Mail-Order Brides For Christmas - Frankie Love Page 0,104
bride and was able to change her shitty life.
“I did a spur of the moment application to Holly’s company after seeing the advertising for upcoming Christmas weddings and feeling nostalgic. I didn’t expect to hear anything, even less that she’d call and say she’d found me a match here of all places. I couldn’t refuse her offer and here I am exactly where I should have been all along.”
“I’m sorry you had such a hard time of it there.”
She shrugs. “It was what it was. It made me appreciate this place so much more. I thought of you every day. I almost called you, wrote to you, but then I’d remember how things were left and I’d convince myself that you hated me and never wanted to hear from me again, so I always chickened out. I should have been braver.”
“And I should never have said those things. I was angry. I should have reached out too, but I was so lost.”
“So what have you been doing?” she asks, trying to change up the conversation a little.
“I took over Mistletoe and Sons from my grandad as I’d always planned after finishing school and I’ve mostly kept myself busy with work.”
She bites down on her bottom lip and looks away from me. I can read her like a book and I know she’s desperate to ask so many questions right now.
“Spit it out, little mouse.”
“What about girls? Was there ever anyone?”
“No one serious. I compared them all to you and they were never going to measure up.” A small smile appears on her lips.
“But you’ve been with…”
“Yeah. Although I wish I hadn’t.”
“No, you did the right thing. You should have lived your life. I feel like I’ve just hit pause on mine. Aside from a college degree, I’ve got nothing to show for the past five years.”
“Fuck it,” I say a little more forcefully than I was expecting. Her eyes widen at my outburst. “Fuck the last five years, we’ll just write it off as nothing. Our lives are continuing right here, right now.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. And I’m going to start it the right way.” I roll her on to her back and settle myself between her legs. “You always wanted a family in this house, right?”
She nods shyly.
“Well then, we need to get in plenty of practice.”
“I love you, Spencer,” she whispers, reaching out for me.
“I love you too, my little mouse. I always have.”
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About the Author
Tracy Lorraine is a new adult and contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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Epilogue
Joy Mistletoe
New Year’s Eve
Being married to Hank all these years means I know a thing or two about falling in love and living happily ever after… but seeing all my sons married, with wives who are committed to being their partners, brings a new level of happiness to my heart.
Hank hands me a glass of champagne, wrapping an arm around my waist. “You did good, Joy,” he tells me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen our boys so damn happy.”
I smile, looking around our living room. The Christmas tree is still in the corner by the fireplace, twinkly with lights, and there are evergreen garlands wrapped around the mantel. We have framed family photos lined up on it from Christmases past. But I have a feeling a family photo from this year is going to be mounted high, right in the center.
“I can’t believe I have six daughters-in-law,” I say before taking a sip of the bubbly. “And don’t they are all seem so sweet?” I ask. “And perfectly suited for each of the boys.”
Jenna’s playful personally brings out Matt’s more reserved side.
Mia is the perfect match for Mason — her heart is on her sleeve, and she brings out the best in my gruff son.
Catriona is committed, through the good and the bad, and knows Nate will always fight for their love.
Hattie’s a sweetheart who sees the the best in everyone — even Hartley with his sometimes wild ways.
Winter is so full of love and energy, and the only one who can make Christopher come out of his reserved, brooding shell.
And Gabriella is the woman Spencer has needed all his life — and to think they’ve known one another all this time.
Hank takes my hand and pulls me under the mistletoe, giving me a kiss. The six couples clap and hoot and holler at their parents’ display of affection. Matt taps a knife to the side of his champagne flute, getting our attention.
“I’d like to make a toast,” he says. “Today, my five brothers and I signed papers and officially purchased Snow Valley, saving it from the Titan Corporation. And while that is cause for celebration, I think the real hero this Christmas is our mother. To you, Mom, for being crazy enough to believe in your sons finding love in the least likely place.”
“To Mom!” the kids all say, lifting their glasses.
“Stop,” I say, wiping my eyes. “You’re making me cry.”
Jenna laughs. “If that makes you cry, wait until you learn what your boys have been talking about all night.”
“What?” I say, looking around the room at my beautiful family.
“We’re all placing bets,” Hartley says with a smile.
“Bets?” For a moment my heart stops. Surely they wouldn’t bet on how long their marriages might last.
“You’re going to give your mom a panic attack,” Gabriella says. “Don’t worry, Joy, it’s a good bet.”
“Well, nothing could top how I feel right now,” I say, meaning every word.
“I think this bet can,” Mason chuckles.
“Okay, now we’ve got to know,” Hank says, laughing.
“The bet is on who’s going to give you and Mom the first grandkid,” Nate says.
Christopher snorts and pulls Winter into his side. “I started working on that the day Winter arrived. Just hand over your money now, because I’m winning this one.”
The other boys protest and argue good naturedly.
I look around at them, surprised at the announcement, but filled with excitement. Raising my voice to be heard over them.“Well, that is one bet I won’t interfere in,” I say.
The boys laugh, their expression dubious. I suppose it serves me right. This Christmas I made it clear I am pretty dang good at interfering in their lives. But I made them all a promise to let them live their own lives, and figure out their marriages on their own. Hank and I will always be here with a helping hand, but this is their business.
The brides ask me to come over for a girls’ photo, and I offer to take the camera to capture it. “No,” Catriona says. “You’re getting in here with us!”
I never had daughters, but this Christmas I gained six. Hank’s eyes meet mine, and I give him a teary-eyed smile. He knows how much this means to me. Somehow, all my Christmas wishes came true.
And maybe this time next year there will be a bundle of babies added to the family tree.