Page 22 of Everlasting Love

Yes, I do. It’s what I deserve.

I pull onto the road and make my way over toThe Bunker. I’ll get lost in some bike restoration so I don’t feel completely useless.

9

VIOLET

Thank God that’s over.I still feel weak, but I’m a thousand times better than I was. I can’t believe we were all taken down at the same time by a microscopic bug. I run the brush through Jasmine’s hair as I think about the last few days and how I was barely able to crawl out of bed. I’m certain I was freaking delirious for some of those days.

Thank goodness for Toby.

I had my doubts about him, but he truly is a good guy. My lips tip up at the memory of his pink cheeks when he offered to help me shower and the way he stumbled to clarify that he couldn’t help me the same way he helped my sister but he could sit outside the door. He was so adorable. And the way he confessed how much he loves Cass and Poppy made my heart expand to double its size. I’m thrilled for my sister, if not a little envious that she’s found such a great man who is obviously devoted to her and her daughter. I don’t know anyone who deserves it more than they do.

I tie the rainbow ribbon in Jas’s hair and slide her long curls behind her shoulders. She smiles up at me in the mirror. “Fank you, Mommy.”

I kiss the top of her head. “You’re welcome. The ribbon you chose looks great with your rainbow sweater dress.” I glance down at her unicorn rain boots which almost come up to her knees and smile at the way she insisted they were the perfect addition to her outfit.

She spins around on her toes. “I wove it!” She flings her little arms up in the air, and I giggle at her delight. Oh to be three and think everything is amazing. I only hope I can help her hold onto her joyfulness for as long as possible.

I tap her on the nose. “Can you go downstairs and wait with Gramma? I need to check on Aunty Cass.”

She nods. “Otay, Mommy.” My bundle-of-energy takes off downstairs and I wander into my sister’s bedroom which is a mess. Cass stands in the middle of her room wearing her bra and panties, her hands in her hair.

“What’s up, Sis? You’re all over the place.” I plop down on her bed, looking around at the pile of discarded clothes.

She throws her hands up in the air and huffs. “I dunno what to wear. I want to make a good impression. Plus, I want to erase the last images Toby has of me. I wanna look good, but I can’t work out what to wear.” Ahhh, this explains it. We all looked awful when Toby was here looking after us and I guess I’d feel the same if, say, someone like Shane were to have seen me at my worst. That reminds me, I wonder if he’ll be at Thanksgiving dinner today. My heart flutters at the thought of getting to spend any time with the man. Then I remember he has a girlfriend … and I mentally squash the thoughts. I don’t understand why I’m having such a hard time remembering the guy is unavailable.

I stand and carefully study the clothes on Cass’s bed as well as the ones still in her closet. I pick up a pair of jeans thatalways look amazing on my sister and a sweater I know shows her amazing curves and matches her coloring well. “What about these black, skinny jeans with this red sweater? You can wear your knee-high boots. They always look amazing on you.”

She doesn’t look convinced as she chews on her thumbnail. “You think that’ll be okay to wear to Thanksgiving with his whole family?”

“Of course. Why not?”

“I wanna look classy.”

“You’ll look classy and casual. Sexy, even.” I wink at her. “C’mon, you’re running out of time.”

She smiles at me, and I know I’ve managed to put her mind at ease. “Thanks, Vi. I’ll be down in a minute.”

I blow my sister a kiss as I leave her room and head back to my bedroom to check my outfit one last time. I twist this way and that as I check out my reflection. I chose my green sweater dress because I thought it would be cute if Jas and I wore matching outfits, not that our dresses are the same color. I don’t think I can get away with wearing a rainbow dress at my age. I smooth the knitted fabric over my wide hips and straighten my belt.

Objectively, I can see I look good in this dress, great even but there’s that little voice of doubt that’s been getting louder since splitting with Allen that says I’m nothing special. If I were special, he wouldn’t have cheated the way he did, right?

I draw in a long breath and blow it out slowly, along with the negative thoughts. Thinking like that won’t get me anywhere. I wouldn’t want my daughter to think poorly of herself, so I need to make sure I squash those thoughts—lead by example and all that.

The doorbell rings, so I grab my coat and take the stairs to the foyer. It’s mayhem. Toby catches Poppy just in time as she takes a flying leap at him, Gramma Iris is laughing her ass off ather great-granddaughter’s antics, and Mom’s bustling her way out of the kitchen carrying one of the three casseroles she baked this morning. I say hello and catch Jasmine so I can put her coat on before stepping into the kitchen to grab another casserole. I’m not sure why Mom thought we’d need to take not one but three dishes with us. We’re going to the home of a billionaire for goodness sake. I’m pretty sure our Thanksgiving dinner will be fully catered.

I’m the last to follow everyone out of the house, so I lock the door behind me. Suddenly, everyone seems to stop dead in their tracks, and Cass almost knocks the casserole out of Mom’s hands. Pretty sure my chin has dropped to the pavement at the sight of the fancy limousine parked in front of our humble home with a handsome bodyguard holding the back door open to boot. My eyes drop down his well-built body, taking in his faded jeans, heavy boots, and a button-down shirt complete with a waistcoat. His outfit looks effortless, yet he looks like he just stepped off of a runway for Tom Ford. My traitorous body reacts to Shane without permission, and I squeeze my thighs together to stem the instant throb at the apex of my legs.

Jas takes off at a sprint. “Sane!” She dives for the man, and he quickly steps away from the back door of the limo to catch my daughter. I’m not exactly sure why Jas is so attached to him—he barely speaks—but she’s enamored just the same. He swings her up into his arms and rests her little butt on his forearm as he watches her closely. She looks tiny in his hold as she spreads her arms out wide as though she’s showing him something huge then throws herself into his body and wraps her little arms around his neck.

His lip twitches like he wants to smile but can’t quite remember how to do it, and his eyes find me still standing on the porch. Within an instant, his eyes have dropped and scanned me from head to toe and returned to mine with a degree of heat thatI’ve not felt from a man in a long time. Heat zaps through my body at the same time self-consciousness overtakes me. I pull my coat across my body trying to hide my wide hips the best I can with the one free hand I have. His eyebrows dip over his eyes as I cover myself.Why on earth did I think a sweater dress that hugs every single one of my curves was a good choice?Shane returns his attention to my daughter, and I finally fill my lungs with a fresh breath.

Toby must notice our surprise at the car. “I figured everyone would fit in this. Hope you don’t mind.”

Mom responds quickly, always worried that she’s offended someone. “Not at all. I was surprised, that’s all. It’s very thoughtful of you to organize a ride. I figured we’d be following behind you and Cass.”

“This makes it easier. C’mon, let’s go.” He says it like it’s no big deal he organized transportation for all of us, when in fact it’s a big freaking deal. It shows exactly how much he loves my sister and niece. I can’t help the smile that crosses my lips for my sister. We all head for the car, me keeping my eyes locked on my daughter still resting in Shane’s very capable hold.

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