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Two months later…
The face staring back at me is not the same face I saw in the mirror last year, heck, six months ago. I have scars on my face, rather large but fine ones. I’ve been wearing them as a reminder I can do anything. I’m a survivor. Hiding from the truth almost cost me everything, but I still have my hopes and dreams, my life. My heart though, well, I’m afraid I won’t ever get it back, but that’s okay because Tate has it, and he’ll always protect it.
Taylor was sent to prison for attempted murder and the last I heard, he’s also required to go to therapy and counseling for anger and addiction. His family couldn’t bail him out when so many people witnessed what he did. I want to hate him, but I don’t, I feel nothing. Part of me hopes he gets better and finds help, the other part of me wants to erase him from my memory, but then I remember after all of the things I’ve been through that could have destroyed me, the aftermath which could’ve broken me…didn’t. And I love myself a little more each day. I love that I was able to take pieces of who I was before and fit them together with pieces of who I am now. No more hiding behind secrets, no more hiding behind fear. I’m living wide open with the man I love.
He touches every part of me, even the ones I thought were broken and makes them whole. I smile as I slip the little sundress over my head, his favorite one. He wanted to grill for me tonight, so he’s waiting on me to come out.
“Rocky?” I call down the hall before heading out the door, but I don’t see him. It’s early summer and the days are hot in Tennessee, but the nights can still be cool, so I pull on my thin jacket. When I see Tate, he’s wearing my favorite worn jeans, and a plain white T-shirt that stretches across his broad shoulders perfectly. His muscles bulge through the shirt he’s wearing. I bite my lip as I take him in. The food looks ready, it’s plated but covered.
He turns when he hears me approach. “There’s my firecracker.” I smile and do a little twirl for him. He pulls me close and groans. “You know what that dress does to me, love.”
I grin because I know exactly what it does and it’s precisely why I wanted to wear it. “I do.”
He closes his eyes and whispers, “I like the sound of that.” He twirls me quickly and about the time I’m steady again, Rocky trots up to my feet with a ball, waiting for me to take it. Tate leans down to get it from him, but he stays on one knee as he pops the ball open to reveal a ring box. Rocky sits patiently beside Tate.
My hand flies to my mouth and tears sting my eyes but for once, they’re happy tears.
Tate looks up at me and opens the box. I can’t even see the ring through the happy tears forming in my eyes. “Lucy McCree, I didn’t think love was for me, until I met you. I know it sounds cliché but it’s the truth. I tried to hide from it, but it was useless, I’ve learned you can’t hide from love…or the truth. And the truth is: you stole my heart and gave me yours. You loved me when I felt I didn’t deserve it. You trusted me to protect you and your heart. And I promise if you’ll let me, I always will. I told you that you were my love story, and I meant every word. You’re my heart and soul and all that’s good inside of me. You make me a better man. I want to spend forever with you. I’ve become fonder of romance movies and love stories, but baby, of all the love stories I’ve ever heard, ours is my favorite. Will you keep writing it with me and start a new chapter as my wife?”
“Yes. A million times yes!” He smiles and slides the ring on my finger before picking me up and twirling me around when I suddenly hear fireworks sound off. I laugh as he sits me on my feet, and we watch several fireworks someone is shooting from the hill behind our house. If I had to guess, it’s Sterling and Ivie.
Tate kisses my temple. “I had to light some fireworks for my little firecracker on such a special night.”
I lay my head on his shoulder. “They’re beautiful.”
“They’re just like you. You light up every corner of darkness with your beauty by being you. There’s nowhere to hide.”
I face him and loop my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. “Well, since they’re shooting fireworks out here, we might want to hide in there for the story I want to write with you tonight.”
He groans a little and pulls me toward the house. “Sounds like my kind of story.”
