My Kind of Forever

by Heidi McLaughlin

  I look at my watch and realize Paige and I have been up for five hours, just staring out the window, reflecting on life. It was the fastest five hours of my life.

  As soon as Josie enters the room, she comes over to kiss Paige, even offering one up for me.

  “Merry Christmas,” I say against her lips.

  “Merry Christmas.”

  Paige takes this opportunity to wake-up and as soon as she sees Josie, it’s a full on whimper. She doesn’t need dad anymore because the milk wagon is in town. I hand her over to Josie with a kiss on her forehead.

  “I’ll make you some tea.”

  In the kitchen, I start coffee and hot water for tea, and I plate up the pastries we ordered for breakfast. I carry those into the living room first and am greeted by Mrs. Preston who is getting the coffee and tea trays ready.

  “Merry Christmas, Liam.”

  “Merry Christmas.” I kiss her on the cheek and even though I’ve known her half my life, I can’t bring myself to call her by her first name. The same goes for Mr. Powell.

  I follow her back into the living room with the drinks and see that everyone is awake. I put on my Santa hat, as is tradition, and take my position next to the tree, grabbing the first present.

  “To Grandma Bianca, from Noah.”

  My mother beams when I hand her the present and wastes no time tearing into the box that he wrapped for her. Her eyes tear up the moment she lifts the lid, pulling out the same picture book that I got on my first Christmas with Noah.

  “My mom helped, but I thought you’d like to have some pictures of me when I was a baby so they could go next to Paige’s.”

  I don’t believe there’s a dry eye in the house when she pulls Noah into her arms and tells him that she loves him.

  “To Josie, from Santa.”

  I hand her the Tiffany blue box and sit back and watch. More tears are flowing when she pulls out two new bands for her wedding ring: One with Noah’s birthstone and the other with Paige’s. She slips them on her finger and holds her hand out for everyone to see.

  “Thank you, Liam.” She leans forward, asking for a kiss that I’m all too happy to give to her.

  “To Grandma and Grandpa, from Noah and Paige.”

  I hand them a box and give my mom the same one. The grandparents tear into the box and all three squeal with delight when they pull out their all expenses paid trip to Bora Bora.

  “You guys shouldn’t have,” Mr. Preston says.

  “I know, my piggy bank is empty now, Grandpa.” Noah has everyone laughing with his joke.

  “You guys will have fun, you all deserve it,” I say.

  The next present I pull out is for me, from my family. I shake the box first, earning an eye roll from Josie. I know I’m hard to shop for, so I know anything they can find me will be the best gift ever. I unwrap the box and lift the lid. Inside is a black box with my name engraved.

  “We thought you could use one like your grandfather.”

  I run my hand over the top, feeling the smooth wood. “Wow, thank you. I love it.”

  “Open it,” Noah says and I do. Inside are two pictures. The first one is of Mason and me in our football gear and the second is of Josie and me with the kids about a month ago. It was our attempt at a family photo with a newborn.

  “I don’t know what to say. I’m sort of speechless.”

  “Well, that doesn’t happen often,” Josie says, as she shifts Paige to burp. I mouth “thank you” to her because I know this was her idea. I set my box aside and compose myself. It’s been an emotional day, all starting with the nightmare I had.

  “Well, I guess that’s it. We should probably shower and head over to Harrison’s.”

  Noah throws a pillow at me and pretends to pout. I hand him his first gift and he rips into the paper, letting it fly everywhere.

  “Sweet, a new glove! Thanks!”

  And that is how the morning continues with Noah opening everything under the tree aside from a few other gifts we bought each other. Paige, of course, had her fair share of presents as well.

  There are two-dozen white chairs decorated with pink tulle facing the trellis, which is facing the ocean. Flowers hang from the top, creating a cascading arrangement, and candles are lit. It is Noah’s job to make sure the candles don’t blow out. Why Yvie wanted to get married on the beach, on Christmas, is beyond me, but here I am, escorting people to their seats.

  The ceremony is simple, but from what Noah has told me, the reception will be “off the hook”. As long as everyone is having fun, I’m down for anything. When I’ve seated the last guest, I rush into the house and make sure Xander is ready.

  Xander and Yvie surprised us all. He had gone to see her for Valentine’s Day and said he knew then that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He just didn’t know how to make it work. Yvie was having the same thoughts, but had taken the steps to end her tenure on Broadway. During one of his visits, they were at the top of the Empire State building and he got down on bended knee, and asked her to marry him. She said yes and quickly asked if he’d renovate the second floor of the gym for a dance studio. He came back to Beaumont and started on it immediately, only for Yvie to be offered a job in Los Angeles. After a long discussion, they decided to move to California, but keep the gym open in Beaumont until the right buyer comes along. This is partly the reason why JD and Jenna have moved out here, to be close to Xander.

  “You good?” I ask him. He nods and straightens his bowtie. It’s my job to make sure I get him out of the house without seeing Yvie.

  “All right, the coast is clear,” I tell him and JD, who is his best man as well as Lindsay, Yvie’s friend from New York, who is her maid of honor. Harrison has the duty of walking his sister down the aisle. I swear he cried when she asked him. Peyton and Elle are the flower girls and Quinn is responsible for the rings. The poor kid has been sitting in the corner for over an hour, afraid to move because he thinks he’ll lose them.

  Once I have the guys in place, I run back in and tell Tess that we can start. The Justice of the Peace is under the trellis, waiting. I sit down at JD’s keyboard and start playing the song I learned for the wedding. This was my gift to Yvie. I thought this would be better than some recording playing on an iPod.

  Lindsay comes out first, and according to Josie, she’s wearing a light pink chiffon (whatever that is), off the shoulder dress. Apparently, just calling clothes by their name isn’t okay. Me, I’m in a black tux made by Armani – that is something I do know.

  Once Lindsay is in her spot, the twins walk out and start dropping rose petals for their aunt. They wave at me when they walk by and I notice that their dresses match Lindsay’s. As soon as they get to the front, it’s my cue to play the Wedding March.

  When Harrison and Yvie step out, I get choked up. She’s been like a sister to me and I couldn’t be happier to see her finally settling down with an amazing guy. I let the music trail off when they reach Xander, who stands there patiently waiting for his bride. I know what that’s like. It’s pure torture. I quietly take my seat next to Josie and kiss her on the cheek. Paige is sleeping in her arms and wearing a dress very similar to Lindsay, Peyton and Elle.

  “Who gives this woman to be with this man?”

  “Her family does,” Harrison says and I want to stand up and say ‘damn right’, but I bite my tongue. I’ll do that later.

  Harrison kisses Yvie on the cheek and shakes Xander’s hand before taking a spot between his mom and Katelyn. I pat him on the shoulder and remind him he has two daughters, he better get used to it.

  “We are gathered here today to witness the union of Yvie James and Alexander Knight. The meaning of true love is different for each of us. We can find it in a friend, a lover and if you’re one of the lucky ones, your soul mate. It’s what you do with that love that carves a path for your future. Yvie and Xander have taken their love for each other and shared it with the rest of you today.”

  His words give me pause. I hadn
’t realized that the love I have for Josie has been carving our path, but it makes sense.

  Yvie and Xander exchange their vows and Quinn delivers the rings like a champ. Once they kiss, I’m out of my seat and back at the piano to play their song as they come back down the aisle. When Yvie gets to me, she presses her lips against my cheek. “Thank you, Liam.”

  I continue to play until all the guests are out of the area. The reception is at the marina, not far from here, and most people are on their way there by the time I get the piano put away.

  “Are you ready?” Josie asks me as I take Paige from her.

  “Yes, let’s go party,” I say, holding my daughter’s arm up in the air and waving it around gently. Josie rolls her eyes, but she loves me so it’s okay.

  The reception is huge, with all their college and work colleagues. I can see why they kept the ceremony to just family; the beach isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone. It’s a slight exaggeration, but we’d probably need three hundred chairs.

  Dinner is served, champagne is flowing and I’m not drinking. It’s not some new lease in life, but out of respect for my wife and the fact that she’s breast-feeding and didn’t pump beforehand. However, being that I’m Liam Page, I can still have a good time.

  “Uncle Liam, we’re ready,” Elle comes over and tugs on my jacket. Just like at my wedding, the kids have put together a musical number for Yvie and Xander. Harrison and I are helping them get set up and making sure everything is tuned properly.

  “Okay, Elle, do you remember your lines?”

  “Yep, I know them.”

  “Noah, are you good?” He gives me thumbs up.

  “Quinn?”

  “I’m good, Uncle Liam.”

  That leaves Peyton, but Harrison is taking care of her.

  “This is for our Aunt Yvie and Uncle Xander,” Elle says into the microphone. Once the music starts people start moving in their seat. As soon as Elle sings the first verse to Elton John’s Tiny Dancer, Yvie and Xander are up dancing. Once they start, everyone joins in. I want to dance with Josie, but I need to be available for the kids in case something goes wrong.

  The whole room is cheering loudly for the kids as they finish the song. They all bow and run off stage. One song a night is all they’re good for.

  “That was awesome,” I say to Noah when he gets off stage.

  “Thanks. I really like playing.”

  “Me too,” I tell him.

  The DJ starts in with his music and Noah asks Josie to dance. I take Paige from her who is wide awake and watching everything around the room.

  “Someday, this will be you,” I tell her, earning a punch to the face from her flying hand. She starts to whine, so I stand and move back and forth with her for a bit until I decide that if I’m going to dance, I’m dancing with my daughter on the floor so everyone can see her.

  Paige and I move out on the dance floor and stand next to Noah and Josie. Paige and I move to the music and she coos when she sees her mother and brother doing the same. There’s no shortage of love in this family, that’s for sure.

  When Purple Rain comes on, Josie and I freeze. I pull her to me with my freehand and tell Noah to join us. This may not be the appropriate family song, but it’s a song that has deep meaning for Josie and me.

  We sway to the music and I steal kiss or two from my wife, who has her chin resting on my shoulder. Our son has his arm around his mother and I hold our daughter in my arm. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m certain this is what my kind of forever looks like.

  Read other books by Heidi McLaughlin

  I never imagined this day – one where I’d write The End on a family of characters that I love dearly. These characters have shaped my life in ways I could only imagine and it’s hard letting go. Thankfully, they’ll live and always be a part of not only my life, but yours as well.

  The Beaumont Series started with a picture and a ninety-minute email session with my best friend, confidant and beta extraordinaire, Yvette. I was writing another story and growing frustrated with it. Yvette suggested I take a break and write a story for NANO. Later that day, I saw this picture of a random guy and Liam was born. I came to her with a story of a guy who has returned to his hometown to make amends. What brought him back? Was the first question she ever asked about this story. His best friend died, was my answer. The title was: Returning Home.

  For days I wrote, from sun up to sun down, ignoring everything and everyone around me, except Yvette. We brainstormed everything from names, is there a kid involved, and who do we see as Liam Page. During that time, the title changed to: Standing in Front of You. Once I was finished, I didn’t know what to do and ended up giving the manuscript to Jillian Dodd. Without her and Yvette, Forever My Girl would have never existed because I’m not sure I would’ve published it. This was in September of 2012.

  From the moment I released Forever My Girl my life hasn’t slowed down. This is the little book that could and did, from hitting the USA Today Best Sellers List to selling my movie rights, each and every day this book makes me proud.

  Fast forward to today. My Kind of Forever wasn’t supposed to happen. I never intended to go back to the beginning and bring it full force, but the love fans have for this series, it made sense.

  I’d like to thank the following people because without them, The Beaumont Series would not have happen:

  Yvette Rebello

  Jillian Dodd

  Sarah Hansen

  Holly Donaldson

  Fallon Clark

  Cari Renee

  Eric Heatherly

  Jenn Sy

  Stefne Miller

  Carey Heywood

  Traci Blackwood

  LP Dover

  Georgette Geras

  Tammy Bertino

  Emily Plice

  Holly Malgieri

  Amy Broom

  Tammy Williams

  Audrey Kay

  Veronica LaRoche

  Kelli Knechtly

  The Beaumont Daily

  Of course my inspiration:

  Stephen Amell – Liam Page

  David Beckham & Ryan Stevenson – Harrison James

  Brandyn Farrell – Jimmy “JD” Davis

  To every Blogger who has read, posted and talked about the series, I thank you!

  A lot of have asked what happens next – well as I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again… the gang will be back when the kids have their own stories to tell.

  Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

  Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, and their newest addition of a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL.

  During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

  Read on for a sneak peek at No Limit by L.P. Dover, a steamy romantic suspense standalone.

  “You found me.”

  If there was ever a moment when I needed to keep my wits about me, it was now. But how could I do that when I wanted nothing more than to snap the man’s neck in front of me; to make him bleed like he did the families he murdered.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t?” I spat through clenched teeth. His file flashed through my mind, the pictures of the carnage he left behind . . . those children. My blood boiled.

  He was poised, ready to fight to the death by the look in his eyes. “I guess it was only a matter of time.”

  His name was Michael Bruxton, a computer analyst with skills matching my own. But he had a sick hobby that cost the lives of three families over the past two weeks. I spent day and night searching for him, and now I found the bastard.

  We circled each other in the rundown, abandoned warehouse he’d holed up in while on the run. On the flo
or were tokens he stole from his victims. The baby doll with a bright pink dress caught my attention first. My whole body shook with rage. “How could you do it, you sick fuck?”

  His eyes sparkled. “It’s like putting paint to canvas.” He looked down at the things he collected and smiled. “Their pleas for help were music to my ears.”

  Flashes of the children laying in their own blood, their lives taken from them at such a young age plagued my mind. They were innocent, along with their parents who only wanted to protect them. A man like him deserved to die a slow, painful death . . . and I was going to make sure that happened.

  Lunging for him, we went down to the dirty floor, his head slamming against the concrete. He tried to punch me and missed. I couldn’t hear anything other than the blood rushing through my veins. Pinning him with my weight, I punched him over and over, the feel of his bones crunching beneath my fist. I didn’t know the families who were killed, but I fought for them, bringing their murderer to justice.

  The sick fuck spit to clear his throat, blood dribbling down his cheek, and laughed. “I love it when they fight back.” He pushed his arousal into me and groaned.

  Jesus Christ. Grabbing his neck, I squeezed and snuffed his next words out. “You get off on pain you perverted son of a bitch?” I picked up a brick from nearby and raised it high. “Let’s see how you like this.” As hard as I could, I slammed it down on his face. “You said screams were music to your ears,” I yelled into the silence. “Where are the screams now, you bitch?” I slammed the brick back down on his mutilated face over and over again, trying to unsee the pictures of the flayed bodies he’d left behind.

  Throwing the brick across the floor, I got up and surveyed the scene, breathing hard. “Now you can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

  “Got anything new comin’ up?” Blake asked, leaning against the doorframe.