The Courage to Try

by C. A. Popovich

  “How did this idiot know your mother?”

  “I guess he tried out for the Olympic skeet team in nineteen ninety-two and my mother beat him out of a spot. Apparently, he’s been carrying a grudge ever since. What a waste of life.” Kristen reached for Jaylin’s hand, kissed her palm, and entwined their fingers. “I don’t want to think about sleazy Rupert. The police will take care of him. What I want to think about is that I have you here for the rest of the day, and I don’t plan to waste a minute of it. I’ll grill us a couple of steaks later and we can go for a walk or a ride—”

  “Honey, you just got out of the hospital yesterday. Maybe it would be best if we chilled out today. Give Debby a call to let her know you’re all right. She called earlier while you were sleeping. I’m content just to be with you. I love you.” She smiled and felt the glow of what she’d said spread through her. “I love you. And I’m never going to let you go.”

  Kristen relaxed in her chair and squeezed Jaylin’s hand. “Yeah. You’re right. I’ll admit, this whole Rupert thing shook me up. I can’t believe he tried to kill me, but I won’t be surprised if they prove it was him.” She trembled at the memory of the total loss of control as her car careened off the road.

  Jaylin kissed her hand and hugged it to her body. “It’ll be all right now. Rupert’s gone.”

  Kristen took a deep calming breath and exhaled before she spoke. “You are so precious to me. And every moment I have left on this earth will belong to you. You, me, us. Forever. I love you, too. Thank you for being brave enough to give us a chance.” She kissed her softly, tenderly.

  Jaylin sighed happily. Life was more than she had dared dream it could be, and now, sitting next to the woman she loved, she felt free and valued for the first time in her life. She knew she could be the woman she’d always wanted to be, and all it had taken was the courage to try.

  About the Author

  C.A. Popovich has never lived outside of Michigan but enjoys traveling and hopes to, someday, visit every national park in America. She writes full-time, hates spiders, loves to read, spend time with her family, and attend as many Bold Strokes Books events as finances allow. She discovered the romance writer Radclyffe in 2009 and has been hooked on reading and writing happily ever after romances ever since.

  capopovichfiction@aol.com

  http://capopovichfiction.weebly.com

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