Free Reunion Pass: An Eternity Springs novel by Emily March Page B

from the heart.
    “Nic. Mom. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Nic … when you moved back to Eternity Springs and allowed me to hang around your clinic and indulge my love of animals, you changed my life. I don’t have words to explain how much I value your encouragement and support. You’ve been my teacher, my confidant, my friend. I can never repay you, but I will promise to try to fill a similar role for Meg and Cari and Baby Branch as they grow up. I love you.”
    “Oh, Lori. Thank you. I love you, too.”
    Lori drew in a deep breath, then turned to her mother. Tears blurred her eyes and her throat went tight. “Mom, where do I start? You are my hero. By both word and deed, you taught me every important lesson I’ve learned in life. From you I learned the power of dreams and the necessity of hard work. I learned the value of family and friends. I learned how to love and be loved. You are the best mother in the world and I’m so proud to be your daughter.”
    Sarah’s audible sob tipped the scales for Lori. Blubbering, she rushed into her mother’s arms. As they opened their embrace to include Nic, Cam lifted his champagne glass and completed the toast Lori had been unable to finish. “To Nic and Sarah.”
    When the women broke apart, Cam lifted his glass once again. “That was lovely, Lori. Now, I’d like to offer a toast. Do you mind?”
    She gestured for him to proceed.
    “All right, then. I have a few things I’d like to say publicly to my beautiful daughter, Dr. Lori Murphy.”
    “Aw, Dad,” Devin Murphy protested in a long-suffering voice. “Are you going to get mushy, too?”
    “Probably.” Cam met Lori’s gaze and smiled warmly. “Definitely.”
    “Obviously left your man card at home.”
    Lori elbowed Devin in the side and teased, “Deal with it, squirt.”
    “For a guy who finished high school as an afterthought, I’m still in awe at the idea that my firstborn has earned the right to use ‘doctor’ before her name. I’d like to be able to claim some credit for her accomplishment, but we all know that would be a lie. This is Lori’s accomplishment. Lori and Sarah’s. I’m so proud of you, Lori, and of your mother, too. I’m also grateful more than I can say to this awesome little town who kept my girls safe for me until I found my way back home. So, to my girls. I love you dearly.”
    Then, the party got started.
    Ali served Lori’s favorite pasta Bolognese as the entrée, the house Chianti, and pizza for the children—of which there were many. Very many. Lori gazed out toward the back patio where the usual tables and chairs had been cleared out to make room for picnic benches and a bounce house. Two high-schoolers had been hired to babysit—another example of Ali’s excellent planning. Although, in another year, the increased munchkin population among their friends would probably require a need to hire three. Lori leaned toward Brick Callahan who was seated next to her and said, “I think we might have to change the name of the town to Maternity Springs.”
    Brick sipped his wine. “That’s an idea. Maybe if Celeste’s angel theme ever needs a reboot, they could consider it. It’d be a great marketing tool. I can picture it now. Spend the night at Fertility Falls and nine months later, visit Maternity Springs.”
    Lori laughed and Brick shot her a grin. Then, unexpectedly, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You done good with this, Lori. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for Nic. Gabe, too. They’ve been a bundle of nerves since her early-labor scare. It’s nice to see them relaxed and enjoying themselves.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    When Maggie Romano brought out her famous Italian cream cake at the end of the meal, the guests all cheered, and Lori decided that the whole evening had been just about perfect.
    Two beloved faces were sadly missing. Her maternal grandparents, Frank and Ellen Reese, had been irreplaceable influences in Lori’s life during her childhood