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Rose Lake, Minnesota – Monday, June 17, 1996

B
ryce pushed her bare right
foot against the floorboards of the porch, letting the scent of the lilacs surround her like an old, dear friend. She stared up into the blue June sky, feeling relaxed and headed for daydreams, was about to drift off when the sound of Matthew's truck made her heart speed up, and she leaned forward in anticipation as he pulled up the driveway. He climbed out, grinned at the sight of his bride and jogged up the steps as she struggled to her feet and was instantly wrapped in his arms.

She pressed her face against his bare chest as he kissed the top of her head and then dropped carefully to his knees to put his warm lips to her newly-bulging belly; they had found out just last Friday that she was carrying their son, and Matthew was about to burst with the excitement of it all. Bryce didn't think he would be able to wait until the end of October; he was already talking about paint colors for the baby's room, scouring baby name books and imagining games of catch. And fishing. And hockey. Bryce smiled and curled her fingers into her husband's thick silky hair, held him close to her as he talked brightly to her belly.

“Hey, buddy,” Matthew was saying. “How's it going in there today? You're getting so big. Your mama has been craving cheesecake these days. I bet you love that.” He lifted his beautiful dark eyes to her and grinned again, moving his hands abruptly to grasp her hips. “Hi, love. Happy anniversary.”

Bryce tipped her head at him, her eyebrows raised in question.

“It was a year ago tonight that I met you, remember?” he asked, widening his eyes with simulated surprise. “Don't tell me you don't remember. Baby, come on. You, me, a motel bed…”

She was laughing long before he finished, his eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned devilishly at her.

“Now that you mention it, I guess I do,” she told him, and he stood to his full height once again, caught her up in his arms.

“There's an empty house in front of us, sweetheart. I'd like to renew some memories if you don't mind,” he said, low, his words cut off suddenly as she pulled his mouth to hers and lightly bit his bottom lip. “Aw, Bryce. I love you,” he murmured against her lips, and she tightened her arms around his neck in response, eyes closed as he kissed her long and deep.

The past year had been interesting, full of adjustments and small hardships, but joy, too. Mostly joy. Bryce and Matthew moved for the time being into the big house with Wilder, Erica and the kids, who were delighted at the turn of events, far more accepting of the idea of their uncle and cousin in love and wanting to get married. (“I knew it!” Emma had crowed.) Many people were still shocked, angry even, knowing the truth about John Ryan and Lydia Henry Sternhagen. The various Ryan families took their time with the news, feeling betrayed by their patriarch, though many had guessed that John had not been faithful to Hannah in the years of their marriage. But discovering that Matthew Sternhagen was by blood a Ryan was almost too much for some of them to endure; Jeremy and his wife Tina had been the first to invite Matthew to their home to acknowledge him as a relative; slowly, little by little, the others had followed suit.

Matthew appreciated their efforts, even though they would never truly be his family, not in his heart. He had a brother already, and a sister-in-law, nieces and a nephew. They were all the extended family he needed, but he and Bryce went willingly enough to the various Ryan homes. More welcome to Bryce was the knowledge that she did indeed have a family, a brother and a sister of her own, when she had long since given up any hope of such things. She and Rae were together constantly, sisters and yet somehow more; Rae was the kind, loving and delighted mother she'd never known, and Bryce filled the spot in Rae that had always longed for a girl of her own.

Bryce became his wife on the first Saturday in September. They were married in the small church in Rose Lake where Wilder and Erica had once exchanged vows, by the same minister. Only a handful of people were invited to the service: their family, Rae and Bar, and Bryce's best friends from Oklahoma, who'd flown to Minnesota together. Trish and Stacy were determined to hook up with a couple of the Ryans, ones who looked just like Matthew, as they teased Bryce. After the ceremony there was a grand bash at the Lodge, attended by far more guests; Trish took one look at Riley Christianson and decided he was the man for her, Stacy had her eye on Nate, and Amy, who'd become engaged to Kevin over the summer, watched the proceedings with only slightly jealous eyes.

Now, on the anniversary of the most profoundly moving year of her life, Bryce slipped her hand into her husband's much stronger one, and let him lead her to their room, their love, their life.

About The Author

Abbie Williams has been addicted to love stories ever since first sneaking her mother's copy of The Flame and the Flower; and since then, she's been jotting down her own in a notebook. A school teacher who spends her days with her own true love, their three daughters, and a very busy schedule, she is most happy when she gets a few hours to indulge in visiting the characters in her stories. When she's not writing, teaching or spending time with her family, you'll find her either camping, making a grand mess in her kitchen at various cooking attempts, or listening to a good bluegrass banjo.