Page 61 of A Sudden Romance

Her warm breath tickled his neck, and he could only nod as they began “O Holy Night,” his selection for the first song. Everyone sang, but the only voice he heard was the woman next to him.

Their gazes met as she sang about a new and glorious morn, perhaps thinking of the song’s meaning to him. Indeed, another new and glorious morn was dawning in his life. How had their relationship progressed so fast in the two weeks since they selected carols? Surely, he had God to thank for it.

And right now, his soul felt its worth anew, and the stars were brightly shining in her eyes—shining her love for him.

He joined her loud and joyous for the resounding chorus:

“Oh night, oh night divine

Ohhh... oh night divine!”

CHAPTER 14

Thursday started with Mom and Dad’s hearty breakfast. Pancakes, waffles, sausages, and mixed fruit. Iris loved keeping the tradition of her parents making breakfast once or twice whenever their family got together.

After breakfast, one of the aunts wanted a manicure, so Iris offered to drive.

“I need a massage,” Grandma Stone, Dad’s mom insisted, and three of Iris’s cousins wanted to get their nails done too. In the end, she’d turned it into a girls’ outing with her cousins, sisters, and friends who’d arrived with their families to spend the day at The Peak.

Deep massages, pedicures, and manicures were much needed to get through the busy week. However, her mind was busier than her schedule. She couldn’t stop thinking about Sabastian whenever he wasn’t in sight.

Last night’s make-out session in the kitchen had Julia asking more questions as they walked out of the nail salon. “What exactly were you and Sabastian doing when the smoke detector went off?”

Julia was snide that way.

“The frosting burned. Remember?” Iris sidestepped Julia to move to Joy’s other side, putting their sister-in-law between them. Otherwise, it’d only be minutes before Julia had her confessing their whirlwind romance.

“Huh!” Julia then remained silent until they joined the others in the gift shop.

Iris and Joy stopped by Tessa and Liberty at the table with handmade soaps and lotions. The aromatic scent was refreshing.

“What was Julia talking about?” Joy whispered as she twisted open the jar of cream with the word Sample written across it.

Iris picked up a lemon lip balm, needing a distraction. “Sabastian and I kissed.”

Tessa gasped, dropping the lotion tube. Apparently, Iris hadn’t whispered for Joy’s ears alone. Even Liberty walked from across the table to stand next to Iris, her breath warm against Iris’s ear.

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