Chapter Seventeen
Junior went to the hospital and found out Lilly was still missing and they’d set up a search for her. Mule told the family she’d been reported missing and they all needed to keep their heads up. He and the rest of his crew would search until they found her.
Junior reached out and took Sarah’s hand. “I’ll see you in a bit?”
“I want to be here for you and your family, but unfortunately I need to go to work. I’ll check on you in a bit.”
“Okay, thank you.” He pulled her into his arms. “You know, I love you.”
“Yeah, you know…this time, I do.” Sarah hugged him tight. “Go. You need to be with your family now. I’ll see you in a bit.”
He nodded and kissed her. “Thank you.”
His mind was in several different places. He knew in his heart—Lilly had been taken by the person threatening her. All he had left was to pray for her safe return. They were going to set up a communication station at the Sheriff’s office and hope that if someone took her, they would call for a ransom.
So far, no leads had turned up…she’d just vanished into thin air. Only Junior’s family would never give up and as long as they had leads, they would keep searching. Mule and the MC would eventually be called out but the rest of his family and employees were already arriving to start the all-out search of every square inch of Winslow and the surrounding areas.
Hours later…
Sarah walked up to Junior and touched his arm. She’d finished her shift and had gone home to get Emmy to wait with the rest of them for news on Lilly.
Emmy sat up. “Nana said you will marry us and make it official, is that true?”
Her innocent question made Junior’s heart pound. He had to swallow a couple of times before he answered her, “Absolutely, if your mom will have me, that is?”
Sarah smiled nervously. “Well, you see, daughter of mine, me and your daddy have a lot to decide on. Maybe he can take me out to dinner a few times, first?”
Junior nodded while wearing a huge grin.
Sarah kissed Emmy’s forehead, then mouthed to him, “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. He honestly felt Emmy was right. It had been long enough for them to be apart. Reaching out, he took her hand.
Sarah’s head swung toward her mom, Michelle and she glared.
Junior felt bad, he knew that look. Apparently, Nana had discussed the idea with Emmy. She’d used that look on him enough times and it actually worked. He would always apologize even if it wasn’t his fault. “Sarah, please…” To hide his amusement, he kissed her on the cheek then Emmy’s chin. “I think your nana might be right in that assumption.” He took his daughter from Sarah. “But you’re probably not supposed to tell me that. You see I need to get down on one knee and ask myself.”
“You can’t do that while you need that to walk.” Emmy pointed to his cane.
It was a reminder of why he’d finally come home permanently but it wasn’t the reason he loved Sarah enough to commit to her and possibly get married. He loved the woman unconditionally and it took all this for him to finally realize where his heart was at.
Sarah laughed. “It will take Junior a bit, but I’m sure he’ll manage.”
“Mommy, I want to tell him what I know okay?”
Sarah looked confused, but she nodded.
“Nana told me that my daddy loves me so much that he left to make a living to feed and clothe me. Maybe even buy me a pony or something like that. You know I love horses, oh and I love dogs.” Emmy paused looking first at Junior then over at Sarah. “I’m not expecting any of that. Maybe for my birthday or Christmas?” She gazed around at all the Mullin’s who were either laughing or shaking their heads.
His family needed this little girl’s innocence right now. With his father recovering from surgery, and his sister missing, it was what they all needed to make life a little better at the moment. He hugged his daughter. “I love you, Emmy, and I’ll buy you anything you want. No matter if it is your birthday or not.”
Her eyes spoke volumes, her little body quivered. “Really? Are you serious?”
“Honey, what else did your nana tell you?” Sarah asked the beginning of a smile finally working its way onto her face.
Junior was proud of Sarah for playing along with Emmy and her storytelling, it had to be difficult for her to listen to everything this little girl was saying. He knew her encouragement to her daughter to continue was for him, he’d missed so many important years with Emmy. He didn’t intend to miss anymore.
“Well, she said he loves riding big boy cows.” Emmy grinned. “Nana also said they’re actually called bulls and he rides them at the rodeos, like we went to last summer. Was he there that day, Momma?”
Sarah glanced over at Junior and nodded. “Yes, he was there. He rode the bull until he had to jump off.”
Emmy looked over at him, smiling. “Nana said you needed to make money to take care of yourself and maybe when you get done with that job, you’ll come home and try to make us your job.” She smiled towards Michelle.
Junior looked in Michelle’s direction too, and mouthed over Emmy’s head, “Thank you.”
Michelle nodded with a smile. They had been talking about him. They also had come to see him ride. He felt honored. He hadn’t even known they were there. Junior knew the instant Michelle turned to his mother and they both started laughing that there had been other things said. He would have to ask Sarah later about it. But it really didn’t matter, Junior was enjoying himself and he didn’t want it to end.
The worry and stress of their family had kept his mom uptight. He’d been watching her on and off. It would help her to go in and stay with his dad. “Mom, you go with Sarah and sit with Dad. We’ll let you know if there is any word on Lilly.”
“Okay. If you’re sure?”
Avis was led away by Sarah.
Junior then directed his attention to all his brothers and sisters. Kalvin had arrived home. “Kalvin, when did you get in?”
“Yesterday. You’ve been busy with your family, Dad, and Lilly.” Kalvin hugged him tightly.
He’d really missed his little brother. “It’s good to see you kid.”
“You too, Junior.”
Sarah returned and sat down next to him in a chair.
“Thank you, Sarah, for being here with me. It’s tough not knowing what’s going on with him.”
“You’re welcome, Junior. I wouldn’t be anywhere else at a time like this. Emmy’s sure having fun.”
“Sarah?” Junior said touching her elbow.
She turned to him. “Yeah─”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I guess. That daughter of mine…” She looked up at him and frowned. Then repeated herself, “That daughter of ours, is something else, don’t you think?”
Junior felt happier than he’d been in a long while and he answered truthfully, “She’s like you on the inside and me on the out. What a precious gift she is to me. Dammit, Sarah, I love you so much.”
“I love you too. Come with me please.” She pulled him along beside her, up to her mother. “Mom, I think you have a little explaining to do?”
“When you told me you were done hiding and were going to tell Junior, I decided to let Emmy know who he was first. She slept on it and then woke up excited about her new family.” Michelle smiled gently. She looked up at Junior. “You, Son, had the right to know about Emmy. But I’m going to tell you right now…You ever walk out on my daughter again…and you won’t see daylight for a long time.” Michelle was tough on him still, just like she’d been when him and Sarah dated in high school.
She always told him how it was and he appreciated that about her. Junior remembered all the ass chewing she’d given both him and Sarah.
“Both of you were just too damn stubborn to come to terms with what you have here right in front of you. That little girl deserves this family as you do too, Sarah. Junior, you better do right by my daughter too.” Michelle shorter than Sarah, and a lot louder, poked him in the chest.
Junior adored this woman as he did his own mother. “Yeah, I suppose we both know that now. And I will.” He looked down at Sarah on his other side. A tear slipped free and rolled down her cheek, he reached over and wiped it gently with the back of his hand. He hated seeing her cry because of him.
Sarah bit her bottom lip. “Junior, I’m so sorry I should never have kept her from you. I hope you understand I feared the consequences of our actions. I didn’t want her to be hurt as I have been every time you chose to walk out of my life.”
“No, you don’t have to say all that. I’m the one who screwed up, Sarah. Chasing after my dream was selfish and stupid. The riding wasn’t me. All along, as my father would have said, my destiny was right here.” He pointed to the ground. “I promise. I’ll make it up to you. I’m so sorry. Will you please forgive me?”
“I forgave you a long time ago. I can’t be mad at you, Junior. I’m the dumb one who told you to follow your dreams. At the time, I really thought I would be too mixed up in school to really miss you. But I’ve loved you and only you since I was a little girl when you pulled my pigtails on the playground in kindergarten.”
“Really? That’s about when I fell for you too. I’ll never forget you were taller than me, remember?”
They both laughed.
A few hours later, Junior walked over to take a sleeping Emmy from Maggie. “Here let me take her.”
“Thank you, my arm fell asleep.”
Junior held onto Emmy. When she woke a few moments later, she put her tiny arms around his neck and gave him a squeeze. Then she leaned in close to Sarah. “Come on, Mommy, group hug.”
Sarah laughed. “Okay, I think we all need some hugs, baby girl, but you better let your daddy put you down. Junior, you probably shouldn’t be lifting something as heavy as her.” Sarah tried to take her from his lap.
Junior wouldn’t let go of her, instead he said, “She’s okay, I’ll just stay sitting. I don’t mind.”
“Okay, you better stay put then. I need to go and check on your dad. I’ll see you in a bit?”
He nodded. “Geez, woman, you’re already going to start and boss me around and we aren’t even married yet.” He teased.
“Well, get used to it, because I’m not letting you go this time. You better get it all figured out while you have me,” Sarah whispered next to his ear before she backed away.
His mother had returned to tell them Matheau had suffered a bleed and the surgeon who was still in the hospital had taken him back to surgery.
Junior then visited with his family. Everyone was getting tired. Evening was coming around and they waited to hear back from the doctors.
Sarah had left them over two hours ago. Junior was getting anxious and Emmy was wanting to go home.
A few more minutes passed by then Junior spotted Sarah and another doctor walking towards them.
Damien who’d been holding Emmy, put her back onto Junior’s lap.
Junior was relieved to hold onto his daughter and prepared for the worst. When he spotted Sarah and she gave him a smile, he knew everything was going to be okay. He released the breath, he’d been holding.
Sarah led the doctor to his family.
Junior placed Emmy on the seat next to his, then stood up and greeted them. “Sarah.”
“Junior, Avis, and all the family. This is Dr. Adams. He’s the heart surgeon,” Sarah announced.
Avis walked over to the doctor with her hand outstretched.
They shook hands, then Dr. Adams reported, “Folks, I’m happy to report Matheau will be just fine. He’s got a long road ahead of him but I believe all of you working together will help him to a full recovery.”
The room erupted with cheers from his entire family.
Junior walked over to Sarah and took her hand. “Thank you, Dr. Adams, we’re so relieved.”
“You’re welcome. If there’s anything else, please contact me.” Dr. Adams said his goodbyes to the family before taking his leave.
“I’m so relieved and happy, Junior.”
He grabbed her hand and held it to his lips kissing her knuckles. “You’re an amazing doctor, thanks for your help.”
“It’s my job.”
Junior leaned over, kissed her on the lips, then whispered to her, “It is but I don’t care, you’re still a special woman and wonderful doctor. I’m proud of you. Sarah Lee Moore, I want you with me for the rest of my life. Will you marry me, please?”
“I never once over the last five years thought you would actually ask me that. All along though, I knew if you did, I was always going to say…” she paused.
Junior’s whole body went rigid as he held his breath and waited for the rest.
“Yes!” Sarah shouted out.
He kissed her as his entire family came forward and congratulated them.
Emmy stood up on her chair. “Wait!”
Everyone stopped and stared at the little blue eyed Mullin.
Emmy kept nodding her head with a smug little grin on her face as she put her hands on her little hips. “See? I told you all, we would be married!”
For a moment, the room was quiet, then they all erupted into laughter.
Junior swiped at his happy tears as he chuckled. He knew only one thing was missing from this room and his complete happiness—his twin sister, Lilly. He just needed to believe she would be okay and they would find her.