Page 59 of Wanting Happily Ever After

“I don’t know,” Hope was saying. “It sure looks like the two of you aresomething.I haven’t seen a kiss like that in a very long time. Especially not between two people who claim they don’t have feelings for each other. But if you say that—”

“I do say that!” Faith knew she was protesting too much. Especially because when she saw the photo, she’d been completely mesmerized. It really did look as if they were madly, deeply in love. And just looking at the image brought back all the feelings of that moment. Logan’s lips on hers. His tongue twisted up with hers. His body pressed up against hers so she could feel every inch of him and how badly he wanted her.

Damn.

“Whatever you say, sis.” Hope laughed. “Honestly, when are you going to get over all this nonsense about not believing in love? It’s getting a little old. Hasn’t running Ever After changed your mind about things at all?”

Faith pulled up a chair and sat down backward, facing the screen and her sister. She sighed hard.Had it changed her mind? Was it all nonsense?

The conversation she’d overheard her parents having definitely hadn’t been nonsense. But maybe she’d been wrong all this time. After all, her parents had fought, certainly. But they’d still loved each other, hadn’t they? At the time she hadn’t thought so. Faith’s teenage self had been so sure that they’d been putting on a front for their friends and neighbors. But maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe their argument, no matter how serious it had been, hadn’t been the destruction of them.

She had a lot to think about.

“So,” Hope prompted. “Remember when you said you were going to tell me why you have such crazy ideas about love anyway? It’s way past time. Spill.”

Faith stared at her twin on the screen. They were thousands of miles apart, but in so many ways it felt as if she were right there in the room with her. Hope’s face was slightly rounder than it had been before she’d left. Whether that was from all the good food they’d had traveling or the early stages of pregnancy, she didn’t know. Either way, it looked good on her, because she looked incredibly happy.

“Did I tell you about the wedding we’re having next week?” Faith changed the subject, unwilling to upset her sister with the truth. “I swear, I’m going to start specializing in last-minute weddings. It’s beginning to become a bit of a trend around here.”

Hope laughed, but Faith could tell she wasn’t going to let it go so easily this time. “Who is it?”

Faith straightened up in her chair. “Nicole Lewis. Remember Josh’s sister? Sarah’s sister-in-law. Oh, remind me to tell you about Sarah and Brody, too.”

“Nicole?” Hope looked genuinely shocked. “Of course I remember her. You forget I never moved away. And yes, don’t forget to tell me about Sarah and Brody, but only if it’s good news,” she added. “Who is Nicole marrying? I always thought she was…”

“Gay?” Faith finished for her. “She is. And she has met the love of her life. Her name is Amy.” For the next few minutes, Faith filled her sister in on all the details of Nicole and Amy and they both agreed that it was fantastic. There had been a bit of pushback in town from some of the less liberal townspeople when it came to same-sex marriage, but neither Faith nor Hope cared what they thought because at the end of the day, anyone who was as in love, regardless of gender, race, or…well, anything, really…deserved to celebrate that love. And Ever After Ranch was proud to host any celebration of love and dedication.

When they were finished talking about the upcoming weddings on the schedule, Faith did her sisterly duty and filled her in on Sarah and Brody, who’dfinallygotten over themselves and discovered that not only were they desperately in love with each other, they had been for a very long time. The story of their engagement was one of the sweetest stories, and both Faith and Hope agreed that they couldn’t wait to plan that wedding when the time came.

“I do have a bit more news for you,” Hope added before they disconnected. The smile fell off her face. “It looks like we have to cut our trip short and come home next week.”

Of all the things that Faith had been expecting, it hadn’t been that. “Is everything okay?”

Hope nodded. “My blood pressure is a little high and the doctors want me closer. Mostly as a precaution. But it looks like I get to look forward to a whole lot of bed rest, so you’re still going to be running things for a while, if that’s okay?”

“Of course it’s okay.” Faith leaned forward. “But you’re okay? You’re sure? Everything is all right?”

“Honestly, I’m fine. But I’m not supposed to have any stress.” She laughed. “So you and Levi can wait on me hand and foot, okay?”

Faith nodded. She’d do whatever it took to keep her sister and her unborn baby safe.

They discussed the details of their arrival home and said their good-byes.

Before Faith headed out to the barn and Logan, who would no doubt be arriving soon and want to make a big deal about their featured article, she tidied up the kitchen and gathered up the large manila envelope she’d found in a box of her parents’ old files.

She’d meant it when she’d said that she’d do anything to keep Hope and her baby safe. No stress? No problem. But that meant it wouldn’t be anytime soon that she told Hope about that argument she’d overheard all those years ago, and the envelope that held the details of the subject of that argument.

The child their mother had given up for adoption before her parents were married.

No.

Faith would keep that particular detail to herself a little while longer.

She tucked the envelope into the cupboard over the fridge. She’d deal with it later.

Much later.

ChapterTwenty

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