Forgetting You

“That lad has the energy of ten kids.”

I pressed my face against Elliot’s chest and slid my arms back around his waist. While I was still hurting for the loss of Bailey, I couldn’t deny how happy I was in my life. I’d gone through a hardship not many people face. I’d lost the love of my life and found him again, as I found myself. I’d married him and given birth to his son, and was a few months away from giving him a second child. I had the security, love and life I had always dreamed of with Elliot, and I had that life with my parents living right down the street.

My father had beaten his cancer and had been in remission going on two years. My bond with my parents had strengthened and our love for one another had only deepened. I couldn’t imagine my life without them, and I didn’t want to. Elliot’s parents were still happily married and heavily involved in our lives; his mother was currently thinking of coming to work for me in my flower shop. I hoped she accept my offer, because I loved being around her.

AJ and his beautiful wife Dani had twin girls a month after I had Baylor; the two of them aged AJ by the day. He often swore he was getting the snip when he’d had one too many nights of getting nothing but a couple of hours of sleep. Those threats were clearly empty now that Dani was ten weeks pregnant with their third child. After AJ cried for a day, he started praying to God that he’d get a boy this time around because he was certain it would be his and Dani’s last baby.

All of Elliot’s station buddies were doing wonderfully in life. Stitch, Tank and Pretty had added two more kids – each – to their families. Texas and his girlfriend, Jodie – Dani’s cousin from Ireland – were engaged and expecting their first little one. We all often had family day outings together, and we made sure whenever one of our kids had a birthday that we all made a big deal about it. Each of those men put their lives on the line every time they went to work; they knew the importance of celebrating each milestone like it could be the last.

The person who was the cause of so much pain and suffering in my life would never have the chance to hurt me or anyone else for as long as he lived. Anderson Riley had been charged with multiple serious offences, and in a trial that had lasted just a couple of weeks, a court of law had found him guilty of all charges. With his sentences all added together, he would die in prison and would forever lose the control on his life that he craved.

He’d got what he deserved, and Bailey and I got our justice.

“I miss her too,” Elliot said as he hugged me to him. “But she’s here with us. Ye feel her, right?”

I nodded. “I do. Today was just a day that I missed her extra.”

“I know, green eyes. I had one of those days last week. I just can’t believe the years have gone by so quickly without her. Think of it, this time five years ago you had no clue how much time ye had forgotten.”

“There was benefit to it, though. Forgetting you made me fall deeper in love with you.” I squeezed him. “I love you, Elliot. So much.”

“Hey,” he said, leaning back so I could look up at him. I lifted my hand to brush my fingers over the silver calla lily pendent that he still wore to this day. “I love ye too, Mrs McKenna. I’m scared of how much I love ye.”

“Me too. Terrified. You’d better always be scared of how much you love me.”

“Oh, I will,” he said, his thumb grazing my lower lip. “I always have been.”

When he kissed me this time, it was slow, intense and filled with emotion. He showed me with his kiss just how much he loved me, and I felt it from my heart all the way to my toes. A shiver ran the length of my spine.

“I think you promised me a rub-down, paddy.”

“Oh, sasanach.” He grinned, his ocean blues gleaming. “Wait until Baylor goes down for his nap, and I’ll be sure to rub ye down everywhere.”

This man had my heart; he’d given me my son and another baby that I would soon bring into the world. He’d come back to me at a time when I was lost, scared and didn’t know where to turn. He’d saved me. As he slid his hand down to my behind, my laughter and his mingled together, until he silenced me with a toe-curling kiss that held the promise of so much more to come.