by Lori Foster
Their mother came closer to Autumn, then tilted her head. “Autumn.”
Oh, no, not the soft sympathy voice. Autumn forced a smile. “I’ll take care of it, Mom.”
“I know you could, but honestly, Ember and I would love doing it.”
Ember added, “Actually, we’ve been sort of doing it already.”
Surprise had Autumn blinking. “Sort of?”
Smile slipping into place, Ember said, “The baker wants to donate the cake. The florist wants to donate the flowers. The seamstress is ready and willing to alter anything we produce.”
“Honey,” her mother said, “this town loves you. What happened with Chuck made him look like an ass, not you. Every vendor you worked with wants to show their appreciation by being there for you now, when you’re doing things right.”
“She means with a really good guy like Tash, instead of that snake Chuck.”
Utterly overwhelmed, Autumn laughed, but it came out a little like a sob. “You guys are both so amazing.” She reached for them, this time with a laugh that was pure happiness.
When Tash and Mike walked in with Sadie, the three of them were still huddled together.
Mike grinned.
Tash looked wary. “What’s going on?”
“I think they’re plotting.”
“I wanna plot, too,” Sadie said, running forward to join the women.
Ember drew her in, then said, “We’re plotting the wedding.”
“Which one?” Tash asked, coming closer.
“Yours.” Autumn grinned. “And mine.”
“Hallelujah.” He tugged Autumn away from her mother and sister and into his arms.
The place she most liked to be. “Would you mind if Mom and Ember handled things?”
“I want whatever you want.”
“See?” her mother crowed. “I told you so.”
“Smart man.” Mike also drew Ember toward him, which meant he got Sadie, as well. He hefted her up to his chest, holding her with one arm. “Well, Sadie, what do you think about being the flower girl twice?”
“I want to!” Then she asked, “What’s a flower girl do?”
“Oh, my.” Her mother clasped her hands beneath her chin and sniffled. “Isn’t this just the most beautiful thing ever? I need to go get Flynn. He’ll love seeing all our family together as much as I do.”
Sadie wiggled to get down. “I’ll go with you and ride on his lap coming back.” She raced out of the barn.
Then the funniest thing happened.
Her mother raced to catch up.
The two sisters watched, then stared at each other...before bursting into laughter.
“We’ve made Mom deliriously happy.” Ember leaned against Mike, smiled at one and all, then winked at Autumn. “I don’t know about you, sis, but I think this calls for ice cream.”
* * *
Only three weeks later, wearing a soft, flowing white dress that was far lovelier and definitely more comfortable than the one she’d chosen before, flowers woven through her hair and her toes bare in the warm sand on the beach, Autumn became a wife.
The dress was the stuff of dreams and something she never would have chosen for herself, but it made her feel very pretty. Spaghetti straps, a low-cut lacy top and fitted waist, then a long gauzy skirt that parted as she walked.
Given how Tash had looked at her, he loved it, too.
And Tash. She sighed.
In white cotton slacks and a loose shirt, also barefoot, he was breathtaking. She watched him as he put together a plate of food for her dad and accepted yet another hug from her mother.
He’d gladly approved Autumn’s theme and conceded to all her wishes. He also thanked her mother for every suggestion, and assisted them both whenever necessary.
Truly, they’d outdone themselves pulling it all together.
The beach theme was supposed to be Ember’s, and her sister swore it would be—in the fall. This way, Ember claimed, she’d get to see it in action before she attempted to pull it off for herself. Being a guinea pig for her sister had never been so perfect.
Autumn had thought she’d be nervous, especially after her last catastrophic attempt at a wedding, but thanks to her mother and Ember, it was absolutely perfect.
Dancing near the water’s edge, Sadie was a bright spot beneath the vivid blue sky. Yellow flowers formed a small crown on her red hair, and her big blue eyes shone with happiness. The pale yellow sundress, which matched Ember’s, suited both of them perfectly.
What might have been embarrassing instead turned into a display of affection and caring that Autumn knew she’d never forget.
She looked around, still astounded at the crowd. It seemed the entire town had shown up for a wedding that, in her opinion, was a perfect mix of traditional and casual. Ember’s idea of open invitations had been genius. No one felt pressured, and yet people she knew, many that she’d grown up with, had arranged picnic tables everywhere, filling them with donated food dishes meant to be shared.
Such a kind gesture. This was why she loved her home. So very, very much.
The florist had donated enough flowers for her bouquet, the women’s hair and a few boutonnieres. Her mother and father had contributed the lovely arch of flowers and greenery under which they’d taken their vows.
The cake, which her mother also had chosen, was two layers of white confection, topped with cream and fruit. Not fancy, but definitely pretty and suitable to the beach.
Perfect for Autumn’s style.
To satisfy all the guests, tray after tray of cupcakes were lined up on a white linen-covered table.
Near her ear, Tash whispered, “Even the weather loves you.”
She’d been so involved in counting her blessings that she hadn’t heard him approach.
Tipping her head back to his shoulder, Autumn smiled. “It’s not ninety and the humidity is low, so, yes, I think I agree. We got lucky.”
Turning her to face him, Tash looked at her with naked emotion. “I got lucky the day you showed up at my door.” He tucked back a tendril of her hair. “Every minute since then has just been an additional gift.”
“Tash.” If she turned weepy now, she’d ruin her makeup, so instead she grinned. “I’m so glad my sister strong-armed me into proposing to you.”
“She’s the best sister-in-law in the world.” They both heard Ember laugh and turned to see her in Mike’s arms while he pretended to throw her in the lake. Ember held on to his neck, so instead, he kissed her.
Tash grinned. “Actually, this is the best family ever, on the most perfect farm, with the friendliest community...and I will love all of it, and especially you, forever.”
Sadie wiggled between them. “Me, too!” Together, they hoisted her up, sharing kisses and hugs. Her flower tiara now hung crookedly, the hem of her dress was wet and she had icing on her chin.
It only made her cuter.
They wouldn’t stay at the celebration too late, maybe a few more hours. After all, there was an entire farm full of animals waiting to see them again.
And they held one little girl who considered them all family.
* * *
THE
SOMERSET
GIRLS
LORI FOSTER
Reader’s Guide
Questions for Discussion
These questions may contain spoilers. It is suggested that you wait to read them until after you have finished the book.
Like many sisters, Autumn and Ember are two very different people who approach the world—and everyone in it—in different ways. Autumn tends to be more thoughtful and forthright, while Ember is more emotional and better able to hide her feelings. As you read the book, which sister did you relate to most and why? Did that allegiance change at all during the course of the book? If so, why do you think that was?
When the book opens, Tash is “the one who got away” for Autumn. Though she had a massive crush on him in high school, things between them never progressed beyond that. When the book opens, more than ten years have passed since they’ve seen one another. How do you think the time that has passed and the experiences they’ve had since they were last together have changed the way Autumn and Tash see one another now? Or has nothing changed between them? Is there someone from your past who is “the one who got away”? Has time changed the way you see them?
Autumn and Ember have both had their hearts broken in very different ways. The disillusion of Autumn’s engagement was incredibly public, and it has driven her to lick her wounds in the privacy of her own home, keeping people at a physical and geographical distance. Ember’s miscarriage was a very private matter for her. But being around people and trying to forge new relationships seemed to help her move beyond it and try to begin again. What do you think their very different ways of coping says about them as people? How do these differences help them learn from one another?
Autumn, Ember and their parents share the old farmhouse on the property that their grandparents left to them, so they live in rather close proximity. How do you think that closeness has informed the relationships between them when the book opens? Do you think the close physical proximity helps change their relationship as the book progresses? Would a similar situation be ideal for you and your family? Why or why not?
Initially Mike and Ember seem like polar opposites. But as the story progresses, we see that Ember has feelings for Mike that she’s actively trying to cover up. What do you think it is about Mike that draws Ember to him? When we learn about Mike’s life before he came to the Somerset farm, did it change the way you saw him? Why or why not?
As much as she loves and trusts Ember, Autumn feels some frustration at the way Ember treats her and the way Ember sees her life and her choices. But Ember pushing Autumn to reconnect with Tash is what kicks off their romance. Sometimes we all need a push to try something different; who knows what might have happened if she didn’t intervene? Do you think Autumn realizes that as the story progresses and gives Ember the credit she deserves? Or do you think these mutual pushes are just part and parcel of being sisters and learning from one another?
Tracy, Autumn and Ember’s mom, is quite free with expressing her thoughts and feelings, even if they sometimes hurt her daughters’ feelings. Do you think she realizes the hurt the things she says may cause in the beginning of the book? If so, why does she persist? If not, do you think Autumn and Ember should have told her how her words make them feel? How does Autumn’s relationship with her mom change over the course of the novel? What do you think spurs that change on?
When the story opens, Tash and Sadie are trying to find their way after Sadie’s mom’s death. We can see that Tash feels quite a bit of guilt in not being able to see the situation sooner, but he’s wholly committed to doing everything he can to help Sadie heal after the trauma she experienced with her mom, including keeping some emotional distance between him and Autumn. Autumn and Sadie get along so well, almost from the first moment they meet. Do you think Tash was partly protecting himself by trying to keep Autumn at a distance? If you were Tash, would you have handled Sadie in the same way?
Autumn loves ice cream and, in the beginning of the book, believes it’s a perfectly fine substitute for men. Do you have a treat that you’re as devoted to as Autumn is to her ice cream? What is it? What is it about that treat that makes it so delicious to you?
Autumn and Ember work together to maintaining the animal sanctuary they inherited from their grandparents—it’s their dream. If you could do anything in the world, what would you do? Who would you share that dream with?
ISBN: 9781488056000
The Somerset Girls
Copyright © 2020 by Lori Foster
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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