by Leanne Davis
Hearing a simple “yes” from Kyomi was the key. It had been the word he’d waited so long for. It was so simple and easy and right. They did everything right so it would be that way forever.
Kyomi had no fear or apprehension. No worries about the what-ifs or what should be. It simply had to be doable for all of them. Kyomi lived and worked in Edmonds now. She hired on with the water department. Her dad started working on the ranch again, after AJ Reed agreed to become his foreman. He kept Kyomi informed as to how the ranch was running, and also gave her updates on how her father was doing.
That allowed Kyomi the freedom to fully be there with Hunter Rydell.
And Russell Wilson and Franny.
Odder still was the tightly-knit family they made, though unusual. It was just as real and strong as any other family and it kind of fit Kyomi better because it wasn’t ordinary or commonplace. It went beyond the stereotypes and society’s expectations.
For Kyomi? It could not be more perfect.
Franny walked out with Russell in her arms, who grabbed her hair and smiled with his childish babble. He kept saying, “Ky-Ky-Ky” over and over again, a happy, little chant he sang with his arms outstretched for her. Franny allowed him to go to Kyomi without any second thoughts or apprehension, and she smiled. Her gaze was locked on Hunter’s face, which seemed to shine with unmasked joy.
“What just happened?”
He laughed and said, “I think we just got engaged.” Glancing down at her for permission to spread the news, Hunter eyed Kyomi, who was holding his son. She nodded, expressing the same joy in her eyes as she stared up at him.
“Wait. Really? Just now?” Francine walked forward and hit his arm. “Hunter Rydell, you should have made it more romantic. Not in the living room with me and Russell Wilson right there. Interrupting everything. What is wrong with you?”
“She asked me. You’ll have to blame her.” He held up his hands in surrender.
She wheeled around on Kyomi. “For real? Like this? You two always miss the romance factor. But is this for real?”
Kyomi grinned at Franny and then at Hunter. Hunter held Kyomi’s gaze and the loving promise of future bliss was written plainly there. “For real. It was perfect. Just for us.”
Franny watched her. Then she looked at him. Finally, she squealed. Loudly. Screeching out, “HUNTER! Oh, HUNTER! You and Kyomi!” She hugged him and then she hugged Kyomi before kissing Russell Wilson on the cheek as she screeched his name too.
“Oh, this is so great!” Francine exclaimed. “We’ll be real sisters now. Oh, my God. This is so excellent.” Squealing in a higher pitch, she grabbed Kyomi’s hands from Hunter and started jumping around. Kyomi still held the baby but she rolled her eyes and joined in half-jumping with excitement. Shaking her head, her gaze caught Hunter. She seemed to be telling him, no, she had no idea how their marriage could possibly make Franny and her sisters, and they were not sister wives. The fact that she was marrying Franny’s ex-husband? Her baby-daddy? But Franny was so good about it. She had no hang-ups about society’s mores concerning what should be or shouldn’t be. So why the hell not? They were already family and perhaps that’s what Francine liked so much that she had to express it by jumping for joy. And of course, that was all good. To everyone’s amazement, Franny, this former pill of a spoiled brat, had truly changed and become Kyomi’s friend. Truly.
Hunter winced as he caught Kyomi’s gaze and he rolled his eyes, smiling widely. He tolerated all the screeching and let out a whoop of delight too as he jumped up and down with them. He grabbed Kyomi, who still clutched Russell in her arms, and fully embraced both of them. He kissed the top of Kyomi’s head and whispered only for her ears. “Hear that? We’re going to finally and forever be a family.”
“With me.” All at once, Franny wrapped her arms around them too, sandwiching Kyomi and Russell between them and making Hunter frown. Then he finally laughed at his ex-wife, baby-mama and Kyomi’s best friend, conceding, “All right, we can all finally be together as the family we’re meant to be.”
Kyomi closed her eyes and soaked in the full, richness of a reality she never knew she wanted, and never asked for and never wanted to live without again.
Author Note: Thank you for reading River from the City!
I hope you fell in love with Hunter and Kyomi as they figured out the love between them in spite of past loves having betrayed them.
Keep on reading the series with Melanie Rydell’s story. When she meets a mysterious man who turns out to be named Kyle Wade… she can’t know what their connection might mean to her family… Click here for River Through the Valley or Click River Through the Valley Website
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About the Author
Leanne Davis has earned a business degree from Western Washington University. She worked for several years in the construction management field before turning full time to writing. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and two children. When she isn't writing, she and her family enjoy camping trips to destinations all across Washington State, many of which become the settings for her novels.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
River from the City
COPYRIGHT © 2021 by Leanne Davis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
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River’s End Series, Book Sixteen
Edited by Teri at The Editing Fairy ([email protected])
Copy Editing: Joan Nichols: JRT Editing
Cover Designer: Steven Novak ([email protected])
For Amanda as you start to spread your wings into the world, I hope it is EVERYTHING you want and dream.
