He's Captured My Soul (Captured Series Book 3) (44 page)

“Hey, handsome.”

“Hey yourself.” I kiss her soft lips. I really have missed her. I hope she doesn’t notice my lack of sleep. She’ll find out soon enough that I’ve not slept all night. “I’ve missed you.”

“Glad to hear it, because I missed you when these two had me up all night. I swear all I did was feed them all night.”

“So are you tired? You can rest at home and I can take care of them.”

“No, it’s funny I’m not tired. I’m excited to get home.”

I help her get organised to leave. Libby had just finished feeding them before I got here, so all that’s left to do is change them both and strap them into the car seats. All the paperwork for their discharge was also sorted before I got here. We say our goodbyes to the staff and head off to start our new life as a family.

Murphy pulls up at the entrance at the perfect time. Both Murphy and I rehearsed several times putting these seats in and out of the car. I secure Ella’s seat in the back and help Libby in as well. She insisted on sitting in the middle of both seats. Murphy secures Ava’s seat. Then we are good to go. I sit in the front with Murphy.

I glance over my shoulder and smile. Elizabeth Mathews is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. My smile is returned before she checks on the girls. My heart swells with pride for my family. My own perfect family.

“Alex, Murphy where the hell are we going?” she snaps. She’s noticed we’re out of town and not far away from our destination. “If we’re headed to the hotel, you had better turn this car around. I’m not up for going visiting.”

“Libby, do you trust me?”

“Usually.”

“Please trust me.” I’m as nervous as hell about this. She nods, but doesn’t look convinced. God, I hope I’ve done everything right. I know all the things she wanted. I just needed to do something for Libby; it’s been a hard few months, between me and then there was Jeff and his mother.

His mother admitted it was her that drove Libby’s car off the road. That admission left Libby pretty shaken up I suppose we both suspected Jeff, but never once thought about his mother. He stooped low doing that, but I can’t understand why his mother would agree to it. Libby took it all bad.

I made good on my promise of taking her away. I needed to make everything up to her, although we had to wait a few days. She wanted to wait on Kieran coming back from his holiday, but that gave me time to organise our time away. I whisked her back to The Mountain, in St. Lucia. And yet again we had the most amazing time away. Just what was needed for us, to help us get back to normal.

We drive until the silence is broken; Ella has a fine set of lungs on her, that’s for sure. As we enter the private road, I text Joan.

Here.

The car stops outside our new home. Turning, I see a puzzled look on her face. Oh god, she looks so cute right now. Joan exits the front door and comes to the car. Murphy takes Ava’s seat and I hand Ella’s seat to Joan and they both enter the house.

“Alex, why are we here?”

“I wanted to show you something,” I say, helping her from the car. “What do you think of the landscaping?” It’s the first thing that comes to my mind.

“Yeah it looks great, but shouldn’t that be the last thing to be done?”

“Maybe.” I take her hand and pause at the front door. “Welcome to your new home.” She turns and I draw her into my arms and I do the one thing that comes so natural to me, I kiss her. Her lips taste so good as she responds. I’m going to have a hard time over the next few weeks trying to keep it in my pants.

“But when. .?” she asks with wide eyes full of excitement.

“We’ve all spent the last few weeks putting the finishing touches together. I hope you love it. If there’s anything missing, please let me know. Come on, it’s about time you saw our home. It’s almost killed me trying to keep this from you the last few weeks.”

I take her on a tour of our home. Her excitement is evident. I love seeing her this happy, and I love knowing I’ve played my part in making her happy. I start upstairs—I want to leave the best for last. Up here, only the bathrooms and two bedrooms are completely finished. The rest, we have plenty of time to finish off the other rooms. Our bedroom is almost exactly the same as the one in the apartment, all the furniture and bed made the move yesterday.

“I can’t believe you’ve done all this.”

“Well I have, with a lot of help, now let me show you next door.”

I open the door to the girls’ room. I’m amazed at how good it looks. This is what I stayed up all night for, making sure this room was complete. I know it will be a few months before they sleep in here at night, but I wanted it finished. Jane, Sophie, my mom, Joan and even Kirsty all helped last night. Shortly after the girls were born, I had called Murphy to arrange for the painter to come in and decorate this room. I wanted it perfect for all of them. I turn to my wife, and she's crying.

“Libby.”

“Alex, it’s perfect. I love it. I love you.”

I could spend all day standing here, telling her all about it, but I can see she is anxious to get downstairs to our daughters. If truth be told, so am I. Downstairs I show her the kitchen that she picked out and it now has every gadget imaginable. I’ve left the sitting room until last, and I know she will appreciate it. She will not even have a second glance at everything in the room.

I let her go in first. She does the one thing I knew she would. She walks over to the windows and patio doors that open onto a large deck. We are overlooking the loch. Her own little piece of tranquility. I go to her to comfort her because I know she’s crying again. She’s not the only one crying; both of our daughters have decided now would be a good time to interrupt. We both laugh and turn to find Joan and Murphy with the girls still in their car seats.

Joan and Murphy both get a cuddle with the girls before they leave. Libby is taken aback that they’re not staying, but I really wanted today and tonight to be just the four of us. Joan and Murphy are going to the apartment where my parents and Michael are staying. The cottage should be ready for them in another few weeks, along with Ethan’s house. The decorators have just started painting. Joan informs us there is plenty of food in the fridge and our evening meal is all ready just to go in the oven.

Libby gets settled on the couch and feeds Ella first; she was the one making all the noise. I change Ava and sit with her in my arms until Ella has finished feeding, then we swap. This seems too easy. Our day is relaxed and I don’t answer any calls. I do text all our family at Libby’s request, after she spoke with Joan, and tell them they’re all to come to dinner tomorrow.

The girls sleep in their cribs, and we manage to have our dinner. I know that won’t happen very often. I clear away the dishes; Libby wants to help, but I tell her to go and sit down.

I stop at the door and take in her frame. My heart skips a beat as I watch her. I check on the girls before making my way outside to her. She stands with her back to me. I wrap my arms snuggly around her waist, and she leans back into my chest.

“It’s a stunning view, don’t you agree?”

“It is. I never thought it would look this good.” She turns to face me. “I’m so lucky.”

“No, baby. I’m the lucky one.” Just as I’m about to kiss her, Ella cries. We both smile at each other. We walk back inside and Libby picks her up and wraps her in a shawl and hands her to me. She then picks up Ava who is lying awake. I can already tell which one of these beautiful girls is going to cause all the trouble in the months ahead and years to come. Libby wraps Ava in her shawl as well and strolls back outside onto the deck. I follow her out. She stops and breathes in the fresh night air. I have to admit I could get used to this. Who am I kidding? I’m already used to this. I could be anywhere in the world, as long as Libby is by my side, then I’m home.

I wrap my free arm around Libby, holding her close. I glance at my family. Who would’ve thought this was the life that was mapped out for me. She snuggles in closer to me.

“I love this view,” she tells me, and I’m suddenly back on the fifteenth of October last year, when we stood in front of the loch by the hotel.

“I have to say, my view is pretty spectacular.” She smiles remembering the words I said to her back then. I place a small kiss on her lips. “This is my favourite view. What are you thinking, Mrs. Mathews?”

“I’m thinking I’m where I belong. I’m so happy to have all three of you in my life. My life is complete. We are all going to be so happy here. This is home. I’m going to enjoy watching the sunset from here.” Her smile is warm. “We were always destined to be together. I truly believe that. I love you.”

I grin and kiss her again. “We can start with that tonight,” I tell her. “I love you, Libby, more than you could ever imagine.”

“I love you too.”

The End

THE CAPTURED SERIES

He’s Captured my Heart, book 1

He’s Captured my Trust, book 2

He’s Captured my Soul, book 3

Karen Frances is the author of The Captured Series.

She currently lives just outside Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband, five children and two dogs. She spends some of her free time trying to keep fit and prepare healthy meals for her family, when their busy schedules allow them all to sit down at meal times together. She loves nothing more than spending time socialising with her closest family and friends, whether that’s a day out or more often than not a BBQ or meal at her home for everyone. After years of running after her three sons to and from football, she finally has some free time in the evenings for herself, which, when she’s not a taxi service for her daughters, she usually spends reading or writing.

Find out more at
www.karenfrancesauthor.co.uk
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