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Millie
Eight Months Later
“I told you so.”
We’re at the hospital, and I’m watching my husband as he stares in awe at the little bundle in his arms. “You told me what?”
“I told you that I was going to give you a boy.”
Austin just smirks at me. “You can rub it in all you want, I’m not complaining.”
Jacob Austin Yates was born less than three hours ago, and already Dad and Carrie brought in the girls to meet their little brother. They have been so excited to meet him, and I have no doubt they’re going to be very helpful. Jacob just stared at them wide-eyed as they talked and cooed over him. He’s so little now, but there’s no doubt in my mind that one day he’s going to tower over the both of them and protect his big sisters. Especially if he’s anything like his daddy.
Violet also came to see the new addition to our family, and it’s only now that I’ve been alone with Jacob for any amount of time. This pregnancy was so much easier than the twins’ birth. And even though I had some pain, it was nothing like when I was carrying the girls.
Austin walks over to the side of the bed. He secures Jacob in one arm and touches my shoulder with his free hand. “You okay, Momma?”
“Come here.” I have so many emotions inside me. I’m nervous about raising a boy. I don’t know a lot about little boys, but Austin has promised he’ll help me.
He leans over and cups my cheek. “What is it? You need something?”
My voice wobbles a little. “You. I need you, Austin Yates.”
He looks into my eyes, and I swear the man gets me. He’s always doing things for me. All I have to do is say the word, and he gives me what I want or need. Sometimes he even knows what I need before I know what it is.
He pulls the bassinet-type bed closer to us and lays Jacob in it. He’s swaddled so tightly he doesn’t even notice that he’s no longer in someone’s arms. We watch him sleep and relish in the fact that we did this… he’s our miracle.
When Austin turns to me, his eyes have a fresh sheen of tears. He gathers me into his arms. “You have me, Millie. You will always have me. Thank you for giving me this life. You and the girls and now our son, you’re my everything. I love you, baby.”
I sigh against his chest. “I love you, too.”
Captivated
Whiskey Run
Chapter1
Heather
The bus hits a pothole, and I jerk awake. I can’t believe I fell asleep on a two-hour bus ride, but I’d been exhausted. The sign says Whiskey Run, and I smile at the quaint looking town. It looks like the bus is going to drop us off right in the middle of downtown.
The driver stops, and I get up, waiting for the others to get up too, but then discover that I’m the only one getting off at this stop. Maybe I should have picked Jasper. It was the same amount of money, but I liked the name of this town better. Obviously, my instincts are not very good if a busload of around forty people are going to Jasper instead of Whiskey Run. I grab my bag, thank the bus driver, and take a step off the bus. There’s another sign in front of me, and I almost get right back on the bus. It saysWhiskey Run, Home of Blaze Whiskey. Picking the town that makes my father’s favorite whiskey is definitely a bad omen. But before I can change my mind, the doors shut behind me, and the bus takes off.
I don’t have any money and don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve never had a cell phone, and I left most of my things behind except grabbing a few changes of clothes and my toothbrush. All I know is I need a shower and would love some food, but the first item of business is to find a job.
I walk toward the center of town and stop to stare up at the Sugar Glaze Bakery sign. I do know how to bake so maybe, just maybe, they could be hiring.
I inhale deeply as I walk in, and my stomach grumbles at the same time. The woman behind the counter smiles real big at me, and I automatically smile back. “Hi. Uh, my name is uh, Heather. Can you tell me if you’re hiring?” The fake name sort of just comes out. I may have the police looking for me and if I use my real name, they’re going to find me fast. I obviously didn’t think this through though. How the heck am I going to get a job with a fake name?
“I’m sorry, sweetie. We’re not hiring.”
I smile and thank her. I turn to walk out the door and she stops me. “Try over at Red’s Diner. They may be hiring. Ask for Violet.”
“Great. Thank you so much.”
I walk down the sidewalk and spot the diner. It’s a decent size restaurant and looks to be busy. All I can do is hope and pray they’re hiring.