The Turnaround Treasure Shop (21 page)

Nick untangled her from his body and held her gently, his forehead against hers, in the most intimate of touches. ‘I love you, Lily Johnson, and I love your children.'

‘Our children.'

‘I'm going to do my best to keep you all safe and loved.'

‘And I'll do my best to let you.'

His mouth curled in a smile. ‘The Orange Bullet. It's got to go.'

‘Oh, Nick. Are you going to make me?'

‘Afraid so.'

‘And where are we going to live?'

‘I don't care. So long as I'm with you.'

‘Choices and decisions to be made then,' Lily said, gazing into his eyes.

‘We'll make them together.'

Lily nodded, then grinned. ‘Apart from the Orange Bullet.'

‘Apart from that.'

They stayed together, just looking into each other's eyes, making silent plans. A couple. A family.

Janie-Louise's voice punctured the air. ‘Is it done?' she called.

Nick laughed, released Lily and turned to the door. ‘She said “Yes”,' he called back.

Lily heard her daughter whooping on the walkway outside. ‘Let's join them.' She took hold of her man's hand and held it firmly as they walked out the door.

Nick said, ‘Ted's out.'

Lily glanced across the street and smothered a laugh. Ted was arguing with Mr Morelly about the correct way to hang the banner he was unfurling and Mr Morelly didn't look too pleased to be on the receiving end of the committee chairman's officiousness.

Fortunately, Mrs Tam and the twins were there to help with the three-metre long plastic banner.

Grand Opening
–
Today

‘It's your shop, Lily,' Nick said, ‘but Ted said he's in charge of any planning logistics for the grand opening of Turnaround Treasures. He's got additional parking organised outside the Town Hall and a hot-dog stand all ready to go for the entire Easter weekend.'

‘I hope he's not expecting a rush!' Lily said. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint Swallow's Fall. Turnaround Treasures was Lily's golden gem, but it was only small. It hadn't even opened yet.

‘You're going to do excellent business with this shop, darling. Ted knows that.' He gave her waist a reassuring squeeze, gave her a smile that sang of love, then walked towards the children.

Lily put a hand on the doorframe of Turnaround Treasures and glanced down Main Street, thanking the deities, once more, for returning her to her home town and for giving her the chance of love.

‘You're a star, Mum,' Janie-Louise said. ‘Can I work in the shop too?'

Lily nodded. ‘Saturdays. And I'll pay you.'

‘Whoop!' Janie-Louise jumped the air. ‘Ebooks — here comes my pocket money.'

‘I could probably work in the shop on a Saturday, Mum, if you need help,' Andy said. ‘I can't do Sundays because I'll be working for Nick. Won't I, Nick?'

‘Too right.' Nick turned to her then. ‘What are you doing over there?'

‘Looking at my family.'

‘You've got a family?' He grinned and cocked his head to one side. ‘That's funny. So have I.'

‘I've got the best family in the world,' Lily said, leaving the doorway and heading for her troupe.

‘And me!' Janie-Louise jumped up and down, tugging at Nick's hand, her smile and her laughter making Lily think of a million balloons let loose to the sky.

‘And me.' Andy didn't jump but his smile and the light in his eyes told Lily he was happy and safe and…just safe. And happy.

Nick held his free hand out to Lily.

Lily moved to him. His fingers curled around hers, warm and secure as he drew her close, and Lily stepped into the circle of her living, breathing, loving and impossibly beautiful dream.

Thanks for reading
THE TURNAROUND TREASURE SHOP
. I hope you enjoyed it.

If you'd like to know more about me, my books, or to connect with me online, you can visit my webpage
jenniejonesromance.com
, follow me on twitter
@JennieJRomance
, or like my Facebook page
facebook.com/jennie-jones-romance-author
.

You can also follow me through my publisher's page here
www.escapepublishing.com.au

Reviews can help readers find books, and I am grateful for all honest reviews. Thank you for taking the time to let others know what you've read, and what you thought.

You've just read a book in my
SWALLOW'S FALL
series. The other books in this series are
THE HOUSE ON BURRA BURRA LANE
,
THE HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL
,
and
12 DAYS AT SILVER BELLS HOUSE
.

This book was published by Escape Publishing. If you'd like to sample some more great books from my fellow Escape Artists, please turn the page.

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