Gilly rolled her eyes as she dashed away for a bottle of red and a bottle of white. “If we don’t give this poor girl something for her nerves, she’s going to topple over. It’s a lot to take in.” Everyone quieted a bit and stared at Aria, scrutinizing her face to see if it were true that she was on the verge of passing out.
“I’m fine,” she assured them. “I’m better than fine. This is more than I ever expected.”
“You’ll have to forgive us,” Gail said, the tears appearing again. “We’ve been preparing for this moment for over twenty years.”
“Is no one going to ask the obvious?” her great aunt called out, breaking the momentary silence. “Where is your mother? What does she have to say for herself? She has to pay for what she did to your father and this family.”
“Aunty,” Natalie scolded but only half-heartedly. In a way, she too wanted to know the answer.
“I haven’t seen her in years,” Aria explained. “I don’t know exactly where she is, but I’ll cooperate with the police any way I can. I know how deeply she hurt me and everyone in this room. But—”
“She’s still your mother.” Gail sighed, giving her a knowing look. “Your father only wanted you back. Not to hurt your mother, even though it would have been completely justified for him to want that. He left some information in his last will and testament. It won’t absolve your mother of the charges she might face if she’s found one day, but his words would certainly resonate with any judge who would have to determine her fate.”
Aria felt a warmth spread across her chest. “He sounds like a truly incredible man.” The words were meant to be uplifting, but it only seemed to highlight the emptiness he left behind.
Gail came and sat by her. “He got to hold you and love you for three years. Somehow he turned that connection with you into enough love to sustain him when you were apart. He gave you the gift of a brother and sister. He left you this entire family to take his place and show you the love he always wished he could have shown you. You don’t remember him. But know this, he remembered every little thing about you. And he loved you so much; I know there are little pieces of him sprinkled all through your personality. We’ll be here to point it all out to you. Now open those presents and drink your wine.”
“Yes ma’am,” Aria said, pulling at the wrapping paper of the first present. The year on it meant she’d have been four years old that Christmas. She didn’t know how she and her mom had spent it, but most likely they were alone. From the package, she pulled out a stuffed elephant with the softest plush fur. Holding it to her chest she pictured her father picking it off the shelf and wrapping it up just for her. For the hope that maybe she’d be back to open it.
Monroe put a hand on her shoulder and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Do you need anything?”
“If it weren’t for you,” she said, looking over at him earnestly, “I’d still be on that resort telling myself I didn’t deserve any of this. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“The truth is you could have,” Monroe countered. “You are one of the bravest, most capable people I have ever met. You would have done this without me. But I’m so glad you didn’t. This is incredible. You are incredible.”
“Marry me,” she said, a lightning bolt of shock blazing through her chest. She had not given this any thought, but at that moment it felt completely right. The room around them fell silent. “I’m sorry,” she stuttered. “That came out of left field. I’m probably not thinking straight because I’m so excited. As much as I’d love to marry you, it’s not fair for me to spring it on you like this.”
He leaned in and kissed her. She was quite certain it was to shut her up, but as their lips parted, he presented her with a small velvet box. “I was waiting for the right moment.” He grinned, as he dropped down to one knee. “I should have known you’d beat me to it.”
“You were going to propose?” Aria asked, watching him slide the diamond onto her ring finger. “I’m not a crazy person who blurted out that we should get married?”
“You are crazy,” Monroe corrected. “You just happen to be in good company.”
Everyone began to clap and whoop their excitement. “Could this day get any better?” Gail asked, practically jumping over Aria to throw her arms around Monroe.
“It really couldn’t,” Aria said, as she looked down at the glistening diamond on her hand. “I have a family.”
“Life starts today,” Monroe said, lacing his fingers with hers. “Life starts right this second.”
The End
Continue Reading Book 6, Stormy Attraction
Books in the Barrington Billionaire Synchronized World
By Danielle Stewart:
Fierce Love
Wild Eyes
Crazy Nights
Loyal Hearts
Untamed Devotion
Stormy Attraction
Foolish Temptations
Surprising Destiny
Perfect Homecoming
You can now download all the Barrington Billionaire books by Danielle Stewart in a “Sweet” version. Enjoy the clean and wholesome version, same story without the spice. If you prefer the hotter version be sure to download the original.
The Sweet version still contains adult situations and relationships.
Fierce Love - Sweet Version
Wild Eyes - Sweet Version
Crazy Nights - Sweet Version
Loyal Hearts - Sweet Version
Untamed Devotion - Sweet Version
Stormy Attraction - Sweet Version
Foolish Temptations - Sweet Version - Coming Soon
Also by Danielle Stewart
Missing Pieces Series:
Book 1: The Bend in Redwood Road
Book 2: The Pier at Jasmine Lake
Book 3: The Bridge in Sunset Park
Book 4: The Stairs to Chapel Creek
Piper Anderson Series:
Book 1: Chasing Justice
Book 2: Cutting Ties
Book 3: Changing Fate
Book 4: Finding Freedom
Book 5: Settling Scores
Book 6: Battling Destiny
Book 7: Unearthing Truth
Book 8: Defending Innocence
Book 9: Saving Love(includes excerpts from Betty’s Journal)
Edenville Series – A Piper Anderson Spin Off:
Book 1: Flowers in the Snow
Book 2: Kiss in the Wind
Book 3: Stars in a Bottle
Book 4: Fire in the Heart
Book 1: Three Seconds To Rush
Book 2: Just for a Heartbeat
Book 3: Not Just an Echo
The Clover Series:
Hearts of Clover - Novella & Book 2: (Half My Heart & Change My Heart)
Book 3: All My Heart
Over the Edge Series:
Book 1: Facing Home
Book 2: Crashing Down
Midnight Magic Series:
Amelia
Rough Waters Series:
Book 1: The Goodbye Storm
Book 2: The Runaway Storm
Book 3: The Rising Storm
Stand Alones:
Yours for the Taking
Love in a Paper Garden
********************************************************
Multi-Author Series including books by Danielle Stewart
All are stand alone reads and can be enjoyed in any order.
Indigo Bay Series:
A multi-author sweet romance series
Sweet Dreams - Stacy Claflin
Sweet Matchmaker - Jean Oram
Sweet Sunrise - Kay Correll
Sweet Illusions - Jeanette Lewis
Sweet Regrets - Jennifer Peel
Sweet Rendezvous - Danielle Stewart
Short Holiday Stories in Indigo Bay:
A multi-author sweet romance series
Sweet Holiday Surprise - Jean Oram
Sweet Holiday Memories - Kay Correll
Sweet Holiday Traditions - Danielle Stewart
Foreign Editions
The following books are currently available in foreign translations
German Translation:
Fierce Love
Ungezügelte Leidenschaft
Wild Eyes
Glühend heiße Blicke
Crazy Nights
Nächte, wild und unvergessen
Loyal Hearts
Herzen, treu und ehrlich: Die Welt der Barrington-Milliardäre
***
French Translation:
Flowers in the Snow
Fleurs Des Neiges
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Author Contact Information
Website: AuthorDanielleStewart.com
Email: AuthorDanielleStewart@Gmail.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/danielle-stewart
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Stewart/e/B00CCOYB3O
Twitter: @DStewartAuthor