Free EMMA (Mail-Order Brides Club, #1) by Ashley Merrick Page B

spent and satisfied and grinning from ear to ear.
    "So that's what all the fuss is about," she said. "Can we just stay here and do this forever?" She sighed with happiness.
    Ethan leaned over and kissed her again, lightly. "We can do this whenever you want, as many times as you want. It will never be enough for me."
    "Have I mentioned that I love you, Ethan Donovan?"
    "You may have mentioned it in passing, but I'll never get tired of hearing it. Or saying it. I love you, Emma Donovan."

CHAPTER NINE
Epilogue
Three months later....
    E mma reread Julia's letter as they left church and drove over to Ethan's parents’ house for Sunday dinner. Julia sounded troubled, and Emma was worried for her.
    I'm worried about Mr. Gregory. He's been forgetting things lately and there have been some mistakes with a few of his clients’ accounts. I've volunteered to take on more and to help as much as possible, but I don't think he's well and I'm not sure what will happen to his business, and to me, if something were to happen to him, if, God forbid, he dies or has to close the business. I'm just concerned. As you know, jobs are few and far between here, especially for a girl doing accounting work. Why would anyone hire me when there are men in line for the jobs?
    Emma folded the letter and put it back in her coat pocket. It was time to have a talk with Liam and see how serious he was about having one of her friends come out here. Liam was a big talker, a charmer, and it was hard to know if he was just having fun.
    Everyone was at the house when they arrived and Emma and Hannah helped Naomi bring the food out. They were having pasta and meatballs and lots of garlic bread. The meal was a treat, something they didn't often have. Naomi had said she’d fallen in love with the Italian dish when they first arrived in New York City. As they sat down and after Naomi led grace, Ethan stood up to make an announcement.
    "We have some news. Emma and I, are in the family way. Emily is going to have a brother."
    "Or a sister." Emma said with a smile. Congratulations flowed around the table and toasts were given. Emma gave Ethan's hand a squeeze under the table and he gave her a sweet smile. She knew he was excited but also very nervous about her pregnancy.
    "Be patient with him," Naomi said, after they'd all eaten and she and Hannah were cleaning up. "He's going to be a nervous wreck until that baby arrives and you're both safe and sound."
    "I know. I don't blame him."
    "How are you feeling?" Hannah asked wistfully.
    "I'm good, fine so far." Emma had been praying for Hannah to have a baby, too. It almost didn't seem fair that it had happened for her right away.
    Once they'd put everything away and set out dessert, which was frosted cupcakes that Emma and Emily made, Emma grabbed two cupcakes and went off to find Liam.
    "Feel like being bad with me?" she teased when she found him at the table, flipping through a newspaper.
    "Always," he responded with enthusiasm as she handed him a cupcake.
    "So, I have a question for you," she began.
    "Ask away, I'm an open book," he said as he took a giant bite of the cupcake.
    "Were you serious all those times you've asked me to tell my friends about you? Do you really want to get married? Sight unseen?"
    He sat up then, the cupcake forgotten. "Yes, why? Did you not think I was serious? I'm serious," he added for emphasis.
    "Okay. I think the timing might be right for my friend, Julia, to make a move. I didn't want to really suggest it, though, unless you were sure."
    "What is she like? Your Julia?"
    Emma smiled. "Julia is wonderful. Everyone loves her. You'll love her. She's funny and smart and really good with numbers." She thought for a minute as an idea came to her. "She can probably help you with the numbers side of your business, actually. That's what she does. Oh, and she's pretty. Really pretty."
    "How pretty?" Liam wanted a visual description.
    "She's about my height, average weight, long, strawberry-blonde