Serena, p.32
Serena, page 32
Because the night had to be perfect, Starlett had done the cooking, because cooking still wasn’t her forte. While she could cook good enough to keep them from starving or eating out everyday, she was by no means a great cook. Tonight demanded a great cook. Taking one final look around to make sure everything was just the way she wanted it, Serena made her way upstairs to shower and change.
Elray couldn’t wait to get home. This trip could not have come at a worse time. He had never turned down work for benefit shows that helped needy children. It helped that both his sister Alex, and her husband Kimble were there to keep him company, but he missed his family. Both his daughters had ear infections and Serena did not want to leave the girls, so she hadn’t come. Also, since her return to work at Dillon’s shop one of her clients had commissioned her to customize a bike for her son who was graduating from med school. He completely understood her dedication to completing it on time.
As soon as they got the luggage loaded into Alex and Kimble’s SUV, Elray jumped behind the wheel.
“Get in. I’m driving cause both of you drive too damn slow!”
Elray saw his brother- in- law about to protest. Silently he laughed to himself when he saw his sister lean over and say something in his ear that had him yanking open the door and shoving her inside.
When he pulled into the driveway, he saw Serena waiting on the porch and before he put the SUV in park good, he was out the door walking briskly up the walkway. Since he didn’t see the girls he wondered if they were asleep. If so, he planned to use the time to properly greet his wife.
“Hey baby,” he said as he pounced up the porch into her waiting arms. “Did you miss me?”
“Elray, you’ve only been gone a week and I talked to you everyday.”
He was about to say something, but her inability to maintain a straight face made him grin before pulling her back into his embrace.
“I hate to interrupt, but since you left all your bags in the car and my wife insisted I bring them too you. Where do you want them?” Kimble joked.
“Sorry Kim. You can leave them right there. I’ll take them on inside.”
“Hi Kim.”
“Hi Serena. Well I better be going. Alex will be blowing the horn any minute because she told me to hurry up.”
Going back down the stairs Elray grabbed his luggage and he and Serena went on into the house.
“Wow it smells so good in here.”
“It’s all your favorites.” Raising an eyebrow, he responded.
“Really. And what exactly did I do to deserve all my favorites?”
Serena’s soft laughter filled the foyer.
“You’re the greatest husband in the world. I love you and I just wanted to do a little something to show you just how much I appreciate you.”
“Oh baby, trust me, I can think of some more interesting ways for you to show me how much you appreciate your wonderful husband.”
Pulling his wife back into his arms Elray showered sweet little kisses across her face and down her neck. He wanted nothing more at this moment than to take her upstairs and reacquaint himself with her body. A week wasn’t long but it was longer than he liked to be without her. The delicious smell of the meal waiting for him again assaulted his senses and he reluctantly pulled away.
“But since you’ve gone to so much trouble to fix me all my favorites, let’s have dinner first.”
It took several seconds before his wife responded.
“Okay. You go wash up while I finish setting the table.”
A few minutes later Elray joined her in the dining room. Since tonight was his night, Serena slid a chair out and motioned for him to sit.
“Why thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” she replied as she went about fixing his plate. She sat down next to him and they had playful banter as they enjoyed the meal. Clearing the dishes from the table, Serena decided it was time to tell Elray about the envelope from Renee’s lawyer and her decision to return to racing.
Walking up and standing directly in front of him, she handed Elray the large brown envelope.
“This package from Renee’s lawyers came the day after you left.”
She watched him as he took the package, opened it and began to scan the pages. Several minutes past and still Elray hadn’t said anything. He just continued reading one page after another. Quietly, Serena sat down next to him to wait patiently.
When he looked up at her, the emotion shown on his face surprised her.
“These are papers granting us joint custody of Brandis along with a letter from Renee. In the letter she says that even though she wishes we could be a family, it’s no longer about her. She says that she realizes that you would never harm Brandis. Apparently, she saw you with him and the girls in the park and could see the love in your eyes when you looked at him.
She finishes the letter with, “You see—I’m not as selfish as I’m sure you both believe I am. I love my son and I know you love him too Elray. This isn’t an idea situation for any of us but I’m willing to try and make things work so that Brandis can be with us both. Take care of my baby and remember I’m doing this because I love him.”
Renee
“Wow. I’m so happy for you baby. I know this is what you wanted.”
“It is but I didn’t want Renee to feel like I was trying to take Brandis away from her. According to this, she has agreed to continue letting him spend every other weekend with us as well as the entire summer. Baby, I know this is a lot to ask of you. Weekends are one thing, but the whole summer. I can hire help for you so you won’t have the burden of caring for an extra kid.”
Shaking her head, Serena got down on her knees in front of her husband and wrapped her arms around him.
“You will not! I’ll love having little Brandis here as much as you will. Oh Elray, I didn’t think I could ever be this happy. I can still remember a time when nothing in my life was more important than racing a bike. Now because of you and the love you’ve given me, there’s nothing more important to me than this family.”
She allowed Elray to gently move her back from his embrace. He then placed the papers on the table, slid down to the floor with her and pulled her back into his arms. In the hours that followed, they made love right there on the floor of their dining room and reaffirmed the love they shared for each other.
As Serena lay in her husband’s arms and listened to his smooth even breathing, she realized that everything she said was true. Returning to racing was now the farthest thing from her mind. She had the one thing she had always wanted more than anything, happiness. It’s just now she knew that racing wasn’t the only way to achieve that happiness. Until the kids were older, her husband would never know of her desire to return to racing.
The End
www.urbanromanceauthor.com
Author Bio:
Born and raised in the chilly Midwest, Tiffany spent much of her childhood and adolescences with her head stuck in a book. Reading has always been one of her favorite past times. The only thing more pleasurable than reading a book is spinning her own tales of intricate, sensual and erotic romance. She made the decision to write romance and relationship very early in her career because; she has always found intrigue in the completed world of relationships.
Tiffany adopted the persona of the, the Urban Romance Author, because she feels her romances deal with real life and real issues prevalent in today's relationships. She writes the sweet and good relationship sagas as well as the gritty, complicated, and yes, sometimes-hurtful relationships.
She herself met and married her husband Laville at a very early age. They have spent twenty-five years together and now reside in Atlanta, GA., with their children.
Red Rose Publishing
He Isn’t Mine
My Best Friend's Sister-Forbidden Love Series Book 1
Serena-Forbidden ove Series Book 2
In Hot Pursuit
A House Is Not A Home
Red Rose Publishing, Serena
