“
What is it? You can tell me anything,
”
I whispered, closing my eyes, worry mixing in the pit of my belly.
“
I love you,” he spoke those three little words that he had been holding back.
Three words I knew he meant and showed me and Zoey, but still, hearing them broke down the last bit of my defenses. Silent tears ran down my face as he squeezed my hand.
“
Kitten, did you hear me?
”
“
Mhhmm,
”
“
Baby
…”
“
I
’
m fine,
”
I lied, the tears falling down faster. My make-up was probably ruined now.
“
I
…”
he cleared his voice again, his tone raspy and full of emotion.
“
I know you know. But I wanted to tell you before you walked towards me. I need you to be clear who you are walking to.
”
“
Who
’
s that?
”
I asked, my voice scratchy. Letting go of my hand, his hand searched for my face, his thumb wiping away the tears I couldn’t seem to stop.
“
A man that you brought back to life. You call me your beast, but I was more like a fucking tin man. I had no heart. I hadn
’
t had a heart since Alice died, not until you. You brought my heart back to life. I love you. I love you so fucking much, Kitten.
”
“
John, open the door
…”
“
I
’
m not supposed to see you, its bad luck."
“
I don
’
t care,
”
I told him, now being the one who was frustrated.
“
It
’
s bad luck.
”
“
John, there is no way we
’
ve lived the lives we
’
ve lived, and seeing one another the moment you tell me you love me will bring us bad luck. I think it
’
s worse not looking at you or not being held by you when you tell me this, so please
…
.
”
I pleaded, his clear hesitation letting me know he was thinking about it.
“
Do you have a robe? Something to cover your dress with?
”
He asked and I shook my head.
Who would have thought John Davenport would be into traditions?
“
Yeah, why?
”
I asked, smiling at my sweet beast.
“
Put it on. I want to save seeing you in your dress until I watch you walking towards me.
”
My heart skipped a beat at the surprisingly romantic thing he wanted.
I kissed his hand and grabbed the long terry cloth robe, slipping it on quickly. I opened the door and there he was standing in all his male beauty. His beautiful and powerful body was covered in a tuxedo without the jacket. He was leaning in the doorway, his dark eyes looking at me as if for the first time. He stepped in, shutting the door behind him, his intense stare never breaking from mine. I couldn’t breathe. The look of love and emotion staring back at me at the same time making me feel like his prey.
“
I love you,
”
he repeated. His voice was confident and honest, and something knotted in my throat. The vision of him in front of me suddenly became blurry again, since my eyes were filling with happy tears once more. His arms went around me quickly, holding me tightly, my face in his chest.
“
I love you,
”
I sobbed into his chest, and his hold became stronger, tighter, perfect. Breathing in his scent, I tried to calm down and looked up at him.
“
I will always love you, my future Mrs. Davenport.
”
“
I
’
ll always love you, future hubby,
”
I told him, a smile so big on my face I was surprised it didn’t hurt while he gently wiped away my tears.
“
You
’
re so incredibly beautiful,
”
he told me in wonder.
“
You are, too.
”
His nose came down, skimming mine, and I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply, enjoying the sensation of being so close to him.
“
Breathing is easier with you,
”
he told me, and I held his face, needing to touch him.
“
How did I live so long without noticing that I needed you to breathe? To see the world in color?
”
“
John...
”
I whispered while his lips landed on mine softly.
“
I didn
’
t want to wait till later to tell you this. I needed you to know.
”
“
I did know.
”
“
Yeah?
”
“
There is no way I could love you the way I do without you loving me back the same way, honey.
”
His nose pressed closer, his beautiful smile against my lips.
“
Thank you for telling me the words I knew, but still wanted to hear,
”
I admitted and he nodded, his lips skimming lightly over mine.
“
I never want you to doubt how much I love you. How much you mean to me.
”
Now I kissed him hard and passionately, unable to stop myself, not caring that I had to redo my make-up. Pulling away from him, I rested my forehead against his.
“
You should go before someone finds out you
’
re in here,
”
I told him, smiling, and he nodded.
“
I
’
ll see you in fifteen.
”
“
Fifteen,
”
I repeated, stepping away from him. I waved as he waved and walked quietly from the room.
John- nineteen minutes later
I turned at the sound of the bridal march starting, my sweet Zoey toddling down the aisle in a puffy soft yellow dress and a tiny sunflower filled headband as she walked towards me, smiling. About five feet from me, she put down the flower basket and ran towards me, yelling
‘
dada
’
, making our guests laugh and sigh at the sight of my girl. I picked her up and kissed her forehead and held her as I watched Anne appear like an angel. She was stunning.
Her dark short hair was in a slight wave with a vintage lace head piece that lay on her right side, her eyes were big and her lips were wearing the most beautiful smile, her pink lipstick accenting her beautiful mouth. Her shoulders were covered in a gauzy material that left her delectable shoulders bare. The bodice of her dress was lace and tapered off into a gauzy full skirt. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever looked at.
“
Mama!
”
Zoey cheered, clapping, and I smiled, not able to take my eyes off of my kitten as she walked towards us, my own tears rolling down my face.
Thirty minutes later
“
I pronounce you Husband and Wife. John, kiss your bride!
”
The Wedding Officiant pronounced. The cheers and cat calls from our guests were boisterous and cheerful as I took her into my arms.
One of my hands was at her waist, the other at the back of her hair, and our lips joined in the very spot where all of this had started. But instead of rain, there were flowers, and instead of darkness, there was nothing but light and love shining around us.
With family and friends surrounding us, the past behind us, our future had never looked brighter.
Zoey Davenport
Twenty-five years later on that same hill.
The tents were all up, the live band my dad insisted on having was ready to go. Sipping my glass of champagne, I skimmed my hand over the skirt of my bright blue dress as I watched my mom and dad slow dance to a song that I
’
d heard many times in my life. It was a song that fit them perfectly, and countless memories of them together in the kitchen, of feeding one another, of them speaking in soft whispers, and of gentle stolen caresses and loving glances ran through my mind.
My handsome dad spun my mom around while my sister Allison leaned into my shoulder and looked at me, winking.
“
They look so happy,
”
she sighed, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and smiled.
“
That
’
s because they are disgustingly in love,
”
I told Allie, scrunching my face playfully at her, and she laughed.
“
You think we
’
ll ever find that?
”
She asked and I looked at her. My beautiful twenty-one year old sister was the youngest and a hopeless romantic.
“
One day,
”
I told her and felt her sigh.
“
Have you ever been in love?
”
She asked and I smiled, not thinking about a certain man who had ended it not too long ago.
“
Not like them,
”
I answered and was lucky when I saw our very tall and very handsome brothers come up next to us.
“
What are you two whispering about?
”
Sam and Wally asked us and we smiled, shaking our heads. At twenty-three, they were both breaking hearts right, left, and center. They smirked, a look passing between them in their weird twin way that even after so many years I could never get used to.
“
Allie is wondering if we
’
ll ever be as in love as mom and dad
,”
I told them, and the guys rolled their eyes at Allie
’
s hopeless romanticism.
My dad surprised us by taking the microphone while my mom came over to where we stood. Sam threw his arm over her shoulder. Dad
’
s voice boomed over the microphone, thanking everyone for coming. Then he shared the story that he told every year on this day, but was usually reserved for his family
’
s ears only.
Dad
’
s deep voice was softer when he told the story about how they met. How a rainstorm had brought mom and me to him on this very hill. He told everyone how there had been no way he couldn
’
t have fallen in love with both my mom and I, something he had tried hard not to do. Everyone laughed at this, and it was mostly people who knew dad before mom, who knew how true his statement really was. Something I couldn’t even imagine him fighting.
I had only been a baby when he’d come into our lives, so I didn’t have a single memory without him. He told everyone how love changed people, and I leaned into Wally, sipping my champagne and listening to my dad as I glanced over at my mom and couldn’t help but appreciate how incredibly in love they still were after so many years. How incredibly beautiful and rare that was. Maybe I was hanging out with Allie too much?
Sure, they
’
d argued throughout the years. With twenty-five years of marriage, that was certainly expected. But even when they did, it was witty banter, and they always made up, laughing and hugging, love evident in their eyes. Always telling one another they wouldn’t want to fight with anyone else.
Love was always present in our lives. There was never a moment in my life where I didn’t feel loved. Dad was the best dad anyone could ever have. Over the years, he was always there for us, through ballet recitals, soccer games, plays, science fairs, and graduations. Nothing was ever too small and everything was a big deal to both Mom and Dad, but somehow, for Dad it was slightly brighter, more special.
Dad taught each of us how to ride our bikes, how to swim, how to drive. It was impossible to imagine the man that people described, to imagine how they said he used to be as compared to the man he was now. But that just showed that anyone could change. That love could change anyone.
No matter how good or bad things were—not that we ever really had things to complain about—but when things happened, they always danced. It was something they just did. Something they had taught the four of us to do.
Dad looked over at us and smiled his charming smile, winking at us.
The band started to play again and the dance floor filled up. I walked alongside my brothers, my sister, and my Mom until we reached Dad on the dance floor so we could do what as a family we had always done, through good or bad
…
we danced.
The End
Six Degrees Series:
Crown’s Chance at Love- Book One
Sabrina Miller lives in darkness. Having lost the love of her life just three years ago, she is content to live her life in muted grey just so she doesn’t have to feel. As a single mother of three she immerses herself in her career and daily routine all while letting her inner light extinguish.
One Tuesday morning, a chance encounter with Michael Crown threatens to break down all of the barriers she’s worked so hard to build around her. But who really Is Michael Crown?
Despite his struggles with his own darkness, Michael Crown finds himself at a crossroads with Sabrina. He has a chance to completely let his guard down and let love in, but it may come at the cost of losing the only woman he’s ever really ever loved. Can he find the redemption he so desperately needs and let Sabrina Miller in?
Etched In Stone- Book Two
One look, one moment and I was completely defenseless.
One touch, one embrace and I was utterly consumed.
One kiss, one caress and that's all it took.
One look and thirty-four year old Parker Stone knew his life would never be the same. She called to him unlike anything ever had in his life, sparking an unbridled desire and captivating him completely.