Fitting The Pieces (The Riverdale Series Book 3) (37 page)

           
He swallowed hard, just staring at her for a moment as
the song began to taper off. He felt as if he had been waiting an eternity for
her to say those words. He imagined what it would feel like to hear them come
from her sweet mouth.

           
“Luke? Say something…” She whispered, breaking his train
of thought. “Tell me I’m not too late. I’ve made a lot of promises tonight.
Promises to myself, promises to your mother, baby, I made promises to Ava. I
probably should’ve talked to you first, but I figured since you’re so good at
keeping promises you’d help me keep mine.” She rambled on until he brought his
finger to her lips to silence her.

           
“You love me?” He asked roughly.

           
“I love you with everything I am.” She said against his
fingertip. “The pieces of me that are whole and the pieces of me that are
broken, they all belong to you, that’s if you still want them…”Her voice
trailing off, uncertain of his response to her declaration. “You’re the missing
the piece, you and Ava. It may have taken me a while to figure it all out, but
I know for certain that I want to move on with my life. I want to dream again,
and I want my dreams to be with you. I want my future to be with you.”

           
Luke cupped her face in his hands. “Tell me your dreams.”
He requested.

           
She swallowed, drawing in a deep breath. “I have one
dream, and I’ve had it since I was a little girl. It’s my wedding day. It’s
been the same dream since I can remember. The dress is always the same, so is
the chapel. I walk down the aisle by myself, to my groom, only I never can see
who it is, that waits for me at the altar. Until the other night… I was able to
see who was waiting for me. It was you, Luke. You and Ava were at the other end
of the aisle.”

           
“You want to get married?”

           
“Well, not tomorrow, but one day.” She said with a shrug.
“I mean, if you want to, otherwise…”

           
“Tell me more.” He interrupted.

           
“I’d like to have a baby.” She shook her head. “That’s a
lie. I’d like more than one.”

           
“Babies, got it.” He said. “What else?”

           
“I want you to kiss me… like right now and every night
after.”

           
“Where do I sign?” He asked gruffly as he leaned closer,
his breath lingering over her lips.

           
“Sign?” She asked in a trance her eyes focused on his
lips. All she had to do was lean in the slightest bit and she’d feel them
against hers.

           
“I want to sign up to be the one who makes all those
dreams come true.” He whispered huskily.

           
“You sign right here, right across my mouth…” She said
barely getting the last word out before Luke’s mouth crashed over hers. She
heard the moan that escaped her, felt him swallow it, as his lips worked hers.
She threaded her fingers through his hair, cupping the back of his head, as his
tongue traced over the seam of her lips. She parted her lips, her tongue
meeting his half way, familiarizing each other with their tastes. She felt his
teeth scrape along her lower lip before his mouth began to trail blazing kisses
along her jaw, dipping down to her neck.

           
Cara groaned, feeling the loss of his mouth on her, but
welcomed his hot tongue on her neck. Luke bent his knees so he could be level
with her neck. He slid his hands along the sides of her body wrapping them
around her waist before he cupped her ass cheeks in the palm of his hands and
hoisted her up. Instantly her legs wrapped around his waist, anchoring herself
to him, she found his eyes with her own.

           
“Tell me you’re sure this time… that it’s for real.” He
said with that gruff tone she’d come to find sexy and endearing all at the same
time. “That you worked it out and you don’t care who knows about us, because Cara,
as God as my witness, I’m not hiding what I feel for you anymore. We’ll work
all the other shit out as it comes, but you’re mine. Say your mine.”

           
“I’m yours.” She said, sounding breathless and flustered.
She traced her thumb along his lower lip. “I love you Luke Lanza.” She grinned
slightly, leaning her head against his. “I think you should take me upstairs
and have your way with me.”

           
“Oh, do you”? He asked lightly giving her ass a slight
squeeze as he started for the stairs.

           
“Yeah, I do. It’s another one of my dreams… it’s a
recurring one too.” Her eyes lit with mischief.

           
“You’re killing me Spunky.” He groaned as he felt his
pants get tighter. She nuzzled his neck as he carried her up the stairs.
 
When they reached the top of the landing,
paused, he leaned back just enough to be able to look into her eyes.

 
“I love you, Cara.” He whispered as his lips
curved into a smile. He may never have expected Cara to be the woman he wanted
to share his life with, but then again, the best things in life were
unexpected, this Luke knew better than anyone. He paused outside his bedroom
door, taking a moment to look up. He silently thanked his brother for leading
him to his destiny.

The End

“Family: Where life begins and love
never ends.” ~ Unknown

           
“One more push, Samantha. Let’s bring this little girl
into the world.” The doctor lifted his head as he spoke in an encouraging tone,
looking between Nick and Sam. “On three?”

           
Nick brushed the sweaty blonde hair clinging to his
wife’s forehead. She was exhausted, as expected after 26 hours of labor. “Look
at me baby.”

           
She whimpered, her blue eyes meeting his eyes. “I can’t
do it.” She looked at the doctor frantically. “Just keep her inside. I’ll stay
pregnant forever…” She knew she wasn’t making any sense, but it felt as if her
body was being torn into two.

           
Nick took her face gently in his, forcing her to look at
him. “I love you so goddamn much.” He shook his head, his voice thick with
emotion. “You’ve done such an incredible job so far. I know you can do it. One
more push, and she’ll be here.” He took her hands in his and squeezed them.

           
She sniffled clutching his hand, she faced the doctor,
giving him a slight nod as she took a deep breath.

           
“One, two, three… push!” The doctor said.

           
Nick watched Sam’s face contort in agony as she pushed
their daughter into the world. It was like a flash of lightning. He was afraid
to blink, afraid he’d miss the most important moment in their lives. He
clutched her hand and turned to face the doctor. Suddenly he held up the most
beautiful person Nick had ever laid eyes on, his little girl. Her cries echoed
around them as the doctor smiled through his mask.

           
“It’s a girl!” He declared to the room. Nick blinked
through his tears and stared at his daughter in awe, watching as the doctor
handed her off to the nurse.

           
“Daddy, would you like to cut the cord?”

           
Nick swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded before
bending down and kissing Sam’s lips softly. “I’m so proud of you.” He cupped
her face and she opened her exhausted eyes to look at him. “I love you,
Samantha.” He whispered.

           
“I love you too.” She said softly.

           
Nick released his wife for a moment to take the scissors
the doctor offered him. He snipped the cord in a daze. He was a father. His
heart was full. The nurses cleaned their baby and wrapped her in a blanket.
Nick moved to stand beside Sam, helping her sit up as the nurse placed her into
the loving arms of her mother for the first time.

           
“Oh my God…” Sam said as the bundle of joy filled her
arms. She didn’t know the meaning of unconditional love until that moment when
she looked into her daughter’s eyes, the eyes of an angel. “Hi sweet girl, I’m
your mommy.” She said against her forehead. She looked up at her husband. “She’s
perfect.”

           
“Just like her mommy.” He said with a wink.

*
* * * *

"
Sons
are the anchors of a mother's life." - Sophocles

           
Deb fastened the clasp of her necklace, taking one final
look at herself in the mirror. It was the one Sunday of the year when her family
insisted she didn’t cook. It was Mother’s day and Joe had pulled out all the
stops, making reservations at the finest restaurant in Riverdale. It wasn’t
everyday your daughter celebrated her first Mother’s day. She heard the bell
sound downstairs and figured it was Luke and Cara there to pick them up. She
grabbed her purse and headed out of her bedroom and down the stairs. She
stopped midway when she noticed her husband carrying a huge bouquet of her
favorite flowers.

           
A grin spread across her face. “Wow, I must’ve done
something right as a mother, to deserve these.” She said kiddingly, making her
way down the rest of the steps.
 
“Which
one of the kids sent them?” She said looking over the arrangement trying to
find the card that was tucked away. She lifted her eyes and looked at her
husband skeptically. “Or is it from the love of my life?”

           
“I should probably take credit for this, shouldn’t I?”
Joe said, placing the glass vase on the foyer table. He smiled at his wife, handing
her the card he already plucked from the bouquet. “Well, go on, let’s see who
it’s from.”

           
She took one more sniff of the beautiful flowers before
pulling the tiny card from the envelope. Her breath caught as she read the
card.

           
Joe looked at his wife nervously, watching as she stared
at the flowers in amazement, tears falling from her eyes. He took the card from
her hands and looked down at the typed message…

Happy
Mother’s Day!

Always
with You, Always Loving You

All
My Love,

Jake

           
“Help your brother’s
boat across, and your own will reach shore.” ~Hindu Proverb

           
“My brother Jake had a profound love for motorcycles. He
may have lost his battle with cancer, but his dream to deliver custom designed
bikes to people who shared that love with him, can live on, today.” Luke said
to the mass of people that crowded the parking lot in front of Jake’s Custom
Bike Shop. Mostly familiar faces, old friends of Jake’s, some clients, all
gathered around for the grand opening of Jake’s dream. “It is with a humble heart
that I present to you, Jake’s Custom Bike Shop.” He glanced back at the
building that started as just an empty lot of land, now standing before him was
the vision his brother had left this earth with. His lime green custom bike
displayed in the front window of the shop, a symbol of his fight and of the man
he was. The mayor of Riverdale, presented Luke with a pair of oversized
scissors, Luke took them in his hand, turning around to face his family. His
parents stood proudly, Joe gave his son a thumb’s up, for extra measure. He
glanced over at Sam, who was leaning over Nick’s shoulder cooing at their baby
daughter Juliana. Nick lifted his head and met his friend’s gaze, smiling
broadly. Without Nick’s push, Luke may have never had the will to move forward
with this project.

           
As if she sensed his thoughts, and maybe she did, Cara,
had begun to grow in sync with Luke, she stepped to Nick and held out her
hands, offering to take Juliana from him.

           
“Come to Aunt Cara, my sweet angel.” She said as she
cradled Juliana in her arms. Once the baby was settled in her arms, she lifted
her head and winked at Luke.

           
“Nick, brother, can you give me a hand?” Luke asked into
the microphone, forcing his best friend to turn around and face him. Nick
pointed both his thumbs towards his body and raised a questioning eyebrow at
him. Luke merely nodded in response with a smile on his face.

           
Nick walked to the front of the building slapping Luke
affectionately on the back and together they reached for the scissors, cutting
through the red ribbon, symbolizing that Jake’s dream was now a reality.

*
* * * *

           
Ava crept into her father and Cara’s bedroom Christmas
morning nervously, with Benny on her heels. The beagle jumped onto the bed and
started to sniff through the comforter in search of Cara. Ava walked around to
the side of the bed and gently shook Cara awake.

           
“Cara! Wake up! It’s Christmas morning! Hurry, come on! I
think Santa came.” She said with another nudge to a stirring Cara. Benny began
to lap kisses along Cara’s face, his best effort to help Ava in her struggle.

           
“Okay! Okay! I’m up…” She said through a yawn, sitting
up, she opened her eyes and glanced around the room. She petted Benny on the
head before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and leaning over to kiss
Ava on the cheek. “Merry Christmas.”

           
“Merry Christmas!” Ava cried joyfully, taking her hand
and pulling her to her feet. “Come on, I can’t wait to see what he left for
me!”

           
“Where’s Daddy?” Cara asked, rubbing the sleep from her
eyes, letting Ava drag her out of the bedroom.

           
“He must be downstairs already.” Ava said giddily as they
started down the stairs.

           
“Hopefully he started the coffee.” Cara said more to
herself than to Ava, since she had already run down the rest of the stairs. As
tired as she was, she had to smile, to be a kid on Christmas morning was
magical, Cara was just happy to be a part of the magic. She stepped off the
last step, turning around to walk into the living room, and froze in her
tracks.

 
          
The
oversized Christmas tree took up most of the living room, the rest was taken by
Santa’s presents, but that wasn’t what caused Cara to freeze. It was the man
who was kneeling down on one knee before the Christmas tree, the man with the
little girl next to him in the same position. Both, Ava and Luke were smiling
sheepishly at Cara, waiting for her to come closer to them.

           
For a moment she thought her eyes were playing tricks on
her. Maybe she was still sleeping. Luke crooked his finger, giving her a
smoldering come hither look. Somehow, unknown to her, she found her footing and
stepped towards him and Ava. Her mouth was dry and when she spoke her voice
cracked.

           
“What’s going on?” She said in a strangled whisper.

           
Luke smiled and reached for her hand. “Merry Christmas…”
He said softly, bringing her hand to his lips, feathering kisses along her
knuckles.

           
She watched him intently for a moment, he was so calm, so
completely sure of himself. She shifted her eyes to Ava who was smiling from
ear to ear. “Merry Christmas…” She heard herself say.

           
“We have something we want to ask you, Spunky.” Luke said
squeezing her left hand.

           
“Okay.” She said, feeling her palms grow clammy. She ran
her free hand through her bed hair, wishing she had taken a moment to tie her
hair back, maybe even brush her teeth. She was pretty sure this was one of the
biggest moments of her life, and here she was dressed in red and green flannel
pajamas, with hair that resembled a nest of some sort.

           
Luke turned to his daughter for a moment, sending her a
wink. She began to raise her fingers one at a time until she raised three tiny
fingers. They both turned to face Cara.

           
“Will you marry us?” Father and daughter asked in unison,
their eyes shining hopefully at Cara.

           
Cara gasped at the sight the two of them made. Ava’s
little hands fumbled with the black velvet box, prying it open, she turned it
around and displayed the diamond solitaire that had a halo of tiny emerald
stones circling it.

           
“Of course I’ll marry you.” She said through her tears to
Luke, turning to Ava. “I love you both so much.” She dropped to her knees in
front of Luke throwing her arms around his neck. She felt the sigh of relief
escape him as she hugged him with all her might.

           
“I love you, Cara.” He whispered into her ear. She pulled
back a moment and grabbed Ava pulling her into their hug.

           
“She said yes daddy.” Ava said, smiling into his chest as
she embraced the two of them.

           
Luke stared into Cara’s eyes, his love for reflected in
her eyes. “Yeah baby, she did.”

Cara’s smile was as
wide as her face. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands before she
leaned in and pressed her lips against his.

           
“This is the best Christmas ever.” Cara said against his
mouth.

           
“Wait! You have to put the ring on. It’s not official until
you put the ring on her daddy!!” Ava said, handing the box to her dad. Luke
laughed at his anxious daughter, taking the ring out of the box with one hand,
and taking Cara’s left hand with the other.
 
He looked into her eyes as he started to slip the finger onto her
finger.

           
“It’s beautiful.” Cara whispered.

           
“The diamond symbolizes you and dad’s love and the
emeralds are my birthstone.” Ava added helpfully, watching as her dad finished
placing the ring on Cara’s finger, kissing her hand one more time to seal the
deal.

           
“It’s perfect.” Cara said, taking Ava’s hand in hers as
she wrapped her other arm around Luke’s neck. “Every time I look at my hand,
I’ll be reminded how lucky I am. I’ll be reminded that I’ve got the most
amazing family.”