Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“It’s the first meeting of the support group.”
“Oh, Starla. You did it! I am so proud of you!”
Sergio smiles. “Good job, kiddo.”
Starla told us she needed to help the other victims of the fellowship abuse find their healing and has worked her fingers off finding a place to meet that was safe. Sergio pulled some strings to give her a safe place where all could meet online so they could have the benefit of anonymity if need be, while at the same time putting safeguards in place with Mario and Gloria’s help.
It’ll be hard. But it’ll be helpful, I know it.
For both of us.
“I’ve…I’ve also started doing some writing,” she says in that tentative, quiet voice she always uses when we talk about the fellowship. “It helps.”
In the months following the collapse of the fellowship, Starla and I both testified in court. Sergio’s “friends” in law enforcement somehow helped form a narrative that protects us from any potential legal action, conveniently left out the demise of those in charge, while also bringing the survivors to justice. Sergio’s brand of justice is a bit…more intense…than the legal system’s, but he’s reluctantly admitted there’s a time and a place for both.
One thing led to another, and we both found our way to therapy. To healing. It will take some time, but we’re getting there.
“There it is!” Starla lights up when she sees the sign up ahead of us that tells us we’ve arrived. “Yassss.”
Sergio parks and Starla and I get out.
“What can I get, Eden?” Starla asks. A little part of my heart pings when she asks me that, always looking for permission even now.
“You can get whatever you want, Starla,” Sergio says as he comes up beside me and threads his fingers through mine.
Her eyes light up and mine grow a little misty.
Others might see only his stern side, the fierce leader that others fear. I’ve seen the softer side of him, and that perfect mix of fearless and tender makes me swoon.
“I love you,” I whisper, as we watch Starla gleefully dig in. What he doesn’t know is that I have my own surprise in store.
“And I love you,” he says, bending down to kiss my cheek. “Do you want anything?”
“I do,” I say with a smile, pretending to look over the menu. “I’m thinking…the double, please. Since I’m…well, eating for two now.”
Sergio blinks. Then blinks again, before he turns fully my way and stares.
“Say that again.”
I giggle and wink at him. “You heard me the first time, Sir.”
“Eden.” I watch, melting, as my stern, hugely muscular and somewhat scary husband actually tears up. “Did you…you mean it? You’re having a baby?”
I nod and grin. “I don’t want to tell anyone else yet.” It wouldn’t be right to announce something like this when Ricco is dealing with so much. “We’ll tell them soon. For now, let’s just keep this little secret between us, okay?”
“Baby,” he says, wrapping his arm around me. “God, I love you, Eden.” He smiles and repeats, “Baby,” though this time we both know there’s another meaning.
“And I love you. I love us. I love our family.”
I love what we’ve built.
And I love what lays before us, the future unwritten, and the promise of good things to come.