Chapter 21 #2
Brodie grabbed it for her and held it against her lips. She took a couple of swallows. “You don’t have to continue. I think I’ve got an idea of what happened.”
As much as she’d love to jump on that and not have to keep going, she needed to for herself.
“No, it’s okay. Anyway, Ed slapped me across the head, and I fell back toward where Finn was sitting.
But what I’d done was enough and he lost control.
He hit the gravel and the last thing I remember is throwing myself on Finn as we slammed into a tree.
” A breath shuddered out and she felt the trail of tears down her cheek.
“You’re amazing . . . do you know that?” He brushed away her tears gently then kissed her cheek. “You saved both your and Finn’s life. You put yourself at risk and could’ve died, too, but I understand why you did what you did. Ed wanted him to die.”
There was something she was missing. Something that Brodie had said, but she couldn’t quite remember what it was.
She closed her eyes and relaxed into the bed.
God, she hated being back here. Twice in less than a year and both times had been life threatening.
But if she had to do it all again, she would. Saving Finn was all that mattered.
He’s not going to hurt you or Finn or Poppy again.
“Poppy! Ed said that he’d drugged her. He said he was going to marry her.”
Brodie leaned forward and brushed his hand across her forehead. “Poppy was found unconscious in her house. She’s doing better but it was touch and go for a while. She had a bad reaction to the cocktail of pills he’d given her.”
“Oh my God, how did anyone know to check on her? Did Finn say something when we were found?”
“No, it was pure chance. A friend of Gene’s worked with us to try and find you. I mentioned Poppy maybe wanting Finn back and possibly being involved with you and Finn going missing. Sheriff Searle arranged for someone to do a welfare check on her and she was found.”
Now it was her turn to comfort Brodie. “It’s fine and I’m glad she wasn’t involved. Poor girl. She has to be devastated at what Ed did. But I still don’t understand why he wanted Finn. He wasn’t taking him for fun. He truly planned to leave us somewhere to die.”
“When Poppy was conscious and found out about what Ed had done, she broke down, devastated that she’d caused you and Finn to be hurt.
She said that Ed had found some paperwork about a trust fund Finn will get when he turns eighteen.
Seems it’s a lot of money. My guess is, he was after the money and was planning to kill them both so he could inherit it. ”
Cerise’s head hurt as she processed the information. “As crazy as that scheme sounds, I kind of believe it with how Ed was acting.” With Ed out of the picture, a more distressing scenario hit her, and she didn’t like it at all. “She’ll want Finn back now.”
“Maybe. Whatever happens we’ll face it together. Besides, Finn might decide that he doesn’t want to go back. I know he’s only nine, but they have to take his happiness into consideration. But I think she’s had a bit of a shock with what Ed did and is reevaluating things.”
She didn’t want to let herself hope that Poppy would be open to letting her adopt Finn. “How do you know?”
“I visited with her a couple of times. I did take Finn with me. He was worried about his aunt, but she was okay by yesterday. I hope you don’t mind me taking him to visit her.”
“Not at all. She’s his aunt and you said he wanted to see her.”
Her heart constricted with indecision. She didn’t want Poppy to be hurt by her wanting Finn, but she wanted to do right by the little boy. She could give him what Poppy couldn’t—as selfish as that sounded.
“Sparkles, I love you. You scared the shit out of me when you went missing and when I saw you in the back of the car.” Brodie’s voice broke and he closed his eyes a second before opening them, laying himself bare in front of her.
All his fears and love shone brightly in them.
“Blood covered your face and my heart stopped. Whatever you’re thinking, whatever happens with Finn, know that I’m right beside you.
“I don’t want to live my life without you in it.
Those few hours where I didn’t know where you were, just about killed me.
” Brodie took her hand in his and lifted it gently to his lips.
The warmth from his light kiss filled her to the core and all her doubts melted away with Brodie’s love washing over her.
“I love you too. I kept praying that you would find us.” She grasped his hand in both of hers, needing to touch him.
“I’ve had two occasions in the last year where I’ve almost lost my life.
I don’t want to wait for a third time. I want to live and I want to live my life with you. Will you marry me, Brodie?”
She would’ve laughed at the way his eyes widened to almost comical levels. She’d shocked herself as much as him, but she wasn’t taking the words back. Life was too short and she wasn’t going to waste any more time at playing it safe.
“Sparkles, tradition suggests that the man is supposed to ask the woman, but I say fuck traditions. Yes, Cerise Robinson, I will be honored to be your husband.” The chair scraped across the floor as he stood and leaned over her.
“My whole life has been leading up to this moment. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be with than you.
” He closed the gap and she sighed against his lips.
The kiss they shared was brief but heartfelt and memorable. Just like she knew their life together was going to be.