Until I Met You (37 page)

After only a few hours of being there the subject of my mum and dad came up.  Seth wasn’t happy, but then Seth was still in a
bad place as far as our parents were concerned.  He was still trying to adjust to the fact that Clive was his father.  Someone I always thought was my biological father.  It couldn’t get more complicated than that.

Julia brought over my new niece of course, which I was ecstatic about.  Both Jack and Julia were worried that by having my niece, Louisa close by, might upset me after what had happened.  I was more than eager to put their minds at rest and concentrate on their happiness at the birth of their beautiful daughter.  And she was beautiful.  I told them that much.

Seth doted on her.  It actually made me a little bit tearful—and I must admit—broody when I saw how wonderful a dad he could be.  He was more than willing to take her when she cried and walk her around the penthouse so we could talk.  I caught him talking to her one evening when he was holding her by the patio doors.  They both looked like they were staring out onto the buildings of London, soaking everything in.  Seth was telling Louisa just how much he loved his precious angel.  That he hoped one day—when she was all grown up—she could find that someone special in her life.  That the whole world was just waiting for her. 

I stood there in the shadows and watched with a tear in my eye.  I never hid the tears now when they came.  I accepted them as a way of letting go of pain—or in this case—even joy.

I was already at that stage where I knew forgiving and forgetting was something that had to be addressed soon, but Seth wasn’t quite there yet.  I certainly wasn’t going to push him.  It was the most bizarre, complicated, fucked up family situation any of us had ever heard of, and it was going to take time—lots of time.

Eventually
, after a couple of months, we were both at that place.  We visited my mum and dad first for a couple of days, then ventured off to Kent to see Thomas and Melissa.  It was hard and a few tears were shed, but I was glad that we had finally done it.  We were still miles away from playing happy families, but it was a start.

Work was g
oing great and I was finally left on my own when Jonathan decided to go on holiday for a couple of weeks.  The thought of running the business on my own scared the shit out of me, but Jonathan thought he was leaving it in capable hands.  He said he needed the break.  He had been working non-stop for too many years and it was finally his time for a holiday.  That put things into perspective for me.  Jonathan needed this and he counted on me not to fuck it up.  I was determined not to let him down, despite the fact I was scared shitless.

I also found out something huge.

Things were a little different at work for me, and it made me feel a little better being left on my own with the evil twins.  Let’s just say I have one thing over them both—one major thing.

It was a couple of days after Seth and I got back from our wedding/honeymoon.  I was on my way back home
, when I remembered that I had left my purse on my desk.  I really didn’t want to leave it there overnight just in case, so I ventured on back.  I had a set of keys so it was no problem getting in if the place was locked up.  The evil twins were the last to leave so I thought they would still be there.  To my surprise, it was dark and the door was locked.  I opened up and had retrieved my purse when I heard noises coming from Jonathan’s office.  I panicked a minute and thought about calling the police, but then I heard a distinct moan, and knew it wasn’t someone who was hurt.  I carefully ventured toward Jonathan’s office and put my ear to the door.  I heard “Oh God” echo from inside, and I instantly knew whose voice it was.

My heart was thumping from the excitement of catching that bitch doing something she shouldn’t have been.  When I opened the door though, I certainly didn’t expect her to be doing something very naughty with Timothy.  I gasped very loudly when I saw them
, and Daniela screamed.  It was the funniest, most awkward moment I had been put in.  I shut the door and ran as fast as I could out of there, giggling as I went.  I must admit, I did have a little evil thought run through my mind to tell Jonathan.  But then I knew he would dismiss them.  No matter what my feelings are for the two, I didn’t want to be the one responsible in getting them fired.  Instead, I used it to my advantage.  Daniela and Timothy were as nice as pie to me after they realised I hadn’t blabbed.  Working with them was going to be a lot easier around there now.

Shelly and Brad were still going strong—just as friends.  Shelly was actually dating another Estate Agent she crossed paths with on a viewing a couple of months ago.  She was smitten because he was “hot” as she put it.  Now they were seeing each other fairly regularly
, and Shelly seemed happy—which is good.  Happy is always good.

I was sent an unwelcome letter through the post to tell me a court date had been set for Jaden’s hearing.  He was being charged with Grievous Bodily
Harm and Attempted Murder for the second time in his life.  I was nervous as hell with the prospect of seeing him again and reliving yet another nightmare he had caused, but I was determined more than ever to make sure he was put away—and for a very long time this time.  He obviously had it in for me and I couldn’t help but think that he would do it all over again, and keep doing it until he made sure I was dead.  I was his one and only vengeance that had never been sought.  As far as I was concerned, my nightmare was well and truly over.  I had someone in my life that made sure that happened for me.

And talking of Seth,
happy didn’t even come close to describing it.  I knew he was the one just as much as I knew it the first day I met him—despite the fact I fought him at every turn.  I’m so glad he was as tenacious as he was because things could have been a little different otherwise.  Seth said I was worth every second of it and would do it all over again if he had to.  We had gone through some battles together and fought off our demons as one.  We were placed in a world where we didn’t know what the hell was going to happen next—something which would have scared the hell out of me a few months ago. 

I was always the predictable Angelina; never needing a man and always knowing her path in life.  I thought I knew what I wanted and had it all planned out.  I thought I was happy, but I was just running away from myself.  Running away from
the chance of finding the happiness I have now accepted with open arms.  Now I go with the flow.  Accept what life has to throw at me.  I take each day as it comes because I now have someone to hold my hand when the going gets tough.  This was me, Angelina Jacobs—Angel to Seth, cookie monster extraordinaire. 

Come on, life, let me have it.  Just you give it your best shot!

AckNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would love to thank all the readers/reviewers out there who read the book before its release.  I must admit, I was a little apprehensive about Until I Met You, but hearing how much you all loved and enjoyed it helped to put my mind at rest a little.

There are so many other people to thank; I wouldn’t know where to begin.  I need to first of all thank three very wonderful and special ladies.  They are, Serena Kett, Line Fallesen Nielson and Cara Ross.  You have been there for me ever since you read and loved Take a Breath and Take it Deep, so I wish to tell you how much I appreciate everything.  You have all been there when I needed advice or just wanted to let off some steam.  I’m so grateful to the three of you.

I would also love to thank many of the book bloggers out there.  The list can be endless, but here are just a few: Brit Nanny Reads, Compare Our Men Book Whores, M&D’s Have You Read Your Book Blog, What to read after Fifty (50) Shades of Grey, Book Sluts, Fictional Men’s Room For Book Ho’s, Til’ The Last Page Book Blog, Pixie’s Book Review Blog, Isalovesbooks and The Bookish Laurel.

I would also like to thank Jacqui Miles for giving me the idea for Seth to put his baseball cap on backwards!!!  I’m hoping this will make other ladies happy about that, too.

I would like to thank Geoff Wolak for editing the book.  It was my first time hiring an editor, but I’m glad I did it now.  I was just starting out when I wrote Take a Breath and Take it Deep, but I think I’ve learnt a great deal since then.

As always, I would like to thank my family.  My husband and my children have put up with a lot of hours away from me because I’ve been stuck on my laptop.  I love and appreciate the patience you had during my “away” time.  I know sometimes it hasn’t been easy.

This isn’t it!!  I have plenty more to offer where that came from.  I always seem to have a story in my head, and I’m always keen to get it down.  I have a paranormal romance trilogy in the making.  The first book should be released in September 2014, with the second book released roundabout Christmas time.

If you loved Until I Met You, please do not hesitate to stop by my Facebook author page and let me know.  I’m always keen to hear from readers.

Thanks again, and no doubt you’ll be seeing a book coming your way from me again pretty soon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaimie Roberts was born in London, but moved to Gibraltar back in 2001.  She is married with two sons, and in her spare time from work, she writes.

In June 2013, Jaimie published her first book Take a Breath, with the second released in November 2013.  With the reviews from her first and second book, Jaimie took time out to read and learn how to become a better writer.  Jaimie gets huge enjoyment out of writing, and even more so from the feedback she receives.

If you would like to send Jaimie a message, please do so by visiting her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JaimieRobertsTakeABreath.