Read Saving Me (Finding You #3) Online
Authors: Amanda Mackey
Saving Me (Finding You #3) (20 page)
Thirty-Nine
Dakota
The trip back to LA was fairly quiet. I dozed on and off, listening to the soft, soothing sounds of an instrumental disc Kyle was playing. We pulled into a McDonalds drive-thru to buy some lunch. I ordered a coffee and a healthy wrap, the coffee being so much nicer than that in the hospital, and the boys both ordered a burger meal. Daniel had really taken to burgers since that first one we’d eaten on the sidewalk when we’d first arrived.
Kyle had gone and brought me a new dress, bra, panties, and sandals before we left the hospital, as the ones I had at the cabin were ruined.
The first thing I was going to do when I got home was soak in the large tub with lots of bubbles. And then I thought I may stroll down to sit on the beach and let the ocean’s healing properties work some magic.
Kyle kept a watch over me the entire trip, glancing over and occasionally making small talk.
When we finally drove through the gates to our new home it was 2 p.m. Joseph’s car was parked out front, so I slanted a glance at Kyle.
“Your parents are here? Did they drive back this morning after dropping Daniel off?”
“Yep.” He was trying hard not to smile through his one word answer. I waited for more but it didn’t come.
The car had been pulled up as close to the front door as possible to make it easier for me to walk inside.
Daniel was out, giving Kyle a smug smile before walking through the front door.
“Your parents have a key?”
“I left the house keys with my dad this morning, knowing they would beat us back.”
“Oh.” Of course. It was only natural that his parents would want to see me, especially Cheryl, who was the only one who hadn’t visited the hospital.
Kyle got out and hopped on one foot to the back door to retrieve his crutches while I sat for a minute, drinking in the house and steadying my breathing. This was my new beginning. This day. This hour. This moment. Everything had led to here. All of it. I knew that everything about this house signified love and family. Happiness. Maybe that’s what was driving my heart rate up. The fact that I was now entitled to all that.
“You okay?” Kyle was at my door. He’d opened it and stood with a concerned look on his face.
He didn’t reach for me. We still hadn’t touched. I knew it must pain him to keep his distance physically, but the fact that he was doing it for me made me appreciate his awesomeness even more.
I nodded and got out, still slightly bent over due to my healing ribs, and we both made our way to the open front door. We must have looked a sight, Kyle hobbling on his crutches and me walking like a hunched over old lady.
Stepping over the threshold into the large foyer with its impressive staircase, I stopped and let out a scream.
Standing before me, emanating a wealth of devotion, was everyone I’d ever loved beyond words. My mother, father, Daniel, Cheryl and Joseph. All standing side by side, united as one for my homecoming. Two families that had never met, brought together in trying times.
My eyes clung to the two faces that shouldn’t be here. The two faces that had spent so much time occupying my mind over the last few months that I had to blink several times to make sure they were real.
As I focused, my eyed fogged up from the tears that welled up and dripped onto my healing face. My swollen eye was workable now but I knew my head still resembled a multi-colored beach ball.
My parents broke away and moved towards me at the same time I found my feet again. We met in the middle as I cried out, “Oh my god! What are you guys doing here? It’s so good to see you.”
There were no thoughts of not wanting to be touched as I was pulled into the most warm and comfortable embrace by both of them. My mother was in tears and my father was trying to choke back his as I reveled in their love. It couldn’t have been more perfect. I hugged each one separately and then we unified in a group hug.
“I love you so much, honey. I’m so glad you’re okay,” bawled my mother as she brushed back the hair from my face, my father’s arm protectively around my waist.
I was beyond words. Blown away by their presence. Too emotional to speak as I heaved big, dirty sobs. So many emotions tumbled out at the two people who gave me life and had always been my tower of strength, even in dark times.
I barely heard Kyle brush past me and whisper, “Welcome home, angel,” but all of a sudden I noticed that everyone else had disappeared in order to give me this special time with the two people I adored more than life.
Everything I dreamed of was culminating in the foyer of this glorious home. It was almost beyond comprehension.
My voice found me after a couple of minutes. “I’m so glad you’re both here. How is this possible?”
“We received a call from Joseph, telling us everything. He paid for and organized our tickets and airport transfers and had us in the air before we had time to think about it.”
“So you’re staying here?” I hoped more than anything they were.
“Yes, darling. I hope that’s okay,” my father crooned, rubbing his hand up and down my back.
“It’s beyond okay, Dad. Having you here is the best medicine ever.” It was true. These two beautiful people had more of an impact on me than all the drugs any hospital could feed me. I wanted to cling to them and never let go. My anchors. My life rafts. My everything.
“Come on, darling, there’s one more surprise we have for you.”
I didn’t think anything could top the shock I’d experienced at seeing both their faces shining at me when I’d stepped through the front door, but as they led me into the living room, I could have been bowled over by a feather. Instead I was nearly bowled over by a furry, four-legged exact clone of my beloved Roxy dog, the precious best friend I’d grown up with as a kid. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she had returned from heaven and was excitedly greeting me, wagging her tail furiously, waiting for me to respond.
The look on my face must have been priceless as I heard more tears being shed. My father steadied me as the Roxy look-alike crashed into me in a show of selfless affection only a dog could offer.
I was crying again as I dropped to my knees and buried my face in her thick mane of neck hair, patting her furiously. Her rough tongue found my face and I let her greet and sniff me as she nuzzled me all over. She climbed up onto my knee to get closer, showering me with kisses, squealing her own delight as we bonded immediately. A sudden joy burst from my heart as a strange sound erupted from my throat. Laughter. This dog in the space of one minute, combined with my parents’ arrival had somehow managed to piece together my broken heart and switch the light on in my soul that had been snuffed out by John. This gorgeous animal looked directly at me for the longest time, like she already knew me, as if that were even possible, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it really were Roxy reborn.
My head shot up and I found Kyle. Instantly, I knew. He was behind all of this. He was the only one that understood what I needed. Without question, he’d made it happen. Without needing anything from me in return. He loved me selflessly and would give me the earth to make me happy.
I looked up at my dad, “Help me up?”
He lifted me to standing and all I could see in that room was Kyle. The man I loved. He had proven himself over and over.
He stood leaning against the far wall, his crutches propped up beside him. His arms were folded across his chest, his grey tee hugged him tightly around his toned torso. Jeans, a snug fit. Bare feet.
His blue pools were targeted on me, his perfect mouth slightly upturned at the corners. I made my way over to him, my new friend at my heels, tail wagging.
I knew what I needed to do and say to this man, who in the space of an hour had given me the world.
I had been keeping him at a distance, scared that I wasn’t enough for him anymore, or that I ever had been. Frightened that if I allowed his touch, he would expect things of me. Things my dead ex-husband had always expected.
Now I knew. I knew for sure. Kyle demanded nothing from me. He only wanted me to be happy, and if that meant giving me the space I needed to find myself again, he would do it. No questions asked.
As I reached him, standing close enough to touch, our eyes never wavering, I reached out with both hands and cupped his face. My hands were steady and sure. I heard him quietly suck in a breath as his lips parted at my touch, his eyes full of questions and concern.
My thumbs brushed over his cheeks as I moved my head closer. Just before our lips touched and with my eyes still trained on his, I whispered softly, “Thank you. For everything. I love you so much. Always have. Always will.”
His hand found the back of my neck, pulling me the short distance to his mouth. As soon as my lips touched his, everything inside of me seemed to explode back to life. A renewed sense of belonging. A purpose for being here. This was all that mattered. I was broken but these wonderful people in this very room were putting me back together. They always would because that was what family did.
“I love you too, angel. You have me. All of me. I’m yours in every way. Heart, body, and soul.”
He rested his forehead on mine for an instant and then we were inundated by whistles and cheers.
Kyle spun me around and pulled me into his chest, both hands around my waist. We looked into the faces of our families and I couldn’t wipe the broad smile that lit my face. When Daniel walked over to us and stood by our side, I kissed the top of his head and put my arm around his shoulder. With my new dog that I had already silently named Roxy sitting at my feet, panting and smiling like she had always belonged here, I knew I was finally home.
Acknowledgements
Thank you firstly to my family and friends. Your support has been unwavering and your love steadfast. I couldn’t have achieved all I have without you.
To Limitless Publishing for believing in me when others didn’t. It means so much to me and I look forward to continuing our partnership.
I’d like to especially thank you the reader. I’m so grateful to you for taking the time to read this series. It started out as an idea over 16 years ago and was put away for years while I went on to have my children and be a full time mother. Finally it is completed and I feel a certain peace with that.
About the Author
I am married and a mother of two beautiful children, living in sunny Queensland, Australia. I’ve been reading books ever since I can remember and love all things related to books. Writing has become an extension of that and I hope to pursue a full time writing career. I currently write part-time and work as a remedial massage therapist. I love spending time with family and hope to one day travel to Italy and England.