by Lee Wardlow
We sat down to Christmas dinner. Gramps gave an even sappier prayer since Dad’s surgery and Skylar’s emergency C-Section happened at the last prayer but he was right. We had a ton to be grateful for.
On the way home, I finally told the kids and Skylar what Delilah told me on the phone. Skylar was grinning. I knew she was happy but it was very quiet in the backseat. Nervously, I glanced in the rearview mirror and my eyes met Dom’s. “If this isn’t what you want, tell me now and I’ll let your mother know.”
“Hell, I was hoping you were going to say she is letting you adopt us,” Nickolas said. “I don’t want her to ever take us from you.” One child was happy about it.
“Does she not want us?” Maddie asked. There was no mistaking the hurt in the child’s question.
Skylar turned around and spoke, “Maddie, Momma has been very sick for a really long time. She just needs to focus on getting better.” Nickolas grunted.
“She thought maybe you could fly to Florida and see her next summer. There are beaches there and an ocean. Then you would come back to us,” I told her.
“I can go to college now,” Dominick declared so softly I almost didn’t hear him. I nodded and our eyes met in the rearview mirror again. I could see his happiness and his relief. Two children were happy but was Maddie.
“Thanks Ronan. I can’t thank you enough.”
“I want to thank you guys too.”
“For what?” Dominick asked.
“For changing mine and Skylar’s life.” I glanced at Skylar out of the corner of my eye. She reached across the console and I took her hand. One day, we would have more kids of our own but we were young. We had time. For now, our house was full with these kids and our love for them.
“Promise me,” Maddie said to me.
“Promise you what Maddie?” I asked her.
“Promise me that you’ll always love me,” she said uncertainly. I realized then that she was insecure and Skylar and I needed to reassure her.
“Maddie, I’ll always love you,” I promised her.
“Me too,” Skylar added.
That was all she needed to hear but her brothers told her that they loved her too. We had three happy children and one cranky baby from being passed around at Christmas dinner because everyone wanted to hold Luke.
The End
About the Author
I’m a small town girl who has always loved to read and write stories. I’ve been in the Information Technology field for a long time (translation Computer Geek/Project Manager). While laid off several years ago I dusted off my manuscripts and self-published one of them.
My first book was Welcome to Hell: Rediscovering First Love about small town in Michigan known as Hell. It is a very real town with my very own special fictional twist. I wrote it in 1997-98.
Then I wrote another novel, You Were Born for Me and I just kept writing. I absolutely love the Pointe Royal Series. I had a hard time quitting them. Adam and Joy were my favorite couple but I’ve grown and gotten better as I’ve written more.
I had always wanted to be a writer but I kept letting things get in the way. I’m artistic as well as having a love of reading other author’s Romance novels. Other genres of books such as Stephen King and John Grisham are often favorites of mine as well. A good Sandra Brown novel will get me every time too.
I have one daughter Caitlin with 4 grandchildren and a son-in-law that I love to pieces. Life is never boring with them around. I’ve been with my husband Bill for nearly thirteen years. At some point, I will just have to say years and quit updating this thing. We have two four legged babies Dixie and Evi the spoiled pups.
My Point Royal series is about a small Ohio fictional town based very, very loosely on my own experience growing up in small town Ohio. They are about family with a hint of romance, all with happy endings.
Pointe Royal Series Books
You Were Born for Me- Declan Moore and Stevie Bond
Never Leave Me – Noah Moore and Lexi Michael
I Knew I Love You When – Codi Alvarez Moore and Jessie Gatlin
For Always – Scarlett O’Halloran and Ben Murdoch
I Will Always Love You – Tegan O’Halloran and Rhett Martin
At Last – Shawn Martin and Bronagh Riley
I Told You So –Delany O’Halloran and Ian Black
The Beginning and The End- Pointe Royal Series
What She Wanted - Part 1 of Joy’s Story
What She Got- Part 2 – Joy’s Story
Point Royal – 3rd Generation
Promise Me – Ronan and Skylar
Originally Published as Gavin Carter – now published under Lee Wardlow. I just wanted to try something naughty and not be inhibited…
One Wild Ride – Mia and Jaxson part 1
Coming Undone - Mia and Jaxson part 2
Dantea’s Hell – Sebastian and Dantea’s Story
Ruby Lake Series
Goose Creek Series
Smokey Mountain Series
The Summer of Sins – McGuire Family Saga
Killing in God’s Name – Maya Michael’s story of struggle against oppression in America.
The Timekeeper – A man who saves souls from damnation by helping them alter tragedies in their future by changing their past lives.
Cannons and Corsets, A Civil War Novel follows Raven Truth and her family through their lives surviving the Civil War. Espionage, love and babies always trying to do the right thing while keeping themselves alive during the bitter, bloody war.
Sons of Vengeance, a sequel to Cannons and Corsets.
In 1880 the South is still in a state of unrest. The chains of slavery are still holding down the black freedmen. The Truth children have grown up and are facing their own challenges. Someone is seeking revenge against the Truths, the Grants and Maxwell Pleasance. The sins of the father will fall upon the heads of the sons.
Dark Secrets of the Craft
Ana’s Disappeared and Waking Promise. A story about 5 powerful witches and the 5 brothers who are their guardians.
The Naughty Librarian – A story about two writers who actually knew each other in childhood living next door to each other. Both working on their next novels while lusting after each other. Lots of fantasies being played out here.
Backlash -Charlize Wood was raped after a high school dance when she was fifteen. No one knew. Not her best friends Tommie Cooper or Wiley Cooper, first cousins. Now, fourteen years later, someone wants her to remember that night. The men who did this to her. One she knows well. Sees him every day almost. One will disgust her. The third…there has to be some secrets in Hope, Ohio.
Only Her -A Haley Cove Novel – Luka has returned to Haley Cove for his high school sweetheart. A girl he left behind 10 years ago to make his way in the world. Skylar and his family have been keeping a secret from him. Her name is Ava.
Contact Information
I would love to hear from anyone, your good or bad reviews. I can only grow if you let me know what you are thinking. I always try to respond.
Email [email protected].
My Website: http://www.leewardlow.com
Twitter: @leelee12wardlow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorleewardlow/
Acknowledgements
Front cover photo copyright© tverdohlib - Fotolia / AdobeStockPhotos
Special thanks to:
My sister Kendra for always pushing me to keep writing and carrying my books with her so people are asking, “What are you reading?” She has become my one-woman marketing team.
My friends Tammy and Andrea for being so supportive during this new path I’ve taken in life. Reading my books, offering advice and being the friends that I’ve known for my lifetime. Encouraging and loving in everything I do.
My husband for letting him ignore him when I’m really into writing something which is most of the time.
I just enjoy the power and the captivation of creativity. Where else you have so much control over life b
ut in your own imagination?
