“They want you to offer them what you did for Ignacio and your mother today.”
“Doing this makes me happy,” Chloe said, gazing in Josh’s eyes.
“You make me happy,” Josh said, kissing her.
They danced until their feet hurt. Then they decided to enjoy some cake and champagne.
“I’m having such a great time,” Chloe said, taking off her sandals.
Josh took Chloe’s hands as he knelt down and pulled out a small silver box from his pocket. “Do you remember when I first left for Oregon, and I told you that someday I would come back and marry you?”
She nodded as she tried to catch her breath.
“Well, here I am. Chloe Rogers, will you marry me?” He put the diamond ring on her finger.
Chloe released a breath and gave Josh a big hug.
“Do I take that as a yes?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Chloe kissed him.
“I love you, Chloe, and I promise to make you happy always.”
“I love you too, Josh.”
“As you said last time, we belong together,” Josh said.
She embraced and kissed him.
“So, wedding planner, you have another wedding to plan?” Josh smiled.
Chloe looked up at the sky then at Josh. “I believe I do.”
Epilogue
Chloe was watching the stars in the sky with her telescope. She felt the cool breeze brush the hair away from her face as she gazed at the stars. It seemed like only yesterday that Josh had given her the telescope, yet a lot had happened since that day. She fingered her wedding ring and smiled as she peered through the lens. The moon was full and she could see the Big Dipper outside her window. There was a bright star shining directly at her and she swore that it was her star. Dad, I wish you were here right now. She knew her dad was with her in spirit.
She closed her eyes then felt her stomach and remembered another birthday with her father singing Happy Birthday amid balloons and cake. The house held so many memories of him. Her thoughts shifted to Josh and their wedding by the beach – romantic and memorable as planned.
She opened her eyes and looked down at her rounded belly. Now a little one was on the way – three months to be exact – a boy whom she would name John after her father. John Goldman. She liked the sound of his name. She and Josh had agreed to announce her pregnancy to everyone tonight. With a mini Josh on the way, she was sure to build new memories in their Half Moon Bay home.
There was a knock on her door. “Come in.”
“Hey girl, what’s taking you so long?” Nicole asked. “Everybody’s waiting for the birthday girl to come down.”
Chloe walked over to Nicole and gave her a tight embrace. “Can you believe it’s been two years since Josh gave me this telescope?”
Nicole grinned. “You’re still as sentimental as ever.”
Chloe took her friend’s arm. “Well, need I mention that in the past two years, I’ve organized more than a dozen weddings?”
“You’ve done a great job, my friend, and we’ll need to celebrate that, but first Suzanne said you need to open her gift before everybody else’s gifts – including Josh’s,” Nicole said, heading downstairs.
“Some things never change,” Chloe said, following Nicole.
They walked into the dining room where all the guests were seated and chatting.
“Here’s the birthday girl,” Matt said, giving Chloe a kiss.
“Thank you.”
Suzanne nudged Chloe from behind. “Happy Birthday, Chloe, you need to ope –”
“I know, Mom. Nicole told me. Thanks.”
“Just making sure,” Suzanne said.
“Happy Birthday, Chloe. You look so beautiful and radiant.” Jill embraced her warmly.
“Thank you, Aunt Jill,” Chloe said, looking for any sign of Josh. She hadn’t seen him all day.
“Feliz Cumpleaños, Chloe,” Ignacio greeted her as more people continued to shower Chloe with birthday wishes while eating and drinking.
Chloe pulled Suzanne to the corner and whispered, “Mom, thank you for organizing this party but I hardly recognize half of the people you invited. You know I prefer intimate gatherings.”
“Sweetie, it’s your birthday and what better way to build contacts for your business.” Suzanne winked. “Now take a deep breath and mingle. You’ll thank me afterwards.”
Chloe shrugged and excused herself to go to the kitchen. Where’s Josh? The last time she had seen him was this morning when he had kissed her goodbye and left for work. She looked at her watch and pulled out her cell phone to call him.
“Josh’s here,” Nicole yelled from the hallway.
Chloe put her cell phone away and rushed to open the front door, Nicole behind her. “Josh, you’re here. What took you so long?”
Josh walked in and handed Nicole a cake box, then turned to Chloe. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I’m sorry I took so long, but your birthday wouldn’t be complete without a cake and balloons.” He handed her the balloons and gave her a big kiss.
Chloe closed her eyes and once again remembered her dad returning home to surprise her with balloons and a cake. She embraced Josh. One day soon, he would be celebrating their baby’s birthday just as her father had with her. “Thank you for making my birthday special.”
“The birthday cake is ready,” Nicole announced.
Chloe opened her eyes and gave Josh a big kiss as they followed Nicole to the dining room.
“Before Chloe blows out the candles, we need to make an announcement,” Josh said, opening a bottle of champagne.
Nicole and Suzanne poured champagne for the guests as Josh opened sparkling cider for Chloe. “I didn’t forget about you,” he said, kissing her nose.
She smiled and held his hands tight.
“We are proud to announce that Chloe is pregnant and will be having a boy,” Josh said.
“Oh sweetie, that’s wonderful,” Suzanne said reaching out her hands to Chloe and kissing her cheeks. “Did you hear that? I’m going to be a grandmother.”
The guests squealed in delight as they all congratulated Chloe and Josh.
“Thank you!” Chloe and Josh made a toast.
“Cheers.”
“Do you know what that means, Chloe?” Suzanne squealed in delight. “We’ll need to plan a baby shower.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure you plan it.” Chloe winked.
“Ignacio, amor, I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma,” Suzanne said, her eyes moist.
Ignacio kissed her on the lips. “And I will be a grandpa.”
The guests laughed and continued to drink their champagne.
“Can we sing Happy Birthday now?” Nicole said, putting the cake in the center of the table as the guests gathered together in a circle.
Ignacio lit the birthday candles as each of them sang Happy Birthday to Chloe.
“Don’t forget to make a wish,” Suzanne said, patting Chloe’s back.
Chloe looked at her friends and family – her mom clinging to Ignacio while she sang; Nicole holding Matt’s hands as she smiled at her; Jill clapping her hands; Josh standing in front of her taking photos; and the little one on the way. She closed her eyes one last time. What could I wish for when I already have everything?
As she opened her eyes to blow out her candles, Greta ran out with wrapping paper in her mouth, Gyro chasing her, a heart shaped locket necklace with a photo of Josh and Chloe in his mouth. Behind Gyro and Greta their two little babies, Gulliver and Gertrude, slipped and slid through the room while chewing on the chain.
“Greta! Gyro!” Suzanne yelled. “That’s my gift to Chloe.”
Everybody laughed as Chloe blew out her candles.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost I would like to thank my amazing editor and writing coach, Carol Craig who was there to hold my hand and guide me through the ropes. I learned more than I could possibly learn in a lifetime from you.
A big thanks
to Melissa Miller of Solstice Publishing for opening the door of opportunity and for believing in my novel. Without you, none of this would have happened.
Thank you to Lorna Lynch, Susan Lohrer, and Deborah Beale for evaluating my first chapter and sharing your tips and advice.
Thank you so much to Christine Lemmon for the wonderful blurb you wrote. Your humility and kindness has truly inspired me.
I would like to also thank Alan Rinzler for your brilliance and sharing your wisdom about the publishing industry. If it weren’t for you, I never would have taken my novel to the next level.
A million thanks my beloved husband and best friend, Arnel Solon for your love, patience and support; even if all I did was write till the wee hours of the morning. You stood by me all throughout this journey.
Thank you so much to my exceptional son, Stefan Solon for giving me the inspiration to keep going and fulfilling my dream. You are a writer in the making.
Thanks to my delightful step-daughter, Kimberly Solon for always listening to me and for your love and support. You will always be the daughter I never had.
Thank you so much to my enchanting mother, Carmen Zialcita who has played an influential role in my life – so much that I had to include her character in this book.
A big thanks to my wonderful father, Jean Pierre Zialcita who bought us books at an early age and taught us to appreciate the beauty of words. I give a lot of credit to you for my love of writing.
Thank you to my dear bookworm sister, Victoria Marin for all your support and enthusiasm in my novel. Your insight has brought me a long way.
To my sweet brother, Ramon Zialcita, thank you for all your support and for cheering for me. I will never forget that it was you who gave me a job at a newspaper company which brought me closer to my dream.
Thank you so much to my dear friend, Carina Burns for being my number one fan and standing by me all this time.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank God, Almighty for his never-ending grace and faithfulness. This all happened in your perfect timing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Geraldine Solon is the award winning author of Romance and Women’s fiction novels. Her debut novel, Love Letters won the Beach Book Festival for the Romance category and has also been nominated for the Global eBook Awards. Dream Real Pictures has optioned Love Letters and is currently being adapted into film. Love Letters was listed on Goodreads as one of the best books published in 2011. Geraldine is a member of the California Writers Club and has studied writing courses at Stanford University. She resides in the Bay area California with her family. You can visit her website at www.geraldinesolon.com
Geraldine Solon, Love Letters
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