Small Town Secret: Mayfield Springs Book 1 (11 page)

I took a deep breath and hoped that I was making the right decision.
 

"Chris Taylor," I said slowly. "I'm prepared to give you a second chance, but I'm telling you to take it seriously because you won't get a third one."

Chris seemed surprised at my answer, standing still for a moment before leaping forward and hugging me so tight I could hardly breathe. "Thank you," he whispered into my hair. "Amy, all I've ever wanted was you."

He pulled back, and I leaned in to kiss him.

"Mommy," I felt an urgent tugging at the bottom of my dress. "Mommy, can I stay with you now?"

I pulled away from Chris suddenly, not sure how to explain to Bella why Mommy had been about to kiss a stranger.

"I know you," Bella said to Chris firmly. "You're the man from the horse movie."

Chris laughed, "Yes, I'm the man from the horse movie. You're right Bella."

She looked at me quizzically, "Mommy, why does that man know my name?"

I hesitated, wondering if this was the time to tell Bella that Chris was her daddy. Chris looked at me expectantly. But I couldn't do it. Not until he'd proven that he really did care and until I knew that things were going to work out between us this time.
 

"He knows your name because he's an old friend of Mommy's from when she was a little girl," I said. "He's Cassie's brother."

"Oh," she said, seemingly satisfied, but not really that interested anymore.
 
"I'm going to find Gramgrams," she announced and strode off back towards the action.

"You know you'll have to get used to the interruptions, don't you," I said to Chris laughing. "It won't ever just be the two of us."

"I know," he replied, " and that's something I'm going to have to get used to."

"And you know that star power doesn't have any pulling power with Bella," I said. "The fact you were in the movies interested her for what, a millisecond?"

"I noticed," he replied. "Bella's the only girl in the room who wasn't falling at my feet. Apart from you, that is."
 

Chris sat down next to me on the railing and told me about all the plans that he had for us; how we would go to Australia with him filming on his next movie; how when that was finished we could stay and live in Mayfield Springs in a new house, or we could join him in Hollywood.
 

"I'm gonna take you away from this place, Amy," he promised. "Away from that crappy diner, away from that miserable house of yours. I'm going to give you and Bella both the life you deserve. Neither of you will want for anything. You'll have it all."

I sat beside him listening to the words and wondering if I was dreaming. It all felt so surreal.
 

Us together as a family? Australia? Hollywood? Our own home?
 

It seemed impossible to believe.
 

"Amy?" Chris's voice broke into my thoughts. "Amy? Have you been listening to me?"

I jumped back into reality.
 

"Yes, yes, I have. It's just a lot to take in at once."

"Well," he replied, leaning in towards me. "Let me make it easier for you. Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?"
 

He drew me in to kiss me passionately and for once I didn't care who was watching.
 

THE END

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