by T. K. Leigh
“Okay.” She stepped toward Olivia and handed her the little boy.
Her heart nearly burst with happiness. For days, she’d been living with the thought that it was her fault Landon no longer had a mother. The blame tore her apart. She hated to think she was the reason he would grow up to be just another statistic, no one to love or care for him. It ate away at her. But now, as she gazed into those dark eyes, she knew that was the furthest thing from the truth. She prayed Landon would never have to face the cruelties of the world that took his mother from him. She would do everything in her power to make sure he would only know love and happiness.
“There will be quite a few home visits while Landon is in your care,” Ms. Pierce continued, “both announced and unannounced. You and your husband will have to attend regular meetings with a case worker, as well as submit to routine drug checks and psychological evaluations.”
“Yes. Yes. That’s all fine,” she said hurriedly, caressing Landon’s brow, not even looking up. She didn’t care what she had to go through to keep Landon safe. She would do it and then some.
“Well, then, I guess that’s all for now. We’ll be in touch after the holidays to schedule an initial meeting.” She handed Alexander a diaper bag, then stepped toward Olivia. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Burnham.”
“Thank you, Ms. Pierce, Agent Moretti.” She nodded at him, smiling her first real smile in days, maybe even months.
“Of course, ma’am.”
“Merry Christmas to both of you.” Moretti gave them a small smile, then turned on his heels.
“Just one thing, Agent Moretti,” Alexander called after him.
He spun around. “Please, call me Vincent.”
“Okay,” he answered. “Vincent. You said you have an eidetic memory. Why do you always write everything down?”
Moretti beamed a wide smile. “I can remember everything I read, not everything that is said, so that’s why I write everything down.” He allowed that to sink in. “Merry Christmas.” Winking, he disappeared into the foyer.
A wiggling baby brought Olivia’s attention back and she kissed Landon’s forehead. For years, she had prayed for another child, but those prayers had gone unanswered. Now she knew there was a reason for all that…so she and Alexander could open their home and hearts to a little boy who desperately needed them. Like Alexander said earlier, blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.
Epilogue
One Year Later
GANDHI ONCE SAID, “TERRORISM and deception are weapons not of the strong, but of the weak.”
What instills fear in someone one day only makes them stronger the next. And that was true of Melanie.
As Alexander sat on the couch, a fire burning before them, Christmas music playing in the background, the sound of Olivia in the kitchen, he marveled at how much difference a year made.
It hadn’t been all good, but the happy times certainly outnumbered the bad. True to his word, Alexander stepped down from his position in the security company after overseeing an operation to retrieve Landon’s body from Afghanistan. It was bittersweet to finally watch his friend’s casket be lowered into the ground with an actual body inside.
It took a while to find a sufficient replacement to head the company. After turning down hundreds of qualified candidates, Alexander offered the job to Moretti. His gut told him he was the perfect person for the position, that he would run the company with his head and his heart, and that’s exactly what he wanted. Alexander was called to consult with his firm and even the U.S. government on occasion, but spent the rest of his time with his family.
Watching little Landon grow made him realize how much he had missed when Melanie was a baby. He thought he was around a lot back then, but he realized that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Even when he was physically home, he wasn’t there mentally. He was always too engrossed with work issues, failing to pay attention to the thing that really mattered in life…family.
“Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!” a little voice squealed and Alexander smiled, beaming with pride as Landon stumbled into the room on unsteady legs, chasing Runner. His vocabulary consisted of three words at the moment — Dada, moo (his word for milk), and vroom. He loved everything to do with cars, and now traipsed around the house wearing a plastic fire engine hat he got when Olivia and Alexander took him to see the fire trucks a few weeks ago.
“Landon!” Melanie called, following him. Despite the nearly eight year age difference, they were two peas in a pod. Landon loved his big sister, and Melanie doted on him to no end. Her therapist believed having Landon around actually helped in her recovery from the trauma she had endured.
He spun around, shrieking with delight when he saw Melanie coming after him. “Vroom, vroom!” He pointed to the television, jumping up and down when he saw a Jeep on the screen.
“Yes, Landon,” Melanie said. “That’s a vroom, vroom.”
“Vroom, vroom!”
Melanie picked him up, kissing him on the cheek. “Come on. Let’s watch a movie with Mommy and Daddy.”
“Vroom, vroom?” He looked at her.
“Yes. There’s a vroom, vroom.”
She brought Landon to the couch and placed him beside Alexander, then sat next to him. Olivia came out from the kitchen, carrying a tray of cookies and two flutes of champagne.
“Cookies!” Melanie jumped from the couch, running toward Olivia. She grabbed the tray and placed it on the coffee table in front of them. She shoved a few cookies in her mouth, looking at Alexander. “Can Landon have one?” she asked around a mouthful of cookie.
“Da! Da!” he said excitedly.
“I think he wants one,” Olivia commented. “Go ahead and give him one, but only one. I’d like for him to get some sleep tonight.” She fell onto the couch, handing Alexander a glass of champagne. “Girls are so much easier than boys.” She met his eyes.
Melanie had been a dream compared to Landon. She started sleeping through the night when she was less than two months old, sleeping over twelve hours straight. Landon was a completely different baby. Up until he was about a year old, he still woke up every four hours. It made for some very long days, but Olivia wouldn’t trade that time for anything. Neither would Alexander. This time around, he actually got up with Landon at three in the morning, allowing Olivia to get some rest. Being this involved in Landon’s upbringing gave him an entirely new appreciation for everything Olivia had done with Melanie.
“He’ll sleep,” Alexander said, tousling Landon’s hair. “Because Santa won’t come if he doesn’t.”
“Da! Da!” He bounced on the couch, cookie crumbs falling out of his mouth.
“Presents! Can we open a present?” Melanie asked excitedly.
“Is it Christmas yet?” Alexander asked.
“Well, it is in England so, technically… Yes, it is.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, giving him a smirk.
He looked at Olivia, who just laughed. “She’s your daughter.”
“Fine,” he conceded. “One present. It is tradition, after all.”
“Yay! Can I pick?”
Getting up from the couch, Alexander shook his head. “You know the drill.”
He approached the tree and grabbed three boxes, handing one to Melanie. Grinning a wide toothy grin, showing where she was missing a few teeth, she shook the box with excitement, even though she knew what was inside.
“Da? Da?” Landon slid off the couch, pointing to the box in Alexander’s hand.
“Come here, buddy.” He dropped to the floor, pulling Landon onto his lap, placing the box in front of him. He tore into the wrapping paper as best as an eighteen-month-old child could. Finally, he ripped all the paper off. Alexander helped him open the box, pulling out a pair of pajamas with trucks all over them.
“Vroom! Vroom!” he squealed, running around the room, his pajamas in his hand.
“Thanks, Dad.” Melanie came up to him and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Pajamas. What a surprise,” she sai
d sarcastically.
“It’s tradition.”
“I know. I love it.” She smiled. “What’s that?” She nodded to the final box in his hands.
“It’s a gift for your mother. Well, for everyone, but mostly your mother.”
“What is it?” Olivia got up and joined him on the floor, crossing her legs in front of her.
“Open it and find out.” He handed the shirt box to her.
Eyeing him suspiciously, she looked at the box and tore into the wrapping, tossing it to the side. With slow hands, she pulled the tissue back, her eyes scanning a piece of paper, her mouth moving as she read the words. Then she shot her gaze to Alexander, shaking her head.
“Is this real?” she asked in a quiet voice.
He nodded, beaming.
“But the judge said he wouldn’t be making his decision until he clarified a few things in the home study.”
“I guess he was able to do that.”
She held the paper in her hands, tears falling down her face. Having a baby was a lot of work, the nine months leading up to the birth nerve-wracking every step of the way. Adopting a child was a whole different type of anxiety neither one of them had expected. They’d gotten to know Landon. They loved him. They couldn’t fathom ever having to give up custody of him. They wanted him to be a Burnham, but for the past year, they didn’t know if that would ever happen based on concerns regarding what Melanie had been through. The thought of him being taken away from them was constantly in the back of all their heads.
“What’s that?” Melanie came up to them, Landon in her arms, and plopped down beside them.
“Adoption papers,” Olivia answered, a smile on her face as she tore her eyes away from the papers and gazed lovingly at Melanie and Landon.
“We just have to go to court next week to make it official.” Placing a kiss on Olivia’s head, Alexander wrapped his arm around her and pulled Melanie to his side. He glanced at his two girls and the son he never thought he’d have, his heart filled with more love than he thought possible. It didn’t come without sacrifice and heartache, though.
Regret can torture a man, but his mistakes don’t define him. What does define him is how he learns from those mistakes.
Alexander Burnham had made more mistakes in his past than he cared to admit. For the longest time, he let those mistakes wear him down. But as he sat surrounded by his family and soaked in their unconditional love, all his mistakes, his failings, his shortcomings rolled off him. Life wasn’t about his job, the amount of zeros in his bank account, or owning the latest gadget. It was about the little moments.
Alexander vowed to never take the little moments for granted again.
The End.
Playlist
I Can’t Go On Without You - Kaleo
9 Crimes - Damien Rice
All My Days - Alexi Murdoch
Here With Me - Dido
Way Down We Go - Kaleo
Pendulum - Pearl Jam
Some Devil - Dave Matthews
Fire - Barns Courtney
Landfill - Daughter
Over The Rainbow - Ray Charles
I’ll Follow You - Jon McLaughlin
Eavesdrop - The Civil Wars
State Trooper - Bruce Springsteen
There Will Be Time - Mumford and Sons
O Sleep - Lisa Hannigan
Oats In The Water - Ben Howard
Out Of My Hands - Dave Matthews
By My Side - Williams Fitzsimmons
Time Bomb - Dave Matthews Band
Through The Dark - Alexi Murdoch
Cat People (Putting Out The Fire) - David Bowie
In The Embers - Sleeping At Last
Better Days - The Goo Goo Dolls
Books By T.K. Leigh
The Beautiful Mess Series
A Beautiful Mess
A Tragic Wreck
Gorgeous Chaos
The Deception Duet
Chasing The Dragon
Slaying The Dragon
Stand Alone Titles
Heart Of Light
Heart Of Marley
The Other Side Of Someday
Vanished: A Beautiful Mess Series Novel
For more information on any of these titles and upcoming releases, please visit T.K.’s website:
www.tkleighauthor.com
Coming Soon
A brand new romantic comedy…
Writing Mr. Right
My name is Molly Brinks, but most people know me as Vivienne Foxx, bestselling author of chance meetings, stolen glances, and the much-needed happily ever after. My addictions include coffee, home improvement television, and the occasional pint of ice cream. The love of my life is an eighty-pound labrador retriever named Pee Wee. At the age of twenty-nine plus one, I am at the top of my game…professionally. My personal life is a completely different story, one best left untold. Success has its sacrifices and I’ve been more than happy to put my search for Prince Charming on the back burner while I create fictitious tales of the naïve virgin, the broken girl with a torrid past, and the strong-willed student finding their own Mr. Right… Until one hell of a case of writer’s block and a tight deadline set by my publisher forces me outside of my cozy downtown Boston apartment in search of inspiration.
Armed with an account on every dating website out there, I devise a plan… Meet some nice, professional men. Go on a few dates. Hope one of them has the spark I need to finish my book. Then walk away.
But plans are meant to be broken.
My name is Molly Brinks, and this my story about Writing Mr. Right.
Acknowledgements
Wow. I don’t even know how else to begin these acknowledgements but wow. It’s 2017. I published A Beautiful Mess in August of 2013. It’s been about three-and-a-half years since Mr. Burnham first made his way into readers’ hands and hearts. When I first wrote his and Olivia’s story in my Beautiful Mess series, I thought that was it for me. I honestly didn’t believe I had any other stories in me. Boy, was I wrong. Not only did I have a few more stories in me involving some of the secondary characters readers met in that series, I also had an idea for a stand-alone follow up to my Beautiful Mess series.
I announced this book back in 2014 and I apologize it’s taken this long to write it. I needed to write a few books before I could get to this one and I’m glad I waited. There’s a certain element to this story I don’t think I would have been able to truly capture had I not become a mother myself in December of 2015 to a beautiful little girl. Yes, at first glance, this is a story about a girl who is taken from her family and her parents’ struggle to find her and bring her back home. But that’s just the surface, really. At its core, this is a story about family, whether they’re related by blood or not. It’s a story about holding those people close and dear. Most of all, it’s a story about enjoying the little things in life.
To that end, first I need to thank my wonderful husband and beautiful little girl. He’s stood by my side and supported me on this writing journey since day one, not caring whether I sold ten books a day, or ten thousand. I would never be able to do this without him. (And of course a big thank you to my wonderful nannies who love and take care of little Harper like she were theirs so I could actually have time to write!)
Next, I need to thank my group of beta readers for always dropping whatever they’re currently working on just for me. It’s hard to find people you can trust and I’m grateful to have all of you to offer your invaluable insights and opinions… Sylvia, Lin, Melissa, Karen, Stacy, Karen, Natalie, and Victoria.
Also a big thanks to the only editor I’ll ever allow to touch my babies, Kim Young. I’m so glad we share a brain and that you’re able to figure out what I meant when my brain didn’t. Your talent knows no bounds. I promise the next book won’t be as heavy and dark.
Thanks, as always, to my admins who help me manage my social media presence: Melissa, Victoria, Lea, and Joelle — you girls make me look good.
I wouldn’t be where
I am today without my ever growing group of women who volunteer their precious time to help spread the word about my books online and on the street. When I first started this book adventure, I had no idea what a street team was. I’m glad I found out. They truly are my “angels”.
A special shout out to my #BurnhamBitches. Thanks for being my go-to girls with, well, everything!
Last but not least, thank you to YOU, my readers. Thank you so much for your patience while I’ve been working on Vanished. So many authors are able to pump a book out every other month. I’ve never been able to do that so I thank all of you for standing by my side and waiting while I work to give you all the best possible book I can. I hope you have all enjoyed this final installment of the Burnham family saga…or is it?
About The Author
T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Beautiful Mess series, in addition to several other works. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog, and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). In late 2015, she gave birth to her first (and only) baby. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over twenty fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or chasing her daughter around the house.
T.K. Leigh is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. All publishing inquiries, including audio, foreign, and film rights, should be directed to her.