Sweet Hope (Sweet Home #4)(98)
Molly laughed to herself and shook her head, blushing. “I’m rambling. I know I am rambling. But sitting here in this restaurant tonight makes my heart fit to burst with happiness and pride.” She went quiet and I watched a single tear run down her cheek and splash onto the tabletop.
Everything was silent as Molly kept her head low. But inhaling a breath, she continued. “Twenty-five years ago I had no family... I had little hope. And now? Today I am blessed with the best family and friends in the world... and a bucket load of hopes and dreams.”
Lifting her head, a smile spread on her lips and she huffed a watery laugh. “In my head, I picture all of us growing old, our friendships never fading. I picture our children’s weddings, Christmases and birthdays shared together… the years rolling by filled with love and happiness… and I picture all of us as grandparent’s telling our grandchildren stories about how we all met, about all the journeys we took in our lives—both the good and the bad.”
Ally was full on crying beside me. In fact, as I scanned round the table, everyone was fighting to keep their shit together. Even the kids were silently watching Molly talk, her daughter, Taylor, and three sons, Isaac, Archie and Elias, looking at her like she was their sun.
“What I’m trying to say is that the day I took a chance with the move to Alabama was the best thing I’ve ever done… because it brought me to you guys. I love you all so much that some days it’s almost too much to contain.” Raising a glass, Molly announced, “A toast... to taking a chance, because that chance taken may be the very path that leads you to your happily ever after.”
All of us rose to our feet, toasting with a glass of champagne and all the girls ran over to Molly to hug her. As I watched Ally kissing and holding her best friends, I glanced to my right, only to see Austin and Levi moving to stand by my side. Silently, I put my arms around the shoulders of my brothers.
It was at that moment I knew I couldn’t regret a thing. Not one thing that happened in my life, because this moment, right now, this feeling, was worth every bit of pain and heartache.
At that moment, Ally turned and caught my eye. Leaving her friends, she walked over to where I stood looking as damn breathtaking as the day I met her. Levi and Austin clapped me on the back and moved aside. As my brothers headed back to their wives, Ally wrapped her arms around my neck.
Holding her tightly in my arms, she moved back her beautiful face. Searching my eyes, she asked, “Are you happy, querido?”
Sighing, feeling the most content I had in my entire f*cking life, I pressed my lips to hers, pulling back only to whisper, “Sono felice insieme a te… Sempre.”
Playlist
The playlist can be found under ‘Sweet Hope’ on: http://tilliecole.com
Tainted Love — Marilyn Manson
Amor Prohibido — Selena
Live With Lonesome — Little Big Town Kiss The Rain — Yiruma
Boot of Spanish Leather — Amos Lee Roses — James Arthur (ft. Emeli Sande) Mess Is Mine — Vance Joy
Bright — Echosmith
You Hurt The Ones You Love/I Don’t Believe That — Maria Mena Brother — NEEDTOBREATHE (ft. Gavin DeGraw) Tutto L’Amore Che Ho — Jovanotti The Prayer — RyanDan
Heartbeats — Jose Gonzales
Run — Leona Lewis
Lips Of An Angel — Hinder
Something Good This Way Comes — Jakob Dylan Brother — Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes What I’ve Done — Linkin Park
Sweet Dreams — Beyonce
El Camino — Emos Lee
My Silver Lining — First Aid Kit Sigh No More — Mumford & Sons L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. — Noah and The Whale Say Anything — Tristan Prettyman Shattered & Hollow — First Aid Kit
Acknowledgements
Sweet Hope was difficult to write knowing that it was the final book in the Sweet Home Series. This series launched my career as an author, and I will be forever grateful to the characters that lived in my head, urging me to put their stories to the page, and also, the magnitude of people that have helped me along the way…
Mam and Dad, we’re now chugging full steam ahead! Thank you for setting me on course, and for riding shotgun beside me! Love you both!
To my husband. You encourage me, push me to always make every novel my best, and love me for the person I am, flaws and all. I love you to the moon and back. You’re my Rome, Austin and Axel all rolled into one childhood sweetheart package… we just need to keep building up your tattoos!!! Full Carillo coverage is the goal! ;) Sam, Marc, Taylor, Isaac, Archie and Elias. Love you all. And, Isaac, I’ll keep working on the theme park at Universal Studios!
To my fabulous beta readers: Thessa, Kelly, Kia, Rachel and Lynn. Your comments and advice were invaluable. You always have my back and are not afraid to tell me straight. I love you guys for that. The best team a gal could ask for. Onward!!!!
Thessa, my sweet sweet friend. Thank you for manning my Facebook page and keeping me in check. Thank you for the endless meme’s and promotional teasers/pimping you do. And a HUGE thank you for encouraging me to write this novel. Your love for Axel convinced me that I was on the right lines and that he desperately deserved this story. Love you, missus! Don’t know what I’d do without you!
Kelly, and Have Book Will Read Book Blog for hosting my blog tour and just being a fabulous friend. I appreciate everything you do for me. And I love that you have my back, defending my honour and championing me all the way. The day I met you was a blessing. Cannot wait for more!