Finding Love (A Mill Creek Crossing Romance) (11 page)

Amelia stared deep into his eyes, and before she could say anything else his mouth was pressed against hers. The warmth of his touch as he pulled her into a strong embrace was almost overwhelming. She couldn’t remember a time when a man had put his arms around her like that and made her feel so safe, so secure. And that very security was what was making her feel scared. How could she ever feel that for someone and then have it taken away?

As his tongue jockeyed for position with hers, she was enveloped in his scent and his taste. She’d never had a kiss quite like that one.

The kissing seemed to go on for hours, but it was just a few minutes. In the end, it was enough for Amelia to realize she couldn’t let this man walk out of her life. She was falling in love with him too, and she'd already fallen in love with his kids.

"Clay?" she said softly as they pulled apart, breathless from the amazing kiss.

"Yes?" he said smiling.

"I think I am falling in love with you too."

Clay has a stunned look on his face at her honesty. "Good."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Absolutely. There is nothing I'd rather do with the rest of my life than fall in love with you, Amelia Devin."

"Are you cooking me dinner?" she asked giggling as he pulled her in close.

"Yes I am. Chicken Marsala, as requested," he said laughing.

"I should've known you’d try to surprise me with that. Well, let's go downstairs so we can enjoy dinner."

"Wait a minute. The chicken won’t be done for a little while, so I thought maybe we could continue practicing."

"Practicing what?" she asked.

"This," he said as he pulled in for another kiss.

The next couple of weeks were a whirlwind for Amelia. Never in her life had she felt so complete and so loved. Olivia got out of the hospital, and Christy continued to stay with her. Since the holidays were coming, Amelia had asked Christy to stay so they could celebrate as a family.

She and Clay prepared Thanksgiving dinner together with Christy and Clay’s kids. Gracie and her family had also come over to share in the festivities since Gracie's sister, Eva, was spending the holidays with her love, Brice. Amelia was so glad to finally feel like she was in a family, and she was starting to settle down when it came to worrying about losing Clay.

“I’d like to propose a toast,” Clay said as he stood up in front of the turkey.

Everyone held up their glasses, including little Sophia and Riley.

“A few weeks ago, I came to the this town looking for a new start. My family has been welcomed in a way that I couldn’t have imagined. Fresh from the loss of my beloved wife, Molly, I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with anyone again. I worried about my kids and what they would think about a new love in my life. I worried about losing that person one day just as I had lost Molly,” he said, tears welling a bit in his eyes. Amelia held her breath as she hung on his every word. “And then I met Amelia…”

“Awww…” Gracie said clapping her hands quietly as she grinned from ear to ear.

“Amelia was supposed to keep my kids for me while I started my new job, and she fought me on that at first. She didn’t want to keep my kids, and she didn’t really like me too well…”

“Not true!” Amelia said turning red and putting her hand over her mouth.

“Totally true. Anyway…” Clay said smiling at her. “I eventually wowed her with my amazing wit and charm. And we fell in love. She is the most amazing gift, and we are so lucky to have her in our lives. Some days, I feel like the luckiest man alive to have found two women in my life who have loved me with everything they have. So, this Thanksgiving, I would like to say how truly thankful I am for this wonderful creature named Amelia who challenges me, loves me and loves my kids as if they’re her own. Thank you, God, for bringing her into my life.”

Gracie, Christy and Amelia were all wiping tears from their eyes as Clay finished his toast. He leaned down and kissed Amelia as he took his seat at the head of the table.

“Man, you just made me look bad!” Randy, Gracie’s husband, said laughing.

“Amelia, you are so lucky!” Christy said shaking her head.

“He’s mine, Christy,” Amelia said with a sarcastic laugh. Christy, at first offended, laughed as well when she got the joke. The animosity the sisters shared over Tate had long since disappeared after Olivia’s medical crisis and the time they’d spent together.

“Okay, I guess it’s my turn,” Amelia said with a smile as she stood up. “Clay, I was a royal pain in the butt when you met me a few weeks ago. I argued and pushed and fought over every little thing, but you hung in there. It was when I met your kids that I realized what an amazing man you were. Your kids are so sweet and so smart, and I knew any man who was raising them had to be fantastic. I also knew that Molly must have been one fabulous lady to have landed you and raised these kids,” she said pointing to Sophia and Riley. “I told you I thought it was too risky for us to fall in love, and it was. And it still is. But the risk is worth the reward of getting to see your face every day. I realized after falling in love with you, I was never really in love before. I never loved Tate the way I love you, and I’ve never been loved the way you love me. So, on this Thanksgiving, I am thankful you never gave up on me and that you’ve loved me right through my craziness.”

Everyone clapped, and Amelia planted a big kiss on Clay’s lips.

“Gross!” Riley yelled putting his hands over his eyes as he peeked through his fingers.

Laughter. Amelia sure had missed the laughter in her life.

***

As dinner finished up, the men went into the living room to watch football, which was a common occurrence in Southern households on Thanksgiving. The women sat around the kitchen table laughing, drinking coffee and gossiping about the men. Amelia was so happy to feel like a normal woman doing normal things again. No more hatred for her sister and no more missing out on being in love.

“Have you heard from Ian lately?” Christy asked.

“Not in a few days. He said he couldn’t come home because he couldn’t get a flight in time. I sure missed having him here today,” Amelia said with a frown. “My baby boy is all grown up, I guess.”

“They are never all grown up,” Gracie said pointing in the living room as the men screamed at the television.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Amelia said laughing.

“Is that your cell phone I hear?” Christy asked looking around the kitchen.

“Yeah. What did I do with it?” Amelia asked as she looked around before realizing it was behind a potted plant on the breakfast bar. “Hello? Yes, it is. What? Oh, my God? Is he okay?”

Amelia hung up her phone and started running around the house gathering up her purse and keys. The women followed her, but she was mumbling and not making sense.

“Amelia! Slow down! What’s going on?” Christy asked as she handed the baby off to Gracie.

“Ian…” Amelia said as she frantically searched for her coat.

“What about Ian, honey?” Clay asked as he rushed to her side.

“He was in a car accident just outside of Martinville…”

“Martinville? That’s only a half hour from here. What was he doing that close?” Christy asked.

“I don’t know, but I have to get to the hospital,” Amelia said as she finally found her coat, and Clay helped to slip it on her.

“I’m coming with you,” Christy said as Gracie nodded.

“I’ll keep all the kids. You guys just go,” Gracie said.

“Did they say how bad it was, Amelia?” Clay asked as they headed for the door.

“They wouldn’t tell me anything,” she said with tears rolling down her face. “Nothing at all, and that’s what scares me to death. I can’t lose my baby brother.”

“Don’t think that way,” he said as the loaded up in the car. “Everything is going to be all right.”

They drove in utter silence all the way to Martinville Memorial Hospital. Amelia and Christy stared out their windows, looking at passing scenery, both fighting back tears. As they pulled into the parking lot, the car had barely stopped before Amelia jumped out and ran inside.

“Ian Devin,” she said to the front desk receptionist.

“Are you his next of kin?” the woman asked.

Amelia’s heart sank. They only ask for next of kin if someone is dead, right?

“Is he dead?” she asked, starting to sob.

“Ma’am, you’re going to have to calm down,” the woman said in a loud whisper. “I can’t let you back there unless I know if you’re his relative.”

“I’m his sister, and I was his legal guardian for twelve years, so yes I am his next of kin.”

“And I’m his other sister,” Christy chimed in as Amelia nodded.

“Okay, then you can go back to see him. He’s still in emergency waiting to be admitted into a room. Go on back,” she pointed at the double doors swinging open beside the reception desk.

“I’ll wait here, Amelia,” Clay said as he squeezed her shoulder and backed up into the waiting area. She barely looked at him and then rushed through the doors.

***

It seemed like hours, but it was only about forty-five minutes before Clay saw Amelia reappear in the waiting room. She looked exhausted, and her face was pale and sad.

“Amelia, are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Ian’s going to be fine. He broke his arm and has some cuts and scrapes, but he’ll be released tomorrow.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. You look so tired, sweetie. Come here,” he said as he pulled her into his embrace. She didn’t return the hug, instead keeping her arms by her side.

Clay pulled back and looked at her with his hands on her shoulders. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I can’t do this, Clay. I just can’t…” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks. Before he could ask her what she was talking about, she ran out the front door of the hospital into the night.

“Amelia!” he called as Christy came into the waiting room.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Amelia came out here and wouldn’t hug me or talk to me. She said she couldn’t do this and ran outside,” he said with a confused look on his face.

“Oh, no…”

“What?”

“I think this sent her over the edge. She looks at this as almost losing Ian, and that probably makes her worry about losing you. She’s so fragile when it comes to loss, and I feel like I caused a lot of that by cheating with Tate…”

“I have to go find her,” Clay said as he ran out the door.

The hospital was in a remote area to say the least, so there were few places that Amelia could go without a car. Clay walked the perimeter of the hospital with no luck finding her, so he went down a hill behind the medical complex since he knew there was a small pond there. It was a clear night with a bright moon reflecting off the water, and he could see Amelia sitting on the tiny dock.

“Amelia?” he said softly as he walked onto the dock.

“Go away. Please, Clay.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you, and I’m not leaving you.”

“I can’t love you, Clay.”