You are blessed to have Abbott in your life. Our father is a good man. He will be a supportive presence in the girls’ lives. Don’t try to find me. I need space to find my way on my own.
Lia
Her father entered the room and saw the note in her hand. “Is that from Lia?”
“It is.” She handed him the letter.
She scooped the girls up in her arms, carried them to the sofa in her studio, and held them close to her while they cried.
Even though her discovery of Lia hadn’t turned out the way she’d imagined, Ellie had recovered her memories and gotten the closure she desperately needed. Maddie’s words echoed in her head. Many things happened to you here, but having your sister taken away from you was the worst. Lia would continue to be lost to Ellie, but she’d found her precious nieces in exchange. She would nurture them and love them with everything she had. She would turn this old house into a comfortable home, and they would fill it with laughter and love.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Ellie
Julian had been to Magnolia Cemetery many times and knew exactly where to find the Pringle family plot. On Sunday, they all drove out there together. Julian and the girls gathered acorns from a neighboring plot while Abbott and Ellie visited her mother’s grave. They stood side by side in silence as they stared down at Ashton’s headstone. She was buried in April of 1983 next to her father, Edwin, who had died at the young age of forty-eight.
“If not for my grandmother, Mom might still be here with us today.”
“We can talk about the what-ifs all day long, but it won’t change a thing. When the Lord decides it’s time for us to go, it’s time for us to go.” He grabbed her hand. “Your quest to remember your past has taught us both a lot of things. I’m so blessed to have had you in my life. And while I didn’t always make the best decisions for you, I made them out of love.”
“I know, Daddy.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “I don’t even want to think about how different things could’ve turned out for me, if not for you. I could’ve ended up in an orphanage—or worse, with Louisa.”
“Don’t think about it, honey. We’re together now. I’ve decided to stay in Charleston. My place is here with you. We have each other, and we have the twins. And you have Julian. We will be one small happy family.”
“There’s nothing that will make me happier. No more obsessing about the past. From now on we’re marching toward the future.”
<<<<>>>>
Acknowledgments
I’m grateful to the many people who helped make this novel possible. First and foremost, to my editor, Patricia Peters, for her patience and advice and for making my work stronger without changing my voice. To my literary agent, Andrea Hurst, for her guidance and expertise in the publishing industry and for believing in my work. A special thanks to my talented artist friend Johanna Carrington for sharing her knowledge of art and for her constructive feedback of the chapters of this manuscript relating to art. To my architect, Tim Galvin, for aiding my research in Charleston architecture. And to Damon Freeman and his crew at Damonza.com for their creativity in designing this stunning cover.
I am blessed to have many supportive people in my life, my friends and family who offer the encouragement I need to continue the pursuit of my writing career. To Alison and Ellen at the Gracious Posse and Leslie Rising at Levy’s. For Cheryl and Mamie for your valuable feedback. And for my Advanced Review Team for their enthusiasm for and commitment to my work.
And to my family—my mother, Joanne, my husband, Ted, and my amazing children, Cameron and Ned—for your love and support and for keeping me grounded.
A Note to Readers
The idea for Magnolia Nights struck me while I was on one of my many early-morning walks through downtown Charleston during my recent extended stay. Many of the homes on the Battery are centuries old. Most were built prior to the Civil War when the way of life in the South was vastly different from today. I am fascinated by the families who’ve occupied these homes for generations. I imagine every household has at least one ghost.
Readers, please know how humbled I am by your continued support. You brighten my day with your e-mails, Facebook posts, and continuous stream of tweets. You inspire me to work harder to improve my writing skills and create intriguing characters and plots you can relate to.
I love hearing from you. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail at [email protected] or stop by my website at ashleyfarley.net for more information about my characters and upcoming releases. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. Your subscription will grant you access to exclusive content, sneak previews, and special giveaways.
About the Author
Ashley Farley is the author of the bestselling Sweeney Sisters Series. Ashley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you’ve read the last word, then she’s done her job.
After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote Saving Ben in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save.
Ashley is a wife and the mother of two young-adult children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.
Ashley loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to visit her website at ashleyfarley.net.
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Magnolia Nights Page 24
