by Melody Anne
“You drink this up and then we’ll get you upstairs to clean up before you have to do any talking,” Mary said, taking over like a mother hen.
Emily obediently drank the soothing liquid and realized it did make her feel better and seemed to give her some added energy, which she was seriously depleted of.
When she finished the drink, Amy and Jessica led her upstairs and she was relieved to jump under the soothing spray of hot water. She took her time washing any traces of the man who had taken her away and turned her skin pink from scrubbing so hard.
By the time she stepped out and put on some clean flannel pajamas she was feeling almost human again. “Please burn those clothes,” she said about the mud covered clothing she’d been wearing.
“No problem,” Jessica said and whisked the clothes off the floor, throwing them in the trash can. “They will be gone before you come in here again.”
The girls made their way back down the stairs and Emily was once again placed on the couch with a blanket thrown over her. Mark sat down next to her and pulled her tightly against his side.
Emily explained the whole story of how she’d been in the barn and she figured the man had approached her from behind, hitting her in the head with something.
“Is Trevor okay?” she asked.
“We didn’t tell him what was happening. We thought that would be best,” Joseph said.
“Thank you Joseph, I wouldn’t have wanted him to know,” she said, feeling relieved. She would check on him when she went up to bed, even though she knew he was safe.
“I know you’re all worried and waiting for me to fall apart any moment. I was terrified beyond anything when I was locked in that cabin but the terror ended the minute Mark walked through the door. I knew somehow he would be there to save me and I want you to know you really don’t have to worry about me,” she told them sincerely.
“Okay, we’ll quit the worrying,” Jessica said. “Well, we might worry a little but we’ll be sure to hide it from you,” she added with a laugh.
“Everyone can either use guest rooms here or head home but I’m taking my wife up to take a nice long bubble bath to ease her aching joints and then bed,” Mark said to his family.
“I think we’ll head home and hug on our children for a while,” Amy said as she walked over and hugged Emily.
“That sounds like a great idea,” Emily told her.
“We’ll do the same but we’re coming over this weekend with the kids so we can have a big family barbeque,” Jessica told her.
“Perfect. Thank you Jessica,” Emily said, excited to have the family over for another get together.
“Your mother and I are going to stay the night. We’ll feel better in the morning if we get to spend time with our grandson,” Joseph said. He and Katherine gave Emily a kiss before heading off towards the stairs.
“I love you guys,” she called after them.
“I’m going to make you some dinner to eat for after your bath. I’ll leave it on the table by the door. It will be something easy on your stomach,” Mary said and then rushed off to the kitchen.
“I really am grateful you’re okay. Since you’ve come into this old home there’s noticeably more laughter. You’re a beautiful woman inside and out,” Edward told her.
“Thank you, Edward. All of you are my family,” she said and then kissed his cheek. He mumbled something and then shuffled off.
“You, my beautiful wife, are incredibly loved,” Mark told her when they were finally alone.
“That’s the greatest gift I could’ve ever received,” Emily said to her husband.
Mark lifted her into his arms and gently carried her to their room. He sat her on the bed and then drew her a warm bubble bath. He slowly stripped the clothes from her body and kissed her gently, before carrying her into the bathroom, softly releasing her into the soothing water.
“Do you want to join me, I could use a foot rub?” Emily asked him. Mark stripped his clothes off and climbed into the opposite side of the tub. He lifted her foot into his lap and began to gently massage it.
Mark rubbed her feet and slowly massaged his way up her shapely calves and thighs. All thoughts of the day were washed away as Mark stroked her, from the soles of her feet to the top of her thighs and back down.
He turned her around and gently washed her back, then brought his hands around and ran his soapy fingers along her stomach and over the mounds of her breasts. She leaned her head back into his neck and let the sensations of his touch wash over her. She could feel his arousal pressing into her back and smiled with how masculine her husband was.
He finally rinsed them both off and carried her wet body to the bed. He ran the towel over her, making her ache for him. He then tucked her into the bed and pulled her into his arms.
“You know how much I love you, right?” he asked her, as he gently kissed her lips and throat.
“I think as much as I love you,” she answered him and then groaned.
“I think I was in love with you from the second I first saw you and Trevor standing there, so beautiful, after I’d been through such a rotten day,” he told her, as he continued to slide his hands all over her body.
“I fell in love with you the first time you talked kindly to my son,” she said, with tears in her eyes.
“Oh Emily how could I not love him, how could I not love you?” he said. He showed her how much long into the night.
Epilogue
Joseph sat in the chair, watching all his grandkids tear open their Christmas Presents. He was cuddling baby Tassia close to his chest. She was only a few weeks old and as beautiful as the rest of his grandkids. Mark and Emily certainly had the right recipe for creating a beautiful baby.
He smiled as he watched Trevor and Jasmine sharing chocolate. Jasmine had been a bit disappointed to find out Trevor was her cousin and she couldn’t marry him but she soon recovered when she found out it meant they got to spend more time together.
Isaiah and Emily were each rocking on their brand new horses and giggling in a way that made the whole room light up.
Katherine was playing Christmas songs on the piano and all the kids were singing along. Jessica had a really beautiful voice and when it was accompanied by Amy and Emily it sounded like angels from above.
The three boys were sharing a drink by the fire and every few minutes they would glance over at their wives, as if to make sure the women didn’t disappear on them.
Joseph was filled with pride at how well his matchmaking had turned out. He now had the large family he’d longed for and if things kept going as well as they’d been, he would be blessed with even more grandkids.
He had to admit he was a bit disappointed he didn’t have anyone else to match up. He found he was really quite good at it.
“Dad, come have some of this Cognac, it’s really good,” Lucas called to him.
“Give me a minute,” he said. He reluctantly got up and placed Tassia in her portable bassinet, standing over her, making sure she didn’t wake up. He would be more than happy to pick her up again.
She stayed asleep, giving him no excuse to cuddle her close again. He walked over to his boys and held his hand out for a glass.
“I have to admit, Dad, Christmas keeps getting better and better each year,” Mark said as he once again glanced over at his wife and son.
“I thought marriage would be the end of my life and yet I find it was truly the beginning,” Lucas admitted.
“I never thought I would take the plunge but without Jessica I’m only half a person,” Alex said.
“Of course all those wonderful babies sure makes the holidays bright again,” Joseph added as he glanced around the room filled with music and laughter.
“I hate to admit you were right, Dad, but we’re going to have to give you one,” Lucas said.
“Well that’s sure nice to hear every once in a while,” Joseph said, while puffing out his chest a bit.
“Merry Christmas everyone,” Alex said to
the room in general. The room was filled with choruses of Merry Christmas’s and Joseph knew life was as great as it could possibly ever be.
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