Page 7 of Coming Innocent

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’d love to help you if you don’t mind.”

Smiling back at her mother-in-law, Nikki makes her way up the rest of the stairs and steps closer to Amy.

“That would be lovely. Thank you.”

Upstairs in the room, her love grew up in, Nikki can’t help but admire all of the trophies and drawings on the wall. She peers out of the window giving her an unobstructed view of the backyard and watches as Austin tosses a football with Dylan, both men wearing white shirts showcasing their taut physiques.

Amy strolls into the room, curling iron in hand and stands beside her, silently peeking out of the window as well.

“It’s so nice to see my family growing by leaps and bounds. It’s all Joseph and I have ever wanted.”

Turning her attention towards her, Nikki says, “You have a wonderful family, Amy. I can imagine how proud of them you all must be.”

Amy rests her hand gently on Nikki’s upper back in a motherly touch.

“We are very proud of them, not just for the things that they have accomplished, though they’ve surpassed everything we have ever expected for them. We’re proud of the men and women they have become and how they have begun to find their soul mates; opening themselves up to love. That’s all we have ever wanted for them, to be happy and have what Joseph and I have.” Averting her gaze back to Nikki she adds, “We’re thrilled to have you as part of this family and we can’t wait to meet baby Grace.”

Misty-eyed, Nikki gently rubs her abdomen and nods her head.

“I love being a part of your family and I love your son very much.” Taking a deep breath, she reaches up and swipes under her eyes. “Damn pregnancy hormones. Now I’ll have to fix my makeup.”

“Oh, dear, you look beautiful. With the dress you have laid out I was thinking some curls in your hair. What do you think?”

“I love it.”

“Well, let’s get started.”

Thirty minutes later, Sydney rushes up the stairs and bounds into the bedroom just as Amy places the last curl in Nikki’s blond hair.

“Brooks just texted your phone, they’ll be here in five minutes.”

“Perfect. I’ll greet her at the door.”

As Sydney and Amy head out of the room and back outside promising to quiet the crowd, Nikki takes a moment to look at herself in the mirror one last time. She wears a pale pink, almost white, off the shoulder, maxi dress with gold sandals that lace around her ankles. Her makeup is light and subtle and her curls bounce against her shoulders.

“Let’s get this party started,” she whispers to the empty room before walking down the stairs to greet her best friend.

Chapter Three

AVERY STARES OUT OF the window in awe as Logan drives the truck through the expansive farmland. It had been almost a year since she moved her life to Carson, North Carolina on a whim. She had been living as a shell of herself after her loved ones had all passed away. Her heart still aches every now and then when she remembers her sweet sister Aria and how she was taken from the world far too soon.

They pass a driveway with a bright red mailbox in the middle of the wooded area on Avery’s left and she smiles remembering that her brother Austin had been working on a house for their sister Cassidy. Her family would now all reside in the same town once more and she couldn’t be more thrilled.

Logan’s truck takes a right turn and Avery’s smile widens as they begin to approach her parent’s neighborhood. The large brick house that once terrified her now holds a sense of warmth and love. She remembers the very day last fall when she stood on the porch holding a box of cupcakes and a note proclaiming her the daughter of Joseph Connelly. She hadn’t known that they would open their arms wide for her, to embrace her into their family whole-heartedly. Joseph and Amy had been searching for her for years after receiving a letter from her lunatic of a mother and couldn’t have been more surprised to find her on their doorstep. The Connelly family was everything she had imagined having as a child – a fairytale.

And now she was living her own fairytale. She watches Logan as he twists their fingers together after helping her from the truck. He had been her savior, her reason to breath, to love, and to live. He is as flawless on the inside as he is on the outside.

They had been married on New Year’s Eve, much to the dismay of many of the women in Carson, and they are expecting their twins in another month or so. Nothing could be more perfect than this.

“I love you, Logan,” she whispers as she slowly climbs the front steps.

Logan takes her hand wound with his and brings the knuckles to his lips where he leaves a soft peck.

“And I love you more than anything, beautiful.”

The door swings open, startling them; their eyes wide as they take in an overly-ecstatic Nikki at the threshold.