Forever Family (Forever #5)
Page 18
Jenny pulled an applesauce pouch from her bag and handed it over. “Okay, I think we can all agree that this piece of oceanfront property has definite history for all of us.”
Corabelle bounced Ethan on her knees. Her boobs jiggled in her bikini top, and I began to wonder how long we had to stay before I could get her home.
“I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” Tina said. “Even though I was late getting here.”
“We always wanted to go to the school by the sea,” Corabelle said to me. “And now we’re pretty much done. You’ll graduate before the end of the year.”
“You can’t leave!” Jenny said. “Our kids have to grow up together!” She passed another snack to Chance to keep Phoenix from toddling off again.
“We’re not planning to go anywhere just yet,” I said, pulling Corabelle and Ethan closer to me. The baby rested his chin on Corabelle’s shoulder and looked at me with big solemn eyes. He looked like Manuelito in that moment, and it struck me for the first time that the two boys of mine had so much in common. They had met only twice, but Rosa was bringing Manuel for two weeks at Thanksgiving. That wasn’t too far away.
“Good,” Jenny said. “Because I need my village.”
Phoenix dropped her cup in the sand and pointed a stubby finger at the sky. “Buff-fly,” she said.
“What’s that, sweetie pie?” Jenny asked.
“Buff-fly,” she said again.
Everyone looked up. At first, it seemed like it was about to snow, the way dark bits floated across the sky. But that was ridiculous. This was Southern California. Then I realized we were seeing the fluttering of wings.
Darion stood up. “It’s the monarch migration,” he said. “I’ve seen it once before, when I was a kid.”
We all got to our feet. Even Phoenix was silent as the cloud of orange and black butterflies arrived, swooping, sailing, and flitting silently by.
Corabelle found my hand and squeezed it. I looked at her, staring up in awe at the thousands of winged creatures passing through our little beach party.
Tina stood the farthest forward and stretched out her hand. After a moment, a single butterfly paused for a second on one of her fingers, then fluttered off again.
She started crying, and Darion put his arm around her. Corabelle let go of me and stepped forward, Ethan on her shoulder. She held up her hand as Tina had. It took a minute, but a butterfly landed on her as well.
She turned to me, tears in her eyes. “Look at all of them,” she said. “There are so many.”
Jenny snapped pictures like crazy. The butterfly didn’t leave Corabelle as the other had, just sat there, its wings fanning open and closed, lazily, as if it had nowhere else to be.
When Ethan was born, we recreated the butterfly mobile we had once made for Finn. Above his crib, the glitter-sprayed cutouts swayed whenever we brushed against them.
Now the sky was filled with the real thing, colorful, flitting by. Several took a break on our cooler and chairs, and Phoenix toddled over to them, fascinated.
Ethan waved his hands and the butterfly on Corabelle’s finger fluttered higher, hovered over them, then settled on Ethan’s fuzzy head.
“Oh!” Corabelle cried. “Look!”
I came up behind her. Ethan’s eyes were wide, looking around at all the grown-ups staring at him.
“It doesn’t want to leave you,” Tina said quietly.
Ethan brushed his forehead with his arm, and this time the butterfly landed on my shoulder.
“See?” Tina said. “He belongs to you.” She sat down and jerked a drawing pad from her bag. Her fingers flew as she sketched on an empty page.
“You should move along,” I told the butterfly. The numbers were already thinning, the majority of them already past. “Your friends will worry about you.”
It sat a moment more, wings slowly flapping, its antennae quivering, bright against my white T-shirt.
Then it took off, fluttering into the sky, until it mixed in with the others and we no longer knew which one it was.
“That was beautiful,” Corabelle said. Tears were slipping down her cheeks.
“We were at the right place at the right time,” I said.
“Again,” she said.
I knew she was thinking of that astronomy class where we found each other after four years apart. If anything had gone differently — if I hadn’t enrolled, if she hadn’t moved here after getting kicked out of her first college — this moment would never have come.
But we had taken that class. And Jenny had hooked up with Chance. And Tina had decided to keep the doctor after insisting she never would go on a second date.
Because of all this, we were together now. And the moments that we thought were fleeting, like the passing of these butterflies, had come together to make something that would last forever.
~*´♥`*~
This is the end of the Forever series. It was such a healing, sad, and joyful experience to delve so deeply into these women’s lives. This is certainly the work I was meant to do since losing Casey Shay. I like to think his memory goes on forever and his life wasn’t as fleeting as it seemed.
TWO new projects are coming under my real name Deanna Roy in 2016. Join my mailing list for book announcements and excerpts as I write them.
My Annie Winters name will be releasing a new Vigilante book in 2016 as well.
I hope you didn’t miss the Forever song or the series video trailer. I would love for you to share them!
Meet other Forever Series book fans on the Facebook page or in my private Reader Retreat.
Love to all of you,
Deanna
THE END
Coming 2016
The Dance Series
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Deanna is a passionate advocate for women who have miscarried. She founded the web site www.pregnancyloss.info in 1998 after the loss of her first baby and continues to run both online and in-person support groups for women who have endured this impossible loss. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.
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•*´`*•♥•*´`*•
Dedications to my amazing fans!
Love you guys!
♥ Patti C. ~ May she always know what a hero she is, in my eyes, and in the eyes of my children. Love, AK ♥
♥ Kristin H. ~ For my family by blood and my family by choice, I love you all! ♥
♥ Bianca M. ~ For my Husband, daughter, and son my Forever Family, I'll Love you Always ♥
♥ Tanya ~ To Jarred, father to our Forever Family. ♥
♥ Abbie Ball ~ For my family by blood and by choice I be with you no matter what. ♥
♥ Keri Greear ~ To the two most important men in my life. My dad(you were taken way too soon) and my hubs. <3 ♥
♥ Angela D ~ For the love of my life Jeremy, thank you for making me feel that I'm the most beautiful girl in the world. Also for showing me that true love really does last Forever! ♥
♥ Tinker17 ~ To the man of my dreams, Michael, I love you more than life. 41 years is not enough time. ♥
♥ Charity Chimni ~ Grandma and Grandpa forever loved and never forgotten! ♥
♥ Vanessa ~ You will always be loved and missed my angel. ♥
♥ Kat S. ~ For my Forever Family! Always there for each other no matter what! LLCforever! ♥
♥ Missy ~ For To Aaron, Emma, Ethan & Wyatt, my forever family who own my heart & soul ♥
♥ Letty Hernandez ~ Thank you hubs for watching the kids while I read. I love you Jesus! ♥
♥ Christi L. ~ To my wonderful husband, Ronnie. You will always be my Forever Love. ♥
♥ Sandy W. ~ To my husband Larry for all the happiness you have given me and the love you have fo
r are family ♥
♥ Dot Jordaan ~ Tnx to my husband Piet for 45 years of marriage. You are my rock. Love you. ♥
♥ Mike Urbat ~ I dedicate this to my daughter Diana, my second
chance. ♥
♥ Leona Bowman ~ To my best friend I had for over 30 yrs. I will love & miss you forever. ♥
♥ Amber Isenhour ~ Even with all the ups and downs life has thrown us, I am so lucky that I get to be a part of our Forever Family and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!! ♥
♥ Ashley Spears ~ Marsha Pace, thank you for being the best sister, best friend, and best Auntie to my Angels and I. You have been my rock. Harold C., thank you for being there for me and caring about my girls more than their biological "father" ever has. You have been my rock as well more then you will ever know! I love y'all with all of my heart! ♥
♥ Marianne ~ To my mom, Ruth, for being my forever family ♥
♥ Chrissie ~ For Harvey - Fate decided our family wasn't meant to be beyond just the two of us. You are and always will be my Forever. ♥
♥ Tabby ~ Queen of Hearts with so much love to give. Love to all ♥
♥ Wendy R. ~ To my family and my close friends-thank you and love you! ♥
♥ Kim J. ~ For my Forever Family, Rob, Nick, and Maddie. You are my heart and soul. ♥
♥ Shirley ~ to my amazingly wonderful husband, Andy Thornton I love you with all my heart, body, and soul!!! You and our family are my whole world. ♥
♥ Kay Bennett ~ My husband Bill will not be on earth with me long...he is my friend and love always in my heart my family all mean the world to me. BILL will be with me forever in my heart....his days are numbered but BILL lives with me.♥
♥ Lori S. ~ To the 5 best things in my life: Chris, Kayl, Nicholas, Emily & Erik ♥
♥ Jane ~ To my Forever Family, my husband, children and my three grandchildren. I love you so much!! ♥
♥ Jennifer Phillips ~ To the baby I lost in 2005, you'll always be part of my Forever Family. ♥
♥ Rochelle J. ~ For my wonderful husband, Jim, daughter Julie and
my two wonderful grandsons! You are my Forever Family and I love you! ♥
♥ Jackie ~ To my husband and best friend, Ted Stieghorst. Love
Always ♥
♥ Kristina L. ~ To Vic my best friend and my Prince Charming, I'll love you forever & always, you're my other half ♥
♥ Darla S. ~ For my love John, You truly are my soulmate. Luv You Muchly XOXO ♥
♥ Michelle Q. ~ To my brothers Chris and Lee, love you lots! ♥
♥ Angelina D. ~ To Matt and my kids. I love you all with everything I am. You all are my forever family ♥
♥ Katie Winter ~ Parker & Ridley Papcke ♥
♥ Melissa R. ~ To my wonderful grandson, Liam. You are my life and my light. Love you always, Grandma ♥
♥ Carrie Franks Fink ~ Our Family, no matter what the tragedy, we stand together. -Franks Family ♥
♥ Kari J. ~ To the One who stood beside me always! Love you 4 ever, DJ! ♥
♥ Debbie ~ To my angel StacyLynn love and miss you always. ♥
♥ Debbie Rice ~ My parents Buddy and Dotty Adams and my brother Lewie Adams you are forever in our hearts ♥
♥ J. Kogel ~ Here's to light at the end of the tunnel. ♥
♥ Melissa R. ~ To my husband, my best friend, my love. You and the kids are my life! ♥
♥ Lesley ~ To my sons Nathan and Jayson, we are Forever Family!! With all my Love, Mom!! ♥
♥ Lyndsi ~ I love you Matthew & Xander! I love you Cody! ♥
♥ Heather Brown ~ with much love to all my family ♥
♥ Sara Gómez ~ To the boy who made my heart feels and breaks, who made me brave and weak, who learnt me to love and hate. ♥
♥ Cassandra D: ~ For my one & only love, Stephen D, and the dreams we have to someday have our own Forever Family! I love you! ♥
♥ Zeinab ~ I would like to dedicate this book to all those who were an inspiration and worked very hard to creat this amazing work and to the dearest man who has always owned my heart my mind my soul I love you my darling M. ♥
♥ Kelly Richgruber ~ To the 3 most wonderful children i live you with all of my heart ♥
♥ Cilicia White ~ To my wonderful husband Corbitt and my two beautiful kids Corbitt and Corrine! Love You Always ♥
♥ Becky R. ~ For my true love Charles, thank you for being my partner in our Forever Family. ♥
♥ Chasity Simmons ~ I dedication is to my mother who has supported me through some really rough times, I Love You ♥
♥ Kamie E. ~ My beautiful daughter, Julie, who almost never made it into this world but survived all the odds! You are truly loved by everyone!! ♥
♥ Cynthia Phillips ~ To my husband and our four amazing boys (Corbin, Dresdin, Emmit, Brody) I love you forever and always! ♥
♥ Jodi ~ To my husband Joe who has always been there for me and to my Boys I Love You All you're My Forever Family! ♥
♥ Debbie ~ To my beautiful son Thomas. I will always love you. Love Mom. ♥
♥ Faith H. ~ To my mom, Katy for always being the wind beneath my wings ♥
♥ Norma G. ~ For my forever family, my husband Cesar, my two miracles Luna and Christian, and my two little angels. Love you always. ♥
♥ Katy Rakel ~ To my beautiful daughter who is my best friend, sister, and the most loving, faithful person I have ever known. I love you, Faith Hatch, bunches and bunches. You are the wind beneath my wings. Love, your mama ♥
♥ LaGina ~ To Dawn, Virginia, Bobby and Cliffy, as much as I love my art I will never create anything more beautiful then the 4 of you. ♥
♥ Cristal Nash ~ For my love Donald, if not for you we'd not have our own Forever Family ♥
♥ Karen Petrie ~ To the love of my life and my forever family...Mark, here is to 35 more years to come! ♥
♥ Nicole S. ~ To my monkey, I love you so much; Near or far. Love, Auntie. ♥
♥ G. Dixon ~ To my mother that would have been 85 years old today, I miss every day and wish you were here. You were my teacher,protector,but most of all my best friend. I love you. ♥
♥ Tater ~ Cooter, you are the love of my life and I could never have made it the last 13 years without you! ♥
♥ Erica ~ Best family ever, Ryan, Kyara, Rylee, Kayla. Love you all very much ♥
♥ Donna Hokanson ~ This dedication is to Dallas H., my best friend from my A.F. Family and whose life has been cut too short. May he be at peace. ♥
♥ Mom/Nana & Dad/Grandad ~ Our daughter, grandson (born @ 27 weeks), and grandaughter (stillborn @ 30 weeks). ♥
♥ Linda M. ~ For my husband Jerry.My love my blessing and my Forever Family. ♥
♥ Mike Urbat ~ To my daughter Diana who gave me a second chance ♥
♥ Kazza ~ To my husband John of 39 years of my forever family ♥
♥ Annie ~ For my amazing husband, Mathew, who has been my rock through each of my 11 miscarriages. I love you to the moon! ♥
♥ Irish Red ~ Boo, I love you & thank you for EVERYTHING you do for our Forever Family. You're the best! Love you so much! ♥
♥ Jessica H. ~ C,K,C I love you Always and 4ever ♥
♥ Brenda Prinsen ~ Matt, Scott, Heather, Nick, Nicole and Hailee you are my world, I love you. ♥
♥ Shandra Torbett ~ For Sarah Dockery, who has created the best Forever Family with me. ♥
♥ Cheri H. ~ To my Awesome Granddaughter, Morgan, who has felt the loss twice and has persevered. Your son and daughter await us in Heaven. God Bless! ♥
♥ JMM ~ JGM BMHTMS ♥
♥ Megan B. ~ For my little fighter Presley keep fighting we want you at home. You complete our family. ♥
♥ Sheri Weber ~ To my beautiful, amazing daughter Kaitlyn. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm proud to be your mama. I love you! ♥
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Love to all of you!
~*´♥`*~