“Oh my God, Honor,” Violet said, laughing. “She doesn’t need a surrogate.”
“No, I don’t.” Kara studied her left hand, taking courage from the ring. “Here’s the thing. The reason I came here wasn’t an ex like I told you. It’s something else. Something scarier. But that’s the story I need to tell. Because if anyone from my past finds out where I am, I will most definitely be killed.”
Violet gasped. “No, that can’t be.”
“It is,” Kara said. “And I can’t tell you the details, but I need you to know so that you understand why I can’t ever have my photograph taken or be part of Brody’s publicity stuff. I can’t go to his games or be seen with him anywhere but here in this town where everyone understands he wants his privacy.”
“What happened to you?” Violet asked.
“I had to choose between doing the right thing for a lot of wronged people or remaining complacent to evil,” Kara said. “I chose doing the right thing, even though it meant giving up the life I knew and, frankly, loved.”
“It’s witness protection, isn’t it?” Honor asked. “I knew it all along. I had a feeling.”
Kara stared at her, amazed. Honor was way too smart for her own good.
“Is it?” Violet whispered.
“I can’t answer you. Please, just leave it be,” Kara said. “But if I’m found, I will be killed.”
“Oh, Kara. Whatever it is, I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this,” Violet said. “You must’ve felt so alone.”
“Yes. Until I found all of you,” Kara said. “And now I’m not.”
Honor’s eyes snapped. Her cheeks blazed red. “Fine. We’ll take care of you. This is no problem. I’ll hire the best security people I can find. I have connections in Hollywood. There are people who know how to keep celebrities hidden. They’ll figure out how to keep you and Brody safe too.”
“Brody thought you’d say that,” Kara said. “Thank you.”
“It’s my job. No need for thanks.” Honor’s voice had grown gruff.
“Let me rephrase. Thank you for being my friend with no questions asked,” Kara said.
“You’re welcome.” Honor sipped from her glass and turned her gaze to the floor, but not before Kara saw tears glisten from her bottom lashes.
“Will you watch his games with me?” Kara said. For the first time, her voice broke. “Because I won’t ever get to go to one.”
“Heck yeah. But maybe I can figure out a way for you to go to one.” Honor crossed over to Kara and grabbed her into a hug. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll get this figured out, okay?”
“Okay,” Kara asked as she relaxed into her tiny friend’s tight embrace.
Violet hugged her next and then they all settled back into their places. Honor poured more wine into their already nearly full glasses.
It was hard to believe that mere months ago, she’d sat in the very same chair for her interview with Brody. This was the thing. Life was like football. Upsets happened, good and bad. Sometimes those upsets led you to the very thing you wished for all along.
Honor held up her glass. “Let’s toast. To Kara and Brody. Best couple ever.”
“To finding where you belong,” Violet said.
“To an upset,” Kara said.
“Upset?” Violet asked.
“Like in football,” Kara said. “Just when you think your game’s over, you score a last-minute touchdown.”
“To last minute touchdowns,” Honor said.
Kara’s new friends blurred as her eyes filled with happy tears. “To the mother of all touchdowns.”
They clinked glasses.
The end.
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Did you love Traded: Brody and Kara? Then you should read Miller's Secret by Tess Thompson!
While the rest of the world reels from World War II, Miller Dreeser remains focused on his obsession born of ambition, and sweet Caroline Bennett, whose heart is as big as her father's fortune, proves susceptible to Miller's charms. A man with a secret that could destroy anyone caught in his web. A woman whose youthful folly could destroy her family and her future. A story that spans two decades, the most defining moments of the 20th Century, and five intertwined lives from America's Greatest Generation. This suspenseful, page-turning post-war drama is a must-read for fans of historic fiction and Tess Thompson alike.
Read more at Tess Thompson’s site.
Also by Tess Thompson
Cliffside Bay Series
Traded: Brody and Kara
Deleted: Jackson and Maggie
Jaded: Zane and Honor
Marred: Kyle and Violet (Coming Soon)
The Blue Mountain Series
Blue Midnight
Blue Moon
The Legley Bay Series
Caramel and Magnolias
Tea and Primroses
The River Valley Series
Riversong
The River Valley Series
Riverbend
Riverstar
A River Valley Christmas: Tommy's Wish
Riversnow
Riverstorm
Standalone
Duet for Three Hands
Miller's Secret
The Santa Trial
Watch for more at Tess Thompson’s site.
About the Author
Tess Thompson writes small-town romances and historical fiction. Her female protagonists are strong women who face challenges with courage and dignity. Her heroes are loyal, smart and funny, even if a bit misguided at times. While her stories are character driven, she weaves suspenseful plots that keep readers turning pages long into the night.Her desire is to inspire readers on their journey toward their best life, just as her characters are on the way to theirs. In her fiction, she celebrate friendships, community, motherhood, family, and most of all how love can change the world. If you like happy endings that leave you with the glow of possibility, her books are for you.Like her characters in the River Valley Collection, Tess Thompson hails from a small town in southern Oregon, and will always feel like a small town girl, despite the fact she’s lived in Seattle for over twenty-five years. She loves music and dancing, books and bubble baths, cooking and wine, movies and snuggling. She cries at sappy commercials and thinks kissing in the rain should be done whenever possible. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her recent groom, the hero of her own love story, and their Brady Bunch clan of two sons, two daughters and five cats, all of whom keep her too busy, often confused, but always amazed. Yes, that’s four kids, three of whom are teenagers, and five cats. Pray for her.Tess loves to hear from you, so don't hesitate to reach out anytime. You can find her at: http://tesswrites.weebly.com/
Read more at Tess Thompson’s site.
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