Intertwined Hearts Series (4 book collection): (Intertwined Hearts, An Exceptional Twist, Tangled Paths & Grafted Vines)

by Kimi Flores

  Every step I took made me thankful I’d decided to wear my Doc Marten boots over heels. My feet were a little hot and sweaty, but at least they didn’t hurt.

  I noticed Justin Zuckerman as he swaggered back to his chair. We’d been in school together since we were in kindergarten, and even though we were the furthest thing from being friends, it was kinda weird to think about everything we’d experienced while in school together.

  He caught me staring and pointed at me, then made a heart shape with his hands like I was in love with him or something. Ugh. He might be cute, but he was such a jerkface.

  I looked back up to my family. My Uncle Stefen wore a scowl on his face as he stared past me, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. He was so protective of his family and probably saw what Justin had done. My poor, unfortunate cousin, Isabella, was stuck sitting next to my youngest brother. She was the prim and proper girly girl of all my cousins, while her sister Sofia reached across her to poke Miles, egging him on.

  My uncle Stefen seemed to relax as he rested his hand on my aunt Leah’s lap. Leaning in, she kissed his cheek. She was as gaga for him as ever. I giggled, picturing the time he’d let me put his hair in little pigtails and another time when he’d startled me, almost making me pee in the pool.

  “Maddie,” Ian called my name, a little louder than a whisper.

  I hadn’t been paying attention and there was a small gap of space between us. Nervous butterflies flapped their feather-like wings in my stomach with each slow step I took. I was moments away from becoming the first high school graduate of all the kids in our family.

  Wiggling my knee anxiously, I noticed I was getting closer to my cheering section, which meant I was closer to the stage. My cousin, Ella, the tomboy of the group, yelled out and flashed me her signature peace sign while her parents, Aunt Bri and Uncle Josh, gave me their proudest smiles.

  Last but definitely not the least of our family were my Aunt Dani, Uncle Zach, and their five kids. I was baffled how they’d managed to get them all here, cleaned, dressed, and in one piece. After adopting the four oldest, we were all happily surprised to find out Aunt Dani was pregnant with little Sonja. And that girl had the entire family wrapped around her finger, including me. Together, Jonathan, Craven, Anthony, Breck, and Sonja were one wild bunch who knew how to have fun.

  I took a step onto the platform, with just a few classmates ahead of me, and peeked back at my family. Besides my grandfather, there was one other person missing today.

  My biological mother, Rene.

  She’d only been around my first year of life before she died of cervical cancer. But she’d made such an impact with her life. I spotted Grams, and she saw me staring this time. Pressing two fingers to her lips, she blew me a kiss.

  God, I loved my Grams. When I was a baby, just after my mom died, Grams had taken care of me when Dad had been too overtaken by sorrow.

  I remember she used to tell me stories about when my mom and dad were first dating in college and how Dad had been so entranced with her that he had become a better man in order for them to be together.

  One of the many things Grams always talked about was how each choice and action we made affected everyone around us. A ripple effect. Just like Grams, I believed it was the ripples my mother had first created that eventually brought Abby and Dad, plus each of my aunts and uncles, together.

  Had it not been for my mother accepting my father by looking past the facade he used to have, then the family I had up in those bleachers would be non-existent. Because she gave him a chance, they had me.

  After her passing, Dad had met Abby, the mom who raised me. Mom’s best friend, Leah, had met and married Dad’s cousin, Stefen, and so on. The ripple effect continued.

  I took a few steps closer as Ian’s name was called. Breathing in deeply, I smiled. I was proud to be on this stage and ready for my next adventure.

  “Madison Anne Hunter.” The roar coming from the bleachers made me beam as I accepted my diploma, shook the principal's hands, and stepped off the platform.

  I glanced up at my family, waving the diploma for them to see. Making a memory. Because today would be gone before I knew it. And tomorrow I would be preparing for college, entering the next stage of my life. I was ready.

  Ready to create my own ripples.

  THE END

  If you wouldn’t mind taking a moment to share your thoughts about this series, please click HERE to leave a review. Reviews can be made on each book individually and/or the boxset.

  Thank you!

  Curious about what ever became of Blaine Zuckerman?

  Click HERE to find his story, Unexpected Promises.

  Synopsis

  My plan was simple.

  Retreat to Hope Falls for the summer, seclude myself in one of the many picturesque mountain homes and study for the test that had kept me from advancing my career.

  No distractions. No interruptions.

  I should’ve known fate would have its own agenda.

  All it took was a few sarcastic comments from my temporary roommate and one coy peek over her shoulder to make me feel again.

  And now all my carefully laid out plans had been shot to hell.

  To keep up with the latest information on Kimi Flores’ novels, sign up for her newsletter at:

  www.novel-dreams.com