Part 32 (2/2)
”I didn't think I could love you more, but I do,” he replied. ”I was miserable without you, my sweet Annie.”
”I'm home to stay.” She turned in his arms and surveyed their land, the foothills, the brilliant sky, and the grave where they knelt. Her attention caught on the delicate blue flowers bordering the stones. ”Diana told me about the forget-me-nots. Thank you for planting them.”
”I didn't plant them, Annie.”
She pulled away to look at him. ”Who did then?”
His mouth inched up and those das.h.i.+ng dimples flashed her a smile. ”I was curious about that myself,” he replied. ”Seems a certain woman bought seeds and a spade at the hardware store.”
”What woman was that?”
”Your mother.”
Her mother? ”How did she get here?” she asked in amazement. ”How did she find the grave?”
”Burdell and Diana asked about it so that they could come visit. Maybe she heard them talking.” He shrugged. ”I don't know.”
She imagined her mother finding someone to give her a ride to their land-Annie's father?-then traipsing through the mud and undergrowth to find the mound of stones. Annie couldn't have been more shocked-or more pleased. To think that her mother cared enough to make such an extravagant gesture touched her deeply-and gave her hope for the years ahead.
She let the tears fall freely, for herself, for Luke and their baby, for her mother whose dreams had been lost somewhere along life's way but who had encouraged Annie not to lose hers.
When Luke turned her face up to his and kissed her, her tears turned to joy, because her dream was still very much alive. Loving him was what had given her the courage to try in the first place. Loving him would give her the courage to start over. She and Luke faced a bright future-together.
Epilogue.
The spring sky was a dazzling shade of blue that contrasted starkly with the fleecy white clouds, the dense pines on the foothills and the faded purple of the distant mountains. Annie studied the bright expanse, reminded as always of her husband's eyes, and filled with unspeakable joy. Once she had wanted to reach out and touch that distant glory. Now she held heaven in her heart, in her arms, in each day and every moment of her life with Luke.
Closing her eyes, she lowered her face to the warm bundle lying against her breast and breathed in life and love and happiness.
”He's a beautiful boy,” her mother said softly from beside her.
Annie nodded. Conversation and laughter swelled around them.
”May I hold him for a while?”
Annie smiled and handed Mildred her chubby two-month-old son.
Her mother's face took on a soft adoring expression as she cradled the sleeping baby.
”Watch, Mama! Watch!” an elfin voice called gleefully.
At the call, Annie turned.
Her three-year-old daughter, Rebecca, ran toward a croquet ball, clumsily wielding a mallet, and managed only to soundly whack her father in the s.h.i.+n.
Wide-eyed, Luke grabbed his injured leg and dropped to the lawn carpet.
Annie rose from her comfortable spot in the shade and hurried toward them, holding back rising laughter.
”I sorry, Daddy,” Rebecca said, her round blue eyes serious with concern. ”I kiss it better.” She leaned over Luke's pant leg.
”Kiss me here,” he said, lying on his back and pointing to his lips.
The toddler tripped over her pinafore once, then crawled to lean against his chest and plant a kiss on his mouth. ”All better?”
”I think Mama needs to kiss me, too.” His gaze twinkling with mischief, he placed a hand beneath his head and casually crossed his ankles.
Annie knelt on the gra.s.s, glancing once at Burdy and Diana, who weren't doing a very good job of holding back their amus.e.m.e.nt.
Leaning forward, she kissed her husband's warm lips.
”Happy birthday, Annie,” he said, caressing her face. ”Are you happy?”
Tears blurred her vision momentarily, and she blinked until she could see clearly again. She glanced about at the gathering of friends and family on her parents' lawn. Luke's Uncle Gil and Mrs. Krenshaw were making a clover chain for Will. Charmaine was showing a young gentleman friend how to wind the graphophone. Annie's parents sat on the porch admiring their newest grandson.
Annie's precious daughter watched her expectantly. Annie pulled her close and hugged her, her heart full to bursting. Luke sat up. Annie plucked a blade of gra.s.s from his hair, then took his hand and placed his palm against her cheek. She gazed into his blue eyes and said with certainty, ”This is the best day of my life.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8745-1.
Available from Harlequin Historicals and CHERYL ST.JOHN.
Rain Shadow #212.
Heaven Can Wait #240.
Land of Dreams #265 Saint or Sinner #288.
Badlands Bride #327 The Mistaken Widow #429.
Joe's Wife #451 The Doctor's Wife #481 Sweet Annie #548.
Other works include:.
Silhouette Intimate Moments A Husband by Any Other Name #756.
The Truth About Toby #810.
Silhouette Books.
Montana Mavericks Big Sky Brides.
”Isabelle”
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