Finally Found

Five years later…

Adam stepped out of the car, walked around to the back seat and hauled Amelia out of the back seat. She giggled when she saw him. “Daddy, can we eat with Mommy today?” She asked.

“That’s the plan,” he responded. They held hands as they walked toward the door. Amelia had her rituals. He prepared for the first one. Sure enough, they paused so she could read the sign. She couldn’t really read yet, but she knew certain words…like the sign.

“Cammie’s Meals,” she said while pointing at the sign.

“Yes, mommy’s café. Shall we see if Uncle Sam, Aunt Haley, and Elijah are here?” They walked in and were greeted immediately. Ah, the benefits of ownership.

As they headed to the usual table, Amelia saw the rest of the family. She squealed and rushed to the table just as Cammie walked out of the kitchen. Her belly was popping and she was working on a serious waddle. Adam smiled as she walked directly into his arms.

“I don’t think you’ve ever looked more beautiful,” he murmured into her hair. “So can you join us to eat?”

Nodding, positively glowing from the compliment, she said, “Absolutely.”

There were the usual kisses and hugs as everyone enjoyed their Sunday brunch together. “I’m so glad we do this,” Haley commented. She looked around the table before squeezing Sam’s hand.

“What was that for?” He asked.

“I look around and realize I have everything I ever wanted, ever needed. You made this happen.” She smiled. “You made me confront my past and gave me back my life.”

A sniffle indicated that Cammie was crying. “Stupid pregnancy hormones,” she grumbled.

“You know,” Adam said with his hand around her shoulders, “we all made out pretty well on this deal. I think we all found just what we needed, even if we didn’t know we were ready for it.”

The waiter brought them mimosas and straight orange juice for the kids and Cammie. After everyone had their drink, he toasted them. “Here’s to five happy years and many many more.” Looking at Cammie he asked her, “So doll, what shall we work on next? We have a daughter, a son on the way, and your dream café. Now what?”

“I recall that before the wedding, you promised that life would slow down. Let’s try that. Let’s slow down and enjoy every minute of it.” She smiled. “Unless there’s something you are dying for us to accomplish?”

He shook his head and smiled. “With you in my life and our children, I’ve finally found everything I always wanted.”



Nicki has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina with her children for the past eleven years and her husband for the past three years. Her journey has barely begun and she loves every minute of it. Every day of her life seems to bring new adventures, some bigger, better, shinier and prettier than others. She's still getting used to that new life smell she's experiencing, a combination of hope, love, and happiness. (The perfect scents to build a new life on...)

For fun, she spends time with those she cares about, cooks, reads, writes, and especially lives to travel. The current travel goal: visit every Margaritaville. Two down! (Eleven to go?)

In addition to writing on Suddenly Single Journey, Nicki is a contributor for Project Underblog. Her writing can also be found on Shine, where she is a Shine Parenting Guru and an award winning Yahoo! Contributor on YourWisdom as the relationship and dating expert. And she has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers.

Her books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

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https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nicoleandrewsmoore

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As always, I really couldn’t have done this without the support and encouragement I received from my family and friends.

But I’d really like to thank a few people I’ve never met in person:

JB McGee, you have been instrumental in my success. I would be nothing without your teachings.



Summer, you opened up the market for me. Thank you for the book love. I am forever in your debt.

Kris, thank you for introducing me to JB. Big big big hugs.