Tragic (Lark Cove, #3)

by Devney Perry

“You are beautiful. You’re so beautiful it takes my breath away. Seeing you on this bed, my boys growing inside of you, there isn’t a more beautiful sight in the world.

“It’s beautiful.” Kaine’s voice was full of wonder. “I guess they like sex.” His hands stilled. “What?” “Sex.” I laughed. “They like it. Maybe an orgasm is like a hug for them. We should hug them more.”

“I hate to be cliché, but I really need a label.” “A label, huh?” His eyes softened, and he kissed my hair. “I guess you could say we’re a couple.” “I like that label.”

We missed all of this. Before the boys, we missed the nights together. The you and me and getting to know one another. I want to go back and do it all. I want the hand-holding. The kisses. And I was waiting for you to be ready for the rest.” “The rest?” He nodded. “The rest. Sharing this bed. Sharing these boys. Sharing a life.” “You want that?” “I want you. I’ve wanted you for months.”

“Somewhere along the line, you stole my heart. I’m going to steal yours in ret...

Had Kaine Reynolds, a man dedicated to keeping his emotions locked up behind a dozen padlocks, just confessed his feelings? ...

“You really mean all of this?” “You’re important to me,” he said quietly. “The most important person in my life...

“So, what?” “Are we going backward?” I smiled, holding in my answer. “Piper,” he grumbled. I still didn’t say anything. “Jesus, woman. Yes or no?” He shook my shoulders until we were both laughing. “Answer me, damn it.” “Yes!” I giggled. “Yes. I like backward.” “You drive me crazy.” He smiled. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

When you were broken, breaking others wasn’t all that difficult.

What I needed was her. I wanted her to have all my pieces, even the ugly, misshapen ones.

But I do know what it feels like to lose someone you love.” She did? “Who?” Her eyes held mine. “You. I’m losing you.”

“I’m not going anywhere. And neither can you.” “I’m here for good. Promise.” “Don’t promise,” she whispered. “Prove it.” Prove it. I’d spend the rest of my life proving it. Starting today. “I love you.”

Kaine laughed and talked to me while we made dinner. He touched me and kissed my hair while we were watching TV. He held me in his arms at night with one arm under my head and another resting over my belly.

He was proving to me his love, whether he knew it or not. His simple gestures, like taking out the trash or making me bedtime tea or massaging my lower back when it ached, were more meaningful than any of the marriage proposals.

“You’ll understand when you’re a parent.” “I was a parent. Until he took her away from me.”

I hadn’t just lost Shannon and the baby when they’d died. I’d lost my brother too. I’d lost my best friend and the person I’d loved second only to our mother. I’d lost them all.

I blinked furiously, willing them away, but the moment Piper wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her body into mine, I lost it. She rested her cheek against my heart, and I collapsed onto her. With the babies between us, I clung to her like a drowning man did a buoy.

I wrapped one arm behind her shoulder and let my other hand rest on her stomach. Kick. Please, kick. I needed some kind of reassurance that the boys were okay. That I hadn’t caused them and Piper too much stress. “Here.” Piper took my hand, sliding over to the far side. And just like that, a small tap hit my palm. Thank you. “I love you. All three of you.”

Isaiah watched me with wide eyes as I hauled him out of the recliner by his sweatshirt. And just like Piper had done with me so many times, I hugged him. I hugged the five-year-old boy who fell off his bike and scraped the shit out of his knee, all because he’d been trying to keep up with me and my friends as we’d peddled around the neighborhood. I hugged the ten-year-old kid who’d begged me to help him practice fielding grounders before a baseball game. I hugged my brother, the one who’d always looked at me like I was his Superman.

After the accident, I’d been in too much pain to listen to anyone. The only thing I could do to keep on living was to block it out. To run and deal with the grief alone. To be numb. Then Piper had made me feel again.

“There.” I pointed to the headstone. “Oh, Kaine.” Her hand went to her heart. “It’s beautiful. Those angel wings. Thank you for bringing me here.” “I wanted you to see it. I want you to see everything.” Piper leaned into my side, wrapping an arm around my back. “I’m glad you brought me here.” “Me too.” I held her close.

I’d never forget Shannon. I’d never forget the precious baby who I’d laid to rest by her side. But it was time to stop letting a tragedy run my life. It was time to stop moving backward. It was time to let the beautiful people in this one grave rest knowing I’d found my peace too.

“Why don’t you want to hang it up?” “Because.” I gave him a sad smile. “I don’t want to be reminded of you in pain.” “And I want you to always remember that you saved me.”

I might have saved him, but he completed me.

“Women dress up to impress other women,”

“Hey.” He stepped inside behind me, wrapping his arms around my chest. “Don’t say bad things about my wife.”

He spun me around, then dropped to a knee. “Marry me?” “Yes.” He grinned and slid the ring on my finger. “It’s about damn time.” “I love you.” Kaine surged to his feet, framing my face with his hands. “I love you. I’ll love you every day for the rest of your life.” I leaned closer, smiling against his lips and whispered, “Prove it.”

“Daddy!” Gabe finally noticed me and abandoned the rope toy. He pushed up onto his feet and raced my way. His feet couldn’t keep up with his head as he ran my way and he dove into my legs. I caught him before he could fall, just in time to catch his brother. “How are my boys?” “Goot,” Robbie declared as I hoisted them each on a hip.

“It’s going to be okay,” I promised. Then I took her face in my hands and gazed at her beautiful face. The face that started and ended my day. “We’ve got a lifetime of magic left.” “How can you be so sure?” “Because it was never the cake.” I brushed my lips against hers. “The magic is us.”

One year later, as our daughter Grace rested in my arms, Piper stood in the doorway of the nursery, watching as I rocked our baby girl to sleep. “You were right,” she whispered, her dark eyes sparkling with the moonlight. “It was never the cake.” I smiled at my wife and kissed Grace’s forehead. Magic.