Brad, who was sitting next to her, wrapped a strong arm around her and the baby. He gave a small nod. As she searched his soft green eyes, she somehow found the courage to read.
I want us to name Olivia as Annabelle’s guardian. Tom and Alex are busy with all their own kids, Samantha’s too young, and Brad’s already raised the whole bunch of you.
Kevin’s reply was next.
You sure she’ll go for that? She doesn’t exactly have time for a kid.
Olivia looked up. She couldn’t go on. Seeing the words in print was too much.
“Keep reading,” Brad urged in a soft voice.
“I . . . can’t.” Olivia silently pleaded for his strength.
Brad gently extracted the pages from her hands. “Trish wrote, ‘You don’t know my sister like I do. She protected me from bullies, taught me about my period, and chased away Robbie Perkins when he started stalking me in high school. She gave me the sex talk when my dad was too embarrassed, and she told me to go straight through and get my master’s in library science because I’d have better opportunities and better pay, even if I planned to stay in Mirror Lake. I want Annabelle to grow up strong and determined and fearless, like my sister.’”
Olivia closed her eyes, shook her head slowly. Unbelievable. Trish’s parting gift to her. She’d known all along what Olivia had to learn on her own.
Everyone was sniffling. Meg was sobbing outright. Samantha and Alex hugged. Even Tom pinched his nose and Ben shifted his gaze uncomfortably downward.
Brad gathered Olivia into his big arms, kissed her head and Annabelle’s sleepy one. “She wanted you to be the one all along.” His eyes shone with love and Olivia knew at that moment that she was exactly where she was meant to be. “Took me a little longer to be as convinced,” he said with a wry grin.
“You came around eventually,” Olivia said. “’Course, I could convince you about my loving side a little later if you’re unsure.”
“Sweetheart, you can demonstrate that any time you want.”
“Told you so,” Effie said, wiping her own tears. “But it’s eleven o’clock and time to stop all the bawling. The news is on.” She clicked on the remote.
The male anchor announced the big local story of the day. Suddenly, the camera cut to tape of Erika at the lakefront interviewing people in the crowd.
“That’s your father,” Alex exclaimed.
“How does it feel to be the bachelor who went for the highest price, Frank?” Erika asked, then pushed the mike in front of Olivia’s dad’s face.
Olivia looked at Brad, pure shock jolting her. “The highest price? My dad?”
“Your dad?” Brad echoed in disbelief.
Ben chuckled quietly. “Told you those were some lasagna rolls.”
The camera panned to a woman next to Frank. Jeannie Marshall grinned widely and linked arms with his. Frank shot her an adoring look and patted her hand.
“Jeannie’s been sweet on your dad for quite a while,” Brad said. “It’s about time those two got together.”
Jeannie Marshall and her dad? Well, why not. He probably would enjoy a little house on the lake with a nice screened porch if he could share it with her.
Olivia’s father spoke into the microphone. “I couldn’t be more thrilled . . . to make this event a real success for Mirror Lake Community Hospital, that is.”
“That sounds humble, like my dad,” Olivia said.
“Oh, hell,” Frank continued, “I’m pretty darn thrilled about you picking me, too, Jeannie.” Then he puckered up and kissed her, right on national TV.
“Oh my God,” Olivia said.
“Well, who knew Frank had it in him,” Tom said.
“Oh, he had it in him,” Brad said. “He just needed a good woman to bring it out.” He flashed Olivia that killer smile that never failed to send her stomach pitching. Then he kissed her good and hard in front of the whole family.
EPILOGUE
On a fine midsummer day, Olivia stood in line at the grocery story checking off her list. And blowing air kisses to Annabelle, who beamed radiant smiles at everyone in line from her perch in her baby carrier snuggled against Brad’s chest.
“Such a beautiful baby,” an elderly lady behind them said, clasping her hands together in exclamation.
“And so well behaved,” her husband added.
“She’s the best.” Olivia turned and smiled at Brad.
Brad grinned broadly and winked. “She hardly ever cries.”
“You two lovebirds are next,” Gertie said a little too loudly from behind the cash register. Olivia wheeled the cart forward while Brad unloaded the groceries.
Gertie slid crabmeat, garlic, olive oil, and panko breadcrumbs through the scanner. She pulled up the rhinestone-jaded reading glasses from the chain around her neck and squinted at a small box. “Quin-oh-ah. What has the world come to? Eating food I can’t even pronounce.”
“Don’t worry, Gertie,” Olivia said. “I can’t cook it either.”
“Leave that to me. But I see you’ve planned dessert.” Brad extracted a roll of refrigerated cookie dough hidden under fresh asparagus stalks and waved it in the air.
Olivia snagged her dough back from Brad. “So my cooking skills need a little work.”
“That’s okay.” He leaned close to her ear. “You have other talents that make up for it.”
“My goodness, look how this little lady has grown.” Gertie tickled Annabelle’s tiny foot while the baby sucked on a rattle and quietly assessed Gertie. “You’re not sharing space with the groceries today, are you, little girl?” Annabelle kicked and grinned, dropping the rattle, clearly relieved not to have a two-liter of diet cola wedged next to her elbows.
“So when’s the wedding?” Gertie asked.
Olivia bent to retrieve the toy. “We’ve got the church secured for Labor Day weekend. Now we just need a place for the reception. Got any ideas?”
“How about the yard of that old Victorian?” Mike Rossi stood in line a few people behind them, holding a take-out salad and a packet of dressing.
Brad stiffened and sent Mike a warning shake of his head.
What was going on?
Mike rambled on, clearly nonplussed by Brad’s ominous looks. “By the way, I had the roof inspected. And it’s going to cost you to replace it with authentic slate. Not to mention the gutters are plugged and half of them aren’t even connected anymore.”
Olivia froze, head of lettuce in hand. “You had the roof inspected? And the gutters?”
“That house sold,” Brad said quickly.
“It sold.” Olivia couldn’t believe it. “But why did you . . .”
Brad’s eyes gleamed with mischief, and the corner of his mouth turned up in a wicked grin. “Yeah, some couple with a baby bought it.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t help the tiny swell of disappointment that surfaced. But it was, after all, only a house, so she shrugged. “At least a young family got it.”
“We can move in right after we’re married. If Mike gets all that work done on time, right, Mike?”
Olivia dropped the lettuce into the cart. “You bought it? For us?”
He was never one to blush, but ruddy color infused his cheeks. “Yeah, I did.”
She squeezed past the cart and threw her arms around him, showering kisses all over his face. “I love that house almost as much as I love you two.”
“It needs a lot of work.”
She kissed Annabelle on the forehead, relished her sweet baby scent. “Did you hear that, Annabelle? You’re going to have a great big yard where you can chase your dog.”
“Not to mention all her other brothers and sisters,” Brad said.
Olivia beamed. “Maybe a nice fat cat, too.”
Brad turned around in the line. “Mike, did you not remember I asked for your confidence?�
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“You are confident in me, Brad. I’m the best damn restoration specialist in town. I can’t help it you bought a giant squatting white elephant.” He rubbed his hand on his neck. “It will be beautiful one day . . . but it’ll cost you.”
“Okay, folks, thanks for all the PDA but it’s time to get the line moving.” Gertie held out a small box. “Don’t forget your tea candles. Somehow, I think they’re going to come to good use with that romantic dinner.”
“Who needs dinner?” Brad said in a low voice, holding Olivia close as he pushed out the cart.
“I have a great idea for dessert,” Olivia whispered. “And I’m not talking about fresh-baked cookies.”
She followed as Brad steered the cart out toward the door. What a couple of weeks it had been, and it had taught her a lot of lessons. How life could turn on a dime and shake up your whole world in ways you never imagined. How you could go home again even if you thought you couldn’t. How a tragedy could make you discover the love of your life again in the least likely place.
Her heart full of gratefulness, Olivia reached up on tiptoe to graze Brad’s lips.
They were warm and sweet and held the promise of many more kisses as they walked together through the years of their lives.
“Let’s take our little girl out of here,” Brad said, wrapping an arm around Olivia’s shoulders. Then the family headed together toward home.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I used to think that writing was done in a vacuum. How wrong I was! There are so many people to thank in helping with the birth of this baby.
Finding Romance Writers of America has plugged me into valuable resources I would never have found otherwise. My sisters at Northeast Ohio RWA and the talented women of the Sunshine critique group—Chris Anna, Mary, Sheri, Vicki, and Wendy—have been a constant source of encouragement and support. My Lucky 13 Golden Heart sisters are there daily to share the ups and downs of being a writer. I love you all.
Thanks to Lori Wilde, who in her novel writing class taught me how to put together a story, starting with how to write a scene. You saw the earliest starts of this story and helped it make sense.
Thanks to my agent, Jill Marsal, who is hardworking and dedicated. You taught me many things about how to write a story that sells. I’m not sure what you saw in that first scary draft, but I’m so glad you did see it!
To Maria Gomez, who was enthusiastic about this book from the beginning and welcomed me to the Montlake family. To Charlotte Herscher, whose editorial insights went deep into the psyches of my characters and greatly enriched the book.
To my husband, who always treats my characters like real people and troubleshoots their dilemmas like he takes on all other problems in life . . . with great gusto and a sense of humor that makes me laugh no matter how impossible the situation.
To my kids, who learned a long time ago to tolerate disarray and even relish it. Your support means everything to me. I wish for you to follow your dreams and never settle for less than true love.
To my mom and dad, who loved me unconditionally and always taught me to do my best. I hope there are Kindles in heaven.
And lastly, thanks to my readers. Especially every woman who has had to make tough decisions about her career and her children. Like my heroine, you are all super women.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2013 Scott Meivogel
Miranda Liasson loves to write stories about courageous but flawed characters who find love despite themselves, because there’s nothing like a great love story! In addition to This Thing Called Love, which won the 2013 Golden Heart for Series Romance, she writes contemporary category romance for Entangled Publishing. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, three kids, and office mates Maggie, a yellow lab, and Posey, a rescue cat with attitude.
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