Troy Read online

  “That would be amazing,” I say finally eating the burger. It might be the second-best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.

  I love these women for not making a bigger deal out of my ordeal.

  We make standing plans to have a girl’s day every week. I learn that most of the time it’s all the women, but they wanted it to be just us to not overwhelm me. I give them credit for not asking questions about the compound. My mom couldn’t even help asking questions about it.

  In the car, we jam out to the radio.

  “Hey, Lissette. Has Troy proposed yet?” Jaymes asks from the back.

  “No, not yet. Do you think he should have by now? I mean it’s only been about two weeks.”

  “Brand asked me like the first night,” she says. “I don’t mean that like it sounds, but we both had issues and we both knew what we wanted.”

  “I know what I want,” I say quietly. “You guys got any tips or ideas to make him do it?” I begin to wonder if it’s me. Maybe he doesn’t want to marry me.

  “He’ll ask you. Don’t worry. It’s like ingrained in the Jorgensen men’s DNA or something,” Kensi says.

  We pull up to the house and I get out, thanking them.

  Inside, it’s dark. Shit, I missed putting Kari to bed, but I guess Daddy handled that. I smile when I check on her, all tucked in.

  Moving into the bedroom, Troy is watching sports recap, but he turns it off when I come in.

  “Have fun?” he asks.

  “Yes. It was a blast.”

  “Good. You bought some new clothes.”

  “I did. Nothing fancy.”

  “You want fancy things?”

  “No. Not at all.”

  “You deserve fancy things, Lisette. You deserve everything you want.”

  “All I want is you and our family.”

  “You have me, Lissi. Always have, always will,” he says standing from the bed. He’s just in his boxer briefs. “I love you, baby. Let me show you.”

  “You don’t have to ask to make love to me, Troy. I am yours, body and soul,” I reply taking his sudden kiss. He strips me down and makes love to me all night.

  Who needs sleep when you’re in love? Not me. I just need him, his cock, his love. Everything he wants to give me. I want it all.

  9

  Troy

  Four Weeks Later

  Shit. I sprint out of bed at the sound of Lisette puking her guts up in the bathroom. I make it in there in just enough time for her to have a go of it again. I hold her hair out of the way, rubbing her back. When she finally looks like she is done, I sit her on the counter and brush her teeth for her. She doesn’t say anything this whole time and it worries me.

  “Baby, are you ok? Do you need me to call the doctor?” I ask kissing her forehead.

  “No.” She says, her voice hoarse and low. I look into her eyes trying to see...anything to tell me how to handle this.

  “Are you sure? How are feeling now?”

  “I’m fine, Troy. Just pregnant is all.” She says this as she drops down off the sink and walks out the bathroom leaving me standing there like a statue. Pregnant. Did she just say pregnant? Holy fuck!! I am going to be a daddy again. Is all I keep thinking. My mind is suddenly all over the place doing a marathon, making sprints and lists of shit that needs to be done. Then it hits me. I still haven’t asked her to marry me.

  Walking out of the bathroom, I go into the room throw a T-shirt on and grab my car keys. Jumping into the car, I run to my parents’ house to go and grab Kari. She needs to be home with us when we celebrate this and make us official. I pull the ring out of my glove box and put it in my pocket, making sure I don’t forget to do that. Pulling up to my folks, I run up the steps and into the front door.

  “Well good morning son. What brings you here this bright and early in the morning?” My dad asks, his face etched in amusement. He of all people should know I don’t function much before ten in the morning, but this couldn’t wait.

  “Sorry dad. I need to grab Kari.”

  “Well, she is in the back with your mom getting dressed for the day. Is everything alright?”

  “Yes dad. Everything is great. I can’t explain right now, but I promise you will know it all in a bit. I just need to get my daughter and get home.” he nods his head.

  “Very well.” I run past him, and to the back of the house to the kids’ room.

  “Daddy!!” She says raising her arms for me to pick her up. “What are you doing here? I haven’t had pancakes yet.” her pout is so freaking cute.

  “I’m sorry baby girl. We had something come up and Daddy needs to get you home so you can hear about it. Is that ok? I promise, as soon as it is all done, we can come back here if you want with your mama and eat pancakes. If that is alright with your grandma.” I look to my mom.

  “Of course, it is, but is everything ok son?”

  “Never better Mama. Will tell you everything in a bit.” I kiss her cheek and me and Kari race out of the house. The entire drive back my little girl talks about everything she did last night with her cousins and friends and how much fun she had. It isn’t until we pull up to the house that she asks. “Daddy is Mommy ok?”

  “She is, baby girl. We just have something to tell you.” As we walk into the house, I thought I was hearing things at first. But, when Kari says, “Daddy, who’s crying?” I know I heard right. Why the fuck is Lissi crying? Is she not happy about the baby? We walk into the room and Kari runs to her mom putting her head on her leg.

  “Mommy, what’s wrong?” She asks in her sweet little voice. Lissi pops up, wiping her face, shocked to see Kari here right now.

  “What are you doing back so early, baby girl?” She looks at me in question.

  “I believe Kari asked you a question first. Why are you crying?” She looks at me and then she looks at Kari.

  “Why don’t we discuss this later. Not in front of her.” She says rubbing Kari’s hair.

  “No. Tell me now.” I say to her, wanting her to know she can’t lie to me. She looks down at Kari and back up at me. When she sees my face and how serious I am, she takes a deep breath and answers.

  “You left me when I told you. I guess it just hurts.” Shit. Now that I think about it, I was so shocked and excited that I did walk out without saying anything to her. Fuck! No wonder she is so sad. I walk up to her and grab her face. Leaning in, I kiss her and take a step back.

  “I’m so sorry baby. I was just so excited and shocked and knew I wanted to go get Kari. We had a plan, the two of us, to take you out to the carnival we attended in high school, when I knew I loved you back then. I was going to ask you to marry me on the ferris wheel we used to get on next week when it comes to town. However, knowing what you said to me this morning, I don’t want to wait any longer.” I turn and face my daughter. “Kari, I know you and I had a plan, but Mommy is going to have another baby, so it wouldn’t be a good idea.” I don’t get to finish that because my daughter is jumping up and down, shouting and clapping. Apparently, she is happy to be a big sister. Turning back to Lisette, I drop to one knee.

  “Lisette. You have been my everything since we first met, over eight years ago. The day I lost you, I lost a part of me. I never thought I would have the chance to touch you again. Seeing you and learning we made a beautiful baby girl, opened up something in me, long since chained away. I swear, to love you and our children, the rest of my life. Will you marry me?” My heart is literally beating out of my chest. I could feel the sweat forming on my upper lip, as I wait for my love to say yes.

  “Oh my God, Troy. It’s beautiful. Yes. of course, I will marry you.” She gets on her knees in front of me and cries as she wraps her arms around my neck. I hold my arm out for Kari and together, as a family, we embrace our new beginning.

  10

  Lisette

  Troy gave me less than two weeks to get this wedding together. I don’t know how he thought I could pull this together in so little time, but it’s all done.


  Missy, the goddess she is, will be handling all the food with Loki. The reception will be at UTGARD. Bill will be officiating. Normally it would be at his church, which used to be my dad’s, but I want an outdoor wedding. Summer is ending and the woods out by the Crawford’s place is gorgeous since the leaves are already turning. I picked out Troy’s ring with Torran’s help. It came from the Elite section. It belonged to Thor’s grandfather, Arne. There is an eagle engraved on the side and the ancient rune Odal (ᛟ) engraved on the inside. Odal is the Old Norse symbol for heritage and family. It’s perfect for Troy.

  Everything is done now, except the dress. In a few days, I will finally be Mrs. Troy Harrison Jorgensen. It seems like I have been dreaming of this forever. When I met Troy, I was in ninth grade, I knew one day I’d be his wife. Sure, I thought it would be years ago, but better late than never, I suppose.

  My mother, Nancy, is like a completely different woman without the albatross of my dad hanging around her neck. She smiles more, breathes easier, and isn’t so “on” all the time. I’ve never seen this version of her, but I like it. Enid, my mom, and I are wedding dress shopping.

  I come out of the dressing room and stand on the platform with mirrors all around me. I really feel like this is the one. It has a sleeveless dress with a form fitting bodice. The skirt is tulle heaven. So much tulle. It’s floor length with lots of poof. The train is my favorite part though. It’s about ten feet of fabric. I feel like a princess. It’s been so long

  “What do you think?” I ask when neither of say anything. They just wipe their tears daintily.

  “Yes, no, maybe?” I ask pulling the skirt out even further.

  “Yes,” they both whisper quietly. The look on their faces doesn’t tell me anything.

  “Oh good,” I say. We’ve been here for almost five hours. I am exhausted. I must have tried on thirty different dresses, but I am so glad this is the one. My mom was excited when I told her I was pregnant, though I know we were both thinking that because of a monster we missed this the first time around. Though I was young, too young to be pregnant, I was very happy at first. Then I wasn’t. I hate that I was so miserable, lonely, and scared that I missed out what should have been one of the happiest times in my life. I am determined to enjoy this pregnancy and I want my mom and Troy to be with me every step of the way. This time is going to be totally different.

  I step down and I am engulfed with hugs. God, how I have missed hugs.

  “This should have happened years ago,” Enid says.

  “And it would have too. If I had known what your father was up to, I would have stopped him.”

  “I know, Mama. I know.” She had tried to get me out of there, but my aunt refused to let her in. She regrets not going to the cops, but it’s all over now. I am free and happy for the first time.

  “You look beautiful, dear. Troy will love it,” Enid says.

  “You think?” I ask her.

  “I know my youngest son. He’ll love it, I promise.”

  “I hope so. He’s not giving me much time, but I want to be his wife more than anything.”

  “You will be, Lisette. Have no fear, my boy will get you to alter one way or another.”

  “I know. I can’t believe he never wavered in his feelings for me.”

  “Not once. He put his everything into his work with his brothers.”

  My mom buys the dress for me. Apparently, my father was a penny pincher and left my mom quite a tidy sum. She is also selling the house I grew up in. Too many bad memories. I don’t blame her. Personally, I would have burned the damn thing to the ground and started over, but that’s just me. I spend the rest of the day with them picking out shoes and the veil. It’s great to spend this time with them.

  After I get home for what I hope is the day, my phone rings and it’s Taryn inviting me out for drinks with my future sisters-in-law. Not that I can drink, but it sounds like fun. Excited, I get dressed quickly in a sundress and some boots. Troy is with his brothers and Kari is with my mom, so why not? Last week, I finally got my driver’s license and my GED. Troy bought me a new car, a Dark blue 2019 Suburban. It’s huge, but since I plan on filling it with kids, it will be perfect for our family. There is a hole in the wall bar in Bleak near Queen of Hearts Ink that we are going to. Twenty or so minutes later, I pull into the parking lot. It looks packed.

  My new cowboy boots stick to the floor as soon as I get inside. It’s dark and dingy and I fucking love it. I spot Taryn and Missy first, they are sitting at five tables pushed together. Looking around, I spot Migan and Daisy, who I actually know. She is a couple of years younger than me, but we were in the same tap class at Ms. Lola’s Dance Studio in Moosehead. Lanie, Erika, Cymion, Hailey, Tabitha, Portia, Carrie, Kitty, Elizabeth, Jacquie, and Kensi are seated around the tables.

  “Cadi couldn’t be here. She’s not feeling well,” Missy says.

  “Oh, I hope she feels better soon,” I say sitting down. I haven’t actually met Cadi yet. All I know is that she is Hank’s wife. As soon as I do, Taryn stands and puts a tiara on my head and a sash over my shoulder. Bride To Be is written on the sash.

  “Surprise,” they shout. A surprise bachelorette party is totally cool. There are four women sitting at the end, but I am not sure who they are.

  “This is Ava, Penny, Rosy, and Kennedy Crawford.”

  “Ah, you guys married the Crawford Boys?”

  “We did. Congratulations on your engagement,” Kennedy says, laughing.

  “I am going to need to hear the story of how you guys tamed those boys. The last time I saw the three oldest ones, they were doing donuts in the parking lot of the Dairy Shack after a huge football victory.”

  “We’ll have lunch after you get back from the honeymoon,” Penny says, grinning.

  “We aren’t going on a honeymoon for a while. I haven’t been home long, and I am not looking to leave anytime soon. Maybe in a few years.”

  “And Troy is good with that?” Erika asks.

  “He said he was. Do you think he might not be?”

  “Oh, no. I am sure he meant what he said,” she continues, reaching out to pat my forearm. I smile.

  After about two hours of chatting, the door opens and in comes a huge group of guys. One by one the girls pair off with their men.

  “Where’s Troy?” I ask when there are no more men to be had.

  “He’s had a bit too much to drink. He’s sitting in your truck,” Erik says before whisking his wife off to the dance floor.

  “I should get him home,” I say standing. “Thank you so much for doing this for me.” I continue my goodbyes and grab my purse. In the car, I see Troy sitting in the passenger seat.

  “You drunk, baby?” I ask giggling climbing in the car.

  “Not so drunk that I can’t see my queen,” he says chuckling.

  “Your queen?” I ask, confused. He points to my head. “Oh yeah. The girls threw me a bachelorette party.”

  “I know, baby. You look so damn pretty,” he groans touching my thigh.

  “Thank you,” I say moaning when his hand skirts up higher.

  “Climb over, baby. I need to fuck you now.” I parked in the back of the lot, away from other cars. We have the privacy.

  “Here? Now?” I ask urgently.

  “Yeah, baby. Don’t worry. I’d never let anyone see you when you’re fucking me. That is just for me,” he assures me.

  I nod and climb over the console and kiss him softly. His tongue finds mine and the kiss deepens. Raising up so he can free his cock, I look down and see how hard he is for me. The light in the parking lots sheds minimal light inside the car, but it’s enough and it has me drooling. When he’s fully free, I pull my panties to the side and slide down him slowly. Too slowly. With my knees on his sides, I bounce up and down on him. With my head thrown back, I let go. I feel his cock swell inside me. “I can’t last, this pussy is too good,” he grunts. “What’s your name going to be in a few days,” he demands roughly kissing my neck.
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  “Ahhhh, Mrs. Jorgensen,” I cry out. My orgasm is so intense, my legs are shaking. I am almost afraid to move.

  “Damn, right,” he says filling me. “Damn right,” he repeats kissing me softly.

  I pull off of him and climb back into my seat.

  Once we get home, we should go to sleep, but instead we make love all night long.

  I am so ready to be his wife.

  11

  Troy

  It is official. Lisette is officially Mrs. Troy Jorgensen. It took us forever to get here, but the point is that we made it. When I stood at the altar and watched her and my daughter walk down the aisle, I almost dropped to my knees and cried. They were so damn beautiful. Kari looked like a little fairy princess in her pink and purple sparkle dress. She walked with her flowers, taking her time to drop them all over the ground. Her smile is as big as the backyard. I managed to hold it together then. But when Lissi walked in, her hair up in a bun, with pieces falling around her face, her dress, fit for a Queen. She looked fucking ethereal and she’s MINE!

  Once my nephew, Bill, did his business, blessed our rings and discussed the meaning of them, we each gave our vows and now here we are the reception. I am sitting back in my chair watching her as she flits around the room, greeting and talking to people. I can’t help but smile because she is obviously in her element. I look to the other side of the room and see Kari dancing with her cousin Hank. She throws her head back and laughs as he tickles her neck and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. She is the happiest little girl now. Especially considering the life she had before this. Just goes to show how amazing a mom Lissi is.

  My family is all here. Each of them with their partner, engaging, having fun. Except my brother Dahny. He is the only one of us, not tied to someone. As much as he says he is fine and not worried about it and not lonely, I can read it on his face when he thinks no one is looking. Walking over to him, I simply say, “Your turn is coming brother. I know it.” I pat him on the back. He looks at me and for a fleeting moment, I see sadness. He covers it quickly.