Out of Darkness (31 page)

“Do you think that’ll be us one day?” she asked quietly, holding his hand in her tight grip.

He shrugged. “That will be us if you want it to be us. I’ll be with you regardless of what happens here on out, but it’s up to you if we have all of that. Marriage doesn’t mean kids and kids don’t mean marriage. A relationship is what the two people in it make of it. We’ll be whatever you want.”

She loved the fact that he could take a simple question like that and turn it into something that made her think. What did she really want from him? From their relationship? Was it heading toward the altar? Was it going to be a life partnership? Did she want the kid experience with him? Everything seemed to have taken on new meaning to her in the past few days and she knew without a doubt that she had some thinking to do.

“Let’s go in here,” he pointed to a jeweler’s shop.

Her mind heavy, she followed him, half looking at all the things that were on display.

“This is really cool,” he commented, pulling her to stand next to him.

It appeared to be two necklaces. They fit together to make up a heart.

The salesperson came over, smiling at them. “I see you found our sweethearts necklace. It’s kind of like one of those best friends necklaces but it’s for couples in a romantic relationship. You know, it gives each one a piece of the other’s heart. It’s one of our best sellers.”

Tyler reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his wallet, producing a debit card. “We’ll take it.”

It just seemed like it was meant to be.

Later on that evening, they drove around the surrounding area, just enjoying one another’s company. They passed different shops, and as they got a little further from town, it became less crowded. They passed a church that proclaimed it was a wedding chapel. They had almost passed it when she put her hand on his arm.

“Stop here, I wanna go in.”

“To a wedding chapel?” he asked, his eyebrows drawn together in question.

“Yeah I do.”

He knew by the tone of her voice that they weren’t just going in to take a look around. He turned into the parking lot and turned the truck off. They got out and met each other around the back of it.

“You sure?” he asked.

“If you are.”

Smiling he reached over and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

Chapter Forty-Two

M
eredith walked into the chapel, Tyler not too far behind. The overhead bell rang and the clerk came out, a smile on his face.

“Somethin’ I could help you two with?”

Tyler reached out for her hand and squeezed it. “We were wondering what we would need to do in order to get married today.”

The clerk explained the process, that they would need the names of their parents, their driver’s license, and their social security cards.

“What if I was a ward of the state, and I don’t know who my biological parents are?” Tyler asked softly.

“That’s fine. If you don’t know, you don’t know. Just fill out what you can.”

They filled out the information and forked over the cash that was needed.

“Do you have rings?” he asked.

They looked at one another. This was something they had forgotten.

“We don’t, but we have something that’s a little more us,” Meredith smiled.

Tyler looked at her, the question written on his face. “Our necklaces,” she explained. “And you know we could totally play with everyone like you do with your skull cup. They won’t really know if we’re married or not if I don’t wear a ring.”

The grin that broke across his face was huge. “You are learnin’ so well, baby. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud.”

She reached up, kissing him. “Are you sure
you
want to do this? I mean it’s really spur of the moment.”

“I firmly believe with all my heart that there was a reason we met each other. There was a reason I came upon you the night of your attack, there’s a reason that we’ve been put together for these huge life changes. We’re meant to be together. I’ve always been taught never to question where life takes me. God knows way more than I do. For every hurt I’ve ever had, I’ve been provided with happiness. For every hard year I’ve had, I’ve had one that was wonderful. It’s all about perspective. As long as we’re together, baby, nothin’ else matters.”

“Okay, let’s go get married,” she whispered, reaching up to put her arms around his neck.

He pulled her close and kissed her nose, closing his eyes to breathe her in for just a moment. The scent of her skin even drove him wild. He nodded, a bright smile on his face. This was the family he’d wanted his whole life.

Epilogue

A
n unusual white Christmas had descended on Bowling Green. It was a rare occurrence and even more rare that it was also freezing cold, the highs only into the teens. Inside the clubhouse, everyone was cozy and warm.

“Tyler, you have
got to stop
following me around with the mistletoe. I have stuff to do,” Meredith joked good-naturedly.

Jagger called from across the room. “It’s only natural, I mean you are newlyweds, right?”

Tyler and Meredith looked at one another, a smile they had shared numerous times since coming back from Gatlinburg. She winked at him and turned to face Jagger. “I don’t know? Are we?”

“Damn it. The two of you are driving me up a wall. You’re never going to answer that question are you?”

This time Tyler grinned at Jagger. “I don’t know? Will we?”

Jagger groaned. “Bah humbug to you both.”

Denise came out of the kitchen, fanning her face with a dishtowel. “Somebody else is gonna have to go in there a while. Otherwise, I’m gonna be sick on the Christmas Turkey.”

She had a seat at the table, putting her head on her forearms while Liam came to sit beside her, gently rubbing her back.

“Let me help.”

The soft voice came from a couple of tables over where Lauren sat with Roni making small talk. Since William had been arrested and sentenced in a quick trial, she had done her best to make peace with her children. It was still touch and go, but she had been invited to Christmas dinner, and that was more than she’d ever had before.

“I would love it,” Denise smiled weakly.

She had realized early on if she accepted Lauren then Liam did a much better job of being nice.

“Just let me know what all needs to be done.

Meredith came up beside her and put her arm around the other woman. “C’mon lady, we’ve got a ton of stuff left yet. I’ll put you to work so hard, you’ll wish you would never have shown up,” she joked.

“No, I’m pretty excited that I did,” she whispered so that only Meredith could hear it.

Meredith winked, knowing that it had taken a lot for her to show her face. She had been glad for it, because this club needed to heal.

“Can I help in any way, Aunt Mer?”

She turned around and saw Mandy standing, waiting for someone to give her some instruction. Too young to be a woman, too old to be a child. She and her brother had grown up a lot in the past couple of months.

“Sure can. C’mon girlfriend, I’ll put you to work too.”

Jagger stood in the corner, looking around at the people he had begun to call family in the last year or so. Since being patched, he had felt even more at home. These people were making lives for themselves, coming out of dark places that they had resided for years and stepping into the light. He wanted these things for himself. He wanted the family that included the wife and kids (or not wife – depending on if Tyler was ever straight with him). With any luck he would have it, sooner rather than later.

Steele and Liam came out of the kitchen, cracking up. Steele pointed at Jagger, his face red with laughter. “Hey, Meredith’s asking about our most memorable moments this year. Why don’t you tell her about that stripper that fell buck-ass naked into your arms at the Harley Drags?”

He groaned as everyone had a seat around the tables, the women serving up the food they had finally finished preparing.

“Jagger!” Meredith reprimanded.

“I was a gentleman, I didn’t look at her tits,” he explained.

“What am I going to do with you guys?” she laughed, having a seat next to Tyler.

Tyler wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled her tight against him. “That’s easy,” he whispered. “Just love us.”

She thought about it for a moment. “As long as you keep loving me.”

“Then you never have to worry. We’ve pulled you out of the darkness, baby, and you’re never going back. That’s a promise.”

The End

I want to take a moment to thank all the readers that have embraced the Heaven Hill MC. I’m amazed, humbled, and flattered. You will never know how much I appreciate the word of mouth…the sharing with friends…the people who have sent me messages. This has gone so much farther than I ever expected and I have YOU ALL to thank for that!!

Michael: Thank you for always supporting me and always believing in me – even when I don’t. I love you!

Allison Jewell: CONGRATS on the success of your books! I couldn’t be prouder to call you my friend and my sounding board!

April: We have amazing adventures together and I hope this brings us so many more that we never could before!