“Hey darlin’, you feeling better after resting?”
“A little sore, but really hungry.” I say on a smile.
With a reluctant Logan who wanted to keep me in bed until I was fully healed, we decide to go in to town for dinner. I really needed to get out and see my friends. Jenny and Maggie have formed an unbreakable bond. Jenny has even decided to stay with Maggie for a little while, she is in no rush to head back to New York.
It’s nice to get dressed up for dinner. I almost feel human again. I put on a little extra cover up to hide the fading bruise on my cheek.
Jonsie is already there when we arrive; Cody run’s over to him. Jonsie and Cody give each other some complicated hand shake. Maggie and Jenny are both sitting down watching this smiling. Maggie and Jenny get up and give me a big hug. Logan takes this all in smiling.
After we ordered Logan gives Cody some change for the juke box. You would think he hit lotto how he was so excited with this task. He was jumping up and down. You couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm.
When Cody was at the juke box I look at Jonsie and my girlfriends. I summon up the courage to say the speech that I have been practicing while laying in bed for hours. “I have to say I am so sorry that I pulled you all into my drama. If I would have maybe gone to the police or pushed harder to find out what happened to my sister and niece…..” Logan makes an angry growling noise, and pulls me into his side to argue but Maggie beats him to it.
“Stop, just stop.” Maggie states vehemently. “Everyone has their own story. Yours sucked for awhile,” she says with a smile. But then looks from Logan to me, “I hope now you get to start writing your happily ever after.”
I get teary. “You know Maggie, you keep your story under lock and key. Next coffee session it’s your turn to spill.”
“I will Laura. I will.” Maggie say’s grasping my hand with tears in her eyes.
Jenny reaches over and grabs my hand stating in a sad voice, “Well, if anyone should be sorry it’s me. I had to open my big mouth...”
“Jenny, I swear if you don’t stop I will start talking in third person for the rest of our lives.”
This causes Jenny to smile. “No, not that.” We both hold on to each other’s hands a little tighter before letting go.
Just then Darren joins our little group. I only saw him the day after everything happened, but I was still out of it with a headache. He stares at my bruised face and pulls me up from my seat. I guess I didn’t cover it up good enough. He crushes me in a hug. “Sorry we didn’t get there sooner honey.”
I couldn’t help the tears that slipped out.
“Ok asshole, let go of my woman.” Logan say’s only half jokingly. Darren smiles warmly at Logan glad his friend is happy and proceeds to sit next to Jenny. He look’s longingly at her and asks quietly, “How are you doing baby?”
Um, what?
Jenny’s face turns bright red and she looks down but lifts her head slightly to look at Darren. “I’m better. Thank you.”
Interesting.
Jonsie positions himself closer to Maggie. Then leans in and tells us. “So far he’s being charged with two counts of murder. Three counts of attempted murder. Charged with selling drugs and having drugs with the intent to sell. There are numerous other cases of murder, crime and narcotics that are being tied to him. Since we have that little black book that we have turned over to the feds there are quite a few people who are singing in order to try to lessen their charges. Looks like John and his friends are going away for a long long time, if not forever.”
“That’s awesome.” I sigh while leaning back in my chair to encounter Logan’s arm. He puts it around my shoulder and pulls me to him kissing my head. Silently I say one word to myself. Closure. I needed that, more than I knew. I miss my sister and niece more than I could express. There will be an emptiness inside of me that nothing can fill, that belongs to them. But while looking at the people surrounding me at this table I know I will never be empty. They fill me with love and friendship. I will not take that for granted. A part of me will always wish I had my family back. I realize it’s time to look ahead, knowing I can’t erase the past. Hold on with both hands to the memories, until one day I see them again. In the meantime make new memories, live life to its fullest.
Cody comes running back to the table as our food is being placed in front of us. We eat, laugh, drink and have a nice relaxing dinner.
I feel Logan’s warm strong hand grasp onto mine. The way he looks at me makes my breath catch, he gives me a little tug, “Let’s dance.” I smile and am only able to nod as he leaves me speechless.
Cody smiles at us as we make our way to the dance floor. Logan wraps me in his strong arms and leans his head close to my ear. We are swaying to the music.
I feel his warm breath against me when he asks, “What are you thinking about?”
I am thinking about so many things, most of my thoughts are about Logan and Cody. Where I stand with them. How they haven’t left my side or let me return to the cottage. How I never want to leave them. That I am so in love with them that if I could I would fuse my body to theirs. Which I know is ridiculous, but I have never felt this way about another person or should I say people. But I’m not going to admit this to him, so I immediately lie.
“I think Jonsie likes Maggie.”
Without hesitating Logan continues to whisper while holding me flush against him, rocking slowly to the music, “Yeah, he’s had his eye on her since she came to town. He’s going in slow with her. Thinks she’s had a rough go before moving here.”
“Yeah. I think she has a sad story to tell.” I agree nodding my head. “Jonsie should go for it. I can tell Maggie likes him too. Wasted time not being together when they could be building something good.”
“Yeah, but why don’t you tell me what you’re really thinking?” Logan asks me on a squeeze. He really knows me. One hand is rubbing my lower back in a caress; his other hand is in my hair at the nape of my neck holding me close.
Safe.
Secure.
Loved.
Yet, I lie once more, avoiding the truth.
“I think Jenny likes Darren.”
“Yeah, I think Darren likes your friend Jenny too. But that’s still not it.” I hear humor in his voice.
The music, the warm atmosphere. Knowing new friends and old are at the same table together with me tonight. Logan’s hands are on me and we’re swaying to the music. I am lost in the sensation that is all Logan and finally tell the truth. I gotta give it to him. Not only do I want to, but he deserves it.
“I’m glad John is in jail.”
Logan keeps rubbing my back.
“I feel like I have closure now knowing what really happened to Grace and Ellie.”
“Yeah baby. I can understand that.”
I stop swaying with Logan and look up at him. His beautiful face staring back at me. I can’t keep it in any longer.
“I love you Logan. With all my heart. I love Cody. Thank you for everything. You made me whole again when I didn’t think that was ever going to be possible. I love you. Body, heart, soul.”
Logan pulls me closer. I start to worry because he doesn’t say anything back. He is just holding me like he wants to absorb my body into his. Make us one.
I start to think this is not a good sign. The song Home from Phillip Phillip starts to play. Logan pulls me closer saying the words to me in a low voice.
“Hold on to me as we go. As we roll down this unfamiliar road. Just know you’re not alone, Cause I’m gonna make this place your home.”
I snuggle deeper into Logan’s embrace. I look up just as his mouth comes crashing against mine. I forget where we are and get lost in the kiss. It is a kiss to mark new beginnings, new things to come, and the knowledge that I am home. With Logan and Cody. Logan breaks the kiss and smiles down at me.
“Marry me Laura. You are the only woman for me. I love you with everything I am and everything I will be. Love me, marry
me. Make this place your home. Make us your family.”
I smile so big I feel like my face will split. “I love you too Logan. Yes. I’ll marry you. I will make you happy and be a good mom to Cody. I’ll do everything I can to help him grow up to be as fine a man as you are.”
Logan picks me up and spins me around.
“I already asked Cody if he was ok with this. It was very hard for him to keep a secret.”
I rear back. Shocked. “Logan, how could you. What if I said no?”
“We wouldn’t have let you. We love you Laura. You belong here with us. And as your men we would have proven it to you.”
Epilogue
It’s hot. Like Africa hot, not that I have ever been to Africa. Why did I agree to marry Logan in the summer? I know why. We didn’t want to waste any time and put this beautiful wedding together in a matter of a few months. Simple yet beautiful. Sharing the day with friends and close family.
I am standing at his beautiful floor to ceiling windows looking out at the beauty that is Logan’s ranch. Our ranch. It has been transformed into a wedding masterpiece. I look down at my engagement ring that Logan and Cody both picked out for me. It has three stones. Two sapphire blue stones on either side of a diamond. They told me the two blue stones represent them, and the diamond is me.
We decided to get married here, because there is not a more beautiful place on earth. Although I have gotten used to the beautiful horses walking around, I have yet to get on one. I know I will, because I trust Logan, body, heart and soul.
Zoe walks in behind me. She has moved into the place her friends live and is having a great time there. Bingo nights, knitting clubs. “Laura, you look beautiful.” I look down on my white flowing dress. It has crystal spaghetti straps and a crystal band around the waist, other than that it is a straight chiffon that just flows. It’s the sexy white underwear that I have on underneath that I can’t wait for Logan to discover.
“Thank you Zoe.” I smile. Zoe grabs my hands, “You are a beautiful bride, and I am so glad you came into our lives. Let’s get you downstairs so you can start your future together. You have an anxious man waiting for your down there.”
I look out the window to see Logan standing by the altar we had set up. He looks stunning in his suit. He must be melting in his suit, I had better get a move on. Just then I hear a gasp. I turn to see Maggie and Jenny standing in the bedroom.
“Laura," is all that Jenny is able to say before her face crumples and she is crying. I rush over to pull her into my embrace. We have shared so much together. I am so glad we’re sharing this too. Maggie makes her way into our hug.
Zoe claps her hands and with a big smile tells us, “Come on girls. Let’s get this wedding started.”
We wipe our tears and quickly peek in the mirror to check that I didn’t mess up my make-up. I look down at my sister’s watch that is on my left wrist and have a quick silent conversation with her. After one last look in the mirror I turn to my friends, “Let’s get married!”
I stand at the end of the aisle looking down into Logan’s eyes. They hold so much emotion that I see the tears start to leak out the sides. My hot alpha cowboy proves daily how much I mean to him and I can’t wait to start our lives together as a family. Without thinking (or remembering to be ladylike) I basically run down the aisle to him and Cody. Ignoring the chuckles as I sprint to my future.
Logan meets me a few steps from the altar grasps my hands as he smiles wide and wipes a few tears from his eyes. He then reaches over and wipes the tears I didn’t even realize had fallen from my cheeks. Cody is smiling at us as well. I look at my boys and gesture to the priest to begin as I can’t wait to start my life with them.
What seems like minutes later I am dancing my first dance with my husband. My husband. I couldn’t have asked for a better man. He is gazing into my eyes, his are full of promises of later.
I cannot wait.
I think back on how I first arrived here thinking I had the worst luck and was broken. Now I am glowing, happy and have a family I love. I will never forget the family I had, and one day I hope to see them all again. I do feel them around me like Zoe said. I know they are happy for me, so I am going to make a good life for my family and myself. Be the best mom I can be, the best wife and friend. Live life to its fullest.
Cody interrupts our dance with a tug on my dress. I excuse myself from Logan and bend to dance with Cody. He looks handsome in his suit like his Daddy’s.
Cody looks up at me with the most beautiful smile. I spin him and he laughs. Then he rocks my entire world with his next sentence.
“Can I call you Mommy?”
Well, that was all it took. That one word. Mommy. Through my tears I answered truthfully, “Nothing could make me happier that to be your Mommy Cody.”
One moment I think I couldn’t get happier, and then the next a little boy rocks my world and I feel like I could fly. That’s how happy I am. I am going to take the moments as they come. Know there are good and bad. Right now I am living in the good. And I know the men beside me will do everything they can to give me happiness, as I will do for them.
I look to see Maggie and Jonsie have stopped dancing and are standing next to us as are Jenny and Darren. They are all smiling with tears in their eyes. Cody is holding my hand and Logan has me wrapped in his embrace. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. I’m finally home.
THE END
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