by Sam Destiny
I shifted so I could pull her onto my lap. “She calls you mom more often than not, Clare, and you’ve done a fabulous job raising her these last few months, teaching her all about how to be her own person, yet kind. You didn’t give birth to her, but I still consider her part of you.”
It was true. “Mom” had accidentally slipped out of Sally’s mouth a few times, but I knew for a fact that she now used it on purpose. Clare usually reacted to it, too.
Lacrosse had spent every waking minute, and every sleeping one, with Sally, and the two were inseparable. Luckily, Clare practically lived with us now, even if she insisted on keeping her house. I didn’t know why, especially since only my restoration equipment and Clare’s half-finished paintings were kept in there.
It was something she had always wanted to try. While she enjoyed starting a picture, it was obvious she’d never finish one.
I didn’t care, though, because she looked utterly content when the brush went over the canvas. I enjoyed watching her…until she’d get distracted, mostly by Sally.
“Dale,” Clare whispered. “She feels like my child.”
I knew what it cost her to say this. My mother had confided in me that Clare worried about overstepping her bounds when it came to Sally. I’d always meant to ask Clare about it, to hear her thoughts, but the time had never been right.
However, that didn’t matter because she’d obviously finally come to terms with what she was feeling.
“I have a surprise for you,” I said quietly, glancing past her at the children. Junior slept quietly and Sally rolled on the floor with Lacrosse, laughing.
“I don’t need a surprise. I have you,” Clare replied, placing her arms around my neck. Still, I pulled the keys from my pocket, watching her eyes widen in question.
“I found the perfect place. I know you’ll never give up your house, and I don’t have the patience to build anything. Let’s make a new house for our family. No longer yours, no longer mine. Ours. It’s the farm.”
We’d visited a farm to see some sheep a few months back. I’d used that excuse to show Clare around without her knowing. I’d heard the owners were going to sell, and Clare and Sally had instantly fallen in love with the property, the small stream running nearby, the wide lawn to run on.
When I stood on the porch, I’d pictured more kids playing there, knowing moving in with her would be just the first step.
Clare Delaney didn’t know it yet, but she wouldn’t be a Delaney much longer.
I already had the ring, and one day very soon, I’d get down on my knee, knowing with certainty that she wouldn’t turn me down.
Clare Delaney loved me unlike anyone had ever been loved before, and she’d never again belong to someone else. She was the one for me, and I would make her see that over and over again for the rest of our lives.
The End
Thank you to everyone who made this possible as fast as it has happened.
Thank you to Aimie Jennison for being my sounding board. You are, and always be, part of the reason why I can start every day new and think it’ll be a better day. #Parabatai
Thank you, Jo Raven, Queen of Boy Torture, for believing I can, every day, every time, every try. You are my biggest support even if we don’t talk. ;-) I cannot thank you enough. This boy-torture-princess loves ya!
Jamie Summer, thank you for your unwavering belief in my words, for your enthusiasm, for your eagerness to get my words. Everyone needs a friend like you! I love you, girl. Thank you.
Ewelina, my somewhat PA and epic friend. You are always able to make me smile. ALWAYS.
JC Clarke, Tammy, you… Thank you. I cannot tell you how much it means to me that you are as fast as you are, and as amazing. This cover is truly EVERYTHING I wanted. Thank you.
Kim Young, your edits have been… I don’t know what to say. I cannot express how much it means to me to have an editing process as easy, and good as this one. Painfree also comes to mind. Thank you. Seriously. I’m going to learn so much from you, you’ll be impressed come the year 2062.
Ariana McWilliams, the woman who is an angel in disguise. You don’t know how much you do for me and my sanity every single day, every single second you talk to me. You deserve so much more than I could ever give you. Seriously, you are outstanding. Thank you.
And lastly, thank you to the most important people out there: the readers. Thank you for being here. I hope you loved these three as much as I did. Thank you. Always.
xoxo,
Sam
Once upon a time there was a young girl with her head full of dreams and her heart full of stories. Her parents, though not a unit, always supported her and told her more stories, encouraging her to become what she wanted to be. The problem was, young Sam didn't know what she wanted to be, so after getting her A-levels she started studying Computer Science and Media. After not even one year she realized it wasn't what her heart wanted, and so she stopped, staying home and trying to find her purpose in life. Through some detours she landed an internship and eventually an apprenticeship in a company that sells cell phones. Not a dreamy career, but hey. Today she's doing an accounting job from nine-to-five, which mainly consists of daydreaming and scribbling notes wherever she can.
All through that time little Sam never once lost the stories in her heart, writing a few little of them here and there, writing for and with her best friend, who always told her to take that last step.
Only when a certain twin-couple entered her mind, bothering her with ideas and talking to her nonstop did she start to write down their story - getting as far as thinking she could finish it. Through the help of some author friends, and the encouragement of earlier mentioned best friend, little Sam, now not so little anymore and in her twenty-seventh year, decided to try her luck as an Indie author. She finished the story of the first twin, Jaden, and realized she couldn't ever stop.
So, it really is only after five that the real Sam comes out. The one that hungers for love, romance, some blood, a good story, and, at the end of the day, a nice hot cup of Chai Tea Latte.
And if the boys are still talking to her, she'll write happily ever after.
Contact the author:
www.samdestiny.com
Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DestinysMorningstars/