Authors: Amy Roe
Truly Mine (33 page)
Tyler still hasn’t told me exactly what happened with Rodney Addison, but Dara gave me a quick and dirty version. Something about the loss of her father has softened her. She’s actually been nice to me lately. Apparently, Dara and Tyler set Rodney up with the help of Eric, the chief of police. He admitted to the attack just the way I’d told Tyler how it had happened. Rodney was quite proud of himself. That didn’t go over well with Tyler. Even after he’d promised Dara and Eric that he wouldn’t do anything stupid, he couldn’t handle hearing about the attack from Rodney himself. He got in a few punches before Eric, who was on standby to arrest Rodney, could get to them. Tyler and Rodney disrupted the diner they met at and scared the hell out of the patrons, but Tyler made his point and got the scumbag off the streets.
Rodney will be behind bars for a long time. I don’t suppose Tyler will ever tell me about it, and that’s fine with me. I’m just glad that it’s behind us. I’m happy that I had Tyler to rescue me. I never thought I’d feel that way. I guess I needed a little bit of rescuing after all.
Now, it’s time to move forward.
And move forward, we will.
Just as I hoped, we are close with Ali and Cory. Several times a week, a large group of our friends meet at Perdue’s for drinks and dinner and laughter. Lots of laughter.
Ali, Lissa, and I have found a building for our shop. What a hodgepodge of services we’ll offer. This wonderfully exciting project is renewing friendships and bonds that I thought were long ago lost. We’ve spent so many weekdays cleaning and painting and sitting in the middle of a dirty empty building, imagining the potential it has.
On the weekends, Tyler, Cory, and Rion—when he’s not at school—hang out with us at our building. They pretend to be of some help, but they just annoy us, incessantly asking us when we will be done, so they can take us home. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lissa and Rion insist that they are nothing more than friends, but none of us are blind. Something is brewing there. She’s happier than I’ve ever seen her, and Rion is, too. He’s still in school, studying to follow in his family’s footsteps.
If they are happy and successful in their lives, then who am I to judge?
So, I’ll focus on my amazing life.
Everything is good. So, so very good.
Tears prick my eyes as I realize that this life is really mine.
“Can I get everyone’s attention, please?” Tyler stands on our back deck, looking out over our friends and family.
We’ve invited them over for a cookout—and a surprise.
“I have an announcement.” He looks at me, smiling and eager.
Everyone turns to Tyler. They smile, looking between the two of us, as if they know what he’s about to say. I approach Tyler and slide my hand from his bicep to down his arm until I reach his hand where I clasp our fingers together. He pauses and sweetly looks back at me. It’s refreshing that I have the power to make this man so happy with just a simple touch when I couldn’t even make myself happy just a few months ago.
He gives my hand a quick squeeze and continues, “All right, Truly and I want to thank you all for coming today. You mean so much to us.” He pulls me to his side while placing his other hand over his chest. “We want to share something very special with you all.”
By the looks on their faces, it’s obvious they know what’s coming next.
Tyler has more than one surprise for them. “I’m sure you all saw it coming. Truly and I are getting married.” He pauses for a moment before he continues to the good part, “And we want you all to be a part of our wedding day.”
Our friends and family clap and cheer with, “I knew it,” and, “Hell yeah.”
But Tyler isn’t done.
“And we are doing it right here…right now,” he clarifies.
Now, he’s surprised them. Everyone is suddenly silent, and they all look at Tyler, confused, waiting for an explanation.
“Yes, we are getting married—now!” I exclaim, holding my hands up in front of me.
Tyler walks to the sliding door and opens it. The preacher steps out and joins us. Our guests erupt in applause and excited laughter.
We really pulled this off.
Tyler looks down at me with pride. “Hmm…we did it, babe.”
“Yes, we did.” I beam at my very soon-to-be husband.
We arranged everything weeks ago and didn’t tell a soul. We wanted this day to be organic. No gifts, no fancy clothes, no traditions. We didn’t want long photo ops or a fancy meal. All that we wanted was our friends and family to be here. So, on this Saturday evening, with a bonfire and our friends in jeans and T-shirts and hoodies, we are getting exactly what we wanted.
I’ve found my best friend in Tyler, and he, in me. I don’t know how I lived so many years without him. Not once during the weeks that we planned this did I ever wonder if it was the right decision to marry Tyler. I’m only glad that our paths crossed over the years and that we also grew smarter as we grew older.
As we lay in bed one night a few weeks ago, Tyler put the only thing that’s been left lingering in my mind to rest. He apologized for keeping me in the shadows all those years. He said it wasn’t a conscious choice, that it just became the norm. I should have told him sooner that I had feelings for him beyond our sexual relationship. Maybe if I had told him, things would have been different.
He said that he thought of me often through the years. After each time I came back to Fallport and we spent time together, he would spend months wishing he had the nerve to ask me to see him again. But he never did.
There are so many what-ifs in our story.
But we’re here now, and I only wish it hadn’t taken me so long to realize that Tyler always had my heart. He’s all mine now, and I’ll never give him up again.
With me in my flannel shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots and Tyler wearing the same, we exchange vows. We promise to love, honor, and cherish. We promise to take care of each other in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do us part.
After all that Tyler and I have been through, I don’t think death could even separate us. He fought to get me to see what I was missing in him, and now, he’s stuck with me forever.
By the look in his eyes right now, he doesn’t want it any other way.
And I sure as hell don’t.
The End
F
irst, I want to thank my family for letting me neglect you while I wrote this story. As you went about your lives, you listened to me carry on about nonexistent people doing imaginary things. You never told me to shut up, and I know you really wanted to. I love you all so very much.
An extra special thanks to my husband for encouraging me. I often wonder what the hell I am doing, trying to be an author. I’m pretty sure you never doubted this day would come. I love you dearly for it.
Linda Russell, Melissa Oudemans, and Jennifer Gauthier—Every single day, you have been by my side. Every moment of this journey has a piece of each of you in it. I am forever grateful for every, “You’ve got this,” every, “Great job,” and even every, “Shut up and get it done!” Without your guidance and tough love, I could not have done this. I hope I never know a day for the rest of my life that does not include you three ladies. I love you…more.
Christina Edwards, Jen Beebe, and Kim Ulrich—You all beta-read and molded this story along the way. It is what it is today because of your input. I love you girls so much, and I am so glad I am sharing this journey with you. I look forward to telling you what I’ve dreamed up for the next story!
BL Berry, Rachael Duncan, and Valerie Douglas—You have mentored me through this entire process. I never could have imagined all the work that goes into our dreams. You are three amazing ladies who I call friends. I can say thank you, but it is not enough. Thank you anyway.
Jovana Shirley—You polished this book and made it something I never imagined it could be. You are a crazy talented woman! Thank you for your patience and guidance. I feel so blessed to be working with you.
Sarah Hansen—Thank you so much for the beautiful cover and for your patience in working with this newbie. You are beyond talented.
To the entire team at Sassy Savvy Fabulous PR and Marketing—Thank you a million times over!
I also want to thank the Indie Author Group for hosting a great place to learn and bond with other indie authors and the Naughty Booklovin’ Hotties for just being perverted and distracting me often.
To the girls I talk to daily in my private chats and IMs, who encourage me and inspire me—Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you all so much.
A
my Roe lives in Illinois with her husband, their eleven-year-old son, and two dogs. She also has four grown children—two sons, two daughters—and three granddaughters she adores.
She is a project manager by day and storyteller by night. With the help of triple-shot vanilla lattes and chocolate bars, she’s been working on her first four novels over the past year.
In addition to coffee and chocolate, Amy loves her family and friends, her mutts, naps on rainy days, and daydreaming about her next story.
Amy loves to interact! You can find her at any of the following links: