by Jeannie Moon
“That I do! Come here, young’uns. Give me hugs.” The boys lunged at him, hanging off his neck. He carried them off onto the lawn.
Her father was unfazed by the beautiful view, only his grandchildren mattered. Her brother, however, was staring at the harbor.
“It’s something, isn’t it?”
“Leah, you know me. I love the farm. I love waking up to the scents and sounds, but this is amazing. I said it when you first bought the place, and I’ll keep saying it.” The property, which was on the corner of a piece of land that jutted out into the harbor, had 400 feet of beach, including a boat dock. It was a vacation home they’d live in all year round.
“Everyone else should be here soon. We all left about the same time.”
“Everyone else” was their Reliance family, people she’d known a good part of her life, people who had grown to be brothers and sisters of her heart.
Jason and Meg arrived with their four children, Caroline and Josh with their two. Harper wrangled her two kids on her own because Kevin was on a road trip. It was a family day, and the only one missing was her sister, who was on a job site in Prague.
The noise, the giggles and squeals of the children, reminded Leah about how much she had to be thankful for. Sure, she had a beautiful home, and the means to give her children anything they wanted, but more than that—the most important thing—she had love.
Lots and lots of love.
In the kitchen, preparing the burgers and chicken for the grill, Leah was happy to see Meg come through the French doors and pop onto one of the stools at the island. She’d always liked Meg, and the two of them had become close over the past year.
“You look like you’re deep in thought, my friend.” Plucking a grape from the bowl of fruit on the island, Meg smiled.
“I was just thinking about all of us. The couples, the kids. Since you and Jason were married, the lot of us have fallen like dominoes. The only one left who’s single is Amy.”
“It feels like so long ago, but it’s only six years.”
“Meg, based on everything I’ve heard, you and Jason happened when you were still teenagers. It just took you both a while to figure it out.”
“You’re probably right.” She paused. “Do you ever wonder about that?”
Leah covered the plate of burgers and put them in the fridge to set up. “About what?”
“About how we all found the person who was perfect for us. I mean, Jason and I had a history. You could even say Caroline and Josh did, too, but Kim and Owen? Jenna and Nate? Harper and my brother? Talk about a mismatch. And what about you and Tris—what are the odds that the guy who was hired to help with the company going public would be the one for you?”
Caroline came in from outside with Harper, Kim, and Jenna in tow. “We figured the guys could wrangle the kids on their own for a while. Where’s the wine?”
Leah turned and grabbed a giant pitcher of sangria she’d just made. “Glasses are in the cabinet over there.”
“On it!” Harper said. “So what are we talking about?”
“How we each found the perfect person. It’s kind of amazing the way it works, don’t you think?” This had definitely been on Meg’s mind.
“I think we were ready for it,” Kim said. “And it wasn’t easy for any of the guys if you think about it. They had to work for every one of us.”
Harper raised her glass. “As it should be.”
“I wasn’t ready for Nate.” Jenna’s voice was soft, reflective. “I’m still awed by how much he loves me.”
Kim reached out and wrapped an arm around her oldest friend. “You deserve it.”
Touching Kim’s baby bump, Jenna smiled. Leah had to acknowledge Kim had a point. “I think we all had to open ourselves to the possibility of being loved, you know? Of having a different life. Change is scary, but great payoffs sometimes require risk.”
“I’ve heard that more than once,” Caroline said. “Especially concerning matters of the heart.”
“That sangria is strong.” Meg choked as she downed the glass. “Give me some more.”
Laughter bubbled up, and Leah thought about how much her marriage brought her in terms of the people in her life. One by one she looked at the women standing in her kitchen and smiled. A teacher, an engineer, an executive, a nurse, an artist, and a lawyer.
They were smart, accomplished women who found men who were strong enough to handle all they brought to a marriage. Leah was happy for what they brought to her life. A collective squeal jolted her out of her own head, and she and her friends went to the door to see their husbands, and her father, lined up, each with a child next to them, ready to have a game of football.
“God, they are gorgeous,” Kim said. “Oh, there we go. The shirts are coming off.”
“Sweet baby Jesus,” Caroline muttered. “Forty is looking good on my husband.”
Harper nodded. “I can’t believe Kevin turned forty, either. I’m enjoying every minute of him trying to prove to me he’s still a stud.”
Jenna sighed as she watched Nate pick up their son and run him and the football across the grass. The twins tried to keep up, but instead decided to tackle their daddy’s legs. Leah warmed from the inside out as Tristan scooped up both boys. The three of them were laughing, and when Tris turned, he caught her watching him.
His smile spread wide, his eyes sparked in the sun, and Leah’s heart stopped. He was a wonderful man—kind, honest, and good to the core. And he loved her. He loved their children. It was more than she ever dreamed of.
It was beautiful.
It was romantic.
It was the happy ever after she never thought she’d have.
And it was forever.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s bittersweet that this book is my last Forever Love Story. I started my journey with a few characters, an imaginary company, and a blank slate. Now here we are, six books later, putting the series to bed.
Along the way I’ve worked with some wonderful people, including my editor, Jennifer Fisher, my agent, Stephany Evans, and the team at InterMix. I cannot thank you all enough.
My writer crew, CTRWA, LIRW and my plotting buddies: Patty Blount, Jolyse Barnett, Liz Slawinski, Maggie Van Well, Lisa Guilfoil, Myra Platt, and Jennifer Gracen. The lot of you have helped me get a handle on plots and characters that weren’t cooperating, you’ve listened to me vent, and given me more tips than I can count. I don’t think I could ever express my gratitude.
To the Moonpies—you’re all awesome.
To the team at Waxcreative Design, you are all magicians. Thank you for sharing your magic with me, and my website.
Many thanks to Jennifer Gracen, who proofreads every one of my books, and makes sure not a comma is out of place. Thank you for making me look good.
My family is my support system, and I love them beyond measure.
Lastly, thanks to you, my wonderful readers. You’ve made this ride worth it. I look forward to sharing many more happily ever afters with all of you. XO
Please keep in touch at jeanniemoon.com
Jeannie Moon is the author of The Boyfriend List, The Second Chance Hero, The Wedding Secret, Unexpectedly Yours, and The Temporary Wife. She is a school librarian who loves that she has a job that allows her to immerse herself in good books and call it work. A native Long Islander, Jeannie still lives there with her family and a couple of well-behaved dogs.
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