My Mail Order Wife (The Value of a Man Book 1)

by Olivia Gaines

  Over the next fifteen minutes, he explained that he never wanted the congressional seat; it was something his father wanted for him. “I have spent my life doing everything my father wanted me to do with the exception of marrying you. You are the best decision I have made regarding my life in a very long time.” He paused as he held on to her hands. “My father worked all the time. He did take time out to take us individually to dinner on our birthdays. That was as much one-on-one we got with him when we were growing up. I will not do that to our children. I think my mother got even less of his time.”

  Thurston explained the long hours on the road. He spoke about the constant fund raising. The negative ads and the mess on Capitol Hill. He grimaced at the thought of people picking apart their lives. “I don’t want that for us,” he said flatly.

  “I have made a lot of decisions that were for someone else’s benefit. I am making this decision for us. I am withdrawing because I love you enough to not subject you to being married to a man you will barely see. I care enough to not run so that Douglas can have a father who is home every night by 6:30 to pass out hugs and share stories about his day. TaeTay, I love you enough to want to be a better man,” he said with eyes full of emotion. “I don’t want to be that guy you met in LA. You saved me that night and you have saved me again. I want to be the man that is worthy of the love you are giving me.” His voice was full of emotion and cracked as he said the last part.

  TaeTay took him into her arms, “I respect your choice to withdraw. I also have a lot more love to give you.” She waggled her eyebrows at him, which brought a smile to his face.

  “I think I can make a real difference in my community,” he told her.

  “I know you can. You are a good man, Thurston Cromwell, and a man I love and respect. I will be by your side supporting you in whatever you decide to do,” she told him.

  “I can’t ask any more than that, TaeTay.”

  Thurston felt like the man he was- a new man. The woman whom so many had overlooked and judged based on her name and appearance was, more than likely, a better person than so numerous others combined. His grandfather had taught him to never stop believing that one man could make a difference. His grandpa would have loved his wife. She made a difference in every life she touched, especially his.

  “So are you planning something special this afternoon?” She asked out of curiosity.

  He sat on the couch holding his mail order wife and reassessing his own value. He understood that sometimes a man could not understand his true value, until he understood it through the eyes of a woman. In her eyes, he was significant.

  “Yes, I was thinking of maybe taking to you two for a late lunch, then maybe tour the Brooklyn Museum and possibly head up to my parents for the weekend. I would like to show you where I grew up,” he told her as he rubbed her shoulder with his thumb.

  “I would really like that Thurston,” she said as she snuggled closer, enjoying the intimacy with her husband as she waited for their son to wake up.

  -Fin-

  Also by Olivia Gaines.

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  Many of these books are also available on Kobo, Nook and iBooks.

  Tony Peay sat on that barstool wondering what in the world he was doing in a hotel bar on a Friday night. Jennifer walked in the bar, answered his question and ended his lonely days and nights as a single father.

  Now Available On Amazon