He handed the envelope to Dean.
Mack’s hands were shaking far too much. Dean opened it and couldn’t believe what he was looking at.
“Dean, what is it?” Mack asked.
He had to swallow around the lump in his throat. “It’s the deed to Rose Cottage, in both our names.”
Mack and Dean just looked at Thomas. “You’re both at home here at Rose Cottage, and I’m getting too old to look after it. I want you both to have it, and to live here and raise a family. Besides, I happen to know the local school needs a teacher, and I have it on good authority that Auntie Mack is a very good one, although a bit bossy.”
Mack was stunned, she certainly hadn’t expected the cottage as a wedding present, but she should have known Thomas would do something like he had. Rose Cottage was where it all started. Not just for herself and Dean, but for Rose and Jacob all those years ago.
Standing up she met Thomas, who was walking towards them for a very big hug. “I don’t know what to say, Thomas,” she told him, unable to hold the tears back.
“Thank you, will suffice.”
She pulled back and took hold of Dean’s hand. “Thank you, I do love it here.” She looked at Dean. “If it’s okay with Dean, then we’ll live here. Besides, someone has to make sure you don’t get into any trouble.”
Thomas chuckled. “Just make sure those babies appear sooner rather than later. I’m not a spring chicken anymore.”
“I’m sure we’ll get started on that pretty soon.” Mack blushed.
“With plenty of practice, I’m sure we’ll get it right.” Dean chuckled.
They heard a car pull up outside, which stopped the laughter, and panic flickered across Thomas’ face.
Mack took Thomas’ hand. “Come on, Thomas, you can do this. Just remember Eliza and Jacob are going to be just as nervous as you are.”
Dean opened the back door and held it open as Thomas stepped out, holding Mack’s hand really tight, as though he expected her to bolt. Dean followed them outside and ran over to open the car door for his grandparents.
His grandfather stepped out first, then turned back towards the car to help Eliza out.
With Dean on one side and Jacob on the other, they made their way to Mack and Thomas who were waiting not too far away.
Mack could feel Thomas shaking, and from the look of things, so were Eliza and Jacob. Meeting Dean’s eyes, Mack nudged Thomas forward, at the same time Eliza let go of both Dean and Jacob, to put her arms around Thomas. They were both sobbing as though their hearts would burst.
Mack took two steps straight into Dean’s arms and cried all over him. He ran his hands up and down her back in a soothing motion.
Mack finally managed to get herself under control and wiped her face on the handkerchief Dean’s father passed her. “Thank you.”
Eliza took hold of Jacob’s hand and pulled him slightly forward to meet her brother. She had written in her diary how much she wished that Thomas and Jacob could get to know each other. Although it was a long time ago when she had expressed that wish, it was now coming true.
Eliza turned towards Mack and walked over to her. Mack let go of Dean and walked straight into Eliza’s embrace. “Thank you, Mack. You have no idea just how much everything you have done means to Jacob and me,” she whispered.
Mack pulled away and wiped her eyes giving both Thomas and Jacob a hug before she returned to Dean’s waiting arms.
Mack’s one wish was that she could get through the wedding without shedding any tears. No doubt she would start up again when she caught sight of Dean standing in the Gazebo, waiting for her to become his wife.
<><><>
Mack turned around to take the first look in the full-length mirror.
She didn’t think she was particularly unattractive, but had never been one to pay a lot of attention to preening. After all, she was a school teacher of small children, and classes tended to be messy. But when she turned and saw herself in the mirror, she was stunned. Staring back at her was… ”A princess,” Melinda said, as she saw Mack in her wedding gown.
“Is this really me?” she whispered.
“Mack, you are so beautiful today, as you are always. Today though, you are simply radiant. Are you really happy, Mack?” Melinda asked, taking hold of Mack’s hand.
“Sis, I’ve never been as happy. I love Dean so much, I can’t imagine my life without him.” She paused. “I also can’t imagine living anywhere other than here.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
Mack smiled. “Thomas has given Rose Cottage to Dean and me as a wedding present. Apparently, Lucas has claimed all the Our Gang comics, and he doesn’t have anyone else to leave this to. He said that we’re his family, and he wants us to have it and raise a family here.”
“So, you’re going to move here?” Mack nodded. “This is what you’ve always wanted, Mack. A house out of the city near the beach, with a good loving man and lots of kids. Part of your dream has come true, and I’m really happy for you,” Melinda said.
“Thank you.”
“You do realize that Lucas will always want to come and stay with you?”
“As long as there’s no school, he’s always welcome, you all are.”
They both turned on hearing the door open. “What are you girls doing in here? You’re supposed to be downstairs.”
“Mom,” Melinda winked at Mack, then turned back to their mother, “I was giving Mack the birds and the bees talk.”
Louise walked further into the room, walking around Mack with tears coming to her eyes. “You look stunning… Your father is going to cry like a baby.” She then turned her attention to Melinda. “And I’m sure she doesn’t need the bird and the bees talk considering the very hot groom downstairs,” she commented, fanning herself.
“Mom! You’re not supposed to notice things like that,” Melinda said in fake shock.
“I have eyes… and a sex drive.”
“Eww, Mom,” Melinda said with a shudder.
“Come on, there’s a hot as hell guy downstairs wanting to make you his wife, and your very nervous father.”
Mack took another look at herself in the mirror and allowed her Mom and Melinda to escort her out of her room and down the stairs to her father, then her groom.
<><><>
Dean was standing in the gazebo while he waited for Mack to appear. He’d started to feel nervous. There wasn’t a huge amount of family present, but only just meeting Mack’s parents, with her father giving him the third degree, hadn’t helped any. All he wanted was his Mack.
Thomas was sitting close by, waiting to act as best man. He was still a bit shaky after his meeting with Rose. A very emotional time.
It took Mack about half an hour to calm down. Then she was mortified to realize both her eyes were puffy, so after cutting chunks of cucumber, had disappeared back upstairs saying she would see them all at the wedding.
Thomas came to stand beside him. “You’re one lucky man.”
“Don’t I know…” Dean trailed off when he caught sight of Mack in her long, fitted, white, strapless dress, covered in lace. She started walking towards him. He couldn’t take his eyes from her. She truly was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but most importantly, beautiful on the inside too. He swallowed around the lump in his throat and tried to take hold of his emotions. As he did so, Dean glanced at his grandmother and noticed her crying softly into his grandfather’s arm.
He looked back to Mack and spotted his mother with her handkerchief guarding her eyes as well. She had apologized to Mack for being so rude, and had welcomed her into the family. Mack had accepted the olive branch, and even asked Dean’s mother to accompany her when she went looking for a wedding dress, along with her own mother.
Lucas came to a stop just over to Dean’s side, with a huge grin on his face. Dressed in a pale grey suit, dark grey shirt and silver tie, he looked so handsome. He leaned towards Dean. “Don’t forget, when you’re my uncle, you
have to buy me a present and my birthday’s next week. And seeing you don’t know how to play, maybe you can ask my grandma how to play strip poker. She says it’s very easy and stimulatering, or something like that.”
Dean laughed and turned back to Mack, who was about to reach his side. He was thankful she’d decided to rent Rose Cottage for the summer, where she’d discovered ‘the diary’, which had brought Dean to the Cottage, and eventually brought his grandmother back together with her brother, after all those years apart. They’d come full circle, and he couldn’t be happier.
Mack passed her flowers to Melinda and turned to look at Dean. When their eyes met, they realized this was where they belonged, with each other, at ‘Rose Cottage’.
THE END
Dear Reader: If you liked Rose, I would appreciate it, if you would help others enjoy this book too by recommending it to your friends, family and book clubs by writing an honest, positive review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, ITunes, Goodreads, Smashwords, etc.
Website
http://alisonchaffinhigson.blogspot.com
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Editors
Jan Carol and Gilly Wright
Beta Readers
HM Bendana, Hildred Livesey, Kristy Garbutt, Suella Holland, Angela Nuttall, Susan Sager, Marsha Thalleen, and Nadine Winningham
A very special thank you to
My sister-in-law, Lesley Hardman for reading and editing the first draft of this book and offering advice.
Kristy Louise Garbutt, for taking a chance on an ‘unknown’ and for becoming a great friend.
Nadine Winningham for her ‘eagle eye’ and ‘hot’ pictures.
Karen Lawson for agreeing to read this book before publication, and for putting me in touch with Marion Archer.
Marion Archer, who I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart. You came to my rescue at the last minute, for which I will always be grateful. Thank you so much.
BLOG TOUR
I would also like to give a special mention to these blogs for their help in promoting my book
Aestas Book Blog, Book Addict Mumma, Cruising Susan Reviews, Confessions from Romaholics, Confessions of a Book Heaux, Have Book Will Read, Hooked on Books, I love Lady Porn, Island Lovelies Book Club, If These Boobs Could Talk, Miles Apart Books, Morning After a Good Book, My Secret Romance Book Reviews, Reading is my Time Out, Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads, Shhh, Mommy’s in the Bathroom.,.Reading, The Book Bellas, The Hopeless Romantics Book Reviews, The Suburban Eclectric, Storm Goddess Book Reviews, Who you callin’ a Book Whore
and Facebook pages:
Erotica Book Club, Flirty and Dirty Book Blog, Kindlehooked, Spreading the Word, TotallyBookedBlog, What to Read After 50 Shades of Grey
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was born in Bolton, Lancashire within the United Kingdom, where I lived, and worked at the University of Bolton. In 2010, I moved to Ireland with my husband, four kids and pack of animals. I can tell you it wasn’t pleasant traveling in a car with five cats in cat boxes. Climbing back into the car after the ferry journey to Ireland was the most unpleasant thing we had to do on moving day!
We are now settled in a lovely town, in County Cavan. The kids love their schools (once they get there that it) and the little one loves her play-school where she goes with her imaginary friend, Katie.
My eldest daughter, is on the Irish Junior Archery Team, and spends her time training. At least she does when her dad can get her off her ipad, reading or listening to music.
After writing under a pen name for a short while, I decided to try my hand at writing in third person past tense, instead of first person. Rose is my first published book under my own name, and will not be the last, as I have a head full of idea, plus covers for some of those ideas!
I have recently joined the book review blog, Book Addict Mumma and made a wonderful new friend in Kristy Louise Garbutt, my new boss!
My kindle is loaded with too many books to mention, and I absolutely love to read when I have the chance.
Rose Page 23
