Fan The Flames (Man Of The Month Book 3) (24 page)
Read Fan The Flames (Man Of The Month Book 3) Online
Authors: Michele Dunaway
Tags: #Contemporary, #Romance, #Fiction, #Monthly, #Navy, #SEAL, #Marine, #Firefighter, #Mission, #Best Friend, #Forbidden, #Widowed, #St. Louis, #Deceased, #High School, #Past, #Painful, #Childhood, #Adult, #Hero, #Charity Calandar, #Fireman
A few more water droplets marred the ink, made the paper ripple. Scarlett needed another paper towel and pulled four large sheets off the roll. Might as well. She figured she’d use them.
I only have a few more minutes and I’ve got to get myself together. The guys don’t need to see me like this. Just know I love you and I want you happy. Please go on with your life. Live. Laugh. Love. Like that sign in our house says. Take that to heart. You’re not the type to forget, and I know you never will, but you are the type to hold on. You deserve to be happy, so let me go and move on. Let yourself love again and be happy. It’s my final wish for you. Love you forever, Todd.
Scarlett set the letter down and let the tears flow. She cried for the loss. She cried for being able to finally let go. She sobbed for what should have been and for the foresight Todd had in making sure she knew she could have a future free from guilt. She lifted the letter and kissed the sheets of paper. Carried them into the living room where the flag sat like a beacon, the lone decoration in the darkened room highlighted by the glow of the streetlights. “I will always love you,” she whispered, touching the glass. “Thank you. Thank you.”
She heard the footsteps and the lights in the hallway flickered on. “Scarlett? Are you okay? Why do I have this feeling things aren’t okay?” Brad hit the switch and the floor lamp flooded the room with light. He saw her tears immediately and crossed to her side. “Hey. What’s wrong?”
“Why are you out of bed?” she asked, trying to hide her tears.
“I’m a former SEAL. I’m fine. You’re not. Tell me.”
She sniffled and extended the letter. “Here.”
He didn’t reach for it. “This is yours.”
She waved it and the papers rustled. “It’s okay. Please. You need to read it.”
Brad took it and she turned back to face the flag. She could see him reflected in the glass. When he finished reading, he looked at her. She simply nodded and burst into fresh tears. He gathered her into his arms, the letter in one hand. Then he reached behind him and set it on the mantel, freeing his hand. She pressed her face to his bare chest, inhaling. “Please forgive me,” she begged.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Brad told her. “I’m the fool. But I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“You scared me today. I was so angry. So afraid.”
“I’m sorry. But I promise to be home after every shift. I’m going to sit on that porch with you when we are old and gray. I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that. As well as a promise for no more guilt. No more running away. It wasn’t your fault Todd died. I forgive you. He forgives you. You have to forgive yourself or we can’t go forward. I want a future with you. Todd wants me happy, and you make me happy.”
A lone tear slid down Brad’s cheek. “Okay. I’ll try. I’ve never done this before. It’s all new.”
She used two fingers to wipe away the tear. “I’ll show you the way. I’ll have your back the entire time. That’s my promise.” She put it in terms he’d understand. “My forever mission.”
He lowered his lips to her and kissed her lightly. “It feels so wrong to be happy when he’s not here.”
“But he is. He’s here.” Scarlett put Brad’s hand on his heart. Then she moved it to hers. “He’s also here. And this is what he would have wanted,” Scarlett soothed. “His last act of unselfishness was to bring us together, almost as if he knew it was the right thing to do. He loved us that much, and if we don’t respect his gift by loving each other to the best of our abilities, for the rest of our lives, then we will have failed him.”
“Let’s not do that. I love you. I want us to be happy.”
“We will because I love you too.”
He kissed her again tenderly, and she took his hand and led him from the living room. As they went upstairs, they flipped the switches, sending the house into darkness. “Back to bed,” Scarlett said, and Brad climbed onto the queen-sized mattress.
“I want a whole new set of furniture in here, so we’ll need to buy a new bed,” he told her as she returned from the bathroom. “Okay with that?”
“As long as I can find you in it,” Scarlett said as she slid under the covers. He kissed her tenderly and then spooned himself around her, drawing her close so he could hold her tight. At that moment, the cuddling gesture was more intimate and full of promise than any sexual act could have been. “But what will I do when you sleep at the firehouse?”
“You can fill the bed with cats,” Brad told her. “Or kids.”
“Be careful what you’re offering. I could take you up on both,” Scarlett said with a joyous little laugh. He made her so happy. “If you don’t watch out, you might get much more than you bargained for.”
“I already have,” Brad whispered against her neck as they drifted off into sleep. “I already have.”
Eighteen months later
“Who gets married in their home?” Bernadette said, fussing with the white rose bouquet. She shooed Harry from the bed. He strode out, tail high, followed by their newest cat, Cleo. “What was wrong with a church wedding? Or a reception somewhere nice rather than a barbeque in the backyard?”
“Mom,” Scarlett chided gently. “This is what I wanted.”
Scarlett gave herself one last glance in the floor-length mirror. The off-white dress was a simple, A-line silk sheath that fell to her knees. Her hair had been pinned up and had pearls woven through. Wispy tendrils of red fell by her cheeks. “It’s perfect and we wanted to show the place off. We’ve spent the last two years perfecting it and it’s what brought us together in the first place. Besides, we wanted something simple. Just family and close friends.”
“You’re pretty, Mommy,” Colleen said. Now a full-fledged kindergartener, she would act as the maid of honor.
“Let me fix your gloss,” Scarlett said. She opened the tube and swiped Colleen’s lips with another light pink layer. “Perfect.”
Jenni came into the bedroom. Gave a thumbs-up. “We’re ready.”
Scarlett’s mom gave her a big hug. Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you,” she told her.
“Mom, you’ll make me cry and ruin my makeup. Out.” Scarlett gave her mom a kiss and wiped her eyes. “Go take your seat.”
“We good to go?” Jenni asked. Scarlett nodded. “Then I’ll go tell them.”
The ceremony was in the first-floor living room, and as violin music began floating up the stairs, Scarlett took her daughter’s hand. “You ready for this?”
“For you and Dad to be married? Yes.” Colleen had started calling Brad
Dad
over a year ago. She paused. “Do you think Daddy in heaven is watching?”
Scarlett nodded. Touched the diamond earrings she wore in Todd’s honor. “I do. And I think he’s very happy for us.”
“Me too.”
So holding hands, she and her daughter began their descent down the staircase. When they made the turn at the landing, they could see into the living room and the guests assembled there. Brad’s coworkers. Jenni, Adam and their kids. All of her and Brad’s extended families on both sides. The only ones missing were Todd’s parents, but Scarlett understood their decision not to postpone their trip to Argentina. They’d accepted the situation and wished her and Brad well, but today would have been hard for them.
Brad waited by the front windows—the guests were seated back through the living room and into the dining room where all had a great view. Brad wore his blue suit instead of the tuxedo. She’d wanted an informal ceremony, a complete contrast to the Vegas wedding she’d had after high school in which they’d all rented formal wear, including the gaudy, poufy white dress she’d worn.
She and Colleen approached, and at that moment, Brad looked up and smiled at her. She knew she’d never forget the love she saw in his eyes or the expression of undeniable joy on his face. Her entire heart warmed and filled with love. This was the official start of their future, as was the baby she was carrying that so far only Brad knew about. They’d tell everyone else later, over the wedding cupcakes, when they all realized she couldn’t sip the celebratory champagne. She released Colleen’s hand and gave her the bouquet to hold. Took Brad’s hands in hers. “You ready for this commitment?” she teased.
He tightened his grip. Those brown eyes never wavered. “I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life.”
She turned to the minister. “We’re ready.”
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join…” the minister intoned, beginning the ceremony.
And as Scarlett said her vows, sealing herself to the man she loved, the man who’d given her a second chance at happiness, the man she’d saved from himself in the process, the century-old house seemed to sigh—its future as a home for a loving, growing family forever secure.
Describing herself as a woman who does way too much and never wants to stop,
Michele Dunaway
is a bestselling author and award-winning high school teacher. In addition to teaching English III, Michele advises the student newspaper and yearbook. She is a JEA Distinguished Yearbook Adviser, a Dow Jones News Fund Special Recognition Adviser, and a Missouri High School Journalism Teacher of the Year. Proud mother of two daughters, Michele is an avid pet lover who shares her home with far too many rescued cats, who of course completely rule the roost.
Visit:
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Man of the Month Series
By
Michele Dunaway
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Contents
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
FAN THE FLAMES. Copyright © 2015 by Michele Dunaway.
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Author photo © Lifetouch
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eISBN 9781466883932
First eBook Edition: August 2015
