My Dearest Sam,
It seems so strange to be writing you this letter, but I know it needs to be done. I need to tell you goodbye in a way that brings you closure. I love you. I miss you already, but please know that I’ll be with you always. Think of me often—but only of the good times we shared. Mend your fragile heart. Forgive Nash entirely if you haven’t already. Get married. Grow old together, and love one another so much you feel like you’re about to burst. Don’t fault people for hurting and grieving in a way you wouldn’t. Always watch the sunset with gratitude in your heart, and be thankful for each sunrise you get to see. Tend to your houseplants because they bring you joy, but also tend to my garden because I worked too damn hard for it to go to waste. Look for rainbows when you need answers from me. And know that this pregnancy is different. You will hold the sweet bundle of joy in your arms this time.
I’m with you, sweetheart, always.
Love,
Gran
P.S. Set my ashes free in the garden. I want to spend time in my favorite place while watching you as a mother.
My hand fell to my stomach. This pregnancy? Was I pregnant?
Bone deep exhaustion. Nausea. Emotions being haywire.
Yes, I was grieving… but I was also pregnant.
My bear let out a noise that I knew meant she was excited, and I wondered if she’d known this entire time. Maybe that was why she’d kept nudging me to take better care of myself. I’d just thought it was her way of making sure I was coping with Gran’s loss okay.
Nash.
I pulled my cell from my back pocket and dialed his number.
“Are you okay?” He asked when he answered, concern heavy in his tone. “I’m turning around now. Just passing Rayna’s RV.”
“I’m fine, but I want you here,” I said, wondering if he’d be able to hear the smile in my tone—the happiness.
“I’m almost there. Rounding the corner now. I can see the cabin.”
“Good.”
The crunching of gravel sounded a few seconds later, and I knew Nash was here. I made my way through the cabin to meet him on the porch. He hung up and shoved his phone in his pocket as he slid from the golf cart and started toward me.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, eyes wide and worried.
“Nothing.” My lips twisted into a smile as I held his stare. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” His brows pinched together, and the tension in his features melted away as a smile twisted across his face. It reached the corners of his eyes, crinkling them. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you know? Did you take a test?”
“Gran left me a note. She said it’s going to be a healthy baby.”
Nash smoothed a hand over his face. “We’re going to be parents. Holy shit, we’re having a baby!”
He lifted me up and spun me around. When he set me back down, his hand dipped to my stomach and he dropped to his knees.
“You’re going to be spoiled rotten and loved so much,” he whispered to our baby. “Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?” Nash asked, looking up at me.
“I think it’s a girl,” I said without hesitation. It was a feeling I had.
“We’re going to be in trouble if it is because there’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll be a knockout just like her mama.” Nash’s attention shifted back to my stomach.
I grabbed hold of the heart pendant with Gran’s ashes tucked safely inside and made her a silent promise—my daughter’s name would be Dottie.
I hope you enjoyed Sam and Nash’s story. If you enjoyed the feel of my Gem Creek Bears series, you might also enjoy my Marked Duology.
One Bite Changes Everything…
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About the Author
Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina where she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.
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