The Widow's Secret (Keepers of the Light Book 5) Read online

  From behind her, the ground crunched beneath someone’s footsteps. She swung around to see who was disrupting her solitude. At first, the shadows playing across the couple’s faces made them appear to be her dead parents. Mother had a slender face and wore her hair coiled at the top of her head. Father wore thick whiskers and smoked a pipe. She recalled his shoulders being wide and that both of her parents were handsome people.

  The couple’s footsteps faltered when their gazes rested on Amelia. She could tell by the way they stood that their bodies weren’t straight as her parents had been sixteen years ago, but instead, both of them were slightly hunched over. The man leaned on a cane.

  Her heart burst with happiness. She knew these were her grandparents before she could clearly see their faces. It was as if her parents in Heaven were pouring down rays of comfort upon Amelia.

  She cleared her throat, knowing her voice would squawk like a pelican during mating season if she couldn’t remove the emotion swelling in her mouth. “Are you Hank and Ruth Densley?”

  The woman gasped. Her hand moved to her neck and started trembling. “Are you an angel of my deceased daughter because you look and sound just like my Elizabeth.”

  Amelia blinked rapidly, trying to remove the tears filling her eyes. She licked her dry lips. “I’m Amelia, Elizabeth’s youngest daughter.”

  A cry was heard from both grandparents, and they struggled to climb the rest of the way up the hill toward Amelia. She hurried toward them, not wanting them to have to walk the whole way. When they reached her, they both wrapped their arms around her.

  Amelia’s body shook with happy cries. Finally, she found her family. The wait was long overdue.

  “Oh, my darling granddaughter,” her grandfather said with a shaky voice. “I wish we would have known what happened to you and your siblings after your parents’ ship sank. We had hired a few investigators, but they couldn’t find you.”

  Amelia dried her wet face. “I don’t know why we were forced to be a part all these years, but we can only make up for lost time starting now. I’d rather not think about or question the past because it was all out of my control. I’m just grateful the Lord has allowed me to reunite with the people I love.”

  As she hugged her grandparents again, she breathed easier. This was definitely the best Christmas she’d ever had. Thankfully, it wasn’t over yet. She and Chet would be married in a few days. Everything seemed like a Christmas miracle, but she’d take every moment of it.

  EPILOGUE

  Chet stood at the altar with the most beautiful woman he’d ever met, repeating his vows in front of the clergyman and the town. The church was filled wall to wall with people who’d come to watch their new mayor and the town’s sweet widow get married.

  Amelia was breathtaking all in white. The puffy shoulders of the gown’s material tapered down her arms, hugging her wrists. The heart-shaped bodice emphasized the generous womanly curves she’d been blessed with, and the bottom half of the gown poofed out around her legs. White beads were sewn on the bodice with the snowflake designs decorating the skirt. But what made her so lovely was gazing into her amazing hazel eyes – eyes filled with love just for him.

  At times during the ceremony, her eyes watered, but that only made him want to stare at her and forget everyone around them. In fact, the clergyman had to remind Chet to say I will. The crowd seemed to get a chuckle out of this, as well as his new wife. He just couldn’t help it. His thoughts were not his own as he stared at her beauty.

  Before he knew it, the clergyman asked for the bride’s ring. Chet slipped it on her delicate hand, softly caressing her skin before he withdrew. Then the clergyman was pronouncing them husband and wife and telling Chet that he could kiss the bride.

  As much as he wanted to kiss her passionately, he didn’t want to embarrass her in front of their guests. He took her in his arms and lowered his mouth to hers, but when their lips met, she was the one to turn the kiss passionate and hold onto him as if she never wanted to let him go. He was proud of his brave and very bold wife.

  He ended the kiss, not wanting the older women in the crowd to swoon because of the inappropriate kiss shared by the new husband and wife. Amelia smiled as she looked up into his eyes.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “And I love you.” He winked.

  The clergyman introduced to the crowd, Mr. and Mrs. Logan. Chet took hold of her hand as they walked side-by-side up the aisle as the crowd cheered. When they reached the church’s doors, he swept Amelia up in his arms and carried her to their waiting buggy decorated with streamers and ribbons. He placed her on the seat before sitting next to her.

  Their guests had followed them out, waving and calling out congratulations. But Chet only had eyes for his bride as he gathered her in his arms again.

  “Well, Mrs. Logan. What should we do next?”

  “I believe, Mr. Logan, that it’s customary for the groom to take his bride on a honeymoon. So where, my darling husband, are you going to take me?”

  He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “What do you think about Puffin Point Lighthouse – the one that’s farther out? I convinced Max Tucker to give us a tour. Then, for the evening, I thought we could stay at our new house.”

  Her eyes widened. “Our new house? But what about Gracie and Bobby?”

  Chet laughed. “Actually, that will be Bobby’s house. Tonight, Gracie will stay with Aunt Pru. But our house is going to be up on that hill.” He pointed to the north end of town. “I found us a house all to ourselves.”

  Her smile relaxed and leaned against him. “I think that is the best wedding gift in the world, and you are such a wonderful husband. I love and trust you with all my heart... now and forever.” She shrugged. “And even longer than that, if possible.”

  His love grew, which he didn’t think could happen since it had already spread through his body and soul. “It’s possible. I’ll make sure of it.”

  THE END

  THANK YOU, DEAR READER, for beginning this adventure with all the folks in Spruce Hill.

  If you enjoyed it, I hope you’ll join the series reader’s group on Facebook, where you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the authors, learn of new releases, enter giveaways, and more.

  The story continues in A Love’s Journey, book 6 of the Keepers of the Light series:

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083F88BBD

  Minne Harper comes to Spruce Hill to have a fresh start. Simply teach the children in town at the one-room schoolhouse. Nothing more. Except Tad won’t get off her back. The way he makes her heart flutter unnerves her. He calls her to open up to him which scares her. When her past comes to light, can their love survive?

  Tad Hobbs plans to work in law enforcement like his pa. He doesn’t trust Minnie. She’s lying and he’ll stop at nothing to prove this. The more time he spends with her, the more he starts to care for her. Will forgiveness win in the end for them or shatter at their feet?

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  Author’s Bio

  MARIE HIGGINS IS AN award-winning, best-selling author of clean romance novels that melt your heart and have you falling in love over and over again. Since 2010, she’s published over 80 heartwarming, on-the-edge-of-your-seat romances. She’s broadened her readership by writing mystery/suspense, humor, time-travel, paranormal, along with her love for historical romances. Her readers have dubbed her “Queen of Tease” because of all her twists and unexpected endings.

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