starting at the bottom of G&C with his finance degree.
The only downside to our blessed family was that they were scattered all over the country. We had given the kids the strength and bravery to live their lives for themselves, but that shit backfired when those lives they were living took Mira to Oregon, Travis to California, and Brian and Arik to New York. We saw them often, but not nearly enough.
Vicky and I ended up retiring in Vermont, and each kid and every goddamn grandkid swore it was the end of the Earth whenever they visited.
I felt little hands wrap around my left leg and I turned away from the stunning winter view that I got to see every time I was in my study.
“Pop-Pop, whatcha looking at?”
Travis had brought his family up early, claiming they needed a family vacation, and used my upcoming birthday week as a twofer. So, looking down at granddaughter number whatever, I ruffled her mop of brown hair with my hand. “Just looking at all the snow, Lena.”
Lena was only six, and as honest as only a child could be. “Dad said you’re going to be old next week for your birthday. Is that true?”
I dropped down on my haunches, so I could look into her pretty brown eyes. “I was old a long time ago, Pumpkin,” I told her.
“Does that mean NaNa Stems is old too?”
I winced.
Lena was the only grandkid that called Vicky NaNa Stems, and no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t get her to just call her NaNa or NaNa Vicky. Lena had overheard me calling her Stems one day, and the little sprite ran with it.
“NaNa Vicky is not old, Lena,” I denied. “Women never get old.” It was a lie. But a lie for the greater good of mankind.
Lena decided to change topics on me. “I overheard Dad telling Mom he was going to love her forever, Pop-Pop.” Her face completely mesmerized. “And did you know forever doesn’t stop?”
I grabbed her in my arms and walked over to my desk. I sat her on my lap at the same time the office door opened. I looked up to see Stems cross her arms over her chest and lean against the door frame.
I stared at my wife and, as always, time stopped, and my heart expanded with the love I had for this woman. I looked down at Lena and said, “Yes, I do know that forever doesn’t stop.” Lena’s eyes were wide and expressive. “It can’t stop because I never break my promises, Pumpkin. And I promised to love NaNa Vicky forever, too.”
“Just like Dad,” she whispered in awe.
“NaNa Vicky is my forever, Lena,” I told her while looking at my wife.
“Are you hers?”
Stems started tearing up, and that was answer enough.
The End.
Playlist
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Dollhouse – Melanie Martinez
Saving Me – Nickleback
Back In Black – AC/DC
Beautiful Soul – Jesse McCartney
Animals – Maroon 5
She – Live
Pretty Girl – Sugarcult
Take Me To Church – Hozier
Feenin’ – Jodeci
Unwell – Matchbox Twenty
Fallen – Alicia Keys
I Shall Believe – Sheryl Crow
~
Baby Come To Me – Patti Austin ft. James Ingram
Crazy In Love – Beyonce ft. Jay-Z
Turn Off The Light – Nelly Furtado
Right Here – Staind
Could I Have This Kiss Forever – Whitney Houston
My Love – Justin Timberlake
Standing Still – Jewel
The Heart Won’t Lie – Reba McEntire ft. Vince Gill
Take A Message – Remy Shand
Hysteria – Def Leppard
Angel – Aerosmith
Runaway – Live
About the Author
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M.E. Clayton works full-time and writes as a hobby. She is an avid reader and, with much self-doubt, but more positive feedback and encouragement from her friends and family, she took a chance and writing, and the Seven Deadly Sins Series was born. Writing is a hobby she is now very passionate about. When she’s not working, writing, or reading, she is spending time with her family or friends. If you care to learn more, you can read about her by visiting the following:
Smashwords Interview at:
https://www.smashwords.com/interview/MonClayton
Bookbub Author Page at:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-e-clayton
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/MEClayton
Other Books
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Please visit your favorite ebook retailer to discover other books by M.E. Clayton:
The Seven Deadly Sins Series (In Order)
Catching Avery (Avery & Nicholas)
Chasing Quinn (Quinn & Chase)
Claiming Isabella (Isabella & Julian)
Conquering Kam (Kamala & Kane)
Capturing Happiness
The Buchanan Brothers Series (In Order)
If You Could Only See (Mason & Shane)
If You Could Only Imagine (Aiden & Denise)
If You Could Only Feel (Gabriel & Justice)
If You Could Only Believe (Michael & Sophia)
If You Could Only Dream
The How To: Modern Day Woman’s Guide Series (In Order)
How to Stay Out of Prison; A Modern-Day Woman’s Guide (Lyrical & Nixon)
How to Keep Your Job; A Modern-Day Woman’s Guide (Alice & Lincoln)
How to Maintain Your Sanity; A Modern-Day Woman’s Guide (Rena & Jackson)
The Enemy Series (In Order)
Facing the Enemy (Ramsey & Emerson)
Engaging the Enemy (Roselyn & Liam)
Battling the Enemy (Deke & Delaney)
Provoking the Enemy (Ava & Ace)
Loving the Enemy
The Enemy Duet (In Order)
In Enemy Territory (Fiona & Damien)
On Enemy Ground (Victoria & William)
The Holy Trinity Series (In Order)
The Holy Ghost (Phoenix & Francesca)
The Son (Ciro & Roberta)
The Father (Luca & Remy)
The Redemption (Nico & Mia)
The Vatican (Francisco Phoenix Benetti & Luca Saveria Fiore) – Next Generation
Standalone
Unintentional
Purgatory, Inc.
My Big, Huge Mistake
An Unexpected Life
The Heavier the Chains…
Real Shadows
Contact Me
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I really appreciate you reading my book and I would love to hear from you! Now, unfortunately, because I do have a full-time job, and a family I love spending time with, at this time, I’m afraid it would be very hard for me to maintain a multitude of social media sites. However, for the sites I do participate in, here are my social media coordinates:
Favorite my Smashwords Author Page:
https://www.smashwords.com/interview/MonClayton
Like my Facebook Author Page:
https://facebook.com/claytonbooks
Follow my Bookbub Author Page:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-e-clayton
Follow my Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/MEClayton
Visit my Website at: