The Hard Way
Page 23
Mel had been shocked to find out that her father had left half of everything to her and the other half to her mother. Even through everything they’d been through, he’d never removed her from his will.
She hadn’t wanted the money and would have gladly given it all back for a chance to reconcile with her dad. Had he realized he’d been tricked? Had he felt sorry? She tried not to think about his face moments before Ethan had taken his life, but the fact was, there had been tears and regret behind his eyes. Even in her sorrow, she knew the answer to those questions was yes.
“Will you be okay?” she asked her mother as they stood in the entryway the next morning as they were getting ready to head back home.
“Yes.” Her mother smiled. “I’ll be fine. What about you two? Are you sure you want to drive all that way?”
Mel smiled. “I’ve missed the silver bullet.” She motioned towards her BMW. “Besides, this will give Brent and I some downtime we deserve before we start the RV park.”
“Right.” Her mother chuckled as she shook her head. “I still can’t believe my daughter is going to run an RV park. In the middle of Montana.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Mel joked and hugged her mother.
“What are you going to do with all this?” she asked, motioning to the house.
Her mother glanced over her shoulder and sighed. “I think it’s about time I downsize.” She shrugged. “Your father was the one who liked to show off our wealth. Besides, Teresa has been begging me to come stay with her in Arizona for a while. Who knows, I may like it.” Her aunt Teresa had arrived the day after they’d returned from the island. Even now, the woman stood by the car, waiting to give Mel a hug goodbye.
“You know where we’ll be,” Mel told her mother with a smile.
“I do.” Her mother hugged her again. “I’m so sorry,” she said quietly, “for… everything. For not believing you.” She pulled back and then turned to Brent and pulled him in to join the hug. “Don’t make my daughter use her new skills on you,” she warned Brent. “You’ve seen what she’s capable of.”
Brent chuckled. “I wouldn’t chance it,” he agreed. “You’ll be there this fall for the wedding?” he asked. “Both of you?”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” her mother answered.
“I’m bringing the entire family,” Teresa said with a smile. “That’s a warning, not a promise,” her aunt joked.
Brent took Mel’s hand as they walked out the door for the last time. As she pulled out of the gated driveway, she took a moment to glance in the rearview mirror at her childhood home and knew that it would be the last time she’d see it. The funny thing was, it didn’t sting like it had the last time she’d left there.
“Ready to go home?” Brent asked her.
“Yes, let’s go home,” she agreed, and she punched the gas.
Four months later, Mel stood on the side of the hill, overlooking their land as a fresh blanket of snow drifted over the white field beyond.
Four large wooden beams jutted out of the cold ground, marking where the corners of their soon-to-be home would sit.
There were several RVs parked in the distance. It was their first official week of being open, and all of the spots that were currently available were booked solid for the next few months. More spots were set to be finished in the coming weeks, if the weather held up, and she knew that those too would be snatched up.
Even though the pool had yet to be completed, the restrooms, laundry room, and pavilion had been. Word was spreading that it was the best campsite in the entire state.
They had gotten a lot of promotion from the one reporter’s story, and it now appeared that everyone had heard about the Hard Way Bar and Grill.
“Happy?” Brent came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “Wife?”
“Very, husband.” She held onto him and relaxed back against his chest and his warmth. She thought of everything she’d gone through to get to this very moment. This very spot. How much she’d sacrificed to finally find happiness.
“Merry Christmas,” he whispered into her ear.
“Merry Christmas,” she replied.
“You’re cold,” he said when she shivered. Then he stepped away and picked up the blanket he’d packed for their picnic lunch and wrapped it around her shoulders. “There.”
She wanted to tell him she wasn’t cold, but the extra warmth felt too good. Then his arms were back around her and she melted against him.
“It really is perfect, isn’t it?” She sighed.
“Yeah,” he said, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You’re pretty perfect yourself.”
She smiled, then turned in his arms. “Will you still say that in, oh, about six months when I’m bloated and fat?” she asked, waiting and watching for his reaction.
He frowned down at her and then his eyes got really large. “You’re…”
She nodded, smiling, and laughed when he pulled her off her feet and spun her around.
“When? How? I mean, I know how, but when? What?” Brent asked, causing her to laugh even more.
“The end of June. You know how.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “As for what?” She pulled out a small black-and-white photograph and handed it to him. “We’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out.”
“Tomorrow?” He frowned looking down at the dark spot on the image from the ultrasound.
“Yes, first thing in the morning we can go in and find out what sex our first child will be.”
Brent’s smile grew and then he was hugging and kissing her again as the snow started to fall in bigger flakes over them and their land.
“Best Christmas present ever!” he shouted as he spun her around.
Also by Jill Sanders
The Pride Series
Finding Pride
Discovering Pride
Returning Pride
Lasting Pride
Serving Pride
Red Hot Christmas
My Sweet Valentine
Return To Me
Rescue Me
A Pride Christmas
* * *
The Secret Series
Secret Seduction
Secret Pleasure
Secret Guardian
Secret Passions
Secret Identity
Secret Sauce
* * *
The West Series
Loving Lauren
Taming Alex
Holding Haley
Missy’s Moment
Breaking Travis
Roping Ryan
Wild Bride
Corey’s Catch
Tessa’s Turn
Saving Trace
Christmas Holly
* * *
The Grayton Series
Last Resort
Someday Beach
Rip Current
In Too Deep
Swept Away
High Tide
Sunset Dreams
* * *
Lucky Series
Unlucky In Love
Sweet Resolve
Best of Luck
A Little Luck
Christmas Wish
* * *
Silver Cove Series
Silver Lining
French Kiss
Happy Accident
Hidden Charm
A Silver Cove Christmas
Sweet Surrender
Second Chances
* * *
Entangled Series – Paranormal Romance
The Awakening
The Beckoning
The Ascension
The Presence
The Calling
The Chosen
* * *
Haven, Montana Series
Closer to You
Never Let Go
Holding On
Coming Home
The Hard Way
* * *
Pride Oregon Series
A Dash of Love
My Kind of Love
Se
ason of Love
Tis the Season
Dare to Love
Where I Belong
Because of Love
A Thing Called Love
First Comes Love
Someone to Love
* * *
Wildflowers Series
Summer Nights
Summer Heat
Summer Secrets
Summer Fling
Summer’s End
Summer’s Wish
* * *
Distracted Series
Wake Me
Tame Me
* * *
Stand Alone Books
Twisted Rock
Hope Harbor
Raven Falls
* * *
For a complete list of books:
http://JillSanders.com
About the Author
Jill Sanders is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of Sweet Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, and Paranormal Romance novels. With over 55 books in eleven series, translations into several different languages, and audiobooks there’s plenty to choose from. Look for Jill’s bestselling stories wherever romance books are sold or visit her at jillsanders.com
* * *
Jill comes from a large family with six siblings, including an identical twin. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent for writing sweet and sexy page-turners. After Colorado, she decided to move south, living in Texas and now making her home along the Emerald Coast of Florida. You will find that the settings of several of her series are inspired by her time spent living in these areas. She has two sons and off-set the testosterone in her house by adopting three furry little ladies that provide her company while she’s locked in her writing cave. She enjoys heading to the beach, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting, and pickleball with her husband, and of course writing. If you have read any of her books, you may also notice that there is a love of food, especially sweets! She has been blamed for a few added pounds by her assistant, editor, and fans… donuts or pie anyone?