A Right to Remain

by Beth Rinyu

  She nodded excitedly as we entered the room to find Lacey just finishing up with feeding him.

  “Hey, pretty girl!” Lacey’s eyes lit up when she saw Jillian. I placed her down, and she ran over to Lacey. Lacey moved over, and she crawled up into the bed next to her unable to wipe away her adorable little smile as she stared down at the baby.

  I placed the bouquet of flowers on the table and bent down next to the bed. “Santa was all out of girl babies, so he brought you a boy baby instead.”

  Her tiny hand gently swiped the side of his face, and I could feel myself becoming overcome with emotion. This was my daughter, my son, and my wife. How was it possible that three people who never existed to me a few years ago were now the three single most important people in my life? I looked up at Lacey as she carefully placed Samuel in Jillian’s arms, knowing this was all thanks to her. She had grown so much from the day I had first met her: from a scared helpless girl, to a strong confident woman, to the mother of my children, and without a doubt, the love of my life.

  I never believed in happily ever afters until Lacey came along. But as I stared down at my daughter, babbling a lullaby as she kissed my newborn son on the top of his head, I knew there wasn’t a sweeter ending than this. When Lacey looked up at me, grinning from ear to ear, I was pretty certain she had found the happily ever after she had always been searching for as well.

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  A great big thank you to all my readers, bloggers and the girls in Beth’s Bookies. I wouldn’t be able to keep doing this without your support!

  Thank you so much to Emily Lawrence for tidying up my manuscript and making it the best it could be. Judy Zweifel, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you are a godsend, please don’t ever quit doing what you do or I will hunt you down.

  And last but not least…my brother in law Detective Jim Frankild (name sound familiar?) who made me make him a character in the book in return for his police expertise. Even though he wanted to be the main character, he settled for a bit part.

  I hope all of you enjoyed Quinn and Lacey’s story. This was my first attempt at a suspense/mystery type romance, and I hope I pulled it off. Be sure to keep up to date with all my book news and upcoming releases by following me here:

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BethRinyu

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  Turn the page to read Chapter 1 of Easy Silence

  Chapter 1

  Sometimes people enter our lives, leaving an imprint forever embedded in our hearts. They serve a purpose, however short that time together may be.

  I will never forget the first time I saw him standing all alone on the beach. His dark hair was blowing in the breeze, and a cigarette was hanging from his mouth. Normally, that would be a turn off to me, but there was something mysterious about him…something that made me unable to look away, even though a small part of me was saying to run as fast as I could. I seemed to be drawn to this stranger by some unforeseen force. The cool salty mist veiled my face, causing a strand of my long brown hair to stick to my cheek. I slowly inched closer, startling him as he turned around to face me. His steel blue-grey eyes locked with mine, and in that instant, I knew my heart would never be the same again.

  Was it crazy? Maybe.

  Was I scared? A little.

  Had I ever been this forward with a stranger before? Never.

  I stood there silently as we slowly looked each other over. A large purple ring encompassed his swollen left eye, and as I glanced downward I noticed that his upper lip was equally swollen.

  “Are you okay?” I finally found my voice. He nodded and looked away, silently staring out at the water, taking another drag of his cigarette. “My—my grandmother’s house is right up there.” I motioned up to the beach cottage just a few feet away. “I could get you some ice if you need it.”

  His mouth turned up in a smile. It wasn’t one of gratitude; in fact it was just the opposite, cold and callous. “What makes you think I need ice?” he snapped.

  My heart began to race as I nervously pointed to my own eye. “It’s just…your eye. It’s all swollen.”

  “Go back to your perfect life with your perfect family and your perfect house, and don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” I was in shock as I stood there quietly staring at him. I knew I should just do as he said. He wanted to be alone, and my presence was clearly annoying him. “Did you not hear what I just said? Leave!” he said raising his voice. His eyes met mine once again, and I finally relented, giving him his wish.

  I walked along the edge of the ocean for what seemed like forever before finally taking a seat in the sand, still a little rattled from the abruptness of that stranger. Who was he to judge my life? He knew nothing about me. If he did, then he would know that my life wasn’t perfect…far from it. I looked out at the water, trying my best to calm down from my recent encounter. The waves crashed onto the shore with full force. There had been red flags up all over , warning swimmers to stay out due to the rip currents caused by a passing storm that was out at sea. Sadly, the loud roar and velocity of the ocean were more warm and welcoming than my life. I stood up and walked to where the waves were breaking, wondering if anyone would even notice if I were to be taken away forever. Probably not. If anything it would just be an inconvenience for my parents, causing them to take time from their political agenda to mourn the loss of a daughter whom they didn’t even really know. Being the daughter of Senator Maxwell Carmichael wasn’t an easy task. To outsiders looking in, it appeared to be a piece of cake. I was given everything in life…a top education at one of the most prestigious all-girls boarding schools, a brand new car when I got my driver’s license, and I was a soon-to-be freshman at Georgetown University studying international affairs because that’s what my father wanted me to do. And in return, he demanded perfection. I wasn’t allowed to act like a normal teenage girl, for fear I may do something that would embarrass him. So, I basically shut myself out of the social scene all through high school with my only outlet being the drama club. My dream was to become an actress. Acting was my passion. In addition to drama club, I took acting lessons during my summer breaks. My father scoffed, never allowing me to pursue that dream, calling it a “hobby,” but to me it was so much more. It allowed me to become a different person, even if for only a few minutes. I was able to escape the loneliness that was my life. As I stepped into the water further and looked out at the horizon, I couldn’t help but think my parents were on the other side of this great big ocean. If I had my days straight, they were in London at the moment. They were spending the summer in Europe, traveling to a slew of countries. I once again chose not to go, but this summer instead of staying at my home in Maryland with our housekeeper, who was more like a mother to me than my own, I decided to spend the summer with my grandmother at her beach house in North Carolina.

  Grandma Caroline was my rock. She was always there for me. I knew if I needed her, she was only a phone call away. It saddened me to see her now. She wasn’t the same strong woman I knew my whole life. Alzheimer’s had taken her away, and as her condition continued to deteriorate, my father continued to throw money at it, instead of spending time with his mother like he should have been. He had hired a live-in companion to care for her in addition to Hadley, her live-in housekeeper, who over the years had become more of a friend to my grandmother than an employee. I was willing to postpone my first semester of college to stay and help take care of her, but my father was adamant that I go to school. Part of me wanted to stand up to him. I was eighteen years old and no longer a child, but I still continued to allow him to treat me as such. I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t realized the undertow had pulled me out. Panic began to take over as the tide carried me further, and my attempt to swim back to shore became fruitless. The lifeguards and all of the beachgoers were gone with it being early evening. I was going to die alone in this ocean, and no one would even know it. The wav
es were merciless, coming one right after another, not even allowing me to catch my breath. My throat began to burn from the salt water that I was unintentionally consuming, and my body twisted and turned like a rag doll, being no match for this powerful force. I tried my best to swim parallel to the shore line, but it was no use. The current was so strong and the waves too rough, crashing into me from every direction. At that moment I was prepared to die. I had given up. My body was too tired from fighting a losing battle. I was no match for this great big force, and I was surrendering. I submerged myself under the water hoping it would be over soon as the waves above me continued to roll. All I could think of was how angry my dad was going to be at me for this. His trip was going to be interrupted to attend my funeral. I surfaced once again, while gasping for air and taking in more salt water in the process. I didn’t know what was happening when I felt someone grip me tightly from behind. I tried do wiggle out from the hold that was on me, but just like the waves, it was of no use.

  “Stop fighting me,” a voice shouted from behind me over the ferocious sea. I did as the voice said, wondering if an angel was carrying me to my death. I looked down at the strong muscular arm across my chest pulling me closer to shore and closed my eyes, knowing that my life was in this stranger’s hands. Once we reached the safety of the shore, I took a seat in the sand, coughing up the water that I swallowed, trying to get my surroundings straight. I turned my head in the direction of the mysterious voice to find the same boy who stood on the beach earlier and scolded me for trying to help him out.

  Maybe I had died and gone to heaven, because as I got a closer look at him, I noticed he had the face of an angel. His messy wet hair that hung in his eyes dripped with beads of water that rolled past his extra-long and extra-dark lashes onto his full ruby red lips. He wasn’t handsome. He wasn’t cute. He was beautiful.

  I was embarrassed and grateful, afraid to thank him, for fear he would snap at me like he had earlier. So instead, I extended my hand to him. “I’m Samantha Carmichael, but my friends call me Sam.”

  He shook his head. “Really?” he replied in the same sarcastic tone he had used with me earlier. He finally caught his breath and stood up.

  I followed suit, getting up on shaky legs. My body was sore and tired from the workout it had just been given. “What the hell is your problem?” I finally snapped.

  “Umm…I don’t know. Your dumb ass goes out into the water after a million warnings to stay out. I risked my ass to save you and all you can say is your name.” He began to walk away, and I followed after him.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but I was afraid if I thanked you, then you would just jump down my throat like you did earlier.”

  “Whatever Samantha, I’m leaving, so if you decide to go for another swim, you’re on your own.”

  This guy was such an ass. I knew I was wrong to be thinking that; after all, he did just save my life, but I was totally baffled as to how someone so angelic looking could be so nasty. “What the hell is your problem? Why are you so bitter?” I had no business asking him that, and I was pretty sure he was going to let me know that, but as crazy as it sounded, I wasn’t ready to let this disgruntled stranger walk out of my life just yet.

  He turned around and got right in my face, and the only thing I noticed were his extra high cheekbones. “Girls like you wouldn’t understand why I’m bitter…Samantha,” he said over emphasizing my name.

  “What do you mean…girls like me? And, I prefer to be called Sam,” I snapped back.

  “Well, since I’m not your friend and never will be, I’ll just stick with Samantha. Anyway, you’re welcome…and it was nice knowing you.” He turned back around and began walking away.

  “You shouldn’t make random statements if you can’t back them up!” I shouted, causing him to stop dead in his tracks. I inched closer to him, fully intending to ignore him and exit the beach. He grabbed my arm as I walked past him, taking me a little off guard. What was I doing running my mouth to him? I knew nothing about this guy. For all I knew he could be some psychotic killer. But if that were the case, he would have just let me drown. “Get your hands off me,” I shouted, pulling my arm from his grip.

  I continued to walk as he followed behind me. “I know all about girls like you. You look down on everyone else. You spend your summers here and then go back to your mansions in the winter.”

  I knew I should just ignore him and keep walking, but he was pissing me off big time with the way he was judging me. My parents may have money, but I didn’t think I was better than anyone. If anything I was the opposite. I would give up all the materialistic things I had been given in life just to have two parents who cared about me, instead of my father’s stupid career. I turned around quickly and banged right into him. “You don’t know me at all! So just keep your opinions to your—Ouch!” I cried looking down at the jagged shell I had just stepped on. “Shit…damn it!” I said, fighting the tears that sprung from the excruciating pain. I tried my best to limp away, while noticing the trail of blood I was leaving behind. I bit my lip in an effort to deal with the pain, not wanting to appear weak in front of him.

  “Will you just stop!” he said once we reached the sand dune. I did as he said, not because I wanted to, but because I knew there was no way I was going to make it up that hill with my foot feeling the way it was. I took a seat in the sand and examined the sole of my foot. It was sliced straight across and gushing with blood. “Let me see.” His tone was a little less sharp for the first time.

  “I’m fine!” I snapped.

  “Okay, suit yourself.” He stood up and began to walk off. I sighed deeply, letting the tears roll down my face, wondering how the hell I was going to make it back to my grandmother’s house, which was at least a half mile away. I stood up and hobbled on my good foot, ignoring the blood that continued to drip onto the sand. I had only gotten a few inches when I saw him standing at the top of the hill, watching me struggle. I could do this. I just had to make it up the hill and get past him, and then I could sit down and feel sorry for myself after he was gone and no longer watching. I hopped a few more inches before falling into the sand and completely breaking down. I pulled my knees into me and buried my face. Everything was finally hitting me. I had almost died today, only to be saved by some miserable stranger who didn’t even think I was worthy enough to be his friend. Now, here I was trapped once again. I lifted my head when I felt someone standing over top of me. I didn’t even have to look; I already knew it was him. Without saying a word, he took off his shirt and wrapped it tightly around my foot to control the bleeding. When he scooped me up in his arms, I didn’t protest. I felt safe. It felt right, and as crazy as it sounded…for the first time in a long time I felt loved. I rested my head on his broad shoulder, neither one of us saying a word, thus beginning the journey that would forever change my life.

  To purchase Easy Silence click here