Bianca's Joy: Rose Island Book 3

by Kristin Noel Fischer

  “Hey yourself,” he said, grinning.

  Before he could speak, I said, “Can I ask you a question?”

  His expression faltered. “What is it?”

  “Well . . . I was just wondering if you knew where the bathroom was.”

  “The bathroom?” He hesitated for just a brief second, then he threw his head back and laughed. I laughed, too, my heart overflowing with endless love for this man who’d once asked me the same question.

  When we stopped laughing, his face grew serious. “You don’t really have to go to the bathroom right now, do you?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Good because I have something I want to ask you.”

  “Yeah?”

  He nodded, then he knelt on one knee. “Bianca Grace Morgan, I’ve loved you for the past four years, and even though it took me almost that long to make you realize it, I promise if you marry me I’ll spend every day of my life showing you how much I love you. I’ll always cherish you and take care of you. And I’ll never leave you. Will you marry me?”

  Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded. “Yes. Yes, Daniel. I’ll marry you.”

  Leaning over, I kissed this man who’d come to mean the world to me. Daniel came to his feet and pulled me closer as my family clapped and hollered.

  “Lift me up,” I said.

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Lift me up . . . unless you’re not strong enough.”

  He grinned. Then he lifted me in the air and spun me around. This time, I threw my head back and laughed, feeling not like that dainty heroine from the cover of a romance novel, but like me. Like Bianca Grace Morgan, the full-figured woman who’d just agreed to marry the man of her dreams.

  When Daniel set me on the ground, he kissed me again. “I love you, Bianca.”

  “I love you, too.”

  For a brief moment, we gazed into each other’s eyes, then we were joined by my mom, my dad, Enzo, Jillian, Keith, Matt, Drew, Linda Faith, Anna, Nick, Travis, Hailey, Gabby, and Zoey Rose—all of them offering their congratulations with hugs and kisses.

  When things settled down, I glanced back at the house, noticing Vicki standing by herself on the porch. I waved, and she waved back.

  Would love happen for her? It’d happened to me, so I had to believe that she too would find her soul mate.

  My mother interrupted my thoughts by taking Daniel and me by the hand. “You proposed, and she said yes.”

  My fiancé slipped an arm around my waist. “I did, and thank goodness she said yes. I don’t deserve her, but—”

  “You do. You’re a good man, and Bianca is—” Tenderness filled my mother’s eyes. “Bianca is my precious daughter whom I love beyond measure. The two of you will have beautiful babies. Lots and lots of beautiful grandchildren for me, right?”

  “Yes, that’s right,” Daniel said, smiling.

  Heat warmed my face, and I laughed. But deep down, I hoped it was true. I hoped with all my heart that one day Daniel and I would tell our children, Yes, angels, just when Mommy thought there was no hope for her, God sent Daddy and your big sister, Joy.

  As though reading my thoughts, Daniel leaned over and whispered, “I can’t wait to get started.”

  I laughed and gently nudged him in the gut. Then I threw my arms around him. I couldn’t wait to get started either.

  THE END

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for reading Bianca’s Joy! This book is dear to my heart, and I am grateful to be able to donate a portion of every sale to the search for a diabetes cure. Before writing this book, I really didn’t know anything about type one diabetes. My research was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

  I am so thankful to my readers and everyone who encouraged me to continue writing the Rose Island series. If you enjoyed Bianca’s Joy, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased this book. The review doesn’t have to be long. Just one or two sentences giving your honest opinion would really help me out by allowing other readers to find me.

  The best way to keep up with me is by subscribing to my Newsletter. Go to www.KristinNoel.com and subscribe.

  I love connecting with readers! You can join me on Facebook or contact me through my website.

  Again, thank you for reading my book!

  Love,

  Kristin

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thanks to everyone who helped bring Bianca’s story to life! I’m incredibly blessed to be supported by so many wonderful people.

  First of all, thank you to all my readers who have bought my books, left reviews, or written me an encouraging note. Your support and love mean the world to me. Without you, I wouldn’t have this wonderful career.

  Thank you to The Dale Tribe and their YouTube channel. Your videos showing life with type one diabetes were so informative and well done. Aspen, you are incredible!

  A huge thanks to Michelle Lord and her YouTube channel! I love your honesty and wonderful personality, Michelle.

  As always, thank you to my husband and family! I know living with a writer can be challenging at times. Thank you for always loving me, believing in me, and keeping me well fed and educated. I love you guys with all my heart! Joe, you are the true love of my life, and I’m so grateful to have you as we go through this crazy life together.

  A special thanks to the best editor in the world, Chrissy Wolfe at EFC Services, LLC. You are amazing! I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thank you for all your help, corrections, encouragement, and suggestions. And thank you especially for helping me with all the type one diabetes information.

  Thanks to my beta readers: Juanita Spaulding Jones, Chris Campillo, and Cerrissa Kim. Your feedback is immeasurable, and I couldn’t have written this book without you.

  Thank you to Kat at Blurbwriter.com who helped me with the back cover copy.

  Thank you to Lyndsey Lewellen who created my beautiful cover and Paul Salvette who formatted the book.

  Finally, thank you to my parents, Jeanne and Phil Smith. I’m so lucky to be your daughter.

  Happy Reading to all of you!

  Love,

  Kristin

  Have you read the fourth book, “Vicki’s Gift?”

  Vicki’s Gift

  By Kristin Noel Fischer

  Prologue

  Vicki

  As I watched my sister and her fiancé twirl around the wooden dance floor at the Pelican Pub, I realized two things. First, Bianca and Daniel were made for each other. Never in my life had I seen a couple more in love. Their devotion to one other was both inspiring and sickening. Not that I was jealous or anything.

  The second thing I realized was downright terrifying. As soon as Bianca married Daniel, I would officially become the last remaining member of the Morgan Sister Spinsters’ Club.

  Bianca had created the club as a joke back when all four of us were single. Anna, my brother’s widow, had been the first to drop out when she married hunky army officer, Nick Peterson. Jillian followed by remarrying her heroic ex-husband, Keith. And now, Bianca was engaged to the dashing Daniel Serrano.

  So, where did that leave me, the youngest Morgan sister?

  Glancing across the dance floor, I spotted my mother flirting with the island’s most popular firefighter, Seth Watson. Seth’s dimples deepened as his beautiful eyes danced with amusement at something my mother said. The tenderness of their interaction scraped a part of my soul I tried to keep protected.

  Seth had always been good to my mother. Despite everything, I couldn’t deny the fact that he was a good person.

  As if knowing I was watching him, Seth turned his gaze on me. My breath hitched, and for a moment, I remembered.

  Then, I came to my senses. Before Seth and I could break each other’s hearts again, I turned away, forcing my attention back to Jillian and Anna.

  “Aren’t cloth diapers a lot of work?” Anna asked my sister. “I’m sure they’re better for the environment, but disposable diapers a
re so much easier.”

  Jillian went off on her soapbox. While I agreed with her and even admired her commitment to decrease her environmental impact, I wasn’t interested in discussing the benefits of cloth over disposable diapers. I wasn’t interested in discussing anything baby related.

  Shuddering, I pushed the horrible memory away. Would I ever be able to look at a baby or think about a baby without remembering Allie and her brothers? Would I ever find the courage to—

  A firm hand landed on my shoulder. “Care to dance, beautiful?”

  Looking up, I saw Mac Baumguard, my brand-new sort-of-kind-of boyfriend. Or rather, my brand-new sort-of-kind-of man-friend. Mac and I were both in our thirties. A little too old to call each other boyfriend and girlfriend.

  Mac was textbook gorgeous—tall, aquiline nose, muscular arms, and sturdy legs. Basically model gorgeous. Honestly, if he wasn’t a brave army officer, he could’ve easily earned his living as a model. He was a good guy too. Spending time with him was . . . well, it was nice. Good. Great. I mean, it was truly wonderful.

  Standing, I walked to the dance floor with Mac. When he took me in his arms, I waited to feel some thrill of excitement. As usual, I felt nothing.

  What was wrong with me? Any normal woman would be wildly attracted to someone as handsome as Mac. Yet, I felt nothing but deep admiration for the man.

  My sisters often harassed me, insisting my expectations were too high when it came to men. Maybe my expectations were a little ambitious, but shouldn’t I at least feel more than a twinge of desire around a possible future husband?

  Perhaps I was simply destined to remain single for the rest of my life. That wouldn’t be such a bad thing, would it? I could continue running my bakery, volunteering, traveling, and being an outstanding aunt to my nieces and nephews. Well, being an outstanding aunt to the older nieces and nephews. I’d leave the babies alone until they were past that vulnerable, scary age.

  Peering down at me, Mac interrupted my thoughts. “What are you thinking about, Vicki?”

  “Nothing.”

  He pursed his lips. “You looked a little bored back there at the table.”

  “Did I?”

  “You did. I’m sure it’s not easy for you when Anna and Jillian talk about their babies.”

  I froze. “What do you mean?”

  Mac frowned at the alarm in my voice. “Nothing. Just that it’s probably boring for you to listen to all those monotonous details. Your sister is very particular when it comes to her kids.”

  “Oh, yes. It is a little boring.” I breathed a sigh of relief. Mac didn’t know anything about Allie and her family. Nobody did because I’d never told anyone what’d happened. And I never would. I was too ashamed.

  Mac smiled down at me. “I’m sure we’ll be just as obsessed when we have kids.”

  “When we have kids?”

  He nodded. “Don’t you think that’s where we’re headed? I know we haven’t been together long, or even talked about our future, but I’m crazy about you, Vicki. Eventually, I see us getting married and starting a family. Don’t you?”

  My heart stopped. Oh, Mac.

  The line between his brow deepened. “What’s wrong?”

  Forcing a smile, I shook my head. “Nothing. I’m fine. Just . . . just a little cold.”

  He rubbed my arms in a sweet effort to warm me up. I didn’t deserve Mac. Seriously, he was a great guy. But I would never be able to love him the way he deserved to be loved. I would never be able to give him kids and raise a family with him.

  “Did I scare you off by talking about children? I know our relationship is new, but—”

  “I thought you didn’t want kids.” In order to better see him, I took a small step back.

  “What?” Mac made a scoffing noise. “Why would you say that? Of course, I want kids.”

  “But last week at the bakery, you were a horrified by the Kempner boys.”

  “Sure. Those boys were licking the display cabinet, pretending they could actually taste the pastries through the glass. They shouldn’t have been allowed to do that. I’d never let my kids get away with something so disrespectful.”

  Inwardly, I winced. How had I completely misread the situation? I should’ve known Mac wanted kids. I should’ve known he wanted to pass on his flawless genetic code to his offspring. I’d once wanted the same thing after all.

  Mac stopped talking and looked at me with a wounded expression. “Don’t you see a future for us, Vicki?”

  My heart thudded. How was I supposed to answer that?

  Suddenly, Seth Watson appeared at my side. Before I could ask what he wanted, Bianca swooped in, looping her arm through Mac’s. “Come on, Mac. Come dance with the future Mrs. Daniel Serrano.”

  Mac started to protest, but my sister waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll bring you back to Vicki. Don’t worry. It’ll be fun.”

  Surrendering to her will, Mac allowed Bianca to cart him off, leaving me alone with Seth. My heart pounding, I stared at the man who’d once captured my heart. What was he doing here? What did he want from me?

  Without a word, Seth closed the gap between us. Taking my right hand in his left hand, he placed his other hand on the small of my back. When he pulled me against him, I was lost. My heart thudded so hard it hurt.

  Why, why, why couldn’t I get over him? Why couldn’t I just move on from this man who was so wrong for me?

  Gathering all my indignation and injury from the past, I squared my shoulders, distancing myself. “What do you want from me, Seth?”

  He tightened his grip, something I didn’t entirely mind. Looking right into my eyes, he said, “I want you, Vicki. I just want you.”

  “You want me?” Anger shot through me. “How can you say that? You’ve barely spoken to me since we went to the concert. You haven’t come into the bakery in ages. You never acknowledge me in church anymore, and when I saw you at the bookstore the other day, you turned away.”

  “I’ve been trying to give you space.”

  “That’s not how someone acts when they’re in love with someone else.”

  He looked at me, really looked at me for a long time. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t change my feelings for you. I’m still in love with you.”

  I gave a sarcastic laugh. “You’re not in love with me, Seth. You aren’t.”

  “I am. I know I’ve hurt you in the past, and I’m truly sorry. But I’ve never stopped loving you.”

  Tears pricked my eyes. “How can you say that?”

  “Because it’s true.” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “I thought time and distance would change things. I thought I could get over you by sheer will, but I can’t. I still love you.”

  I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not changing my mind about—”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “You’re going to sacrifice what you want most in the world?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I’ll give up whatever it takes so we can be together.”

  My tears overflowed. “Why would you do something like that?”

  “Because—”

  Unable to believe him, I turned and ran off the dance floor, determined to put as much distance as I could between us.

  How dare Seth work his way into my heart again. How dare he.

  Vicki’s Gift is available from Amazon