Ugly(151)

“Why is that?” his voice has a distinct twinge of developing disappointment.

“Because I’m moving to your apartment.”

His look automatically eases and he’s doing his best to contain his huge smile. “What am I going to do with you?” he asks as he flips us and starts nuzzling my neck.

“I have a couple of ideas,” I say as I spread my legs to accommodate his tall frame.





It’s been two years since Trent went to trial and was convicted, and he’s eligible for parole in another eight years. I was given the option to give my testimony via video conference so I didn’t have to face him in court, but I decided I needed to face my fears.

I walked into the courtroom with my head held high, my shoulders squared, back straight, and with all the composure of a skilled surgeon about to undertake surgery on the President. Inside though, I was praying I could keep calm and get the job done. I was nervous and I felt like I was going to be sick, but when Trent called me a slut under his breath as I approached the witness stand, it was then I decided. In order for me to move forward, I must face my past and flip it the bird.

And that’s what I did. I looked at the attorneys asking me questions, I answered them all, and I read from my diary about all the horrible things he did to me. Once I’d finished reading passages of my journal, I looked over and saw some of the jurors were wiping tears away. When I was excused from the witness box, I walked out the same way I walked in. With my head held high and my shoulders back and straight. I had nothing to be ashamed of. He put me through hell, brainwashed me, and kept me prisoner in my own mind by convincing me I was worthless. It didn’t take long for the jury to reach a verdict and convict him.

As I walked past him, I turned, smiled and gave him a nod. Then I walked out, and left my past exactly where it deserved to be.

Max was pacing the corridor, waiting for me outside the courtroom and the moment I made it outside the doors, I collapsed into his awaiting arms. It was by far the most difficult, yet liberating thing I had ever done.

I looked at the man who beat me, and told the court what he did to me.

“Hey, Snowflake, are you going to get up today,” Max says as I lay in bed, reminiscing about the court case.

“I’m thinking about it,” I answer as I stretch and look out our bedroom window to the beautiful city below us. The gold bracelet Max gave me catches a sparkle of light, and I smile, remembering and honoring our past.

Max places my hot chocolate on the bedside table and lays down beside me. He leans down and kisses my ever-growing tummy. “You know, little man, mommy and I can’t wait until you decide to join us,” Max says to my tummy as he kisses it again.

I lift my arms and place them beneath my head, and watch Max as he talks to my baby bump. The moment I told him we were pregnant, he got on line to find the best OBGYN in the state. Luckily, the second best is someone Max knows through the hospital. It was really cute how he automatically went into this protective mode. Protective of me and of our son.

“I think I want to give work up once Wade is born,” I say to Max. When we were thinking of names Max’s first choice was Wade. Of course, I cried.

“I’ve been telling you the same thing ever since you told me we’re pregnant.” He gets up and helps me sit up in bed. He hands me my hot chocolate and begins getting changed. “I think you should write a book. Miriam can promote it.” He turns and cheekily winks at me.

MML Publications has tripled its sales in two years, and has some of the hottest, most talented new authors around. I’ve found some exceptional gems, and I’ve been able to introduce them to Miriam and get them signed.

I sip my hot chocolate and follow Max’s taut muscles and firm lines as he strips out of his sleep pants and t-shirt into jeans and a shirt. “Stop looking at me like that,” he teases. “I have to get over to Liam’s and help him set up for Sophia’s birthday. Poor Liam’s copping it from Shayne, apparently she’s been quite hard to live with through this pregnancy.” He chuckles, then quickly adds, “Don’t tell her I said that. I don’t want to get Liam, or myself in trouble.”

I smile at him. “I won’t.”

“Anyway, you really should think about writing a book. Give it some thought.”

“Actually I have,” I answer, as I struggle to get up and go to my husband so I can give him a kiss before he goes.

“I’ll be back to pick you up in a couple of hours.” He kisses me on the lips. “But you have thought about a book? Really? You haven’t said anything to me about it.”