The Valentine Grinch (9 page)

“I don’t know, Grandma. He’s here. And he wishes you
and Morty many years of happiness.”

Grandpa howled. “That’s not what I said.”

Amanda ignored her grandpa, and as she felt Dane
come to stand behind her and place one hand on her shoulder, she
focused on her grandma. “I don’t know how much longer he’ll be
here, but he can hear you, Grandma. Is there anything you want to
tell him?”

Grandma squinted into the space around Amanda.
“George, can you really hear me? Give me a sign.”

“I’m here, baby,” Grandpa crooned.

Amanda choked. “You call
her
baby
?”

“Oh George, it’s really you,” Grandma sobbed, one
hand covering her mouth so her words came out mumbled. “I love you,
my dearest darling. After you left me, I was lonely for so very
long. And then Morty made me love him and he filled the empty spot
in my heart. Will you forgive me for betraying you, my love?”

When there was only silence, Amanda peered over her
shoulder and saw Grandpa wiping tears off his cheeks. She squeezed
her grandma’s hands and whispered, “He’s a little choked up right
now, Grandma, but he’ll love whoever you love, if it makes you
happy.”

Grandpa mumbled something under his breath about
fricking Morty. Amanda cupped a hand around one ear and said, “What
was that, Gramps? Oh, you want me to tell Grandma that if Morty
makes her happy, you’re happy for her?” She turned to her grandma,
laughter bubbling up her throat and tears in her eyes. “Did you
hear that, Grandma? He loves Morty, too.”

Chapter Eight

Within the hour, they received word that Morty’s
condition had stabilized. It had been a bad case of indigestion
brought on by stress from the wedding and the hospital personnel
promised to release him in plenty of time for the wedding.

By mid-afternoon the next day, Amanda stood at the
back of the Cranberry Cove Community Hall with her grandma. The
elderly woman wore a beautiful taffeta beige gown that swirled
around her legs every time she moved. She looked like an elegant
ballroom dancer from the fifties.

The perfect bride, except for the black marble urn
in her arms.

Grandma shifted the urn onto one arm and turned her
back on the outer door. “Where is your dad? If he’s not here soon,
you’ll have to walk me down the aisle or Morty will think I’ve
become a runaway bride.”

Amanda checked the clock on the wall. “We still have
another five minutes.”

“I hate to keep him waiting. After last night, he
must be so tired. I wonder if he’ll want to delay the honeymoon
until he catches up on his sleep?”

“He’s a man, Grandma. I’m sure he’ll want to, you
know, make you his.” Amanda almost choked on the words, until she
thought of her parents, still in love, still finding new ways to
love each other. She held out her hands. “Why don’t you give me the
urn before the ceremony begins?”

Grandpa appeared beside her, a glower on his face.
“What are you doing, bumpkin?”

Grandma peered down at the dress, then handed the
urn to Amanda. “You’re right. Besides, I promised Morty. No more
ghosts in our marriage.”

Amanda took the urn from Grandma and set it down on
the bookcase in the corner.

Grandpa crossed his arms over his chest and grunted.
“Does this mean she’s kicking me out of the bedroom, too? Good
thing because I don’t want to see Morty’s wrinkled old butt like
you saw your dad’s.”

The Community Hall door swung open and Amanda’s
parents rushed in, breathless and mussed, still doing up buttons
and zippers. Amanda exchanged a look with her grandma and they both
burst out laughing.

Her mom walked by and raised her chin. “This is what
happens when you marry your best friend.”

Ahhhh, now there was a theory Amanda really wanted
to test.

The front doors opened again and Stephanie rushed
into the foyer. “Am I late? Please don’t tell me I missed the
wedding.”

Dora clasped her oldest daughter to her chest. “You
can say hello to everyone later. Right now, hang up your jacket so
you can walk with me down the aisle.”

The wedding went off without a hitch and there
wasn’t a dry eye in the Community Hall. Friends of the newly
married couple gathered around afterward to congratulate them,
while Amanda stood off to the side, a permanent smile on her face,
Grandpa’s urn back in her arms.

A movement beside her caught her attention. She
turned and there stood her grandpa, dressed in his Sunday best,
tall and handsome and strong. Grandma had loved him for over half a
century and she’d been happy. She’d raised a family, built a good
life in the community, and now she had a second chance to love
again.

“Well, what do you think, bumpkin? Will the old
bastard make her happy?”

She smiled up at her grandpa, the urge to hug him
before he moved on overwhelming. “You made her happy.”

“That I did.”

Her mom stopped beside her and put her arms around
her shoulders. “Are you talking to your grandpa again?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Well.” Dora leaned forward and looked past her. Not
seeing anything, she tsked and returned her attention back to her
daughter. “Wasn’t it a beautiful ceremony?”

“It really truly was. Even Gramps thought so.”

“Did not,” he sputtered beside her. “Morty looked
like a love struck fool. If Elvira wants to get any sleep tonight,
she’s going to have to lock herself in the bathroom.”

Her mom patted her on the shoulder. “I don’t want
you to think I’m interfering in your life, but your aversion to
Valentine’s Day doesn’t extend to Dane, does it?”

Without waiting for an answer, she kissed Amanda on
the cheek, then leaned back and rubbed at the lipstick she’d left
behind. Her gaze went past Amanda and when it lit up, Amanda
followed her gaze to her dad.

“I want what you and Dad have.”

“Then go find it, honey. Dane’s been your best
friend forever. I understand he even loves your grinchly attitude
toward Valentine’s Day.”

Amanda watched her mom glide over to her dad, and as
he swept her into his arms and out onto the dance floor, she felt
the tight band around her heart ease. Could love be that
simple?

A moment later, Stephanie swept by, wrapped in the
arms of a guy who looked a few years older than Dane and, in
Amanda’s discerning opinion, almost as hunky.

The man leaned down and just as Stephanie glanced
her way, he whispered something in her ear. Her sister nodded,
slipped out of his arms, then she joined Amanda on the
sidelines.

Stephanie fanned herself and blew out a breath of
air. “That’s Dane’s cousin, on his mother’s side. He’s just in town
for the night, which brings me to ... I have a favor to ask you.”
Stephanie leaned closer. “He’s asked me to, well, you know. Can you
tell Mom and Dad I had to head back to the city tonight?”

Amanda frowned. “How long have you known this
guy?”

“Just met him this afternoon but hey, I’m not
looking for anything permanent.” Stephanie gave her a peck on the
cheek. “So what are you going to do about Dane? Every time I look
his way, he’s looking at you hungry-like.”

“He is?” She focused on her sister.

“You’re just like Mom and Dad,” Stephanie said. “You
know, it’s kind of sad. On the one hand, he’ll be your best friend
for life. And yet, it’s a shame to ignore all that good chemistry
just cause you’re scared.”

Amanda felt her heart shrivel in her chest. “I don’t
want to lose him, Steph.”

“You’re not listening to what I’m saying, Sis.”
Stephanie leaned in and gave her a hug. “Figure it out fast so I
can start planning your wedding. Just make sure you book me well in
advance.”

With that, she gave Amanda another peck on the
cheek, raced across the room and disappeared into the lobby.

Amanda turned in a circle, searching the room, past
faces she’d known since birth, until she found the one face she
wanted to wake up to for the rest of her life.

Dane.

They’d nailed the best friends part. It was time for
the rest of their life.

She headed across the room and when she reached him,
he looked down at the urn in her arms and grimaced. “So now that
we’re related, does this mean I get my turn with Grandpa, too?”

“Just temporarily.” She handed the urn to him. “You
wouldn’t mind if he came and lived with us for a while, would
you?”

He juggled the urn into the crook of one arm, a
frown gathering between his brows. “What happened to the plot your
grandma bought for him?”

“I don’t think he’s ready for it.” She captured his
free hand with one of hers, gathered her long skirt up into her
other hand, and knelt down on one knee. “Will you be my Valentine,
Dane Weatherby?”

He gave her a disgruntled look and tugged on her
hand. “Get up off your knees and quit kidding around.”

She stayed put and gazed up at him, willing him to
see what was in her ever expanding heart. “It’s not enough, Dane,
not any longer. I want the whole package. Your friendship, your
body and your love.”

For a moment, he appeared stunned. Then a
micro-second later, he pulled her up against his chest, his green
eyes dancing with laughter and something else. Something precious.
Something she hoped to spend the rest of her life cherishing.
“What? Has the Valentine Grinch vacated the building?”

She gave him her most winsome smile, and felt her
love for him expand in her chest until she couldn’t hold it in any
longer. “Just for today. I thought it was time this grinch found
love and I want it to be with you.”

He bent his neck, until his mouth touched hers.
“Does this mean you’re coming home with me tonight and every night
after?”

“Definitely. Kiss me, my love, and take me home and
make me yours.”

A poof of white light appeared beside them, but
Amanda closed her eyes and gave herself over to Dane’s kiss and his
love.

Beside them, her Grandpa George howled. “Get a room,
bumpkin.”

Oh, yeah, tonight and forever after.

As soon as they said their goodbyes.

THE END

Dear Reader

Thank you for picking up a copy of The Valentine
Grinch, book one in the Home For The Holidays series. I hope you
enjoyed it.

I’m fascinated by all things wedding, possibly
because I’m in love with those princess gowns, or possibly because
the very first book my parents gave me was a beautiful illustrated
copy of Cinderella. Since then, I’ve been hooked.

My mom gave my sisters and me her wedding gown to
play with, so I’ve had lots of practice being a “bride”. We wore
her beautiful gown until it was in tatters and I look at my own
wedding dress now, carefully packed away in its box high up in the
closet and wonder...will I ever have the opportunity to let a
little girl play dress-up in it?

Alas, as the mother of two boys, I must wait for
granddaughters now.

Writing The Valentine Grinch was a
blast, especially when Amanda’s crotchety grandpa appeared. He
taught her that love should never be grumbled about or taken for
granted, but should be treasured until the day we die...and long
after.

If you enjoyed The Valentine
Grinch, please help others find it by recommending it to friends,
readers groups and discussion boards. And if you have time, you can
review The Valentine Grinch at one of the many reader review sites
like Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords, or any of the other online
sites.

I hope you’ll look for me
on
Facebook
,
Twitter
, and
Goodreads
,
or visit
my
website at
http://www.sheilaseabrook.com
where you can
subscribe to my newsletter
to keep up with my latest news and
releases.

Until next time,
h
appy reading!

About the Author

Sheila Seabrook writes romantic comedy and women’s
fiction from her home on the Canadian prairies. Her parents taught
her that family is number one – even when you want to sometimes
smother them with a pillow. Needless to say, when Sheila’s not
writing, her life is filled with family, more family, and more
family still. Fortunately these sometimes odd and strange people
are the inspiration for her quirky secondary characters.

Sheila is the author of two
novellas, WEDDING FEVER and THE VALENTINE GRINCH,
and is hard at work on her first full length romantic comedy,
tentatively titled THE MARRIAGE PACT.

You can friend Sheila on
Facebook
, follow her
on
Twitter
, join her
on
Goodreads
, or visit her website
at
http://www.sheilaseabrook.com
where you can
subscribe to her newsletter
to keep up with her latest news and
releases.

Books by Sheila Seabrook

THE VALENTINE GRINCH (novella)

Book 1 in the Home for the Holidays series

WEDDING FEVER (novella)

Part of the Bandit Creek Books series

BABY FEVER (short story prequel to Wedding
Fever)

In the Fool’s Gold
Anthology

Part of the Bandit Creek Books series

Copyright

The Valentine Grinch