Dreams of Her Own (24 page)

Epilogue

Winter had finally loosened its icy grip on the northeast, and while it wasn’t yet officially spring by the calendar, someone forgot to tell that to the daffodils and crocuses, the tulips and the hyacinths.

Darcy fluffed the spring green chiffon of her matron of honor’s gown before picking up her bouquet. “Are you ready? We’ve got to get this show on the road before I have to feed Emma again.” Following in her mother’s footsteps, Darcy had named her little girl Emma, after her favorite Austen character. Josh went along, already wrapped around the baby’s finger.

Millie had angst over the decision to go to England, abandoning Darcy. But Darcy wouldn’t hear it. She’d decided to take a year off and devote herself to Emma.

Earlier that morning Millie had added ‘live in England’ and ‘stalk the Bodleian Library’ to her list. She’d also scratched out ‘Find contentment’ and replaced it with ‘Find happiness.’ Then she’d checked that off her list as well.

Millie pressed a hand to her stomach to calm the butterflies. The fear had nothing to do with marrying Ian, and everything to do with walking down the aisle, the center of attention.

It would be a small quiet ceremony with just friends and family in Darcy’s tidy backyard, but even so.

“You’ll be fine. You look radiant!”

It took some wrangling, but Millie had finally talked Laura and Darcy out of the formal wedding gown and into something more sedate. Something she’d be less likely to trip over.

The ivory organza dress had a sheer bodice overlaying a satin slip, and long sheer sleeves, a jewel neckline, and full skirt. Underneath, the satin shimmered. No veil, no train. In a compromise with Laura, she wore ivory satin kitten heels with just a touch of beading across the toe.

Darcy had piled her hair on top of her head, letting tendrils brush her face and neck. The only jewelry, a pair of pearl earrings from Darcy—her something new—a pearl choker from Laura—her something borrowed and old. For her something blue, she wore a traditional blue garter on her left leg.

Josh waited downstairs to walk her down the aisle. Her parents couldn’t break themselves away from an international conference on Thomas Hardy, where they were presenting their findings.

But their absence no longer had the hurtful affect it used to. She had her chosen family, and with a little luck, she and Ian would start their own.

“Let’s go, ladies,” Laura said as she stuck her head in the door. “Time’s a-wasting.” She eyed them both critically, then nodded. “Couldn’t have done better myself.”

Darcy handed her a bouquet of white roses tied with spring green ribbon, and Millie descended the stairs on wobbly legs.

Millie’s one regret was that Ruby wasn’t there to see Ian marry. She’d impacted their lives even after her death, leaving her entire estate to Ian, along with a life insurance policy, and in a surprising twist, her extensive book collection to Millie.

Ruby and her late husband had lived a modest lifestyle and managed to put away a substantial nest egg. The money would be invested and used to grow Ian’s business, including the build-out of the remaining floors in the old warehouse where she now lived with Ian. Those apartments would provide a steady income for them and Caleb and Jillie.

Millie had received a request for a rewrite from Darcy’s publisher, and Gloria had agreed to take her on as a client. In the meantime, she’d still happily worked as Darcy’s personal assistant, albeit as a virtual assistant.

As she approached the French doors that opened onto the backyard, her gaze found Ian, standing in a simple black suit and blue tie, Caleb at his side as best man, and the butterflies that had plagued her all morning suddenly settled.

Caleb tapped Ian on the shoulder and directed his attention to the door where his bride now stood. The emotions racing through him nearly overwhelmed him.

Millie looked breathtaking. Radiant. Happy. She deserved it, and by God so did he. They’d both broken free of their old inhibitions to find happiness.

His bride-to-be filled his heart, challenged his mind, and replenished his soul. He could see the future–their future–when he looked into her beautiful brown eyes. A man couldn’t ask for more than that.

Gloria sat in a ray of sunshine watching Millie and Ian as they exchanged vows. To Millie’s left, stood Darcy. Seated in front of Gloria sat Josh, holding their baby girl, who slumbered, oblivious to the quiet spectacle around her. Next to her Laura and Nathan clasped hands, cutting glances at one another, no doubt wondering when they would get their hands on one another again.

She did good work.

Three fairytales come true. Three happily-ever-afters. Whoever said dreams don’t come true didn’t know Jack. And they certainly didn’t know Gloria.

On that cool, but sunny late-April day, Millie gazed into Ian’s gray eyes, listening to him vow to love, honor and cherish her as long as they both shall live, and she checked off another item on her list: Marry the man I love.

Also by
Rebecca Heflin
and
Soul Mate Publishing
:

RESCUING LACY

When tough battle-scarred photojournalist-turned-wildlife-photographer Lacey Sommers travels to Costa Rica in a last-ditch effort to save her job, she meets beach-bum-gorgeous Luke Hancock, an outdoor guide, environmentalist and expert on economics and sustainability, who’s been hired by her magazine to serve as her pilot and wilderness guide for the duration of her stay.

It’s clear from the outset there is a powerful physical attraction between the two, but strong personalities, pre-conceived notions, an unexpected and contentious family connection, and the scars from a tragic death and a terrifying event threaten to keep them apart.

Will Lacey shed the mantle of Kevlar she’s worn for so long and allow Luke inside her heart? Or will her ostensible strength be her downfall?

Now available at Amazon:
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THE PROMISE OF CHANGE

Sarah Edwards loves stability, but now finds life has other plans for her. Divorced, bored, and twitchy, she’s convinced her impulsive, sometimes irrational decisions are the sign of a mid-life crisis, and the contradictory actions and emotions are giving her family and friends mental whiplash. Her abrupt resignation from her job is the final straw. But a two-week trip to England seems the perfect pick-me-up for this Anglophile and Austenite.

Enter Alex Fraser, a.k.a. the Earl of Rutherford, who although a member of the lucky sperm club, prefers to be known for what he’s accomplished, rather than a fate of birth. Despite his family’s disapproval, he is determined to work in his chosen profession of acting. He’s always preferred casual flings with beautiful women who have no illusions of marriage. That is, until he literally bumps into Sarah in an Oxford pub.

Despite an idyllic week together, Sarah gets cold feet and returns to the States determined to come back down to reality. A year later, the realization of Sarah’s life-long dream unexpectedly brings Alex back into her life, in what she believes is an ironic twist of fate. Will Sarah’s decisions leave her life in shambles, or will they lead to the promise of change?

Now available at Amazon:
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DREAMS OF PERFECTION

Best-selling romance writer Darcy Butler is holding out for perfection in the form of her own carefully-crafted heroes. Once blissfully engaged to be married, Darcy’s post-traumatic commitment phobia is depriving her of the very thing she wants most: her very own happily-ever-after. Now, here she is just six months shy of her thirtieth birthday, and not a Prince Charming in sight. 

Successful lawyer Josh Ryan is the boy-next-door with a soft spot for the less fortunate, and Darcy’s best friend without benefits. Darcy often comes to him lamenting her love-life, or the lack thereof, whereupon Josh patiently doles out his sage advice. Problem is Josh is in love with Darcy. 

But when Darcy finds herself looking into the handsome face of the man who graces the cover of her soon-to-be-released novel, she’s convinced her dreams of perfection have come true. Or have they?

Available now at Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/maqs2bj

SHIP OF DREAMS

Advertising Diva Laura Armstrong is after Imperial Cruise Lines, the biggest account of her career and the one that will lead to the next step in her Life Plan of becoming one of the most powerful women in advertising. That winning the account will also prove her father wrong is a bonus.

Sexy Southern Gentleman Nathan Maxwell is after that very same account, but for completely different reasons. Landing the account means a sizeable bonus just in time to save his family’s farm, and the only stable home his sister’s ever known, from foreclosure.

When the two end up on the same ship in the middle of the Mediterranean for a clandestine reconnaissance mission, Mt. Vesuvius isn’t the only thing that could erupt.

Will Nathan sink her ship of dreams before it ever leaves port, or will the way to love be smooth sailing?

Available now at Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/gmckp9t