Defining Moments (A Moments In Time Love Story 2) (16 page)

Melisa pushed the letter back in its yellow envelope and placed it in the box where she kept Scott’s other fan mail. When they visited his grave, they always read them to him.

With minimal marketing—except for press releases in two local papers—
An Unlived Life
had sold thousands of copies within the first four months of publication and attracted many fans, whose lives Scott’s story touched. Sales didn’t show any signs of slowing down. In the last week of February, the book hit number one on several major bestseller lists, sending Melisa and Heat’s heads spinning.

Even though everything Scott had gone through was like something out of a movie, they had never anticipated the reaction the book would get from total strangers. Scott’s dream of being published and having people read his work had been realized. If only he were alive to see it.

On March 5, the anniversary of the day Scott had disappeared and they had believed him to be dead, a lawyer had showed up on their doorstep to talk about the money Scott had left her. Melisa knew it was the money he had inherited from Jack, the money she had refused when Scott had offered it to her. This time she accepted it, with a plan to donate some of it to cancer research charities and the rest to the Oasis Shelter. She felt that all the good she did with his money gave greater purpose to Scott’s life.

On second thought, Melisa pulled out the letter again and stuffed it into the pocket of her coat. She would visit Scott’s grave today, to tell him that even though he thought his life had been unlived, it hadn’t been wasted. Because of him, many lives would be changed for the better.

***

Melisa closed the kitchen window to stop the cold wind from blowing into the living room. Then she lowered herself onto the couch and picked up one of her bridal magazines.

With no more secrets keeping them apart, her relationship and life with Heat was finally back on track, and they were ready to put the past behind them and move on, to concentrate on what they had instead of what life took from them. She was eight months pregnant and she felt wonderful. To add to their joy, Ben had called last night to let them know he was moving to Serendipity earlier than planned—over the summer instead of the start of the fall semester. He had been offered a place and a generous scholarship at Serendipity University. Melisa was overjoyed when he agreed to stay with them until he got a place of his own. Heat had already found him a part-time job at the station and he was anxious to begin. Things were finally looking up for all of them.

A stream of moonlight spilled into the room, creating a peaceful, comforting atmosphere. Melisa pulled herself up in bed and positioned herself against the pillows until she was comfortable. The baby responded with a kick. She was always very active late at night. At first, the little persistent kicks had disrupted Melisa’s sleep and left her feeling grumpy, but she had started looking forward to this time. A quiet time that allowed her to reflect, a time for her to remember all the blessings in her life. She glanced at her side and smiled.

Heat lay next to her with both arms above his head, his muscular, uncovered chest rising and falling in rhythm with his breathing, bringing the small flame tattoo there alive. His lips were curled at the corners as if he was smiling. With a baby arriving any day, and their long-lost son sleeping across the hall, he had more than one reason to be happy. They both did.

She kissed the tip of his nose and pushed herself out of bed with difficulty. With a hand resting on her stomach, she padded out of the bedroom and went to stand in front of the second bedroom, where Ben slept on a pullout couch. He would move into his own apartment in two days. Melisa and Heat were also in the process of moving into a new home. They had bought a new house, with a nursery for the baby, which they’d already set up, and enough room for Ben to visit. It also had an office for her.

Melisa pressed her ear to the door, imagining that she could hear Ben breathing. They had become so close that she missed him every night when they went to bed. She could watch him all day, trying to memorize every lock of hair, curve of a smile, every squint, every blink. Maybe deep down she feared she might lose him again. But she had to remind herself that he wasn’t going anywhere—at least, that was what he had told them.

The baby kicked and Melisa padded down the stairs to the kitchen, where she sat at the table surrounded by some of the last boxes. Most of their belongings were packed and another moving truck would show up at their house later in the morning.

She hadn’t lived in this house long enough to create a bounty of memories, but the ones she had collected were enough to make it hard to walk away. This was the place where Heat had invited her when she had no place to go, where they began their married life. This was the place where they took their first steps toward each other again.

She poured a glass of orange juice and sat at the wooden table, sipping with her eyes closed. She took her time enjoying her juice and quiet time, then returned upstairs, where she climbed back into bed beside Heat, feeling content.

Heat shifted, kissed the nape of her neck, and draped an arm around her and the baby. The baby kicked again at that moment, as though responding to her father’s love.

***

Melisa yawned as she pushed the kitchen door open. The aroma of eggs, bacon, and fresh coffee greeted her.

“Morning, Mel.” Ben was still not at the stage where he was ready to call her
Mom
, and Melisa was fine with him taking his time, even if he never got there. She didn’t mind that in his heart he considered the woman who had raised him to be his real mother. It was never Melisa’s intention to take that away from him.

Ben wore cutoff jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt that showed off the eagle tattoo on his right upper arm.

“Morning, sweetheart.” Melisa moved over to Heat, who stood at the stove, scooping eggs onto a plate.

Heat put the plate down and kissed her on the lips. He also bent to kiss her stomach. “Did our little angel let you sleep?”

Melisa shook her head and poured herself a glass of grape juice. “Not really. She’s a real kicker, this one.”

Ben chuckled. “Looks like we’ll get along just fine.” He pulled out a chair for Melisa.

She squeezed her son’s hand. “She will be so lucky to have you as a brother. And we’re fortunate to have you in our lives.”

He squeezed her hand back. “Thank you.”

Melisa nodded and sighed with contentment. She reached for a buttered slice of bread and bit into it, smiling as she chewed. Everything she had gone through had been the price she had paid to get to this moment. If there was anything she had taken away from all that had happened, the only thing she could rely on was the present, and she would enjoy it to the full.

As Heat and Ben discussed Heat’s previous fire emergency, she drained her glass and quietly stood up. She took a few steps toward the fridge to fill it with water, but as soon as she pulled the door open, she felt a popping sensation. She froze just as something warm trickled down her right leg. Swallowing hard, she turned around to face Nick and Ben who were still engrossed in their discussion. “It’s time,” she said, her voice shaking even as a smile spread across her face.

Heat’s head snapped up and he gazed at her, eyebrows knitted. “The moving truck is here already? I thought…” he squinted. “The baby? You mean…”

Melisa nodded and her eyes misted. “We have to go. Now.” She was starting to feel a painful tug in her stomach now, but she didn’t care. Just another price to pay for happiness. She would get through it just as she had made it through everything else.

As Heat jumped up from the table, Ben dropped his slice of bread on the plate and his mouth fell open.

“It’s all right, honey.” Heat lowered Melisa back into her chair. “I’ll get the bag.” He ran a hand through his hair and started panting as if it were him about to give birth.

Even though the last thing Melisa felt like doing was sitting, she stayed put. She didn’t want to make Heat and Ben more nervous than they already were. She had to remain calm.

Heat finally calmed down and turned to Ben. “Call the ambulance,” he said and fled out of the kitchen.

As Melisa started practicing her breathing, Ben paced the room for a minute or two, as if he had forgotten the orders Heat had just given him, and then he dug into his pocket. He pulled out his cell phone.

Melisa’s lips twitched with a smile but then she found herself gasping for breath as a bolt of pain struck deep inside her belly. She gripped the edge of the table and squeezed her eyes shut. It would all be over soon, she assured herself.

They were not done with the move and she still had to buy a few more things for the baby, but if the baby decided today was the day, so be it. A new chapter was just about to open for all of them. Nothing would keep her from holding her little baby in her arms this time; nothing would block the way to her happiness.

When the ambulance arrived, at the same time as the moving truck, Heat didn’t wait for the paramedics to enter. Instead he carried her outside himself, her face buried in his shoulder.

Inside the ambulance, Melisa held on to his hand and kept her eyes closed.

Ben would come to the hospital later. He had insisted on staying back at the house to help with the move.

Ten hours later, Heat and Melisa welcomed their daughter into their lives. And as soon as she gazed into her baby’s chocolate brown eyes, Melisa felt her belief in hope being restored.

The wedding took a year and a half to plan. But the day finally arrived. It didn’t feel like a vow renewal but a first-time wedding. They wanted to do it right this time, because it was more than just a wedding celebration. They were celebrating a new beginning.

Melisa wore an off-white, flowing, strapless lace-and-silk gown adorned with crystals, pearl buttons, and a long train. The locks of her red hair were interwoven on top of her head in a romantic updo. Although she had never been a high heels kind of girl, she wore a pair of surprisingly comfortable champagne colored peep-toes.

Heat wore a black tux, an off-white shirt, and a pink calla lily boutonnière
.
Cleanly shaven and with his hair cut shorter than usual, he looked handsome and distinguished.

“Florian, you may now kiss the bride.” The minister closed his Bible.

Heat gathered Melisa into his arms and brushed her ruby-colored lips with his, planting on them a promise of forever.

She wrapped her arms around him and accepted everything he offered. She accepted their shared promise of a better future together. As she kissed her husband, she prayed that they had left the worst behind them, that there would be fewer bends in the road ahead.

When they drew apart, applause broke out and echoed in the small, elegant Grace Chapel.

Beaming, Melisa turned to face their guests. Everyone they cared for had come. Carlene and Nick had traveled from Vienna, and even Heat’s mother—who was often outside the country, chasing adventures—was present this time. She wore a hat that covered most of her face like an umbrella. Lucy, who now wore long hair, was happy they had found their way back to each other and no further warnings were necessary from her side. Josie had come with her four sisters. Melisa’s other employees were also present; she had hired quite a few more people since Mel’s Delights had grown into a franchise and opened stores in other counties in Wisconsin.

She moved her gaze to her children sitting in the front row. Ben, the best man, wore a coal-black suit and ivory tie, and in his lap sat their baby girl, Hope, a redhead just like Melisa, but with Heat’s brown eyes. Melisa giggled as Hope tried to squirm out of her brother’s arms.

The rest of the chapel was filled with Heat’s friends and colleagues, and the staff from Oasis.

“Ready, Mrs. Dane?” Heat whispered, his breath fanning her earlobe.

Melisa turned to him with a raised eyebrow. What was he talking about? Did he have something up his sleeve?

“To start our life together?” He winked. “I thought that’s what we came here for.”

She laughed. “Yes, Mr. Dane. I’ve been ready for as long as I can remember.”

He had always been the one, no matter where her journey had taken her. No matter the misery she had gone through, Heat had been the one constant in her life.

“In that case…” To Melisa’s surprise, Heat swept her off the ground and strode out of the church with her cradled in his arms, followed by their cheering guests, who threw flower petals into the air.

Melisa let out a peal of laughter, feeling fully alive and free for the very first time in her life. Her home was complete, her heart was complete, her happiness was complete. She had arrived where she had always wanted to end up.

-THE END-

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, and recommend it to friends and family.

To find out how Heat and Melisa’s love story started, click
HERE
to purchase a copy of Bittersweet Moments (A Moments in Time Love Story 1).

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