The Lullaby Sky (28 page)

“Or Fiona.” Arabella sighed. “
Abuela
said that we should call her by her first name, and she does look like a Fiona with her red hair. I hope you don’t mind that I named her after you when it came time for her christening name.”

“I’m honored, and I really would love to see you again.”

“When you are ready to tell Sophie, let me know and we will arrange for you to come to Mexico. I never intend to set foot outside my country again. Good-bye, now, Hannah, and thank you one more time. Oh, and I’ll give you the number you can reach me at any time.”

Sophie twirled out of Patsy’s reach. “Look, Mama. I’m a princess.”

Later Hannah would get in touch with Arabella, but today, right now, she was about to get married, and that was enough for that day.

“What was that all about?” Patsy asked.

Hannah gave her mother a very short version while Patsy helped her into her wedding dress. “You were right. Now Arabella’s daughter and Sophie can get to know each other. But today is my wedding day, and I want to give Travis all my attention and not think about that.”

“Smart girl. Miss Rosie is going to be so happy, because she is going to win the bet today.” Patsy grinned.

“What bet?” Hannah asked. “I didn’t know anyone but me and Travis had one going about when Darcy and Cal would get married. And he won that one.”

“She and Aunt Birdie had a bet going about when you and Travis would get married. Miss Rosie is the closest.” Patsy turned Hannah around so she could see herself in the mirror.

“That is so funny. There is never a dull moment around those two old gals.” Hannah’s breath caught in her chest when she saw her reflection. “I’m almost as pretty as you, Mama.”

“You are much more beautiful than I ever was, because today you get to marry your soul mate.”

Everyone looked up with questions on their faces when the preacher from the Crossing church appeared from the kitchen and took his place at the front of the living room. Travis had been waiting at the door, and now he crossed the room to join the preacher.

“Hannah and I have decided to get married. We didn’t want anything big, but we did want all y’all to be here with us, so thank you all.” Travis grinned.

“You ornery devil.” Aunt Birdie shook her finger at him.

“I win. You owe me a hundred dollars.” Miss Rosie clapped her hands. “And I figured this had to do with more than pictures, so I brought a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle.” She pulled it from her oversize purse sitting on the floor beside her.

“What?” Darcy asked.

“We’ve had a bet for the past month. Birdie said Easter and I said Halloween. It’s closer to my date, so she owes me,” Rosie explained. “And she still has to pay up. And we’ve been saving this bottle for this occasion for years.”

Slow piano music started playing, but it wasn’t the traditional wedding song. “A Fallen Star,” played in true Floyd Cramer style, filled the room as Hannah walked across the living room with one hand in her mother’s and the other in her daughter’s.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join this family together in holy wedlock.” The preacher’s big booming voice echoed off the walls. “Who gives this woman to this man?”

“I do because he is going to be my daddy,” Sophie piped up before Patsy could say a word.

“Enough said.” Patsy smiled and sat down beside Aunt Birdie.

In less than fifteen minutes, the preacher told Travis he could kiss the bride. He bent her over backward in a true Hollywood kiss, and when they were both upright again, he picked Sophie up on one arm while the other was draped around Hannah’s shoulders.

“From the courthouse to the Lullaby Sky,” she murmured. “I like this place much better.”

“But we had to have the courthouse before we could get to this wonderful day. I will always cherish you and love Sophie, too.” He kissed her again.

“Always and forever,” Hannah said.

Sophie stretched out her arms to Hannah for a three-way hug. “This is the bestest day of my life.”

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

D
ear Readers,

I finished writing
The Lullaby Sky
with misty eyes. It’s been said that family doesn’t have to have blood ties and sometimes a friend is closer than a brother, and these characters sure proved that to me.

Sometimes life deals us a tough hand. Each of the five friends in this book had obstacles to overcome, maybe in love, maybe in trust, or maybe with abuse. But with the help of one another, they came through the course set before them and finished with victory.

As with all my books, there are those who deserve recognition for helping take this from an idea to a finished product. My deepest appreciation to my publisher, Montlake, for continuing to believe in me; to my Montlake editor, Anh Schluep, and my developmental editor, Krista Stroever—you are amazing; to everyone on the team at Montlake who work so hard behind the curtains, and a special thanks to Jessica Poore for all that she does to make me smile.

Special gratitude to my agent, Erin Niumata, and my agency, Folio Management, Inc. Hugs to all of you!

I’d also like to thank Mr. B, my husband, who doesn’t complain when we order pizza or burgers two nights in a row so I can finish one more chapter. It takes a special person to live with an author, and he does a fine job. And once again, a big hearty thank-you to my fans, friends, and family, who buy and read my books.

And a very special thanks to everyone who helps with shelters for abused women. You are appreciated beyond what words can say.

Until next time,

Carolyn Brown

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

Photo © 2015 Charles Brown

C
arolyn Brown is a 
New York Times
 and 
USA Today
 bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and western romance and a RITA Award finalist. 
The Lullaby Sky
 is her eightieth published novel. She and her husband live in the small town of Davis, Oklahoma, where everyone knows everyone else, as well as what they’re doing and when—and they read the local newspaper on Wednesdays to see who got caught.

Carolyn and her husband have three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. When she’s not writing, she likes to sit in her gorgeous backyard with her two tomcats, Chester Fat Boy and Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw, and watch them protect the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, locusts, and spiders.