One Lucky Hero (27 page)

Four Years Later

D
EAN
S
PARKS STOOD
in the crowded hallway next to his wife, waiting impatiently for the unveiling to begin.

“Why are you muttering like that?” Violet asked.

“I'm not muttering.” Was he? He hadn't even been aware he was doing it, but they had been standing there for fifteen minutes at least, and he knew that Violet had to be uncomfortable. After all, she was carrying about twenty-five pounds of extra weight in front of her body.

As Dean searched for a place to seat his very pregnant wife, he thought he saw her wince.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, it's just Braxton-Hicks,” she said.

“Are you sure?” Violet was just over eight months, but he had heard stories from his sisters and his friends. Plus, there was that video of the woman giving birth while the husband was driving.

Dean shuddered, a cold sweat breaking out all over his body just thinking about it.

Suddenly, the crowd exploded in applause as Casey came around the corner and stood in front of a large white sheet. Looking at him now, Dean couldn't believe he was the same kid he'd first met. Now nearly six feet tall and still growing, it seemed, Casey smiled out at the crowd. Dean remembered how Casey had once dreamed of doing a mural for his school, and now he was about to present his second one. The school had asked him to do another before he left for NYU, and he had spent all summer painting, showing none of them what he was working on.

Casey's high school principal stepped out to make the introductions, just as Jack Douglas and his wife, Sandy, pushed through to stand next to them. “Sorry we're late, but traffic was awful.”

“It's okay, it is just starting.” Dean watched Violet give her father a tentative hug before greeting Sandy warmly. It seemed that no matter what Jack tried to do to make up for all those bad years, Violet never quite seemed at ease with him. Dean was sorry for that but proud of her for trying. It was all any of them could do.

“Where the hell is Daisy?” Violet griped.

Daisy appeared between them. “I'm here, Vulcan hearing and all. Sorry, but that line to the bathroom was fucking ridiculous.”

Dean coughed, hiding his laughter as Violet glared mutinously at her sister. He could almost hear Violet trying to tell Daisy to watch her language, but she didn't bother saying it aloud. If Daisy was incorrigible at eighteen, there was no changing her at twenty-two.

“Thank you all for coming,” the principal said. “Today, I have the pleasure of introducing one of the finest artists to ever grace these halls. We asked him to paint something special to reflect our community before he leaves us for NYU in a few weeks. Please welcome Casey Douglas.”

More clapping as Casey waited, and once it was quiet again, he spoke loud and clear. “Thank you for coming. This particular piece was inspired by my past to prove that no matter how dark the time, we can't give up. We must continue to search for the best within ourselves and the world around us. I was lucky to have my family and friends to get me through. Some kids don't have that kind of support, but I hope that this at least will give them hope.”

“And so, without further ado, here is
Violets in the Sun
.”

Violet gasped as Casey pulled down the sheet to reveal a bright purple field of violets and a blast of sunshine highlighting their colors. On either side of the mural was darkness with the hint of shapes, and there were mountains in the background. The mountains were lit up with oranges, pinks, and yellows, and atop one was a single figure reaching toward the sky.

There were collective sounds of approval before more thunderous clapping, which echoed through the hallway. Dean leaned over Daisy, careful to not let Jack hear, and spoke in Violet's ear. “If you were ever worried that kid doesn't love you, I think we can put that to bed.”

Violet flinched, and Dean turned toward her just as her skin turned sheet white.

“Violet, what's wrong?”

She reached out and gripped his arm, her eyes wide. Daisy moved out of the way as Violet said loudly, “We have to go.”

Alarm shot through Dean like electroshock. “What is wrong? Are you okay?”

“I think”—she swallowed—“my water just broke.”

I
F SOMEONE HAD
told Violet five years ago that she would be lying in a hospital room in the labor and delivery ward, holding her daughter, she would have laughed in their faces. Never in a million years could she have imagined her life turning out like this. The fears and doubts were still there, at the back of her mind, but they no longer plagued her every day. She had spent the last four years discovering who she was, and she was eternally grateful for the man standing next to her for supporting her.

Dean leaned over and kissed her forehead, smiling down at the little wrinkly bundle in the pink blanket. “She's the prettiest thing I've ever seen.”

“I think so, too.”

A knock on the door nearly made Violet groan. For hours, friends and family had been streaming in to say their congratulations, and although she appreciated having them, she was exhausted and dying to sleep.

Casey and Daisy peeked inside, and Violet was relieved it was them.

“Hey.”

“We come bearing gifts from Meredith. She says she needs you, and the place is falling apart,” Casey said, holding up a pink pastry box from The Sweet Spot Eatery.

Violet had started working at the little restaurant and bakery just after Dean and she had celebrated their sixth-month anniversary. It had been the move to solidify her dream of one day owning her own shop, but for now she was content to come in early and bake all the delectable treats that graced the dessert case. Meredith had hinted lately about making Violet a partner, but it was a big decision, one she still wasn't sure she was ready for. Time would tell.

Casey and Daisy came to stand next to the bed. Daisy wrinkled her nose. “Babies are ugly.”

“She is not!” Dean practically roared, startling the baby in Violet's arms.

“Geez, don't be so touchy. I meant ugly in a way a pug is ugly, you know, so ugly they're cute.”

Casey laughed as Dean's face turned molten red, and Violet sighed. “Do you have to torment him? I am too tired to referee.”

“That's what little sisters are for,” Daisy said.

This seemed to mollify Dean, who grunted at Daisy.

Casey reached out his arms, surprisingly. “Can I hold her?”

Violet handed off her daughter to her new uncle, tears blurring her vision as she watched Casey smile tenderly down at her.

“What's her name?”

Violet swallowed. “We were thinking about Hope.”

Casey trailed a finger over Hope's cheek. “I think that's perfect.”

Dean's phone rang, and he stepped out of the room to take it.

“I think I'm going to go grab a cup of coffee, see if maybe I can score a hot doctor's number,” Daisy said, shimmying her hips out the door.

Violet shook her head. “Isn't she dating a med student already?”

“Not anymore, apparently,” Casey said.

As Violet watched Casey move around the room with Hope, she sniffled. “I'm going to miss you when you leave.”

Casey glanced up to meet her gaze, a puzzled expression on his handsome face. “I'm going to be home in a few months for Thanksgiving.”

“I know, but the house won't be the same without you.”

“You mean, you're going to miss me and my friends eating all of your food and trampling all over your clean house?”

“Of course I will.” In truth, Violet had always known that Casey and Daisy would go off to college and start their own lives someday, and there had been a time when she'd looked forward to it. But today, it all felt too soon. Everything was changing so fast. “I remember the day Mom brought you home from the hospital. You had soft red hair and alien fingers. I just can't believe that—”

“Okay, enough, you are just suffering from a wash of hormones or something.” Casey sat down next to her and handed her back her daughter. “You do not need to stress and worry about me. I'm going to be fine, and I guarantee that you will be so busy, you will probably forget my name half the time.”

“You're stupid,” Violet said. “I'm going to miss you so much, I'll probably call you a dozen times a day and show up at your dorm, embarrassing you in front of all your cool new friends.”

Casey squeezed her shoulder with a smile. “You never embarrass me, Vi . . . except when you do that thing where you try to sing and it just sounds like fighting cats—”

She would have smacked him, but her arms and heart were too full. “You're a brat.”

“I am what you made me.”

A lump burned at the back of her throat. “Then I did really good.”

Dean chose that moment to return, glancing between them curiously. “That was my mom. She's laid over in Denver but will be here soon.”

“Well, I've got some more packing to do, and you need to rest. New babies are brutal, I hear.” Casey winked at them as he left the room, and Dean chuckled.

“I'm gonna miss that kid.”

“Me, too.” Violet leaned her head back against the pillow and gazed up at him. “I'm so tired.”

“Here, I'll put her in the crib and let you get some rest.”

Violet loved the way Dean carried Hope, as if she would shatter in his arms at any moment. As he laid her in the plastic crib, Violet scooted over on the bed. “Come up here.”

With an eyebrow raised doubtfully, he shook his head. “There's not enough room.”

“We'll snuggle. Come on, I need you.”

And that was all she had to say. Slowly and carefully, Dean crawled up into the bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Happy?” he asked.

“Not the word I'd use.”

“And what word would you use?”

“It hasn't been invented yet.”

She felt his lips stretch into a smile against her forehead. “I love you, Violet.”

As Violet drifted off to sleep, she murmured, “I love you, too. Forever.”

 

 

 

To My Readers,

Every twelve minutes, a death by suicide occurs in the United States. These deaths leave behind devastated loved ones, and often with one lingering question; why? If you or someone you know, are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a loved one or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-(800) 273-8255. Please remember, you are not alone.

T
HIS IS MY
eleventh published work, and through this whole crazy process, there have been so many amazing people who have stood by me and helped me through. First off, I want to thank my awesome editor, Chelsey Emmelhainz, who gives me all the right notes and encouragement. I want to thank my amazing agent, Sarah Younger, for putting up with me, even during my crazy times. To my parents, family, and friends who support and encourage me, especially my husband and our children: Thank you! To my author friends, who understand the ups and downs and struggles, I love you and thank you for all of your listening ears and advice. Thank you to my Rockers for their unwavering awesomeness! I love your guts. To Katherine from the K9 Connection Program: Thank you for the e-book and answering my questions!

 

Look for the next book in

Codi Gary's Men in Uniform series,

HERO OF MINE

Coming August 2016 from Avon Impulse.

An obsessive bookworm,
CODI GARY
likes to write sexy contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she's not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.

Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at
hc.com
.

The Men in Uniform Series

I Need a Hero
(a novella)

One Lucky Hero

The Rock Canyon, Idaho Series

Bad For Me

Return of the Bad Girl

Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines

Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars

Things Good Girls Don't Do

The Trouble with Sexy
(a novella)