Текст книги "Believe"

Автор книги: Kelly Elliott

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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 5 страниц)

I opened my eyes, stretched and smiled. I’d never felt so wonderful in my life. I smiled as I thought about last night in Gunner and Ellie’s barn. I brought my fingers up to my lips and gently ran them back and forth over my still kiss-swollen lips.

I looked to my left and Brad was gone. I sat up and glanced over at the portable crib and Maegan was not in there. I slowly got out of bed and made my way into the bathroom. I let out a gasp as I saw the vase of roses sitting on the sink. I quickly looked all around me and laughed.

“How?” I said as I walked up and smelled them. I brushed my teeth and changed as I made my way downstairs. I heard Ellie and Brad talking in the kitchen. When I walked into the kitchen, they both stopped talking as they looked at me with big goofy-ass grins on their faces. I looked at both girls sitting in high chairs eating. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“Merry Christmas sleepy head!” Ellie said as she walked over to me and gave me a hug.

I hugged her back and looked at the stove. “Jesus, what time did you get up? I’ve never seen so many things cooking at one time!”

Ellie looked back at the stove and laughed. “Gunner wanted to have a big ole Southern Christmas breakfast. Everyone should be showing up any second!”

I looked around and saw biscuits, gravy, blueberry muffins, sausage and egg casserole, glazed apples, French toast, pancakes, bacon, grits and ham, and even more items were in both ovens.

“Holy hell. What time did you wake up? Why didn’t you wake me up to help?” I asked. I finally noticed Brad wearing a Christmas apron.

“I got up at five and then Brad came down and ran an errand and came back and helped.”

I peeked over at my husband, who was mixing something in a bowl. He winked at me and smiled.

“The flowers?” I asked.

“Did you like them?” he asked, with that smile that melts my heart.

I walked over and gave him a kiss and whispered against his lips, “Yes. I loved them. Thank you.”

“Merry Christmas, pumpkin,” he said with a wink.

“Merry Christmas, Brad.”

I turned to Alex and Maegan and clapped my hands and smiled. “Merry Christmas to two of the most beautiful girls in the whole world!”

They both laughed and Maegan smeared more oatmeal in her hair as Alex shoveled in her oatmeal. I couldn’t help but laugh.

Before I knew it, the house was filled. The guys all had the kids while the girls all got breakfast ready. I’d never laughed so hard in my life. Every now and then I would peek out and check on the guys. Brad looked like he was walking on cloud nine. If I didn’t know any better, I would think he had the same pregnancy glow I did.

“So? How was last night?” Heather asked, while Ari wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

I leaned against the counter and fanned myself as they all started laughing. “I’m telling you, pregnancy sex is the best kind of sex. They need to bottle that shit up and sell it,” Ari said as she pulled more biscuits out of the oven.

Emma, Sharon, and Grace were setting the table in the formal dinning room and the breakfast area. Emma was walking through the kitchen as she said, “It sure is the best kind of sex.”

We all stopped talking and just looked at her. When she rounded the corner, we all snapped our heads over to look at Ellie. She smiled and held up her hands and laughed. “Hey…don’t look at me.”

Ari busted out laughing and then whispered, “I’m telling y’all…I totally think Emma and Garrett still sneak off and get them some in the barn.”

“Oh God! Please, Ari, don’t even go there,” Ellie said as she attempted to clear the image from her head.

We all sat down and started breakfast. There was so many conversations going on I couldn’t help but sit back and just enjoy it all. I looked around at everyone, eating, laughing, telling jokes and reminiscing on Christmases past.

Gunner stood up and got everyone’s attention, “Okay, first, thank you to my beautiful bride and all the ladies who whipped up this amazing breakfast. I’ve never seen so much food in my life.” Everyone agreed and Ellie thanked everyone for pitching in and helping.

“Now, let’s all head into the family room and do what we’ve all been waiting for…open Christmas presents for the kids!”

Everyone laughed and started to stand up.

“Clean-up duty is on the guys, and I vote for taking care of it after a bit of fun,” Gunner called out.

Jeff, Josh and Brad all agreed as we made our way into the family room.

I sat down on the floor over by the fireplace and Brad sat down next to me and put Maegan in his lap. The Christmas music in the background added just the perfect touch to the whole scene.

Gunner and Ellie had a huge seven-and-a-half foot live Christmas tree that was decorated in all silver, white and red ornaments with white lights. It was breathtaking. There was a smaller tree in the formal living room that had all their “fun” ornaments on it. Ellie smiled when she said that would be the tree the kids would decorate, but the main tree would always be her tree. Gunner rolled his eyes and brought her in for a kiss.

I laughed because Brad and I had a hodge-podge of a tree. It was covered in ornaments from both our childhoods and ornaments from trips we had taken. Everywhere we went, we tried to find an ornament for our collection.

“Ellie would pass out if she saw our tree!” Brad whispered.

I giggled and said, “And just think if she knew we had multicolored lights on it.”

Brad tossed his head back and laughed.

I wasn’t sure how we kept order with all the presents being passed around. Luke was probably having the most fun with ripping open his and Grace’s gifts. Gunner was walking around with a large trash bag collecting all the wrapping paper, while Alex attempted to help him.

Maegan was sitting in a walker that Ellie, Heather and Ari bought her. She was mesmerized by it. Brad leaned over and said, “Damn…we can put Meg in that and sneak in a little play time!”

I nodded my head and smiled.

By the time the guys had made their way back to the dining room and kitchen, I was holding a sleeping Maegan.

“Ells, I’m going to go upstairs and put Maegan down.”

Ellie nodded her head and winked at me.

Right after I put Maegan in the portable crib, I felt someone put his hands on my hips. I jumped and spun around. I didn’t even have time to think before Brad’s lips were on mine. He began reaching up under my shirt with one hand as he tried unbuttoning my jeans with his other hand.

I pushed him away and looked at him. “Brad! What in the world are you doing? Everyone is downstairs.”

He smiled that smile of his and pulled me back to him. He began kissing my neck and moved his lips over to my ear. Oh. God. I loved when he did that.

His hot breath was on my neck as he whispered in my ear, “I want you, Manda.”

Gah…I wanted him so badly I could hardly stand it. “Brad,” I whispered. “We can’t.”

He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around him as he walked into the bathroom and shut the door. He pushed me against the wall and began kissing me passionately. God…what was happening to me?

“Brad…yes…” I whispered. He gently set me down, and the next thing I knew we were both taking our clothes off faster than ever. Brad stood there and looked my body up and down as he licked his lips.

“Oh God…Brad…” He moved closer to me as he reached behind my neck and pulled me to him. He began kissing me and he let out one small deep moan after another.

“Amanda…” he whispered against my lips. He picked me up and gently moved me down until I felt him buried inside me. He walked me back up against the wall and slowly started to move in and out.

I needed more.

“Faster,” I whispered. “Harder.”

He pulled back and looked at me as he gave me a wicked smile. He lifted me up off of him and I instantly missed him. He set me down and glanced over toward the tub.

“Put your hands on the tub baby.” Oh. My. God. I walked over and did as he asked. Before I knew it he was inside me again going fast and hard. It felt like heaven and I didn’t want it to stop. I had to really concentrate on not calling out when my orgasm hit.

“Baby…I’m gonna come,” Brad whispered.

I swore I felt him coming inside of me.

Then, there was a knock on the bedroom door. Brad instantly pulled out of me and started getting dressed. I turned around…still trying to get my body to come down from my orgasm. I couldn’t help it, but I had to start laughing as I watched Brad scramble around trying to get dressed. He looked at me and threw my clothes at me and said, “Shit! Get dressed!” He opened the bathroom door and shut it.

I started getting dressed as I heard him talking to someone. I stopped and walked over to the bathroom to hear who he was talking to. I put my hand up to my mouth and tried like hell to hold my laugh in.

Garrett! He really did have some kind of radar.

I quickly got dressed, fixed my just-fucked hair and waited until they both left. I opened the door and checked on my sleeping beauty, still peacefully asleep.

As I made my way downstairs, I saw Ari and Ellie looking at me. They both busted out laughing and I gave them the finger. I made my way over to where they were standing. As I walked up to them, Heather grabbed my arm and pulled me off to the side while Ari and Ellie followed.

One look at each other we all busted out laughing. “I guess he really does have some kind of superpower to tell when two people are having sex,” I whispered.

“Oh. My. God. That makes all of us he’s interrupted,” Ellie said as she giggled.

“I tell ya what. I’ve never seen Brad get dressed so damn fast in my life!”

We all started laughing again. “Be glad you don’t live close by. There is a very good reason we have double locks on our doors,” Ari whispered.

Then Ellie put her hands on her hips and looked at me. “Oh my God. I can’t believe you had sex, Amanda! Everyone is here!”

I felt my cheeks blush as Ari pushed Ellie. “Shit, you’re just jealous because your ass can’t sneak of with Gunner and get your nasty on.”

Ellie smiled and nodded her head. “I am!”

“So?” Heather asked as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

All three of them leaned in closer to me. They were staring at me like I was about to share something earth-shattering.

“So? What?” I asked.

Ari rolled her eyes. “How was it? Did it make it hotter knowing that y’all were sneaking in a quickie with everyone down here?”

I looked around quickly as I felt my cheeks burn. I bit down on my lip and turned back to look at my three best friends.

“It was very hot,” I whispered. All three of them let out squeals.

“Shit…don’t tell me where you had sex…I don’t want to know,” Ellie said.

“Fuck, I do!” Ari said. “I bet it was in the bathroom since Meg was in the bedroom.”

Heather nodded her head. “I’m going to guess it was from behind too.”

My mouth dropped open as I looked between Heather and Ari.

“What the fuck. Did you have a camera in there?” I said as I gave them both a shocked look.

They both started laughing. “I’m just thinking that is what Jeff and I would do,” Ari said with a wink.

“Ewww!” Ellie said.

I let out a giggle.

“Clearly Gunner and I need to try something different,” Ellie said. Heather and Ari both snapped their heads over at her.

“Oh my God, really? Because I’ve been dying to give you this kit…” Ari started rattling off.

Ellie blushed and said, “Um…I don’t think I’ll be needing your kit, Ari.” She winked at Heather who jumped up and down.

“You bought it?” Heather asked.

Ellie nodded her head.

“Wait! Bought what? What did you buy!” Ari and I both said at the same time.

Ellie pursed her lips and tilted her head. “Oh…just a little sex kit from Lelo.”

“Jesus H. Christ. Finally!” Ari said as she gave a little fist pump.

I let out a laugh. “Did you give it to him yet?”

Ellie shook her head. “Nope. We are exchanging gifts tonight. I have a feeling what Gunner bought is something he wants me to see after everyone is gone and Alex is in bed.

Heather leaned back against the wall. “God, I love Christmas.”

As we stood there laughing and discussing Ellie’s new adventure, Emma came walking up and we all stopped talking.

“Now girls, you don’t have to stop talking sex just because an older woman walks up. I might actually have some tips for you,” she said with a wink.

We all looked at each other and I was pretty sure Ellie was about to throw up.

“I just don’t even know what to say to that, Emma,” Ellie whispered.

Emma threw her head back and laughed.

“Emma, what was it like for you? I mean, when you first met Garrett…was it love at first sight?” Heather asked with a huge grin on her face.

The smile that spread across Emma’s face almost caused me to suck in a breath of air. You could almost see it on her face…feel it in the air…her love for Garrett.

She shook her head and gave a slight chuckle. “Oh girls…I don’t think I could even put it in words what I felt the first time I laid eyes on Garrett Mathews. My heart literally stopped. All he did was smile at me and his smile about knocked me over. Then I saw his eyes.” She began fanning herself with her hand as she giggled. “Damn those eyes. If I hadn’t known any better I would have thought he looked into my soul and captured my love on the spot.”

“Oh, how romantic,” Ellie purred.

“Was Garrett romantic like the overly romantic-ass Gunner?” Ari asked with a wink toward Ellie.

Emma let out a laugh. “Oh yes. But, I was stubborn. Very stubborn and I refused to let him for the longest time.”

“Why?” we all asked at once.

“Girls, it was so long ago and it’s such a long story. Garrett and I will have to sit down one day and tell y’all our story.”

We all nodded our heads like little kids being told they were going to get candy soon.

“That would be amazing, Emma! I’ve always wanted to know how y’all fell in love,” I said as I put my hand to my heart.

Ari let out a gruff laugh and said, “Shit. What I want to know is did Garrett’s grandfather have a sixth sense and knew when y’all were getting it on and interrupt your asses!”

Everyone snapped their heads over and looked at Ari and then busted out laughing.

Including Emma.

I sat back and watched Gunner and Jeff swinging Ellie and Ari around as they danced to “Jingle Bell Rock” by Blake Shelton. Amanda was holding Maegan and dancing and Meg was laughing so hard at how Amanda was bouncing her around.

I’d never been so damn happy in my life. I watched them both and was captivated by their smiles. Amanda looked beautiful and the glow on her face made my stomach drop.

I felt someone come up behind me and give me a light tap on the back. I turned to see Josh sitting down.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you smile more than I have this morning, dude,” he said with a small laugh.

I let out a small chuckle and nodded my head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am about Amanda being pregnant.”

I glanced at Josh who was watching Amanda dancing with Meg. He smiled and said, “I’m really proud of you, Brad.”

My mouth dropped open as I continued to look at him. “Why?”

He turned to look at me and winked. “Brad, you stood up against something that could have very well have knocked you down and kept you there. You fought like hell to get your life back. I see how you look at Amanda and I know for a fact you’ve never looked at another woman the way you look at her. I see you with Meg and I only hope that I’m half as good of a father as you are. You put them both first and I think that says something about you as a man, a father and a husband as well.”

I felt the tears building in my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I’d always looked up to Josh. He always seemed to have his shit together and he knew from the beginning what he was going to do with his life.

“Josh, I can’t even begin to tell you how this makes me feel to hear you say those things to me. You of all people. Dude, you’re an amazing father. I mean…” I looked back out at Heather. She was holding Libby, and the smile on her face was unreal as she danced around with Amanda and Meg to “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” “Look at Heather, Josh.” Josh glanced back out to where they were dancing and he smiled. “That smile on her face says it all.”

He nodded and let out a laugh. “I guess we’re all lucky sons of bitches, aren’t we?”

“Hell yeah we are. Best damn Christmas of my life,” I said.

Nat King Cole’s “O Come All Ye Faithful” was playing on the radio, as Amanda and Maegan were fast asleep in the car. I smiled to myself thinking about how much fun it was to spend Christmas morning and afternoon with all of our friends. Ellie mentioned how it wouldn’t work once the kids were older. “They’ll never be able to hold out on opening presents,” she said. Then Gunner said, “Hell, I won’t be able to hold out.”

As I came around the corner, I saw a BMW sitting in our driveway.

“Fuck,” I whispered as I saw my mother and father talking to our neighbors. A part of me wanted to drive right on by and not even stop. They had never even seen Maegan and I wanted to keep it that way. After the things my mother said to Amanda, there was no way I could ever forgive her. Ever.

Then Larry pointed to my truck. Son of a bitch. I slowed down and pulled in the driveway and opened the garage door. As I pulled in oh so slowly so as to not wake Amanda, I looked over and said a prayer that they would both stay asleep. I quietly got out of the truck and gently shut the door.

I took a deep breath and walked over to where my parents were standing. Larry was still talking to them and he gave me a funny look.

“Brad, darling!” My mother said as she started to walk toward me. I put my hand up and she stopped instantly. My father walked up and held out his hand. I reached out and shook it. “Dad.”

“Merry Christmas, son,” he said with a weak smile. I knew my father was caught in the middle and I also knew he really liked Amanda.

My mother looked disappointed. She glanced over my shoulder and looked at the truck. “Where are Amanda and the baby?”

I turned and looked at my truck and then looked back at her. “They’re asleep in the truck.”

“Where were y’all?” she said with a questioning look. “Amanda’s parents’ house?”

“No, Mom. They’ll be here soon though.”

She just looked at me. “So?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “So what?”

“Well, son, where were y’all? We came to bring the baby her presents.”

My mother and father didn’t even know the name of their only grandchild.

“Maegan. Her name is Maegan, Mom.”

My mother smiled slightly. “Oh…I guess that is a good name.”

My father snapped his head over and looked at my mother

I shook my head. She’ll never change. “We were in Mason, celebrating Christmas with our friends. What are you doing here?”

With that, Larry quickly turned and walked back into his house. I was sure he’d be asking questions later.

My mother squared off her shoulders. “I came to see my grandchild and son and give them their Christmas presents.” Bitch. Did she think I didn’t notice how she didn’t mention Amanda?

“I’m sorry you made the trip out here for nothing.”

She looked confused and glanced over to my father before looking back at me and giving me that look that used to make me cringe, but no longer had an effect on me.

“I’m sorry? What do you mean ‘for nothing?’ ” she asked.

“I mean, I don’t want anything from you, and neither does our daughter. Yes, our daughter, Mom. Just because you don’t say her name doesn’t mean that Amanda is not very much a part of my world.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, for Pete’s sake. You’re mad because I didn’t say Amanda’s name. Fine. We have presents, for you, our grandchild and your wife…Amanda.”

“Please leave, Mom, and don’t ever come back.” I gave my father a quick look, and his eyes were filled with sadness. I went to turn away from them when my mother grabbed my arm.

“Bradley. This has gone on too long. How long are you going to punish us? We want to see our grandchild. We deserve to see her, damn it.”

I let out laugh and shook my head. “You tried to destroy my marriage, Mom. You threatened me and wanted me to leave my wife. I’m sorry…I have nothing left to say to you, and yes…before you even say it, I will always put my wife first. Always. I love her more than I could ever describe. She is my whole world, as well as Maegan and the baby. I’ll never let you hurt any of them.”

My mother put her hand up to her mouth. “Oh…is Amanda pregnant?”

I looked at her with a confused expression on my face. “What? Why would you ask that?”

“You said Maegan and the baby, son,” my father said.

Fuck me.

“Um…” I said, trying to figure out how to dig myself out of this one.

My mother let out a gasp as she looked over my shoulder, and I spun around. Amanda was standing there holding Maegan. Maegan was just staring at my mother and father.

“She’s beautiful,” my mother whispered.

When I looked back at my mother, she had tears running down her face.

Amanda walked up to me and I put my arm around her. I swore I felt her body tremble. There was no way I was going to ever let my mother hurt her again.

My father walked up and smiled at Amanda and she returned the smile. “She’s breathtaking, Amanda.” He said as he smiled down at Maegan, who reached out for him with her hand. He took her hand and kissed it as she buried her face in Amanda’s neck.

I watched as my father talked to Maegan, and my heart broke into a million pieces. I peeked over at my mother and watched her face as my father talked to my daughter. When he stepped back, he looked at my mother. Before she took a step closer, she looked at Amanda.

“May I?” she asked.

Amanda nodded her head and took a step closer to my mother.

“Hello, Maegan. My goodness, you are the spitting image of your daddy,” my mother said as I watched a tear slide down her cheek. My heart was pounding in my chest.

Amanda looked up at me and smiled. “I told Brad she looked like him.”

My mother looked right at Amanda and giggled. “I’ll have to give you some baby pictures, the resemblance is unbelievable.”

“I’d really like that,” Amanda said as her voice choked.

What happened next really surprised me and took my breath away. My mother put her hand up to her mouth and started crying as she looked at Amanda and placed her hand on Amanda’s face.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry…I’m so very sorry for treating you so horribly.” She turned and walked into my father’s arms. He held her while he stroked his hand down her back and kept saying, “Shh…baby. Shh…”

Amanda looked at me with a stunned look on her face. I was just as stunned and didn’t really know what to do. Amanda motioned for me to invite them into the house but I shook my head no. She tilted her head and gave me another look. She mouthed ‘Brad’ to me and I rolled my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was open it up for her to hurt Amanda more.

I took in a deep breath and quickly let it out. “Dad, did y’all want to, um, come in for a bit?”

My father pushed my mother away and looked at her. He looked back up at me and said, “I think your mother and I would really like that.”

My mom spun around, quickly wiping her eyes and putting on a smile. “I’d love to be able to get those pictures to you…” her voice cracked.

Amanda nodded her head. “Of course, please just let me know when and maybe we can meet y’all for lunch sometime.”

The expression on my mom’s face was pure shock.

She began shaking her head. “Why? Why would you be so nice to me after all of the horrible things I did to you?”

I glanced down at my beautiful wife. I knew why, because that was just Amanda. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body, but at the same time, she was very guarded and I trusted that she knew what she was doing.

“It does me no good to hang on to hurt and anger. Will I ever be able to forgive you? Yes. Forgetting is hard, but I’m willing to give it a try.” She glanced up at me and smiled. “For Brad, because I love him and I know he loves his parents and I know Maegan will want to know her grandparents. So will the new baby.”

My mother dropped her head and then looked back up. The tears were flowing and a part of me wanted to take her into my arms.

She quickly wiped away the tears and smiled. “Okay, well. We have presents…for each of you,” she said as she looked at me and winked. I had to wonder if they did have presents for Amanda. When my father opened up the trunk of their car, Maegan started clapping and smiling. She somehow knew that what she was looking at would surely mean lots of fun for her.

I helped my parents carry the more than ridiculous amount of presents as we put them under the tree. I couldn’t help but notice that there were about six presents with Amanda’s name on them. I glanced over at my mother, who was now holding Maegan. For some reason I got the idea that deep down inside, she liked Amanda. She was just too stubborn to admit it.

The afternoon went on as my mother played endlessly with Maegan and my parents chatted with Amanda’s parents. We had waited for Amanda’s parents to get there before we opened up presents and poor Maegan could hardly keep her eyes open from all the excitement of the day.

I stood over Maegan’s crib, watching her sleep. Amanda grabbed my hand and I turned to around to face her. The smile on her face about blew me over.

“Are you happy?” she whispered.

I brought her in for a hug and held her tightly against my body. “I’ve never had such an amazing Christmas before.”

As we walked into the hallway I could hear my parents talking to Amanda’s. I was pleasantly surprised at how well everyone seemed to be getting along.

“I love you, Manda. I love you because I know you stepping out of my truck and walking up to my parents with Meg had to have been hard for you. Especially with everything my mother said to you.”

She got up on her tippy toes and kissed me. “I love you. And I see how guarded you’ve been this afternoon. You have to admit it was nice seeing your parents playing with Meg. Didn’t you think so?”

As much as I wanted to admit I loved having my parents here, I was still angry at my mother.

“Brad, let it go. Baby, let the anger and hurt go. We have so much to look forward to and what is in the past is in the past.”

I shook my head. “Manda, how can you say that after the things she put you through? She put us through? She said some horrible things and I’m…I’m just not sure I can forgive her.”

She slipped her hand behind my neck and brought my lips down to hers. She gently kissed me as she moved her hand through my hair. She stopped kissing me and barely took her lips from mine.

“I can forgive her because of this. Our love, Brad. Our love is so much stronger than any words she can spit out, and I really, truly honestly believe that she didn’t mean it. I think you were her baby, and no matter who your wife was…she just had it set in her mind they were not good enough. I think the moment she saw Meg it all hit her. She’s missed out on so much and I don’t think she wants to miss out on any more.”

I took a deep breath in and slowly blew it out as I closed my eyes.

“Listen, I’m not saying let’s have your parents over for dinners and tea parties, but let’s try and let them be a part of our lives. A part of our children’s lives. We’ll just take it one day at a time. How does that sound?” She scrunched up her nose and winked at me and I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“I don’t think they will be trying to come over and bother us too much, especially after we move.”

“Yeah I don’t think so…huh? What do you mean? After we move?”

“I think it’s time for me to give you your Christmas present. I was waiting for the parents to all leave but seeing as they are all catching up and shit, I’ll just have to give it to you now…I could care less if they’re here or not.”

She smiled and nodded her head like a little girl. “Oh wait! Is it something sexual? I’ll wait if it is!”

I laughed as I put my arm around her as we began walking to the living room.

“No baby…well, at least your big present isn’t. The other present is going to have to wait until they are gone for sure though.”

She let out a gasp and gave me that smile of hers that reminds me each time I see it how much I love her.

Oh yeah…I wasn’t sure which present I was looking forward to giving her more. That’s a lie. I knew which one I was looking forward to giving her, and I was going to do everything in my power to get everyone out of my house within the next fifteen minutes.