Autumn leaned against the wall, feeling some of the stress dropping from her shoulders.
“How are you doing?” Pandora peered at her in the dim light.
“Honestly? I’m so happy I can hardly stand it, but my bladder is way too small.” Autumn quick stepped into the master bath, followed closely by Pandora.
The skirt was so fluffy, it took Pandora and Autumn both to get all the layers hoisted up enough so that she could use the restroom without getting the dress wet.
“Oh sweet Jesus,” Autumn sighed as her bladder stopped screaming.
“Better?”
“Much. I almost don’t want to get up.”
“And miss your own party?”
“I know, I know. Need to check on Mom too.” Autumn got to her feet and with Pandora’s assistance all of her clothing returned to its proper position.
“How’s Cathy doing?” Pandora asked as she smoothed the tulle down.
“We’re handling every day as it comes. I think we’ve hit the turning point. She realizes, finally, that she has a problem and now I think things will get better.” It was no small miracle that Cathy had even been at the wedding.
Pandora leaned up against the bathroom counter.
“What about your big plans?”
“If you’re about to ask if I feel like you’re trampling all over my parade, you’re not, so don’t make me have that conversation with you again. I think we’re ready to really start planning. Unlike you, we’re taking our time.”
“I’m so happy for you guys. Come on, let’s go get you something to eat.”
“You just want cake.”
Both girls tossed their heads back and laughed. They knew each other too well.
Autumn stepped back out onto the patio. Lights were strung up overhead to illuminate the entire backyard. She smiled and waved to guests, but her gaze went straight to her husband.
Sammi stood with Isaac in the area where they’d had the ceremony, his gaze on the chair that still had a corsage sitting unused. Sammi hadn’t asked her for that detail, but she’d done it anyways once he chose to still honor her with the reserved spot. Tamara might claim her son was dead, but Sammi hadn’t given up hope his mother would recover from her mental illness.
Autumn made her way toward the two men. Isaac saw her first and backed away slowly.
Autumn slid her arms around Sammi’s waist and rested her cheek on his shoulder. His hand rested over her wrist.
“How’s the tattoo feeling?” she asked.
He extended his left hand. “Stings a little.”
“It’ll heal fast. How are you?” She held her breath, knowing the brooding moment had nothing to do with her. Since Sammi’s father had been excavated and his death ruled a homicide, things with Tamara changed daily. Autumn could barely keep up.
Sammi blew out a breath and turned, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek.
“What aren’t you telling me?” She leaned back, frowning at her husband.
“There’s just been a lot the last week.”
“A lot? You haven’t mentioned a word.”
“I know. You were so busy I didn’t want to stress you out.”
“Sammi, that’s not an acceptable answer.”
“Come here.” Sammi sank into the chair next to the place for the mother of the groom and pulled her onto his lap. “I had sisters. They told me this week that Mom and Dad had three little girls before me. All of the babies died within a few months of being born.”
Autumn’s heart stopped. “You don’t think…?”
“Do I think she killed my sisters? Yes. Yes, I do. I’m not going to give up hope that someday she will heal. But I need time. I need time to focus on us and Cathy.”
Autumn wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. She knew what it was like to struggle with a parent who was dealing with something that couldn’t be fixed with a Band-Aid. It was an everyday struggle with Cathy, as it would be with Tamara.
“We’ll get through this,” she whispered.
“Of course we will. I’ve got you, Sunshine, and that’s all I need.”
About Sidney Bristol
It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a “normal” life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor home on the U.S. highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas, where she divides her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.
Sidney welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).
Also by Sidney Bristol
Bound With Pearls
Collar Me in Paris
Flirting with Rescue
Hot Tango
Personal Adventures
So Inked 1: Under His Skin
So Inked 2: The Harder He Falls
Print books by Sidney Bristol
Bound with Pearls
Under His Skin
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
His Marriage Bargain
ISBN 9781419947124
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
His Marriage Bargain Copyright © 2014 Sidney Bristol
Edited by Jillian Bell
Electronic book publication June 2014
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.
The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com to find erotic reading experiences that will leave you breathless. You can also find our books at all the major e-tailers (Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle, Sony, Kobo, Google, Apple iBookstore, All Romance eBooks, and others).
www.ellorascave.com
grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
HisMarriageBargain Page 35