Lahat ng Kabanata ng Pelican Bay Security: Kabanata 221 - Kabanata 230

"Whoops," Winnie says, turning the car with a hard left as we get closer to Pelican Bay. The stack of boxes hits the window and Katy hugs the middle one trying to keep everything lined up."Shit, we've almost made it," Katy says as we drive past a cop car stationed on the side of the road using a radar on cars as they pass. She smiles and waves as we pass the police car and we all breathe a sigh of relief when it doesn't pull out into the road after us."I will need so much church for this," Winnie says, stopping the car in the back parking lot of the bakery...."I just can't believe you did it," Nate sputters in complete disbelief.It's been four hours since we dropped the car load of drugs off at the bakery and left Tabitha with a bunch of similar questions. Anessa, the smart one, refused to let the drugs enter the store. But eventually, without even being called, Tabitha's fiancé and a few guys showed up in the back room, and magically the drugs disappeared. Ridge put the

"Yes, I promise." I cross my finger over my heart.Who knows why his actions mean so much to me? But they do. I stare at the green dot labeled Nate, reassuring me he's right next me even though I can see him as he sits on the bed. If I was younger and a little more naïve, I would tell my friends it was absolutely crazy. You don't attract someone with the issues I have, but I'm older and wiser. My heart has been broken. I'm aware that in life you clutch on to the little things that give you some sense of peace. And call me crazy, but knowing I can see Nate's green dot whenever I want is already providing me peace. Tabitha's not so crazy.Just the fact he's willing to do it and thought of the idea himself is enough. I can't imagine Barry ever offering such a concession. Then I would've known when he was out to late night dinners with his girlfriend or visiting the small studio apartment he'd rented for her. I'd have found out about all those times he promised me he was working late a

The noise gets louder and louder until it sounds like the motorcycles stop right on the other side of Ridge's house. I put the casserole down on the wooden picnic table in the middle of the yard, and Nate stands beside me holding Emma to his chest. The fact he's tense doesn't go unnoticed and doesn't make me feel better about the racket happening at the front of the house.The engines cut off in unison and I hear voices.From the right corner of Ridge's house walk a large group of men — oversized and wearing more leather than they should in the heat of Pelican Bay summer. They stop at the edge of the yard.One man in particular with a determined look stands with his arms crossed. His eyes drag through the crowd and stop at Anessa when he nods his head once in her direction. She nods back and then her head tips up, looking at Bennett, who stands by her side with a scowl written across his features."I don't remember inviting you," Ridge says, stepping up to the front of his crow

"It is too soon. I'm not making any promises right now, but I want you to know where I'm coming from. Josie, I'm not looking for a two-month stand. I promise I wouldn't be in Emma's life if I didn't plan to be here a while, and I want to be in both your lives for as long as possible."Hearing him say he wants to be in our lives creates another little crack in the wall formed in my chest keeping me from trusting. It's too soon.Neither of us are ready to say the words yet, but I hope he has found a family in Emma and me. I never thought I could be taken with a person — especially after the divorce — but as corny as it sounds Nate and I have a connection. Being with him doesn't make me feel like I have to fill every second with mindless chatter. I don't have to dress up and look perfect every time he's in the room. With him I can be myself. It's as if before I met him, I was running around looking for the second half of my soul. Now that Nate is here, I've been stitched back together

A BIT OF WIND — a cool blast off the ocean's waves — twists my hair and pushes past where Nate, Emma, and I walk along the beach. Emma squeals in her stroller. She's always loved to be near the water."Are you cold?" Nate asks, looking at the goosebumps running across my arms.I wipe them away and they stay gone. "No, every once in a while the breeze picks up, but I'm not ready to go back."We spent the day together, walking the beach hand in hand. Emma played in the sand, knocking down all the tall sand castles Nate worked so desperately hard to build for her. It was a wonderful afternoon. The sun warmed my skin, and the birds squawked in the sky while the waves crashed against the shore. It has been one of those days I'll remember for the rest of my life but each time I'll wonder if it was as amazing as I recall. It'll seem too good to be true.But that's what it is. Perfect.Nate stops and then pushes down the parking brake on the stroller. He stares out into the water wit