Love My Pain (Cape Falls Book 6)(37)

With the silence that surrounded her, she allowed her mind to drift, to think about everything else that was going on inside her world, past and present. After her visit back to her trailer park, she had made a vow to fight the burning feelings inside her. Whenever the darkness threatened to take her, she would fight it. Even when the pressure grew inside her, she would find some means to stop it.

Edward, he helped so much, and there were times that she really just wanted to be swallowed whole, and never think about all the crap that had happened in her life. It was in the past, and she needed to remember that.

“Hey, baby,” Edward said, sitting down beside her.

“I thought you were talking with the others.”

“I was, and then I was more interested in what you were doing.” He took her hand, and she stared down at their locked fingers. United together. This was what made her stronger as well. Edward, he never took. He gave her so much.

He gave her the freedom to breathe without the fear of life swallowing her up.

“I know there are times when you want to ask for me to give your stuff back,” Edward said. “It doesn’t fade so easily, does it?”

“No. It doesn’t. I wish there was a switch, and that it just turned off. I’ve got no reason to, and it’s not you.”

“I know. I’ve been talking to a doctor, and he has been helping me any way that he can to help me understand, to help me be better for you.”

She squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Edward. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“I didn’t do anything, babe. You did all of this, not me. I just fell in love with you, and I wanted to help you any way I could.”

“You’re a special guy, Edward. Real special.”

He tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “And you, my beautiful angel, are the strongest woman I know.” He gripped the back of her head and pressed his lips against hers. “You make me so damn proud.”

Tears filled her eyes and began to fall down her cheeks. They were tears of happiness. They were tears of hope.

She could do this.

She could be strong for the two of them.

She wasn’t going to fail.

She was going to succeed.





Chapter Eleven



“This is so awesome,” Sophie said, placing the next bauble on the tree. “How did you do it?”

Edward smiled, recalling all the delicious ways Isabel had convinced him to buy a tree. Of course, she didn’t have to do anything at all. He’d have given her anything she wanted, and he didn’t need anything to make this work.

“I have my ways,” Isabel said, looking his way. He gave her a wink, and loved the way she blushed.

The beautiful red complemented her pale skin. It was one of the reasons she loved spanking her pretty ass, and seeing his brand all over her. He handed out some more baubles that he had also bought for the tree.

In fact, he had bought so much crap, everyone who drove past would know they were celebrating it. There was not just a wreath on the door. Nope, he had the flashing Santas, the flying reindeer, the snowmen, twinkling lights, the works. Growing up, he didn’t have all of the stuff he had purchased, but this was about making new traditions, and he had one for Christmas morning that he had picked up yesterday.

Sophie was aware of his plan to propose, and was even helping him to make sure it was as romantic as possible.

It would just be the three of them present, which he was more than happy about. Isabel didn’t like large crowds, and she certainly didn’t need them.

“You two look so cute together,” Sophie said. “How did you meet again?”

“I was hungry, and your sister was a waitress. The moment I saw her, I just knew it was love.”

Sophie chuckled, and when her back was to them, he watched Isabel mouth the words “thank you”.

He wasn’t about to tell Sophie what had happened all of those months ago when he’d walked in to witness what he had. The doctor he spoke to had advised against telling anyone, and those at Control, he’d asked for them not to say anything, to keep their opinions to themselves, and that he could handle it.

“Does anyone want any hot chocolate?” Isabel asked.

“Yeah, I do,” Sophie said. Edward agreed, and Isabel left the room. “I can’t wait to see her face. Can I see the ring?”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re going to give it away, and it’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“I know, I know, I just can’t wait.” Sophie did a little excited dance, making him laugh. “You have no idea how excited I am for her. We’re all going to be one big family. Are you going to have kids? Oh my God, is she pregnant?”