Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
My mouth gaped in surprise as I laughed.
Nellie smiled. “No one on this Earth has the right to judge you, Vivianne. Least of all me. Ladd probably didn’t tell you this, but I was adopted by a young couple who’d tried to have a baby for a few years. My mother was a nineteen-year-old who’d gotten pregnant by her boyfriend.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “You were adopted?”
She let out a soft laugh. “I was. And her parents were very unhappy about it, just like yours. So it was either raise me in an environment where I wasn’t fully wanted, or put me up for adoption. She knew she wouldn’t be able to give me the life I deserved. She also said she wasn’t ready to be a mother.
“Her selfless act gave me the beautiful life I have now. I would have never met Gus or had my boys. And my parents were the most amazing people. They loved me with their whole hearts, and never once did I ever feel as if I wasn’t their flesh and blood.
“When I turned eighteen, they sat me down, handed me a letter, and told me the story of my biological mother and father. My mom had written me a letter and asked them to give it to me if they ever decided to tell me I was adopted. So…your story doesn’t shock me or make me think less of you, sweetheart. If anything, I believe I’ve fallen even more in love with you.”
My heart felt a part of it healed with Nellie’s words to me. “Your parents were okay with giving you the letter?”
“Oh yes. They always had every intention of telling me I was adopted. They’d tried before I turned eighteen, but it never seemed like the right time, they said.”
“Do you have any anger toward your biological mother?”
Smiling, she shook her head. “Not at all. She was young and recognized that she didn’t have the means to raise a child. She and her boyfriend eventually got married. They had two more kids, and when I read her letter, she told me that if I ever wanted to meet them, she would love that. But that I shouldn’t feel any pressure.”
“Did you meet them?”
“I did. Six months after my parents told me. My father helped me track them down, and we all met. I look like my biological mother, who happens to look a lot like my adoptive mother! I’m still in their life. They came to my wedding to Gus, I’ve gone to my half-siblings’ weddings, and they’ve met the boys.”
“So all the boys know you’re adopted?” I asked.
“They do. They love my parents, whom they consider their grandparents. And they also adore my biological parents.”
“I wish I had thought about giving her a letter.”
Nellie squeezed my hand. “If you ever want to find who adopted her, Gus and I will help you.”
Fresh tears built in my eyes. “Why would you do that for me?”
“Because I know for a fact, Vivianne, you’re going to be my daughter-in-law someday. And I will love you just as fiercely as I love my boys. Your happiness means something to me.”
I practically threw myself into her arms. “I don’t know what I did to deserve the love of your son, and now yours as well!”
She hugged me tightly. “Oh, Vivianne. My sweet, sweet girl.”
When I drew back, she reached up and wiped my tear-soaked face. “One of my favorite bible verses is from the first Corinthians. ‘Be on your guard: stand firm in your faith: be courageous: be strong.’ You, my dear, are one of the most strongest and courageous young women I have ever met. You are deserving of love. We all are. And your parents are idiots for not seeing that.”
All I could do was nod.
“We’d better get you fixed up before the men come searching for us. You still up for the ride?”
I nodded and smiled. “Yes! Yes, I am.”
I washed my face, then we quickly got our things and headed outside. As we walked up to the barn, Ladd saw us first.
“I was just about to come get you guys. What took so long?”
“We were discussing the kids coming over Christmas Day, and the time got away from us,” Nellie said as she walked up and kissed Gus, who dipped her back and deepened the kiss.
“Really, Mom and Dad?” Ladd said. “Must you do that in front of us?”
I smiled. “I think it’s lovely.”
Ladd took my hand in his and guided me over to a beautiful horse that was saddled up and waiting ever so patiently.
“This must be Wonder Bread!”
“Yep,” Ladd chuckled.
I ran my hand down the horse’s neck. “Hello, beautiful.”
Nellie walked her horse over toward us. “Watch how I get on, Vivianne.”
She put her left foot into the stirrup and then easily swung her right leg up and around the horse.