“… If you ever throw me in this damn lake again, you will regret it.”
And from there, it all started. Locke wouldn’t be Locke if he didn’t test me and enjoy every loving minute of it.
Our wedding was something I can only describe as, wait for it… magical. Because it was the whole package. We did marry quickly after I recovered, but that was because Locke refused to give any opportunity to allow me cold feet. If you passed high school Sex Ed, you know when two people have tons and tons of sex, things happen. And quickly. I didn’t realize it at first. Ellie did and that traitor spilled the beans to Locke. When I went to swing at him left and right for getting me pregnant, he demanded that I calm down. Hence, another episode of throwing me in the lake.
A clear indication Locke did not take my threat seriously.
I learned quickly that hormones were the devil. I would manage to cry and think about committing murder at the silliest things. Of course, I took it all out on Locke. I mean he did put me in this position. That whole takes two to tango, my ass. Yeah, I was tangoing and moaning the whole entire time, but dammit, he should have warned me. I thought we had more time before we had to bear anything! Either way, any chance I got, my hormones went berserk and I went off. This of course only earned me more trips in the lake.
The later in my pregnancy I got, the smarter I got. I recognized that look Locke would get when I knew it was coming. I would search out that look. Wait for it, so I knew when to run the opposite direction. But he was quick. Before the thought even passed me, I was over his shoulder, or when I got too large, cradled in his arms and I knew. I was being tossed.
And he knew I hated it.
The one thing I never stopped nagging about was the key. I missed my family terribly. I spent so much time with Greta, begging her to try, and try, and try to create a spell. Anything to conjure up that damn key. I hoped that she would have done it at our wedding. But as the day came and went, no sounds of thunder were heard. And no matter how sad I was that my parents couldn’t be with me, I married.
If you haven’t heard enough about the Book of Wren, then you’re about to hear more. Because that bad boy does NOT lie. The moment I was back up and walking, I demanded authority. I embraced my status in Wren. First things first, I dealt with Farah. I wasn’t some savage murderer, so I wasn’t going to request that she was beheaded. To be honest, I didn’t even know if that was possible. I just saw it on a movie once. But I did demand she leave Wren and never return. It was something that I could live with. Locke surprisingly was not happy with my easy sentence, but then again, he almost lost a valuable thing because of her. Me, duh. Because we are taught in my realm about cost saving, I summoned the same sentence on Clara, my dad’s bitter betrothed. It turned out she was in some sort of way working with Farah on sending me to the death house, hence her failed mission on freezing me. So I sent her on her lonely way to no man’s land. Told them they could share a carriage to the edge of nowhere, but it was away from here.
Once I wiped my hands of the negative, I focused on the positive. I spent every waking minute in Ferrow and helped Maria with the children. She welcomed me with open arms to help in the schools. I worked with Locke to make sure nothing like what happened with the armory in Drumberg would ever happen again. And that’s just the beginning of what I have planned for this place.
I was making a difference and it felt damn good. But the one thing I felt lacking though, was family. When Locke was off doing his duties, and I wasn’t in Ferrow, I spent my time with Greta and Ellie. The problem was, the more emotional I got, the more eating sweets and watching reality shows consumed me. And Locke felt the brunt of it. So after the cat was out of the bag with the pregnancy and I became crazier, he began shortening my visits. I was summoned to stay away from Greta, unless she cracked the code. But if you haven’t caught on by now, I don’t listen well, which I also blamed on the hormones. So I tried to sneak off any chance I got. I just wanted to see Greta. I wanted her to tell me she’s figured out a plan.
I also wanted to eat my damn weight in those delicious chocolate covered peanut butter cake pops.
“Alright, lass, no more throwing ye in the lake. But ye know ye cannot go to Greta’s. Ye are in no shape to walk that far.”
“Well, you can carry me!” I pout.
“My love, I would but ye know she will tell ye if she has come up with anything.”
“I’m just scared, Locke. I’m scared about having this baby and I want my mom. I know I have Faith, but it’s different.”
“I know, love.”
Locke brings me into one of his bear hugs and I rest my head against his chest. I do what I always do and inhale a huge gust of his scent. It always seems to soothe me. I lift my hands, slowly grazing them up his chest, knowing this is something he enjoys. With my hands doing their job, I lift my head and place a tiny kiss to the open part of his shirt. I trail soft kisses onto his bare chest, listening for his breathing to speed up. Taking one hand and sliding it downward, I know I’ve got him. He wraps his arms tightly around me, bringing our bodies as close as they can with my large stomach. His head dips and his breath assaults my earlobe.
“Ye can seduce me all ye want, Princess, but ye ain’t going to Greta’s.”
Ugh! I instantly pull away. Clearly I have been caught. “Why not!?” I stomp my foot.
“I’ve already told ye. And even if ye try and escape, ye know she won’t let ye in.”
“Oh yes she will, she loves me! She would take me in with open arms,” I argue back.
“No, she won’t. She knows if ye step one foot inside her cottage, I will no longer bring her back any sort of new age technology on my travels.”
Shit! Shit shit shit! If there is one thing Greta loves more than me, it’s her damn cable and cooking utensils. “You don’t play fair.”
“I know, love.” He smiles and bends forward to kiss me, but as he closes his eyes preparing for a sweet kiss, I raise my hand. Before I slap the shit out of him, it happens.
The lights flicker, just a tad, and the faint sound fills our ears. I pull away quickly, not saying a word, but listening to make sure it wasn’t in my head.
Again, I hear it.
“It’s thunder!” I gasp. I push off Locke and sprint outside. I have no idea where to go, so I head toward Greta’s. Locke is right behind me, and before I know it, he is sweeping me off my feet and running with me.
“I told ye, ye cannot walk that far.” I want to laugh, cry, panic. I feel elated, but hesitant. I don’t want to get my hopes up.
It’s when we make it just outside Greta’s, I see it.
Locke slows to a walking pace, until I demand he stops and puts me down. He gently rests my feet on the dirt and holds me until he knows I’m balanced. It’s then I hold my breath and I walk up to it.
I fight back the emotions, unsure of what is to come through that door. We all watch the knob turn and I halt in my tracks. I hold my breath, and wait.
Seconds feel like eternity and when the door finally opens, I watch as my dad walks through it, followed by my mom and brother. Holding hands with my mom, he turns, feeling me instantly.
“Daddy?” I choke out the one word I’ve been praying to say again since he left.
“Hello, Addie Bear.”
SKELETON KEY
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Skeleton Key novella!
All reviews are appreciated.
If you would like to read more from the Skeleton Key series, please click on the link below:
Skeleton Key Website
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Creative designer, mother, wife, writer, part time superhero...
J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer by day and superhero by night. When she is not trying to save the world one happy ending at a time, she enjoys the snuggles of her husband, son and three doxies. With her love for romance, and head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own story to life
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J.D. Hollyfield lives in the Midwest, and is currently at work on blowing the minds of readers, with the additions to all her series, along with her charm, humor and HEA’s.
Other Books by J.D. Hollyfield
Love Not Included Series
Life in a Rut, Love Not Included, Book 1
Life Next Door, Book 2
My So Called Life, Book 3
Sinful Instincts
Faking It
Unlocking Adeline (Skeleton Key) Page 22