Even Mason was beginning to get a little exasperated with Cam now. “She’ll know.” They carefully placed the flowers on the grass. Mason made sure his were touching Nana’s stone.
“Is there something you wanted to tell Nana?” their dad prompted.
Mason could practically see the light bulb go off over his brother’s head, like they show in the cartoons.
“Oh! Nana! We’re getting a sister!” Cam blurted out. “We’re going to have Jackie and a sister!”
Mason listened for his grandmother’s response. But the air was silent. How could she not be here? I told her we were coming. Maybe she forgot?
“But we haven’t picked out a name yet!”
Cam was on a roll now. Once you got him started, he could be a real motormouth. Besides, Mason knew his parents were already discussing names. Sometimes when he got out of bed to use the bathroom, he could hear them downstairs in the kitchen, talking. And sometimes he would stand at the top of the stairs for a few minutes, listening.
That’s how he knew their mom had almost died in the accident. And that dad had totally flipped out at the scene, which you’re not supposed to do when you’re a firefighter. (Uncle Mattie confirmed the dad freakout.)
“Hey guys, we should hit the road so we get ahead of the beach traffic coming from the city.”
His parents and Cam turned to leave. Mason kept staring at Nana’s name on the stone. Why wasn’t she here?
“Bud? You ready to go? The beach awaits,” his dad said.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
His dad gave him a weird look and for a second, Mason thought he wasn’t going to leave. Then he did.
Nana? Are you here?
I’m always here, sweetie.
Oh. Did you hear though? We’re getting a sister.
I heard. That’s wonderful.
I’ll look out for her.
I know you will.
Will you look out for her, too? Even though you never met her?
There was a long silence and, for a moment, he thought she was gone.
I’ll look out for her, too.
Are you ever going away?
No. Not yet. Why do you ask?
Because I think Paps is still sad. He pretends he isn’t but I think he is.
Yes, he is. I’ll watch out for him. Now you go catch up to your brother and have fun at the beach.
We will, Nana. He waited a moment, to see if she’d say anything else. But it seemed that she was really, truly gone this time—probably off to take care of Paps.
“Ma-a-a-son!”
He turned to see his younger brother waving his long arms at him. He wouldn’t tell Cam about Nana. Just like he had promised not to tell Cam yet about Santa. Uncle Mattie had made him pinky swear. Said it was part of the firefighter code of honor.
Yeah right.
He already knew that Paps had to tell Uncle Mattie the truth about Santa when Uncle Mattie was almost ten. That’s seriously late, dude! And Paps was the best firefighter he knew. Probably the best anyone knew.
Definitely the best.
He flashed his nana a discreet thumbs up and broke into a jog to catch up with his family.
Thanks for reading THIS REMINDS ME OF US!
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Stay tuned for Book 5 in the St. Caroline Series—Once in a Lifetime (hint: it’s Ashley’s story).
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In the meantime, if you’d like to get a free holiday Bonus Scene starring Jack and Becca from Hearts on Fire, CLICK HERE.
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Please check out my other books …
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If you’ve ever fantasized about running off to Paris with a sexy Frenchman, THE SENATOR’S WIFE is the story for you! (Warning: it may melt your e-reader.)
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CLICK HERE TO READ
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Or if you’re of the mind that the wealthy CEOs in a romance novel should occasionally be the women, my PHLOX BEAUTY SERIES is a must-read. (Bonus points if you also like Beauty and the Beast and damaged heroes.)
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CLICK HERE TO READ
About the Author
Julia Gabriel writes contemporary romance that is smart, sexy, and emotionally-intense (grab the tissues). Her books have been selected as “Top Picks” by RT Book Reviews, and critics at RT Book Reviews, Kirkus, and others have called her work “nuanced,” “heart-wrenching and emotional,” “well-crafted contemporary romance,” and “deeply moving storytelling.”
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She lives in New England where she is a full-time mom to a teenager, as well as a sometime writing professor and obsessive quilter (is there any other kind?). If all goes well, she’ll be a Parisienne in her next life.
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Copyright © 2019 by Julia Gabriel
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Also by Julia Gabriel
St. Caroline Series
Summer Again
Hearts on Fire
Two of Hearts
This Reminds Me of Us
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Phlox Beauty Series
Next to You
Back to Us
Pink Diamonds: A Bonus Scene
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The Senator’s Wife
This Reminds Me of Us Page 28
