Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
****
Six months later
Rose stared across the yard of the clubhouse. They had just gotten back from church after she and Hardy renewed their vows. Babies were everywhere, and The Skulls were expanding like never before. Fighter and Ink had earned their patches, and now it was just up to Adam, Twisted, and Wicked. She’d not seen much of the other bikers, but so much had been going on in her life.
She and Hardy held one of their daughters in their arms. It had been a long six months. They hadn’t heard from Gash in all that time, not even before she gave birth. There were times she knew Hardy was troubled by the absent biker, but there was nothing either of them could do.
“Well, wife of mine, how are you?” Hardy asked.
“I’m happy.”
“Come on, I want to go somewhere,” Hardy said.
She followed him out of the clubhouse in her modest wedding dress. Hardy had insisted that she wear white. They made their way toward the church graveyard.
“Hardy, what’s going on?” Rose asked.
“We’re starting again. A new beginning and that means we have to put the past to rest.” Hardy opened the gate, and they entered the graveyard. She wasn’t a fool, and knew exactly where he was leading her. “It’s time for us to say goodbye.”
They went toward the woman’s graveyard, and Rose stared at the name, along with the unborn child that had also been lost. Hardy had demanded at the time that there be two plots.
Rose stared at the two graves expecting to have some kind of anger, or fear, or sadness. She felt nothing. This was all part of her past. She and Hardy were closer than ever before.
“Do you want to say anything?” he asked.
“No.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “It seems so long ago now. A distant memory.”
“It was the hardest part of my life. I hated myself, and if I’m honest, I still hate myself at times.”
“Don’t, Hardy. We’re happy, and we’re a family.” She took a deep breath. “Thank you for giving Hardy and me a chance. You don’t know how you’ve helped us, and I don’t know why I’m thanking you, but thank you.”
“If she hadn’t been pregnant, Rose, you wouldn’t have given me a second chance.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have.”
Hardy took her hand. “We’re a family, and I promise you, Rose, the next ten years of our life are going to be the best they can be.”
She stared into his eyes, and smiled. “I actually believe every single word you’re saying.”
“Good.”
Hand in hand, they made their way back to the clubhouse. Rose stared around at the family. She spotted Sally, Whizz, and Lacey close together by the barbeque. The family was close together, and after the last six months Sally had relaxed. She finally accepted that she wasn’t going to be sent back to foster care.
Angel was heavily pregnant with her second child, and was due to give birth any day now. Lash stood beside his wife protectively.
Sunshine and Alex were also expecting their first child.
Sophia, Nash’s wife, had given birth to a boy, a little brother to Rachel.
Eva and Tiny had another boy.
Kelsey and Killer were also expecting again.
Everywhere she looked there was family, there was love, and Rose knew she wouldn’t change any of it.
She and Hardy had their problems as did many couples. When she looked at Hardy, she knew her love was never going to change. They were strong, stronger than ever. Taking him back after everything that happened didn’t make her weak. She made her man work for her, and work for her he did. Hardy proved that he wanted her more than anything else. Rose loved him, and she loved their children.
Her life was perfect.
Epilogue
Charlotte Bilson was tired. She was always tired. Not a moment went by when she wasn’t tired, or working, or tired. This was what her life had turned into after getting out of the psych ward all of those years ago.
All of those years?
She’d been out for two years, and she was checked on regularly for fear of her taking her own life. The temptation was always there. Life would be damn easier if she could just let all the feelings, all the emotions, fade into nothing. She couldn’t. This was the harsh reality of where she lived, and how she lived.
There was no going back.
Only moving forward.
Forcing herself to forget everything, and everyone, until only the now existed.
Climbing the stairs to her apartment, she paused outside of her door, and flicked through the letters one after the other. Taking a deep breath, she saw there was nothing that made her excited for life.
Just keep on moving.
Got to keep on living.
Nothing is going to change.
Resting her head against the door, Charlotte felt the tears that were always so close. She’d lost that one connection to him. He’d not remembered what had happened between them. Only she remembered everything that happened. It was not fair, but she had to live with it.