What To Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection Part Two (200 page)

“Hmm. . . I don’t know. I was thinking of maybe some gardening. I want to clean up the yard before Allie comes.”

“Do you really think you should be gardening at nine months pregnant?” Garrett asked.

“Garrett,” I sighed. “You need to stop treating me like I am the first women to ever give birth. Women back in the day would be out in the fields working, they would have their baby and keep going. I think a little gardening I can handle.”

He put his arms in the air. “Alright, Babe. If you think you can handle it, who am I to stop you?”

“Are you finished with that? Or are you going to lick the plate clean,” I laughed putting my hand out to take his plate from him. “I’m going to wash these dishes and then head outside before it gets too hot.”

“Alright, I’m going to jump in the shower and I will meet you outside,” he said slapping my ass.

I began rinsing the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher. I was really enjoying my dishwasher. My old apartment didn’t have one, and I hated washing dishes by hand. I became winded for the little that I was doing and began to think Garrett was right, maybe I shouldn’t do yard work today. Looking down and rubbing my belly, I realized I could no longer see my feet. Oh God, I was so huge. My feet were swollen, and I felt so uncomfortable. I was so ready to have this baby.

As I dried my hands with a towel I felt something trickle down my leg.
Oh fuck, did I just piss my pants?
But the trickle turned into a steady stream that didn’t stop. Then it dawned on me that my water just broke. “GARRETT!” I yelled to him.

He shot through the house like a bat out of hell. “What’s the matter?” I could hear the worry in his voice.

Smiling from ear to ear I said, “I think my water just broke.”

“Are you shitting me?”

I laughed, “No, I am not shitting you. Can you get my bag? It’s time.” Even as those words left my mouth, I couldn’t believe I was actually saying them. This was it. We were going to have a daughter in the very near future. My heart began to race and I felt a little dizzy at the thought of labor.
Oh God, I wasn’t sure if I could do this.
I leaned up against the counter and poured myself a glass of water.

Garrett entered the kitchen and immediately noticed the look on my face. “What’s the matter? Are you in pain?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not in pain, but I’m not sure if I can do this.”

He began to laugh. “Well Babe, it’s a little too late to change your mind now. You don’t really have a choice. Come on, let’s get you to the hospital.”

Almost twenty-four hours later Alexandria Skye Levine was born. She weighed eight pounds even and was twenty-one inches long. I know I am biased, but she’s the most beautiful baby in the world. She looked so much like Garrett, it was scary. She had the same dark eyes and dark hair and the most perfect skin. Garrett hadn’t left our sides since she was born, and he refused to go home and sleep. I told him that one of us should get a good night’s sleep, but he insisted on staying at the hospital with us.

The hospital released us the next day and to be completely honest I was terrified to go home. I had never taken care of an infant before. Yes, I had babysat but I was able to go home at the end of the night. Garrett had even less experience than I did, and I had to chuckle at the thought of him changing her diapers.

We finally arrived home after the longest car ride known to man. Garrett literally did twenty-five miles an hour the entire way home. I was ready to kick him out of the driver’s seat so I could drive, but I was in too much pain. We slowly walked into the house, and I headed straight for our bed. I needed to lie down for a little while. Garrett had assured me that he would be fine with Allie for a few hours. He described himself as a baby expert because the nurse had gone over with him how to feed and burp her properly.

When I woke I looked out my window to see the sun was beginning to set. I sat up slowly glancing over at the clock. I rubbed my eyes. “Man, I’ve been asleep for almost four hours.” The house was very quiet, and I began to get nervous. I hadn’t heard Allie cry once. I carefully got out of bed, trying not to overdo it and made my way through the house.

As I was walking towards Allie’s room, I heard Garrett’s voice “You and your mommy are the most beautiful girls in the entire world.” I tiptoed up to the door and peeked in the doorway. Garrett was sitting in the rocking chair with Allie in his arms rocking her. I heard him begin to hum a lullaby to her. My heart instantly melted. I wasn’t sure how I had lucked out and married this man. Thinking back over the last year it had been the happiest time in my life and now with Allie here I knew it was only going to get better.

I
sit here in my back yard, and I think about how the past seven years have flown by. As I listen to Allie laugh as Garrett chases her around the back yard I can’t help but smile. Allie just celebrated her seventh birthday. She will be starting the second grade in the fall. She has turned into a beautiful little girl with gorgeous curly, brown hair and beautiful brown eyes just like her dad. Every time I look at her my heart melts.

She’s become a big sister to two little brothers. Zakary, who is the spitting image of Garrett, we call him Garrett’s “mini me”, and Shane, who definitely takes after my side of the family with his beautiful, curly bleach blonde hair. Zakary turned five in January and Shane turned three ten days ago. Needless to say, I have my hands full with these two. They are definitely all boy, the more trucks, planes and action figures the better.

Garrett officially left the United States Marine Corps last year. Even though he loved being a Marine, he loved being with his family more. He had grown tired of all the traveling and chose to be home with us. I know the decision was not an easy one for him to make. On several occasions, he asked my opinion, I simply said I will support you and stand by you in whatever you choose.

After Garrett left the Marines, we decided to move back to home to be closer to our families. We bought a small cape style house with four bedrooms and a big backyard for the kids. I had remained friendly with Katie all these years and when I came back to the area, she immediately offered me a part-time photography job. Garrett was offered a position at Smith and Wesson. With all of his weapons experience they would have been fools not to give him a job.

Though, I loved living in Hawaii I was really glad we came back home. I had become homesick and I wanted my children to know their Grandparents. In addition to being closer to our parents I wanted Allie to be close with my Godson, Dominic.

Not long after I found out I was pregnant with Shane, Nicole called me in a complete state of panic. She was late. She’d been on the Pill forever and couldn’t figure out how this could have happened. She had called me for advice, she had seen firsthand what my decision had done to Garrett and I and she was unsure what she should do. I told her to trust her gut. Only she could make that choice.

She ultimately broke down and told Michael she was pregnant. She decided to keep the baby and respectfully told him he could either help her raise the baby, or he could walk away. At first, Michael was thrown, off but, ultimately he welcomed Nicole’s news with open arms. They are now happily married and expecting their second child.

Looking back on all the decisions I have made I wouldn’t change a thing. I have a husband who loves me and three beautiful healthy children. Yet, I still can’t help but think about everything Garrett and I had been through. Garrett losing his leg in Afghanistan and me living a life of self-destruction and self-medication could have destroyed us both, yet here we are more in love than ever.

I think about how things could have ended up based on that one decision that changed our lives forever. I truly believe if I hadn’t made that decision I wouldn’t have married the love of my life nor would I be a college graduate. I cannot change the decisions that I have made in the past, but I can learn from them and make the most of the life that I am living now.

This book could have not been written without the love and support of my husband, Frank. I think at first he thought I was out of my mind for writing this book but through my journey he has really become my cheerleader. He even let me venture out to Los Angeles to shoot the cover. He inspired this story and has been the love of my life since I was sixteen. No words can express how much of an impact he has had on my life and this book.

Also, Nicole for being a pivotal part of my life and the creation of this book. Katie & Hillary who have been one of my best friends for over a decade. Teresa Mummert who got my creative juices flowing, without you I wouldn’t have found the courage to take the leap of faith to write. Diane and Marilyn who must have read this book one hundred times and helped me edit it. They took so much time out of their lives to help me. Aimee who was the first book blogger to read Broken and has listened to me vent on more than one occasion. Belkis and Mark thanks for letting turn your house upside down for my adventurous twenty-four hour whirlwind stay in L.A. Cheers! Kathy Krick thanks for bailing me out of my editing issue I am forever indebted to you.

Todd M. LeMieux for creating the sickest cover on the face of the planet. I gave you free reign and you rocked it. I will be thanking you for the rest of my life.

My cover models Mr. Alex Minsky and Miss Brittany Marie Flores I cannot thank you enough. You two look amazing together and brought Leila and Garrett to life.

And lastly to my “Smutty Mafia.” You truly inspire me to become the biggest “Book Whore” on earth. (Even though I haven’t read a book in ages. Shhhhh)

Born and raised in New England, Christa is a married mother of three. She began writing her first book, Broken, in October 2012, as a love story to her husband, Frank.

Broken was released in February 2013, and within twenty-four hours of its release, it was on Amazon’s Movers and Shakers list as well as in the Top 20 Erotic. On the Ropes - Book One in the Down for the Count series was released in February 2014. OTR also climbed the charts on Amazon, hitting the Top 10 Sports Fiction and the Top 20 Romance Sports Fiction lists. Book Two, Going the Distance, is slated to be released in the summer of 2014.

Stay in touch with Christa!

Website:

http://www.authorchristacervone.blogspot.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christa-Cervone-Author/582898048419207

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Fantasy’s Bar and Grill

Michelle Hughes

Tears of Crimson Publishing

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