Ryan’s eyes went wide, and he looked at Carly. He’d been praying for his mom to see how special Carly was, and now that prayer was answered.
“Do you really mean that?” Carly said breathlessly.
“Yes, yes, I really do. My son loves you, my granddaughter loves you, and I want the two of us to love each other too. Will you forgive me, Carly?”
Carly stared. “I do. I do forgive you. And I guess now would be a good time to show you this.” She held up her left hand to show off her ring.
His mom gasped and recovered. “I can’t say that I’m surprised. I’m happy for you, I really am. Congratulations.” She stood and hugged first Carly, then Ryan. His dad got up and followed suit too.
“When are you planning the wedding for?” his mom asked.
Ryan looked over at Carly. “We haven’t discussed it. But I can’t imagine we’d wait very long.”
Carly beamed at him. “Not long at all. Can you get the afternoon off tomorrow?”
Ryan stared, hoping he didn’t dream it up. “Tomorrow?”
She nodded with a grin. “The courthouse is open tomorrow afternoon and we could get married before the weekend.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, his heart in his throat.
She wasn’t sure how to take him. “Unless you want to wait ...”
“Heck no!” he yelled. “Tomorrow it is. I’ve got to get my suit together, make sure my shirt is clean, oh, and get a blood test.”
His mother piped up. “And when you’re done, bring Grace by. We’ll keep her for the weekend and as our wedding gift to you, we’ll send you on a weekend trip for your honeymoon. That is, if you trust us with her, Carly.”
“Of course, I do. You’re her grandparents and you love her.”
His mom squeezed her hand. “Thank you,” she murmured.
CARLY PULLED GRACE’S wedding dress out of her closet and laid it on her bed. The same dress she’d worn to Charlie’s and Jessica’s wedding. It was time for another wedding.
Grace walked in, excited about putting on her fancy dress again. Carly wanted to at least try to explain what was happening today. “Sweetheart, remember when you went to Daddy’s cousin’s wedding, wearing this dress?”
“Yes,” she enthused. “Flowers and music and pretty dresses.”
Carly chuckled. “That’s what some weddings are all about, true. But some weddings don’t have all that.”
“Why not?” Grace said, in a tone of disbelief.
“When you come right down to it, a wedding is about two people who love each other, who have decided that God has put them together and they want to live the rest of their lives together.”
Grace nodded.
Carly went on, “Today, your daddy and I are getting married.”
Grace gasped and jumped up and down.
“But we won’t have a fancy wedding like Charlie and Jessica’s. We’ll have a simple wedding. But the meaning is the same. It’s our chance to say we love each other and want to be together forever.”
Grace’s face evolved into a happy beam. “Forever?”
“Yes, and you’ll be there too. Because we’ll be a family forever, the three of us.”
“Will Daddy live here?” Grace looked around.
They hadn’t discussed it, but she had to assume that was the most logical solution. “Yes, he will.”
Grace let out a “Yaaaaay!” and started jumping around her room. Carly calmed her down, got her dressed and then worked on her own face and hair.
Later, they drove to the courthouse. The Justice of the Peace was on the second floor. They climbed the stairwell and when she opened the door, Ryan was standing there. He looked resplendent in his dark suit, his hair all in place, and his happy smile. She couldn’t imagine he was for her. But he was.
Grace beat her to his side, taking off and flying to him. “Hi baby girl,” he said, kneeling and swooping her into his arms. She giggled.
“Happy Wedding Day,” she said.
“Thank you. Today’s the happiest day of my life.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? Because I get to marry the most beautiful woman in the world, that’s why.” Carly approached, and he pulled her into a kiss that if it had words, it would’ve told her exactly how happy he was they had gotten to this point. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear, and a shiver started at the top of her spine and traveled all the way down.
“I love you, too. I love you so much.” It was true. She’d always loved him, she’d just learned to protect her heart. Never in a million years did she think she’d get her happily ever after. But here he was.
He lowered Grace to her feet, turned to Carly and took both her hands. “Look, I know it’s just a courthouse wedding, and someday I want to give you the wedding you deserve. With all your friends and relatives there, and the big white dress and the church. But this counts too. And for me, it’s the beginning of the rest of our lives.”
Carly shook her head. “I don’t need all that. I don’t want all that. All I want is you, Ryan. I want you and Grace and our family together. It’s all I’ve ever wanted and I’m getting it today.”
He swept her off her feet with another mind-blowing kiss, and then she heard their names called, “Melrose and Milner.” She shook the cobwebs out of her head and walked toward her future.
T H E E N D
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Laurie's Letter to the Readers
Dear Readers,
I hope you enjoyed reading about Carly and Ryan, and of course, continuing the love story between Shaw and Nora. I was really pleased with how this book turned out and I find myself in love with my feature couple!
The writing of this book was somewhat difficult. Although I’ve been balancing my demanding day job with my writing career for 18 years now, I had settled into a good pace of producing two books a year, throughout my Pawleys Island Paradise series. That enabled me to continually present you with the next installment of the story at a pretty reasonable pace. However, life interrupted the writing of this book. So many life events made me put the writing on the back burner. My younger son graduated from college and we moved him 800 miles away from home. My parents sold their house in Illinois and I helped them locate a new place at the beach. My project at work was hitting a high point and implemented in the fall (very successfully, I’m happy to say).
And then my company announced their plans to transform, which started with eliminating 25% of their experienced leaders. This led me to determine if I wanted to stay and try to compete for a new job in the new organization or accept their very generous offer to retire early.
It truly didn’t take me long to decide. I took the offer! And I’m absolutely thrilled to be retiring or graduating, as I often think of it) at an age young enough that I still have lots of energy and good health. I’m looking forward to spending more time and focus on my writing business. I’m looking forward to moving permanently to the beach! But of course, after close to 34 years of working for one company, the thought of leaving, however exciting and pleasant, takes a lot of getting used to!
For all these reasons, it took me longer than usual to write this book. But here it is, and I’m pleased that it came together as a cohesive, smooth story despite all the behind the scenes challenges. When I was doing my final readthrough I was reminded of why I loved this story and these characters so much.
So now, enjoy. And thank you for being along on this ride with me! If you haven’t already, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter mailing list to get the latest news, contests, offers and release information. Just click here to sign up.
Blessing
s,
Laurie
Excerpt to Book 3 of Murrells Inlet Miracles: CRESCENDO
Haley Witherspoon drove her Acura into the parking lot of Winners Lounge. She parked underneath a street light and hoped that it would still be lit at two in the morning. She cut the engine and peered around. Not exactly her kind of place. She’d never frequented Winners Lounge before. She’d never been in this part of Myrtle Beach before. And she’d certainly never walked into a bar alone before.
But, when Blake asked her out on their first date, listening to his band perform, she’d said yes. And, when she’d asked all her girlfriends to join her, so she wasn’t sitting there all by herself all night, they all had reasons to say no. She thought they were legit. Or, at least she hoped so.
She’d be fine. Blake wouldn’t have invited her here if she would be in danger. Would he? Honestly, she didn’t know him well enough to know. She’d only met him once.
She took a deep breath, checked her lipstick in the rearview mirror and opened the car door. She walked purposefully to the front door, and once inside, she scanned the room for a table with a good view of the band. Finding one, she walked straight there and sat down. She checked her watch. Nine pm. The band should be starting any minute.
A waitress stopped by and she ordered a light beer and left her tab open. Once it came, she took a long, fortifying sip. She definitely didn’t want to get drunk tonight, but she needed something to occupy her attention while sitting here all by herself. She picked up her phone. Maybe she could web surf until the band came on. She checked the time again. Nine ten. Where were they?
Two girls about her age approached her. “Haley, right?”
“Why, yes.”
“Blake told us to watch for you.” They joined her at her table by climbing up into the high bar stools. “I’m Lindsay. Jake the drummer is my boyfriend. And this is Helen. She’s with the bass player, Robbie.”
“Oh, hi!” Relief flooded through her body and most likely, out through her voice. “So nice to meet you. I’m Haley.”
They chuckled. “Yeah, we know.”
Haley rolled her eyes good-naturedly. This, she could do. She’d always made friends easily. Her laid-back, friendly personality made her approachable and accepting. She suddenly felt a sense of community. Three gals watching and cheering on their men. “We’re with the band,” she imagined them telling onlookers. A sort of sorority. Instant membership because of Blake.
Finally, the band took the small stage in the corner. Haley clapped and cheered, then realized she was the only one at the table doing so. She looked at the girls.
“Look, Helen,” Lindsay intoned. “A band groupie virgin.”
The comment flustered Haley and she frowned and swiped at her hair. “What do you ...?”
They both laughed. “We’re not criticizing. We both went through it too. Everything’s so new and fresh and fun when you first start coming to these gigs. You’re excited, you clap and cheer. But after a couple hundred of these you start to tarnish.”
Haley gave them a grim smile. A couple hundred? They must’ve been with their boyfriends for years.
The band was all set up now, and Blake took the microphone, his guitar strapped over his shoulder. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Winners Lounge. We’re Ace in the Hole. Let’s let it roll.” The music took off, a cover of a Luke Bryan hit, and Haley immediately settled into the tune. The song wrapped her in a blanket of familiarity and the band sounded great together. Guitars, a keyboard, drums. “Oh my gosh, they sound great!” she yelled to her tablemates over the noise. They nodded.
Then Blake started singing. She didn’t know if he was trying to imitate country superstar Luke Bryan, but he sounded just like him. His voice had a clear, deep tone, with just a little bit of raspy on the corners. She couldn’t take her eyes or ears off him. He closed his eyes as he cradled the mic in his hand, swaying his hips along with the melody. He dipped his head back to hit the higher notes, and then when he opened his eyes, he zoomed in on Haley. A rush of adrenaline went down her esophagus and settled deep in her core. She went breathless.
They finished the first song and Haley didn’t care what the more seasoned girlfriends thought. She jumped off her barstool and clapped and yipped for Ace in the Hole. They were fantastic. The rest of the bar clapped quietly. Blake smiled and winked at her, then started in on the second song.
Haley got absorbed in the first set, listening to every lyric, every note, every stanza. The band’s talent overwhelmed her, especially Blake’s singing. This man had talent.
The set ended and while the band was putting their instruments down, she turned to the girls. “My gosh, they are good! Why are they still playing in little tiny dives like this? Have they tried to get a recording contract? They deserve a shot!”
They stared at her, each of them raising one eyebrow, as if in unison. “Gee, Helen, why didn’t we ever think of that? You mean they could be playing nicer bars? Stadiums? Recording music? Hmmm. Maybe we need to look into that.”
The way she phrased it, and the deadpan monotone of her voice clued Haley in that she was being played. “Oh. So, they have tried? And what, hit roadblocks?”
Just then, the men of the band approached the table, each putting an arm around their woman. Blake stepped in front of Haley and leaned in for a hug. She pulled him in close, squeezed him, and then placed her lips on his neck. She had no idea when she’d met him that he was this talented a musician. After all, he was an Uber driver who’d picked her up one night. One very traumatic night.
Blake released her as the waitress came over with beers for the band. He took a long gulp.
“Oh my gosh, you are so good!” Haley said.
“Aww thanks.” He looked over at the other girlfriends. “Ladies, I guess you met my date, Haley Witherspoon. I want you to take good care of her tonight while we’re up there.”
Haley beamed her appreciation at him. From beside her, Lindsay’s voice hit her ear, “Witherspoon? Did he say your name was Witherspoon?”
Haley’s heart skipped a beat and she took a deep breath in. The joys and curses of a well-known family name.
Blake said, “Yeah, why?”
Lindsay maneuvered so she could look straight into Haley’s eyes. “Of the Witherspoon dynasty? The jewelry? The wineries? The clothing lines?”
Blake frowned and scoffed. “Just because she has a famous name doesn’t mean she is a descendant of the Witherspoon dynasty. Right, Haley?”
She stared at him and her eyes widened. This certainly wasn’t how she wanted to tell him. She wouldn’t lie to him. But she also didn’t want to spill the beans of her family’s wealth and prosperity while sitting at the Winners Lounge with a bunch of near strangers. Instead, she tried to make a joke of it. “Oh yeah, you know, me and Grandpa Emerson, taking over the world.”
Blake chuckled but Lindsay wouldn’t let it go. “Emerson Witherspoon is your grandpa? Seriously?”
She hesitated, and Blake jumped in. “Can’t you tell she’s joking Lindsay?” The conversation moved on to other topics and soon the men finished their beers and headed back toward the stage. Blake leaned over her and placed his lips on hers, a quick kiss for good luck.
Leaving her with the stares of Lindsay and Helen. “Okay,” Lindsay said, “if you are a multi-millionaire with the Witherspoon dynasty behind you, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to fess up. However, if Blake knows, and just isn’t spilling the beans to us, then that sort of explains why you’re here.”
Haley let the words spill over her. She was usually pretty good at ignoring jabs, especially involving her family’s wealth and prestige. After all, she was the black sheep of the family, uneducated and unambitious. She had no desire to take part in the family business, preferring instead to work her own little job, live in her own little place and enjoy her life without pressure. But the truth was, Lindsay was insulting
her, intentionally, and she couldn’t let this one slide.
“What are you talking about Lindsay?”
“No offense, but Blake is sort of a lone wolf. He never brings girls to the gigs. Too distracting for him. He wants to hit the country music big time, and he’ll do everything he has to, to get there. You won’t find a harder working musician than Blake.”
Haley shrugged. “What does that have to do with me?” She stared at Lindsay, willing her to say it.
“Knowing your name, maybe he sees you as a fast track. You’ve got the money to help make it happen. You said yourself they’ve got the talent to be mainstream. Maybe he thinks you’ll payroll them to get there.”
Haley’s mouth dropped open and then she clenched it shut. When would she ever learn? Her family’s wealth was a hindrance, much more than a help, in any situation.
“Blake doesn’t know anything about my family. And what’s more, he doesn’t care.”
“Yeah, right.” Lindsay drew out the last word, then leaned in to Helen, both laughing like it was the biggest inside joke in the world.
“Hey, look. This is my first date with Blake. We met when he gave me an Uber ride. We pulled a dead deer out of a windshield together and bonded in the waiting room of the ER. We talked for hours and my family didn’t come up at all. So, I don’t like what you’re insinuating that he only asked me here because he’s interested in my bank account.” Her chest heaving with the unaccustomed effort of the forceful words, she locked eyes with enemy Lindsay and wouldn’t let go.
Lindsay sat motionless, staring back.
“Thanks for sticking around. We’re Ace in the Hole.” Blake’s magnified voice filled the room, then a few guitar strums.
Lindsay held her hands up. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I had no right to say that.”
Haley looked away, then her gaze flickered back at Lindsay and she nodded. She’d let it go, but she’d never be friends with Lindsay. Never.
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