“What about Edna?” Nicole finally asked. “Does she know?”
Mom grinned. “She knows. I called her to ask if you’d shown, and she told me that you had. We came up with the plan to get you two here so I could explain everything to you.”
“So, she doesn’t have an old flame who she created hot memories with here?” Nic questioned.
Mom laughed. “I’m sure there might be. She was quite the catch in her day.”
“You knew her then?” my wife probed.
“No.” Mom chuckled. “But she was a famous actress when I was a young girl.”
“Really?”
“Do you remember the movie, Whiskey Dreams? The one about the girl who ran the tables at Speakeasies?”
“Yes,” Nic and I answered at the same time.
“That was Edna.”
“No shit?” The movie was old, but I still thought the chick who played the lead was hot. I had no idea it was sweet little Edna. Now I loved her even more.
“Sure is,” Mom affirmed.
“Now we need to watch that movie again,” Nicole suggested. “I knew she looked familiar. I just couldn’t place her.”
“Me, too,” I agreed. We were silent again until I asked, “Anything else?”
“I have a question I’m dying to know,” Nic stated.
“What’s that?” Mom asked.
“Why was your house all white inside?”
“Yeah?” I questioned. “I don’t remember the Ventura house being like a hospital.”
Mother chuckled. “Spite.”
“Spite?” I balked.
“When Doug found out that you weren’t his, he changed. He became angry and unbearable to be around, but I stayed because he told me that he’d killed Avery, and I was scared. That night was actually the first night he’d ever laid a hand on me.”
“Where was I?” I asked because I had no clue that Doug had hit my mom.
“Where else? You were with the Crawfords.”
“Jimmy and Jane would have helped you,” I stated.
“I didn’t want them to be in danger.”
“God, Mom,” I groaned. “You could have gotten help. Could have gotten Doug arrested or something.”
She looked down at her lap. “I didn’t want to take that chance. I knew he had a cop friend and I was scared.”
“So, what did you do? Why was the house white?” I asked, bringing the question back to the original one my wife had asked.
“Well, he took away so much from me once he forbid me to keep in touch with you, so I started selling our shit. I refused to paint the walls, or have anything to make Doug happy.”
I chuckled sarcastically. “And he didn’t care?”
“He cared, but at that point, I didn’t care. You were in New York living your life, and I thought Avery was dead.”
“When did you find out he wasn’t dead?” Nicole asked.
“About a month before I supposedly died,” Mom answered.
“What took you so long to contact her, Avery?” Nic questioned.
“Because I wasn’t sure what would happen. It had been too long, and I didn’t know how she felt for Doug after all this time. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, and one night while I was drunk, I sent her a message on Facebook.”
“How did you prove it was you if she didn’t believe you at first?” I asked.
“I got her with one of my love notes like I used to leave her, and it took a little bit more proof to prove to her that it was me.”
“Like, you two Facetimed each other?” Nic wondered.
“Actually, yes,” Mom agreed. We were silent again until my mom spoke. “So, that’s the story.”
“It’s still surreal to me.” I gulped the rest of the beer before it got warm.
“Me too,” my wife agreed.
“There are a few more things that need to be said,” Dad stated.
“Oh?” Mom questioned as though she didn’t know.
“First,” he said. “We’re going to be grandparents.”
Mother sucked in a breath and looked at Nicole and me. “You’re pregnant?”
Nic smiled and nodded her head. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head. “Yep, and something tells me this time will turn out differently.” Mom frowned. “We’ll tell you later. What’s the other thing?” I asked my dad.
The father that I’d just met—the hopeless romantic like myself—slid off the blue couch and onto one knee. I smiled, watching him reach into the pocket of his khaki shorts. Nic and my mother both sucked in a breath, and my mom covered her mouth with her hands.
“Denise Marie Kirkland”—he used her maiden name as he withdrew a diamond ring—“when I think of you, I think of going to bed each night with you in my arms. When I think of you, I think of waking up next to you each morning. When I think of you, I think of us growing older together. When I think of you, I think of all the time we’ve lost and know we will never get back. But you’re here now—with me—and I’m never letting you go. So, Denise Marie Kirkland, would you do me the honor of finally becoming my wife?”
Without hesitation, my mother wrapped her arms around his neck and shouted, “Yes!”
Nic and I congratulated the happy couple, and as I hugged my real father, I finally knew where I got the romance gene from.
Avery Moore was definitely my father.
Two days later, Easton, Brooke, Jimmy, and Jane flew to the Bahamas. I’d called them to tell them they needed to come. Of course, they questioned me, but I explained it was a surprise. They all objected, so I told them the flights were already booked and paid for, and if they didn’t show, Nic and I were moving to California, and they’d never see us again. It was a lie, of course—except I had bought the plane tickets and rented two villas for them. All of them except Cheyenne were coming because she couldn’t miss school, so she was staying with her friend Courtney. She was also dress shopping or some shit for winter formal. Easton wasn’t happy, but C.C. was home by ten the night of her first dance and we all thought that made E feel a little better. He’d even let her go in the limo—though he followed it—and nothing bad had happened.
My parents wanted to get married before Nic and I left to go back to New York. My mom also wanted to tell Jimmy and Jane she was alive and about everything that had happened, and we thought it was best to have them come in person, so I made it happen. Mother also called Edna to tell her the news, and she was on her way too.
But, first, we had a surprise for all of the Crawfords because they were the first to arrive.
Nicole and I were waiting at the ferry when their boat arrived. “Thanks for the free vacation,” Easton stated as he walked off the boat.
I chuckled. “Just shut the fuck up.”
“What is this all about?” Jimmy asked.
“All of you haven’t had a vacation in a long time, right?” I questioned.
“So you wanted us to encroach on yours?” Brooke asked.
Nic and I smiled. “Not exactly,” I replied.
“So, tell us what the surprise is,” Jane demanded.
“First, let’s get you checked into your villas, and then we’re going for a drink.”
After we got the Crawfords situated, Nicole and I took everyone to Zelly’s where my parents would be.
“Are you going to tell us what’s going on?” Jimmy asked as we walked down the sidewalk.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” I replied.
“Why are you being secretive?” Jane questioned.
I wanted to reply about them keeping secrets from me, but that was over and everything had worked out the way it should. “Because I want to see your face when it’s revealed.”
“Did you buy a bar or something?” Easton inquired.
I chuckled. “While I would love to move down here, no, I didn’t.”
“Then what’s the big surprise?” Brooke probed.
I didn’t respond as I led them into the open bar and to the
fire pit area reserved for us. The pit wasn’t lit, but it had enough seating for all of us.
“It’s beautiful here,” Jane gushed as she looked toward the turquoise water.
“Look, if you’re buying a bar here, just tell me,” Easton clipped.
I chuckled. “I’m not buying a bar here.”
Jimmy looked over at me. “Then—”
“I asked him to get you four here,” my mother said from behind them.
I smiled wide, stealing a quick glance at a grinning Nicole before I watched the Crawfords all turn to look toward where my parents were walking around the chairs to stand in front of the fire pit.
Jane gasped, covering her mouth as Jimmy’s mouth dropped open. Easton and Brooke looked confused, and I didn’t blame them. Brooke had no clue who my mother was, and Easton might not remember what she looked like.
“How?” Jimmy asked, looking at my parents.
Jane broke out in sobs as she rushed to wrap her arms around my mom. “Come with us. We can talk,” Mother suggested. She laced her fingers with my father’s after she and Jane had a long hug.
Dad stepped toward Jimmy and stuck out his hand. “It’s good to see you again, Jim.”
Jimmy took his hand. “Likewise.”
“This is my bar, but I keep the good stuff across the street at our house. How about Denise and I clear everything up?” Dad proposed.
Jimmy stood. “Yeah, but I’m going to need something strong. I think I’m dreaming.”
Mom chuckled. “You’re not dreaming.”
“Lead the way.” Jane wiped the tears from her cheeks and we watched as the four of them walked across the street to where I assumed the conversation would be similar to the one Nic and I had with them.
“So, your parents are alive?” Easton asked.
I turned my attention to our best friends. “Yep.”
“That’s … That’s amazing,” Brooke stated.
“It’s crazy how it all went down,” Nic replied.
“How did it?” Easton asked.
I stood. “Let’s go up to the bar, grab a few drinks, and I’ll tell you what I know.”
We stood, and I laced my fingers with my wife’s, giving her hand a little squeeze. Everything in my life finally felt right.
After we ordered a round of drinks, I told Easton and Brooke everything, and we ordered another round of drinks. Our friends didn’t realize that Nic’s drinks were virgin daiquiris until she finally let them know that we had more good news.
“So, we have more news,” Nicole said. Brooke smiled as though she already knew, and my wife continued as she looked at me with the biggest smile spread across her face. “We’re pregnant again.”
Easton grinned and slapped me on the back. “Congrats, man.”
“Thanks.” I smiled back.
Yep, everything was right in the world.
Two days later, we were down on the beach in front of Zelly’s again—named after my mother’s favorite flower, of course—waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. “I can’t believe your mom and biological father are alive and getting married,” Easton said as we stood at the altar, waiting and sipping beers. It was slowly starting to sink in for me as well.
“I know. I thought I was in heaven or some shit,” I admitted. “Like I fucking died and was seeing ghosts and shit.”
Easton chuckled. “I would have thought that too.”
“It makes sense,” I stated.
“What’s that?” Easton took a pull of his beer.
“Why Doug hated me. Why he stopped talking to me after we opened Halo.”
“Because of Avery Senior?”
“Yes, but also he realized I was turning into the man he’d never be.”
“Thank fuck you’ll never be like that man.”
We laughed. It was good to finally laugh. It just felt good to finally know the truth too.
The whole fucking truth.
Avery Senior walked toward us, shook our hands and waited for his bride. My mother came into view, dressed in short, light pink dress. As she walked down the white runner in the sand, a bouquet of azaleas in her hand, I smiled and looked at our small group. I looked at my family—including Edna, who I now considered family, too.
The family who loved me for being a bartender and not a professional baseball player.
The family who loved me for me and not who they needed me to be.
I was a son.
I was a bar owner.
I was a husband.
I was going to be a father.
And I was going to be the best fucking dad I could be.
Eight Months Later …
A lot had happened since Avery discovered his mother’s secret.
Brooke’s sister, Bailee, moved into our townhouse. She and Gary continued to deny they had a relationship even though all of us believed differently. Whenever they were both at Halo, their attraction was off the charts. Maybe one day she’d tell her story.
Cheyenne still gave Easton slight heart attacks daily. She had her first boyfriend, and Easton wasn’t happy about it. Everyone found it hilarious, and we had a bet on if he’d let her go to the senior prom. Avery already had plans to get Easton drunk that night. It was still a few years away, so time would tell.
Brooke and Easton still lived in married bliss like Avery and me. They had yet to have a baby, or even get pregnant, but Brooke felt better each day. She went to acupuncture monthly, and she was still tumor free. She was off all of her pain medications and trying to live her best life. Easton, of course, made it easy for her because like Avery loves me and would do anything for me, I knew Easton would do the same for Brooke. We’d definitely found our Prince Charmings, and it was all thanks to a vacation.
As far as Avery and me, we welcomed baby Morris into the world. We decided to name our son Morris after Avery Senior. Even though my Avery wasn’t a Scott by blood, he didn’t want to go through the hassle of changing his name, and I didn’t want to change mine either. So, to pay tribute to Avery Moore, we named our firstborn more or less after him. It was the least we could do. We also gave Denise her jewelry that I’d kept and she sold it all so her and Avery Senior could go on a honeymoon. Somehow—and I didn’t ask questions—they were able to get fake passports and identification so they could travel. For the most part, they stayed in the Bahamas and worked at Zelly’s.
Now, I sat in our living room, watching my parents, Avery’s parents, Easton’s parents, and Edna coo over Morris. Brooke, Easton, Cheyenne, Bailee, and Gary were here too.
“Do you need anything?” Avery asked, crouching next to me.
“Nope. Just taking it all in.”
“Me, too.” Avery kissed me lightly and held out his hand. “Come with me for a second.”
I arched a brow. “To where?”
“Just come with me.”
I took his hand and he led me up the stairs and into our bedroom. “We have a house full of people, and the doctor said we can’t have sex for six weeks,” I protested.
He chuckled. “We’re not having sex.”
“Oh,” I breathed.
He opened his nightstand drawer and pulled out a wrapped rectangular box. “I have a present for you.”
I grinned. “You do?” He held out the box to me and I took it. “What is it?”
He gave me a stern look. “Just open it.”
I smiled wider and ripped the silver paper off of the box. When I opened it, there was a necklace with what looked to be a tree on it. Inside the tree were three birthstones, one for Morris, Avery and me.
Avery took the box from me and slid the silver necklace out. I turned for him to put it on me. “With each baby, we can add more stones.”
“I love it.” I touched the pendent as I turned to face my husband.
Avery cupped my cheek and pressed his lips to mine. “And I love you.”
“I love you too.” We kissed again. Slow, sweet, and perfect. God, I was so lucky.
We walked back
down the stairs and as we rounded the corner, I stopped to take in the scene of everyone gathered with Morris again.
This was my royal family.
I had my king, my prince, my family, and my castle. It was the first time our entire family was under one roof, and my heart was grateful because this was it.
This was forever.
* * *
The End.
* * *
*The Halo series might be over(keep reading for a note about Brooke and Easton), but Kimberly has more characters for you to fall in love with. Sign-up for her newsletter on her website, and get a FREE short story of Watch Me.
If you’ve already signed up, email Kimberly at [email protected] and she’ll send you a copy!
Dear Reader,
* * *
I hope you’ve enjoyed My One. Please take a moment to spread the word so everyone can discover Avery and Nicole. The entire Halo series holds a special place in my heart and I would love for more readers to fall in love with Brooke, Easton, Nicole, and Avery. Even Cheyenne and Bailee too!
I know that a lot of you have asked if Brooke and Easton have a child of their own. The answer is: I don’t know yet. I say that because Brooke is based on me (as you can image, given her medical stuff is my medical stuff), and well, I don’t have a child yet I wanted to keep her character true to me. So, there might be a short story in their future. You never know!
Please sign up for my newsletter so you can stay up to date on all the Knight news (including the future baby Knight). You can find the link on my website at www.authorkimberlyknight.com.
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Thank you again. You can really help me out by leaving a review where you bought the book as well as on Goodreads and Bookbub. Your love and support mean everything to me, and I cherish you all!
* * *
I always start with my husband because he’s the one who has supported me through this journey. So, Mr. Knight, thank you for being my one. Thank you for working hard so I can have my dream job. I love you, you know?
The Halo Series Boxed Set Page 96