Then Comes Love: Welcome to Bellhaven

by Sophia Sasson

She should be worried someone would see, one of the gossipy women would talk. But she was well beyond the point of caring. Joe was holding her hand, and she felt his love in her soul.

  They stood in the middle of the gazebo, the sun shining warmly on their heads, despite the cold breeze that swirled around them. The town had dressed the gazebo in Christmas decorations, with mistletoe in the archway and twinkling lights. She was trying hard not to think about the holiday, to think about how alone she would be. Except this year, she wouldn’t be lonely. She had Joe’s love in her heart. It would be with her forever.

  “Close your eyes,” he said.

  She did.

  “Now open them.”

  When she did, he was on his knees, and her eyes widened as she saw what he was holding. A red velvet box with a big honking ring inside.

  “Lily, all the glitter in the world can’t hold a candle to the sparkle in your eyes. All the goodness in this universe is but a drop of what you have in your heart. I can’t say I’m worthy, but I would be honored if you’d become my wife.”

  She couldn’t stop the tears from falling from her face onto his hand. It was just as she’d imagined it. “It’s your grandma’s ring, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. It was a beautiful antique silver ring with a diamond in the middle and several small ones around it. Every fiber of her being yelled yes, yes, yes! She closed her eyes. She couldn’t meet his gaze. She couldn’t watch his heart break.

  “I want this more than anything in the world, but I can’t, Joe. What if you don’t come back to me?” She’d seen the life her mother had lived. She never got over the denial phase of grief, she’d lived her life in waiting, and Lily couldn’t do that to herself.

  “Look at me, Lily.”

  She opened her eyes to find him still on the gazebo floor. He clasped her hands, and his heat warmed her body. “I’m gonna come back to you. No matter what.” He put her hand on his chest, and she felt the pounding of his heart. “This now belongs to you, and it won’t stop beating until you tell it to.”

  He stood and slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, and he continued holding her hand. “There are people who spend lifetimes not knowing what love is. Can you have faith? Believe that I’ll come back for you? No matter what.”

  He touched his lips to hers. “Let go of your fear, Lily.”

  And in that moment, she knew what she had to do. She wasn’t going to turn out like her mother. After all the heartache in her life, this was her time. She was owed. He was her reward, and all she had to do was accept him.

  “I want us to be married before you go,” she said.

  His eyes lit up. “I was kinda hopin’ you’d say that.” He gave her a shy smile. “I made a reservation for us in Atlantic City. They have twenty-four/seven chapels. We can be married tonight.”

  Her eyes widened. “What about your mama and Carrie?”

  “I can’t wait to show you off to them.” He cupped her face. “Lily, our souls were matched in heaven, this I know. I don’t want to wait another moment to make you my wife.”

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him with everything she had. It was time for her happily ever after.

  ~~ THE END ~~

  Joe and Lily’s story, after their wedding in Atlantic City is continued in First Comes Marriage. For more free reads, sign up for my VIP list on http://SophiaSasson.com

  Continue reading for an excerpt from First Comes Marriage

  FIRST COMES MARRIAGE

  Excerpt

  SHE ran her finger around the rim of the cup, feeling the cracked edge. “The grocer wouldn’t let me buy tea. The diner was all out of veggie burgers and any other nonmeat items, and I got a ticket even though I was parked legally.” She sighed wearily. “They hate me.”

  He pushed his chair back and stood up. She turned to see him put a pan on the stove and take food out of the refrigerator. “I’m still a vegetarian, you know.”

  He laughed. “I’m making you a grilled cheese sandwich, your highness.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. She wasn’t used to someone taking care of her. Growing up, she’d had an army of servants at her beck and call, but she never asked them to serve her. She’d often gone without a snack when hungry, too ashamed to ask the cook to make her something. “Thank you. I appreciate it…you have no idea how much.”

  He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, I don’t want you fainting on me.” She sipped her tea and watched him sizzle butter in the pan. She felt herself relax as the warm liquid went down her throat. “On top of it all, Rose seems to think I’m going to take over Dr. Harper’s practice.”

  “Well, Dr. Harper has been talking about retiring. His wife is getting worse, but there’s no other doctor in town.”

  “I told her I don’t have my sights on his practice—I plan to go back to London to run my father’s clinic.”

  “Yeah, they think you’ll like it so much here, you’ll stay. I mean, who would leave the good old US of A to go back to colonial times.”

  She pursed her lips to bite back a retort. He was trying hard to keep up the pretense of being a surly rancher; she wouldn’t engage in his ribbing.

  “Besides, if you haven’t noticed, I’m the town’s most eligible bachelor and they figure you’ll fall in love with me and never leave.”

  She couldn’t help but scoff. He thought a lot of himself. “Well, she has nothing to worry about. I’m getting married a few weeks after I return.” She winced. Her marriage wasn’t a secret, but for some reason she didn’t want to discuss it with Jake.

  Crash! Startled, she turned and saw the pan on the floor. Jake recovered quickly.

  “Sorry…handle slipped from my fingers. Don’t worry, I saved your sandwich.”

  He set a plate down. She picked up the sandwich and took a bite. This is the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. She let the buttery bread and soft cheese melt in her mouth.

  “Mmm. Thank you!” She saw him staring at her, his green eyes darkening to brown. She felt herself blush and looked down at her plate.

  Jake sat down and splayed his fingers over his half-empty mug.

  “I heard something about a fiancé, but this town has a way of embellishing.” He gazed pointedly at her hand. “You don’t wear a ring.”

  She chewed slowly. “In Indian culture, the engagement is part of the wedding festivities. My parents wanted it to be the first party of the two-week celebrations.”

  “Two weeks?”

  “I’m their only child—they’ve always spoiled me.” She kept her eyes on her plate. Her mother had been planning this event for over a year. She was quite upset at the timing of Meera’s trip, but Meera hadn’t wanted to put it off. She needed to do this before the wedding.

  “So tell me about your fiancé.” His tone was casual, but there was something new in his voice. She searched his face but he was studying the table.

  “Raj is a family friend. We’ve known each other since we were children. He’s also a physician and his family is also from India originally, but we both grew up in the UK. We have a lot in common.”

  “Is he also a vegetarian?”

  She laughed. “Yes, he is. We are very well suited to each other.”

  A shadow flittered across his face. “Well suited. That’s an interesting way to put it. Do you love him?”

  She frowned. What a strange question. But suddenly her mouth was dry. She took a sip of her tea and rubbed her temples.

  “As I said, I’ve known him for many years and we’re quite fond of each other. We’re research partners—we run a research project together, and after I finish my research doctorate, we’ll open our own lab.”

  He raised his brows.

  Suddenly, she didn’t want to talk about Raj anymore. “Are you married?”

  Was it her imagination, or did he flinch? He shook his head. “I was engaged once.”

  “What happened?”

  “She left me.” His voice was devoid of emotion, but she sensed bi
tterness and pain behind the words.

  “Is the fertility tea hers?”

  He laughed mirthlessly. “Yeah, that one took me by surprise, too.” He was trying too hard to keep his voice carefree. The raw sorrow in his eyes gave him away. She wanted to reach out and touch him.

  “How long ago?” she asked softly.

  “Almost a year..”

  Meera placed her hand over his. “I’m so sorry.” His hand felt warm and rough, and somehow familiar. Meera pulled away.

  He gave her a wistful smile. “It’s probably for the best. I’ve let it go.”

  She finished her sandwich and stood up to wash the plate. She had a thousand questions for him, but it didn’t feel right to pry. He seemed vulnerable…and heartbroken.

  “Why’re you marrying a man you don’t love?”

  Meera froze, the water pouring over her hands as she held the plate. Her head throbbed painfully. Was he asking because his fiancé had left him? “What makes you think I don’t love him?” Did her voice sound shaky?

  “You haven’t once said that you do.”

  FIRST COMES MARRIAGE

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Romance that sizzles

  Stories that thrill

  Characters you can't leave behind

  Sophia puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good use by writing stories she hopes will give you hope, make you laugh, cry, and possibly snort tea from your nose. She was born in Bombay, India, has lived in the Canary Islands, Spain, Toronto, Canada and currently resides in Washington DC. She loves to read, travel, bake, scuba dive, watch foreign movies, and hear from readers.

  Visit her at http://SophiaSasson.com.