The Right Groom
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7
Echo took Spencer’s hand as they strolled down the street. “Are you ready for this?”
“Fuck no,” Spencer said. “Don’t you think it would have been better if you had snuck back into your parents’ house at the crack of dawn, and then I came over later and we had a discussion, and then we went and talked to my parents instead of facing them both at the same time?”
She hip-checked him. “First, I don’t plan on staying at my parents’ house the rest of the week except for maybe Friday night since they will be all ‘it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.’ And second, I’d rather do this once.”
“Good point,” he said. “But before we go in, I need to bring up an awkward situation.”
“What’s that?”
“I need to get you an engagement ring, and I hate that we are going into this without one.”
“I love you.” She rose up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I don’t care about that. We’ll get one later today. Or tomorrow. Or whenever. It’s not as important as the fact that after four years, we’ve finally gotten our shit together.” Of course, while she appeared calm on the outside, her insides were shaking like an aftershock. While she didn’t think her parents would be upset over her getting back together with Spencer, she wasn’t sure how they would feel about them getting married this weekend.
“Are we nuts?”
“Certifiable,” she said as she walked down the driveway toward her parents’ house.
Her father stood in the doorway with his arm around her mother.
“I wonder if my parents are here yet,” Spencer said.
“I can see them in the picture window.”
“This is going to be fun,” he mumbled.
“Good morning, you two,” her father said as he took her into a hug. “Come on in. Spencer, your folks are already here.”
“Thanks for having us,” he said.
“Well, we’re curious as to what this is all about,” her mother said. “We have some mimosas already poured, and I made a continental breakfast, so just make yourself comfortable in the family room.”
“Well, hello, Echo,” Alice, Spencer’s mother, said. “It’s so good to see you.”
“And with our son,” Bradly added.
“Dad,” Spencer said sternly.
“What?” Bradly tossed his hands wide. “It’s not like no one in this room doesn’t know where she spent the night last night.”
“Seriously, Dad. Please don’t be rude,” Spencer said.
Echo’s father slapped Spencer on the back. “Trust me, son, he’s not being rude. And if all of us had a dollar for every time we had to bite our tongues for trying not to catch the two of you sneaking in and out of either of our houses, boats, whatever, we’d be rich.”
Echo’s cheeks heated, and Spencer’s turned bright red, but they had set themselves up for this very scenario.
“So, what brings all of us together this morning?” her father asked.
Her mother passed out mimosas in her best champagne glasses.
“Well, sir,” Spencer started with a slight tremble in his voice. “Echo and I were thinking.”
“Thinking?” Bradly asked. “Or feeling?”
“Dad. Stop,” Spencer said.
“Oh, we should all stop teasing the children,” Alice said. “We four parents know what we want to hear, so just let the kids tell us if we’re right or wrong.”
“What do you think we are going to tell you?” Echo asked.
“The obvious is that you’re back together and that my kiddo is going to be moving back to the area soon,” her father said.
“That would be a true statement.” Echo raised her glass, taking Spencer’s hand. “But I’ll let Spencer here tell you the rest.”
Spencer coughed. “Gee, thanks.”
“Well, spill it, son,” her father said. “We’re all waiting.”
He cleared his throat. “I love your daughter.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” her father said.
“I want to marry her,” Spencer said. “This weekend.”
“Well, hot damn,” her father said. “Finally, a wedding I can get on board with.”
“You all are okay with this?” Spencer asked.
“More than okay,” Alice said. “We’ve been praying for it.”
Echo’s mother took her by the hand. “I don’t mean to pry, but what are we doing about an engagement ring? Wedding rings?”
“We thought we’d go into town today and figure that piece out,” Spencer said.
“I might have a better idea if you two are willing.” Her mother raced to her bedroom.
“What is she talking about?” Echo asked, but she didn’t need an answer. She knew, and it brought tears to her eyes.
“I feel horrible even bringing this up, but I couldn’t give this to you when,” her mother paused.
“I understand, Mom,” Echo said. “And so does Spencer. It’s okay to mention my mistake.”
“Okay,” her mom said. “I didn’t feel comfortable giving this to Andy because ever since you were ten years old, I always believed that one day Spencer would be knocking on our door, asking for your hand, and I would offer up my grandmother’s engagement ring along with her and my pappy’s wedding rings. I was already married when she passed, but she left them to me to give to my daughter, and lucky me, I only had one.” She opened a box and held them out to Spencer. “You’ve always been like another son to us. We love you very much, and I hope you will accept these.”
Spencer swiped at his cheeks. “They’re beautiful.” He took the box into his hands.
“Why don’t you propose proper, son,” his father whispered.
Echo’s heart hammered in her chest as she watched Spencer lift the diamond ring and bend to one knee.
He glanced up, catching her gaze. “I love you, Echo. Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered as he slid the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly, and it was the most precious thing she’d ever seen.
He rose, cupping her cheeks. His mouth devoured hers in a totally inappropriate kiss, but she didn’t care. She loved this man. She was always intended to get married this weekend. She just needed to find the right groom.
Epilogue
Four months later…
“Is this the last of it?” Spencer asked as he dropped a large box on the kitchen counter in their newly purchased home on Heron Hallow, which was still on Cleverdale Point, but a little farther away from both sets of parents. Not that they didn’t enjoy living close to their families, but it was nice to buy their own place instead of renting.
“That’s the last of it.” Echo slumped down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to her. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“Uh-oh. I’m not sure I like it when my bride starts conversations like that.”
“Well, it is a bit serious.”
“Even worse.” He sat down, putting his arm around her and pulling her to his chest. “Are you not liking your new job?”
“No. I love being in the ER and Glens Falls hospital is a perfect fit. But we both know it won’t be forever. Someday, I will want a more stable job with hours that are conducive to family life.”
“Are you having second thoughts about it?”
“Not at all.”
“I have noticed you’ve been really tired the last few weeks, and that concerns me, especially since you have no ties to Atlanta, and we aren’t traveling there for any reason anymore.”
“While you were pulling a couple double shifts this week, I went to the doctor to talk about how tired I am. I thought maybe I might be anemic or something, but I’m not.”
Spencer frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was part of a well visit, so no biggie, but then they had me take a test.”
“Now you’re freaking me out. What kind of test?”
“A pregnancy test.”
“A what?” Spencer
tried to swallow, but he couldn’t. He cleared his throat. “And what was the result?”
“It was positive.”
“Holy shit. As in your having a baby?”
“No. As in we’re having a baby.”
He jumped from the sofa and lifted her into his arms. The day he married her, he didn’t think life could get any better.
But it just did.
Thank you for taking the time to read The Right Groom. Please feel free to leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or Bookbub!
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About the Author
Welcome to my World! I'm a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.
I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
I'm currently enjoying the next phase of my life...the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.
Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/6atcf7g1be) where I often give away free books before publication.
Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where I post exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!
Never miss a new release. Follow me on Amazon:amazon.com/author/jentalty
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