‘That’s good to hear and everyone certainly looks happy. I was sorry to hear that Antonio let Rosie down in the end. I think you weren’t surprised, though. How did she take it when he just stopped calling her?’
I shrug my shoulders because in the general scheme of things it wasn’t a big deal.
‘I think Rosie was relieved, if I’m being honest. Oh, she desperately wanted him to love her as a biological father should – but a child can tell whether someone really cares about them, or not. In comparison to the way Daniel is there for her, it was clear Antonio had no real interest in building a lasting relationship.’
Harrison tuts.
‘Unbelievable. That man has no conscience whatsoever. And how about you? Aside from the tiredness of having a baby who still doesn’t sleep through the night and keeping everyone and everything in your household running smoothly. I can’t believe you still manage to find time to run your website.’
I laugh; he’s right about the tiredness but this phase won’t last forever.
‘I’m fine. Alyx has brought us all together in a way that’s hard to explain. He’s a blessing and makes our family feel complete. I just feel so lucky, Harrison, that I have to keep reminding myself that this isn’t simply a dream. It’s the life I’ve always dreamt of having – full and surrounded by the people I love – and it’s real.’
He leans closer, placing an arm around my shoulders and giving me a squeeze.
‘You survived some very tough years bringing up Rosie on your own, Leah, and the happiness you have now is because you’re a very giving and loving person. You deserve this, make no mistake about that.’
He looks me directly in the eye and I can see this gentle man means every single word of it and he couldn’t be happier for me. I have to take a deep breath before I begin to speak.
‘I couldn’t allow myself to believe I would ever find a man I could let into my heart again. It wasn’t simply my trust issues, but feelings of vulnerability. I didn’t think I was lovable, Harrison, so I pushed all thoughts of love away and became this warrior woman instead. But inside the hurt never went away. Then Daniel came along.’
And he does. At that precise moment.
‘Um … shouldn’t I be the one with my arm around my ever so lovely wife?’ Daniel teases Harrison.
I get one last, gentle squeeze and Harrison pulls away so the guys can do a manshake.
‘Make way, I have champagne!’ Ollie appears cradling two champagne flutes in each hand. ‘I thought a toast was in order. Well, really, I looked across and I was feeling a little left out.’
Harrison and Ollie exchange intimate smiles, then Ollie raises his glass in the air.
‘To Alyx, one great little guy who has brought change, happiness and a reminder that the future is full of wonderful surprises!’
Daniel and I burst out laughing. Next week he’s having the snip. It’s not that we don’t love surprises, of course, but maybe the next one could be a little less expensive and demanding … a family holiday maybe. And I have the perfect destination in mind. I’ve had an invitation to sample a family holiday at the Astir Beach Club in Vouliagmeni. Athens, here we come!
Also by Linn B. Halton
Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage
The Secrets of Villa Rosso
A Cottage in the Country
Falling: The Complete Angels Among Us Series
Acknowledgements
We visited Athens in May of 2017 and I was so inspired by the ambience and the overwhelming sense of timeless history that it had to be the setting for my next novel. We had a wonderful time; met some truly lovely Greek people who took us to their hearts and came away vowing we’d go again, quite soon.
As someone who has always suffered from vertigo I thought sharing what is a very real fear that can literally immobilise a person, might help others who suffer in similar vein. And yes, I did freeze when it came to the glass floors and the funicular (cliff railway), but that didn’t stop me from enjoying both experiences. With a little support from my lovely other half, Lawrence, and closing my eyes at particularly difficult moments, we did it!
But a storyline often finds an author having to research an area in which they have no knowledge whatsoever. The subject of organ transplant was new to me. What I learnt only scratched the surface because of the nature of this story. If you want to know more, then simply visit:
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/register-your-details/
where you will find lots of useful information. Every single person on the donor waiting list is a loved one to a wide circle of people whose lives they touch. The thought of death giving life is wonderful, isn’t it? And often it doesn’t just affect one life, but many. And it’s just a click away.
It’s time to give a shout out to my amazing editor, Charlotte Ledger, who is a real pleasure to work with and continues to support, encourage and challenge me – constantly – on my writing journey. You rock, lady! And to the awesome Ceri, for helping to make this story the best it could possibly be.
There are so many friends who are there for me through thick and thin. They suffer periods of silence when I’m head down, writing. I hide myself away to spend my days with characters who become very real to me and I’m sad when a story draws to a close. But when I pop my head back up it’s like I’ve never been away and no-one refers to the fact that I’m such an erratic friend! Special mentions to Kate, Shona, Sue, Claire, Janice, Noemie, Suze, Anniek, Kaisha, Anne, Grace, Barbara, Katie and Michele … and my very supportive blogger friends!
As usual, no book is ever written without there being an even longer list of people to thank in getting the book out there, publicising it and, of course, the kindness of readers and reviewers. You continue to delight, amaze and astound me with your generosity and support; it’s truly humbling. Without your kindness and those reviews and book sales I wouldn’t be able to indulge myself in my guilty pleasure … writing.
Feeling blessed and sending much love to you all for your constant support and friendship, Linn x
From interior designer to author, Linn B. Halton, who also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman, is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels and is excited to be writing for both HarperImpulse (HarperCollins) and Aria Fiction (Head of Zeus); she’s represented by Sara Keane of the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.
Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award and her novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards.
Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her ‘rock’, Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she freely admits she’s an eternal romantic.
Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.
@LinnBHalton
www.facebook.com/LinnBHaltonAuthor/
http://linnbhalton.co.uk/
About HarperImpulse
HarperImpulse is an innovative, award-winning digital imprint. In the five years since launch, we have continually hit digital bestseller lists, hosted the UK’s first online romance festival, published into over ten countries and grown an exciting stable of commercial women’s fiction authors.
Readers, come and say hi to the team and your next read…
www.facebook.com/HarperImpulse
@HarperImpulse
www.instagram.com/harperimpulse
www.harperimpulseromance.com
Writers, our vision is to publish the very best in digital-first commercial women’s fiction and we are simply looking for good stories! So, what are you waiting for? To submit, e-mail us at [email protected].
About the Publisher
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A Greek Affair Page 30
