Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(70)

“So we’d be close to family?”

“Always.”

“I’ll follow you anywhere, Josh. I never should have left you.”

“You did what you thought was right at the time, even if it hurt like hell.”

“It’s not what I wanted.”

“I knew you’d be back.” We’ve stopped walking and now stand face to face. He drag his hands across my cheek. “It was only a matter of time before you realized you couldn’t live without me.”

“And I suppose you also knew I’d never get over you?”

“Duh.”

I wrap my arms around him. “Thank you for loving me, Josh.”

“Don’t ever thank me. I’m the one who needs to thank you.”

Our fingers lace together as I smile and consider how long it’s been since he’s touched me. That electric connection reminds me how much I’ve gone without. He’s the one. I feel it in every part of my being. He makes me feel full, safe, and loved. I don’t want to spend another day second guessing it. I survived being run down by a car. I’ll be damned if I ever push him away again. “I think I’m ready to go back to the house now. Maybe you could help me get out of these clothes?”

He picks me up and starts carrying me across the property. “You will never have to ask that twice.”





Epilogue


About six years later


I’m watching as Tamsyn runs around searching for everything she could have forgotten the first and second time she packed Jade’s bag for her first day of school. My daughter, Jade, and her brother Joshua Jr., who everyone calls Bacon because of his chubby cheeks, sit together at the kitchen table making faces at each other.

Tamsyn has been on edge ever since hitting her second trimester with our third child. Two years ago we were blessed with a son, after our daughter begged to have a sibling. Once the excitement wore off, much like every pet we’ve ever gotten, she couldn’t care less what her little toddler brother is getting into. Take this morning for instance. While we were preparing for Jade’s big day, Bacon got into her school bag and drew all over the place with crayons. From the front door to the back, the walls are covered from about two feet and below.

I hear a knock on the door and know exactly who it is. “Grammy is here.”

Bacon takes off, barefoot and wearing a diaper. I hear her saying his name before she comes back in the room with him in her arms. “Morning.”

“Hey, Mom. Did you like the new wallpaper?” I ask sarcastically while motioning to a nearby wall.

She looks at my son. “Did you do that?”

“Do you have any idea how hard it’s going to be to get wax off a wall?”

“Yes, actually, I do. Don’t worry, I have some tricks. Where’s Tamsyn?” She asks.

“Hopefully putting on some pants. We need to be at the bus stop in ten minutes.”

“I’m here. I’m here. Sorry, I’m freaking out. It’s her big day.”

“Mommy, we have to go.”

“I know.” She puts her book bag on Jade’s back and hands her a matching lunch box. “Okay. I think you’re good to go, sweetie.”

Jade rocks back and forth. “Don’t cry, Mommy. It’s just school.”

“Yeah, don’t cry Mommy,” I repeat. “She’ll be home this afternoon.”

Tamsyn kisses her on the cheek and then stands up. “I know. I’m going to miss you today.”

I get up from the table and rinse out my coffee mug. My daughter slips her hand into mine. “Daddy’s going to walk me down.”

“I’m coming too,” Tamsyn insists. “Let me get my camera.”

I look down at my daughter and roll my eyes, causing her to smile and display her two missing front teeth. It seems like yesterday when her mother and I were married. We’d only been together for a year, had a newborn, and were still living with my parents. With a lot of help from our families’, we were able to build a small home on the ranch property. Located about a quarter mile from my parents, our little house is in need of some more space. We’ve outgrown it, but refuse to think about renovating, because we frankly don’t have the time.

Tamsyn teaches middle school kids History. She’s taken off for this special day, even though I know she’s going to regret being home without Jade.

Normally my mom babysits. She watches all the grandkids now instead of working at the salon.

We manage to all make it to the bus stop with a few minutes to spare, where Cammie and Wes are standing with their two kids. “Sorry we’re late,” I say while out of breath.

Tamsyn is following behind with my mom, doing her best to keep up. I’ll probably have to give her a piggyback ride back to the house once Jade is on the bus safely.

“We sent Mom after you,” Cammie announces.

“Uncle Wes,” Jade says. “Do you like my lunchbox?”

“Yeah. It’s fantastic,” he responds.

I laugh, because he’s the last person I would have pegged for being a kid magnet.



It took Wes and I some time before we could get over everything that transpired, especially after Liv was convicted. She was ordered a reduced sentence of two years plus time served. There were also stipulations to her sentencing like she wasn’t allowed within a five mile radius of the ranch for any reason, or to be within two hundred feet of anyone in my family. For the first year she was out of prison, Tamsyn was on edge. We had two kids to worry about.