by D E Dennis
I stepped back, reality crashing down around me. His arms fell away.
“The problem is Arnie,” I said. I backed up again, hugging myself. “Tonight, Arnie asked me for the same thing you did, Paxon. Honesty.” I shrugged agitatedly. “And I said if he gave me a few days, I would give it to him so now we’re on hold again while I try to figure out what to tell him.”
“Tell him you’re in love with someone else, Mari. It’s that simple.”
I shook my head, eyes filling with tears. “It’s not simple, because I’m in love with him too.”
He stiffened. “You can’t have us both.”
“I know that,” I cried.
“So, what then...is this the part where I’m supposed to beg you to choose me? Where I list all the reasons why we’re perfect for each other?”
“No,” I whispered, “because I already know why I should pick you. You’re funny, handsome, confident, and secure in who you are and where you come from. You’ve always been there for me and you accept me for who I am...but that’s also why we shouldn’t be together.”
Paxon screwed up his face. “Wait, did I miss something? Because everything you said sounded like positives to me.”
“They are,” I agreed. “For anyone else, someone who accepts all the parts of them is a great thing...but I’m not anyone else.” I looked down. “There’s a darkness in me, Paxon. A brokenness that you see...that you encourage...”
“Are you talking about...what happened after Kayla was killed?”
I looked him right in the eyes. “You know I am.”
He heaved a frustrated sigh. “You won’t be with me because of that stunted homicidal trash that deserved everything they had coming to them? Don’t tell me you feel bad about what you did?”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t feel bad...and that’s the problem. I don’t feel an ounce of guilt for doing what I did, even though I should. I know I should. I’m messed up, Paxon, broken in more ways than one, but that doesn’t faze you...sometimes I think it’s what you like about me.”
He shrugged, eyes hooded. “Maybe, it is,” he said simply. “And maybe that’s because...” He moved in close and gently lifted my chin. “I’m messed up too.”
I swallowed hard.
“We’re two of a kind. Knight and Moon. Soulmates.” His whispered words were sucking me in. “The darkness in you, is mirrored in me.” He cupped my face with his warm hands. “I do accept you. I accept everything about you...but will Arnie? How will Detective Davis respond when he hears the secret you’ve been keeping all these years?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I can’t move forward with you, until I find out.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You won’t say yes to me until he says no to you? What am I? Your second place prize?”
“Of course not,” I snapped. “See! You’re infuriating!”
“No, I’m confused. What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying,” I breathed deeply, trying to settle my racing heart. “l have been stuck in a holding pattern with Arnie for years and the reason I couldn’t commit to you was because things between him and me were never worked out. I loved him, I still love him. I was going to marry him and live happily ever after. That future was taken from me, but I spent too much time pretending I could get it back. Now, I have to face what is.”
I looked away. “I’ve seen what happens when secrets, lies, and mistrust erodes away love. I want to make this decision, this important life-altering decision, from a place of honesty. When everything is out in the open and everyone knows the truth...then I’ll be able to tell you if I’m going to be your wife.”
“But when will you—”
I reached up and gently stroked his cheek. “I won’t make you wait long...I promise.” I smiled. “Ten years is more than enough.”
It took him a minute, but he smiled back. “Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whispered.
“I love hearing you say that.” He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine. A move I usually never let him get away with, because that’s how empaths put the whammy on you and get you all hopped up on whatever emotions they choose, but I figured this time he wouldn’t try anything.
“I love you,” he repeated, and suddenly his lips were on mine.
So much for not trying anything.
I pulled away in surprise. “Paxon!” I scolded.
He grinned, unrepentant. “Yes, future Mrs. Knight?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”
He laughed. “Yep. And I’m only going to get more insufferable, now that you’ve admitted you love me too.”
I tried to look stern, but a smile was playing at my lips.
“I’m also going to kiss you...right now. So, if you have any objections, now’s your chance to voice them.”
I giggled, effectively missing my chance, and he kissed me again.
The kiss was deep, fiery, and confident. Exactly the kind of kiss I expected from Paxon Knight.
His hands found their way to the tie holding my robe closed. They paused, as if waiting for permission, and my answer was to untie the thing myself and let my robe fall to the floor.
Paxon pulled away, wide-eyed. He looked me up and down and then lifted his head back and said to the ceiling, “Thank you.”
I laughed. “Will you shut up?” I said between giggles.
His grin was wolfish. “I know a way you can keep me quiet...”
Entry Twelve
I TRUDGED HOME AROUND eight o’clock the next morning. I found Kali sleeping on the living room couch. She stirred when I closed the door shut behind me.
“Mari?” she croaked.
“Yeah, it’s me, Kali.”
She leaped up. “Mari!” she cried.
She kicked off the throw and tumbled off the couch. She launched herself at me. I went down with a shout.
“Ompf!”
“I’m so glad you’re okay! I was so worried!” She had me in a death grip. If I was a jelly donut, all my insides would have been splattered all over the floor.
“K-ali,” I gasped.
She suddenly pulled back. “You idiot!” she shrieked. “How could you just go off alone like that?! We were supposed to have each other’s backs! You didn’t even bring your phone! I was scared to death!” She shook me roughly. “And how did you get all those cuts?! You—stupid, stupid, stupid!”
“Kali!” I cried.
She seized me again, hugging me tightly. “But at least you’re okay! As long as you’re okay!”
“Kali!” I forced out. “I need to breathe!”
“Oh,” she said, and she eased up in the hug just a bit. I put my arms around her and hugged her back.
“I’m sorry,” I said sincerely. “I shouldn’t have run off like that. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
She sighed. “It’s okay...I got you back.”
I froze. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She pulled back, smiling innocently. “I called Mom and Dad. I told them everything. Their flight lands in an hour.”
My mouth dropped open. “How could you?!”
She grinned. “That will teach you to put me through something like that again.” Her smile fell away and she got serious. “I was seriously freaking out, Mari. You said you knew who the killer was, and then you ran off. I didn’t know what you were going to do. I didn’t know if I was going to...see you again.”
I looked away, her sadness was making my eyes sting. “I really am sorry.”
“So, what happened?”
“Are you sure you want to hear this?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
I told her everything. Everything that went down in the beach house on Cherry Lane.
Kali was speechless...for all of five seconds. “Veronica Breyfogle was alive the whole time!?”
“Yep.”
“She killed her husband because she thought his secret child was a
ctually his secret mistress?”
“’Fraid so.”
“And D-Daisy—” Her voice cracked. “You really think she’s...gone.”
“They haven’t done a DNA test yet, but...but yes. I believe she’s gone. Another victim of Veronica’s vendetta.”
Kali’s face crumpled, and I held her as she cried.
Eventually, her tears slowed, and she sat back, wiping her face with the hem of her t-shirt. “You’re lucky you weren’t one of her victims too. I can’t believe that psycho doused you in gasoline.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Explains why you’re wearing men’s clothes. Did Arnie let you borrow them? Were you at his place last night?”
“Uhhh...”
“Because Arnie has a phone, last I checked.” Kali plowed on, getting irate once again. “Would it have killed you to call and tell me you were okay? Because—”
“I wasn’t at Arnie’s,” I cried, stopping her rant in its tracks. “I was with...Paxon.” I mumbled his name under my breath, but it wasn’t low enough.
“What?” she gasped. “You were? All night? Are these his clothes?”
I clambered to my feet. “That’s the end of this discussion.” I stomped off to my room, but Kali was right on my heels. I tried to close the door behind me, but she barged in and threw herself on my bed.
“Oh my goodness, tell me everything,” she gushed. “What did he say? Then what did you say? What did you feel? Are you together now? Are you getting married? Grandma’s going to be so—”
“You know,” I snapped, “you’re making me long for the psycho and the burning building right now.”
Kali laughed and waved that away. “So, you broke up with Arnie, right? Did—”
I groaned and flopped face-first onto my bed.
I COULD HEAR MY FAMILY on the other side of the door. Immediate, extended, and adoptive. My father, brother, stepmother, grandmother, Cora, Daniel, and Paxon and his parents. They were laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
I should have been out there with them but couldn’t move from my seat. I sat at my desk staring at the two journals I have kept with me, locked away, for years.
There was a knock on my bedroom door.
“Come in,” I called. I turned and smiled at my grandmother. She carried a gift bag in her hand. “Hey, Grandma.”
“Hello, precious girl. What are you doing in here by yourself?”
I turned back to my desk. Grandma came up behind me and looked over my shoulder. “What’s this?”
“My journals,” I said softly.
She patted my head. “What about them has you so afraid?”
“It’s not the journals that scare me...it’s having to tell Arnie what’s in them.”
The hand on my head stilled. “You’re going to tell Arnold the truth?”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“Yes. We are supposed to have dinner tonight to get it all out.”
She sighed. “Then don’t tell him.”
“What?” I craned my head to look up at her. “But I just told you I—”
“What I meant,” she cut me off, “is don’t tell him what’s in the journals. Let him read them for himself. If you want him to know the raw, honest truth, then nothing will convey that better than the written word.” She placed the gift bag in front of me. “Which makes my gift rather timely.”
“What is it?” I asked.
She squeezed my shoulders. “Open it.”
I did. I reached in and pulled out a beautiful journal. “Words of Wisdom,” I read out loud. I laughed. “This is timely. I need all the wisdom I can get right now.”
Grandma laughed with me. “We all need a little every now and again.” She knelt and kissed my forehead. “Think about what I said.”
I nodded, and she left, closing the door softly behind her. I cradled my new journal, considering her words. Then I opened to the first page and began writing.
The chime that accompanied the opening door...
THAT NIGHT, I STOOD outside Arnie’s door, clutching the journals to my chest.
At seven o’clock on the dot, I rang the doorbell. Arnie didn’t have me waiting for long.
“Hey,” he said, smiling. He leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss against my cheek. “Come in. I made your favorite.”
I stepped inside.
“What are those?” He gestured at the books.
“They’re...” I absentmindedly stroked the spine of Laughter Is the Best Medicine. “They’re for you,” I said simply.
He stepped around me and went into the kitchen. “For me?” he called over his shoulder while he scooped the shakshuka onto two plates.
“Yes. This is everything I need to...this is the truth, Arnie. All of it.” I halted, taking a deep breath. Grandma was right about letting him read it instead of telling. I was really struggling to get this out. “The truth about Kayla and our senior year. About Paxon. And about who I really am. My family and...and our history.”
He laughed. “Sounds ominous. Let me guess...your dad really is a mobster, and you were hidden from him for all these years to protect you from a life of crime.”
I didn’t laugh with him. “Arnie, this is serious.”
The laughter died in his throat. “I’m sorry, Mari.” He abandoned the food and came over to me. “I take this seriously. You know I do.”
I looked away.
“Everything’s going to be okay, baby,” he said softly.
I shook my head. “I don’t know that it will, Arnie,” I said hoarsely. “You may not want anything to do with me after you read this.”
“What are you talking about?” he cried. He put his finger under my chin and made me look him in the eyes. “That could never happen. I love you.”
I stepped away. “Read them first then say that.” I placed the journals on the kitchen counter. “The ball’s in your court now, Arnie. Where we go from here...is up to you.”
He just blinked at me.
“I’m sorry, I can’t stay for dinner.” I backed into the hallway.
“Mari, wait. I don’t understand this.”
“Words of Wisdom, Love Heals, and Laughter Is the Best Medicine. Three journals, three stories. Read them in that order okay?”
“Alright, but I don’t—”
“I’ve got to go.” I got my hand on the doorknob and yanked it open. “Bye, Arnie, and remember no matter what, I still love you.”
“Mari, wait!”
I was already out the door. He chased after me, but I hopped in my car quickly and pulled out just as he reached the bottom step.
I watched him grow smaller in my rearview mirror. Just me. There was no Kayla sitting in the seat beside me. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I took it as a sign it was time to move forward.
The End
If you liked Words of Wisdom, please leave a review. Reviews help me decide whether to commit more time to these characters and this series because I’m getting feedback from you, the readers. If I know you like this series, then I’ll devote my time to giving you more Amari! But I can only do that if you let me know. I love hearing from you. Thank you.
READ ON TO LEARN MORE about the second journal of Madame Moon, Love Heals, and more books by the author.
HER BEST FRIEND’S MURDER and the subsequent spiral into near madness, sent Amari on a mission that destroyed more lives than just hers. Now twenty-three years old, Amari quits school and moves in with her supposedly dead father and the family she didn’t know existed, hoping that living among her own people will help her heal.
But when her new friend Emily dies in an apparent muffin-related accident, Amari can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. She tries to get people to listen but Emily and her family aren’t one of their kind and a proper empath doesn’t concern themselves with stunted nonsense.
Now with pressure on all sides to let this go, Amari must hunt down a ruthless killer in a community that s
hares all but gives nothing away. Risking her life and the precious bonds she has forged, she will do whatever it takes to stop this killer... like she did with the last one.
Grab your copy of Love Heals now!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
D.E. DENNIS HAS SPENT most of her life within the pages of a book and now she is thrilled to have the opportunity to invite people into the worlds she creates.
When she is not writing, she is traveling, eating too much cheesecake, and traveling some more. Join her newsletter to keep up with the crazy life of this writer.
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ALSO BY D.E. DENNIS
Words of Wisdom
Love Heals
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Copyright © 2018 by D.E. Dennis
Cover Illustration by Mariah Sinclair at https://www.mariahsinclair.com/
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.