Blue Sky Days
Page 25
“I meant what I said, Emma. I wasn’t just saying it because I was sick and it seemed like a romantic thing to do. I know we’re young and some people might think we’re crazy. But it feels like we’ve lived a thousand lifetimes in the past few months. You stuck by me when other people would have run screaming. You were there for me every single step of the way, by my side, making the worst time of my life better with your presence and your love and your faith. When I picture my future, it’s you there with me. It has been since we met. I love you so much, and I want to grow old with you and have a lifetime of blue sky days. So…Emma Hazel Ward…will you make me the happiest man in the entire universe and agree to be my wife?”
He held the ring over my left ring finger and looked at me with such hope and anticipation in his eyes that my already rapidly beating heart picked up its pace, thundering in my ears.
“Yes,” I whispered, and then finding my voice, I cried, “yes!”
Nicholas’s face broke into a dazzling smile, and as he slipped the ring on my finger I noticed his hands were shaking as much as mine were. He jumped to his feet and picked me up, spinning me around with his face pressed into my neck.
After my feet hit the ground, he released me and held the mistletoe back above our heads. “Merry Christmas,” he said and he kissed me with such love and passion, my knees almost turned to jelly.
When we went back inside, Daisy had just called everyone into the dining room for dinner. Nicholas and I took our seats at the long table and we all held hands while Sam said grace.
Before everyone started serving themselves and the chaos of passing dishes began, Nicholas clinked his knife against his water glass and stood up. “Merry Christmas, everyone,” he said, looking around at all our loved ones gathered around us. “I just wanted to say quickly how glad I am to be healthy again and how lucky I am to have friends and family like you to help me through my hard time.”
He paused, his voice thick with emotion. “We’re all truly blessed to have each other and to be together over the holidays. I also have an announcement to make…” He looked down at me and winked, his eyes dancing. “Just before we all gathered at the table, I asked Emma to marry me, and she said yes.”
Excited gasps went around the table, followed by a chorus of best wishes and applause.
As everyone talked over each other, I looked up at Nicholas. I knew our life together wouldn’t be perfect. I knew we would have our ups and downs, just like every other couple. But I also knew that despite our age, and despite what the future might hold, we were solid. We loved each other, and sometimes love really is enough to get you through. That was just one of the many lessons I had learned since coming to Riverview.
I met Daisy’s eyes across the table, and the smile she gave me was so bright it was almost blinding. I wondered how any one person could be so lucky, and what I had done to deserve such a wonderful life full of the most incredible people imaginable. I missed out on a lot growing up because of a cold, brittle mother, as well as through my own self-imposed limits and restrictions, but it felt like I had more than made up for it in the last few months.
Daisy pressed her hand to her heart then her lips, and I did the same, hoping she understood just how grateful I was for her love and friendship. It wasn’t only Nicholas who had changed my life, and it wasn’t only a future with him that I was looking forward to. I couldn’t wait to start fresh with my dad, and share our life with him, Daisy, Sam, Vince, and Maggie, and discover what the future held for all of us.
The first voice to be heard clearly over the din was Sam’s. “How about a double wedding?” he asked, winking at Daisy and trying to keep the smile off his face.
“No way!” Nicholas and I said together.
Within seconds, the entire dining room was filled once again with the animated chatter and laughter of everyone making plans for the two upcoming weddings, but Nicholas and I sat in silence, looking into each other’s eyes and smiling.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and most authors call their novels their babies. This book is definitely my baby, and it took a village to raise it. I have so many people to thank.
I dedicated this book to my mum and my Grama, and I need to mention them here too, because without them, none of this would be possible. They are my greatest inspirations and biggest supporters, and their love and support has meant the world to me. An extra special thank you to my mum, who has not only put up with my daydreaming, absent-mindedness, and general craziness, but has also read Blue Sky Days in all its forms over the last seven years and loved it even when it was laughably bad. For that, she deserves a giant gold star, and of course, my undying love and gratitude.
Thank you to my dad, Arsene Landry, who died in 1994 from leukemia. I was only ten when he died, but even then I knew I wanted to be a writer, and he would listen to my crazy made-up stories and songs with the patience of a saint. I know he would be so proud and happy that I'm finally living my dream of telling stories to other people for a living. I love you Daddy, and miss you every day.
Thank you to my beta readers, proofreaders, and editor for digging deeper, loving my characters, and ultimately helping to create a better story. You are all greatly appreciated: Mum (yes, again!), Bertha Ruffo (cousin and dear friend), Raymond Hoxworth, Jennifer Harshman, and Jaime-Kristal Lott.
Ray, thank you for giving me the encouragement I needed to go back to my first love: writing fiction. It’s because of you that I pulled out Blue Sky Days and finally finished it. Thank you for your support and help, for making me laugh, for providing a distraction when I needed it (long live the PWC, and thanks also to Jake and Nick for hours of hilarity and procrastination), and for being a great friend.
I must thank some people who didn't necessarily help with this book, but who have always been there for me, and who I love dearly: My brother Jamie, sister-in-law Amanda, and nephews Noah and Logan—I love you guys so much! Suleena: in the story, Emma wasn’t lucky enough to have friends growing up, but I’ve had you for more than twenty incredible, fun-filled years. Also, thank you to my Landry family in New Brunswick, Marlene Mead, Jenn Ashby, Kitina Cox, Laura MacDonald, and Michelle Wood-Flaherty. I am truly blessed to have family who are friends and friends who are family.
This may seem strange to some people, but I couldn't write these acknowledgements without thanking four men who have inspired me, kept me sane, and meant the world to me, even though I've never met them: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., collectively known as U2. Their music has gotten me through good, bad, and everything in between, and has not only been the soundtrack of my life for many years, but the soundtrack for this novel as well. As Emma went on her journey of self-discovery, I could hear songs in my head like “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For”, “Beautiful Day”, “Miracle Drug”, “All I Want is You”, and countless others, inspiring me, and in turn, inspiring Emma.
As well as a writer, I’m also a reader. I’ve been book blogging for a while now, and I’ve met countless people who have been so wonderful and supportive. I’ve made some great new friends from all over the world who I look forward to talking to every day. Thank you to the bloggers, readers, and reviewers who have helped me find my voice and my place on the internet.
And finally, I’d like to thank everyone who takes the time to read about Emma, Nicholas, Daisy, Sam, Vince, and Maggie. These characters may be fictional, but they’re very real to me, and I hope you love them—and their story—as much as I do.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marie Landry has always been a daydreamer. She has created imaginary worlds for as long as she can remember, so it only seemed natural that she would become a writer. With a passion for words that started in early childhood, Marie has written a varied range of works, and has been freelance writing since 2009. She resides in Ontario, Canada, and most days you can find her writing, reading, blogging about writing and reading, listening
to U2, or having grand adventures with her two precious nephews.
To learn more about Marie and find the many places she can be found online, visit her at her website: http://marielandry.blogspot.com
AFTERWORD
Did you know that one of the nicest ways to show an author your appreciation is to write a review for their book? If you enjoyed Blue Sky Days, please consider writing a review and posting it on GoodReads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and/or your blog. Thank you!