A big Thank You to Michael and Kayla Boatman (cover models)
This eBook is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, or events in this novel are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Other Books by Rena Janssen
Life Through Love
Things Change
Series by Rena Janssen
Letting Go
Letting Go, The Surprise
Chapter 1
Granger couldn’t help but to stop and smell the flowers. They had such a great smell that brought a smile on his face. He had already placed flowers on Alice, Frankie, and Justin’s graves and prayed for guidance. Today was a special day. Today was the day Granger was getting married for the second time and he knew Alice would approve.
He was not going to wait for Carly any longer. She had been gone for almost three years and he had forgiven her. It was time to move on. This was a new life for him and he was going to take it. Beth was a special woman who healed some of his shattered heart and he planned on trusting her with what was left of the pieces.
Granger couldn’t help but to smile at the memory of how he had ran into her, literally. It was accidental, but it was as if fate had smashed them together.
He was walking the trail in the back woods of the park area, just wondering around trying to catch his directional bearing. It was getting dark and he had to admit to himself that he had went and gotten had gotten lost.
As he was trying to remember which side of a tree the moss grew on, he heard a shuffling noise. The county newspaper had published pictures wolves that were being released in the area, which chose that time to pop into his head. Fear rose in him as he picked up a stick as a weapon against the snarling jaws of the imaginary wolves that were running through his mind. The snap of some twigs seemed louder and closer so he took flight. He flew over the uneven ground turning left at the corner of the trail and jumping over a fallen tree. He looked back just knowing he was going to see the animals chasing him when he slammed into something that shrieked. As they went down, he threw his arm out to catch himself, he heard a crunch. His adrenaline was pumping as he looked down to see what he had run over.
Big green eyes looked back. “You’re squishing me!” a breathy female voice said.
He had never seen such red hair and green eyes. She was beautiful. His heart was beating fast but he didn’t know if it was from the previous flight or such a vision before him. “Shh! I think there are wolves behind me.”
The girl pushed him off and laughed. “If you are talking about the wolves that are relocating here then you are about three weeks early.”
“How do you know that?” Granger asked. Then he really looked at her. She was wearing a green suit that had National Park Service patches on it. “Oh. Never mind”
The girl laughed. “What were you running from?”
“I guess my imagination.” Granger said embarrassed and then cringed holding his arm as his adrenaline was ebbing away.
The girl smiled and held out her hand. “Well that was one way to try to get my attention. Here let me see you arm.”
Turning red he released his wrist into her care. “Looks like you have broken it. We need to get you to a doctor. Can you walk?”
“Yes.”
Granger followed the girl as she took shortcuts to the vehicles. “My name is Granger by the way.”
“I’m Beth. I’m the assistant park ranger here.” She said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m really sorry for running into you. Thank you for all your help.” Granger said grimacing from the pain in his arm. “How much longer until we get to your car? I don’t think I’m going to be able to drive, I’m starting to get nauseous.”
“It shouldn’t be too much longer, just over the hill. You could see the top of my truck right there. I’ll give you ride to the hospital.” Beth replied.
They had made it to the hospital without any incidents. Granger sure enough had a broken wrist. What amazed him the most was that Beth stayed there the whole time and tried to keep his mind off of the pain. He had asked her out two days later and they had hit it off. She was wonderful. She had a great sense of humor and a superb way about her. They had been dating for a year and he asked her to marry him.
Granger made his way to the church. He was all dressed in his Sunday best. That was one thing he liked about this was that she didn’t want some big huge wedding. She said that it would take away from what they shared.
He walked into the church and was greeted by his soon to be father-in-law. He was a big hulking man, truly Scottish. The man had to be least six foot three and had a good 275 pounds on him. He actually almost scared Granger little but when you got to know him, he was just a big teddy bear. However; if you mess with his family, prepare to battle the beast. In fact, that is what he told Granger when he first met him.
“Well son I’m glad you made it.” Connor said. “My little girl looks beautiful and she’s waiting. Now, we need to have a little talk son. I know my Beth approves of you; however you have yet to earn my trust. Just know this boy, if you hurt her and I will hurt you. Badly.”
“Have no fear there. She’s one of a kind.” Granger said. “She stole my heart.”
Connor leaned his head back and belted a boisterous laugh. “Well son let’s get the show on the road.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
As Granger stood in front of the church waiting Beth to come down the aisle, he noticed that there were a few more people that they had agreed upon on her side of the church. He didn’t mind but he would have invited more that his family.
Everyone stood as the doors opened and she approached. She was stunning dressed all in white and a head band that gave her a look of a Scottish princess. Granger thought he was a very lucky indeed. As she reached him, she smiled her beautiful smile of hers and Granger knew he was doing the right thing. He had fallen in love with her he wasn’t just settling he told himself.
Ceremony went off without a hitch. They had a big reception at the country club that her father was a part of. Connor had spared no expense for his little girl. The place was magnificent. He gleefully played the part of a happy groom. He was in fact a happy groom. He was lucky to have Beth. She had changed his heart and made him realized he was worth something again after everything that happened with Carly.
Granger shook his head from the negative thought and smiled at his new bride. They were going to make it and everyone was to be happy he just knew it. As reception wore on, he noticed Beth giving him a tired look and he knew it was time to go. He ushered his wife into the car and drove away as people were blowing bubbles at them. He laughed at the thought that you could use rice anymore because it would harm the birds. Beth wouldn’t have that, she loved birds and he’d agreed he would do anything for.
They were leaving first thing in the morning for their trip to Florida for their honeymoon. They were staying in a small town surrounded by a beach. Granger was excited because he had not been to Florida in years, not since everything happened with Alice. He would not think of Alice tonight. She was his first wife and she would always have a place in his heart but it was time he moved on. He was letting her and Carly go.
He went around to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened his wife door. He picked her up to carry her in. She was giggling and he couldn’t help laughing to, it had been a wonderful day. He turned to the side trying not to bump her head but instead got his with the screen door. That set her off laughing harder.
Still
giggling, Granger helped his beautiful wife out of her wedding dress.
“Granger, this is the happiest day of my life. I’m so excited to start a new life with you.” Beth said as she kissed his lips. “We’re going to make a wonderful family. I can’t wait to get to the beach. I have a new bikini just for you.”
Granger said nothing just smiled and kissed her back. Tonight was all about them and the new life they were starting. After making love they fell to sleep holding each other.