Healing Hearts (Hope River #3) - Margaret McHeyzer Page 0,90
take a drink. “What a day, huh?” Charlie says as he takes my glass out of my hand and drinks the champagne in one go.
“Hey, that was mine.” I lean into him to give him a kiss. I see Cara walking around with some drinks on her tray, and I call her over. I take two glasses, one for me and one for Charlie. “Thank you, Cara.” She smiles as she walks off to hand out more alcohol.
Aunt May heads over to us with her walking stick, and gives me a kiss, then Charlie. “Welcome to the family, Charlie.”
“Thank you.” He tightens his arm around me.
“You look beautiful,” she says to me. “Although, having sex just before your wedding ceremony is quite taboo.”
“Oh my God! How did you know?” I say loudly, but trying to keep my voice down.
“I didn’t, you just gave it away.” She played me! Bloody Aunt May. Charlie’s snickering from beside me.
“May, could I have a word with you?” Dad asks as he approaches us.
“Congratulations. Now I have a beautiful niece, and good-looking nephew.” She winks at Charlie, who nearly spits his drink out because he laughs. Dad holds onto Aunt May’s arm, and they both walk to one of the other tables.
Elle and Jake walk over, and drag out the seats opposite us. “Wow, so that’s it, you’re both married,” Jake says with pride in his voice.
Hope and River complete our tight, friend circle. “So, I think we should have a toast,” I say as I see Cara and call her back.
“A toast to family,” Hope says.
“To family,” Charlie adds.
Cara hands us each a glass of champagne.
“To family,” River echoes.
“To family,” Elle says softly.
We all raise our glasses in the middle of the table, ready to clink, when I notice Elle’s holding a glass of water. I look at Charlie with wide eyes. “What’s wrong, Elle? Don’t you like the champagne? Aren’t you drinking?” Hope’s seen it too and points out the obvious.
Elle’s eyes widen, then she smiles. I notice the huge smile on Jake’s face too. He swings his arm over Elle’s shoulder. “We were going to wait to tell you guys, but, Elle and I are expecting a baby.”
“Holy shit!” Hope yells so loud half the town turns to look at her. “Shit, sorry,” she whispers to Elle and Jake. “Sorry everyone. Please, keep eating and drinking. Have fun.” She waves her arms around.
“Oh my God,” I say as I stand and walk over to Elle and Jake giving each of them a huge hug and a kiss.
As I sit and snuggle into Charlie, I can’t help but be proud of the woman I’m becoming. I’m watching how my friends are all congratulating Elle and Jake, and my heart is absolutely full of so much love. “You okay?” Charlie whispers.
I turn to face him, and feel a tear roll down my cheek. “I knew the day I met you that you’d be trouble. You managed to crawl under my skin, and push me to lower each and every one of my walls. And for that, I owe you a debt I can never repay. Because you’ve brought me something I never thought I could have.”
“What’s that?” he asks.
“Love.”
He leans in, sealing his mouth over mine with a long, passionate kiss.
And that my friends, is how our journey starts.
The End
Keep reading for a preview of Ugly.
Preview
It’s days like today I wish I was dead.
“Lily Anderson, you get your ugly ass out here right this minute. Don’t make me come after you,” Daddy screams.
He’s so angry. I knew the moment I heard him come home from work I was in for it. I was in my bedroom, lying on the floor trying to do my math. He slammed the front door so hard the windows in my room shook.
And then I knew, I knew I was in for it.
“Lily Anderson!” he yells again.
As soon as I heard him yell I ran to my hiding spot. I’m inside the closet in the hallway, wedged as far into the corner as I can get. Mom’s old coat hangs in front of me and I can still smell a faint waft of the perfume she used to wear.
“Lily Anderson!” he shouts. I can hear the anger in his voice and I can already feel the pain he’s going to inflict on me when he opens the closet door. I know what’s coming.
I close my eyes tight, scrunching them up so no light can seep through. I put my