"Pop," Jasi said, "this is Emily. Your daughter."
Emily made her way toward their father, her steps timid and unsure.
"My sister was kept from us for far too long," Jasi continued, "and I hope you will all help me in welcoming her into the McLellan family."
Pop held out a hand as Emily reached the platform. She stepped up, blinking back tears. "I can't believe this is happening."
Pop let out a gruff sob as he pulled her into his arms. "My girl."
Brady wrapped his arms around both of them, burying his head into Pop's shoulder.
It was an epic moment.
Warm tears trickled down Jasi's face, but she didn't brush them away. They were joyful, well-earned tears, and as she gazed around the hall, she noticed there wasn't a dry eye in the room. She even spotted Matthew covertly wiping away a stray tear.
She released a pent-up sigh and thought back to the past week's events. Not once had she suspected that everything would culminate in this. During her time at Sanctuary, she had begun to question what "family" really meant. Certainly she had witnessed many forms of it deep in the woods of Mission. And with Emily, she'd experienced the inexplicable connections that humans have to each other. Now, as she reveled in her surroundings, she knew she'd always be blessed with family, friends and home.
Jasi gave a nod to Brandon, and he increased the speaker volume. She had selected a special song to dedicate to her sister.
"Emily, this song is for you, from all of us."
As Compass by Lady Antebellum played over the room, its celebratory beat and lyrics created an atmosphere of sheer bliss.
When the song ended, Jasi's face streamed with tears. "Like the song says, 'you'll never be alone.'"
Emily hugged her. "Thank you."
Everyone gathered around to formally meet the newest addition to the McLellan clan, and Jasi watched with pride as her sister was accepted into the family. She hadn't seen Pop this happy in…forever. And Brady was doing his best to show Emily his goofy side.
She saw Brandon moving toward her and gave him a wave.
He stepped up onto the platform and muffled the microphone. "I need to talk to you privately."
"Can't it wait? I don't want to miss a single moment."
Brandon removed his hand from the microphone. "I think we've waited long enough, Jasmine McLellan."
The room hushed.
She blinked, her smile subsiding. "What are you talking about?"
He stared at her for a moment, then chuckled. "Well, since you always have to be so stubborn—"
"I'm not stubborn."
"And since you always have a way of interrupting me—"
"I don't—" She swatted his hand.
"I guess I have no choice. I'll just have to," he reached into his pocket, "do this right here in front of all these people." He dropped down on one knee, and excited murmurs swept through the hall. "Jasmine McLellan, you're the love of my life—"
"Stop fooling around, Brandon, and get off the floor."
"—who always finds ways to test my patience—"
"Is this a joke? You're not really doing this here? Not now!"
With a flourish, he popped open a small black box, revealing a stunning square-cut diamond ring in white gold.
She gasped. "You are doing this here!"
"Jasi, shut up and listen to the poor guy," Ben hollered.
"If this past week has taught me nothing else," Brandon continued, "it has taught me not to take anything for granted. Jasi, you're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, my sanctuary, and where you go, I go." He took her hands. "I already asked your father for your hand."
"And I told him it was about time," Pop called out. "But he has to take all of you. No take-backs!"
Even Jasi had to laugh at that.
"So what do you say?" Brandon asked. "Will you marry me?"
She gazed into his eyes, her hands reaching up to caress his face. "You don't have to be psychic to know the answer to that question."
As her lips met his, she realized that everything she'd been searching for, whether she'd known it or not, was in this room—a loving family, a new sister, the best of friends and the man of her dreams. There was no place on earth she'd rather be than this most divine sanctuary.
~ * ~
If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a short review and posting it on your favorite review site. Reviews are very helpful to other readers and are greatly appreciated by authors, especially me. When you post a review, drop me an email and let me know and I may feature part of it on my blog/site. Thank you.
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Message from Imajin Books:
This concludes Cheryl Kaye Tardif's DIVINE trilogy. Take a moment and let the story and characters settle in. We know it can be difficult to let go sometimes, so take a deep breath.
We hope you enjoyed every page.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a short review and posting it on your favorite eBook retailer or community library site.
Reviews are very helpful to other readers and are greatly appreciated by authors, especially me. When you post a review, drop Cheryl an email to let her know, and she may feature part of it on her blog/site. Thank you.
[email protected]
Novels by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Whale Song
Whale Song: School Edition
The River
Children of the Fog
Submerged
Series by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
The Divine Trilogy (in order):
Divine Intervention (Book 1)
Divine Justice (Book 2)
Divine Sanctuary (Book 3)
Short Stories by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Remote Control
Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories
Novels by Cherish D'Angelo (AKA Cheryl Kaye Tardif)
Lancelot's Lady
Message from the Author
Dear Reader,
As with my other novels, I have used authentic Canadian settings. Shirleys Bay is actually a research facility, one with a rich history of research projects, including the real Project Magnet.
According to Wikipedia, "Project Magnet was an unidentified flying object (UFO) study programme established by the Canadian Department of Transport (DOT) on December 2, 1950, under the direction of Wilbert B. Smith, senior radio engineer for the DOT's Broadcast and Measurements Section. It was formally active until mid-1954, and informally until Smith's death in 1962."
I found it interesting that Canada has been involved for decades in UFO investigation and communication satellite technologies. I never know what I might unearth when researching a novel.
Paragon Research Corporation and their specific research projects are entirely fictional. Project Chrysalis does not exist.
Or at least, I hope it doesn't...
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
About the Author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an award-winning, international bestselling Canadian suspense author. Her novels include Divine Sanctuary, Submerged, Divine Justice, Children of the Fog, The River, Divine Intervention, and Whale Song, which New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice calls "a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart...a beautiful, haunting novel."
She is now working on her next thriller.
Cheryl also enjoys writing short stories inspired mainly by her author idol Stephen King, and this has resulted in Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories (eBook) and Remote Control (novelette eBook). Her short stories are featured in various anthologies, including Shadow Masters and What Fears Become.
In 2010 Cheryl detoured into the romance genre with her contemporary romantic suspense debut, Lancelot's Lady, written under the pen name of Cherish D'Angelo.
Booklist raves, "Tardif, already a big hit in Canada…a name to reckon with south of the border."
Cheryl's website: http://www.cherylktardif.com
Official blog: http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630
You can also find Cheryl Kaye Tardif on Goodreads, Shelfari and LibraryThing, plus other social networks.
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Divine Trilogy Page 75
