Forever Baby (38 page)

“Different good?”

“Yes, definitely good.” He chuckles. “I don’t see that lost look in your eyes anymore. You seem happy.”

“I finally am, especially now that you are here.” I lean in, giving him a chaste kiss.

“What are you feeling right now?” he asks as he rubs a strand of my hair behind my ear.

“Peace.”

“Peace?”

“Yes, because I know that our love is forever. It’s unbreakable. I am not afraid of losing you anymore. Before, I doubted everything. I doubted you and your true feelings for me. I questioned whether you would be faithful to me or leave me. I wondered whether or not I was truly good enough for you. I doubted my own feelings. I wasn’t sure if what I felt was real or if I simply wanted it so badly to be real. Lying here with you now, I am a different person. I am happy. I don’t fear losing you anymore because I know I won’t. There is no one else on this planet for either of us, and I know in my heart that whatever else I face in my life, I will face it with you.”

Andres pulls me in close and kisses my head. “I love you, Olivia Marshall, so much.”

My heart smiles. “I love you, Andres Cruz.”

He gives me his gorgeous wide smile and kisses me deeply. Pulling away, his beautiful blue eyes meet mine. “Promise?”

“Forever.”

“Damn straight, baby. Forever.”

Green.
I peer down at my green robe as I walk in procession toward the stage. Eastern Michigan University could have better school colors. Despite my usual aversion to wearing anything of this shade, at this moment, it is the most awesome color in the world because it means that I am graduating. I am giddy with excitement to get my degree and start my official adult life.

Cara stands behind me, rocking her grassy-hued robe. She could be a model for the robe company. The gaudy color seems to highlight all her best features. My mouth breaks into a smile at the thought. I glance up into the stands where I know they will be. All five in a row are my people. Smiles grace the faces of my mom, dad, Max, Andres, and Nolan. My chest swells with my love for these people.

Today is definitely on my long list of perfect days. I get to graduate, side by side, with one of my best friends while my other one supports me from the stands. Nolan graduated in April, and he now works for a company in Ann Arbor. Cara and I needed another semester because of our student teaching requirement, making us December graduates. She will hopefully find an elementary teaching job nearby soon, but she isn’t too worried about it at the moment. She has been promoted to manager at the restaurant, and she is happy about it. She is still with Dan, but she swears there are no serious plans in their immediate future.

Speaking of perfect days, I glance down to the diamond glittering back at me on my left ring finger. The platinum band is adorned with an oval diamond surrounded by a bed of smaller diamonds. The ring belonged to the other love of Andres’s life—his mother. All that this ring symbolizes is perfection, pure and simple. I think back to the day that will always rank toward the top of my list of best days—when Andres asked me to be his wife on our beach in Cadiz this past summer.

Andres got on his knee during a stunning sunset, speaking words of love and unwavering commitment. These were not new words coming from his mouth as he had said them to me before, but they became all the more powerful when he said them while holding the breathtaking ring in his hand. I will never forget the love that radiated off of him as he asked me to officially be his forever.

Once again, my gaze finds Andres in the stands, and he gifts me with that smoldering smirk, letting me know that he knows exactly what I am thinking after looking up from my hand. He catches me dreamily admiring my ring quite often, and apparently, he finds it very endearing. Every time I see it, I still can’t believe that I am here in this perfect life, graduating and going to marry the most amazing man I have ever known. I still don’t know what I did to deserve so much happiness in this lifetime, but what I do know is that I’m not going to question it anymore.

My life has been a whirlwind of experiences since Andres showed up on my doorstep last April. He stayed in Ypsilanti with me for a week, so we could watch Nolan graduate. Then, Andres and I made our way back to Seville where I stayed with him until the end of August. Andres took some classes, and La Banda toured throughout Spain for most of the summer. They have developed quite a following, and they have started playing at bigger venues. I went to every show, and Nadia came along for many of them. My chest swells with pride for their accomplishments.

The time I spent with Andres this past summer was priceless. We had the opportunity to build our relationship on the knowledge of forever instead of the base of insecurity and doubt. Andres had some healing to do as a result of my betrayal. The experience brought back all the feelings of loss and rejection that he had gone through with his parents. Together, we were able to work through our shortcomings and come out stronger. Neither of us is flawless, nor will we ever be, but together, we are imperfect perfection. Our love is the one thing I will never doubt again, and it is the greatest gift of my life.

After the summer, I returned to Michigan to finish my last semester of student teaching, and Andres stayed behind to finish his degree. The separation was difficult, but it wasn’t madness like the last time. I’d matured by then, and I didn’t make the same mistakes again. Being separated from him was a calmer occurrence this time because I knew we would be together again forever. He graduated a week ago with a degree in art and music. I am so proud of him, and I wish that I could have been there to show my support, but I still had my final week of student teaching to finish.

Andres is here for the next couple of weeks to spend the holidays with my family and me, and then I am moving to Spain. I don’t know if we will live there always, but for now, it is our best option. Andres has the band, and I am going to get a teaching job there. I have no complaints. Everything about Spain makes me happy. I will miss my family and friends, but we will have visits. Meanwhile, I will have my forever.

“Olivia Rose Marshall.”

When my name is called, I walk across the stage and grab my diploma. I shake the university president’s hand to the cheers of my five-person fan section.

As I exit the opposite side of the stage, I am overcome with a strong sense of gratitude. If I had to choose the three things that I am most thankful for in this very moment, they would be the support and love of the people in my life, the powers that be for putting me in a position to meet Andres and then giving us the opportunity to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime journey, and most of all, the strength to accept it all.

The End

My dream has come true, and I could not be more excited!

I have always wanted to be a writer, having a huge imagination and the love for telling a great story since I was very young. I’m an avid reader. There is nothing better than getting lost in a good book, falling in love with the characters, and having the message of the story mean something. As my childhood drifted away and the stresses of adult life took over, I pushed aside my love for writing in pursuit of stability. Life—work, school, and family— became priority, and I lost my dream of writing along the way.

No matter how many copies this book sells, I am blessed to have written it. This story and these characters have been in my head for a long time, and I am so happy to share this story with others. When I published this book, I accomplished a lifetime goal, and for that, I am so grateful. I want to thank my family and friends who have supported me in this journey and encouraged me along the way, always believing in me and lifting me up. You have my eternal gratitude.

To my children, the loves of my life, I want you to know how much joy you bring to me daily. I hope you always follow your dreams and find happiness in anything you do in this life. I am so blessed to be your mom. Mommy loves you forever and ever.

To my husband, thank you for loving me unconditionally, even when I am not always the easiest person to love. Your love and support lift me up when I need it most. I love you always.

To my family:

My mom, who I suggested shouldn’t read
Forever Baby
because she will be praying for me for weeks after, but who I know will read it anyway because she is always supportive of anything her children want to do—Thank you for always letting me be me and for making me feel awesome about it. The confidence you gave me has made my life what it is today, and I am so blessed to have had someone give me that. You have been my biggest fan from the beginning, and I love you so much.

My sisters—You are my best friends, and I am so blessed to have you. You have always shown me unconditional love and have been my biggest cheerleaders. Thank you for all your support and suggestions when I was writing this book. You have made this book and my life better just by being you. I love you.

My brothers—I love you tons. R—Thank you for writing a book first, reigniting my dream of writing a book myself, and for all your help with
Forever Baby
. You have also always supported me so much, and I am so grateful.

To my friends:

My cup runneth over with the amazing people in my life. To my forever friends who I trusted to beta-read
Forever Baby
first—Your suggestions made this book so much better, and I am so grateful. Thank you for taking the time to read it, in some cases multiple times, and for providing perfect, honest critiques. GN, LB, JJS, NR, JS—Thank you!

G—Your attention to detail rocks. You are so smart. Your comments made me laugh until I cried, and I still go back and look at them sometimes when I need a good laugh. You are tough and honest in your critiques, and my book is better because of you. You have been my constant my whole life and on my side always. You are one of the greatest blessings in my life. I love you forever.

L—I love you to the moon and back and then back again. Beta-reading might not be your calling, but thank you for loving and supporting me regardless. I’ve told you this many times, and I will tell you again—the day you were born, I was given one of the most amazing gifts this life has to offer. I love you forever.

JJ—Thank you for letting me know that I needed another BJ scene. The shower BJ is dedicated to you! Thank you for reading my book three times and for giving me great critiques each time. I love you forever.

N—My BBWFL! Thank you for setting me on the track for this genre in the first place. Your passion for reading reignited mine. Honestly, I started this book because of you, and I finished it because of your constant support. Our daily conversations, sometimes at two in the morning, about books are the best. Your suggestions for
Forever Baby
were perfect. Thank you for reading and rereading the book and many scenes multiple times! You haven’t been in my life for very long, but I know you’ll be in it always. I love you forever.

J—Thank you for loving and supporting me one hundred percent for more than a decade now. You are hands-down one of the most amazing people I know. My life is truly better because you are in it. Thank you for supporting me in this journey and in my life. #BFF #oneinamillion #beautifulinsideandout #iloveyouforever

S—You are my inspiration for Cara. Although you and Cara are very different in many ways, like her, you are the most loyal friend. You have always supported me and had my back. One of my beta readers said, “Everyone needs a friend like Cara.” I agree, and my college years would have been way different without you as my partner in crime. I love you!

To my beta readers:

Christina, Debi, and Amy—Thank you for taking time out of your lives to read a novel by someone you have never even heard of. You ladies are so talented, and you gave invaluable insight into the story. It still boggles my mind that amazing people like you read books to just help authors like myself simply because you love reading. I know how much time and energy it takes, and I am in awe. Thank you! Amy—You are my BBFF! xoxo