The way this chapter ends will make it seem like the story is over, but it's not! There are more chapters to come! Not a whole lot more, but still more! :)
Disclaimer: the song that Tori is talking about, Fearless, is by Taylor Swift and well, obviously I don't own it.
Tori's POV
It took another good six months for me to finish my book and once it was finished, it was sent in for editing and almost immediately published. I swear, it was like I became famous overnight. People everywhere were buying my book and I was reading comments online that so many people really enjoyed it. Since I gave my full struggles of anorexia and my abusive relationship with Caleb, there was a lot of information covered in the book and so it hit home for a bunch of people and that's one of the main reasons why it was so successful.
Around the same time my book was released, I released a music album that included 13 songs on them. The first ten songs were ones that I had already recorded, but I had 3 other songs that would be good on it.
The first one was "Never Grow Up" which had been written about Shayla. It felt so good to finally record it in a studio. Even though Shayla was only five when I told her it was written for her, she still understood and after hearing the song, she cried. She thought it was really beautiful.
The other two songs were both Andre. One was a ballad and the other had a sort of country style to it, but it was a great song and it was called "Fearless." It basically talked about how it was when we first got together, so it was good to go down memory lane a little bit.
So those three and the other 10 songs I recorded over a year ago were all on my full album. I got asked a lot which song was my favorite, but to tell you the truth, I didn't have a favorite. Each one had a special meaning and there was a story behind each song. But I did have to pick one song that would be the title of the album. After much debating with myself, I decided to use "Fearless." There wasn't really an explanation behind it; I just liked that word. Fearless just sounds like you can do anything in the world. The people that were helping me release the album thought that "Fearless" was a great title as well, so everything was perfect.
Believe it or not, but the proceeds from my book and album was enough money to help build the building for my rehab center, Every Girl is Beautiful Rehabilitation Center, and also towards my new foundation, Every Girl is Beautiful – Hope for Girls with Eating Disorders. My main slogan was, "Every Girl is Beautiful," because it's true. Every single girl was beautiful in their own way. It was society that was ugly. They judged girls because of their bodies and it destroyed their self-esteem. For my job, I worked with my foundation and I was waiting for the rehab center to be completed. Once it would be completed, I would begin working there and helping girls get over their eating disorders. In the meantime, I was busy with publicity events dealing with my book and album. Sometimes I would be gone days at a time, but I tried my hardest to not be gone longer than three days. After all, I had a husband and kids at home that needed me.
Andre got a huge shock on Shayla's seventh birthday. We had a big birthday party with all of Shayla's friends and there was a big cake and a lot of presents, but Shayla would have been happy with the littlest party. She was just that kind of girl. The best part of the party was by far after she opened up the gift that Andre gave her.
After she opened the gift, she looked up at Andre and slowly smiled. "Well…what do you think?" he asked. It was a baby doll that she had had her eye for a month or so now.
She smiled wider and nodded. "I love it." She leaned over and gave him a big hug. "Thank you so much."
"I love you so much, Shayla." said Andre when they pulled apart.
Shayla simply looked at him for a moment and then said, "I love you too, Daddy."
I wasn't fully paying attention, but once I heard Shayla say Daddy, I turned my head and looked at Andre and Shayla. Shayla was hugging Andre and Andre had the most shocked expression on his face. I couldn't help but let a few tears escape from my eyes. Even Andre had tears in his eyes. I smiled at Andre and he smiled at me. So many emotions in the little smile that we both shared with each other.
By this point, he was officially his daughter, even legally, so it was fitting that she finally call him her dad.
I pretty much had the perfect life, the perfect family, and perfect job. I didn't think that life could get any better, but guess what? It did! In December, when Branson was nine, Shayla was eight, and Gabe was three, I gave birth to a precious little baby girl, whom Andre and I named Aubrey Renee Harris. She was the perfect baby. The only times she cried were when she was hungry, needed a diaper changed, or if she was sick and she wasn't sick that often. By this time, my rehab center had opened up and quickly got busy. I was done with publicity stuff, so I began working there from eight in the morning until five in the evening. I enjoyed helping girls every day.
I felt very grateful about everything in my life.
