Free Novel Read

Loving Pursuit Page 10


  “Marie Anthony, you are my light. The mother of my child, my lover, my friend. You’ve changed my life so much and all for the better so, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Damn it, Lewis.”

  “What?” he asked, his eyebrows popping and uncertainty in his expression.

  “You know I’m so emotional right now.”

  This time, fat tears streaked my cheeks. Smiling, Lewis reached up and brushed them off my right cheek.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked.

  I bent down so that I could pull him into a hug. “Of course it is a yes.”

  In one fluid movement, Lewis stood, putting his arms around my waist and lifting me off my feet as he spun around, letting out a happy laugh. My aching body protested, but I ignored it. Nothing could bring me down right now. I had a great life. My daughter was here. I was engaged to be married. I had found happiness.

  As Lewis slipped the ring on my finger, the hospital door opened without a knock, and the smell that floated into the room made me realize that there was one small thing missing to make this moment perfect. Andrea had brought me food. I looked at the McDonald’s bags and licked my lips just as her eyes zeroed in on the ring and she squealed with excitement.

  There was much to celebrate. So, we did.

  Did You Enjoy This Book?

  If so, then let me know by leaving a review on Amazon! Reviews are the lifeblood of independent authors. I would appreciate even a few words from you!

  If you did not like the book, then please tell me! Email me at emilia@ehattington.com and let me know what you didn’t like. Perhaps I can change it. In today’s world, a book doesn’t have to be stagnant. It should be improved with time and feedback from readers like you. You can impact this book, and I welcome your feedback. Help me make this book better for everyone!

  Other Books

  Rescue Me

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MQP8VLR

  The night air whipped my hair around my face as I waited restlessly for Alys to show up. I paced back and forth in front of a dilapidated treehouse, my mind racing, and my heart pounding. It hadn't been easy communicating with Alys over the last few months, but we had made it work. Two days ago, I had visited the tree we were using to deliver messages and found a rolled up piece of paper lodged deep into a hole in the trunk. Reaching into the dark space, I had pulled out the note and read it quickly before ripping it to pieces and scattering it in the cold September wind. Even though I no longer had the note, I memorized the words by heart.

  Emily- meet me at the treehouse in two days at midnight. Be ready to run.

  The note wasn’t signed. It didn’t need to be. I knew who it was from the moment I grasped the scroll of paper in my hand- Alys Kensington. We grew up together, and despite Sebastian’s best efforts, Alys and I had remained close friends. The thought of Sebastian caused a shudder to travel down my spine and rest somewhere in my gut. I was ninety-nine percent sure the message had been from Alys. I was so careful making sure I hadn’t been followed to the message tree over the last several weeks, but what if I was mistaken? What if this was all a trap? No, that wasn’t possible. Nobody knew about this place. This treehouse had been our afterschool haunt for over a decade. We built it ourselves with help from our other best friend, Samuel. I gazed up at the treehouse, my mind filling with memories of a happier time. Alys was smart to suggest we meet here. Although Sebastian had forced almost every memory and secret from me, this place was still safe from him. Something deep within me warned me not to tell him about our special sanctuary deep in the woods. I told myself over and over that I was safe here. This wasn’t a trap. But my mind stubbornly clung to the what if’s, making my heart race with fear. The panic that seized me had just enough time to settle in my blood when the sound of soft footsteps reached my ears.

  “Emily?”

  Lucky Encounter

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NKPXG84

  “Miss Brennan, I believe you’re pregnant,” the doctor gave me a wide grin, assuming as most people would that this was happy news.

  All I could do was stare at the man in shock. It wasn’t that I was unhappy per se, it was just...well, a shock.

  “Are you sure it isn't the flu?” I asked, feeling my stomach turn over. “It really feels like it’s the flu.”

  The doctor frowned and looked down at my chart, perhaps wondering if there was some mental illness at work here. Alas, there was not, so he quickly glanced back up at me.

  “Miss Brennan, it is not the flu. I double checked the results myself. You are pregnant. I would say about eight weeks along. Miss Brennan? Are you okay?”

  The world tilted around me as specks danced in front of my eyes. And for the first time in my life, I fainted. When I came to, the kindly doctor was sponging my forehead with a wet cloth while looking down at me in concern. Groaning, I sat up holding my head in my hands.

  “Miss Brennan,” the doctor began, helping me into a sitting position. “Do you have a support system in place? You seem alarmed about this pregnancy and it’s obvious this wasn't something that was planned. Where is the father? Do your parents live close by?”

  At his concerned questions, the image of the baby’s father floated into my head. Noah and I had been dating for the past few months, although he had pursued me for several months before I finally said yes. He was rich and from a good family, which was why I had been so hesitant to date him in the first place. Girls like me didn’t date rich guys like him. Girls like me were usually the dirty little secret of guys like him. But Noah had seemed so different. Surely he wouldn't balk at the idea of fatherhood? After all, it was half his fault. Sighing, I gazed at the doctor and tried giving him my best smile.

  “The father and I haven't been dating long, which is why this is such a shock,” I began. “But I’m sure once I break the news, everything will be fine.”

  “And your parents?” the doctor asked, my smile putting him somewhat at ease.

  “My mother doesn't live too far from here,” I lied.

  My mother didn't live in the city, but she actually wasn't too far away. If worse came to absolute worse, I could always move back in with her. And if I was being completely honest with myself, I was pretty sure that my mother’s house was where I would need to go. I hadn't actually seen Noah in a couple of weeks. He kept telling me how busy he was with his company, but part of me thought he had just lost interest. I accepted the doctor’s help off the examination table and walked to the checkout counter. Once I was clear of the perky nurses and kind-faced doctors, I felt I could think a little clearer. The fact was, I was broke. Waitressing barely paid the bills and now with a baby on the way, I knew I would need help. Busy or not, Noah Pryce would need to make time for me. He had never given me his personal cell number, so I punched his office number into my phone with a fierce determination.

  © Copyright 2019 - All rights reserved.

  It is not legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental.