Epilogue
It was a warm June day, and Hannah and Will sat in the gazebo by the lake, gazing out over the sparkling blue water. “We did it, didn’t we?” he murmured contentedly. “Just two more months, and it’ll be open. I can’t believe it’s actually going to be ready.”
“I guess we should both know by now that when you want something badly enough, you can make it happen,” she said, thinking of how hard they’d both worked this past year to make the school a reality. She was so proud of her husband. And so grateful. So very grateful for this life they’d begun building together.
“I could never have done it without you. You know that.”
The words meant everything to her. This first year of their marriage had been the happiest of her life, and more fulfilling than anything she’d ever dreamed of. She still spoke to women’s groups every month or two, and when she did, he went with her, always supporting her. Jenny had taken her place at the library. Hannah and Will spent most of their time working together on the school. Eventually she planned to teach a class or two. In addition, she hoped to write a book for women who had been victims of date rape.
Life was good. So good that sometimes she still couldn’t quite believe it.
She turned her face toward the morning sun, letting her head rest against the gazebo bench, cherishing the feel of Will’s hand on her rounded belly. That was one thing she’d loved most about him in the past months, his constant need to touch her, to maintain a physical connection between the two of them and the child she carried. “I can’t possibly get any bigger, can I?” she asked, glancing at him with a smile on her lips.
“I don’t care if you do. You’re beautiful,” he said, fingering a lock of her hair. “I always thought pregnant ladies were special. They just look like they belong to someone. You belong to me.”
She touched his cheek with her palm, letting her eyes take their fill of this man who had brought her such incredible happiness.
“The way he’s been kicking, I have no doubt who he’s taking after. I think he’s already wearing shoulder pads.”
He laughed and kissed her, a long lingering kiss full with love, appreciation and respect. “I love you, Hannah Kincaid. Did I tell you that today?”
“As a matter of fact, you did,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder. “But I don’t mind hearing it again.”
They sat there in the sun, summer sounds echoing around them. Hannah put a hand on her stomach, and said wistfully, “I wish Sarah could have been here for this baby.”
“Me, too, sweetheart.”
“I’m so glad she was there when we got married.” They’d had two ceremonies, one at the church in town and one in Sarah’s room. The national papers had carried the story of their wedding, and they’d received so many flowers that they’d finally asked the florist to deliver them to patients at Lake Perdue Memorial Hospital.
“It meant a lot to me that she trusted me to take care of you.”
“She knew you would.”
“And I will,” he promised, tilting her chin up and placing a soft kiss on her mouth. “You and that little kicker inside you.”
She settled back into the comfort of his strong, loving arms, her cheek against the soft cotton of his shirt. “If he turns out to be a she, would you mind if we named her Sarah?”
Will hugged her to him and said, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Hannah pressed a kiss to his chest. Life was very good, indeed.
Table of Contents
Cover
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-six
Chapter Forty-seven
Chapter Forty-eight
Chapter Forty-nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-one
Chapter Fifty-two
Chapter Fifty-three
Chapter Fifty-four
Chapter Fifty-five
Chapter Fifty-six
Chapter Fifty-seven
Chapter Fifty-eight
Chapter Fifty-nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-one
Chapter Sixty-two
Chapter Sixty-three
Chapter Sixty-four
Epilogue
Truths and Roses Page 24