Their Mountain Reunion (The Second Chance Club Book 1)

by Patricia Johns

  “Actually, with that champagne, we’d better have some food in our stomachs,” Melanie replied with a twinkle in her eye. “And I have a feeling that’s a very expensive bottle...”

  Logan checked the label. It was.

  “Fine. But after breakfast, it’s time for a ring,” he said with a grin.

  Logan ran his fingers over hers as his heart swelled with love. Coming back to Mountain Springs was supposed to be a goodbye to his mother, his father and the life of trying too hard to belong to a father who’d never appreciated him. But instead, he’d discovered the Wilde family that was uncomfortably his and the one woman he couldn’t bring himself to let go...

  Second chances didn’t always look the way a man expected them to. Sometimes, a new start came in the form of forgiveness spread liberally around for the people who’d tried hard, gotten it wrong, but weren’t ready to give up. And sometimes it came in the form of an engagement ring bought in a little shop around the corner, two lives taking a left turn into new happiness.

  With Mel’s fingers entwined with his, Logan McTavish was home.

  EPILOGUE

  MELANIE AND LOGAN planned an October wedding. It was held in Mountain Springs Lodge beside Blue Lake and beneath those towering peaks and the autumn blaze of changing trees. When she’d sent her stepkids invitations, she hadn’t been sure if they’d even reply, but one by one the RSVPs came in—they wanted to be there. Everyone did, it seemed. Melanie’s parents and extended family were traveling out for the event and Logan’s siblings were coming, too. His son, Graham, would be his best man. For Melanie, her maid of honor was Angelina, who was taking full credit for getting Melanie and Logan back together with a few subtle nudges, and Melanie couldn’t help but laugh every time Angelina told the story.

  Tilly was five months pregnant by the time of the wedding, and she’d started the twelfth grade. She looked lavish and sweet in a pink satin dress. She came with her siblings, Michael and Viv—without a date—and Melanie was glad to see it. There had been quite a few phone calls after Tilly left with her dad, and Tilly had blossomed, not only in her pregnancy but in her maturity, as well.

  Michael and Viv had both started reaching out after they found out about Tilly’s pregnancy. Somehow, it brought them all back together again—the old family dynamic, except improved, more mature. They held each other’s memories—no one would understand them quite like each other, and as they looked forward to helping Tilly as best they could, Michael and Viv had started calling Melanie on a more regular basis. They were a family again—just a divorced one. It turned out it wasn’t so strange, after all.

  On her wedding day, Melanie wore a cream lace dress, tea length and fitted all the way down to just past her knees. She wore her hair up, twined with flowers and pearls, and when the ceremony was done and they were posing for the photographer, Melanie’s favorite photo from the day would be a candid shot of Logan putting a pearl pin back into her hair, his fingers lingering against her cheek. Her second favorite photo would be one of Tilly alone as she watched Melanie and Logan take their vows. Melanie saw something new in the teenager’s eyes—self-confidence and a flicker of determination—and it warmed her heart to see it.

  When the reception started, Melanie stood to throw her bouquet, and she looked over her shoulder at her laughing friends pretending to jostle for position. Just to the side, she saw Tilly standing next to her sister, her hand on her belly and a hopeful little smile on her face. Melanie pulled a rose free and then tossed the bouquet over her shoulder. She turned in time to see it fly over the hands of the other women, and straight at Angelina’s face. Her hands went up and she caught it.

  “Oh, I’m not next!” Angelina laughed.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure!” Renata said, and the women laughingly made their way back to their seats.

  Logan caught Melanie’s eye, and they exchanged a smile. He was so handsome in his tux, and the way he looked at her enveloped her in love. He was the right choice—she could feel it all the way down to her toes. Logan tapped his watch and winked, and she felt a blush rise in her cheeks. The honeymoon suite was waiting for them upstairs, and she was looking forward to being alone with her husband.

  Her husband. It still gave her a shiver to think of that. They were well and truly married, the vows said in the church in downtown Mountain Springs.

  She was now Mrs. Melanie Banks-McTavish, and it felt right. It felt certain.

  She was looking forward to the honeymoon, too, but first...

  Tilly had gone back to sit down at the table with her siblings and Melanie smiled at Viv and Michael, then slid into the seat next to Tilly.

  “I saved this for you,” Melanie said, handing her the white rose.

  “Oh, you didn’t have to do that...” But Tilly took it, anyway. “I wonder if there’s luck in catching a bouquet.”

  “I doubt it,” Melanie replied.

  “All the same...” Tilly shrugged.

  “Do you know what makes for a happy life, Tilly?” Melanie asked. “A choice to face all of it with some dignity and bravery. And you’re already doing that. I couldn’t be prouder.”

  “Do you think I’ll end up with a guy like Logan?” Tilly asked. “But, you know, younger. He’s cute for an old guy, though.”

  Old. Yes, it might seem that way to a seventeen-year-old. Melanie looked back to see Logan giving his son a hug, laughing at something, and love welled up inside of her.

  “Absolutely,” Melanie said. “When the time is right, though. Hold out for a good one. They’re out there.”

  Tilly dropped her gaze and lowered her voice so that their words remained private. “I wanted to ask you something. I don’t know if it’s weird or not, but...it might be nice for the baby...like, to have a grandma. If you were interested in that. Maybe...do you think I could start calling you Mom again?”

  Melanie’s chin trembled and she looked into Tilly’s beautiful perfectly made-up face, and all she could see was the tiny girl with the big eyes and the rumpled blond curls who had stolen her heart from the beginning.

  “Oh, sweetie, I’d really love that.” Melanie pulled Tilly into her arms, and her heart filled to overflowing with love for her new husband and the family she’d gathered along the way to her own happily-ever-after.

  * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from His Brother’s Bride by Amy Vastine

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  His Brother’s Bride

  by Amy Vastine

  CHAPTER ONE

  “MARRY ME.”

  Sadie Chapman stared down at the ring nestled in the black ring box. That emerald-cut diamond had to be at least three carats and was surrounded by a halo of diamonds. It was gorgeous and exactly what she’d dreamed of being offered someday by the man she loved.

  Owen Bradley was charming and sweet, but they had been dating barely two months. Sadie wouldn’t commit long term to a movie-streaming service without spending a couple of weeks carefully evaluating her usage during her free trial month. How could she possibly answer this kind of question without some time to think about it?

  Time was in short supply, however. At least according to Sadie’s mom. Her mother loved to mention how at Sadie’s age, she’d been happily married for years and already had both of her children.

  “I know it seems sudden,” he said, kneeling in front of her on his kitchen floor. He had invited her over for a relaxing night in and had even cooked her dinner. She was ready to do dishes, not accept a proposal. She had on black leggings and an oversize Goodman Elementary School T-shirt for Pete’s sake! This was not engagement-night attire. She had expected him to pop open a
bottle of wine, not pop the question.

  “We haven’t been together long,” he continued. “But I can’t remember ever feeling this way about anyone. I think about you when we aren’t together. I hate saying good-night when our dates are over. You’re an amazing woman and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Well, he seemed quite certain. The thumping in her chest was distracting. Sadie needed her brain to work as hard as her heart. What did she want in a husband, and did Owen meet those requirements? Owen was a professional golfer and successful enough to afford this big house, his fancy car and that enormous diamond ring. He was funny and had never been anything but respectful. He had good taste in food, fashion and diamond rings. Based on the little she knew about him, he certainly had the potential to be a good husband.

  “Marry me, Sadie.”

  As she stared into his big blue eyes, she heard the door open behind her.

  “Do you know one of your garage doors is open?” someone shouted from the mudroom. “Riley, hit the button to close the garage.”

  Sadie turned her head and watched as a man in a Boston College sweatshirt and a face that hadn’t seen a razor in a few days set a large blue duffel bag down. He made eye contact with Sadie first before turning his gaze on Owen.

  “Oh my gosh. I didn’t... I know I said we’d be here tomorrow, but we decided to drive straight through. Are you? You are. I am so sorry.” He spun around with the horror of his embarrassment written all over his face. “Back to the car, Riley.”

  “I’m tired!” a little voice whined from the mudroom.

  “Uncle Owen needs a minute.”

  “Uncle Owen only needs an answer.” Owen touched Sadie’s hand to regain her attention.

  Sadie had so many questions that she had forgotten her answer. She closed her eyes. Why were his brother and niece here? Did he have any other siblings? She knew he was close to his parents, but she had never met them. Shouldn’t they have at least met each other’s families before they got engaged?

  A thousand thoughts zipped through her head in a few seconds. There was only one that mattered, though. Did she want to marry Owen?

  Sadie had hoped to be married before she was thirty, but thirty had come and gone. Teaching was her passion and she’d thrown herself into her work instead of searching for a life partner. She loved her students but dreamed of raising a family of her own someday. She’d been a bridesmaid in so many weddings and had been a guest at plenty of baby showers. Maybe it was her turn to be the guest of honor at one of those things.

  Owen was exactly the kind of man she pictured herself falling in love with. Successful. Charismatic. Good-looking. Getting engaged would also get her mom off her back. That was perhaps the cherry on top of this diamond sundae.

  “Yes,” she answered, opening her eyes. The grin on his face made her feel like she’d won the lottery. Owen hopped up and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her feet off the ground.

  “She said yes! Did you hear that, Riley? Jonathan?”

  “Congratulations.” A chagrined Jonathan came back into the kitchen hand in hand with a little girl with dark hair and a bright pink backpack.

  “I’m tired,” Riley repeated, leaning against her dad.

  Owen set Sadie back down. “Sadie, this is my brother, Jonathan, and his daughter, Riley. Jonathan and Riley, this is my fiancée, Sadie.”

  Jonathan had eyes the same shade of blue as Owen’s. “Nice to meet you, Sadie. We’re really sorry about interrupting the big moment.”

  “No apology needed. It’s nice to meet both of you. You look about the same age as the students in my third-grade class,” she said to Riley.

  The little girl pressed against her dad’s side and said nothing.

  “I think the endless hours in the car have taken a toll on this one.” He smiled down at his daughter. “She just finished third grade and is usually much more talkative than this.”

  Owen took Sadie by the hand. “Can we get this ring on before you change your mind?” His nerves caused him to shake. Sadie found that endearing. Owen placed the engagement ring on her finger.

  An engagement ring.

  Sadie was not expecting to leave tonight wearing an engagement ring. Her mother would be ecstatic. Her friends at school would never believe it. They had heard about Owen, but no one would believe he had proposed already. They all had said he sounded like a catch. Sadie decided to add that to the list of reasons why saying yes was the right thing to do.

  “You two are in the middle of something and we weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow. I can get a hotel room for the night if—”

  “No, you two are staying here,” Owen said, cutting his brother off.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to interfere any more than I have.”

  Owen nodded his head. “You’re staying.”

  Jonathan tried to let go of his daughter but she clung to him. He picked up his bag with one hand and kept his grip on Riley. “We are both exhausted and ready for bed. You won’t even know we’re here.”

  Owen gave Sadie a kiss on the cheek. “Let me help them get settled and I’ll be back down before you can miss me.”

  He was generous and helpful. Two more traits that boded well for Sadie in the future. She had made the right decision to say yes. She would continue to tell herself that.

  Owen showed his brother upstairs and she gave her new ring—her engagement ring—a closer look. The ring fit her perfectly. He was observant or a really good guesser. Either way, it was a plus. She wouldn’t regret this.

  “Owen sure knows how to pick ’em.”

  Sadie startled. Jonathan walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Was he talking about her?

  She bristled. “Excuse me?”

  He closed the fridge and uncapped a bottle of water. “I’m sure the ring is pretty amazing.” He took a drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Owen doesn’t do anything halfway. He only goes all out.”

  The ring. Of course he was talking about the ring.

  Sadie glanced back down at the diamond on her finger. “It’s beyond amazing.”

  “I know we just met, but I feel like it’s my duty to warn you about something.”

  Sadie bit down on her bottom lip. Anxiety tightened her shoulders. Was he about to tell her all the things she didn’t know about Owen? She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it. Of course, if it was bad, she needed to hear it.

  “My brother believes in love. He believes in happy-ever-after. But he’s had his heart broken before and I don’t want to see that happen to him again.”

  Sadie relaxed and a smile spread across her face. Thankfully, she hadn’t misjudged Owen. “Is this your if-you-hurt-my-brother speech?” she asked.

  “I guess it is.”

  “I’m no heartbreaker,” she assured him.

  He gave a sharp nod. “Good to know.” Jonathan gulped some more water. “I mean no offense, but Owen didn’t even mention you guys were in a serious relationship. I’m sort of shocked he was ready to take things to the next level.”

  An uneasy feeling churned in her stomach. It was alarming that Owen hadn’t mentioned to his brother that he was proposing. Jonathan also didn’t need to tell her how fast things were moving. “I might be just as shocked as you are. I hadn’t been thinking about marriage until he asked me.”

  Jonathan set his empty water bottle down on the white granite countertop. “You didn’t know he was going to propose?”

  “No idea,” she admitted.

  He scratched the back of his head, his expression perplexed. For some reason that made Sadie nervous.

  Owen appeared. “Your daughter needs you to tuck her in. I don’t do it right.” He narrowed his eyes at his brother. “You aren’t down here trying to steal my girl away, are you?”

  Jonathan threw his han
ds up. “Don’t worry, little brother. Riley is the only girl I want in my life. I’m going to get out of here, so you two can enjoy the rest of your evening together.”

  “It was nice to meet you,” Sadie called after him.

  He nodded and took off. Owen gently placed his hands on her upper arms. “What do you say we get out of here and get some dessert at Chez Louis to celebrate?”

  As much as Sadie loved dessert, she was not dressed appropriately to walk into Chez Louis.

  “I can’t go out like this.”

  Owen wouldn’t be deterred. “Then we’ll go to my favorite ice-cream place. I’ve seen a woman in pajama pants there before.”

  Ice cream was Sadie’s favorite thing in the whole world. Owen knew exactly what she needed. There was no doubt. Agreeing to marry him was the smartest thing she’d done in a long time.

  Copyright © 2020 by Amy Vastine

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  ISBN: 9781488068089

  Their Mountain Reunion

  Copyright © 2020 by Patricia Johns

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.