Yours to Keep
Page 19
“Dada!” shouted Skye. David turned around and beamed to see his little girl shouting his name, even though she shouted it at everyone. Amber handed Skye over to David’s willing arms, despite the fact he had renovation plans spread all over his desk, and went to the window where River was bouncing in a frame.
Amber grinned and picked him out of the bouncer. “Our River must have one of the best views in the world for his bouncer.” But River appeared ignorant of the honor and squawked indignantly. Amber ignored his frown and planted a big kiss on his cheek. River’s frown instantly disappeared and he, too, giggled as Amber played a kissing game with him.
“Um,” said David, “I like the look of that game. Will you play it with me later?”
Amber raised an eyebrow. “You shouldn’t say things like that in front of the children.”
“As much as I love our children, I doubt they have sufficient genius at eight months old to understand a word of what I’ve just said.”
“But they’ll understand the feelings, the intent.”
“If they understand that, then they’ll know exactly how much I love you.”
“Oh,” said Amber weakly. “That’s all right then. Because love always has a good, positive vibe.” She lifted River so that his face was on a level with hers and David’s. “Hasn’t it, River? You understand love, don’t you?” River grunted and moved his feet up and down as if he wanted to go for a run and then threw himself backwards in Amber’s arms.
David laughed. “I think all River understands is that he wants to be moving.”
Amber set him down on the floor and River quickly crawled across the floor and pulled himself up at the window.
David, holding Skye, joined Amber and River at the window, and they watched as River slammed his hands against the window, grunting with glee.
“I don’t understand why River is so physical.”
“Because he’s a boy.”
“You’re typecasting.”
“Amber, what did River do with that doll you gave him?”
Amber shrugged. “Threw it out the window.”
“I rest my case. Whereas, this little girl.” He held up Skye, who gripped onto his nose and laughed. “Just wants to be around people, don’t you, my darling girl?” Whether Skye understood the words, or simply understood the energy of the love which was palpable from David, she leaned in and gave him a wet kiss on that same nose.
They looked out at the lanterns of Lantern Bay blinking amid the swirl of trees on that winter day. Still alight for anyone who might need to come home. But, thought Amber, she no longer needed them. She glanced at David, gently brushing Skye’s red hair down on her head, and kissed River who squawked once more. She no longer needed them because she was already home.
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THE END
Afterword
Dear Reader,
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I always admire people like Amber who are true to themselves no matter what. It takes courage to do that. At the beginning of the book it seemed that David was the intractable one and that if anyone needed to change it would be Amber. But never underestimate a strong, creative woman who is true to her ideals and doesn’t care what anyone thinks!
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By the end of the book David has given her the courage to be even stronger. And he’s learned from her and is prepared to upend his life to show her how his values have changed. Sigh… I love a happy ending, especially when it’s hard won.
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Now all I have to do is to get the extremely capable Flo together with the extremely sexy Rob. They had a big bust up before he left to travel overseas, but he’s back now, and it doesn’t look as if he’s going to leave any time soon. Wish me luck! I hope to have Yours to Love published by late 2021.
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If you’d like to know when my next book is available you can sign up for my new release e-mail list here, or via my website www.dianafraser.com, or visit (like and comment!) my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dianafraserwriter.
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Happy reading!
* * *
Diana
Interested in reading more about the Connelly family?
Then why not start with Lizzi & Pete’s story which is told in Summer at the Lakehouse Café—the last in the Mackenzies series (excerpt follows). The Connelly stories continue as follows:
—Lantern Bay—
Yours to Give (Max & Laura)
Yours to Treasure (Rachel & Zane)
Yours to Cherish (Gabe & Maddy)
Yours to Keep (Amber & David)
Yours to Love (Rob & Flo) (2021)
Yours Forever (Cameron) (2022)
Summer at the Lakehouse Café
Book 6 of The Mackenzies—Pete & Lizzi
A staunchly independent solo mum. A winemaker who has lost his family. A summer in which to learn to trust again.
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Lizzi Burnett part owns and runs The Lakehouse Café. But when her abusive ex-husband wants her to sell unless she can pay him out, she’s determined that she’ll do it her way or not at all. Because she refuses to trust anyone with her or her daughter, Aimee’s, lives.
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She won’t even trust Pete, who she first meets emerging from the lake like a god—or at least like a kiwi Daniel Craig. Pete has re-located to New Zealand’s Mackenzie country to start afresh. His family are all dead and he wants to move forward with his life… move forward with Lizzi and Aimee.
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But what he doesn’t realize is that the hurt he sees in Lizzi’s eyes is only a fraction of what lies hidden, deep inside her. And it’ll take a whole lot of soul-searching and loving to heal that…
Excerpt
Lizzi sat on the sand, and leaned against the side of an upturned dinghy, just outside the circle of firelight. Pete sat beside her.
“Thanks for inviting me, Lizzi. I realize you probably did it out of selfless pity for someone alone during a holiday weekend. And I’m afraid I accepted it out of a selfish desire to hang out with you and your family.”
Lizzi paused. Why exactly had she invited him? “No, really, I thought it would be—”
“It’s okay,” Pete interrupted. “Whatever impulse made you extend the invitation, it’s all right by me.”
He looked straight ahead, over the flames toward where Max, Amber, Rachel and Gabe sat, laughing at some family joke.
“I miss that,” Pete said.
“What?”
Pete indicated the group the other side of the fire pit with his beer bottle. “That closeness. The familiarity. The short-hand family uses, knowing that the others will understand. It’s a solid foundation of love which you take for granted until it’s gone.”
Pete rested his head against the dinghy, still looking straight ahead, his profile lit by the darting flames, the shadows they created revealing more of his strength than the most brilliant light could have done.
“I’m sorry,” she said, wincing at the lameness of her response. She couldn’t think of any words that could convey how much she understood and felt his pain. “And thank you for showing me what’s in front of me, but which I hardly notice. I get so wrapped up in my own things. Aimee, the café, money…”
He turned to her then. “I don’t notice you anywhere on that list.”
She gave a brief laugh. “I guess I got left off so long ago I can’t remember me being there.”
“Then maybe you should add yourself. To the top, I reckon.”
“I’m a mother,” she said softly. “My child will always be at the top of my list.”
As if on cue, Aimee left her position within Rachel’s arms and stumbled over to Lizzi. “I’m tired, Mum,” said Aimee, yawning, as she fell into Lizzi’s lap.
Lizzi put her arms around Aimee and pulled her tight against her in a big hug. Aimee nestled into Lizzi’s embrace, and Lizzi kissed the top of her head as Aimee yawned. She pulled the shawl from around her shoulders and covered Aim
ee who snuggled under its warmth. And there, at that moment, Lizzi realized the truth of Amber’s words. She was lucky. And, she realized the truth of Pete’s words. It didn’t matter what else happened, she’d always have her family.
“Lizzi, what’s up? Are you crying?” whispered Pete, his head close to hers. She pursed her lips and nodded, unable to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks, as both hands still held the now sleeping Aimee.
Pete brought his finger against her cheek and swept the tears away. He put his arm around her, and she leaned against him. None of her siblings seemed to notice anything was different. None of them looked at them askance. There were no raised eyebrows, or grins, to question her earlier assertions that Pete and she were just friends. They simply didn’t appear to notice. Maybe they’d all got it right, mused Lizzi, and it was her that was slow on the uptake. Because being in the arms of Pete Marshall sure felt right.
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Also by Diana Fraser
The Mackenzies
A Place Called Home
The View from Cliff House
Escape to Shelter Springs
What you See in the Stars
Second Chance at Whisper Creek
Summer at the Lakehouse Café
Lantern Bay
Yours to Give
Yours to Treasure
Yours to Cherish
Yours to Keep
Yours to Love
Yours Forever
Desert Kings
Wanted: A Wife for the Sheikh
The Sheikh’s Bargain Bride
The Sheikh's Lost Lover
Awakened by the Sheikh
Claimed by the Sheikh
Wanted: A Baby by the Sheikh
* * *
The Sheikhs of Havilah
The Sheikh’s Secret Baby
Bought by the Sheikh
The Sheikh’s Forbidden Lover
Surrender to the Sheikh
Secrets of the Sheikhs
The Sheikh’s Revenge by Seduction
The Sheikh’s Secret Love Child
The Sheikh’s Marriage Trap
Italian Romance
Perfect
Her Retreat
Trusting Him
An Accidental Christmas