An Unexpected Forever: The Forever Series

By Kaydee Mavericks

Hunter

Three years ago I thought my world had completely fallen apart. I've been living day to day for my daughter, never really focusing on myself.

The day that I walked into that room and saw Kali was the day my life changed. She completely tipped my world upside down and I'm just not sure if my heart can take it.

She was unexpected and it scared the living daylights out of me.

Kali

I thought I had gotten out.

I was wrong.

When he came fore me I thought my life was over. I never considered him coming back would change me life forever. I never dreamed what he did to me would lead me towards the man who would cherish and love me for me.

When you think your life is over and you don't see a future, all you can do is live day by day, only to hope that one day the unexpected will come and make it all right.

Hunter was my unexpected.

Can Hunter and Kali push forward after their pasts have consumed them for so long?

Or will the unexpected be too much for them to bare?

Will they get the Unexpected Forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaydee Mavericks
• Release date: Dec 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781507079287

Book preview

To all who have lost someone too soon,

remember that life does go on,

and that you are not alone.

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Today was the day that would change our lives forever. Our little girl was making her entrance into the world. Rushing into the hospital with Jana by my side, both of us can’t stop smiling, knowing this is it.

Excuse me. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. My wife is in labor, we need some help. I grab the first nurse I see.

Of course. Let me grab a wheelchair and I’ll take you right on up. She says, smiling sweetly at the two of us.

Once we are placed in the maternity room, her doctor comes in, Let’s check and see how many centimeters you’re dilated, Jana.

The look on the doctor’s face scares me as he makes his way back over to Jana after putting on his gloves.

What’s wrong, doc? Taking a deep breath. After everything that we have been through trying to conceive, I don’t know if I can handle any bad news right now.

Nothing at all, looks like your little girl is ready to make her entrance into the world. Jana, are you ready to push?

YES! She screams along with making a grunting sound, and I know she’s more than ready.

Alright then, let’s meet your little girl. The doc says smiling.

After about an hour of pushing, a lot of screaming, I see that Jana is getting tired and something just doesn’t feel right to me. Nothing seems to be helping her through the pain. When she looks up at me her face is heartbreaking, my wife’s in pain and there isn’t a damn thing I can do to help her.

Come on honey, a few more pushes and let’s meet our baby girl. Trying to calm her and help her through this any way I can.

After a few more pushes while all I can do is hold her hand and encourage her over and over, when all of a sudden Jana pushes down hard one last time and we hear the most beautiful sound in the world. Our baby girl, crying.

The doctor hands her off to the nurse to be cleaned, and I can’t stop looking at my beautiful girl. She’s the most precious thing I’ve ever seen. The nurse asks me if I want to cut the umbilical cord and I jump at that.

The doctor tells my wife to push one last time to expel the placenta. That’s when I hear it. The most horrifying sound, almost like a blood quenching scream, and I’ll never forget it.

The doctor and staff rush around the room, announcing that she’s hemorrhaging. It seems like forever as I observe them attaching emergency medical equipment to my wife. Then they finally take Jana to the operating room, leaving me alone with our precious little girl.

I’m numb. I don’t know what to think. My bundle of joy is lying right in front of me, but my heart is shattering and ripping out of my chest for my wife.

I’m sitting rocking Alyssa and I can’t stop looking at how beautiful she is. Time seems to be going at a snail’s pace waiting for answers regarding my wife before the doctor finally comes back in.

Hunter. The sound of my name pulls me from my thoughts and I glance up at Dr. Steele. He swallowed what had to be a lump in his throat. I’m so sorry. We did everything in our power to stop the hemorrhaging, but there wasn’t anything we could do. She lost too much blood. We lost her, Hunter.

The doctor takes Alyssa out of my arms and hands her to the nurse again. I lose it. I hit my knees and completely break down, crying on the hospital floor. There is talking around me, but do to the roaring in my ear I can’t hear anything that’s actually being said.

How am I supposed to go on without Jana? She’s my life. We were so excited to be having Alyssa. I just don’t understand. We were high school sweethearts. We got married right after college and had been trying to conceive for almost five years before we found out we were pregnant. We wanted a child for so long. Jana and I knew that having a child was a big responsibility. We were determined to raise a wonderful child, or at least figure out how to be the best parents in the world. Now, it seems the dream is shattered. I can’t lose Jana. She’s my wife.

I stand up and start yelling for Jana, thinking maybe the doctor was wrong and, she was coming back to us.

Hunter, you have to be strong for your daughter. Remember you may have lost Jana, but you have to focus on Alyssa now. Is there anyone I can call to come down here?

I can’t even begin to think, let alone answer him. Thank goodness my brother and his girlfriend come in. They both rush to me.

We will get through this Hunt, I promise you. I can feel Heath’s arms go around my hugging me tight.

3 years later...

Today is a bittersweet day. It’s Alyssa’s third birthday and also the third anniversary of my wife’s death. Every day for the past three years has been a struggle, but I know Jana is always with us. Every time I look at our daughter I see Jana. From Alyssa’s gorgeous dark curls to her piercing green eyes, she’s a mirror image of her mother. Everyone always said when you first see her, your whole world changes. What I wasn’t expecting was for not only my world to change with Alyssa but it changed dramatically by losing Jana.

I don’t think I’d’ve made it through the last few of years without my brother, Heath, and his fiancé, Peyton. They both put their lives on hold for us these last three years by helping me raise Alyssa and letting me grieve for Jana.

I’m actually really surprised Alyssa isn’t up yet. She’s been so excited for today. We went all out for her birthday, from the gigantic cake to a ton of bouncing things.

Making my way down the hall to her room, I open the door slowly trying to not wake her up. Walking up to her bed, I’m still amazed that this little girl is mine. She owns my heart completely.

Kneeling down next to her bed, I slowly start to brush the hair off her face. Baby girl, time to get up.

Alyssa opens her eyes and within seconds she’s fully awake. Daddy! Daddy! It’s my birfday!

I grab her and spin her around laughing. It sure is baby girl. Now let’s go get ready for your big day.

Ok daddy. She jumps out of my arms and heads for the bathroom.

Following behind her, I give her a bath, then help her into the princess dress she just had to have for her big day. Once she’s dressed, we both hear the door open and close as Heath and Peyton walk into the house.

Alyssa runs to the living room and jumps on Heath. Happy birthday, princess! he exclaims, sounding just as excited as she is for today.

Aunt Pey, look at my butiful dress, my daddy got it for me, she says while making her way over to Peyton. Peyton has been amazing with her these last three years. Never once looking like we were a hassle for her.

It’s beautiful baby girl, daddy did good. She plants a slobbery kiss on Alyssa’s cheek. Peyton sets Alyssa down and makes her way to me. You doing okay, Hunt?

I’m good sis, same as every other day, just miss her a little more today than yesterday. Every day Alyssa looks more and more like her, that it hits me just a little bit each time I look at her.

Peyton gives me a hug. I whisper, Thank you Pey, I really don’t know what I’d do without you and Heath by my side. Slowly we both break apart and wipe away the tears before Alyssa notices.

Heath has done a good job keeping Alyssa occupied. He glances at his girlfriend. Hey babe, didn’t you say a friend of yours might stop by today?

Looking at my brother, I know he would never push me into dating, but his question throws me off, and now I’m looking over to Peyton wanting answers. Now isn’t the time to hook me up with anyone, let alone someone at my daughter’s birthday party.

Yes, Kali might stop by. She shrugs. Hunter, she’s an old friend from back home. We lost touch when she married some asshole who I didn’t like, and a couple of weeks ago, she found me online and messaged me. We’ve been chatting back and forth and I mentioned the party. Yes, she’s going through a divorce, but I think there is more to the story than she’s telling me. I told her to come and relax and forget about all her drama for a day. Peyton aims a pointed look in Heath’s direction.

That’s what I love about Peyton. She doesn’t bullshit about anything and tells it straight up. I take a deep breathe, we all go back to being relaxed and focus on Alyssa.

Slowly, Alyssa’s friends start to show up, and the party is in full swing. She appears to be having a great time. Occasionally I look up at the sky, saying a silent prayer to thank Jana for giving me Alyssa.

These past few months have been hell. I knew Parker wouldn’t give up easily, but I’ve had enough. When I filed for divorce I wanted nothing, except to be free of him. I was told over and over he would bring me down, that he wasn’t a good person. But I believed no one. I thought I knew what was best and Parker was it. I was a love struck idiot.

The only people who stuck by me were my parents and best friend Peyton. Even though, toward the end, I lost her too. I was so thankful when I found her online, and even more grateful that we have started to catch back up. I miss my friend. And I’m ready to start my life over. Away from Parker and all his emotional and physical abuse.

When I met Parker, my sophomore year of college, I never imagined that seven years later he would change so drastically. He was the sweetest and most caring man I’d ever met. He slowly started to change. He would get angry easily and yell and scream at me when I did the littlest things wrong.

I slowly started pulling away from anyone and everyone outside of Parker. I didn’t want them to know what was going on. Now, looking back, I realize that was the worst mistake I ever made. He knows I had nowhere to go and he thought I’d put up with it forever. He was wrong.

A person can only take so much from someone before they are pushed too far. My final push was six months ago when I found out I was pregnant. I knew I wanted Parker far away from my child. So, when I told him I was leaving, he got physical and ended up pushing me down the stairs. Then like always, he apologized, but this time he had to rush me to the hospital, where he informed them I had fallen down.

The doctor informed us that I had lost the baby. He put on the best performance in the world grieving for the lost little soul. But the minute we arrived back home all hell broke loose. After he was done with me, I knew I had at least one broken rib, a busted up face and to many more injuries to name.

Once I was able to move, and I knew he had gone to work, I grabbed the few things I wanted to take with me and called my parents to come and help me get out. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own. It took everything in my power to keep my father from killing Parker. In the end, they helped me file for divorce and gave me a place to stay.

It’s been months since I’ve heard from him. I’m hoping he will sign the divorce papers so we can both move on. I’ve already wasted seven years of my life with him.

Despite my horrible past, I’m excited for today. I’m making the drive to see Peyton. She said it’s her niece’s third birthday party and insisted I come. I’ve told her I’m divorcing Parker, but I haven’t told her the extent of what happened. I feel that should be done in person, not over the phone or computer.

Heading out to the car, I throw my purse in, and as I’m getting ready to sit down, I’m pulled up and out by my hair. My body freezes, knowing who has me, and as my face is turned roughly toward him, the look in his eyes says it all.

Did you really think I’d give up on you so easily, Kal? Parker sneers, Like hell.

He pulls me back into my parents’ house and up the stairs. Throwing me on the bed, he begins to kick, punch and yell at me. Blow after blow I can feel myself shutting down. Every punch feels harder and harder.

Reviews for An Unexpected Forever

[Jennifer Zorko-Legan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An Unexpected Forever is about a second chance. It is about finding love after love it lost. It is about connecting with someone on such a deep level when you simply look at them, they touch not only your heart but your very soul.

Hunter lost his wife giving birth to their daughter Alyssa. After 3 years, Hunter has never truly grieved his loss. He knows that he has to stay strong for his little girl. With the help of his brother Heath and Peyton, they are his support system, the rock that he leans on during the tough times.

Kali has alienated everyone that she was once close to. In a abusive marriage, she finally finds the strength to get out and starts reconnecting with her friends, her family. When her abusive ex almost kills her and leaves her in the hospital, her family and Peyton rush to her side.

When Hunter and Kali meet, the sparks are instant. There is some invisible force that keeps pulling them together. To say that these two are both a little gun shy would be an understatement, but they can't seem to away from each other. As they spend time together, the walls that they have built up to protect their hearts start to crumble, and the love so unexpected shines brightly.

I was truly touched by the characters in this book. The family and friends that surround these character are so supportive and loving. Hunter and Kali are truly and inspiration. The things that they have had to endure only make they stronger and allow them to be a soft place for the other to land when they need it. Both give as much to the other and they receive.

For a first time author, Kaydee Mavericks hit the ball out of the park with this story and I can't wait to read more from this very talented author.