by Cindy Kirk
“When Jan asked for my promise not to marry again until Ivy was out of high school, it took me by surprise. While I knew her mother had remarried when she was a child and that Jan and her stepfather had never gotten along, I hadn’t realized how deeply she’d been scarred. Jan loved Ivy so much. She couldn’t bear to think of her daughter one day being in that same situation.”
Lauren had known motherly love existed, but had never experienced what a driving force it could be until she’d spent time with Ivy. Her heart went out to Jan. How frightening it must have been for her, knowing she was going to die and leave her precious child behind. “She wanted Ivy to always feel special and loved.”
Seth nodded. “I know Jan trusted me to take care of Ivy. She’s always trusted me.” His fingers tightened around Lauren’s hand. “That’s why the more I thought about it, the more I realized I’d been so focused on the promise itself I hadn’t considered the intent of the vow.”
Lauren was now thoroughly confused. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Jan wanted me to be happy. She wanted Ivy to be happy. From that hospital bed, it must have seemed the only way to ensure our happiness was for me to remain single. But she couldn’t have known about you. She couldn’t have known that there was someone out there who’d one day walk into our lives and bring such joy and happiness to both of us.”
He jerked to his feet, strode to the mantel, then turned. “If she had, I know from the deepest part of my being, she wouldn’t want that promise to keep you from us. The only thing she ever wanted was for Ivy and me to be happy. We’ve found that happiness with you. We both love you, Lauren.”
The tears that had begun filling Lauren’s eyes slipped down her cheeks. She brushed them away with the backs of her hands. While she was afraid to hope for too much, her heart gave an excited leap. “Where do we go from here?”
“That depends.” He resumed his seat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Once you finish your PhD you could go anywhere in the country. Heck, you already have a job—”
“I turned it down.”
“What?”
“It was a career-building opportunity, but that’s not what I want.” Her voice trembled, then broke. She cleared her throat. “Tenure with an Ivy League college was my father’s dream, not mine.”
His eyes searched hers. “What is your dream, Lauren? If you could live anywhere in the world, do anything you wanted, what would you choose?”
He’d asked her that question before, back when she’d encouraged him to pursue his dream of being a vet. At that time she hadn’t known what course she wanted her life to take. This time there was no doubt.
“I want to live in Sweet River, have a small counseling practice, perhaps teach some online courses. I want to be close to my friends.” Lauren paused, praying she wasn’t misreading his signals. She wanted a life with this man and with the little girl she loved as if she were her own. She took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “Most of all, I want to be with you. You and Ivy are what I want. I love you both very, very much.”
A smile bright enough to light the state of Montana flashed across his face. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Slipping from the sofa, Seth dropped to one knee and once again took her hand. “Lauren Van Meveren, will you marry me? Will you be my wife and Ivy’s mother?”
Lauren’s heart pounded so hard she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. If she was dreaming, she never wanted to wake up.
“Yes,” she said, then again more loudly in case he hadn’t heard, “Yes. I’d be honored to be your wife... and Ivy’s mother.”
Before she could take a breath, Seth was on his feet, wrapping his arms round her, holding her as if he’d never let her go. As his lips closed over hers, Lauren realized with a sense of wonder that just like Stacie and Anna, she’d found her true bliss...in the town of Sweet River, in the arms of the cowboy she loved.
Epilogue
One month later
The last quilting class of the evening might have concluded an hour ago, but Sew-fisticated still buzzed with activity. Stacie had supplied the appetizers and Miranda had uncorked a bottle of champagne left over from the holidays to complete the impromptu post-Valentine’s Day party.
“Let me look at that ring, Mrs. Anderssen,” Miranda said.
Lauren held up her left hand. The large emerald-cut diamond with the filigreed roses on the band sent flashes of light scattering. Seth had inherited the ring with the antique setting from his great-grandmother, shortly after Jan passed on. He’d offered to let her pick out a new one, a more modern one, but this ring had seen a lifetime of love and suited her just fine.
Two weeks after Seth had proposed they’d been married by Pastor Barbee in a small ceremony attended by family and friends. Adam and Kim had arrived together, looking very much a “couple.” Lauren’s parents had managed to fit the wedding into their busy schedules and had even gotten along for the brief time they’d been together. It had been a little tense at first, but when Edmund had started in about Lauren “ruining her life,” Seth had made it clear he wasn’t going to allow anything to mar Lauren’s wedding day, and her father had shut up.
When Seth and Lauren had announced they’d be accepting Anna and Mitch’s invitation to join them on their delayed honeymoon in the Caribbean in March— after Lauren defended her dissertation—Stacie and Josh had decided to go along, too. Ivy kept asking when they were leaving. She and Bailey were staying with Miranda, and the little girl couldn’t wait to play hide-and-seek in Grandma Borghild’s big house on Main Street.
There’d been other changes, as well. Seth had contacted Central Montana State, and next fall he’d be resuming his veterinary studies. Though that meant the next year and a half would be extra busy, they both agreed the result would be worth it.
“That is such a gorgeous ring,” Miranda gushed.
“Yours is beautiful, too.” Lauren smiled. Alex Darst had proposed to Miranda on the same day she and Seth had gotten married. Their wedding was scheduled for the end of the month—just in time for the couple to close on Grandma Borghild’s house.
“Loretta Barbee is taking credit for both weddings.” Stacie’s lips lifted in a wry smile.
“Don’t let Ivy hear you say that.” Anna lowered her voice, probably because the child was in the next room with her buddy Brandon, cutting out quilting squares. “She’s convinced she brought her dad and Lauren together. Word is she made a wish in the penny pond the same day Seth proposed to you.”
“As far as I’m concerned, they can both take credit.” Lauren smiled and glanced toward the back room. “Remember the quilt Jan had started for Ivy? Well, I talked to Seth and he thinks it’s a great idea for Ivy and me to finish it together.”
“I’m so happy he approved.” Anna’s gaze met hers. “Don’t worry if you’ve never quilted before. Stacie and Miranda and I will help you.”
“That’s right. Everyone working together is the Sweet River way,” Stacie agreed. “Coming here was the smartest move the three of us could have made.”
“You won’t hear any argument from me,” Lauren said.
“Did you ever think when you developed your survey that we’d all end up finding our perfect matches?” Stacie asked. “Your research project led me straight to Josh.”
“And me back to Mitch.” Anna gave a happy sigh.
“We each found our perfect match.” Miranda lifted a glass of champagne. “Thanks to your dissertation research.”
Anna cast a pointed glance at Lauren. “Don’t forget, you found Seth.”
“Well, I found him,” Lauren agreed. “But I’m not sure we matched...on paper, that is. Regardless of what the results may have shown, my husband is definitely the man for me.”
“I’m confused. You both completed surveys.” Stacie cocked her head. “Don’t you know if you matched?”
“Anna correlated the numbers,” Lauren admitted. “I threw out the results without looking at
them.”
“Were they in a manila envelope?” Anna asked.
Lauren nodded.
“Mitch brought the packet home,” Anna said. “You’d put my name on the front when you’d originally given it to me. Seth found it in the trash and returned it to Mitch, thinking it was mine.”
Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. “You have the packet?”
Anna nodded. “It’s in the back room. I’ve been meaning to give it to you, but we were so busy with your wedding that I forgot I’m sorry.”
“It’s not important.” Lauren waved the champagne flute. “I have the man I love. That’s all that matters.”
“You may not be curious, but I sure am.” Anna popped out of her chair and disappeared into the back room, returning moments later with the envelope.
She handed it to Lauren just as the shop door jingled and Seth walked in.
Love welled up inside Lauren, the way it always did at the sight of the handsome rancher. A soft smile curled her lips. It was still hard to believe he was hers.
He crossed the room quickly and planted a lingering kiss on her lips. “Ready to go? I’d like to get home.”
Her heart fluttered at the seductive expression in his eyes. She knew exactly what he had planned once Ivy was in bed. It was the same thing she had in mind. Married life had turned out even better than she’d imagined, both in and out of the bedroom. Seth had been right. Love and sexual intimacy were a potent combination.
“Open the packet before you leave,” Anna urged.
Seth cocked an eyebrow. “Packet?”
“She’ll explain later,” Anna said.
“This is so exciting.” Stacie leaned forward, resting her arms on the table.
Lauren glanced at their expectant gazes. It appeared she had no choice. She unfastened the top of the envelope and pulled out the sheet, telling herself it didn’t matter what the survey results showed. Seth was the love of her life. No piece of paper was going to convince her otherwise.
Still, she held her breath as she searched the form, recognizing his number...right next to hers. She lifted her eyes. “We’re a perfect match.”
One corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. “You can say that again.”
A wave of love washed over her, nearly drowning her in its wake.
“Daddy, Daddy.” Ivy came running out of the back room with Molly in her arms. The doll had been Lauren’s wedding present to her new daughter. Ivy glanced around the room at all the women staring at Lauren with big smiles on their faces. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Anna assured the child. “Lauren’s survey confirmed she and your daddy were meant to be best friends.”
Ivy turned to Lauren, confusion blanketing her face. “I thought you and me were bestest friends.”
Seth turned to his daughter and winked. “That’s the great thing about friends. You can never have too many.”
The child thought for a moment, then nodded. “Just like presents. You can never have too many presents.”
Anna laughed and waved her hand. “I’ll second that.”
“Let me see her, Ivy.” Stacie held out her hands. “I don’t think Miss Molly and I have been introduced.”
As the child proudly showed off her gift, Seth turned to Lauren and spoke in a low voice. “You didn’t have to give the doll to her. It was your gift.”
“I wanted her to have it.” Lauren wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart overflowing with love. She put her lips to his ear. “Besides, I have you. And, cowboy, you’re the bestest Christmas present ever.”
From Cindy Kirk
I’m so happy you got to enjoy For the Love of Ivy. After publishing over sixty-five books I’ve discovered something about myself. I love books with children, especially little girls. Probably because I have one of my own. I love to reread my own stories and when I read through this one, I smiled at the end, thinking of the wonderful life Lauren would have in Sweet River.
If you love heartwarming holiday romance (as far as I’m concerned a Christmas book is wonderful any time of year, It Started with Joy is a book I know you’ll LOVE. Trust me, it’s one of those stories that will keep you reading WAY too late at night.
Dive into this uplifting story, It Started With Joy, now (or continue reading for a sneak peek).
Sneak Peek of It Started with Joy
One of Derek Rossi’s earliest memories was throwing a Wiffle ball to his dad. Since that day he’d pitched in more baseball games in his thirty-two years than he could count. Surprisingly, he’d never been hit. Until today.
He didn’t even see the ball which dropped him to his knees. One minute he was talking with the coordinator of the Pitching and Catching Workshop, watching the boys and girls leave the Jackson Hole Indoor Sports Facility. The next, his head was pounding like a son of a gun. Derek blinked, trying to clear his suddenly blurred vision.
As if by magic a blond-haired blue-eyed angel appeared and knelt before him, her brows furrowed in concern. She smelled like vanilla and the bright lights in the gym gave her an ethereal glow. It didn’t seem right to be on his knees before such a creature. He tried to stand, but she grabbed his arm and held on tight.
“Sit down.” The warmth of her touch jolted him back to reality and told him this was no apparition. “I need to make sure you’re okay before you start moving around.”
The beating of the bass drum in his head nearly drowned out her words. Derek struggled to focus. “Are you a doctor?”
“Emergency room nurse.” She held up her left hand. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
He squinted and the hand came into focus. “Two.”
Her gaze met his and for a second he found himself floating, drowning in the azure depths… Until he became conscious of the noise—and the people—moving closer, encircling him, suffocating him.
The woman must have sensed his sudden distress because her voice rang out above the conversational din. “Everyone, back up.”
“Come on, folks, move along,” a man’s voice echoed. “He’ll be fine.”
The crowd dispersed and Derek’s panic subsided. Chatter turned to a distant hum. Ron Evans, one of the event’s coordinators, stepped in Derek’s field of vision. But the older man’s focus was on the nurse. “Should we call an ambulance?”
“No ambulance,” Derek answered for her. The last thing he needed was more publicity. Besides, he felt okay. Or he would if his head would quit pounding.
“I don’t believe an ambulance is necessary, Ron. But an ice pack and Tylenol would be helpful.” The nurse’s lips lifted in a rueful smile. “I’m afraid I locked up the first-aid kit a little too quickly.”
“Coming right up,” Ron said, hurrying off.
Even as she reached into her purse and pulled out a penlight, the nurse’s attention didn’t waver from Derek’s face.
A light flashed in his left eye. He jerked back.
“Hold steady,” she said in a voice that was soothing yet brooked no argument.
He did as she asked and the light flashed again.
“Your pupils react well to the light,” she said in a professional tone he found reassuring. “How’s your vision?”
“Fuzzy but getting better.” He rubbed a spot above his left temple. “My head sure hurts.”
“Ron should be back any second.” Even though the nurse’s expression remained composed, her gaze lingered on his head, on the knot that he could feel growing larger by the second. “Can you tell me who you are?”
He may have only been in Jackson Hole a short time, but there’d been lots of buzz about the baseball workshop he was holding this first weekend in December.
“I’m Derek Rossi,” he said, surprised she hadn’t recognized him.
As if she’d read his mind, her lips quirked upward. “I know who you are. I just needed to make sure you did.”
He wondered if she knew how lovely she looked when she smiled. Then he scoffed at the thought. Of course she did. She w
as a beautiful woman. They always knew stuff like that. Although she was married—he’d seen the diamond on her left hand—he found himself curious about his angel of mercy. “And who are you?”
“My name is Rachel Milligan.” She brushed a wayward strand of blond hair back from her face with a slender hand. “I’m an emergency room nurse at Jackson Hole Memorial. I was in charge of the first-aid station today. I’m afraid my little girl is the one who beaned you.”
“I didn’t mean to do it.”
The small voice came from his left. Ignoring the pain, Derek slowly turned his head in that direction. Rachel’s daughter stood off to the side, anxiously shifting from one foot to the other.
Rachel gave the girl a reassuring smile. “This is Joy.”
“I’m really sorry, Mr. Rossi,” the child said, drawing closer.
Derek guessed the girl to be seven, maybe eight. She was thin but not undernourished. Her face was covered in freckles and her eyes, instead of being blue like her mother’s, were a vivid green, framed by thick brown lashes. What Derek noticed most was her hair. It hung in long corkscrew curls halfway down her back. It was a tan color, not blond but not really brown either. She was cute, rather than pretty. He decided she must take after her father.
“I noticed a ball on the floor and I threw it to you.” By now the child had tears in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to hit you.”
Before Derek could respond, the event coordinator returned juggling a cup of water and Tylenol in one hand and an ice pack in the other.
“Thanks, Ron.” Derek swallowed the pills and pressed the ice bag gingerly against the side of his head.
Once that was done, he reflected on what the child had said, wondering if he’d heard correctly. The ball that had hit him had packed a wallop. Had it really been thrown by a girl?
