His arms tightened around her. “Oh, darling, I’ve loved you since I saw you running across the playground in the first grade. Then, when we had the fifties dance in Junior High and you swayed by yourself to Suspicious Minds, my heart was yours.” He pulled a small ring from his pocket. “I bought this ten years ago and was going to give it to you—a promise—to love your forever. I kept the promise, but never had the chance to give you the ring. Will you wear this until I get an engagement ring?”
“Oh, Cade. I’ll wear it always.” She grinned. “In addition to the engagement ring.”
He chuckled as he lowered his head and kissed her.
Epilogue
Six months later
“You look beautiful.” Lynette smiled from the doorway, gorgeous herself in a shimmering navy blue dress.
“Thank you.” Susan smiled at her reflection in the church mirror. “I’ve waited a long time for this day.”
They should have waited longer since February decided to show them just how cold she could be, but Susan insisted the weather didn’t matter. Now, lazy snowflakes drifted in a late season snowfall.
“I can’t believe you have Ted wearing his Elvis costume to give you away,” Lynette said, laughing. “I thought he swore never to wear it again.”
Officer Davis, now a good friend after dating Lynette for months, had agreed to add a little humor to the wedding by dressing as Elvis. “It’s a surprise for Cade.”
“He’ll be surprised alright.” Lynette opened the door to the room assigned as the bride’s dressing room. “It’s time.”
Susan stepped out and slipped her arms through a very handsome Elvis. “You sure look happy,” she told him.
“I get to dance with my sweetie later,” he said, winking at Lynette. “Why wouldn’t I be? But, I won’t be wearing this getup.”
Susan chuckled. “Take me to my love, Elvis.”
Lynette threw open the double doors to the church and took her position in front of Susan. When the music started, she glided toward the front.
Then, the opening notes to the wedding march sounded and Susan took the next step toward Cade, then the next and the next, until she stood in front of him, grinning.
“Elvis? Really?” He raised an eyebrow over twinkling eyes.
“I thought you’d appreciate the gesture.”
“You, my dear, are full of surprises.”
“Always.”
As one they turned to face the pastor. As he read the verses of love, Susan thought again of how horrible she’d been when Cade first tried to explain his reasons for leaving her. But, as promised, God worked everything to the good.
She glanced up at him, her vision blurred by tears. She’d never doubt Cade again. He’d proven over and over that he was a man of honesty and integrity.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Cade lifted the veil from Susan’s face, then lowered his head. “My wife.” He pressed his lips to hers as the Love Me Tender played through the church speakers.
~
“I have a proposition for you,” Cade told Susan the morning after they returned from their honeymoon in Hawaii. “Do you feel like heading into town so I can show you my idea? It’s something that will benefit us both, I think.”
She peered over the rim of her coffee cup with those blue eyes that would never cease to cause him to get lost in their depths. “Of course.”
“Then, get dressed and let’s go.” He rubbed his hands together, anxious to show her his plan for the future, and hoping she’d be on board with the idea.
Thirty minutes later, they stood in front of Turn A Page. Susan glanced up at him. “What’s up? I’m not due to start working again until tomorrow.”
He took her hands in his. “I was thinking…” Why was this so difficult? “Now that you’re living with me, how would you feel about closing—”
She pulled back. “How can you even suggest I close my business? Cade, you of all people know how much this means to me.”
“No, wait. Let me finish.” He put a finger over her lips. “I’m suggesting you only close for a time. I’ll close Books and More, we’ll expand your shop to include the upstairs, and purchase the empty building next door. We can keep the cozy feel of Turn A Page, but incorporate a café, a music section, and a cozy bookstore.”
Her eyes lit up as he talked. “Combine our businesses.” She nodded. “Cade, this is what we dreamed of before you left.” She slipped her hand in his and turned to face her shop. “I love the idea.”
“It fits us, don’t you think?” Cade asked. “We’re turning a page from our past to our future. I’d much rather expand the hominess of your shop than keep my store open. I’ll think of something else to turn the building into and keep my employees employed.” He couldn’t turn them out after all.
“Why don’t we focus on books with Turn A Page, and you focus on music?” Susan smiled. “You could sell records, sheet music, musical instruments, and offer lessons.”
He chuckled. “You are a genius.”
“Then kiss me and make me a happy genius.”
He pulled her into his arms, not caring who saw them, and planted a kiss on the lips of his wife.
The End
Website at www.cynthiahickey.com
Also www.forgetmenotromances.com
Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey had three cozy mysteries and two novellas published through Barbour Publishing. Her first mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, won first place in the inspirational category of the Great Expectations contest in 2007. Her third cozy, Chocolate-Covered Crime, received a four-star review from Romantic Times. All three cozies have been re-released as ebooks through the MacGregor Literary Agency, along with a new cozy series, all of which stay in the top 50 of Amazon’s ebooks for their genre. She had several historical romances release through Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents, and has sold close to a million copies of her works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. You can find her on FB, twitter, and Goodreads, and is a contributor to Cozy Mystery Magazine blog and Suspense Sisters blog. She and her husband run the small press, Forget Me Not Romances, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs, two cats, three box turtles, and two Sulcata tortoises. She has eight grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”.
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Enjoy other books by Cynthia Hickey
Shady Acres Mysteries
Beware the Orchids, book 1
Path to Nowhere
Poison Foliage
Poinsettia Madness
Deadly Greenhouse Gases
Vine Entrapment
CLEAN BUT GRITTY
Highland Springs
Murder Live
Say Bye to Mommy
Colors of Evil Series
Shades of Crimson
Coral Shadows
The Pretty Must Die Series
Ripped in Red, book 1
Pierced in Pink, book 2
Wounded in White, book 3
Worthy, The Complete Story
Lisa Paxton Mystery Series
Eenie Meenie Miny Mo
Jack Be Nimble
Hickory Dickory Dock
One Hour (A short story thriller)
INSPIRATIONAL
(scroll down to see clean books without inspirational message)
Whisper Sweet Nothings (a short romance)
Nosy Neighbor Series
Anything For A Mystery, Book 1
A Killer Plot, Book 2
Skin Care Can Be Murder, Book 3
Death By Baking, Book 4
Jogging Is Bad For Your Health, Book 5
Poison Bubbles, Book 6
A Good Party Can Kill You, Book 7 (Final)
Nosy Neighbor collection
Christmas with Stormi Nelson
The Summer Meadows Series
Fudge-Laced Felonies, Book 1
Candy-Coated Secrets, Book 2
Chocolate-Covered Crime, Book 3
Maui Macadamia Madness, Book 4
All four novels in one collection
The River Valley Mystery Series
Deadly Neighbors, Book 1
Advance Notice, Book 2
The Librarian’s Last Chapter, Book 3
All three novels in one collection
Historical cozy
Hazel’s Quest
Historical Romances
Runaway Sue
Taming the Sheriff
Sweet Apple Blossom
Finding Love the Harvey Girl Way
Cooking With Love
Guiding With Love
Serving With Love
Warring With Love
All 4 in 1
A Wild Horse Pass Novel
They Call Her Mrs. Sheriff, book 1 (A Western Romance)
Finding Love in Disaster
The Rancher’s Dilemma
The Teacher’s Rescue
The Soldier’s Redemption
Woman of courage Series
A Love For Delicious
Ruth’s Redemption
Charity’s Gold Rush
Mountain Redemption
Woman of Courage series (all four books)
Short Story Westerns
Desert Rose
Desert Lilly
Desert Daisy
Flowers of the Desert 4 in 1
Romantic Suspense
Overcoming Evil series
Mistaken Assassin
Captured Innocence
Mountain of Fear
Exposure at Sea
A Secret to Die for
Collision Course
Romantic Suspense of 5 books in 1
The Game
Suspicious Minds
Contemporary
Romance in Paradise
Maui Magic
Sunset Kisses
Deep Sea Love
3 in 1
Finding a Way Home
Service of Love
Christmas
Handcarved Christmas
The Payback Bride
Curtain Calls and Christmas Wishes
Christmas Gold
A Christmas Stamp
The Red Hat’s Club (Contemporary novellas)
Finally
Suddenly
Surprisingly
The Red Hat’s Club 3 – in 1
Short Story
One Hour (A short story thriller)
Whisper Sweet Nothings (a Valentine short romance)