Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 65862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
I was still a little surprised when my mama reached out to me after what happened hit the news. I know we might never be close, but it meant something to me. She might not have taken the best care of me as a little girl, but because of her and Fritz, I was led to what I wanted more than anything. I’m here with Ryker, the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.
Ryker reaches down for his phone and looks at the screen. “They’re here.” I know the guards just messaged to let him know his parents are on their way up the long driveway to the house. Since everything happened, Ryker has hired a security team. I thought it was a little much, but if it puts him at ease I’m happy with that.
I head towards the front door with Ryker and we watch as his parents pull up. Kathleen almost comes flying out of the car.
“Woman, you wait until I stop the car or I’ll spank your ass,” Jackie says in a growl, shaking his head.
Katherine ignores him. “Did she say yes?” She’s smiling from ear to ear and it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her. It warms me, because I know she’s been in tears most of the week. She told me cutting Fritz off years ago was one of the hardest things she’d ever done, but she didn't have much of a choice. He had become so toxic to the family. She’d hoped he’d grow up if he had to make his own way.
I hold up my hand, showing her my ring. She screams happily and engulfs me in a giant hug. “Don’t let him steal you off to the courthouse,” she says as she pulls back and shoots Ryker a hard look. He goes to open his mouth, probably to say that is what we are doing, but I cut him off.
“I think we can plan something small pretty quick.” Ryker closes his mouth. I’m sure he wants to say something else, but I shoot him a look of my own. Kathleen is excited about this, and if spending the next few weeks planning a quickie wedding keeps her mind off of other things, then that what we are going to do.
“All right.” Ryker sighs. “Go get your book, Mom. I know you want to.” Kathleen winks at me as she runs back to the car, and Jackie pulls me into a hug.
“Welcome to the family,” he says in my ear before kissing me on the cheek. “Thank you. You not only made my wife and me happy, but you’ve brought Ryker back to life. Haven’t seen him this laidback in years.”
My eyes brim with tears once again. I finally feel like part of a family for once in my life. Kathleen comes rushing back with a big scrapbook-looking thing in her hand with Ryker and Blair's Wedding emblazoned on the cover. “It looks like you’ve been working on it for a while.”
“Since Ryker told me about you.” She smiles. I can’t help but laugh. “Come, there is so much to be done and we know Ryker isn’t going to give us much time.” She pulls me into the house and back into the kitchen area, where Jackie makes her a cup of coffee and Ryker gets me a tea. She opens the book and starts showing me everything.
Ryker sets the tea down in front of me and a moment later picks me up and places me back on his lap. I blush a little, but Kathleen carries on talking a mile a minute, showing me a ton of different ideas.
I let myself melt into Ryker as he wraps his arm around me and listens to his mom go on as well. Jackie rests his arm on the back of his wife’s chair, smiling softly at her. Ryker kisses me below my ear, whispering that he loves me, and I know that Ryker will give me the happily ever after every girl dreams about.
Epilogue
Blair
Two years later…
I roll over onto my back and stretch my arms and legs. I must have fallen asleep for a second, and I squint in the sunshine as I look around.
Ryker and our daughter Chloe are walking hand in hand across the orchard over to where I’m at. We came out here earlier for a picnic and I must have dozed off after we ate. I reach a hand down and rub my growing belly, thinking how this baby is sucking all my energy lately.
“Looks like Mommy is awake,” Ryker says as he sits down on the blanket beside me. He kisses me on the lips first then kisses my belly. “You tired?”
“Yeah, but I can’t think of a time when I’m not, so maybe this is just my new state of being,” I say dramatically and then laugh.