by C. M. Albert
Celeste was crying as she lit our lanterns.
“You ready for this, Jerry?” I asked Dez.
“Never been more sure of anything in my life, Newman,” she said.
As our lanterns took shape, we let them go. I felt a weight release from my heart as the paper forms took flight. Dez leaned over and snuggled into the crook of my arm, burrowing in from the cold.
“Thank you,” I mouthed as I looked up into the sky at the proof of our amazing love. We headed back inside, the warm cocoon of Tranquility settling over us as we celebrated our first Christmas together.
WE STOOD SIDE by side in the quaint southern Methodist church. It was a special day for everyone there. A day to celebrate love. A day to celebrate family. I squeezed Mitch’s hand, comforted by his strength and steadfast devotion. Ever since Christmas, we’d been inseparable. He was with me in New York in April at the launch of my new coffee table book, Angels in Action. Thanks to Macy, the book skyrocketed onto The New York Times’ best-seller list, and we raised more money than I ever could have dreamed for all of the charities featured in the book, including Mitch’s.
We were able to launch phase one of Guardian Angel, the new online app that provided a safe, anonymous place for kids to call when they needed help, an ear, or advice. We already employed thirty people from the surrounding counties and were signing partner contracts with Egan and Inez to help us implement phase two, and then, eventually, open up the doors to take it nationally.
It wasn’t the only dream that had come true. I moved to Arden’s Glen in May with no hesitation. It felt like home the minute I’d met Mitch, and I knew my heart belonged there. Now, it belonged here for another reason. I squeezed the other hand I was holding. Christiano’s. The past six months had been grueling as he dealt with his grief and addictions in therapy. He still had night terrors, but Mitch and I were there for him when he did, talking him down from the panic attacks that would surface afterward.
He was our son now, and today, we were making it official.
Celeste stood before us in a simple white summer sundress. She looked like a goddess as she led us to the front of the church. She wasn’t a Methodist minister, but she had been ordained in the new year, so we asked her to perform the adoption ceremony. None was formally needed, as the paperwork had already been approved by the judge, but it was important to let the town know he was ours now.
Before she began, Celeste offered up a prayer and asked everyone to remember, with love, Frank Morellis. The church and all the community members who had gathered grew quiet, respecting the man who had tried his best to hold his family together, yet didn’t know how.
With tears in her eyes, she asked Christiano if he was ready to become part of a new family. Not to replace the old, but to rest assured that he would always be safe, provided for, and loved, just as his father had wanted.
No one left the church dry eyed. We celebrated in the beautiful outdoors, just as we had last week when Dylan was baptized. Mitch and I were honored to be her godparents, and we took the role seriously, already spoiling the adorable little diva.
I watched as Mitch and Christiano played cornhole, ribbing each other good-naturedly when one of them missed a shot. The dog that had been with Ti when I found him in Egan’s truck had also been adopted into our family and made a good companion for my cat Wednesday, who moved down with me this spring. Pugsley now lay comfortably under a tree, keeping a watchful eye on his boy. My heart had never felt more alive, more at peace, or more at home.
Rosalie joined me at the picnic table, asking if she could have a seat. I nodded, indicating she should join me.
“Look, Dez, I never really apologized for what happened. I’ve been too embarrassed to face you,” she admitted.
I waved my hand in the air. “Rosalie, nothing happened. It’s water under the bridge.”
“I still feel like I owe you an apology. I saw the way you looked at Mitch that night at the youth center. I knew you had feelings for him.”
“Rosalie, I wasn’t even sure I had feelings for him at that point.”
“Yeah, but any fool could see it. And God knows I certainly was,” she said, making light of the situation.
I knew it cost her to apologize, so I accepted. “Rosalie, it’s fine, truly. I love you like a sister. And I never took offense at you making goo-goo eyes over Mitch. Trust me,” I said. “I get it. You will find the right man for you. I can feel it.”
Rosalie nodded. “Me too,” she whispered, looking around the large gathering as if realizing her special someone could be there already.
“Do you like to play poker?” I asked. “Mitch has three guy friends over every week, and two of them are single. They’re really nice too. And I could use another girl for camaraderie,” I said.
She laughed. “I’ve played it a time or two. I’d like that.”
“Great! I’ll let you know when the next game is. Even if you don’t hit it off with one of the guys, it’s always a fun night.”
Rosalie looked hesitant, as if she wanted to say something else.
“Spit it out, Rosalie,” I said, laughing. “I can tell you have something on your mind.”
“Well, I was just wondering if Mitch knows you’re pregnant.”
My eyes grew round and I swatted her arm. “Shhh!” I said, looking around. “How did you know?” I asked. Though, really, that was a dumb question. “Hey, I thought you guys weren’t supposed to be psychic snoopers,” I said, trying to act miffed. Secretly, though, it was nice to have someone else know. Now I definitely needed to find a way to break the news to Mitch, and fast.
Sure, we’d been ready to open our hearts and home to Ti, but having a baby of our own . . . well, that was a whole new ballgame.
Rosalie didn’t have time to answer because Mitch approached us, an older woman and Dr. Zampogna by his side. “Dez, Rosalie, I want you to meet some amazing people. This is Mrs. Jeraldine Miller. Her friends call her Jerry,” he said, winking at me. “This is the lady I was telling you about, Dez. The one who helped me realize my Christmas miracle was right in front of me.”
I shook her hand, but she moved in and hugged me. “You have a very special man, sweetie. Don’t let him go.”
I grinned at her. “Thanks, Jerry. I’m not planning to.”
“And, Dez, you know Dr. Zampogna. But, Zade, this is Rosalie. You probably know her brother Brecken; he owns LettuceWrap in town. Rosalie runs her own radio show and works with Celeste from time to time. Though, I hear a certain television network has been snooping around, maybe has some interest in giving Rosalie her own show.”
Zade beamed at Rosalie, taking in her curvaceous form and smooth, tan skin. “Congratulations,” he said. “I’d love to hear more about what you do.”
She blushed under the intensity of his dark green eyes.
“Dez and Rosalie, what I didn’t tell you is that Mrs. Miller is Andrew’s grandmother. She was at the hospital on Christmas Eve. Rosalie had an amazing experience talking one on one with Andrew and helping him feel confident with his gifts and what’s on the other side. Thankfully, he won’t need it now. Dr. Z has been working with his doctors at Duke, and we’re happy to tell you that Andrew is now in remission!”
Rosalie squealed, hugging Dr. Zampogna. “Oh my gosh!” she said when she realized she’d just hugged this stranger. “Sorry! But thank you! I was so worried about him. I knew his time wasn’t up, but this—this is amazing!” she gushed.
I grinned. It really was. Zade, Jerry, and Rosalie all walked away, talking excitedly as they tried to find Andrew, who was no doubt playing cornhole or horseshoes like the other teenage boys.
I turned to study Mitch. “My, my, my. Aren’t you full of surprises today?” I said, my heart near bursting.
He looked down at me, cupping my face. “Newman, this is one of the happiest days of my life. When I told you at Christmas that I wanted to start a life with you, I never imagined it would be this full, this fast. But now that I have it,
I never want to let it go. I don’t have a ring yet, but I want you to know that I intend to make you my wife this year, if you’ll have me.”
I nodded, leaping into his embrace as he held me, my legs circling his waist. I lowered my head and kissed him, deep and with all the passion that I’d now given myself permission to feel. The past six months hadn’t just been therapeutic for Christiano, they’d been therapeutic for me.
There were no more barriers between my heart and living life to the fullest. And that included loving Mitch. I smiled down at him. “If you think you’re happy now, just wait till we talk later,” I teased. I wanted to share our good news in private, to have that moment be ours before sharing it with the community we’d grown to love together.
He lowered me down to the ground and kissed me, reminding me why I’d been brought to Arden’s Glen in the first place. Mitch always told me that I was his proof of love. I reached my hand into the pocket of my romper and ran my fingers over the ultrasound I was hiding in there. Now, he had two reasons to believe.
Fall Cider Sangria Recipe
From How Sweet It Is by Jessica Merchant
Yield: Serves 4–6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 bottle (standard size) of pinot grigio
2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider
1 cup club soda
1/2 cup ginger brandy*
3 honey crisp apples, chopped
3 pears, chopped
Directions:
Combine all ingredients together and stir, stir, stir. Refrigerate for an hour or longer before serving.
* You can also use regular or apple brandy, but ginger brandy gives it a more autumn flavor.
Gramma Wright’s Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Passed down from the Albert Family via Sharon Albert
Yield: Serves 6–8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
2 pounds hamburger or turkey meat
2 cans cut green beans
2 cans Campbell’s Tomato Soup
8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
(2) 4 oz. packages of instant potatoes
Butter
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika
Directions:
Brown 2 pounds of hamburger or turkey meat in a large frying pan. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (or crushed garlic). Drain off any liquid. Put hamburger in an oven-proof pan, such as an 11” x 14” cake pan or Corning Ware pan.
Spread two cans of cut green beans (after draining) over the hamburger.
Spread two cans of Campbell’s Tomato Soup over the green beans. (Stir the soup in the cans before spreading.)
Spread 8oz. package of shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the soup. You can add more cheese if you prefer.
Prepare two 4oz. packages of instant potatoes. (Enough to cover the pan with a thick layer. You can make the potatoes as thick as you like.)
Spread small dollops of butter across the top of the potatoes and sprinkle with paprika.
Bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes. Let rest for ten minutes before serving.
Guten Appetit!
If you like things a little spicier, try C.M. Albert’s steamy contemporary romance, The White Room.
The rules are simple:
No Names.
No Commitments.
Two hours.
They’re put into place to protect us—exclusive clients lucky enough to afford the cost of playing.But everyone knows some rules are made to be broken.When hearts and bodies collide, even the best intentions slip away . . . exposing the real reasons why we seek the White Room in the first place.Will the White Room set you free? Step inside and find yourself.
USA Today Bestselling Author C.M. Albert writes heartwarming romances that are both “sexy and flirty, sweet and dirty”! Her writing infuses a healthy blend of humor, inspiration, and romance. She’s a sucker for a good villain, and a die-hard believer in everlasting love. In her spare time, she and her husband wrangle their two kids and enjoy spending time outdoors. When not writing or kid wrangling, C.M. Albert is also a Certified Medical Reiki Master, chocolate chip cookie aficionado, kindness ambassador, and seeker of naps. You can stay in touch with C.M. Albert or join her online at:
Website: www.colleenalbert.com
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