Sweet Hope (Sweet Home #4) (36 page)

Authors: Tillie Cole

“Yeah, but we soon knocked that shit right outta you, didn’t we, Molls? Soon made you one of
us
.”

Molly laughed. “You sure did, Cass,” she said happily, then glanced down at the tabletop. “I bring this up because... as I look around this table, at all of us... I can’t believe how far we’ve all come. What we’ve all accomplished... and the obstacles we’ve all had to overcome.”

Molly’s face grew serious. “The reason I decided to go to Alabama was because I had no one in England, no family, no real friends… nothing.”

Ally’s hand squeezed mine as she looked at her best friend, sadness clear on her face.

“Baby...” Rome whispered, edging forward on his seat. Molly lifted her hand to cut him off.

“No, I’m not looking for sympathy, Rome. Quite the opposite.” She faced the rest of us again. “My first day in Bama I met Lexi and Cass. And without judgment or expectation, the two of you took me on as your best friend and you changed my life.” She then looked at Rome. “Then on my very first day of studies, I ran into you…
literally
... and that was it. I was yours and you were mine from that day onward.”

This time, nothing was stopping Rome from leaning up and kissing his wife. Molly ran her hand down his face. Then she turned to Ally. “Through Rome I met the most lovely girl in the world... his cousin, Ally. Ally, you fast became, and still are, family to me. You’re the sister I never
had
, but always
wanted
.”

“You too, Molls,” Ally quickly agreed through a throat tight with emotion. Molly laughed as she wiped away a stray tear. Leaning in closer to my wife, I put my arm around Ally’s shoulder and she immediately melted into my side.

“I remember the day I was asked to come to America by my professor. I remember thinking it through... wondering if it would be the right move for me to make. In the end I thought
'what the hell'
and jumped in with both feet. And because of that leap of faith, I’m now living a life I could barely have imagined. In truth, I honestly think we
all
are.”

Molly pointed to Cassie and JD. “Cass and JD met the same night as Rome and I... and now you’re the proud parents of five beautiful boys... and run one of the most successful ranches in Texas.”

She next looked to Lexi. Tears fell down her cheeks. “Lex, you know what I think about you. Hands down, you’re the bravest... the most courageous person I’ve ever met in my life. You overcame an illness that I can’t even imagine coping with. Yet you do so with grace... and a fierce determination. You’re my inspiration, my faith that a person can overcome anything.”

“Molls,” Lexi cried, unable to speak any further. Austin pulled his wife tightly into his arms and kissed her head. My chest tightened at the sight... my emotions fucking working overtime.

“It’s true, Lex,” Molly assured, “And on your journey you fell in love with Austin. Austin who, along with his two brothers, faced a kind of hell that no human being should ever have to endure.” Molly fixed her eyes on me and Austin and Levi. “The three of you have overcome so much grief... so much heartache. But in the end, your love as brothers... your love for each other... pulled you through and made you the men you are today.”

Molly then smiled at Ally, Elsie and Lexi. “Along with your wives, of course... three women whose tenacity and ability to love fiercely showed you that there was happiness and joy to be had in this life... and that life is far too short to stay stuck in the past.

“Levi plays in the NFL... Austin and Lexi run centers in Seattle to help troubled teens... and of course, Axel and Ally, who have taken the art world by storm.” Molly turned to her husband. “And us, baby. You, the Tide coach. And me, a professor... and our four beautiful children who complete our lives.”

Molly laughed to herself and shook her head, blushing. “I’m rambling. I know I am rambling. But sitting here in this restaurant tonight makes my heart fit to burst with happiness and pride.” She went quiet and I watched a single tear run down her cheek and splash onto the tabletop.

Everything was silent as Molly kept her head low. But inhaling a breath, she continued. “Twenty-five years ago I had no family... I had little hope. And now? Today I am blessed with the best family and friends in the world... and a bucket load of hopes and dreams.”

Lifting her head, a smile spread on her lips and she huffed a watery laugh. “In my head, I picture all of us growing old, our friendships never fading. I picture our children’s weddings, Christmases and birthdays shared together… the years rolling by filled with love and happiness… and I picture all of us as grandparent’s telling our grandchildren stories about how we all met, about all the journeys we took in our lives—both the good and the bad.”

Ally was full on crying beside me. In fact, as I scanned round the table, everyone was fighting to keep their shit together. Even the kids were silently watching Molly talk, her daughter, Taylor, and three sons, Isaac, Archie and Elias, looking at her like she was their sun.

“What I’m trying to say is that the day I took a chance with the move to Alabama was the best thing I’ve ever done… because it brought me to you guys. I love you all so much that some days it’s almost too much to contain.” Raising a glass, Molly announced, “A toast... to taking a chance, because that chance taken may be the very path that leads you to your happily ever after.”

All of us rose to our feet, toasting with a glass of champagne and all the girls ran over to Molly to hug her. As I watched Ally kissing and holding her best friends, I glanced to my right, only to see Austin and Levi moving to stand by my side. Silently, I put my arms around the shoulders of my brothers.

It was at that moment I knew I couldn’t regret a thing. Not one thing that happened in my life, because this moment,
right now
, this
feeling
, was worth every bit of pain and heartache.

At that moment, Ally turned and caught my eye. Leaving her friends, she walked over to where I stood looking as damn breathtaking as the day I met her. Levi and Austin clapped me on the back and moved aside. As my brothers headed back to their wives, Ally wrapped her arms around my neck.

Holding her tightly in my arms, she moved back her beautiful face. Searching my eyes, she asked, “Are you happy,
querido?
”

Sighing, feeling the most content I had in my entire fucking life, I pressed my lips to hers, pulling back only to whisper, “
Sono felice insieme a te… Sempre
.”