She sighed, feeling like the luckiest woman on earth. She was finally getting her Christmas wish. A family.
Andrew winked at her. “Really, baby. Are you sure you want to take the risk of being crushed by family togetherness on Christmas?”
Meredith didn’t even have to think twice. “Yes,” she replied, smiling. “Yes, I’ll take it.”
Acknowledgments
I never would have been able to write this story if it hadn’t been for my husband. He not only gave me the time to write; he also gave me the confidence and encouragement I needed to keep writing until I got to where I needed to go. He is my partner in every sense, my life’s love, my best friend. There is not enough space in all the pages in all the books to express my respect and love for him.
To my children, for their patience with Mommy when I needed to finish another chapter, and for their impatience when I needed to be reminded of what was really important.
Tahra Seplowin and Heather Howland, this book’s brilliant editors, I am proud of and humbled by the hard work and constant positivity that you both put into it. Thank you for seeing something in this story in the first place, and then giving so much time and energy toward making it even better. And thank you for simply being good people.
Tahra, I wonder every day what I would do without you. After so many frustrated attempts at starting this story, it was your suggestions that really made it explode to life.
Mary Spencer, I wish you were still alive so that you could see what you inspired. I owe my love of romance—and all that grew out of it—to you.
Mom, thank you for buying those countless romance novels for me before I was able to buy my own, even when I was in my Angry Teen phase and certainly didn’t deserve your time, money, or care. If I didn’t tell you before, I want you to know now that it meant a lot to me.
To Dad, Daniel, and Sara, for being such a big part of who I am today.
For the bonds that we forged in our youth, the ones that constantly bring us back to one another across the time and distance of lives well-lived, thank you: Kim Har, John Mark Keller, Merrilee Brinegar, and Vanessa Nudd.
To everyone who has worked so hard to give this book life, including its readers…thank you.
About the Author
Audra North fell in love with romance at age thirteen and spent the next twenty years reading as many romance novels as she could. Even now, after having read over one thousand of them, Audra still can’t resist the lure of a happily ever after, and her collection continues to grow. She lives near Boston with her husband, three young children, and a lot of books. Visit her website at www.audranorth.com or find her (way too frequently) on Twitter @AudraNorth.