with Ollie, the more time she pushes Liza and me to have kids. I can’t wait to have more children, but I want some more time alone with Ollie.
Devin still stops by whenever he can to visit and it makes Ollie the happiest kid alive. He has returned to work for the FBI full time, so his visits are a rare occasion.
It’s not ideal but we make the best of it as much as we can. I look over at Ollie again who is struggling with his tie and laugh. I mess his hair up with my hand and he jerks away laughing.
“Here.” I turn him so he’s facing me. “Let me help you with that.”
“Are you okay, Dad?” Every time he calls me dad, my heart swells a little more. I smile and nod. “You look like you’re about to be sick.”
“It’s just nerves, buddy. It’s not every day a man gets to marry the love of his life.”
Ollie sticks out his tongue and shakes his head. “Yuck.” He laughs and isn’t shy about hiding his disgust. “I’m never going to get married. Girls are too confusing.”
“Yeah.” I laugh and shake my head. “That they are.”
“Promise you aren’t going to pass out at the altar.”
“I’m not so sure about that. But if I do, you’ll catch me, right?”
“No way.” Ollie throws his head back and laughs loudly. The sound is pure and innocent and one that I have come to love. “I’m going to let you fall flat, point, and then laugh.”
“Thanks, bud.” There’s a knock at the door and Marco walks into the room. He points to his watch and I nod. “Is it time?”
Marco smiles and leaves the room. I finish straightening Ollie’s tie, smooth my hands over the lapels of his tux and pull him into my arms. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get where we are today, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We head downstairs and take our place at the front of the large room. Hundreds of eyes stare at me and I shift on my feet. A lump forms in my throat and I force it to go down. Piano music begins to play and I know right away it’s the song Liza has been working on the last few months. The doors open and the bridesmaids begin to make their way down the aisle.
My body goes stiff and my breath catches as soon as Liza comes into view. She is breathtakingly gorgeous, not that she isn’t any other day, but today words cannot express how beautiful she looks. The white gown clings to her body in all the right places. It’s simple yet elegant. She isn’t wearing a veil but I’m glad; I like being able to see her face as she walks toward me. I don’t even attempt to keep the tears at bay. They are happy tears, and I want everyone to see just how I feel about her. I really wasn’t sure this day would ever come.
Ollie nudges me and I look down to him. He has a big grin on his face and I nod at him. He looks happy, really, really happy.
Liza asked Eli to give her away. He’s doing a good job of hiding the pain I know he must feel. I feel for him, I really do. They say time heals all wounds and I hope that will be the case for him. Maybe I should take it a little easier on him.
Liza must have timed the piece she composed perfectly because just as she reaches me the song comes to an end. The minister begins the ceremony. We decided to use the traditional vows, and had exchanged personal vows earlier today. We wanted to keep them sacred between the two of us, something we can treasure for the years to come, and something that is ours. When the time comes, I slide my grandmother’s ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly, and looks like it belongs on her hand. It’s not a fancy ring but it holds a lot of history, and that is priceless. I let out a cheer when it’s time to kiss my bride and hear Ollie make a ‘yuck’ sound. I pull Liza close to me and crash my lips to her. The kiss seals the deal. We’re married now.
Music starts to play again and we make our way down the aisle. I pull Liza into my arms and whisper into her ear. “You look beautiful in that dress, but I cannot wait to take it off you tonight.”
She throws her head back and laughs as we exit out of the room.
It seems like a decade has passed before the photographer finishes taking pictures. We proceed to the room that the reception is being held as the DJ makes the announcement of our arrival. The guests stand and cheer as we walk in. We stand by the table set for the bride and groom and the wedding party and prepare for the receiving line. People line up and each take a turn to congratulate us and wish us a long and happy life. I feared that it might have been overwhelming for Liza because most of the people here she doesn’t know. Hell, I don’t even know half of them but that’s what happens when you put my mother in charge of the guest list and you get stuck with the bill.
“It’s time for the bride and groom to have their first dance as man and wife!” the DJ says as we hug the last person in line.
The one thing I asked for was to choose the song for our first dance. Liza has tried to guess for the past few months and even though she guessed right, I let her believe she was wrong. I take her hand and lead her out onto the dance floor. Frank Sinatra’s “The Way Y
ou Look Tonight” starts to play and Liza releases a soft laugh as I pull her into my arms. This song has meaning to us. It’s the first song we danced to on our unofficial first date. I spin Liza around in a circle and quickly pull her back into my arms.
“Are you having a good time tonight?” I whisper in her ear before dipping her toward the floor. I bring her back up and place a gentle kiss against her lips before she responds.
“Amazing,” she says softly. “But I would have been just as happy with a trip to the courthouse.”
“Yeah, but my mother would have kicked both our butts.”
She looks around the reception and laughs. “That she would have.”
We dance for a little more and I hold her close to me, wishing the song would never end. I could spend the rest of my life just dancing with Liza and being perfectly happy.
”I’m proud of you, you know,” she says. “Ollie and you have come a long way.”
“Oh yeah?” I look over toward where Ollie is sitting with my mother and smile. “I think being a dad suits me.”
“I do, too. What do you say about having another one?”
“Are you…”
A wide grin spreads across her face and my heart skips a beat.
Liza squeals as I crush my lips to her.
Now, my life is complete.
The End
ALSO BY BRANDY JELLUM
If I Say Yes (Romantic Suspense) Liza Winters changes everything to avoid association with her mother’s scandalous murder, but a sexy complication derails her careful plans. Life can’t get worse… Until her past begins to haunt her.
MORE GREAT READS FROM BOOKTROPE
These Sorrows We See by Tamsen Schultz (Romantic Suspense) When Matty Brooks stumbles onto a frightening family secret, she finds herself cast back into a world of violence and deceit she thought she’d left behind forever.
Veronika Layne gets the Scoop by Julia Park Tracey (Romantic Suspense) Veronika Layne, a sassy tattooed, newspaper reporter, stumbles upon a big story—and has to beat deadlines and bad guys before they destroy native burial grounds, all while mismanaging her love life.
TAG by Shari J. Ryan (Romantic Suspense) Independent Cali and smoldering ex-marine Tango flee to Mexico where secrets hide, waterfalls provide cover, and romance shows up when least expected.
Blue Midnight by Tess Thompson (Romantic Suspense) Searching for her road not taken, Blythe uncovers the unexpected in the foothills of Blue Mountain. With a second chance on the horizon, she must face the complexities of trust and vulnerability that come after betrayal and believe in her destiny.
Discover more books and learn about our new approach to publishing at www.booktrope.com
If I Say No (Say Something #2) Page 21