Chapter Twenty-Four

"Let's have a toast to my daughter, Michael, and her partner, Anna. May your hearts be true to each other for two lifetimes. May your love be as large as an ocean, and may your spirits be as light as the clouds that float in the sky. Anna, you are now a link in our family chain, and we're all stronger for it. Welcome."

"That was beautiful, Mick, thank you." Anna's eyes were filled with tears.

"Anna, you're as much my daughter as Michael. I love you, girl."

"Oh, Mick." Anna began to cry.

"Don't you be crying, doll. Tonight's not a night to cry, it's a celebration." Mick hugged Anna.

"Da, thank you." Michael hugged her father and Anna together. It was a wonderful night. "Anna, are you about ready to go home?"

"Yes, honey. I just need to say goodnight to your mother."

"Congratulations, Sandy and Terry said your satellite was spectacular."

"It was, Maureen. Thanks. I want to thank you for the party, it was wonderful."

"You're welcome, love. You and Michael be careful driving home."

"We will." Anna and Michael's mother hugged tightly. "Goodnight."

Michael and Anna were quiet the whole way home. Anna's hand was clasped tightly in Michael's. It wasn't until they were in their home that Michael spoke. She picked Anna's hand up and kissed it, the gold band glistening on Anna's ring finger. Michael wore a matching band on her ring finger.

"I love you, Anna."

"Michael, I love you so very much."

Michael's hands were gentle as she undressed Anna. "I'm going to make slow, magical love with you."

"And I, you." Anna promised, as she stripped Michael of her clothes.

Their bodies melted onto the bed with kisses and whispered promises, as they made love until they both drifted off to sleep, wrapped around each other, their love for each other keeping them warm and safe.

Epilogue

"Sorry, I'm late." Tia breathlessly apologized, as she sat down at the table.

"Tia, you're always late." Van teased her affectionately. "How's Catherine?"

Tia's smile stretched from ear to ear as she responded. "Beautiful, cranky, and very big." She chuckled as she spoke. She loved Catherine, especially pregnant.

"It's hard to believe that a little more then a year ago we were all single." Emma reminisced. "So much has happened."

"So many wonderful things." Anna agreed, with tears in her eyes.

"Honey, we're so lucky." Van's eyes glistened. "I thank God every day for bringing Cara into my life, and keeping her safe."

"Speaking of Cara, here she comes, with Maddy and Catherine. Michael and Melinda are right behind them."

"God, aren't they beautiful?" Emma whispered, as the group approached the table.

"Hello, ladies." Michael grinned, as she bent over to kiss Anna hello. Anna felt the now familiar catch in her heart that she got whenever Michael looked at her. Anna gathered Michael's hand in her own as she sat down.

Tia stood up to help Catherine sit down. "Make room for an elephant." Catherine chuckled, as she tried to get comfortable. Cara placed Maddy between Catherine and Tia.

"You look wonderful, Catherine."

"Thanks, Anna. I feel great!" She and Tia exchanged a long, loving look over Maddy's head.

"Melinda, are you going to take the new job?" Tia inquired as Cara and Melinda slid into chairs by their girlfriends.

"I'm thinking about it." Melinda grinned, as she hugged Emma next to her. "My agent negotiated too good a package to resist." She poked Emma as she spoke.

Emma laughed out loud. "You know you're going to take it. You love the challenge." Melinda had been asked to be on the state school board.

"I love you." Melinda reminded her. "Cara, tell Emma about the training you're taking in Virginia."

"I will, but first I want to hear about Anna and Michael's trip to Ireland."

"Yes, tell us." Van's fingers found Cara's under the table. "I am trying to convince Ms. Shutterbug here, to go to Europe."

"It was romantic, beautiful, and so magical." Anna sighed as Michael chuckled.

"Romantic? Traveling with my parents, my brother, his wife, and their two kids?" She laughed loudly, her eyes gazing at Anna. "It was perfect."

"Did you see any leprechauns?" Maddy asked her eyes wide with wonder.

"No leprechauns, Miss Maddy." Michael responded. "But, I did see a beautiful fairy princess with wavy brown hair and hazel eyes."

"Oh, Michael, that's Anna." Maddy giggled, rolling her eyes.

"Right you are, Maddy. Anna's my fairy princess. Michael's eyes twinkled at Anna as Anna sighed, her eyes filling with tears. In one sentence, Michael could fill her heart with such love.

"We're all so lucky." Catherine shared, as she pulled Tia and her daughter closer to her.

Van slipped her arms around Cara's waist, as she looked at the happy faces assembled around the table. Michael and Anna were sharing a kiss. Emma had her head on Melinda's shoulder, and Tia, Maddy, and Catherine were holding each other. She felt the tears start as Cara hugged her tightly.

In a short span of time four new families full of love, had entered the world, a world full of conversation, friendship, loyalty, and so much love, four times over.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14