Love After Marriage (Forever After #2) (15 page)

"She sounds amazing." Jamie brushed her pointer finger against Em's picture. "And I know you're the greatest mom."

Honesty poured out of me. "It's hard to balance, but I do the best I can. Being a mom has been the hardest job I've ever had, but it is definitely the most rewarding."

"She looks just like you, when you were younger."

"You think?"

"Yeah. Even down to the curls. Your hair was curly when you were younger, but when you got older it straightened out."

I tilted my head and pulled my hair over my shoulder. "I had no idea."

Jamie gulped. "I'd love to meet her."

I'd never even imagined that Jamie would be in Emily's life, and my shoulders tightened at the thought.

Too soon. It was all too much. I opened my mouth to speak, but shut it in the next second. I didn’t know what to say without hurting her feelings. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."

When her facial features dropped, I quickly added, "I'm sorry, but I have to be honest." The mama bear in me pushed to the surface. I couldn't have Emily get attached to Jamie when Jamie was just starting to get her life together. What if she just upped and left, like she'd done a million times before? I'd protect Emily until my heart stopped beating.

She dropped her eyes to the photo. "I understand. I've put you through hell and back." In the next second, she lifted her head. A slew of emotions passed over her features like a deck of cards. Sadness and regret filled her eyes, but then she straightened in her seat. "But I'll prove it to you, Beth. I'll show you I'm a changed woman. I'm not even going to promise this time, because actions will speak louder than any promise I make you." Her eyes held such hope.

I nodded because, for the first time in a very long time, I believed her. "Okay."

The waitress dropped the check, and my mother surprised me by picking it up. "I've got it."

"You don't have to do that." I tried to reach for the bill, but she jerked it away.

"I want to."

After she paid and we stood, I walked her back to the salon. Her eyes crinkled with a contentment that filled my insides with joy. "Thank you. For coming today."

I exhaled a long sigh of relief, stepping closer and opening my arms to let her in.

Her arms wrapped around me tightly in a warm embrace, and we held each other in silence. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d had this much physical contact.

Her whole body relaxed into me as she released a long sigh, and I blinked back tears, looking toward the clear blue sky to prevent them from spilling over.

My jaw clenched as I tried to keep it together. "I'm so happy I came to see you," I whispered.

Her lips pressed against my forehead. "I feel like... like this is my real second chance. Nana did such a great job with you."

I nodded against her chest, and her eyes brightened as she released me.

I reached into my purse and pulled out my card. "Email me or call me."

"Beth, I'd like that. Thank you." She cupped the side of my face, and I smiled as I looked into eyes so similar to mine.

When she walked back into her place of employment, my arms wrapped around my middle. Our meeting had been short, yet it had been the most satisfying time I'd ever experienced with my mother.

Suddenly, my breathing slowed as a memory pushed to the surface. I must have been no more than six and could still smell the scent of newly mowed grass. I had fallen off my bike and was crying because I’d scraped my knee. She had carried me into the house and kissed the band-aid she had placed over my injury. "Boo boo gone," she had said.

A loneliness hit me. Fresh tears pricked my eyes. I realized I had built a wall up with my mother and trained myself not to show vulnerability in her presence. Now by myself, I could no longer hold it together. I reached into my purse for my phone. When my fingers felt the cold metal, I lifted my head to see a tall, broad silhouette against the sunlight. I cupped my free hand above my head to see someone walking toward me.

There was a familiarity in the shadow approaching. For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, seeing what I longed to see.

Kent?

At first I thought I was dreaming, but the closer he came, I knew I wasn't.

Emily was anchored on his hip, and a flood of sensation washed over me as I rushed toward them.

"Hey, baby," he whispered.

Tears gushed down my cheeks. Full on. Not stopping. I pushed my head against his shirt, taking in the scent that was my husband, my better half. "Hey," I whispered back.

I realized the few hours with my mother had taken its toll, and I started to sob as I dropped into Kent's arms. My whole body was engulfed in a tide of weariness and emotional overload.

When I lifted my head, he angled Em closer. "I think mama wants a big kiss."

Emily held out her arms and I happily complied. I kissed her long and hard on her chubby cheek. When she giggled, my insides filled with endorphins. "I missed you so much, baby Em." I kissed her other cheek so it wouldn't feel left out.

Kent swiped at my tears with his fingertips. "Stop crying, beautiful."

"I'm sorry. Today was just too much."

He lightly stroked my shoulder then his protective arm pulled me tighter against him. "I know you said you'd be okay coming here by yourself, but I wanted to be here with you. This is a big deal, seeing her after you haven't seen her in a long time."

I wrapped one arm around his hip. "Thank you. Sometimes I think you know what I need before I do. How did you get here so quickly?"

"The Jet." Laughter floated up from his throat.

"I doubt this classifies as company business." I chuckled through tear-filled eyes.

"Pfft it's our company, so anytime we want a ride, it is classified as company business."

He leaned in, concern flooding his vision. "How was it?"

"Weirdly good." I glanced back at the salon and bit my bottom lip. "I didn't know what to expect, but I guess I wasn't expecting it to go so well." I glanced up at him. "I showed her a picture of Em.” My eyes flew to the salon behind me, worried that she would come out and see us.

“You did?” His voice sounded cautious.

I kissed Em's beautiful head of curls. "But I don't think I'm ready for Jamie to meet her."

Who knew what the future held? I didn't want to think too far ahead. Maybe in the distant future, we could have dinners or spend holidays together. I didn't want to get my hopes up. I'd been there one too many times before only to be disappointed.

"Maybe someday." I peered up at Kent. "Baby steps."

"Baby steps." He leaned down and kissed my nose, then we strolled together, his arm around me as I cradled Emily against my hip.

"Did you call a car service?"

He nodded. "I did, but I saw the Limo sitting out here so I told our car to leave."

The Limo was still idling by the curb, waiting for me where I left it. I smiled gently up at him. "Home then?"

Kent shied away, for once looking a little hesitant. "Not exactly."

I lifted an eyebrow. "What do you have up your sleeve, crazy husband of mine?"

"Well, the happiest place on earth is just a hop, skip, and a jump away." A dimple was on full display.

I knew exactly what he was talking about, and I laughed out loud. "Are you serious? Disney?"

He grinned. "I have your ears at the hotel."

"Hotel?"

"Yeah, we better hurry up. We’re having dinner with Mickey at six."

"Mee-mee-mouse," Emily, the little conspirator, agreed.

A dimple appeared on both of Kent's cheeks, and I watched his reaction to see if he was joking. When he didn't bust up laughing a second later, I knew he was dead serious.

I smacked him playfully on the arm. "Kent Plack, don't tell me you reserved the jet, booked us a hotel, bought Disney Park tickets, and scheduled dinner with Mickey...all after I specifically said that I didn't need you here."

"Well..." He grimaced. "Yeah. But in my defense, you said you didn't need me to come with you to see your mom. You never said anything about going to Disney."

He smiled, all teeth, trying for playful. It was the cutest thing and my stomach flipped. All was forgiven.

I tiptoed and kissed his lips in response. "Okay, you win." I pecked him sweetly again. "I love you."

As the limo driver stepped out of the car, seeing us approach, Kent reached for my hand and squeezed. "Uh. And my parents are here."

I turned to him as my eyebrows raised to the open blue sky. "What?" I had no idea that he could surprise me three times in one day, but Kent was full of surprises.

"They kind of begged.” He scrunched his face, seeming a little sheepish. “Even Dad. They said they'd give us time to ourselves, too. They even said they'd be good. They would just tag along. They even went as far to say they wouldn't buy Emily that much stuff. Whatever that means," he chuckled.

I shook my head, thoroughly amused.

"Beth, I just couldn't say no."

"You're absolutely crazy."

"Absolutely." He nuzzled his nose against mine before kissing me sweetly. "Crazy for you."

I drowned in the eyes of the man that consoled me and comforted me, but above all things, he loved me unconditionally.

"That," I said, leaning in closely, "is something I can totally accept.” Then I kissed him once more before climbing into the limo with Emily.

"Off to the happiest place on earth," he joked, ushering me in so he could climb into the seat beside me.

Little did he know that I was already there. My happiest place on earth was anywhere with Kent Plack and baby Em.

T
he End
.

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M
arry Me For Money

The Scheme

Everything Has Changed

M
ia Kayla is
a New Adult and Contemporary Romance writer who lives in Illinois. She is the wife to the husband of the year and mommy to three unbelievable cute little girls who have multiplied her grey hairs.

In her free time she loves reading romance novels, jamming to boy bands, catching up on celebrity gossip and designing flowers for weddings.

Most of the time, she can be caught on the train with her nose in a book sporting a cheeky grin because the main characters finally get their happily-ever-after at the end.

She loves reading about happy endings but has more fun writing them.

H
ERE IS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MIA KAYLA:

G
oodness gracious
, this one was a tough one to write. It was hard for me to jump back into Beth and Kent’s head when it has been so long.

But I wanted Beth to have resolution with her mother and I wanted everyone to see Kent as a father. It took him a while, but our man got there!

First and foremost, thanks to my family. My husband is my rock and allows me to write every Friday night while he covers for me at home. I love him like no other.

To Megan Hand—I love that you just
get
me and you get my characters. You always have a way of pushing me to bring out more emotion in my characters. Thanks for fitting me in to get this done and for being you.

To my beta readers— Amy, Teri, Kristin and Christina. Thank you for your feedback to make this a stronger story. I appreciate you.

To my writer support system—Michelle, Danielle, Elisabeth and Stephanie. Thank you for listening me rant and answering all my 101 questions. #indiechicksrock

To the bloggers—Thanks for promoting my books and pimping me like I’m a Rockstar.

To all my readers—You keeps keep me going and going like the energizer bunny. I write for you.