Wicked Reunion by Valentine Michelle A

Author:Valentine, Michelle A. [Valentine, Michelle A.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

NOW

JARED

Bells chime as I push the door to Mom’s shop open. I stare down at the handle and smile. They’re the bells I used in a Christmas pageant for our church when I was in the third grade. I hated those damn bells, but it had made Mom so happy that I’d volunteered to be in the pageant that I couldn’t take it back and beg her to not make me do it even after they assigned me to play those stupid bells.

“Be right with you,” Mom calls from the back room where she does all her prep work.

I open my mouth to tell her it’s me but decide against it because I figure she’s wrapping up something important.

I take my time walking around the shop. Everywhere I look there’s some flower arrangement or some amazing display of baked goods—each one more artistic and beautiful than the last. Her skills have really evolved. She took on arranging flowers to go along with the candies to bring in more money. Selling the candies alone wasn’t enough to pay all the bills without Dad’s income.

On the wall behind the counter, there’s an array of photos of different events. Most look like weddings, and from what I can tell, Mom has provided flowers and desserts for several fancy events.

One wedding photo catches my attention—what I think is the groom in particular. The picture isn’t centered on him, but he’s standing next to a large floral arch as he stares down the aisle at what I assume is his bride. The guy in the picture—he looks a lot like Wes, just a little older. Surely if my older brother had gotten married, Mom would have figured out a way to slip that into one of our conversations over the past five years.

I lean in a little closer to inspect the photo, and I’m convinced it’s him. All the same features are present: the sandy-blond hair, same brown eyes. Hell, the man had even folded his hands in front of himself in the way Wes does.

“Jared?” Mom’s voice from the doorway leading to the back catches me off guard.

I straighten up, my eyes meeting her gaze. She looks almost the same as I remember her, only there are a few more prominent lines around the corners of her eyes and mouth. Her dark hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, and her blue eyes glisten with unshed tears at the sight of me standing here.

I give her a small smile. “Hi, Mom.”

Unable to hide her excitement, she squeals as she makes her way around the counter and wraps me in one of the tightest hugs known to mankind. She buries her face in my neck and holds me tight against her petite frame. “My boy is home. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.”

She continues to chant over and over like her longtime prayers have finally been answered, and it chokes me up a bit to know that she’s been waiting for this day so badly. It makes me feel like a completely shitty asshole for not coming to see her sooner.

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