The Impetuous Amazon
Page 31
Feeling like a blessed man, he nodded, dropped Megan’s hand and put his arm around her shoulder. Then he leaned in and kissed his sleeping daughter’s cheek. He smoothed her bright red hair down. It immediately sprang back up, making her father chuckle. Though she sighed in her sleep, Mina didn’t wake up.
He gazed at the woman in the distance. “I know it’ll be okay. It’s just so much…harder than I thought it would be.”
“She looks happy,” Megan said. “She owes that to you, Johann. You had Rhiannon give her back her life and her legs. That handsome little boy she’s pushing in that swing wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”
Johann kissed his wife’s cheek the same way he had his daughter’s. “Thanks.”
“For?”
“For being you. For always knowing the right thing to say.”
Megan was right—Janelle looked happy. She was whole. Laughing as she played with her son, she was oblivious to the strong emotions swirling through her brother. Of course, he could walk right up to her and she’d never recognize him. For some reason, knowing she’d never remember him made him feel hollow.
“Come on,” Megan said, cradling Mina against her shoulder. “Let’s get a little closer.”
“The goddesses wouldn’t like it.”
“Your mother-in-law will protect you.”
In her typical less-than-subtle fashion, Fire marched right up to sit on the swing closest to Janelle. He had no choice but to follow.
Johann stood behind his wife and gave her a gentle push.
“Not too high,” she cautioned, glancing down at Mina.
“No, baby. Not too high.”
Janelle glanced over at him and smiled. “How old’s your baby?”
“Six weeks,” he replied.
“Boy or girl?” The green blanket didn’t indicate which, and with Mina’s head tucked against her mother’s chin, the only thing visible was the red hair that tended to defy gravity. Megan always joked that Mina had the same hair as the troll doll she’d had as a child.
“A girl,” he replied. “Her name’s Mina.”
“That’s so sweet. It means ‘love’ in German.”
He nodded, feeling oddly choked up that his sister still clung to her ancestry, just as he did. “That’s why we chose it.”
Janelle gave the swing another push. “This little bundle of dirt and grass stains is my son Johann. It means ‘God’s gracious gift.’ I told my husband God gave us a wonderful present when He gave us our son.”
Johann swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. The name couldn’t be a coincidence. His sister might not recognize him, but she still carried some part of him with her.
Megan’s swing had drifted to a stop. She got to her feet and went to stand next to Johann. Tears had formed in her eyes, which meant she’d heard their nephew’s name too.
Janelle dragged her son’s swing to a halt. After she pulled the toddler up and settled him on her hip, she smiled at Megan. “Your daughter’s beautiful.”
Megan smiled back. “Your son’s one handsome little devil.”
Giving the boy a quick kiss on the cheek, Janelle said, “Little devil is right. He keeps me hopping.”
Little Johann returned his mother’s kiss by slobbering on her cheek.
She laughed. “You’re not getting out of a nap that easy, Joeman.”
Both Johann and Megan gaped at Janelle.
“Joeman?” Megan asked.
“Yeah. It’s a nickname I gave him when he was born. Goofy, I know. But it just…fit.” She picked up the quilted diaper bag that had been lying in the grass next to her and slung it over her shoulder. “It was really nice to meet you both, but I need to run. Hope to see you back here soon.”
She helped little Johann wave goodbye before she strode up the grass-covered hill.
Johann wrapped his arm around Megan’s shoulder, feeling a contentment he’d never imagined. He had everything he could ever want. A loving wife, a healthy and happy daughter…and closure.
* * *
Megan leaned against him, smiling. She knew how much seeing Janelle had meant to her husband—it was the reason she’d begged her mother to allow him this visit. Neither of them had expected to meet their nephew as well. Freya had kept that juicy tidbit to herself. No wonder the goddess had been giving her daughter a luminous smile when she’d granted permission.
She wrapped her free arm around his waist and squeezed against him. “Are you ready to go home now?”
“Very ready. You know, I can’t believe she was so close. Our new house is only twenty miles from here.”
“But we can’t see her again. Freya was very adamant. She did this for you—probably because you gave her a granddaughter.”
“I know,” he replied with a sigh. “I need to thank her again. She didn’t have to let me see Janelle.”
“Or Johann.”
“Yeah, or Johann.” He grinned down at her and Mina. “I love you, Megan.” He placed a kiss on his daughter’s red hair. “And I love you, too, Mina.”
Megan gave Johann another squeeze and then let go. “Let’s go, Joeman. I need to breastfeed Mina before I go after that stupid orc that’s loose in Westmont.”
“Are you mad we have to stay near Chicago for a while?” he asked as they walked back to the SUV.
The windy city no longer seemed so isolated or lonely—not when her family was with her. “Could be worse. At least it’s not Cleveland.”
He laughed at that.
“Doesn’t really matter where.” Megan brushed a quick kiss on Johann’s lips. “Wherever you are, that’s home.”
* * * * *
Join the Alliance of the Amazons from the beginning.
Don’t miss book one in Sandy James’s urban fantasy series.
The last thing Rebecca Massee expects on her wedding day is to go from jilted kindergarten teacher to Amazonian Earth warrior. But when she causes an earthquake after her groom says I don’t, she discovers that not only does she possess incredible powers, she is one of four lost chosen sisters who must fight to keep humanity safe from rogue gods and demons. Luckily she has help: ruggedly handsome Scottish warrior Artair MacKay, her protector and teacher.
When an evil force threatens to destroy the Amazons, Rebecca must claim her full powers—but they come at a cost. Can she sacrifice the man she loves if it means saving the world?
The Reluctant Amazon
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About the Author
Sandy lives in a quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband of over thirty years. She’s a high school social studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history. Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.
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ISBN: 978-14268-9491-6
Copyright © 2013 by Sandy James
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