Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Page 25
“Caroline,” he whispered, “I love you.”
She smiled. “Say it again.”
“I love you. More than my camera. More than my SUV. More than my vintage collection of comic books.”
She grinned mischievously. “More than shoofly pie?”
“Even more than shoofly pie.” He returned her smile.
Caroline enjoyed the delicious warmth that spread over her. Hearing him say those words was like basking in warm sunshine. “I love you too. And I’m not just saying it because you said it.” She grabbed his hand. “It’s been a lot of years since I’ve had a home. But you…you’re like home to me.”
He pulled her in for another kiss.
Epilogue
Caroline sat stiffly in the armchair. She and Michael had debated whether doing a live interview was a good idea. She’d finally decided to answer a few questions. Hopefully it would help to put the past behind her once and for all.
A production assistant hovered over her. “Here’s a lapel mic,” the woman said. “Just clip that on and you’ll be ready to go.”
Caroline ran her hand over her smooth new pageboy haircut. She’d gone back to her normal honey-brown color and felt so much more like herself. But these things had always made her nervous. Especially now that it had been so long since she’d been in the spotlight.
“We’ll be live in three,” the assistant said.
Caroline listened to the countdown, willing herself to stay calm.
“We’re here today with Caroline DeMarco,” the host said.
The camera panned to Caroline. She managed a smile. “Good morning.”
“Caroline, the world still mourns the death of Lance. It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been more than a year since his death.”
Caroline nodded.
“We know that you relocated to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, soon after his funeral. Would you share the reason behind that move?”
“I guess I was just looking for a change of pace. My mama and I had always planned to visit Lancaster County, so I sought refuge there.”
The talk show host nodded. “I remember seeing the media camped outside your Atlanta home. It’s no wonder you needed to get away.” She smiled. “I understand that you’ve now permanently relocated. What are you doing there?”
Caroline smiled. “I run a bookstore.” Once Lottie had seen how well the place was doing under Caroline’s care, she’d sold her the property outright. She said it did her heart good to know that the place she and her husband had loved so much was being so well taken care of.
“That’s nice,” the host said. “And now that the trial is over, is there anything you’d like to say about the verdict?”
Caroline shook her head. “I’ve spoken with Valerie multiple times. It was a crime of passion. She is very sorry for what she did, and she will spend the rest of her life in prison, paying her debt to society.” There were no words for the sadness of the situation. Lance’s life had been cut short. Valerie would spend the rest of her years in jail. The one ray of hope was that the child they’d conceived would only know love.
“Does that mean you’ve forgiven her?”
Caroline looked into the camera. “Forgiveness isn’t easy, especially when someone has done something so awful. But it’s necessary. We’re commanded to forgive one another as God has forgiven us. So yes, I’ve forgiven.” Forgiveness had been a fight. But with the help of Lydia Ann and Michael, Caroline had come to realize that holding a grudge only hurt herself.
“There were rumors that Valerie was with child and gave birth before the trial. What do you have to say to that?”
Caroline had figured this question was coming. She thought of Emma and Noah and how happy they’d been to finally have a child to love. They’d welcomed the baby boy with open arms. Emma’s letters to Lydia Ann were full of happiness. She said that Samuel completed their family and they thanked God for him every day. “There are always rumors in situations like this.” She shrugged. There was no reason anyone ever needed to know the truth.
“Is that your way of saying ‘no comment’?” The host gave a broad smile.
Caroline didn’t respond.
“And how about you? Are you happy?”
Caroline took a breath. There was no way she could convey her happiness in a few short sentences. She’d found a good friend in Lydia Ann, the kind of friend who would help her out in a crisis and laugh with her over a cup of coffee. Even though they came from different backgrounds, they had so many things in common. Watching as Lydia Ann, Simon, Katie, and Mary became a family had been an amazing blessing. And the Landises had become a family of her own. Church with them on Sundays, dinner a couple of nights a week—it was more than she’d ever expected. “I’m very happy,” she said. “It took a long while to get to this point, but as a wise friend of mine says, you never know what the good Lord has waiting for you around the corner.”
The host smiled. “And one final question for you. Have you found love again?”
Caroline couldn’t hide her smile. She’d found the sticking kind of love. The kind that would last through thick and thin. A part of her wanted to reach into her pocket and pull out the ring Michael had given her last week. The antique setting had the diamond from her mama’s ring. But there were some things she planned to keep private. “I have found love again.” She smiled. “I’m a firm believer in second chances. And I’m thankful I was blessed with a second chance at love.”
About the Author
Annalisa Daughety, an Arkansas native, is the award-winning author of five novels. She writes inspirational, contemporary fiction set in historic locations. Her previous works include Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, as well as the Walk in the Park series, set in popular national parks around the country. A graduate of Freed-Hardeman University, Annalisa has spent the past ten years working in the nonprofit sector in marketing and event planning. She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and loves to connect with her readers through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. She currently lives in Memphis with two spoiled dogs and is hard at work on her sixth novel. More information about Annalisa can be found on her website, www.annalisadaughety.com.
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