Ashes (Web of Desire #3) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,127
a sheer train, Madeline appeared.
Her dark hair was styled up with wisps of curls hanging down and flowers pinned about. Her dress accented her curves, including her visibly swelling midsection holding Ruby’s brother or sister.
No, this wasn’t planned.
It wasn’t exactly a medical miracle. Perhaps the cause could be found in the water of our tower. As it turned out, we weren’t the only couple expecting. That, however, was a story for another day.
Madeline’s bouquet matched those of her friends, no bigger or smaller. She was the bride, but she claimed that without the love and support of everyone here, her happy-ever-after would never have occurred.
After she passed her flowers to Ruby, I took Madeline’s hands in mine.
The sun glistened on the Gulf of Mexico as the official spoke about love, understanding, and second chances. When it was time to put the rings on our fingers, we used the same ones I’d given to Madeline nearly a year ago, with one exception.
Together, Madeline and I turned to our daughter as Araneae reached for Ruby’s flowers.
“Ruby, we love you,” I said.
Her cheeks filled with pink. “This isn’t part of the ceremony.”
“It is,” Maddie said. “Your father and I want you to know you’re an important part of our family and lives. Honey, you kept me alive. We’ve been dealt some unusual cards and lived in the center of the flames. Now that the ashes have cleared, we’re still here, better than before, because we have Patrick and family.”
Ruby’s head tilted. “Okay.”
I turned to Mason who handed me a slim platinum band encrusted with diamonds and rubies. “This is for you,” I said, reaching for her right hand and sliding the ring over her fourth finger. “In one more year, you will graduate high school. The world is yours, but if it ever gets to be too much, look down at this ring and know you are loved and your family is waiting to be whatever you need.”
Tears were falling from Madeline’s eyes, yet her smile beamed. “Wings or roots, Ruby, you will always have them.”
It was Ruby’s turn to cry as she lifted her arms and embraced Madeline. Next, she turned to me. Her arms went to my shoulders as she whispered the word I’d been waiting to hear, “Thank you, Dad.”
“With that,” the officiant announced, “I proclaim you family.”
The End
Thank you for reading Patrick and Madeline’s story, Web of Desire. If you enjoyed Web of Desire and want to know more about our other Sparrow men, Web of Sin, Sterling and Araneae’s story is complete with SECRETS, LIES, and PROMISES. Mason and Laurel’s story is also complete in Tangled Web, with TWISTED, OBSESSED, and BOUND.
And coming in September of 2020, Dangerous Web, Reid and Lorna’s story, beginning with DUSK. Turn the page for the blurb.
*Click on the title to learn more
Keep turning the pages for a sneak peeks at Web of Sin, SECRETS, and Tangled Web, TWISTED.
Human trafficking resources
*Sneak peeks to Sparrow Webs following this important information.
Human trafficking is a real and horrible crime happening throughout our world today. Madeline’s story was not meant to portray her experience as romantic.
If you know or suspect someone is a victim, or if you yourself are a victim, please call:
National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-373-7888 (TTY:711) or Text 233733
The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe. The National Hotline also receives tips about potential situations of sex and labor trafficking and facilitates reporting that information to the appropriate authorities in certain cases.
The toll-free phone and SMS text lines and live online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English or Spanish, or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter.
If you would like to help in the fight against human trafficking here are but two recognized organizations:
Durga Tree International
Mission: Durga Tree International’s mission is to raise funds that support global initiatives to heal, protect, educate, and economically empower survivors of Modern Slavery. We bring together qualified partner organizations in the spirit of collaboration to support their individual and collective strengths, create a support network for modern abolitionists, foster a variety of programs around the globe effectively dealing with the many facets of modern slavery, and educate local US communities about their relationship to Human Trafficking and how it effects every person’s life.