David hadn’t. Not really. But he’d managed to keep it together until they were safe.
“You did so well,” she said.
He grimaced, wiping the tears away and let out a deep breath. “I was not leaving that place without Manuela.”
It would be best for him to talk about it. “What happened when you got into the hostel room?”
“She was terrified. She wouldn’t come near me, wouldn’t read the note you wrote, so I had to read it out to her quietly.” He shook his head. “I’m taking Spanish lessons when I get home. I’m pretty sure I murdered the language, but she seemed to understand, particularly when I showed her the photo of Teresa. She climbed out the window and I followed. Then we waited for you.”
Zita hugged him. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“It was my fault you had to come. If I hadn’t kept the damned file, if I’d listened to what my father was saying, rather than hearing what I wanted.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “When Carmen told me you’d come here on your own . . .” He shook his head. “I was terrified I wasn’t going to see you again.” He reached for her. “I was stupid. Please forgive me.”
Zita stepped away. She had to be clear, she had to explain. “I trusted you, David. I convinced my sisters to let you in, to share their stories with you. You broke not only my trust, but Beatriz and Teresa’s as well.”
“I know. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
She sighed. It wasn’t his fault. It was Bob’s. “I forgive you, but you need to apologize to Teresa and Beatriz as well.”
“Of course. As soon as I get back.” He took her hand. “Zita, I’m sorry I asked you to sit through that stupid dinner. I invited you because it was a family event, and for me that meant you had to be there.”
What was he saying — that he considered her family?
“I love you, Zita, and I wanted my family to accept you, the way yours has embraced me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “What?” She sat on the bed.
He crouched down next to her. “I love you. I’ve known since Vegas and I should have told you right away.”
The lump in her throat made it impossible to breathe.
“Say something, please, even if you don’t love me.” His beautiful eyes begged for an answer.
She loved him, but what would it be like the next time she saw Bob? Could she stand between David and his family? “What about your family?”
“What about them?”
“You love them. What if they won’t accept me?”
He smiled. “I love that you’d consider them, that you’d worry for me.” He was silent for a moment. “The only person who might be an issue is Dad, and after what he did last night . . . well, I don’t care what he thinks any more.”
Her heart hurt for him.
“I love you,” he said again. “You’re the only person I need in my life.”
Her chest felt like it would burst. “I love you,” she whispered.
“Say that again?”
“I love you,” she said it loudly and he pulled her into his arms.
She held him tightly as tears rolled down her face.
“I’m so, so sorry, Zita for this whole mess.”
“I know.” She pulled back. “Everything is going to be OK.” She kissed him.
She truly believed it would be.
***
By the time they arrived in Houston, Zita was exhausted. Her lack of sleep the night before and the adrenaline from the escape was overwhelming her.
It took a while to get through customs, as Manuela and Johanna’s documents had to be checked, but finally they were able to head home. As they pulled up at Casa Flanagan, Teresa burst out of the house and raced over to the car. Johanna and Manuela scrambled to get out and they crushed together in a hug, tears flowing.
Zita’s own eyes welled up as Carmen hurried over and pulled her into a hug. “You’re safe.” Carmen burst out crying and Zita held her.
“It’s OK, Mama. We’re all safe.”
David pulled up next to them and got out as Bridget and Carly came running out of the house and joined the hug.
“What are you doing here?” Zita asked.
“We’ve been here all day waiting for news,” Bridget said.
“Don’t you ever scare us like that again,” Carly admonished.
“Yeah. It’s supposed to be me doing the heroic things.” Bridget grinned, and then hugged her tightly.
Zita’s eyes welled up as they let go of her.
Carmen pulled David into her arms next. “Thank you for keeping my baby safe.”
“She did all the work.”
“Come inside,” Carmen said. “You must tell us everything.”
They all crowded into the living room while Zita, Johanna and Manuela explained what had happened. They spoke in Spanish, but Zita translated for David, Jack and Evan, who were also there.
“I’m most definitely going to learn Spanish,” David murmured into her ear as he drew her close.
She smiled. “I’m a pretty good teacher.”
When the story had been told, they went to freshen up. Zita closed the bathroom door behind David and pulled him into her arms. “I haven’t thanked you for helping me. Thank you for trusting me.”
“You were so amazing, Zita.” He kissed her. “Leaving you with that guy was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
She wanted to erase the sadness in his eyes. “I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, you can. But I’d like to take care of you too, if you’d let me.” He looked into her eyes. “Marry me, Zita.”
Her breath left her. “Really?”
“Really.” He smiled. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“What about your father?”
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with him,” David said with a smile.
“You know what I mean.”
“He’s not going to stop me from being with you. If he can’t accept you, then we won’t see him.” He kissed her. “It’s you I care most about. It’s you I can’t imagine my life without.”
Zita hesitated. She hated to come between anyone, even Bob. “You need to be sure, David. I don’t want you to resent me later.”
“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”
She searched his eyes and saw his determination. “Yes.” She smiled. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
She shrieked as he picked her up and whirled her around.
Her year couldn’t get any better.
Epilogue
Thursday evening, Zita arranged for her sisters, their partners and her mother to meet at Carly’s apartment. Casa Flanagan had settled into a comfortable routine with their two new additions, with Johanna helping Carmen with much of the work.
Zita had received the DNA test results back and needed to tell them about Sean. She’d chosen a place away from home so Carmen had time to process the news. Johanna was with the foster girls.
As Zita unpacked the takeout she’d bought, Carly said, “Are you going to tell us what this is all about?”
Nerves swirled in her stomach. She was most concerned about how her mother would react. She glanced over at David who nodded. Taking a step away from the table, she said, “I discovered something recently, and with all of the excitement of El Salvador, I haven’t had a chance to tell you about it.”
Carmen immediately covered her hand with hers. “Did you not get into law school?”
“I’m not sure yet. It’s something else.” She gestured to the chairs. “You should all probably sit because it’s going to come as a shock.”
“Spill it, Z. You’re freaking us out,” Bridget said as she sat down next to Jack.
“A few weeks ago I investigated Papa’s side of the family. I wanted to find out if we had any distant relatives.”
“Your father’s family is all dead,” Carmen said gently.
Zita nodded. “I know that�
�s what we thought.” She swallowed. “I was searching through social media for Flanagans in Ireland and there was a profile picture of someone who looked so much like Papa.” She showed them the photo. “I contacted him. I thought he might be a second cousin or something.”
“Madre mía.” Carmen swayed in her seat and Bridget grabbed the phone from her to look.
Zita put a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “His name is Sean, and he’s our half-brother.”
Carmen was already shaking her head. “No, no, no. Brendan would have never left his son behind.”
“He didn’t know, Mama. He left Ireland before Sean’s mother knew she was pregnant.” She told them Sean’s story.
“You believe him?” Bridget asked.
“We both did a DNA test and the results confirmed there was a good probability of us being related. We’d get a more conclusive result if we could get Mama, and Papa’s uncle tested.”
“Where does he live?” Carly asked.
“Ireland.” She let out a breath. “He’d like to meet us.”
Bridget glanced at her mother and then across to Jack. “This is so strange, but I’d like to meet him.”
Carly nodded. “Me too.”
Carmen reached for the phone and examined the photo again, tears running down her face. She brushed a finger over the photo. “He’s so much like my Brendan.”
“I know, Mama. This must be so hard for you. I’m sorry.”
She was quiet for a long moment and they all watched her. David put his arm around Zita and she leaned into him.
“Any child of Brendan’s is welcome in my house,” Carmen said finally. “I would like to meet him. We must arrange for him to come to Houston.”
Zita let out a breath of relief. “He doesn’t have any vacation time, but we can Skype with him.”
“Maybe he could come for my wedding?” Carly said.
“Yes. He should come,” Carmen agreed. “He is family.”
“Speaking of family . . .” Zita smiled at David and said, “I have one more bit of news.”
David slipped his hand into his pocket and drew out a ring. Zita gave him her left hand as the squeals started.
“We’re getting married.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A huge thank you to the people who helped me with this book: Ida from Amygdala Design for the beautiful cover, Dianne Blacklock for editing and Brooklyn Ann for proofreading. I must also thank Anne, Michelle and Carmen for helping me with my research.
Finally I really want to thank you, the reader, for reading Blaze a Trail. I really hope you enjoyed the story, and if you did, I’d love to hear about it. You could leave a review, or email me directly at [email protected].
The Flanagan Sisters was always going to be a three book series, but then Sean came along, and well, I couldn’t leave him without a story could I? Place to Belong, Book 4 in The Flanagan Sisters, will be out in January 2017.
About the Author
Claire Boston is the best-selling author of The Texan Quartet. In 2014 she was nominated for an Australian Romance Readers Award as Favorite New Romance Author.
Her debut contemporary romance novel, What Goes on Tour caught the attention of Momentum’s Joel Naoum when her first scene was read aloud at the Romance Writers’ of Australia (RWA) conference in 2013. This led to a four book contract for The Texan Quartet series.
Claire is proactive in organizing social gatherings and educational opportunities for local authors. She is an active volunteer for RWA, as a mentor for aspiring authors and the reader judge coordinator.
When Claire’s not reading or writing she can be found in the garden attempting to grow vegetables, or racing around a vintage motocross track. If she can convince anyone to play with her, she also enjoys cards and board games.
Claire lives in Western Australia, just south of Perth, with her husband, who loves even her most annoying quirks, and her two grubby but adorable Australian bulldogs.
Claire loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at her website, www.claireboston.com, on Twitter, @clairebauthor, and on Facebook www.facebook.com/clairebostonauthor.
You can also join her reader group at http://eepurl.com/Z4-4z.
Break the Rules
The Flanagan Sisters # 1
Bridget Flanagan knows how to assess risks, but are the consequences of exposing her heart too dangerous?
Bridget has a passion for safety and in the world of oil refineries that makes her great at her job. So when her big promotion goes to someone else, she heads out on the town to forget her troubles. Jack Gibbs seems like the perfect man to distract her.
At least until Monday morning when she discovers Jack is her new boss. There's no way she's going to keep seeing him, no matter the connection between them. She's been burned before.
Jack can't understand why Bridget's so against their relationship. They positively sizzled during their one night together. He knows he has to be careful now she reports to him, but she tempts him in every way.
Can Jack convince Bridget to give him a chance, or is the risk too high?
http://www.claireboston.com/books/break-the-rules/
Change of Heart
The Flanagan Sisters #2
Software billionaire Carly Flanagan has an abundance of everything except time.
With everyone wanting a piece of her, or more accurately, her money, she spends her days trying to live up to her company's motto of Community, Sharing, Support. Having always been so focused on responsibility, success and supporting those less fortunate than her, Carly’s forgotten to consider what she wants for herself in life – until she meets Evan.
Evan Hayes is an artist and free spirit, and when they meet at a local art exhibition, he is immediately intrigued by Carly. He sees through her public persona, realizing she is not the person she portrays. Evan’s the type of man who doesn’t have a lot, but is perfectly comfortable with who he is. A man who knows what he wants – and he wants Carly.
Carly is sure Evan wants something else from her. Everyone does. All Evan is asking is the chance to get to know her, but will Carly let him in? Or will a lifetime of protecting herself prove too hard to overcome?
http://www.claireboston.com/books/change-of-heart/
Place to Belong
The Flanagan Sisters # 4
Coming January 2017.
http://www.claireboston.com/books/place-to-belong
Blaze a Trail (The Flanagan Sisters, #3) Page 21
