Shelter of Hope (New Beginnings Book 8) Read online

  “He’s been by himself for a while now. Maybe he’s come to realize loving someone isn’t always about agreeing with them one hundred percent.”

  Maggie chuckled. “I guess I can count on you to tell me if I’m doing something wrong.”

  “That goes two ways. It was you who demanded I feel, let people in. I had to be taught to participate in life again.” He lifted her chin so she could look at him. “And you were an excellent teacher.”

  She reached up and dragged his mouth to hers, then proceeded to show him how much she loved him.

  Epilogue

  “Grandpa is here,” Brady yelled from the foyer of Bienville.

  In the kitchen, Maggie tensed. Her heartbeat hammered against her rib cage. Standing at the sink, she closed her eyes and inhaled a soothing breath.

  Large hands clasped her shoulders and kneaded them. “You will be all right. With our wedding in a week, we’re starting a new life.” Cody kissed the side of her neck. “What a nice way to start a new relationship with your dad.”

  “I know and I have forgiven him.” She turned around to face her fiancé. Cradling her hand along his jaw, she peered into his eyes so full of love. “I’m putting my past behind me.”

  “We are putting our past behind us.” His lips whispered across hers. “Let’s go greet your dad.”

  Taking his hand in hers, Maggie strode toward the foyer. Brady was staying only for a few minutes before he went to football practice at the school.

  Her dad’s gaze latched on to hers, and a smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. But he remained where he was, a few feet inside the entrance. “Maggie, you’re looking good.” He flicked his attention to Brady. “And your son is all grown up. The last time I saw him he was just a toddler.”

  “Grandpa, I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back for dinner. Football practice will be starting soon. I’m a receiver.”

  “Can’t wait to see you play.” Her dad slapped her son on the back, then gave him a hug. “I’ll see you later. I’ll be here.”

  As Brady left, Cody moved forward and held out his hand to shake her dad’s. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”

  Her father looked Cody up and down. “I’ve heard good things about you from my brother.”

  Maggie stared at her father, unsure what to do or say after all this time, even though they had talked on the phone at least once a week since that first call in August. Tears shone in her dad’s eyes, matching the ones glistening in hers. “Dad, I’m glad you’re in Hope.”

  “I didn’t want to miss your wedding.”

  With Cody by her side, his arm around her shoulders, she thought of the fresh start she had with Cody and now with her dad. No more feelings of abandonment. No more fear of showing another person what she felt. No more anger over the past.

  Her dad shifted from one foot to the other. “I wish I’d never left, but I loved your mother, and she wanted to go back home to Arizona to be near her family. It’s taken me almost two years since her death to pull my life together, to figure out what I wanted.”

  “What do you want?”

  “My family—you and Brady.”

  Her heart expanded with his words. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “C’mon into the kitchen. Cody is helping me make a German chocolate cake, his favorite.”

  Her dad looked at Cody. “I think we’re gonna get along just fine. That’s my favorite, too.”

  Cody pressed Maggie to his side. “I didn’t have any worries about us not getting along. After all, we both love Maggie.”

  “That we do, son.”

  She laughed. “Y’all are going to make me blush.”

  Cody brushed his fingertip across her cheek, then gave her a brief kiss. “Honey, there’s no make about it. You are blushing.”

  Dear Reader,

  In Shelter of Hope I explore the dynamics of different families. Maggie is a single mother (never married). Cody became a “parent” to his little sister when his parents died. Kim and Zane are married, and Zane is a stepfather to Anna, Kim’s daughter (their story is in Love Runs Deep). Maggie (with her son, Brady) is part of an extended family, living with her uncle and his wife. There are so many different types of family nowadays. What the average family looks like is changing. Often members of a family live hundreds of miles from others in their family. There aren’t as many families where three or four generations live in the same household, or close to each other. Staying close to our loved ones who live states away can be a challenge, but keeping in touch with your family is important.

  Best wishes,

  Margaret Daley

  More Books by Margaret Daley

  NEW BEGINNINGS Series

  Love’s Healing Power

  Unexpected Love

  Finding Love Again

  Heart of a Hero

  A Gift of Love

  An Act of Love

  Love Runs Deep

  Shelter of Hope

  DARING ESCAPES Series

  Into the Darkness

  Into the Fire

  EVERYDAY HEROES Series

  Hunted

  Obsessed

  Trapped

  Kidnapped

  Stolen

  STRONG WOMEN, EXTRAORDINARY SITUATIONS Series

  Deadly Hunt

  Deadly Intent

  Deadly Holiday

  Deadly Countdown

  Deadly Noel

  Deadly Dose

  Deadly Legacy

  Deadly Night, Silent Night

  Deadly Fires

  Deadly Secrets

  About the Author

  Margaret Daley

  Margaret Daley, a USA Today’s Bestselling author of over 105 books (five million plus sold worldwide), has been married for over forty-seven years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling or being with her two granddaughters, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense/mystery thread and corralling her cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at www.margaretdaley.com.

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  Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/238174.Margaret_Daley

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