Chapter 30
Two months Later
“Rayna, this place is amazing!”
Scarlett felt excited for the first time about Bryson City since her mother’s death.
Limit and Fury were on either side of Rayna as she led them through Scarlett’s new home.
That’s right, her and Limit were officially living together.
During his trip to Louisiana, once they’d finally gotten a chance to talk about things, he told her that he’d purchased Rayna’s old house in hopes that she would one day share it with him. While Ox had returned to Bryson City shortly after Maddie’s funeral, Scarlett had chosen to stay at her home with Carter until everything was sorted out. Ox had given Limit the choice to stay with her or return with him.
While Limit and Ox’s misgivings over everything that had happened hadn’t been sorted out right away, over the time they’d been together since Maddie’s death, Ox had done his best to understand both of them and their relationship. Obviously, Scarlett and Limit had work to do, but the fact that they were both willing to face whatever challenges may lay ahead, together, meant a lot to Ox.
As her father, he was a little less lenient, but as Limit’s president he respected the hell out of him for pulling his head out of his ass and going after what he wanted and Scarlett really couldn’t ask for a better resolution between the two main men in her life.
So, Limit had chosen to stay…
They’d been inseparable ever since.
It wasn’t perfect at first; she’d been so caught up in her own grief, she all but ignored him. She hadn’t meant to, and Scarlett certainly didn’t want to hurt Limit, but she was so overwhelmed with the death of Maddie that she basically shut down.
It wasn’t until Carter of all people talked some sense into her that she realized that wallowing is the exact opposite of what her mother would have wanted her to do. Shortly after, he’d even left Louisiana to go on a trip of his own that Scarlett didn’t doubt he would need.
So, she’d finally decided to take a three-day long trip back to Bryson City on the back of Limit’s bike and enjoyed every second of it.
She’d even gotten her first tattoo along the way.
That’s right, she had Limit’s brand directly on her forearm where everyone could see it. She got to pick the design, but he got to pick the location. At first, she’d figured he’d go for a traditional tramp-stamp.
He’d surprised her when he pointed to her right forearm.
“I know you’re more conservative than me, and I’d love to tag that ass with my name. But, I want you to love it as much as I do. Will your forearm be okay?”
He’d been so thoughtful about it that she couldn’t even be mad that it was always visible. That was the whole point, right?
In that time, she also got her stitches removed from her arm and from her side only to reveal some pretty kick-ass scars that Limit loved to trace with his tongue. He still got worked up when he thought about Scott, but as far as that whole ordeal went, no one questioned the car accident story. Eventually, she’d heard from his father, which she’d expected- there was no way Trey Worthington would let it go that his son had died in North Carolina, not far from where she was living- but she’d kindly explained that she had no idea what happened to Scott.
How could she have known he would get blitzed out of his mind and try to drive to her apartment?
How could she have known he’d get so drunk, he’d drive right off the side of a mountain?
Trey had ended up being so embarrassed by the time she got done reading off every phone call, playing every pathetic voicemail, every threatening voicemail, that Scott had left her, that Trey was willing to agree to never contact her again.
A personal victory, in her eyes.
As Rayna led almost the entire club through her and Limit’s new house, Scarlett felt that same sense of contentment she’d felt months ago wash over her.
Her mother would be happy for her.
She knew that.
Everything with Limit was slowly working into something that made both of them stupidly happy. Scarlett still had a lot to learn as far as their world went- she didn’t doubt that one bit. But, it was something her family could teach her together.
“And here, we have the master bedroom…”
As Scarlett looked up, she caught sight of Limit heading for the stairs. Instinctively, she followed him.
“Baby? Where are you going?”
He smiled up at her from the bottom of the staircase.
“We have one more guest.”
As he opened the front door, a small older woman stepped over the threshold and squealed with delight at the sight of Limit. Scarlett instantly knew she was his mother, Eve.
“You must be the woman whose tamed my hellion of a son,” Eve joked as she opened her arms in Scarlett’s direction.
Eve was a petite woman with dark hair and eyes the same color as Limit’s.
Scarlett hugged her close and whispered, “Only some days.”
Eve roared with laughter as she pulled back and assessed the two.
“So, when am I going to get some grandbabies to spoil?”
Limit scratched the back of his head before he shrugged uncomfortably.
Scarlett laughed outright and winked in Limit’s direction.
“We were just about to take a peek at the master bedroom, why don’t you join me?”
Limit mouthed a thank you in her direction and she blew him a kiss as she eased his mother up the stairs.
Babies?
Not any time soon. For her, at least. Esme didn’t have much longer until she was due, a few months at most.
As Scarlett rounded the corner of the hallway that led to her new bedroom, she caught sight of Emily and Green kissing near the bathroom. He had one arm poised against the wall above her head and other resting on her waist.
Scarlett couldn’t help but smile.
As Eve chattered on in her ear and the rest of the crew hung out around her new home, she realized that her mother had known what she was doing all along. Maddie Hunter had been a smart woman, sending her away when she did.
Scarlett couldn’t help but be grateful for everything she had.
“Hey, Scarlett! You’ve got a package down here!,” Torch called.
Eve waved at her to go ahead and check it out, so she ambled down the stairs and took the small box he held out for her.
When she saw her mother’s familiar scrawl, she gasped.
The box wasn’t big, more so oblong than square. She tore through the packing tape as quickly as she could and pressed a shaky hand to her mouth when she saw the contents of the box. All of her pictures from her childhood, neatly arranged by year and age.
There was a letter tucked into a neat envelope on top of the pictures, and Scarlett hurried to open it.
“What is it, princess?”
Limit leaned against her as he glanced into the box.
“My mama sent it to me.”
My dearest Scarlett,
You asked me for these weeks ago, but I wasn’t quite ready to part with them yet. I’m sending these out with Carter because it hurts me to see them go, but I know you and Dean will need these more than I do anymore.
I haven’t had the chance to tell you this recently, but I love you. You’re bright, smart, and so kind. You deserve the best this world has to offer, but I understand that what’s best for you may not be what any of us had in mind. This is your life and your journey and I want you to love every second of it.
Take the risks, baby.
Love passionately.
Live your life to the fullest, and never let your own fear keep you from doing so.
P.s. Tell your father I still remember.
All my love,
Your mother
Xoxo
By the time she got to the end of her mother’s letter, she was in tears for the first time in weeks. Limit was obviously reading over her shoulder.
“What took it so long to get here?,” She murmured.
“The post office said they’ve had it on a shelf to be delivered on this date exactly. What’s so special about the date?,” Torch asked.
Scarlett had no idea.
“I can tell you what’s special about the date,” Ox said as he lifted the letter out of Scarlett’s hands. His eyes roamed until they landed on the line- Tell your father I still remember.
“Dad? What’s she talking about?”
Ox ran a hand through his hair and smiled lovingly at her as he folded up the letter and handed it back to her.
“The date is the day we would have been married, Scarlett. Twenty-two years ago today was the day we were supposed to get married,” He said softly.
Limit wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.
“I guess she wanted to give you one last gift,” Scarlett said.
Ox shook his head and tipped her chin up.
“No, Scarlett. I already got the best gift any dad could ask for.”
As Scarlett glanced around the room, she had to agree with her father.
She was surrounded by people she loved, and people who loved her…
“Yeah, I’d have to say you’re right.”
The End