Chapter 34

Christmas Eve night

Brandy stepped outside on the porch and inhaled the scent of the mountains. She loved this part of the country, its ruggedness and its solitude and appreciated Alexia and Quinn for inviting her.

After the surprised announcement her parents had made at her father’s birthday party a couple of days ago, she needed to spend time here to recover from shock. After thirty-three years her parents had decided to get married on Valentines Day. Brandy shook her head. Heaven helped them all. Valerie Constantine becoming Valerie Bennett was definitely too much to think about. But she had to admit her parents actually seemed happy.

“We were wondering where you ran off to,” someone said behind her. Brandy immediately recognized Taye’s voice. She turned to meet three pairs of curious eyes. She smiled. “I thought I’d come out and appreciate the stars for a while. Are the little ones in bed?”

Rae’jean laughed as she leaned against a wooden post. She had only a couple more months left in her pregnancy. “Yes. It was easy to convince them that Santa only came after they went to sleep.”

Brandy nodded. “And the teens?” she asked referring to Taye and Michael’s daughters, Monica, Sebrina, and Kennedy.

“They’re upstairs listening that CD Alexia gave them,” Taye said shaking her heads. “You better be glad that you were given one of those detached cottages, Brandy. Some of us will be sleeping with ear plugs tonight.”

“Hey, don’t complain,” Alexia said laughing. “I could have given them the first item on their Christmas list which was a nude photo of Maxwell.”

Brandy shook her head. It seemed like her little cousins were growing up. “Will the adults still be opening their gifts tonight?” she asked. Alexia had made a suggestion that the grownups opened their gifts tonight so nothing would take away the kids’ excitement in the morning.

“Yes, that’s why we came outside to get you. It’s time, before Michael, Ryan, and Quinn get busy putting together that swing set out back, so we want to open the gifts now.”

Everyone went inside and as soon as the men were herded from the kitchen, they gathered around the tree. Alexia began passing out gifts, and when she handed Brandy a huge box, she said. “I was told to ask you to open that one first.”

Brandy met Alexia’s gaze and her cousin gave her an innocent shrug. “All right,” Brandy said, placing the other gifts she’d received aside. The box was prettily wrapped and she hated opening it, but she did so anyway. It appeared that every eye in the room was on her.

After opening the huge box she began removing globs of tissue paper and uncovered another box, this one a shoebox. She smiled thinking that one of her cousins had been thoughtful enough to get her the pair of boots she’d been talking about buying these past few weeks.

When she opened the shoebox she lifted a confused brow. They were men shoes; and a very expensive looking pair. Included in the box was a sealed letter that was addressed to her. She nervously opened the envelope.

Brandy,
You once said that you wanted someone who would love you unconditionally, someone you could trust, someone who was willing to take on your family and someone willing to father your babies. You also said that person had a big shoe to fill because you planned on moving into that shoe. Well, here are mine. I’m not only offering you my shoes but all my love as well. It’s been hard without you this past month and time away from you has made me realize that you were right. It’s time for me to move forward and not look back and I’m ready to do that. I know all the things you want and I want them too. I love you and I’m asking that you share my shoes and I promise to love you, protect you and cherish you until the day I die. If you believe my promise, if you accept my love and everything I’ve written, please take a step outside the door.

Grey

Brandy wiped the tears from her eyes as she glanced around the room. Everyone was quiet as they watched and waited to see what she would do. Brandy gathered the shoebox in her hand. “Excuse me, I have to go outside,” she said nervously, quickly heading for the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Behind her she heard Quinn chuckle then say. “Don’t count on it. He’s a Masters.”

Brandy stepped outside and closed the door behind her. She glanced around. It was dark and there was a full moon in the sky. Then she saw a movement and Grey appeared, out of the shadows. She was so glad to see him that she dropped the shoebox and ran into his outstretched arms.

He caught her and held her tight to him. “I love you, Brandy,” he whispered against her ear. “I love you so much. I didn’t realize how much until I left. I tried to fight it and couldn’t. You’re mine and I will never let you go.”

Brandy reached up and placed her arms around his neck. “And I love you, Grey, and I will never let you go either, and I will proudly share your shoes.”

A huge smile touched his lips. “That’s what I needed to hear.” He then reached down and swung her up into his arms.

“Grey! What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you to the cottage. I have something else for you there.”

Brandy smiled. “Umm, more shoes?”

He looked down at her and his smile widened. “No, more Grey.”

Brandy grinned. More Grey. She definitely liked the meaning behind that.