Sing For Me (23 page)

He nodded at her with an arch brow, and her head bobbed twice. “I promise,” she said.

She pressed her palms against her face to get rid of the remaining moisture.

He took one of her hands as he pulled out a squarish red box. “Now, your present.” Opening the box, there were two silver rings within. “I bought this for us eight years ago. I was going to give it to you after the competition, provided you didn’t slap me after I kissed you.”

She pressed her fingers to her lips as she laughed.

“Mine has your name on it while yours has mine.” He paused and took out one of them to show it to her. The drone that was hovering above them moved closer. “I know it’s childish, but I want you to have it.”

“It looks beautiful.”

“So you’ll wear it?” he asked as he lifted her hand.

“Of course.”

He slipped the ring on, but continued holding on to her fingers. “One last thing before we go back inside.” He got down on one knee and pulled out another box, black this time. “Chloe.” He opened the box that held a diamond ring and asked, “Will you marry me?”

She cupped her hand over her lips. She held her hand there for a moment before dropping it to her chest. Tears fell from her eyes again, and she was grinning too broadly to speak.

All she could do was allow her head to bob up and down.

He slipped the diamond ring on her finger, stopping right above the other ring he’d just placed on her. “I love you.” He got up on his feet and kissed her.

“I love you, too.” She looked at her rings and laughed. “I probably would’ve said yes if you were to propose to me with those rings eight years ago.”

He lifted her hand to his lips. “And Josh wanted me to tell you that I planned everything. He was late because he was following my instructions.”

She pulled in her lower lip. “I was so horrible to him all the way here.”

“Yeah, he was quite uncertain if he’d make it here alive.”

They laughed, right before someone pulled her into a bear hug and lifted her off the ground.

“Josh.” Christopher pulled Chloe back from him. “Stop being so rough with her.”

“So protective.” Josh grinned and nudged her. “I’m such an awesome brother, am I not? I swear I thought you might just strangle me on the way here.”

“That thought did pass my mind a couple of times.”

“So, will I be getting double presents on my birthday for the rest of my life?”

Christopher shook his head.

“Yes,” Chloe said and leaned closer against Christopher. She was only here with Christopher because of Josh. Whatever Josh wanted, if she could get it for him, she would.

Dear Reader,

Thanks for giving my book a chance, and I hope you’ve enjoyed
Sing For Me
.

I started writing because I couldn’t find the sweet romance novels I loved reading. I hope Chloe and Christopher bring back what it feels like to fall in love with someone who treats you right because everyone deserves that!

I would love to hear what you think about the book, so feel free to drop me an email at
[email protected]
.

If you’re interested in clean romance novels, I have more books that you can explore. They are mainly Christian books, but I promise there isn’t any preaching in any of them. You can check them out here:
http://amzn.to/1HXb8jx
 

Finally, I need to ask for a favor. If you’re so inclined, I’d love a review of
Sing For me
. Loved it, hated it—I’d love to know. Reviews are tough to come by these days, and you, as the reader, have the power to make or break a book. If you have the time, you can leave the review right here:
http://amzn.to/1LlYrq4
 

In gratitude,

Trisha Grace

Trisha Grace graduated from Bradford University with an Accounting and Finance degree. She has always been an avid reader and has a passion for writing. After being a tutor for over six years, she finally sat down and penned her own novels.

You can connect with Trisha

On Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TrishaGraceBks

On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TrishaGraceNovels

Through her website:
http://www.TrishaGraceNovels.com

Look for these titles by Trisha Grace

Now available:

Ghost of the Past Book 1 - Moving On

Ghost of the Past Book 2 - Closing Books

Ghost of the Past Book 3 - Growing Up

A Fresh Start

Done Being Friends

The Stepsister

Coming Soon:

Ghost of the Past Book 4

Moving On

Ghost of The Past Series, Book 1

©
2012 Trisha Grace

For twenty years, Tyler Hayes had been ripped from his childhood home. After the horrific accident that took away his parents' life, Tyler's grandfather removed him from the mansion and sent him away.

Now, after twenty years, his grandfather had passed away and he could finally go home. However, even in his death, Tyler's grandfather had betrayed him once again, leaving the mansion to a woman he had never met.

Even though Kate Mitchell had never met Tyler, she knew all about the accident that changed the Hayes's family. Unbeknownst to her, she was going to end up being caught in the middle of a long estranged relationship between two different generations.

Two complete different personalities would have to learn to get along and play nice in order to survive a will that would change their lives.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Moving On:

Chapter 1

“After what you’ve been through with your parents and grandmother, you shouldn’t have to be here,” William Hayes said through his oxygen mask. His voice weak, soft, and wispy.

Along with a private doctor and two nurses, Kate sat in Mr. Hayes’s bedroom, watching over him.

The king-size bed that used to be in the room had been replaced by a hospital bed. Different types of medical equipment, measuring every aspect of his status, stood all around them.

Holding his hand, she said softly, “Are you sure you don’t want me to call Tyler?”

William Hayes’s lids slowly drooped over his eyes. A drop of tear slipped down the corner of his eye and onto the white pillow case. “It was my fault; I abandoned him.”

Kate pulled a piece of Kleenex and dabbed at his tear. “It isn’t important now. Don’t worry about it. Someday, someday he’ll understand.”

A series of coughs reverberated through William Hayes’s fragile frame, and his wrinkled hand flew to his chest, clutching it. Kate quickly moved aside as the doctor and nurses rushed forward to attend to him. When his coughing fit ceased, his trembling hand reached between them.

Everyone immediately stepped aside for Kate.

She cupped her hands over his. “I’m here.”

He pulled down his oxygen mask as she leaned in. “Help me to … to help him.” His weak voice was barely audible, but Kate knew who he was referring to.

The one regret that he couldn’t mend in time.

She didn’t know how she could help him, but she nodded anyway.

Mr. Hayes was a good man; he deserved to go in peace.

She smiled at the frail old man lying in bed and moved forward, intending to put the oxygen mask back in place.
 

“Kate, promise that you’ll help him,” Mr. Hayes said, clasping her hand.

Her brows furrowed slightly, but she retained her smile.

Having known Mr. Hayes for nearly five years, she’d heard all the stories about Tyler Hayes as a boy. Now and then, Mr. Hayes would take out a photo album and tell her the stories behind the pictures.

But that was all she knew of Tyler—the boy behind all the stories.

She had never met Tyler Hayes in person before.

Mr. Hayes and Tyler had long been estranged, and neither had tried contacting each other in the past twenty years. Throughout all the health episodes that Mr. Hayes had suffered in the past few years, Tyler never showed his face or graced Mr. Hayes with a phone call. He was basically non-existent.

She couldn’t blame Tyler, though.

“Kate.”

His frail voice brought her back to the moment.

“I promise.”

“Thanks. Thanks, Kate. Thanks for letting me play the grandfather that I never stepped up to. You’re the best granddaughter anyone could ask for.” Then he closed his eyes, his hand slipping from within hers.

The muscles around his face relaxed, and it looked as if he’d simply fallen asleep. Only the long monotonous beep from the heartbeat monitor indicated otherwise.

Kate stepped out of the room while the doctor and nurses flew into a flurry of activities.

She didn’t know how long she stood outside. Eventually, the doctor stepped out and gave her a grim pat on her arm while the nurses brought Mr. Hayes’s body out of the room.

She turned away from the doctor as her tears fell.

Shortly after, calls started coming through her cell phone asking her about funeral arrangements.

She knew Mr. Hayes had listed her as his emergency contact, but she was in no way qualified to make such decisions. She needed to find Tyler Hayes immediately.

She went into the study and searched for the black leather Bible that Mr. Hayes had once showed her. She pulled out the Bible and ran her fingers along the cursive golden letters imprinted on the bottom left corner.
Tyler Hayes
.

Mr. Hayes had bought it with the intention of giving it to Tyler for his eighteenth birthday, but he never did. For nearly ten years, the Bible had sat in the bottom drawer of Mr. Hayes’s desk.

Flipping all the way to the last page of the Bible, she pulled out the piece of paper stuck within.

Though there hadn’t been any contact between them, the late Mr. Hayes had been keeping track of Tyler, making sure that he didn’t lack for anything.

With a heavy sigh, she dialed the number written neatly on the piece of paper. She broke into a small smile when the line connected, surprised that it actually worked.

“Hayes.”

For a moment, Kate lost her voice. She didn’t know what she was supposed to say. “Tyler Hayes?”

“Who’s this?”

There was no good way to go about delivering the news, so she took in a deep breath and gathered her courage. “I’m Kate, Kate Mitchell. I’m calling about your grandfather, Mr. Hayes.” There was no response on the other end of the phone, and she had an inkling that Tyler would hang up the phone at any moment so she hurried to continue. “He … he passed away.”

Again, Tyler Hayes was silent.

She waited, thinking he was probably dealing with shock or whatever feeling that was coursing through his system, but the silence dragged out and she felt compelled to say something.

“The funeral home is asking about the arrangements. Should I get them to call you?”

“Who are you?” Tyler’s voice was soft.

“Kate Mitchell, I’m … a friend.”

A grunt came from the other side of the line. “Do what you deem fit.”

“Wait, Tyler. I can’t possibly make the decisions.”

“Then don’t do anything; leave him wherever he is.”

Kate pursed her lips. That wasn’t an answer she’d expected. She drew in a long, deep breath and continued. “All right, I’ll settle the funeral arrangements. I know he wanted to be buried with your grandmother and your parents.”

Even in the continued silence, Kate could feel Tyler’s increased tension on the other end of the phone. Softening her voice, she said, “Come home. Come back home for the funeral.”

There was a click and the line went dead.

Kate sighed and shook her head, hoping Tyler would at least consider attending the funeral.

She returned to the guest room that Mr. Hayes had set aside for her. She sat by the desk and took a glimpse at the queen-size bed in her room. She wanted nothing more than to hide under the covers and cry, but there were things waiting for her to do.

Shoving all her feelings aside, Kate switched on her laptop and began making all the necessary arrangements.

Tyler clutched the phone in his hand and waited for the grief to come, but it never came. Perhaps he’d already done his grieving twenty years ago. Perhaps his childish hopes that his grandfather would someday turn up at his door finally died.

Whatever it was, he couldn’t find a single ounce of sadness or any feeling of loss.

“What is it, Ty?” Joanne asked. “Is it work?”

Tyler couldn’t deal with Joanne right now.

He stood and strode away, hoping to put some distance between them before Joanne started her motions of coaxing, then whining, and eventually throwing a fuss to get her way.

“Ty.” Joanne sighed and hurried after him. “What’s wrong?”

Tyler rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“You know you can tell me anything. I’m your fiancée,” Joanne cajoled while Tyler cringed.

He didn’t know how Joanne got into her mind that they were engaged; they weren’t even a couple. She was simply his friend’s spoilt younger sister.

But he wasn’t interested in dealing with that right now.