A knock at the door brought her back to reality. “Come in.”
Gabriel stuck his head around the door. His hands covering his eyes, he said, “You decent?”
Laughing, she replied, “Yes, silly. What are you doing here? Is it time already?”
Walking in, with Alexander behind him, he closed the door. “Nope, we have a few minutes.”
“So what’s up? You’re not planning on giving me the talk, are you?”
“Good heavens, no!” Gabriel said, cringing.
Walking over to her, he clasped her hands in his. Alexander stood beside him and said, “We just want a few minutes with our sister while she still technically belongs to us.”
Touching his face, she grinned. “Aw, Alex. I will always be your sister, always.”
“I know. Nevertheless, this is different. It feels different. I feel as if I am losing you all over again, and I don’t like it. Are you sure about these two? Because I can have you in another country if you have one inkling of a doubt,” he said seriously.
“I am sure,” she said, rising up on her toes to kiss his cheek.
“Damn,” he muttered. “Well, brother, get on with it. I can’t change her mind.”
“Get on with what?” she asked, looking at them.
“As you know, we Sextons come from a long line of unsavory cutthroats. However, every so often, one of our ancestors got away from the family legacy and lived their life as they wanted, without remorse or regret. In our family, we had such an extraordinary person, our great-great-aunt Beatrice. Like you, she married young to a ruthless bastard. Also like you, she survived. She escaped, made a life for herself, and met and married a man who she felt was worthy of her. They lived into their nineties, dying within hours of each other. She left a journal, and I want to read the last verse for you. ‘Life brings hardships and pain, joy and laughter. Learn from it, teach it, but never forget it. Through the dark there is light. Follow that light, because that is where home is. I am going home to my light, my love, where I belong’.”
Unable to stop them, tears gently rolled down her cheeks. She had never heard anything so beautiful before in her life. She wasn’t alone. Hugging them both, she was never going to be alone again. She would always have a home, a family, and love.
Gabriel cleared his throat and grinned. “All right, enough of this sappy crap. Let’s get you married.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca Joyce is your typical housewife and mother. The daughter of a retired military service member, Rebecca tries to incorporate the sights, smells, and adventures of her travels, but mainly she writes of the buff, gorgeous men she drooled after in her teen years! There is just somethin’ about a man in uniform…WOW!
Growing up in the military, Rebecca Joyce, along with her family, moved from state to state, enjoying the never-ending game of “Where are we moving to next?”…which happened every two to three years!
After high school, Rebecca met and married her own military service member and now devotes her time to her husband and children. Her “spawns,” as she lovingly calls them, demand and expect a lot of her attention. When she is not catering to the whims of her family, Rebecca spends her quiet time reading or writing.
As an avid reader from an early age, Rebecca decided to try her hand at writing while her husband was away on a deployment to pass the time. Since then, she finds time in her hectic day to scribble her hopes, wishes, and dreams.
Though her real life sometimes interferes with her imaginative life, Rebecca tries to balance each with wit, sarcasm, and humor…“Screwing up takes practice…I think I’m well rehearsed!”
Rebecca Joyce currently lives in the United States with her husband of eighteen years and their three children.
For all titles by Rebecca Joyce, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/rebecca-joyce
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Fighting for Hazel [The Men of Treasure Cove 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 23