One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (40 page)

Raymond smiled and looked around the massive facility. It had been a lot of work and a long time coming but it was well worth it.

“Good job Raymond,” Colonel Wheeler said proudly. “Great party.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you could make it. By the way Mamma Lou, I’d skip the marzipan if I were you.” Louise burst into laughter. “Hope told you that I’m allergic to almonds I see.”

“What? You’re what?” Colonel Wheeler exclaimed, his mouth agape. “Louise Gates, you had me buy you all those candy bars filled with almonds while you were in the hospital.”

“Oops.”

Epilogue

Crescent Island, Virginia

Three months later Raymond took Hope’s hand and led her back to the main house. When they reached the pool she turned and looked back at the view of the bay. It was breathtaking. The still water, the peace and quiet of nature and the love of her life at her side. She was too happy for words.

“Hey,” Raymond said, looking at her with concern. “Are you okay?”

She turned to him. Emotion filled her heart. She never dreamed she could be this happy. “I’m just overwhelmed. Everything is so perfect. It’s so wonderful to be back again.”

“Again?”

“Yes, I came a few days after the attack in the parking garage. Mamma Lou and I got to spend some quality time together. She’s so special. You’re so blessed to have her in your life.”

Raymond raised Hope’s left hand and kissed the sparkling diamond and band of gold. “In our lives,” he corrected. “Now I have two very special women in my life.”

Hope threw her arms around her husband and kissed him until she could no longer breathe. The joy she felt was complete. They walked hand in hand back to the house. As soon as they entered, Raymond was immediately called to settle a battle between Tony, Dennis and J.T.

Family and friends were just beginning to leave as Hope and Raymond entered. The reception was beautiful. Having gotten married in a large ceremony, Mamma Lou had talked the newlywed couple into allowing her to throw a second more intimate reception. She had truly outdone herself.

Hope looked around the living room seeing a couple of familiar faces. “Maxine and Scott? Are you two, together?”

Maxine smiled at Hope then back up at Scott. His bushy moustache lifted into a humorous grim. “When did this happen? Where was I? I didn’t hear the rumor?”

Maxine laughed happily. “For some time now,” Maxine said. “Hope, if I told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times, you really must pay closer attention to the hospital gossip.”

“I guess so.”

“Your leaving to join the Ray of Hope Foundation was the subject of the latest rumors. But now I hear Nolan’s appointment to Golden Heart was denied. I guess Hugh didn’t have as much pull with Barclay Med as he thought. I wouldn’t be surprised if he retires real soon.”

Hope looked from Scott’s beaming face then to Maxine’s. “Nothing surprises me anymore.” She hugged them both. “I’m so happy for you Maxine.”

Maxine winked. “We’re gonna hang around for the rest of the weekend. I hear Crescent Island is fabulous. I can’t wait to visit the historical freedmen’s shantytown.”

Hope nodded with happiness. “Have a wonderful time.” She watched as the happy couple walked away. She looked around for Raymond but saw Faith and Dennis with their heads together talking intimately in the corner.

Faith looked up. They smiled at each other. Hope nodded her approval. Faith mouthed the words,
thank you
.

When all the guests had left, the family sat around the great room enjoying the last of an incredible evening.

“Well,” J.T. began as he sat down on the sofa across from Madison and Tony, “it looks like your grandmother is finally out of grandsons to play matchmaker.” He moved a side pillow so that Kennedy could sit down beside him.

Kennedy sat down and placed her glass of champagne on the coffee table in front of her, “I am so glad that Mom and Dad have never done that to us. The whole idea of someone planning your future spouse behind your back is too strange for me. I’d be totally mortified.”

Raymond and Hope sat on the cushioned window seat in their own world. He held his new wife even closer and nudged his chin into the arc of her graceful neck. “Oh, I don’t know about that, he said with a smile wide enough to reach the moon, “I’m kind of glad that Mamma Lou decided to play matchmaker with us. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Ditto,” Hope added. “There’s definitely something to what she does and how she does it. There’s no way that Raymond and I would have ever gotten together if it weren’t for her matchmaking.” Raymond nibbled at her neck and she giggled endlessly.

J.T. and Kennedy looked at each other and shook their heads in unison. “Better you then me,” J.T. affirmed to Kennedy’s emphatic nod and even more adamant, “Amen to that.”

Across the room, Tony reached down and stroked the side of Madison’s swollen belly. “I have to agree with Raymond and Hope. There just might be something to Mamma Lou’s matchmaking talent.”

“I totally agree,” Madison added picking up her glass of iced lemon water.

“I’m afraid I’m also gonna have to agree with them folks,” Dennis confessed as he entered the living room and plopped down in the nearest chair. Faith snuggled right next to him. He wrapped his arm around her lovingly and took a long sip from his champagne glass and eased back comfortable. “They definitely have a point this time.”

“Oh please Dennis, not you too,” Kennedy began. “You can’t really believe all that. Everything that happened with Hope and Raymond was just coincidence. They were bound to meet at some medical conference eventually. And Madison and Tony were just pure luck. They were all simply in the right place and at the right time. Mamma Lou’s so-called matchmaking had nothing to do with any of this. It was all just a coincidence.”

“Given the right circumstances, any happenstance meeting can seem like fate and fortune,” J.T. added.

“I don’t know,” Dennis shook his head as he eyed the two loving couples longingly. “She’s two for two. Tony and Madison, Raymond and Hope. You have to admit, her record is perfect so far. She’s very good at this. Who knows,” he added more for Faith’s benefit than anyone else, “she just might be three for three this time.”

Everyone looked to Dennis in complete shock. “What?” echoed through the room.

“You, the confirmed bachelor, settling down?” Kennedy said, jokingly. “Awe, Faith, say it isn’t so.”

“Now I know I’ve heard it all,” J.T. added in utter disbelief.

“Not yet.” Dennis instantly stood up and knelt down on bended knee. He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. He cleared his throat nervously, “Faith, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

The room went silent as Faith gasped in stunned surprise. “Yes.” A loud roar of laughter and cheers rang out as everyone jumped to their feet to congratulate the couple.

Faith, still in shock held her finger out as Dennis slipped the ring on securely.

“Better you than me,” J.T. said as he smiled appreciatively at the loving couples all around him. “I rather like being a bachelor and quite frankly, I intend to be one for a very, very long time.”

“I agree with J.T. I don’t think I’m ready for that step either,” Kennedy said. “I think that the whole commitment thing is a bit scary. I like my life just as it is. Thank you very much.”

“I wouldn’t get too comfortable with that idea if I were you,” Raymond said as he and Hope looked out of the window. “You may not have a choice. Looks like Mamma Lou may not be finished with her matchmaking just yet. She just might be going into the matchmaking for hire business.”

“What do you mean?” J.T. asked as everyone walked over to the wall of large bay windows.

They all stared out for a few minutes until J.T. asked. “Can you hear what they’re saying? Who are they talking about?”

“Shh, no,” Kennedy whispered as if they’d hear her inside the house.

“They can’t hear us,” J.T. said still trying to read his parent’s lips.

“They’re making plans.”

“They just mentioned your name.”

“Whose name?” J.T. said.

“She said something about getting married.”

Who’s getting married?” Kennedy asked.

All eyes were still on J.T., Kennedy and Madison’s parents, Taylor and Jace Evans. They smiled and nodded knowingly to Louise and Colonel Wheeler. Louise returned their smiles and nodded in agreement. Then they all looked over at the house and waved at J.T. and Kennedy.

The brother and sister backed away from the window slowly. “Oh, oh,” they said in unison. Instantly Raymond, Hope, Faith, Tony and Madison burst into laughter.

“Fifty dollars says Kennedy’s the next one on the list,” Hope offered first.

“I’ll take that bet,” Madison answered to Kennedy’s amazement with a gasp.

“Count me in,” Faith added, sporting her shinny new diamond.

“Hey, wait a minute,” Kennedy complained openly to the three women. “That’s not fair, why me?”

“I think I’ll take the long shot, one hundred says it’s J.T.,” Tony said as J.T. nearly choked on his drink.

“No way, not me.” J.T. complained.

“Two hundred says it’s J.T.,” Dennis added, to J.T.’s menacing glare.

“I’ll take that bet on J.T. for two hundred,” Kennedy said.

“Thanks a lot little sis,” J.T. said sarcastically, but my money’s on you for two hundred and fifty.”

“I’ll cover that bet,” Raymond said just before the room exploded in raucous banter.

For the next few minutes, bets and wagers circulated the room. With each wager, the ante grew higher and higher.

Louise, Colonel Wheeler, Taylor and Jace entered the room to the boisterous debate. With everyone talking at once it was impossible to hear what anyone was saying.

“What’s going on?” Louise asked to the suddenly silenced gathering.

Everyone turned to look at everyone else. “Who’s next?” they all asked as if on cue.

THE END

Read the full Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series

Priceless Gift

A Christmas Wish

One Sure Thing

Irresistible You

Only You

The Fine Art of Love

Following Love

When Love Calls

Love Me Now

Love’s Paradise

Forever Love

Watch for more Mamma Lou coming soon!

About the Author

Celeste O. Norfleet
is an award winning and national best-selling author of over twenty-five critically acclaimed multicultural romance and young adult novels. She was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Moore College of Art & Design. An art director and graphic designer for many years, Celeste now devotes all of her time to writing and creating novels letting her artistic imagination flow through the computer keys.