Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 147733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
I was friends with Royal and Colleen Cromwell, and later, their workaholic son.
I knew Miles had a terrible time with his mother’s dreadful death, and though I never got him to admit it in words, I always felt he blamed himself.
By now, you know Miles is a good man.
Generous and kind, even if he experienced so much loss that he walled himself off from the world. I tried to set him up with a couple different girls over the years, a debutante and a farmer’s daughter. He was unimpressed with both and said they told him what they thought he wanted to hear.
That’s when I knew he needed a headstrong young woman with beauty and brains like my granddaughter.
That’s when I knew I had to tip the scales, even from the Great Beyond, and I’m not the least bit sorry I did.
Jenn, you love so fearlessly. You’re the kind of old soul who can help him learn to live and love again. But I also know that loving fearlessly doesn’t come without costs. Too many men feel threatened by women with backbone. Too few could ever balance your dreams with theirs, and I couldn’t bear the thought of that.
So I gave you my greatest gift, worth so much more than the inn—a good man.
He’ll protect my granddaughter.
He’ll be your missing piece.
You’ll complement each other, and if you’re still reading this through the tears, I’m certain you complete him.
Setting you two up was easy. Miles had his eye on my property for years.
I told him to make you a decent offer knowing full well it would be overly generous, so if by chance you happened to sell too soon, you’d be better off than you were before. And, of course, that stubborn man would do something marvelously stupid that would keep throwing you two together again and again.
But I didn’t believe you’d sell, and I didn’t think he’d walk away.
I knew you’d give him the hell he needs. Just like I knew Miles would give you his heart.
That’s why I left so many instructions for poor Waldo. He assured me they weren’t legal, and you could’ve overturned them in a heartbeat with any two-bit lawyer, but I knew you wouldn’t.
You’ve never let your old grandmother down, dearest heart.
You never will.
Today, you’ve fulfilled my dying wish.
I always swore I’d leave you in good hands, and here you are.
So let Miles take care of you and my fur babies, Jenn. You’ll be safe and happy and entertained with him. I’d bet my entire soul on it.
Your love is the beating heart of Bee Harbor now, and it’ll forever keep you going since this old heart couldn’t.
All my love,
Gram
Holy heartbreak and a half.
Flaming tears roll down my cheeks by the time I finish. I’m shaking so much as Mom softly clasps my shoulders.
“Easy, sweetheart. You’ll mess up your makeup.” Mom pulls a cotton square from the dresser, dabs my face, and retouches everything.
“C-can you believe it?” I stammer.
“Actually, I can.” She wipes a tear from her own cheek. “That was exactly the sort of harebrained scheme Mama loved to pull. Aren’t you glad it worked?”
I nod vigorously.
God, yes.
When I thought Gram just left me money and a beautiful old inn that’s slowly coming back to life, I thought it was her greatest inheritance.
Now, I know she delivered my entire future.
I inherited the best husband in the entire freaking world. I just have to marry him first.
If I had any lingering wedding day doubts, they’re gone in a puff of teary-eyed feels.
Reading that letter made it clear and banished my worries.
This is the right move.
All the things I don’t know about Miles, all we’re meant to be, we’ll find out. Together.
How could it be any different? The man was handpicked by Gram to be my own personal guardian angel.
I’m still smiling as Mom finishes my makeup fix until another knock at the door interrupts us.
“Now what?” I stare at the door.
“No idea. This has already been more eventful than my wedding day, and my parents brought every able-bodied horse on the island! Let me find out.”
Mom answers the door again.
This time, it’s Dad. He shaved off his mustache for today and he looks so adorably clean I laugh.
“The preacher man’s here and the groom is in place. Everybody’s ready to cry and eat their weight in appetizers. We’re just waiting on the prettiest bride Pinnacle Pointe will ever have,” he says with a smile just for me. “You ready, Jenn?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Every footstep feels like I’m airborne as I walk over and take his hand.
Here we go.
Dad helps me down the stairs, and we go out the back door to the garden.
Coffee and Cream bound up from their napping spot by the door like my personal guardians, protective as always.
“Dear, you really should have let us kennel those dogs. Today of all days.”