The Bridesmaid's Baby (16 page)

Surrounded by flowers.

Surrounded by so many flowers, in fact, that she felt like a celebrity.

‘You
are
a celebrity,’ Gina told her. ‘Think how many puppies and kittens and ponies and sheep you’ve looked after in this district. Every household in Willowbank is thrilled that you now have your own dear little boy.’

‘And he’s such a beauty,’ said Mattie, gazing fondly at the sleeping little cherub in the crib.

Lucy watched the soft glow in Mattie’s eyes, watched the reverent way Mattie stared at little Nathan, at the way she gently touched his cheek, and she felt a tiny current of excitement inside her.

The excitement grew as Lucy saw the meaningful glance Mattie sent to her husband, and a thrilled shiver ran through her as she witnessed the warm intimacy of Jake’s answering smile.

They had important news. Baby news. Lucy could feel it in her bones.

‘Mattie…’ she said, but then she stopped, not sure how to continue.

Mattie smiled, almost as if she was encouraging Lucy to question her.

‘You’re not?’ Lucy began and then she stopped again.

‘Yes!’ Mattie exclaimed and she was smiling broadly now. She reached for Jake’s hand and their fingers twined. Her eyes glowed. ‘I’m three months pregnant.’

‘And we couldn’t be happier,’ said Jake, backing up his words with a huge grin.

The room suddenly erupted with excited questions and congratulations.

‘That’s the most perfect news,’ Lucy said and she knew she was beaming with joy as she looked around the room, filled with the people who were so important to her—Gina and Tom, Mattie and Jake—and Will, her darling Will. And now, dear little Nathan William Carruthers.

‘There’s going to be a whole new generation of the Willow Creek gang,’ Tom said, grinning.

Everyone laughed and, from his vantage point near the door, Will sent his wife a conspiratorial wink. He thought Lucy had never looked more beautiful.

He looked around the room at their friends and he marvelled at the sense of completion he felt. He thought about the long and roundabout journey he’d taken to reach this satisfying moment.

And he knew at last that he was finally home.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-4112-5

THE BRIDESMAID’S BABY

First North American Publication 2009.

Copyright © 2009 by Barbara Hannay.

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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