Syren's Plaything

by Jennah Thornhill

  Johnny

  Everyone arrives together and right on time, me and Karina come to an agreement that we would tell them all about the sex of the baby together, so we invited them all around for dinner and a couple of drinks. It will be the first time we’ve all seen each other since I got discharged from the hospital. Max was discharged a couple of days before, he came to see me the day he left, just saying he’ll see me soon, and that he was glad I was on the mend.

  Karina’s just about to open the door, and I have to adjust my trousers as my dick is rubbing against them, no thanks to her. She can’t come out of the bedroom looking the way she did in that red dress, and then kiss me as if her life depended on it and it not have any effect on me. Now I’m left with the biggest hard on and there’s nothing I can do about it till everyone leaves again, which I know will be in a few hours. I’ll make her pay for it later, I’ve got a couple of surprises up my sleeve for her tonight. I’m a nervous wreck, and she noticed it. I need to keep myself together just long enough for her not to ask any more questions. I can do this, I can do this. I keep telling myself.

  “Wow, your all here, I wasn’t expecting you all at once, come in, come in. Johnny is just in there. Allie, how are you feeling?” I hear Karina say as people push their way inside, it’s a good job I have a big apartment, otherwise we wouldn’t have enough room.

  “Bille, it’s good to see you.” I say as she passes me. “Allie.” I say placing a kiss on her cheek as she passes me next. Followed by Connor and Liam. Max is the last to walk in.

  “Max,” I say as I shake his hand the same as I did Connor and Liam. “How you doin’?”

  “I’m good thanks, you?”

  “Yeah, I’m good thanks. It’s good to see you dude.” I look around the apartment and notice everyone is doing their own thing, so I feel now is the time to tell Max what I should have told him the day he came to see me in the hospital.

  “Look, Max I just wanted to say I’m really grateful to you, without you I wouldn’t be standing here now, there’s nothing I can say to you that will tell you just how thankful I am.”

  “It’s fine Johnny, I would have done it for any of you guys, we’re all family here. And I couldn’t have Karina or your baby living without you. You’re her world and they both need you. Now stop with the lovey dovey shit and grab me a beer.” He tells me slapping me on the back.

  “How did I know you would shut down the compliment?”

  “Well, Johnny. We’re connected for life now, you have a part of me in you now.” He tries his best not to laugh. The fucker is right.

  “Oh, fuck sake.” I shout. Making everyone stop what they’re doing. “I’ve got a part of Max in me. Please god don’t make me like him.” I look up to the ceiling as If I’m praying. Until everyone starts laughing their arses off at me.

  “You’re welcome fuckface.” Max tells me.

  “No seriously, I owe you one.”

  “Oh, I know, and when I need it I’ll come back to claim it. Don’t you worry.” He cracks up again as he walks away from me.

  I shake my head, he may be a joker, but he also has a good heart, I hope one day he has what we have, because he needs it, more than any of us.

  I stand where I am for a few minutes just taking in everyone and everything that’s happening around me. I’m lucky to be standing here right now. I appreciate my life all the more now, and everyone in it, never again will I take it for granted. I look at every single one of them, each of them holds a place in my heart, but the one person to hold all of me, and will always leave me breathless when they walk into a room. Karina.

  She’s a fighter, my fighter and she holds me captive. For as long as I breathe, she has the power to destroy me and my heart. But if I can help it I’ll pledge my life to her and give her the world, I’ll make it, so she’ll never be unhappy and that she’ll never want to leave me. I’ll treat her just like the Princess she is.

  “What are you thinking?” I hear the voice that renders me speechless, then I feel her arms wrap around my waist and pulls me into her.

  “I’m just taking everything in and thinking about how lucky I am to be here. And that a part of me feels like I don’t deserve to be standing here at all.

  “Johnny let me stop you there, you do deserve to be here, all you’ve ever done is put people before yourself, yeah some people got hurt in life, but none of that was your fault, you can’t predict what other people will do. It’s impossible. I love you with all my heart, and we’re having a baby in a few months. You have a family now Johnny, your own family. Concentrate on that and we’ll take one day at a time. We’ll be ok Johnny as long as we have each other. Ok?” She knows just what to say to me and what I need to hear.

  “I promise you now Princess, you and this baby are my life and I’ll do anything to keep you both safe. I love you too, always have, always will remember.” We give each other a soft kiss, and just continue to hold one another.

  The few hours drag on, maybe it’s just me as I know what’s waiting for Karina when I get her on her own. My heart is in my mouth now. Everyone has finally called it a night. It’s only half nine, but Allie was getting tired and the others had plans. I never asked, I wasn’t bothered, I was too busy thinking of how the rest of my night is going to play out.

  Karina insisted on doing the few dirty dishes that are in the sink, giving me the opportunity to go and set up the surprise I have for her.

  Slinking off to what will be the babies room, I get the stuffed elephant cuddly toy she fell in love with for our son and situate him on the white vintage rocking chair in the corner.

  Once he’s in place, I go and grab the box I’ve had hidden in my wardrobe for well over two weeks now. Flipping open the distinctive pale blue Tiffany box, I take out the five-carat pink oval shaped ring and place it on the end of the elephants’ trunk so the reflection of the diamond bounces of the walls.

  I also have one of the scan pictures we had given to us when we found out we we’re having a boy, and on the bottom of it I’ve wrote her a note from our son. Once everything is in position, I stand in the doorway of the bedroom and call her name.

  “Yeah?” She asks, as she comes around the corner with the dish cloth still in her hands.

  “Can you come in here for a second please?”

  Not waiting for her to answer, I take the cloth from her hands and throw in over her shoulder, not giving a shit where it’s landed. Taking her now empty hands in mine, I walk backwards into the bedroom leading her to what I’m hoping will be the best night of my life.

  “Johnny! What are you up to?”

  “Just have some patience will you.” I laugh.

  Letting her go, I leave her standing in the middle of the room with a perplexed look on her face and make my way to the rocking chair. I can tell the minute she spots what I’m about to do. Her hand shoots to her mouth, eyes glisten with unshed tears and her whole body starts to tremble.

  Getting down on one knee next to the chair, I take a deep breath before I make the most important speech I’m ever going to make in my life.

  “Karina, I love you, there’s no denying that. I ‘ve loved you for so long I don’t know how to love another person. You’re my heart, my life and my soul. For me you’re it, you’re the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I’m grateful every day that you rocked up with your suitcase and sassy attitude that day at the airport. Now normally I would ask you a question here, but I’m going to let our son do it for me.”

  I take the scan picture from where I placed it on the chair and hold it out for her, so she can read it. Taking it from my hand, she holds it up, so she can see, the tears start to stream down her perfect face as she reads the words.

  To Mummy, I may not be here yet, but I love you both already.

  So, will you please marry my daddy?

  When I think I’ve given her enough time to read it, I take the elephant and shuffle forward so I’m now in front of her.

  The gas
p I hear leave her mouth tells me she’s seen the ring.

  “So, what do you say princess? You going to marry me?”

  She starts to nod frantically.

  “Y… Y... Yes, I’ll marry you Johnny Owens.” She stutters out between what I’m hoping are happy sobs.

  Jumping up from the floor, I take the ring from the elephant and place it on the third finger of her left hand before wrapping my arms around her and swing her around, causing her to let out a squeal.

  “You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me princess, I may have done some things I’m not proud of, but the one thing I can say I have done right is always fighting for you. You were never a plaything to me Karina, you were always so much more.”

  Karina

  Twenty fourth December the following year

  “Princess!” I hear Johnny shout. “Max has shit again, I can’t do another one of them things. My eyes are still stinging from the last bomb that went off in his nappy.”

  Placing the mixing bowl, I have in my hands down onto the kitchen counter, I turn and see Johnny walking towards me with our son held out at arm's length.

  Seriously, you’d think he was allergic or some shit.

  “Are you having a laugh? And don’t swear in front of him, he’s learning new things everyday now, and the last thing we need is him shouting S.H.I.T at the top of his voice.”

  “Well if he kept his insides contained I wouldn’t need to swear, it’s not normal what comes out of this kid’s body.”

  I have to laugh at him.

  “Give him here.” I say, at the same time I hold my arms out for him to pass Max to me.

  “Come to Mummy baby boy, your dad is being a wimp.”

  Taking Max from Johnny, I place him over my shoulder and go to his bedroom to change him.

  Just as I’m walking away, I hear a knock on the door and Johnny answer it.

  “Yo! Fucker. Please tell me there's cake at this party or I’m out of here.”

  Max.

  That man has no filter whatsoever, no matter how many times I tell him not to swear he still does it, him and Johnny are as bad as each other.

  Cleaning my son up as quickly as possible, I head back to the kitchen and place him in his jumperoo, so I can continue with making the cupcakes I’ve been trying to perfect all morning.

  “You’re looking rather sexy today K, marriage and parenthood is suiting you.” Max says jokingly.

  “Dude, I swear if you refer to my wife as sexy again, kidney or no fucking kidney I will gouge your eyes out. Go get your own woman and leave mine alone.” Johnny warns him playfully.

  These pair still argue like cat and dog half the time, but there's nothing but love between the two of them. They will always share a special bond now that’s unbreakable.

  The day I gave birth to Max is one I won’t forget in a hurry, these pair of idiots had been giving each other their usual shit because Max said we should name our baby after him, as a sign of respect and thankfulness that he saved Johnny’s life. As to be expected Johnny refused point blank, even going as far as saying and I quote... “Max if you think I’m naming my son after you, then you can take your kidney and shove it up your arse.” And we almost got away with it, what we weren’t banking on was Max turning up at our apartment when I was in labor and refusing to go the hospital because I thought we had plenty of time till the baby arrived. Well you know what thought did, it landed me with Johnny and Max as my birthing partners in the buildings lift. Which gave Max more ammunition to use against us, because he helped bring our child into the world till the paramedics could get to us. In the end we relented and gave into him, it’s the least we could do after everything he had done for us.

  Fast forward twelve months and here we are, happily married and enjoying being a family. I gave my job up at the restaurant wanting to spend as much time as I could with Johnny before Max came along and before the band went back out on tour.

  I now have my own wedding dress store on The Strand, it’s still fairly new but so far, it’s going fantastic, I couldn’t ask for anything more than that. As for me and my mum, well she stepped up when I needed her I couldn’t resent her, believe me I tried. She now works for me in my store, she had the experience and I needed the help, so it was a match made in heaven as some might say.

  I still haven’t spoken to my dad since the day he shot Johnny, that’s something that will always be unforgivable in my eyes.

  So it’s just me, my son and my husband, along with the ever growing Syren family. And I couldn’t be any happier if I tried.

  The End

  Pink- Beautiful Trauma

  Madonna- Papa Don’t Preach

  Ed Sheeran- Lego House

  Eternal- I Wanna Be The Only One

  Justin Timberlake- Not A Bad Thing

  En Vogue- Don’t Let Go

  Pink- What About Us

  The Temptations- My Girl

  Cher- If I Could Turn Back Time

  Celine Dion- It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

  Where do I start with all the people that have made it possible for me to do this?

  The most important people will always be my family. Nathan, Mollie, Noah, Tracy my mum and Sam my baby brother, you are my rocks and my biggest supporters. None of this would even be possible without your love and encouragement. I will never be able to thank you all enough for putting up with me whilst I’ve had my head stuck in my laptop. I love you all so much.

  Karina aka my mofo/editor- You are worth your weight in bloody gold girl. You’ve put up with me and my neurotic ways and demands. You have the patience of a saint and I couldn’t imagine doing this without you by my side, so please don’t quit on me? I need you… there I admitted it after all these years.

  I luv ya bye…

  All the ladies over at Jen’s Lovelies- You crazy bunch rock, you make me laugh, smile and generally happy every day. Without you all I think I would’ve given up, but you all had my back and kept me from pressing the delete button more than once. A simple thank you wouldn’t be enough for how much I appreciate you all being there for me, but I’m afraid that’s all I’ve got, and I hope I haven’t disappointed you with this book, especially after all the teasing I’ve put you all through.

  I love you all.

  Layla my beta reader/agony aunt, words can’t describe what you mean to me. You’re not just someone who tells me if what I’ve written is shit, you are also there when I need someone vent too because life is just generally pissing me off. You lady, are one amazing woman, even when your sending me shouty messages. Please don’t ever stop being you. I can’t wait to see what this year brings us.

  Tracy my PA, you girl are just amazing. You are one special lady, you keep me in check and organised, at the same time you put up with all the crap I throw at you without complaint. I can’t imagine you not being in my life. Thank you for everything you do for me.

  Sienna Grant… You will hold a special place in my heart, you’ve become one of my closest friends. Your always there for me no matter what, you are my person.

  Last but by no means least, the amazing C.A. Bell over at Envy Design. You girl are fantastic at what you do with your graphics. You brought my thoughts to life with the book cover and I couldn’t love it any more than I already do. Thank you so much, you’ve become a fantastic friend.

  Jennah Thornhill is a thirty-one-year-old wife and mother, who lives in Staffordshire in a town called Stoke-On-Trent with her husband Nathan and two kids Mollie Moo-Moo who’s ten and her little ginger critter Noah who’s five.

  She’s had a lot of up’s and down’s in the past three years, going from a full-time mother and hard worker to just fainting at work one day and ending up in hospital. Later finding out she needed to have a lot of tests done.

  Turns out she needed a lumbar puncture in her back in which they drain the fluid from your brain. When she had the results back she wasn’t happy to say the least.

  When they did it the first time she go
t really ill from it. She soon found out why when a doctor told her they think they took too much fluid.

  After having a further sixteen lumbar punctures for the same thing.

  Not being able to go back to work because of this she now manages her illness between being a mother, wife and writer.

  The only blessing to come out of all that is it pushed her to start writing her own books. After reading quite a few books before this, and when we say a few we mean a couple hundred.

  When she’s not writing, being a mum or laid up in a hospital bed, she spends her time reading or sleeping.

  She does enjoy spending time with her friends as she doesn’t get to see them very often. Specially her best friend Karina who she’s known for the better part of eight years.

  She knows life is too short, so she tries to live every day as if it were her last.

  Syren’s Angel (Syren Series book 1)

  Syren’s Heaven & Hell (Syren Series book 2)

  Making Our Way Back (A Standalone Novel)

  Coming soon

  The Model Citizen

  Fighting To Live