Forever the One (Always and Forever 3)

“Fuck!” Standing in a rush, the blood rushing to my head too fast, I begin to pace.

“So, what are my fucking options?” I finally ask, turning to look at him, my hand clenching the back of the chair I was just sitting in. He leans back and looks at me.

“I will see if we can get any leads from this, but until then, you need to let me know if he contacts her at all, same with the Seattle PD, got it?” I nod, staying silent, not sure what to say.

“Good. Now I’m sorry this is happening son, but we will do the best we can to figure out who he’s having do this and put a stop to it. I will even pay a visit to Joel, maybe spook him a little.” At first I debate saying no, scared he will come after Lana, but that won’t happen on my watch, she will be in my care all the fucking time and this is what needs to be done. That and with the Seattle PD informed, that may up the ante to get him to back off. I don’t know—fuck! I’m conflicted with all this shit. One second I think I can protect her and then the next I think I don’t stand a chance—I saw his eyes, he’s ruthless.

“Fine, but please let me know what you find. He’s dangerous and I can’t let Lana get hurt.”

“I know, me either,” Greg says with a genuine nod. He was there and helped us through all this when it happened, so he gets it. He saw it with his two eyes while she laid there defeated and beaten in that hospital bed.

“Now go home and don’t worry about it. I will keep you posted.”

“Impossible, but I’ll try. Thank you, Greg.”

“Yeah, no problem son.”

My dad should be home any minute. I decided I should wear something a little less form fitting, thinking maybe it’ll ease the blow when I tell him. I choose a pair of dark ripped skinny jeans, the cuts right where my knees are, a cream colored peplum top and some wedges. I put half of my newly short hair up in a cute messy ponytail and I wear a light coat of makeup. My dad hates heavy makeup, he says it takes away my beauty.

“Lana! Becky! I’m home girls!” I rush to leave the room but when my hand turns the door knob I pause, taking a deep breath, before turning it and opening it. I see my mom bounding down the stairs and I take one at a time, wedges, stairs, baby—I have to be careful. Kingston scolded me about it last night. He does have a point, this baby is growing, so I need to be more cautious with the added weight.

Met by my mom in my dad’s arms kissing and giggling at the bottom of the stairs, I cough breaking up their high school love-fest. They have always acted like teenagers in love, reckless and completely careless, I envied it for so long and now I have it with Kingston.

“My angel. Look at you, you look beautiful! You cut your hair?” He wraps me in a bear hug, squeezing and pivoting back and forth with me in his embrace. I’m hit with overwhelming emotions and my hormones open the floodgates to Lana’s cryfest 2016.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Pushing me back at arm’s length, his hands never leaving my shoulders, I sob harder when I see his soft expression. I haven’t seen my dad in far too long, I’ve missed him. He’s always been the man I can count on for anything and I feel I’ve let him down because of my pregnancy and I haven’t even told him yet.

“Honey, I think we should sit down.” Mom approaches, laying a gentle hand on us both, ushering us toward the living room.

Looking between us both, me on the couch and my mom next to me holding me in her arms, he finally breaks the silence. “What’s wrong baby, did something happen? Is it Joel?” he hollers standing up and almost knocking his chair over. He’s still dressed in his Marines uniform, looking handsome with his dark hair and dark eyes.

“No, no, it’s not. Daddy, I need to tell you something but you need to sit and you need to hear me out.” My mom and I wait for him to sit down. Once he does I look at her. Gaining an approving nod, I focus back on my dad.

“I’ve been seeing Kingston for a year now and things have gotten pretty serious.”

“Is this a joke?” he cuts me off. “You didn’t come here to tell me you’re married or some bazaar thing like that did you? I mean Kingston Donovan isn’t marriage material. This has to be a joke. If it is, it’s not funny Lana Lynn.” I shake my head no, the fidgeting of his hands and the tick in his jaw making me recluse, I’m almost too scared to finish. Clearing my throat I push through and continue.

“No dad, we aren’t. It’s more serious than that. You see...” I stop. Turning to my mom again, she wipes my tears and nods her head, urging me to get it out. “We’re in love daddy. I’m in love and because we fell in love, we got pregnant.” My dad’s short temper flares as he jumps back up, this time the chair goes with him, tumbling over and colliding with the floor. My mother and I both surge back, jumping from his abrupt movement. Her arms tighten around me, holding me still as I cry a little harder.

“You let him touch you!? You let that thug get you pregnant? I thought you knew better, Lana! He’s no fucking good for you, did Joel teach you nothing?” He paces in front of me, spouting off.

“He’s not like Joel dad, he wouldn’t hit me—ever.” I come to Kingston’s defense faster than you can say bullseye.

“Lana, I’m not a fucking idiot. I watched you grow up with him. He has always been a troublemaker, sleeping around and treating women like objects. I guess you don’t really think highly of yourself since you stooped down that low.” His cold words cut me deeper than a knife, leaving permanent scars. Not only are his words harsh but they are a potent reminder of the emotional abuse I was subjected to for years.

“Jeffery, calm down and take that back. This is our daughter, so tread lightly. She isn’t one of your recruits, okay? You need to talk to her, listen to her.” My mom stands walking over to his place by the mantel. My dad has always been a very strict, blunt man and today is no different, but still that stung—a lot.

“No, she’s not a recruit, but she’s my daughter, my only daughter and I know what kind of boy Kingston is and he’s not good enough for Lana!” I hate when my dad goes from being my big teddy bear to the military man.

“Jeffery, don’t you dare yell at me like that. You need to calm down now or we will leave until you can calm down,” my mom threatens. She has never let my dad talk to her like anything other than a wife, she’s tough and she has always stood her ground. My grandparents on my mother’s side hated my dad for years, they thought he was a hotheaded kid with anger issues. He is, but not in the way they made it out to be. Daddy has never laid a violent hand on my mother or me, we’re his world and sometimes that world spins too fast and he fears losing it.

“Why Lana? Why did you do this, you still have your whole life ahead of you. Do you really want to raise a child with that man?”

“Yes, she fucking does and quite frankly I think you need to step down a little bit, Sir.” My heart flutters when I see Kingston walking toward me. Looking tall, tan, and every bit my protector. His faded jeans and white V-neck fit him like a wrapped gift, hugging every muscle and body part perfectly. Today he went without his beloved snapback and styled his c

rew cut.

“You didn’t knock. This is my house young man and I think you forgot your manners. But you did manage to knock up my daughter so I guess you’re used to barging into places that don’t belong to you.” The bitterness in my father’s voice hurts more than I think his poisoned words do. I’ve seen him mad at me before, but never disappointed. This feeling here is way, way, way worse. Kingston stands in front of me, placing a wedge between my father and me.