Freedom's Kiss

by Sarah Monzon

  “I don’t mean the chimes. What are you doing out there?” When you should be in here with me.

  She looked down at her shoes. “I didn’t want to barge in where I didn’t belong.”

  He took two steps forward, capturing her gaze and not letting go. “Who said you didn’t belong?”

  Her head tilted. “A family reunion is for family, Adam.”

  He opened the door and peered down into her eyes. “Exactly.” Letting his back hold open the screen door, he swooped down and hooked his arm under her knees, lifting her into his arms.

  The door shut with a slap.

  Olivia laughed. “What are you doing, you crazy man?”

  Adam lowered them both onto one of the front porch chairs, settling Olivia in his lap. “Following your family tradition. Pretty sure your dad would approve.” His mouth quirked into a wicked grin. “I have to say, I quite like it.”

  She swatted his shoulder. “You haven’t seen Michael in what, a year? You should be in there.”

  Her hair pulled back in a bun on top of her head exposed her slender neck. He pressed his lips to the soft flesh there. “And I haven’t seen you in days. Who do you think I missed more?”

  “But he’s going to—” Squeals rent the air.

  Adam leaned forward, but he couldn’t see the cause for all the commotion.

  Olivia laughed, shaking her head. “They were right.”

  He looked back at her, raising an eyebrow. “You know what all that hullabaloo is about in there?” Everyone inside seemed to be talking at once. While curiosity pulled at him to investigate, nothing but an emergency would make him give up his position with Olivia on his lap.

  Mischief sparkled in her eyes. “Michael told me I could tell you. I said you’d be there to see the whole thing yourself, but he just laughed, looked me over from head to toe, and said ‘not likely.’”

  “Tell me what?”

  “You”—she poked his chest—“missed your brother’s gift to your mom. He just proposed to Jack.”

  Adam settled back into the chair, tightening his hold around Olivia’s waist, and smiled. “So my family is growing.” Jack and Michael. They were a good fit, and both deserved the happiness the other brought to their life.

  “Yep.”

  “And yours?” He nuzzled her neck. Not many people got the chance to reunite with a sister and mother they never knew existed.

  It took her a moment to answer. “I have plans to have breakfast with Amy and Charlotte later this week.”

  He lifted his head to look into her eyes. “Want me to come along?”

  Her smile held a heart full of adoration. “I’d love that.” She laid her cheek on his shoulder. “It’s been a lot to take in, to learn. I’ve been reading that journal Charlotte gave me. It’s incredible the things Winnie and her family went through. There’s so much history that I hadn’t realized I was connected to. I feel like my world is expanding.”

  You better make her family real soon. Jack’s words repeated themselves in his mind. He would like nothing more. The three-stranded cord of God, Olivia, and him to be braided together for all eternity. But the timing…like she said, her world was already expanding. They both had a lot of change and things to get used to. He hugged her tight. They’d do it together. And one day…well, one day soon he’d make that braid that entwined their lives permanent. “I’m proud of you.”

  She patted his chest. “I’m proud of you too.”

  The breeze blew and the wind chimes tinkled against each other. Adam stroked his lips over her hair. “There’s something you said earlier. About belonging. I know with everything regarding the adoption you’ve felt like you didn’t really know who you were or where you belonged.”

  She looked up at him, and he tilted his chin to meet her mouth. Claimed it. Let her know exactly where her place was without the nuisance of words. But just in case she needed to hear it…

  “It’s with me.” He said the words against her lips. “If you ever don’t know where you belong, just remember, it’s with me.”

  Forever and always.

  New to the Carrington Family? Be sure to check out books 1 and 2

  Finder’s Keepers

  All of You

  Reviews are like air to authors. I would be forever grateful if you took a moment to leave an honesty review of Freedom’s Kiss

  If you would like to be kept up to date on new releases, book deals, and giveaways, please consider signing up for Sarah’s newsletter (there’s even a free Carrington novella in it for you!) www.sarahmonzonwrites.com/subscribe

  Other books by Sarah Monzon

  The Isaac Project

  The Esther Paradigm

  Bookishly Ever After

  Author’s Note

  Write what you know. It’s a time-honored piece of advice, and one I’ve put into practice. All my books have a piece of me in them, whether it’s a part of my own backstory or a slice of my personality. Freedom’s Kiss is the first book where I can say this isn’t the case. I’m not a runaway slave, an adoptee, or a criminal defense attorney. My hope is that, despite not having any personal experience to glean from, every character’s voice and journey was authentic. Through sensitivity readers and research, I worked diligently to provide an offense-free reading environment. I realize that everyone’s personal journey is different, and if you have experienced some of the same painful roads these characters have but your reactions were different, I ask for grace.

  While this is a work of fiction, there are historical accounts that inspired its telling. Florida has a history of being a refuge for those who were persecuted. While the king of Spain offered fugitives liberty in exchange for militia service to defend St. Augustine, others escaped into the wilderness, where their knowledge of agriculture was put to use. Northern slaveholders became progressively more worried about the armed population of runaway slaves in Florida, especially when Negro Fort was handed over to them.

  Even after Spain ceded Florida to the United States, runaway slaves still found refuge within its borders. Many allied themselves to the Seminoles as well as other Native American tribes. While in some cases the fugitives were still considered slaves, they were treated much better than they had been before. They lived in their own communities, elected their own leaders, could make their own money from cattle and crops, and they could bear arms. In exchange, they paid a tribute in crops and livestock to the Seminoles and fought alongside them. These fugitives hold the title of Black Seminoles.

  Because of the Seminoles’ defiance in not returning the fugitive slaves and the slaveholders anxiety over an armed black population, tensions rose and led to the First Seminole War. A few years of relative peace followed until the Seminoles refused to leave the reservation they were given and relocate to Oklahoma under the Indian Removal Act. Led by warriors such as Osceola and Micanopy, families hid in the Everglades while fighters used guerrilla warfare methods to protect themselves and their way of life. The United States government spent between $40 million and $60 million dollars on this conflict, and it was only after they captured Osceola under a flag of peace did resistance wane.

  While many people can trace their ancestry through DNA tests, at this time many of those tests do not have the ability to track a person’s tribe if they do share a Native American heritage. For the purposes of this story, I hurried science along a bit and enlarged the testing pool.

  Whether we come from a large family or are orphans, I am so grateful that our Father in heaven loves each of us, calls us sons and daughters, and has adopted us into His eternal family.

  Acknowledgments

  They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the same can be said for book babies. This story wouldn’t have come into the world without the thoughtful prayers and encouragement of dear friends and readers alike.

  A special note of thanks to Toni Shiloh, who not only let me whine to her on Facebook Messenger whenever I felt like beating my head against the wall because of the plot or
characters or any other number of reasons (hello self-doubt!), but also helped me navigate the sensitive waters of a pale author giving voice to characters of color.

  To April Gardner, whose knowledge of Native American tribes in the southeast woodlands and their history is phenomenal—thank you for pointing out all my inconsistencies and historical errors. This story would have been a mess of blunders without you.

  To Amber Lynn Perry for being a sounding board, advanced reader, and all-around good friend.

  To Andrea Grigg, who helped to enlighten me about adoption and some of the emotional roller coasters those involved—the adoptee, biological family, adoptive family—ride during the course of a lifetime. Your story helped give Olivia her voice.

  Dori Harrell, editor extraordinaire: I would be receiving a flood of emails pointing out typos and grammatical errors if it weren’t for you. Thank you.

  Thank you to all the faithful workers at Hasselwood YMCA Child Watch. You have no idea how much being able to drop my youngest off and know that she will be safe and have fun while I write for ninety minutes a few days a week means to my sanity as a stay-at-home mom.

  And most importantly, thank you to the Giver of Story. I hope I have been a faithful servant to tell the story that you have bestowed upon me to share.