Текст книги "Recovery"
Автор книги: L. B. Simmons
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Amazon Edition
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Recovery
Copyright © 2013 by L.B. Simmons
Cover design by © Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations
Edited By Jennifer Roberts-Hall
Book formatting by JT Formatting
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Discover other titles by L.B. Simmons at Amazon
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
Coming Soon
Acknowledgments
About the Author
For N ~
Have Patience.
~ Me
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“Alex! Where are you?” Harlow yells, parading into my bedroom. As stealthily as possible, I lift my dress and tiptoe my way to the bathroom, quietly locking the door behind me. Click. I’m pretty sure she’s honed in on my actual location, but I choose to remain silent, hoping to throw her off for a couple of minutes. That’s all I need.
Just a couple of minutes to collect my thoughts and gather my wits.
Turning slowly, I narrow my eyes, challenging the reflection staring back at me in the mirror.
White. White? Am I sure? I nod my head with absolute certainty. Yes, I am. I mean, I have three children; it’s no secret I’m not a virgin. But, Blake should have the “perfect” wedding. It’s his first and I would like to grant him the full experience. He deserves nothing less, and if I can, I would like to give it to him. So, here I am in my beautiful white wedding dress, wanting him to have everything that he deserves. And everything that goes with the perfect wedding.
Something borrowed…
Harlow’s new Wonderbra for better lift. Since it’s a cup size smaller than every other bra she owns, I’m inclined to believe she bought it just so I could borrow it. Thirty-three, with three kids, and after breast feeding…I definitely need all the Wonderhelp I can get.
Something blue…
I haven’t found anything yet, but I will. I’ll just grab one of Kyndall’s hair clips if I have to.
Something old…
Um, well, looking at myself in the mirror, I can’t help but laugh. Yes, I could constitute as that…
Something new...
My dress. Yes, that’s it. There is absolutely nothing new I would have to give Blake. Right?
The only wedding rule I don’t plan on following is seeing Blake before the wedding. I’ve had my fair share of bad luck so that one doesn’t really concern me. I would like to think I’ve been granted a reprieve.
Gliding my fingers over the delicate lace at the top of my dress, I take a deep breath in through my nose. “I don’t know if I can do this again,” I say out loud to myself. “I’m too old.”
Okay, I know I’m not that old, and I’m being a tad overdramatic, but honestly some days I feel over eighty-five.
“Too old for what? What are you talking about, Alex?” I hear Harlow’s strained voice behind the door as she jiggles the handle. “And why the hell is the door locked?”
Exhaling a deep, frustrated breath, I roll my eyes and follow it up with my trusty death glare. Seriously? A couple of minutes, that’s all I ask.
“I just need a second, Harlow. Don’t you have some maid of honor stuff to do?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll get right on that.” I note the thick layer of sarcasm she’s pouring all over that comment, but let it go because there are more important things at hand. Pressing my ear flush against the door, I listen to her heels click their way out of the bedroom. I’m halfway tempted to look under the door to make sure she’s not just pretending to leave with fake footsteps because I’ve fallen victim to that ploy a time or two.
Turning around, I slowly drag myself back to the bathroom counter. “I can do this.”
My stomach flips once and tumbles twice. I swallow thickly while grinding my teeth. Great. This does not bode well for my wedding day.
I run my hands over the white satin; my brown eyes finding the reflection with which to resume the previous pep-talk. “So what if you’re thirty-three? You can do this. People do it all the time. You. Can. Do. This.”
“Can do what? What the hell are you talking about, Alex? Why are you so nervous? Seriously, I’m starting to get worried.” Wide-eyed at her audacity, I watch the doorknob as it turns back and forth, Harlow obviously messing with the lock from the other side. Damn it. I guess I need to hide those tiny little screwdrivers that I use when Rylie decides to lock bathroom doors…again. Normally, I would be glad Harlow’s privy to their top secret location, but right now, not so much.
“Harl–”
I’m cut off mid-sentence as she masters the locked door in record time, hastily making her way into the bathroom. “Dude, give me a sec–”
“What the hell’s going on, Alex?” She interrupts again.
She attempts to gain further entrance and I block her full force, wedding dress and all. With narrowed eyes we exchange glares and while doing so, I take a moment to really look at my best friend for the first time today. I’ve been a little preoccupied.
If she hadn’t just busted into my private affirmation session, I would have loved to tell Harlow how absolutely gorgeous she looks. I picked out just the right shade of dusty rose for her dress because it really does compliment her light skin tone. Her make-up is done with expert precision and her hair is in a messy side bun just like mine, with her red curly locks falling in soft tendrils that frame her face perfectly. Beautiful.
She must be reading my thoughts, which tends to happen way too often, because after another quick second of looking at her, she dodges to the left and shouts, “If you mess up my hair, so help me, Alex!” Not easily daunted, I shuffle myself right in front of her while fanning out the bottom of my dress. The more room I can take up, the less likely she is to dart by me.
She immediately jerks back to the right, but I stick with her. Definitely on top of my game today.
Unfortunately, she has about a half a foot of height on me, so she immediately sees the bathroom counter.
And what’s lying on top of it.
Damn it.
I watch a sly smile spread across her face. “Secrets? Hmm, very interesting. Why?”
“Because, I still have one minute. There’s nothing to say just yet, but, thank you for breaking in…uninvited.”
She looks down at me, cups her hand over her mouth, and then giggles. Trashhole.
I’m so glad to have a best friend who, without fail, always seems to find the utmost amusement every single time life throws me a curveball. “And here I thought you were just nervous about getting married. I should have known when you stopped eating bacon at breakfast.” She lets out another small giggle, then tilts her head slightly to the right. “Alex, why didn’t you tell me?” Shutting the door behind her, she locks it while still looking at me. Nice.
“There wasn’t anything to tell. And there’s still not…not for another forty-five seconds or so.” Harlow cranes her neck as far as she can to try to catch a glimpse.
“Ohmygod! Harlow, chill out! As if I’m not nervous enough.”
Taking a break from her neck lengthening exercise, she once again tips her head in my direction. Still smiling, she places both her hands on my shoulders. “Alex, what is there to be nervous about? You’ve done it three times before. What’s one more?”
Oh, my best friend and her infinite wisdom…
“You’re kidding me, right? We’re talking about the possibility of another child here, Harlow, not whether or not I should add another half-mile onto my daily run.” We let out a simultaneous laugh. Right, like I run…ever. I’m not even sure why I said that. Even the remote possibility of being pregnant is screwing with my brain.
Releasing a quick nervous breath, I turn my body away from hers to face the mirror. I let out a long, deep sigh and gesture towards my reflection. “That’s why. I’m too old. I can barely keep up with Rylie. Can you imagine a baby?”
“You are not old. If you’re old, then I’m old so that can’t be true. And Rylie...” She pauses and shrugs her shoulders. “Well, let’s just hope she’s going through an extremely energetic and inquisitive phase.”
“Case in point, there’s no way I can handle another one. They get worse the more I have!”
I watch her lips quirk up, and my eyes follow her in the mirror as she moves to stand next to me. Placing her arm around my shoulders, she pulls me into her body, giving me a much needed squeeze. I lay my head on my best friend’s shoulder as she continues. “Plus, we don’t know anything yet. Why don’t we just take a peek at the test before we start having an unnecessary emotional breakdown, hmm?” She stares at my mirror image for just a little while longer. I can tell she’s thinking because she has that far off stare when she’s challenging her brain.
She’s totally counting.
My suspicions are confirmed as, right on cue, her green eyes move away from mine and fall directly to the counter. “Time’s up, Alex.”
I knew it.
Her eyes flicker back to mine and I just stand there. Not moving.
We hold each other’s stare until she widens her eyes at me in a rather threatening manner. I exasperatedly roll my eyes back at her, but, knowing she’s right, I eventually nod my head and drag myself to where the potentially life-altering contraption waits. I glance back at her over my shoulder, hoping maybe she’s kind enough to have disappeared, leaving me alone to discover my fate. Nope. She nudges her head in the direction of the test and I purse my lips, giving her one last protest. “Fine!”
Once again facing the counter, I reach forward and close my eyes. Taking in a deep breath, I allow myself a few seconds of peace in an attempt to calm my heart which seems to have found its way into my throat. Working through my thoughts, I try to tune out my best friend standing in the corner, nervously shifting her stance and sighing out loud over, and over, and over…
A baby? Wow. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be doing this again. Blake! Ohmygod! Blake will flip out! He’s going to be so excited!
Just the thought makes me smile and I open my eyes. Maybe I can do this.
Picking up the test, I take my first glance. Hmm.
Inching my face closer, I narrow my eyes to get a better look. Then slowly, I tilt my head thinking maybe that will help. Nope.
Holding the test up higher, I try looking at it that way.
“Alex! Seriously, I’m dying over here!” Internal eye roll.
I squint even harder, and as I again bring it closer for another look, a hand magically appears over my shoulder and tries to grab it out of my grasp. Luckily, my reflexes are still at top speed. I drop the test to my waist and throw my elbow back just a little to provide Ms. Nosey Parker ample warning. “Back. Off. Harlow. Give me one freakin’ second.”
“How long does it take to read the damn test? It’s either positive or not. What’s the problem?”
I raise it back up and look again. “Well, the problem is I can’t tell if there’s a second line. It kind of looks like it, but I can’t tell for sure.”
“What? You’re crazy. Let me see it.” She snakes her hand over my body and grabs the test before I have a chance to deflect.
“Harlow, damn it!”
I watch her eyes as she attempts to focus them. After a few seconds, a small smile appears on her face as she raises her eyebrows, looking at me over the stick in her hand. “Alex, there’s another line. Clear as day. There are two blue lines. Here, see for yourself.”
She hands the test back to me and I take another look. Yep. Two blue lines.
“Well, it wasn’t that clear just a second ago.” I continue to stare, wondering where the hell this other blue line came from, when realization finally strikes. I lay the test back down on the counter and whirl around to face Harlow. “Harlow, I’m gonna have a baby!” With my heart pounding, I run over to her and throw my arms around her neck. “I’m gonna have another baby!” I shout as we both jump up and down together from pure excitement.
I’m gonna have another baby. Holy crap.
Unwrapping my arms, I attempt to slow my heart rate and gradually back away from Harlow to take a seat on the commode. All this crazy ruckus is making me light-headed. Once the back of my legs feel the cold porcelain, I plop down onto the seat. “I’m gonna have a baby.”
Smile still intact, Harlow simply nods her head. “Yep, you’re gonna have a baby.” She lets out a small giggle. “I guess you have your blue now…you know, for the wedding. All is complete.”
As I sit on the toilet, the knowledge that I am indeed going to have a baby settles into my thick brain. “Harlow, I’m not too sure about this. Throwing another baby into the mix is just plain crazy.”
“Well, I don’t really think you have much of a choice in the matter. Good thing you have nine months to get used to the idea. Plus, you have Blake, doofus. You’re not doing it yourself.”
Blake! Wedding! I jump up from my seat.
“Harlow, we need to get going! We’re going to be so late! Nancy already took the girls, right?”
“Yeah, she took them about thirty minutes ago. They needed to get there early for the pictures, remember?” My eyebrows press together in confusion.
“Then why did you lock the bathroom door when you came in earlier?” I ask. Harlow shrugs her shoulders.
“I don’t know. It just seemed like the right thing to do.” I shake my head and laugh under my breath.
“You’re ridiculous.” Taking one last long look in the mirror, I smooth out the top of my dress and let out a calming breath as my hands glide easily over the lace overlay, find their way to the rose colored satin sash that encircles my waist, and come to rest on my stomach. Okay…I’m having a baby. I give myself a reassuring nod. I can do this. I cast a glance down to my tummy.
“Alright, little lovebug. Let’s go tell your daddy.”
After a last minute stop to pick up Blake’s new wedding present, Harlow and I are finally on our way to the wedding. Fashionably late. But seeing as though Harlow is the one responsible for getting me there, I’m pretty sure it’s expected.
As my dear friend finds her solace in singing horribly off key to a classic Celine Dion song, I tune her out, disappearing into my own happy place. Extending my fingers, I gaze down at the beautiful teardrop solitaire engagement ring that was placed on my left ring finger merely a month ago. As the memory replays itself in my mind, I’m once again looking into those beautiful light green eyes while Blake delivers the speech that forever captured my heart…
“Alex. I love you. It’s always been you. Your eyes, your lips, your smile, your spirit, your humor, even your God awful temper,” he breaks with a slight chuckle. “Every single part of you has been and always will be my reason for living. I know our paths went separate ways for a very long time, but I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I don’t know why and I’m not going to pretend that I do or that I ever will. But what I do know for certain is now that I have you, I’m never, ever going to let you go again. You are mine. Without you, I am nothing.” I watch as he kneels to the ground and reaches forward to wrap his fingers around my wrist, his eyes holding mine the entire time. With his thumb now in the center of my hand, he gently pushes it back, exposing my palm. I feel the pressure as he slides his thumb up towards my relaxed fingers, holding my hand in place. Breaking my stare, he shuts his eyes as he leans forward and places a tender, lingering kiss right in the palm of my hand. After probably the most sensual palm kiss in the history of palm kisses, his loving eyes once again find mine. “Alex, will you do me the great honor of being my wife?”
“Jesus! Is it ‘National Fucking Take Your Sweet Ass Time Day’? Why the hell didn’t I get the memo? Assholes!” Harlow yells to no one and everyone at the same time, bringing me out of my blissful memory and back to reality where I apparently have taken up company with a bat out of hell.
“Hello! Harlow! Baby on board here!” I yell over poor Celine. If she only knew how her song had just been mercilessly butchered.
“Oh. My. God. Using the pregnancy card already? You’re, like, two seconds pregnant.”
Harlow gives me her usual annoyed glare, and I laugh not at the look on her face, but at all the fun I’m going to have when she gets knocked up. She has absolutely no idea.
“Well, I would like to live to three seconds pregnant…think you can manage that? I don’t know why you’re freaking out. It’s not like they can start without me. So, calm your ass down and breathe. We’re almost there anyway.”
I feel the car begin to slow and watch as Harlow’s coloring returns to normal. “I know. I’m sorry.” She slams her hands down on the steering wheel and my heart jumps back into my throat.
Jeez—I don’t think I can take much more today.
“It’s just… I’m so excited! And nervous! And excited!” She turns to me with such an enormous smile on her face that it actually frightens me. I point my finger at the windshield, signaling for her to keep her damn eyes on the road, and to stop looking at me because she’s freaking me out. She continues with her excited, but nervous explosion of words.
“Alex, you’re getting married! To Blake! And you’re having another baby! With Blake! Can you believe it? The girls are going to go nuts! Ohmygod! What if it’s a boy?” She once again looks at me, eyes widened. “What if it’s a boy, Alex?” And then…she bursts out into laughter.
Typical.
“Do you even know what to do with a boy? Like, how to clean them properly? You know, down there? Under…there?” She scrunches her face like Rylie does when I try to make her eat her vegetables.
“Harlow, I think I’ll be fine. Many, many mothers have been able to handle having boys. Plus, that’s why I have Blake. I’m sure he knows all that stuff.”
“Well, I should hope he does!” Harlow barely squeaks out before we both break into a fit of the giggles upon finally reaching our destination. Coming to a stop, our laughter dies down. With the car in park and the ignition off, we turn to one another with smiles on our faces, both of which seem to be touched with a bit of sadness. It feels as though we’re saying goodbye. Not to each other necessarily, but to certain aspects of our friendship. Particularly the unhealthy and dysfunctional parts…like her need to take care of me and my need to use her as a crutch to get through life. It’s my time to move on with Blake and her time to live without constantly worrying about my welfare. Even though this is a good thing for both of us, it’s still closing the door to those parts of our lives.
I reach out, gathering Harlow’s hands in mine before I speak. “Thank you. For everything. I know I’ve said it a million times, but I wouldn’t have made it through the loss of Derek without you. You’ve practically raised my children with me, and you know, I think we did a pretty damn good job.” Feeling the tears gather in my eyes, I try to swallow them back. This really shouldn’t be a sad time, for either of us, but knowing she’s doing the same makes them rather difficult to contain.
“We did,” she responds with a swipe, removing the moisture on her cheek. “I’m kind of proud of us, actually. Who would have thought we could be such great parents? But it’s time, Alex, for both of us. It will be different, but…better.” She squeezes my hands gently, breaking the dam holding back my tears. So many times over the last three years she has given me that same tender gesture…willing me her strength when I had none, telling me she loved me when I needed to hear it, demonstrating her unfaltering support when doubting myself.
Different…but better.
Releasing our hands, we pull each other into a tight embrace. “I love you, Harlow.”
“Love you too, hun,” she lets out a sigh, “but, if you mess up my artistry on your face, I’m gonna have to downgrade that to a strong like.” I let her go as we begin to laugh, and just like that…no more tears. Quite a few sniffles, but no more tears.
“Well, you ready?” she asks me after a few seconds.
Right at that moment, I happen to glance over her shoulder, catching my first glimpse of Blake. With Rylie on his hip and Kyndall holding his hand, he confidently makes his way over to where Nycole and my parents are standing. After placing Rylie on the ground, he shakes my father’s hand and flashes them his devastatingly beautiful smile, making my heart melt.
“Most definitely.”
Sniffling one last time, I open the car door.
I couldn’t be more ready.
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