Chapter 30
Vienna
Coming Home
“You guys really didn’t need to go to all of this trouble.
” Walking into Rhonan’s house with him by my side after five days in the hospital, I’m greeted by his entire friend group, his father, and Joanne, who has tears in her eyes.
There’s a banner hung above the mantel that says Welcome Home and get-well-soon balloons are stacked in the corner of the living room by the TV.
Then my eyes land on the tower of onion rings from Blossom Brews on the table, and I nearly start crying right there on the spot.
Laney approaches me and pulls me in for a hug, being careful not to squeeze my arm in the sling too hard. “Are you kidding? You took a bullet for my niece. It’s the least we could do.”
“Vienna is my hero!” Ellis announces to the room, her outburst met with emotional laughter.
She runs up to me and then stops herself before she collides with my legs.
Rhonan explained that I was going to be recovering from my injuries for a while, so she’s been really sweet about wanting to be gentle with me and help me do whatever she can.
I seriously love this little girl and can’t wait to see how she’s going to act with her little brother or sister.
Rhonan and I haven’t told anyone about the baby yet because naturally, I’m terrified that something might happen and I lose it.
In my eyes, it’s a miracle that I’m even pregnant.
I’ll never know the true reason why I wasn’t able to conceive up until this point, but I just want to celebrate that it’s real instead of worrying about everything that could go wrong.
Rhonan respected my request to keep it to ourselves, even though he’s done nothing but hover over my stomach for the past five days in the hospital, talking to our unborn child and making me fall in love with him even more.
He’s being the man I always wanted Cole to be, but now I know that Cole was never going to be that man—and I’m so grateful things worked out this way.
The sheriff’s department and the FBI came to the hospital to drill me about Cole and what transpired, and I was assured that Cole Cassidy would be staring at the inside of a prison cell for the rest of his life.
That night, I think I slept better than I have in the six years that I was married to him. Cole begrudgingly signed the divorce papers in the hospital before he was transported back to D.C. to the prison where he will await his sentencing. I declined the opportunity to appear.
I don’t want to be involved in that man’s life anymore.
I’m ready to close that chapter and start this new one with Rhonan Hart—my protector, my lover, and my best friend.
Lydia would have loved him so much, but I think she had a hand in bringing us together anyway.
When I woke up in the hospital after passing out on Rhonan’s chest, the first thing I saw outside through the window was a rainbow—and that’s how I knew that she was with me.
I’m finally getting the life I’ve always wanted and deserve—something I know is going to take me a while to accept, but I’m going to continue to fight hard for that.
Because when you have people in your life who bring out the best in you and make you feel alive, you do everything in your power to hang on to them.
I’ve been going through the motions for far too long, and now it’s time for me to embrace the joy, something that Rhonan and I are going to work on together.
One of the first things he suggested when I woke up was that me, him, and Ellis go to therapy to help process what we all experienced, but also so that he can be the best version of himself for me.
And I know that my past relationship is going to haunt me too if I don’t do something to move past it. So, the idea was a no-brainer to agree to.
“Hell yeah, she’s your hero!” Dilynne shouts, lifting her glass of champagne in the air. “Cheers to that.” She reaches for a half-full glass and then hands it to me. “Want a glass to celebrate you busting out of the hospital finally?”
Rhonan and I lock eyes at the same time. “No, I’m okay.”
Dilynne rolls her eyes. “Jesus, what’s wrong with everyone today.
We should be celebrating that Vienna’s alive and freaking took a bullet for Ellis.
But nooo… Laney won’t even take a drink and my brother said it’s too early for champagne.
Fletcher doesn’t drink, Elliot all of a sudden doesn’t want alcohol, but at least Elodie knows that there’s no limitation to when champagne is acceptable.
” She clinks her glass with Elodie’s and then shakes her head as my sight goes straight to Laney who’s folding in her lips to keep from talking.
I arch a brow at her and then she does the same thing back to me.
Rhonan blows out a breath, but there’s a smile on his lips. “No way.”
Fletcher and Laney lock eyes and then he pulls her into his chest. “We were gonna wait until she was further along, but…”
Elodie slaps the counter. “Oh my God. Are you pregnant?”
Laney nods as a tear slips down her cheek. “Yes! I found out the morning we were supposed to leave for our honeymoon.” Her eyes meet mine. “But then…”
“I’m so sorry you didn’t get to leave,” I interject, feeling even more guilty how this whole thing with Cole interrupted everyone’s lives.
She reaches for my hand. “Nonsense. There’s nowhere else we would have rather been. We’re just glad you two are safe.”
George Hart steps forward, tears in his eyes. “My baby is having a baby?” he says to Laney.
“Yes, Dad. You’re going to be a grandpa again.”
Everyone fights with their emotions as we celebrate Fletcher and Laney’s news, but then Elliot steps toward me, his voice low. “Vienna, I…”
I reach out to hug him, whispering in his ear. “Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me? Me sending the papers is what brought your psycho ex to town.”
I lean back and meet his gaze. “Yes, but I told you to. You just did what I asked of you because without your help, I wouldn’t have been free from him. What happened is not your fault, okay?”
“It’s not,” Dilynne adds, holding her champagne flute out to him. “We talked about this, remember?”
Henley’s brows draw together. “Wait. You two talked and there were no threats involved?”
Dilynne arches a brow at him as she takes a sip of her champagne. “I didn’t say that.”
Elliot releases me and flips Dilynne off, but I’m not going to lie. I’m intrigued about their conversation. If there’s one thing that’s been highly evident since I met this group, it’s that those two barely tolerate each other.
Elliot places his hand on my shoulder. “Still, I’m glad that you’re okay, Vienna. Not sure I could have gone through watching my friend lose another person that he loves.”
“That means a lot, Elliot. Thank you.”
Rhonan pulls me back into his arms. “And that’s enough hugging.”
Elliot rolls his eyes as everyone snickers. “Jesus, calm down. I’m not trying to steal your girl. Trust me, I have enough girl problems of my own at the moment.”
“What do you mean?” Laney asks, but Elliot doesn’t get a chance to respond before Ellis inserts herself back into the conversation.
“Ms. Vienna?”
“Yes, sweetie.”
“Can I show you the drawing that I made for you now? It’s in Daddy’s room.”
A yawn escapes my lips as I nod. “I would love that.”
Rhonan clears his throat. “Actually, I think it’s time that everyone takes off. Vienna needs to rest and…”
Laney holds her hand up. “Don’t say another word. We are on our way out.”
I pull Laney in for a hug before she gets too far. “Congratulations on the baby. And thank you.”
“For?”
I lean back and meet her eyes. “For your friendship, for your support, and for bringing me and your brother closer. I—I sort of feel like Lydia brought me you too.”
Laney instantly starts to cry. “Sorry, these damn hormones.” She lunges for me again. “I’m so happy that you and Rhonan found each other, Vienna.”
“Me too.”
She lowers her voice to a whisper now. “And thank you for showing him that it is okay to love again.”
“He’s shown me the same thing. Now enjoy your trip tomorrow. Please.”
“I’m ready. A little bummed I can’t drink and celebrate my new husband,” she says with a wink in Fletcher’s direction. “But totally worth it.”
When we part, I spend a few more minutes saying goodbye to our friends—because these people have become so very important to me as well—and then Rhonan and Ellis lead me back to Rhonan’s room and help situate me in bed. Joanne stands in the doorway, watching our interaction.
“Can I show you my drawing now?” Ellis asks, reaching for a gold frame on the nightstand next to the bed and hiding it against her stomach.
Rhonan sits on the bed beside me, smiling at his daughter.
“Yes, I would love that.”
“Okay.” Ellis flips the picture around and I gasp as I see it.
“Oh my gosh, Ellis. This…”
Ellis looks at her dad, and he nods, as if she was seeking his encouragement. But instead of speaking, she tosses the picture at him and lunges for me, wrapping her arms around my waist as far as she can. “I love you,” she whispers against my stomach, making me instantly cry.
“I love you too, Ellis.” Rhonan swipes under his eyes too.
“I’m really happy that you’re okay.”
“Me too, sweetie.”
Her head pops up and our eyes meet. “Will you be my mommy, please?”
“I would love to be your mommy, Ellis.”
“Good. You’re the best mommy on earth I could ever ask for.”
Tears are streaming down my face as I make eye contact with Rhonan. “Just in case it’s not clear, I’m gonna marry you someday soon, Vienna Lewis.”
Ellis’s head pops up. “Does that mean I get to wear a princess dress?”
Rhonan and I both laugh. “Yes, sweetie.”
Ellis fist pumps the air. “Yes!” Then she reaches for the picture and holds it out to me again. “I drew you wearing a princess dress.”
“I can see that.” I’ve seen many of Ellis’s drawings at this point, but I’m having trouble deciphering everything that’s going on in this picture. “And what am I holding?”