Embracing Love (16 page)

Liam didn
’t talk to me for several hours. We went home that night, I tried making love to him and he said he was too tired. I knew I had hurt his feelings. I couldn’t just ignore Evan when he came all this way to pay his respects. My life was a complete mess, I kept losing everyone and everything seemed to be falling apart. God, I had no clue what I even wanted in life anymore. I knew I wanted Liam. But I also wanted Evan in my life and I knew that could never be possible.

I woke up to breakfast in bed.

“Lila, I’m sorry about over reacting about Evan. I know he’s your friend. I guess you could say I’m jealous. I know you did things with him that you do with me and it kills me to know he had his hands all over you, baby.” “Oh Liam, I’m here with you. You won, he didn’t. I’ll be honest. I do love him, just not as much as I love you. I also kissed him yesterday. Before you say anything, I had to. I needed his touch, Liam. The last months he has been everything to me and to just walk away from him is hurting me so fucking bad. Please don’t be mad, I’m with you because it is you that I want. I want to wake up to you every day. I want to feel your lips on mine every morning.” He just smiled and started kissing me. “Now you Mr. Ellis need to make love to me like right now!” “So bossy, Miss Carls.” “Damn straight! Now pleasure your woman.” I giggled. He never mentioned the kiss again.

Six Months Later

I had been on several interviews and I took a position at a small law firm. It was a great opportunity. Liam was doing so much better. We were living in my beach house. It had been six months and I hadn’t heard from Evan since my father’s funeral. I thought about him often and what he was doing. I would ask Brody and he would just say he’s fine.

Eric had finally gone back to Boston, but he was coming back soon. He couldn
’t live there anymore he said. Liam and I went to Paris. My dad had gotten the tickets for himself and my mother as a Christmas gift. My mom wanted me to go. I wasn’t up for the trip, considering everything I had been through. But I’m glad we went.

I went to lunch with some coworkers and I don
’t know if it was something that I ate but I felt really nauseous. I made a doctor’s appointment and they ran tests and found out I was pregnant. It was almost September and I had gotten pregnant in June. I must have gotten pregnant in Paris. I went back to work and Anna, the lady I was working with, asked if I was okay. “I’m fine, Anna, just a little stomach bug.”

I told her to hold my calls. I was going to take the rest of the day off and that I would be fine.

Liam and I were going to have a baby. I was headed home to share the news with him. Would he be excited? Would he want to get married? All these questions were going through my mind. I didn
’t know how to tell him. I thought maybe I would wait a couple days. I could wait a few days I guess.

I walked in the door and Liam asked,
“Lila, what are you doing home so early?” “I thought I would take the afternoon off and we could have lunch together.” “Sounds great, I actually have a few plans of my own, my sweet L.” Hmm what was he up to now? “Liam, why do you spoil me so much?” “What makes you think they are for you? Now go change into something sexier than that.”

I wasn
’t sure of his plans so I decided to wear a nice maxi dress. As I start changing, I notice the little bulge in my stomach. I’m already showing and didn’t even notice. I put my hair in a small bun on the top of my head and freshened up my makeup a little. “I’m ready, Mr. Ellis. Where are we going?” “It’s a surprise, my love.” “Liam, why are you blindfolding me?” “You trust me, don’t you?” “I do with all my life.”

I heard a car pull up as I walked out the door.
“Liam, what’s going on?” “You will see soon enough. The ride was long and I could hear music playing. “Lila, I love you so much, baby.” “I love you more, Liam and I would love to be able to kiss you right now.” He leaned in and started kissing me, then he worked his way down my neck and back up.

“
Liam, don’t start something you can’t finish.” “Ha, L, I can finish, my love.” He then slid his hands up my dress and started rubbing me through my panties. “Liam Anthony, I want you right here. Where ever we are, I don’t care, just give it to me.” He chuckled then started pulling my panties off. Oh God I hoped he didn’t notice my stomach yet. He then ran a finger across my clit. “O-Oh Liam, please.” He then slid one finger inside of me. “Damn Lila, you are dripping wet.” I laughed. I would love to see his face. “Liam, I am hornier than a fucking jack rabbit on a bunny farm.” “L, that has to be one of the funniest things you’ve ever said. Thanks, now I see little bunnies everywhere.” “No Liam, more please.” He slid another finger in and started moving them faster, as he kissed me and pleasured me with his fingers. I gripped his neck with both hands and screamed “Liam!” as loud as I could. I had no damn clue who could hear me but I didn’t care.

Damn that orgasm was great.
“You feel better, baby?” “Oh Liam, you have no idea how bad I needed that. My turn to make you come, my love.” “No L, not now. We’re almost to our destination.” “But Liam, I want you now.” “Soon my love, very soon.”

As he took off my blindfold, we were standing in the middle of his beach. There were pink roses everywhere along with a huge white blanket. I saw bottles of wine and fruit. It was beautiful. I was speechless. I managed to say,
“How did you do this?” Liam just laughed. I saw Ashton and Christabella with their baby. “They helped,” he said. I laughed as I hugged them all goodbye.

Liam got down on both knees and the smile on his face was priceless. He had a pink box in his hand.

Inside of the pink box he opened was a beautiful diamond ring. It wasn’t too flashy or big. “This was my mother’s ring, Lila, and I promised her I would give it to a woman she would approve of. A woman that would make me happy. My beautiful L, that’s you. Will you be my Mrs. Liam Anthony Ellis?” I had no clue where it came from but I heard “Marry Me” by Train playing.

Oh my God that was the song Evan played when he proposed. I have to quit thinking about him.
“Liam,” I cried. “Of course I will. I will always be yours.” Through his tears he smiled and said, “I told you that first night I walked you home that you would be!”

“
I do need to tell you something Liam, I’m not sure how you will feel about this.” “What is it, Lila?”

I bit my bottom lip, as I reached for his hand and placed it on my baby bump.
“You’re going to be a daddy!” “What? We’re having a baby?” “Yes!” I cried. “This is awesome, Lila.”

Liam picked me up and carried me to the blanket on the sand. As we made love on the beach celebrating our engagement and knowing we were going to be parents was absolutely the perfect night. It couldn
’t get any better.

It had been a several months and I still hadn
’t told anyone about the engagement or being pregnant. “Don’t you think it’s time we make our big announcements? I know your mother has noticed your baby bump.” “I do, my love. How about we invite everyone over for dinner? I will call Eric to see if he can fly in.” “Okay. I will call my aunt, uncle, and Ashton.” “Okay I’ll see if Nikki is available also.”

Everyone we had invited had shown up, my mom, brother, Uncle Kes, and all of the Ellis
’ and my best friend Nikki. All that was missing was my other best friend Addie and my daddy. I still missed them every day. It had been almost a year. They still hadn’t found Ads’ murderer. All the video footage was fuzzy and there weren’t any witnesses except Eric.

“
We have brought you all here to share our news. Liam and I are getting married and we are expecting our first child in four months.” Everyone was so excited and happy. Nikki and I stepped out on the patio and as I looked up I saw that same star again. I knew Addie was with us. “Lila, what is it?” Nikki asked. “Nothing.” I smiled. “Just thinking of Addie.” “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry.” “Me too, Nikki, me too.” “Nikki, have you talked to Brody?”

“
Yes Lila, I talk to him every day. Let me guess you want to know about Evan?” “Yes, Brody won’t tell me anything.”

“
Lila, you crushed him. He started drinking. I actually had to go there a couple months ago, Brody was really upset. Evan had left drinking and was gone for several days.”

I started to cry.
“What happened?” “He went to upstate New York to some campground.” “Black Bear,” I said as I grabbed my mouth. “What is it, Lila?” “That is where Evan and I went last year and spent the day, making love and talking about our future together.” “Oh damn Lila, I’m sorry. Please stop crying, you don’t want Liam to see you crying over Evan.”

I hugged Nikki, and whispered in her ear, I will always love Evan, please call him for me.
“Are you sure, Lila?” I nodded my head yes and walked back in the house. I celebrated my engagement and our baby, thinking of the other love of my life. “Everything okay, L?” Liam asked as I walked back in. “Yes, everything is perfect Liam, the only thing missing is my dad and Ads.” He smiled and hugged me. “Lila, they’ll always be in our hearts.” Everyone left and Liam and I lounged around watching TV.

“
Lila, you and that sexy dress makes me want to take you in the bedroom.” “Liam stop, I’m huge! And I’m ready to take this dress off.” “Good, I will help.” Liam was enjoying pregnancy sex too much, that’s all we did. He picked me up and carried me in the bedroom.

We were going for our second sonogram today. “Lila, we are going to be late for the doctor appointment. Come on,” Liam said.

“
I am, hold on. I’m a huge rolly polly.” “You my love are a beautiful rolly polly.”

I gave him a push on his arm as he bent down to kiss me. It was now November and I only had a few months to go. As we arrived at the doctor
’s office to wait for the ultrasound, I started cramping. “Liam, I don’t feel so well,” I said.

Liam yelled for a nurse and she got a wheelchair and took me on into to do the exam.
“Everything is fine, Lila and the babies are healthy.” “Did you say babies?” “Yes, there are two babies.” I looked at Liam and he was smiling ear to ear. “This is great,” Liam said. I just laughed. No wonder I was as big as a house. None of the other ultrasounds showed that there were twins.

“
Would you like to know the sex?” asked the nurse “No, let’s keep it a surprise,” I said. “Umm you can tell me though.” Liam laughed. “No, he doesn’t want to know either.” “Okay, we will wait,” Liam told the nurse.

We had only a month to go, Nikki had flown out to help me with the nursery.

Since we decided to not know the gender of the babies, we did the nursery in yellow and mint green. As I put everything out, all I could think of was Addison. It had been a year since her death.

I knew Nikki knew that I was thinking of her.
“Lila, I have a surprise for you.” She handed me a box. As I open the box, it was a picture of her, Addie, and I and it was in a yellow and white frame that said:
Memories are Forever.
I just sobbed as Nikki hugged me.

“
Lila, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” “It’s okay, Nikki, I’ve been an emotional wreck.” “I know, sweetie, I know.” “Umm Nikki, I think my water broke.” “Isn’t it to early, Lila?”

Addie, what are you doing here? How did you get here? Addie, I thought you were gone? Why aren
’t you answering me, Addison Ellis? What’s going on? I could see Liam crying but didn’t know why.

Is something wrong with my babies? Addie, what
’s wrong? “It’s okay, Lila.” She kissed my forehead. “I love you, Lila Rae.”

Liam! Liam! Liam!

“Lila, my beautiful, Lila.” “Liam, what happened? “You fainted and hit your head. We thought we were losing you. Your water broke and I think it scared you. You have a huge cut on your head. Don’t touch it.”

“
Where did Addie go? She was just here!” “I think you’re a little confused, Addie isn’t here, my love. Nikki is in the hallway.” “Liam, I just saw her, she kissed me and told me she loved me. I know it wasn’t Nikki.” “Lila, honey, you know Ads was killed last year.” “Liam, she was here. Why don’t you believe me?” “I’m sorry love, I do believe you.”

“
Sir, we need to examine her,” a young nurse said. “I’m not going anywhere!” Liam shouted. The doctor came in to check on me. “She and the babies are all fine,” the doctor said. “It looks like you will be having your babies anytime now.”

I was in labor for almost seven hours. My darling angels finally arrived. I looked at my proud soon to be hubby and ask what we should name these princesses. We hadn
’t really talked about girl names, just boys. “She looks exactly like an Addison Michelle and she looks just like a Madison Nicole.” “That’s perfect,” I said. Liam’s mother’s name was Michelle. “Now we need to make you, Mrs. Ellis,” Liam said.

Our babies were beautiful just like their daddy. Watching Liam hold them made me smile. He was a terrific dad already. I missed my dad so much; I wish he were here. He would have been a great grandfather. He loved children.
“What is going on in that pretty little head of your?” “Oh Liam, I’m just thinking about how lucky we are. We made those beautiful little girls.” “Yes we did, we can start making more in six weeks.” I laughed at him. “Liam, can you actually wait six weeks?” He threw his head back and chuckled. “Lila, can you wait six weeks? You, my love, are the sex monster remember? Rawr?” “Oh damn you Liam, you remember that night?” He started laughing. “I remember every night I spent with you. Who could forget a sexy thing like you growling?”

“
Liam, you do have a point, I guess. Please never tell anyone else I can growl.” “Your secret is safe with me, so in about six weeks can you growl at me again?” I just laughed as I watched him hold our baby girls.

We had been home about three weeks and the twins were doing great. My mom and Aunt Nancy had been a huge help with them. They were watching them while Liam and I went out. We needed to get a new car, he had a sports car and I had a jeep. So, not baby friendly. We ended up getting a GMC Terrain. Liam wanted to move to his house but I wasn
’t ready to go there yet. I was comfortable in the guest house.

Nikki was flying in to help with wedding plans. I needed some girl time. We went shopping and took the girls to get their ears pierced. I was so nervous. So I made Nikki hold them.

Six Months Later

The day had come, our wedding day was finally here. Nikki had arrived. We were just having a small ceremony on the beach with family and friends. The beach house had so many memories for us, we decided we never wanted to leave it. We still had Liam
’s house and we figured we would eventually move there, but right now we only went for the weekends.

Nikki surprised me with Brody. He came and hugged me and congratulated me. He looked down at my bracelet.
“Lila, is that?” “Yes, Brody, it is, I will always love him.” I wanted to wear the bracelet. I know I shouldn’t have but it made me feel his presence. It also reminded me of Ads. I heard Evan was back with Alyssa. I felt really bad for breaking his heart but I belonged with Liam.

My Uncle Kes was giving me away. As we walked down that aisle, I could see Liam smiling so big. He was truly the greatest man on earth.

How was I so lucky to have a second chance with him? I don’t know what I would ever do without his embrace. Eric and Ashton were standing next to Liam. Ashton’s son, AJ was so cute, standing with all the guys.

Nikki and Christabella were standing next to me holding Addie and Maddie, they were now six months old. Heather, her fiancé, and Margie flew in for our special day. It
’s going to be a beautiful ceremony. As we walked across the beach, I saw several yellow butterflies flying toward the sky. Yep, Ads was here. I smiled just thinking about my best friend. I squeezed Uncle Kes’s arm when I saw them.

My Uncle Kes put my hand in Liam
’s. “Liam, I am giving you Lila’s hand. You promised her father a long time ago that you would always take care of our girl. Do you still hold that promise?”

“
Yes, sir. Uncle Kes, I will spend the rest of my life making sure Lila is taken care of.” We wrote our own vows. I could feel my hands shaking as I read mine.

“
Liam, I almost lost you once and I don’t know how I would’ve lived if I would’ve lost you forever. You are here now, you and our girls are my life. I live every day to see your smile. I promise I will make you the happiest man on earth. I want to wake up next to you every morning and lay next to you every night as I dream. I will love and honor you for as long as there is blood in my veins. I want to spend every moment of every day showing you how much you mean to me.”

“
Lila, I have loved you since the moment I laid my eyes on you. The first day I met you I said to myself, I would marry you someday. That day is here. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you and our girls. The time I spent away from you were the hardest days of my life. I knew someday I would make it back in your arms. I will never leave your side again. I will love, honor, and cherish you with every beat of my heart.” I took my hand and wiped his tears, I loved this man with everything that I am.

“
Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to be the first to say congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Liam Anthony Ellis.” “Liam, you can kiss your bride now.” “About damn time!” Liam laughed.

Liam grabbed me and kissed me the hardest he has ever kissed me.
“I love you, Mrs. Ellis.” “I love you more, Mr. Ellis.” The reception was in a small building on the beach. It was beautiful. Nikki, Margie, and Heather had done a fabulous job. I tried to enjoy my day as much as possible without thinking of my daddy and Ads.

“
I’m ready to get you out of here and out of that dress, Mrs. Ellis.” “Is that so, Mr. Ellis? Wonder if we would be missed if we ran to the bathroom for a quickie?” “I don’t think anyone would notice, if we hurry.” I laughed and Liam pushed me in the closet.

“
I’ve been waiting all day to have some of my wife.” Liam started kissing me and pulled my panties off. I reach down and unzipped his pants and we made love on a shelf in the damn closet.

“
Oh Lila, I’m so glad we think alike. I love making you happy, baby.” “Liam, I love you and I love the way you feel inside of me but we better hurry before we’re missed.” He laughed and finished and we walked back out. He shoved my panties in his pocket. I just laughed, thank God no one saw us.

We were leaving for Italy for our honeymoon. We had never left the girls with any one longer than a day or so. My mom and Aunt Nancy were going take turns with them. Christabella was helping as well.

Our honeymoon was perfect, the only thing missing were the girls. I loved Italy. Liam promised we would go back when the girls where a little older.

We’d been searching for Liam’s birthmother for years now. We finally got a lead. She had married and was using the name Sofia Barone-Pryor. She lived in Nevada. “Liam, should we just go or should we call?” “I’m not sure, I’m just so damn nervous.” I decided to call and make sure it was her.

“
Is this Sofia? Ma’am have you ever lived in San Francisco? Yes, my name is Lila Carls-Ellis. Yes ma’am, he’s my husband. Yes, that’s what we were trying to figure out. We’ve been looking for you for years now. Yes, we would love that. Okay, thank you so much.”

“
Liam, that was your mother, babe. She is going to call back and she said she would fly here to talk us. She said it was a very complicated situation.” I could see the unshed tears in his eyes. I knew it was going to be emotional for him. “That is wonderful, thank you so much for your help. I am so fucking nervous, what if she doesn’t like me? She did give me up. But why? I have all these questions for her.” “I know, my love, we will ask her everything when she gets here.”

It had been several weeks since the calls to Liam
’s mother. She and one of her daughters, Andrea, were coming for a visit. Liam’s father was really his biological father but his mother wasn’t. Mr. Ellis was having an affair with Sofia when she got pregnant. He paid her to give Liam up to him and his wife. Mrs. Ellis knew all about it. Sofia was their housekeeper and was only nineteen at the time. They had hoped Liam would never find out, but after he found that birth certificate, he had to find her. He had lost both of them. “Liam, I never stopped loving you. I would drive by your home and your school just to see you. They paid me to never contact you again and with your father’s business, I knew if this came out it would ruin him. I did it so it wouldn’t hurt you. I knew they could give you a better life than I could. All my family was in Italy and my father was furious that I had gotten pregnant before marriage. Your father was a wonderful man, I loved him very much. He always told me he loved me but he would never leave his wife. He said he would be married to her for the rest of his life.

She was a wonderful woman. I was ashamed at what your father and I had done but I was so drawn to him. I do not regret anything though. It gave them you! They had tried for years and your mother had a disease called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and couldn
’t have children.

The love that your father and I shared gave us you. I gave your mother something she couldn
’t have. The day you were born, she thanked me. I looked at her with tears in my eyes. I said, “Mrs. Ellis, why are you thanking me? I have been sleeping with your husband behind your back.”

She said to me,
“I don’t care about that anymore, Sofia, you have given me something that God cannot and that’s my son, Liam.” She told me to pick out your middle name. I chose Anthony because that was my grandfather’s name. Liam, I hope you will forgive me and let me be a part of all of your lives.”

We were all in tears from her story. I walked over and hugged her and thanked her for opening up to us. Liam welcomed her and Andrea with open arms. He had another sister Arica and a brother Andrew. They all lived in Nevada. They
’re Italian and Sofia said it was a tradition in their family to stick with the same letter of the first name for each child. She chose the letter A because of Liam’s middle name Anthony.

I was so happy for him. This was something that he had wanted for a long time now. Later that night, we lay in bed talking.

“Lila, thank you for making this possible. It’s great to have Sofia in our lives and it’s all because of you. I’m the luckiest man in the world. I have the most beautiful woman as my wife and best friend, and we have the best twin girls.” We snuggled in each other’s arms the rest of the night.

There was someone banging on the door.
“Liam, it’s six a.m., who could it be?” Liam ran to the door and it was Ashton and Nancy. They both had been crying and out of breath. I thought oh no who had died now? “We have some news about the bastard that killed Addie,” said Ashton. I grabbed Liam’s hand and told them I would call Eric on speakerphone. Once I got Eric awake and on the phone, Ashton told us what they knew.

“
The guy that killed Ads was only eighteen, he and his friends had been out drinking all night. He wasn’t a known criminal and that’s what’s taken them so long to find him. He was dared to rob the gas station. He told the police that when they scoped it out, there was no one but a cashier but once he was inside and saw Eric and Addie he got nervous and didn’t know what to do. He said Addison screamed and he shot not realizing he shot her, then Eric tried to run after him but he lost him. His friends were waiting in the parking lot a few blocks over.” We were all crying and I could hear my brother’s sobs. He was back in Boston but was transferring back soon. “So what happens now?” I asked. “The police said they would contact us with the court dates.”