Rose (23 page)

We arrive home thirty minutes later, and I help her from the car and into the house. I wasn’t sure where we stood before we entered the Madden’s house, and she has gone silent now. But I saw a mischievous smile on her face after the gun range. It’s as if she is inwardly processing the events, and possibly following the advice of Joanna to see it from the outside in. She reeks of gunpowder, so I undress her and carry her to the shower. She stands quietly while I wash first her and then myself. Afterward, she shocks me by initiating lovemaking. Even though I want her so badly my teeth ache, I would have held off until she was ready for it both mentally and physically. But she seems to need the intimacy so I slowly worship every inch of her skin before joining our bodies together. I force myself to keep my thrusts slow and even as we build almost languidly toward the peak in the distance. When I feel her shudder around me, I increase my pumps slightly, bringing her to orgasm several more times before finally letting myself release into her.

As we are lying there afterward, she admits huskily, “I have no idea where I go from here, but I want you with me. I have issues that won’t be resolved next week or even next year, but I love you. I want to be the best version of myself for you, and I hope that you can accept that. I’m far from perfect—”

“
You
are the best version of
me.
”
I interrupt her by putting my finger over her lips. “You brought me back to life and gave me a reason to live again, sweetheart. Without you, I’d still be sitting here night after night, too scared to take a chance on love again. We both have mountains to climb, but when you’re tired, I’ll carry you until you find your feet again.”

“And I’ll do the same for you,” she promises.

There in the circle of her arms, the last of my fears fall away. We’ll both struggle in the days ahead, but in the end, I have to believe we’ll be stronger for it. I knew the first moment I saw the beautiful redhead in my arms that my life would change. I just never imagined we were put on this earth to save each other. Two damaged souls united in an imperfect circle of hope, love, and laughter. If she ever writes my name across a target while loading a clip, though, I will drop to my knees and beg for fucking forgiveness, even if I have no idea what I’m apologizing for.

“
I
think
I’m going to puke,” Rose warns for the tenth time in an hour. She fidgets with the tank top she’s wearing. “This is too casual, isn’t it? I should have dressed better.”

“Honey, you’re perfect,” I assure her as I join my hand with hers. We walk into the small restaurant in the downtown area and I quickly scan the tables until I see Daisy’s familiar hair in the distance. Next to her is a man of about the same age with dark hair, streaked through with a few silvery strands. “Just breathe, baby,” I remind her as I steer her toward the table.

Mother and daughter stare at each other as if riveted. I wonder again why we chose such a public place for this first meeting but remember that Rose thought she’d feel more comfortable with others around. Now, I think she probably regrets that decision. “You’re so beautiful,” Daisy breathes out as she reaches a tentative hand to stroke Rose’s arm. “Oh, Poppy,” she begins before stopping abruptly. “I’m sorry. I know your name is Rose.”

“It’s okay,” Rose says softly.

I clear my throat and extend my hand to the man whose gaze is darting between Daisy and Rose. “I’m Max Decker.”

He jerks slightly before giving me a strained smile. “Camden Marshall. It’s good to meet you.” Daisy had finally read Camden’s many letters and had found an email address to contact him. Amazingly enough, he’d never married, and he was living a few states away in Georgia. He had come to see Daisy the next day, and she’d told him the painful story of what had happened to her and to Rose. I can see the anguish of lost years in his eyes as he swallows hard before haltingly holding out a hand to his daughter. “Rose, I’m …” he begins and then appears lost for words.

“You’re my father,” she says shyly.

I pull out a chair for Rose, and Camden does the same for Daisy. I can’t help but notice the way the former lovers look at each other, and it seems as if twenty-plus years has done nothing to lessen the feelings there. Surprisingly enough, conversation flows easily. I’m enjoying seeing my love interact with her biological parents. Therefore, I’m taken completely off guard when Rose pulls an envelope from her purse and lays it in front of Daisy.

I
t’s only been an hour
, but I’m already half in love with Daisy and Camden. There’s a comfortable ease between us that never existed between the Maddens and myself. They both look at me as if I hung the moon and stars—actually in the same way Max stares at me more often than not.

I’d had an idea last night and meeting them today has only reinforced it. Hoyt and Celia took so much from all of us that I can’t possibly make a decision about their future without Daisy and Camden. Actually, I want to put them in charge of that area completely. I’ll go along with whatever they decide.

“That’s the legal document that my parents forged giving them control of my inheritance. They took away your choice when they forced you to give me up. They altered your future, and now, I’m giving you that control back. Take this information and think about it. I’ll fully support whatever decision you make. This is the only gift I can give to you,” I say with tears in my eyes.

Daisy gets to her feet shakily and leans down to embrace me. “Oh, Poppy, just knowing you were in the world, even if we weren’t together, was always a gift to me. And I hope you’ll let me get to know you and maybe someday be a mother to you.” Camden echoes her sentiments and doesn’t seem to care that he’s crying openly in a restaurant full of people.

One month later, the Maddens are left with their house and cars, but nothing else. In exchange for not alerting the authorities and bringing charges against them, they agreed to sign all other assets over to me, and I, in turn, donated them charities for abused women in honor of my friend, Lia, and to organizations benefiting children.

Max asked me after that how I felt about Hoyt and Celia getting away with kidnapping with nothing but a slap on the wrist. And I told him that I agreed with Daisy. If we set out with vengeance in our hearts, how are we better than they were? Plus, considering the size of the fortune Hoyt lost, I had to believe he would suffer greatly knowing that eventually he’d be forced to get a job to maintain his lifestyle. Shit, as they say, runs downhill, and I had a feeling that Hoyt would be swimming against the current very soon. I know that my decision not to go to the police is a hard one for the lawyer in him to handle. He would have rather I gotten justice in the traditional manner, but I had no desire to put myself through the media circus that would have ensued.

As for me, I still struggle with the urge to cut myself when life becomes stressful. After confronting Hoyt and Celia, I'd even purchased a razor. But again, I’d been strong enough to hold back. I wasn't healed as such, because like with any addiction, it remains within your psyche. But I'm slowly working out why I first started. Yes, it had been about taking back control, but the constant berating, constant belittling, constant control had demeaned me so completely that the pain became my friend. I don't need it as my friend anymore.
One day at a time
, Joanna constantly drills into me, and that’s exactly how I’m living my life. I’m grateful for each and every moment with my love.

A
special note
of thanks to my wonderful PA Amanda Lanclos.

A
thank
you to Kim Killion with Hot Damn Designs for your wonderful cover. And to my editors: Marion Archer and Jenny Sims with Editing 4 Indies. Love you ladies!

A
nd to my blogger friends
, Catherine Crook with A Reader Lives a Thousand Lives, Jennifer Harried with Book Bitches Blog, Christine with Books and Beyond, Jenn with SMI Book Club, Chloe with Smart Mouth Smut, Shelly with Sexy Bibliophiles, Amanda and Heather with Crazy Cajun Book Addicts, Stacia with Three Girls & A Book Obsession, Lisa Salvary and Confessions of a Book Lovin Junkie.