Page 121 of Twisted Bonds
"Yes, Daddy…" she stops herself, and her eyes fill with tears.
"Shh, it will take time, baby." She lets me hold her for a moment longer before she pulls away.
"I meant to tell you that I got another award for my work with the Foundation, and more grants are coming. I'll be able to add two more shelter houses, and I want to give all four the name 'Huntley House'. They will be numbered one, two, three, and four, and in each one, a portrait of Bain will hang in the front entrance."
I pull her back into my arms and hold her tight. "My father will fucking love that. Thank you, Ryan. Thank you for coming into our lives and being the woman that we both needed in every way. I will never take your love for granted, and I will make sure to kiss you goodnight every day, and I will protect you with everything I've got. I'm going to be the man you have always needed in your life."
"You have always been that guy, Beau," she states. "We have both been through hell and back and maybe having your dad there for me to help with particular things I needed was always meant to be. I will always love your father, but I've known for quite some time that you and I—we were always meant to be. We are…"
"Soulmates…" I whisper.
Epilogue
Ryan
It's a beautiful day as I sit here—on the bench that Beau had made—in the Huntley Family Plot at the cemetery. Beau and I visit Bain every other week, bringing fresh flowers and cleaning up the area. We visit him together, and then Beau gives me a few moments so I can speak privately with Bain.
I rub the big mound that used to be my stomach and smile at Bain's name on the headstone. "I think your grandson will be a football player when he grows up, their star kicker, or maybe he will play soccer. Either way, he will be a great player if the way he kicks now says anything about it."
I pause and close my eyes, letting the gentle breeze caress my face. For a moment, I picture Bain running his hand over my cheek, calling me his pretty girl. I will never forget the way he looked whenever he looked down at me. My favorite look was when I was on my knees for him, and he gave me that look of adoration. I loved giving Bain my submission just so I could receive that look.
Opening my eyes, I stare at his stone again as I continue my conversation. "So, who do you suppose your grandson will look like? It would be nice if he looked like his mama," I say, smiling. "It's only fair that he looks like me when his big sister looks just like you."
I glance over at Beau, who is now giving our four-year-old airplane rides, as she giggles, her brown locks blowing in the breeze. "You would be so proud of your daughter, Bain. She's so stinking smart, and she's definitely going to be a sassy one. Okay, so Baynlie may not have my looks, but she definitely inherited my mouth."
I turn sad for a moment, thinking back to the day when Bain gave me those earrings for my eighteenth birthday. He didn't even know me and here he was buying me diamonds. I was such a handful then, too, but he had still reached into his pocket and pulled out a little box.
"Happy birthday, Ryan."
My hand trembled as I reached out and took the box from his hand."You didn't have to, Bain. Thank you."
He shrugged. "I know, but I wanted to. I don't have a daughter, so it's nice being able to buy them for you."
"I still wear them every day. I have since the day we buried you, and I will wear them every day until our daughter is old enough and responsible enough to have them. They may not have been bought for her, but at least you can look down and see that your daughter is wearing the diamonds you wanted to buy for her one day."
"Mommy!"Baynlie comes running over to me, all excited. "Are you done talking to Daddy Bain? Daddy said we could go for ice cream when you're done."
"Don't be rude, Baynlie,"Beau scolds as he jogs up behind her. "Sorry, baby."
I grin at the love of my life, then say, "That's going to cost you, you know."
"Name it, and it's yours,"he grins.
"An hour in the playroom."
"You've got it, baby."He lifts Baynlie up and walks toward our car.
"I'm right behind you, babe,"I call out, and he raises his arm in acknowledgment. Turning back to Bain, I smile. "He's finally doing my sessions on his own. He's confident enough; my God, he is good at it. He's not you, of course, and he's definitely not Domina, who, by the way, sends her love. However, he is good, and that's all that matters. He definitely takes after his father."
Holding onto the arm of the bench, I use it to help me get to my feet. I walk over to the stone, bring my fingers to my lips, and then press them to the etching of his name. I used to press my lips to it, but I haven't been able to do that in almost two months. Being as big as I am,I can't bend over that far.
"Just a few more weeks, and you will meet your grandson, and then you will feel my lips again. I love you, Bain. I miss you every minute of every hour of every day. Sleep well…"I hobble away toward my family, who's waiting ever so patiently. I always hate leaving here, because I don't like leaving him all alone, even though he isn't really there.
Beau jumps out and hurries to the passenger side to open my door. He pulls me into his arms and brushes his lips against mine. He does this each time, not because he's jealous, but because he knows it saddens me to leave, and his kisses always cheer me up.
"Baynlie is dying for ice cream, and Xavier texted me to say that they will be here a day earlier because Ember won't shut up about coming to see her best friend."
"Oh,"I chuckle. "Well, that's perfectly fine with me. That means I can see my best friend sooner,"I tell him, grinning.
