Destined to Love (Starting Over Trilogy Book 3) by Brenda Kennedy Page A

between our families,” Mason says while squeezing my hand.  
    “I understand, but may I post the engagement in the newspaper? Something announcing the engagement with a photo of you both?” Lilly sits up straighter from across from the table and smiles. “Mason, I’m your mother and you’ll get married only once. Please let me do to this for you, for you both.”  
    Mason promises to provide his mother with a picture of us before they leave tonight. We ask her and Bruce about having the wedding in their backyard on New Year’s Eve. They are excited about us getting married there and readily agree to open their home to us and our friends for the wedding. Lilly starts to cry and Bruce comforts her. Mason squeezes my hand under the table. Mason and I inform his mother that we want a small intimate wedding. She readily agrees.
    Mason and Bruce clear the table, while Lilly, Madison, and I get the coffee and dessert ready. We sit at the table and talk about me quitting my job and starting my own business. We also talk about Mason selling his condo fully furnished and that he needs to go over tomorrow to clear out his personal belongings. Madison announces that she thinks the condo will sell quickly. She says that she often gets request for condos in that building and because it is the penthouse with the view it has, it will bring in several different buyers.
    “Mason, I’ll meet you at the condo tomorrow and we can get most of your personal items in a few trips,” Bruce says.  
      “Can you go to the cottage and get my white desk and a few other items from there?” 
    “Oh, you’re getting rid of the cottage?” Lilly asks.  
    “Well no, I’m gifting it to my aunt and uncle. It originally belonged to my Aunt Rosie, Raùl’s sister. I am meeting with an attorney next week to help draw up the paperwork.”  
    “Angel, save your money. I can assist you with that,” Bruce offers.
    “Thank you, I’ll call and cancel my appointment on Monday. ”  
    Mason tells his Mom and Dad that we would like to go to church with them Sunday. His mother is so excited and tells us Mason hasn’t been to church in months. She tells us to be there at 11:00 a.m. sharp. After everyone leaves, Mason jumps in the shower and I pull out the items I bought from Babies R Us yesterday. I hold the small booties in my hand and smile. They are so tiny. I bought a pink pair and a blue pair. I tuck them away in my dresser and then take a quick shower.
    Mason  
    I get out of the shower and walk into the bedroom, expecting to see Angel. I hear water in the bathroom so I know she is in the shower. I don’t want to run into her wearing a towel or less. I dress quickly and head out to the lanai to make sure everything is cleaned up  
    The news we got at the doctor’s yesterday was good news. The fetus is healthy as far as can be determined. Anything that is a part of Angel, I swear, I will love as much as I love her. She is amazing and beautiful. She doesn’t have a clue how her beauty affects people. They stop what they are doing just to watch her. She has inner beauty to match her outer beauty, as well. She would give up her lunch to feed someone in need. I once saw her give a homeless man a sack lunch she had made for herself to eat. We watched him give half of the lunch to another homeless man.
    Angel’s inner strength is starting to show. I knew she had it; I just haven’t seen it until now. She is coming to terms with being pregnant. I was afraid she would become depressed and shut herself out from the world and from me, but she didn’t. It must still be hard on her to have a reminder of that night with Jim. I am so proud of her. I noticed she got some pregnancy books from the library, but hasn’t opened them yet.
    Angel walks out on the lanai wearing the white linen shirt I had on earlier. I look over at her and smile.
    “Nice shirt.”  
    She smiles, “It smells like you. I hope you don’t mind my wearing it.”