The man who was the rock of their family.
The man who now had a family of his own to care for?
Even now, Parker wasn’t supposed to know what he was doing. He leaned forward and lifted his tumbler full of some of Hawksley’s whiskey. He gripped the thick cut-glass tightly in his hand so that Parker couldn’t see it shake, but he couldn’t hide the whitening of his knuckles. It was odd how disembodied he felt and how he was existing without even truly living. He felt as if he was surviving in someone else’s body.
“Bloody hell, Peyton.” Parker squeezed the bridge of his nose, attempting to ease his frustration.
Peyton saw the frustration in his brother’s eyes and inwardly cringed. He knew it didn’t make any sense. He closed his eyes and breathed out, his shoulders sagging under the burden of his emotions.
Both men turned when the study door opened and Rockwell and Hawksley stepped into the room, both hesitating when they saw the looks on the brothers’ faces.
Hawksley spoke first. “It’s time.”
Parker pushed up from the chair and stared down at his brother. “I won’t push you further today.”
Relief flared in Peyton’s eyes at the comment. “It’s a day of celebration, Brother.” It was too important of a day for Parker, to reveal the darkness that lurked in his soul.
“This isn’t over.” Parker held out his hand and helped his brother to stand. “You don’t have to carry this burden alone.”
Peyton raised his gaze to fully meet Parker’s for the first time that morning and lifted his hand to squeeze his shoulder fighting back the tears that burned at the back of his eyes. “I know.”
EPILOGUE
Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
Parker stood at the front of the little rock church situated deep in the trees at Allingham Park. A small fire was lit to heat the cavernous room and ward off some of the chill in the air. Once again they waited for the arrival of the ladies just as they had when Poppy married at the ruins at Rosebriar and when Piper married in the library of Rockwell’s townhouse in London.
Parker patted the front of his coat where he had tucked the special license, reassuring himself that it was still securely housed in his top pocket. He was never more grateful than now that he had been prepared for just such an occasion. It had been locked in his desk drawer since the incident with Poppy almost two years before. He had packed it in his trunk when they decided to journey to Allingham Park for the holiday thinking that a Christmas wedding sounded nice. To make it even more special, the whole family would be there to witness as he and Persephone exchanged their vows.
Parker’s breath caught as he glanced to his right and stared as Persephone walked towards him on the arm of his brother, looking directly at him. Her steps slow, but sure. He leaned forward, squinting to get a better look.
Persephone watched as he turned to the minister, the minister shrugged.
She smiled, cradling firmly in the crook of her arm a tiny bundle of fur with a cheery blue ribbon tied jauntily around its neck.
Parker stared in wonder, his gut so knotted up that he couldn’t even swallow. He’d never seen such a beautiful sight in his entire life, then she smiled and he knew he had been wrong. Her smile made everything right in the world.
She stopped beside him and he looked into her eyes. “What is this?” He couldn’t stop the grin that emerged when he looked into the big brown eyes that stared up at him.
“He is your wedding present.” She returned his grin with one of her own.
Reaching over, he ruffled the soft brown fur on the top of the shaggy dogs head. “What breed is he?”
Persephone shrugged. “Ours?” She buried her face in the puppy’s soft fur, trying to stifle the tears that threatened to fall.
He lifted the puppy from her arms and held him out to Peyton, but not before the puppy bounced and licked him wetly across the chin. “I like that.” He swiped at his chin with his gloved hand.
He barely heard the words spoken by the minister, but based on the reaction by their friends and family he must have responded correctly.
He leaned in gathering her in his arms and kissed her. Her lips melted under his in the sweetest of touches as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
She was free. Finally free.
“I love you, Persephone.”
She pulled away her eyes sparkling with relief, happiness, and joy engulfing her. “You have imprisoned me in your heart.”
Parker cupped her chin. “Never, my love,” he said softly. “You have freed me.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nichole Matthews resides in Tennessee with her husband, their two dogs, two parakeets, two turtles, a rabbit, and a beta fish. A devoted reader of romance novels since she was a teenager, she is happy to make her passion for reading a career.
You can contact Nichole Matthews at readnicholematthews@gmail.com
Or become a friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nicholematthewsauthor
Copyright
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EPILOGUE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR