Love Means Everything

by Emma Easter

  Love Means Everything

  Book Three

  The Sisters of Rosefield Series

  Emma Easter

  © 2019 Emma Easter

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. Copyright law.

  Table of Contents

  Thank You – Free Bonus

  The Sisters of Rosefield Series

  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

  Also by Emma Easter

  About the Author

  Thank You – Free Bonus

  Thank you for picking up your copy of Love Means Everything. I hope that you enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  As a token of appreciation, I’d like to offer you a complimentary copy of the prequel to this book series. A Rosefield Christmas is an entertaining short story that tells of a memorable holiday when the sisters were much younger.

  You can get your free gift by going to EmmaEaster.com/free

  Thanks again, Emma

  The Sisters of Rosefield Series

  Book One: Love Is Enough

  Book Two: Quest For Love

  Book Three: Love Means Everything

  Book Four: Falling In Love

  Book Five: Love Will Prevail

  Book Six: Blessed With Love

  Dedication

  To my dear daughter, Natalie

  Chapter One

  Trisha passed a grove of trees while pushing Ruby in her stroller. She looked up and saw a couple holding hands. The woman had a bag of groceries in her other hand while the man pushed a stroller with a baby. Trisha’s heart twisted with envy and she looked away quickly.

  She had started to take weekly strolls through Rosefield a few months after Ruby was born. She took a different path every Saturday, enjoying the morning air and exploring different parts of her hometown. Or, at least, she had enjoyed exploring Rosefield, until a month ago when Ruby had turned one. Suddenly, she started noticing things she hadn’t before, like couples taking strolls with their babies.

  The dissatisfaction had started then, and again, she had begun to fret about Ruby not growing up with a father. She had not seen or heard from Stan since he’d disappeared months before Ruby was born. At first, she had been happy about that, as the thought of even being near him had made her feel literally sick. But gradually, as the months progressed, she’d started to wish he was in his daughter’s life.

  Sometimes, when she looked at Ruby while feeding or bathing her, the uncanny resemblance to Stan would suddenly startle her. After that, memories of her time together with Stan would flood her mind, followed by the grim thought that Ruby might never come to know her father. She would know what it was like to have a father one day, and then lose him the next. She held close to her heart the memories of the years she’d spent with her own dad. Those memories were very precious. Losing her father as a teenager was bad enough. Ruby growing up without a dad would be far worse. Trisha didn’t want her daughter to grow up without her father.

  Every day, she whispered a prayer to God, asking that Stan would come back—not for her sake, as she certainly wasn’t interested in restarting a relationship with him—but for Ruby’s.

  Trisha walked on, passing the fire station and the police station. She smiled as she saw some officers in front of the station. She made a mental note to call Audrey, now partly living in Miami with Ken, when she got home.

  As she walked by the city hall, she turned and saw a man on the other side of the road, holding his daughter who looked about three years old. She sighed heavily as the man and the child crossed the road and walked by her. Looking down at Ruby, she whispered, “I’m so sorry, my darling. I wish I could give you a dad. I know what it feels like not to have one.”

  Ruby chuckled as though she clearly understood what had been said to her, and Trisha smiled sadly.

  She crossed the street and kept walking until she came to a building under construction. She sharply sucked in her breath as the face of the owner of the building suddenly appeared in her mind. It was Frank’s. She hadn’t seen him for almost a year, as he lived in Boise now, but he had called regularly. He’d told her on the phone some months before that he was building a new restaurant in Rosefield, but she had never seen it since she had not walked or driven by this area in a long time.

  She frowned as she walked on. Frank’s face had taken residence in her mind and refused to be pushed away. This wasn’t the first time she’d thought about him with such deep longing. Since she began to yearn for a father for Ruby, she had started to think about Frank a lot.

  She turned Ruby’s stroller around and began to make her way back home while still thinking about him. It was more than a year since her divorce, but she wasn’t ready to date anyone. Yet Frank’s image hardly ever left her mind. Plus, she constantly recalled the awe in his voice when he talked with her, the sparkle in his eyes every time he looked at her.

  It’s been over a year since you got divorced, for goodness’ sake! She scolded herself silently. Why won’t you just start dating again? Why don’t you just tell Frank how much you miss him the next time he calls?

  But she knew why she couldn’t start dating now or call Frank. She was scared. After what had happened with Stan, she never wanted to experience anything like that again. She pursed her lips.

  But you know that Frank will never treat you the way Stan did. You know he will cherish you.

  She knew that was true. Frank had loved her for so long. Still, she wasn’t completely sure she wanted to be with him. Besides, she didn’t want to let her desire to have a good father for her daughter influence her decision to date Frank. From what she saw the last time Frank had visited her and Ruby, she instinctively knew he would be a good dad. But that was not enough reason to date him.

  Or was it?

  You like him, Trisha. Admit it. What is wrong with also wanting him to be a father to Ruby, knowing he is great with kids?

  She sighed in frustration at the conflicting emotions in her mind. Even though she had tried not to let Frank into her heart for so long, she had to admit that she liked him. He had said he would wait until she was ready to date again, but surely he wouldn’t wait forever. Maybe it was time to call him and let him know she was ready to give him a chance. She wanted to feel loved and cherished again. It was time she was proactive about it.

  Her heart drummed as she neared her house. She would call Frank once she entered the house and tell him she missed him. He would be ecstatic… unless he had given up on her or found someone else.

  She reached the one-story brick house she had shared with Stan until they’d gotten divorced and put Ruby in her playpen in a corner of the living room. She smiled at Ruby as she picked up the phone and dialed Frank’s number. She held her breath as the phone rang. Her heart rate increased as Frank’s deep voice came on the line.

  “Hello,” he said.

  “Hi, Frank. It’s Trisha.”

  The excitement in his voice was clear as he asked happily, “Trisha, how are you?”

  “I’m good.” She suddenly felt lost for words.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said.


  She shut her eyes. She envied the fact that he could say so easily the exact words she was finding so hard to utter. But this was her chance to say it back.

  “Trisha, are you still there?”

  “Umm… yes, I’ve… umm… I’ve missed you too, Frank. When are you coming to Rosefield again?” There, she had said it.

  There was silence on the other end of the line for a while and she thought he had hung up. “Frank?”

  “Yes… Trisha. I’m here. I’m just surprised… and happy that you said you have missed me. You don’t know how long I have been waiting to hear those words from you.”

  “It’s not so weird though, Frank. I haven’t seen you for so long and we are friends, aren’t we?”

  “I wish we could be more,” he said. He sounded sad.

  She wanted to tell him she would like that too… but she held back. She still wasn’t totally sure it was what she wanted. Instead, she said, “I know you do. For now, I don’t know if I am ready for that… but I just called to let you know I’ve been thinking about you.”

  “Trisha,” he said solemnly, “I think about you every single day… no, every minute of every day. What you said just now is music to my ears.” He suddenly yelped and she laughed.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, chuckling.

  “Never been better. You know what? I’ll come to Rosefield as soon as possible. Actually, I’ll be there tomorrow to see you and Ruby. Would that be good?”

  “Oh… no, Frank! I know you are very busy there with your restaurant. You don’t have to leave…”

  “I want to. Besides, I have to check up on my restaurant in Rosefield.” He paused for a second and then said firmly, “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

  She nodded and said, “Okay. I’ll see you then.”

  “I can’t wait!” he said.

  They talked a bit more about Audrey, Sienna, and Faizan, and then the call ended.

  Trisha sat down on the sofa and grinned at Ruby, who was examining her new toy, a pacifier in her mouth.

  “What do you think, Ruby? Frank is coming tomorrow. You don’t remember him, but he held you in his arms when you were just a tiny baby.”

  Ruby smiled at her, and Trisha continued. “I know he isn’t your dad, but he is a very nice guy, and he has loved me since we were kids. I’m doing the right thing by giving him a chance now, aren’t I?”

  Ruby went back to playing with her toy, and Trisha took a deep breath. She wasn’t completely sure she could let Frank in now after her bad marriage to Stan, but it would be great to see how things went. Perhaps she would finally be able to move away from the memories of her dreadful marriage to Stan to more pleasant ones with Frank—if she could let Frank in.

  *****

  Frank stared at his phone for a long moment after his call with Trisha ended. He just couldn’t believe what she had told him—that she missed him and was thinking about him. He sighed deeply. He wanted to shout for joy, but he controlled himself. His chefs were in the restaurant’s kitchen with him, and there were guests in the front of the house, eating.

  “Chef, are you okay?” Leon, his sous chef asked, looking up from the reduction sauce he was making. “You are smiling as though you won the lottery.”

  John, the pastry chef, laughed and put down the wooden spoon he was using to stir his bowl of syrup. “I hope you did. I need a raise badly.”

  Everyone in the kitchen laughed.

  Frank shook his head and grinned, “Okay, guys! You have all had your laugh. Now get back to work!”

  The chefs soon went back to their cooking, trying to keep up with the orders. Frank called out the orders while his chefs responded, made the dishes at lightning speed, and plated them. Some waiters came in regularly to get the dishes, while others came to submit orders for guests that needed to be cooked immediately. Frank was happy for the nonstop work, or he would have boarded a flight to Rosefield that very night.

  From time to time, he went out to greet guests, but mostly, he kept cooking. The grueling pace in which they had to prepare the food didn’t slow down until hours later when it was time to close the restaurant.

  He stepped out into the moonlit night, took a deep breath as he usually did after a long day at work, and locked the doors of the restaurant. He looked up at the words ‘FRANKLY EATING’ engraved on top of the single-story building and smiled with pride. He turned away and only then did he allow his mind to return to Trisha and their call earlier in the day. His heart soared as he recalled again what she had said to him.

  Nick, his good friend and business partner, came alongside him and they both headed for their cars together.

  “I have to go to Rosefield tomorrow,” Frank said trying not to let his excitement show.

  Nick frowned. “So soon? But Angelo called just yesterday. The restaurant isn’t ready yet and you are needed here. I could go and check it out so…”

  “No, Nick. It isn’t really about the restaurant, though I will definitely take the opportunity to personally see how far the workers have gotten.”

  Nick’s frown deepened. “Then what is it about? You just visited your parents there not too…” He suddenly stopped and raised his brows. “No, Frank! Tell me it’s not because of that Trisha girl.”

  They reached Frank’s black jeep, and he leaned against it. He looked at Nick. His friend knew how crazy he was about Trisha but had always been against the relationship because Trisha had never reciprocated his feelings. Nick had told him on several occasions that he was wasting his life waiting for a woman who didn’t care about him, but Frank couldn’t help the way he felt about Trisha. At least he could tell Nick now what Trisha had said. Not that that would impress him, but still…

  “She told me over the phone that she missed me and was thinking about me,” Frank said.

  Nick sighed loudly, a frustrated expression on his face. “She did that because she saw you were beginning to pull away, Frank. She hasn’t seen you in months…”

  “I’ve been calling her.”

  “You have? And you didn’t tell me!”

  “I knew what you would say if I did. You know how much I love her, Nick. She said she misses me. I can work with that.”

  Nick raked his fingers through his hair. “You can’t just up and leave the restaurant just because some girl…”

  “She isn’t some girl!”

  “Okay… just because Trisha says she misses you. I need you here.” Nick placed his hand on his chest and made a face. “What about me? I’ll miss you if you go.”

  “Stop it!” Frank laughed. “Seriously, though, you can handle things here while I’m gone. Leon will act in my stead as head chef. You know he’s very capable. I can fully rely on him to not let things slip in the kitchen until I return.”

  Nick stared at him. “I don’t understand why you can’t get over this girl, Frank. There are so many other pretty girls…”

  “Nick!”

  “Okay… okay. I’m sorry. You have made up your mind, haven’t you?”

  “Totally.”

  “Alrighty then! When do you plan to return?”

  “I intend to stay there for a month.”

  Nick’s eyes grew wide. “A month! What on earth will you do in Rosefield for a month?”

  Frank shrugged. “It will take at least that long to win Trisha’s heart fully.”

  “And if you don’t win her heart by then?”

  “Then I will come back.”

  Nick shook his head. “Wow! I knew you loved this girl, but I didn’t know you loved her this much.” He smiled at Frank and added, “You are crazy, do you know that?”

  “Crazy about Trisha.”

  Nick laughed. “I knew you were going to say that. Anyway, do try to protect your heart while you woo your one true love, okay?”

  “Yes, sir. I will.”

  “And since you will be on the ground, I’m hoping you will also have time to oversee the building?”

  “Definitely.” Frank put his h
and on Nick’s shoulder and smiled. “I will be fine and the restaurant will be too. I have to do this. You know that.”

  Nick shrugged.

  Frank got into his car. “I have to pack. I have an early flight to catch. I promised Trisha I would see her tomorrow so I have to leave early.” He started the car, waved to Nick and then backed into the road.

  As he drove home, he pictured Trisha, how she would look when he saw her. His heart kept soaring until he couldn’t hold back his excitement. He let out a roar and then clutched his steering wheel. “Lord,” he prayed, “please help me win Trisha’s heart this time. She’s the only girl I have ever wanted and I love her with all my heart.”

  He lifted up the same prayer over and over again even as he got to his house and packed his things. As he lay in bed, they were the last words on his lips before he slipped into a deep sleep.

  *****

  Faizan woke up with a start and then took a deep breath. Darkness surrounded him. He sat up and shook his head as an overwhelming sadness settled in his chest. He had been dreaming about Zainah… again. These days, he dreamt only about her or about his past life as a terrorist. Each time, he woke up full of regret. He switched on the light and touched his cheeks. They were wet with his tears.

  “I can’t do this anymore,” he groaned. “I have to see her. I need to talk to her.”

  But what is the point? he thought. We can’t be together because of her vow.

  He put his hand on his forehead and moaned. “Still, I have to see her.” Rising from the bed, he put on his robe and went to the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of water from the sink and, without thinking, began to pace the floor. Someone opened the kitchen door and he looked up. Audrey came into the kitchen in her light blue robe.

  When he’d come to live in the United States about a year before, he’d lived alone in the house that had formerly been his father’s but that Audrey had lived in for years. Audrey had mostly moved to Miami. She came to Rosefield often for work and stayed in the house. He’d never really felt at home in that house. It had felt strange living in the house of a father he had never known. Also, the fact that the woman who had been married to his father hadn’t known he’d cheated on her and had a love child only made matters worse.