Read Online Love's Battle (True Blue Trilogy) by Angela Hayes - Free Book Online
Authors: Angela Hayes
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live happily ever after- those are more like guidelines, right? I mean, it’s not that easy even in the fairy tales!” I cocked my head sideways imitating the lopsided tilt of the baby’s head as she ate from the diminishing mound of Cheerio’s I held hidden in my palm.
Around us people of all ages feasted on cake and ice cream. Children, their faces smeared with icing squealed as a painted clown twisted balloons into animal shapes.
When the munchkin I was feeding pinned me with an expectant glare, letting out a high pitched squeal of her own I emptied the last of the remaining circles onto the tray of her highchair. “Okay, okay, here’s some more, but that’s it. I’m all tapped out. I guess you still have a few more years before this makes sense to you, huh!”
The birthday girl protested the lack of supply by banging her tiny fists on the tray hard enough to jostle what was left of her snack.
“Tell you what,” I leaned in closer, just us girls talking. “I’ll make it a whole lot easier for you, cutie. You see the lady over there talking to your mom? The one who looks fairly nauseous, pale, clammy, and totally out of place surrounded by all these offspring running around her like crazy. Well, she’s the one who will be delivering your true love seven months from now.”
The wide eyed toothy grin of my infantile audience let me know that she was absorbing everything I was saying. She was so cute I couldn’t resist tapping her little button nose.
“He’ll be perfect for you in every way. Something so natural that you’ll slide right into love with him without a single thought. Effortless.” I sighed, envious. Dealing with love this go round would not be as easy for me.
“What are you doing?!” Hope demanded.
I looked up from my chair beside the birthday girl to glare up at Hope. Killjoy.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m giving her advice.”
“On her love life? She’s one.” Hope exclaimed in a terse whisper.
I turned up my nose. “It’s never too early for female guidance.”
Hope just shook her head. “Are you ready?”
“Yep.” I got up, pressed a kiss to the downy head of chestnut curls. “Bye Claire Bear. Happy Birthday.”
“I’ll stay with her. You go tell Roberta we’re leaving.”
Hope didn’t fool me for a second. The moment my back was turned she would have Claire in her arms. Even the most staid person usually had a little room in their heart for baby love. I was hopeful that this life would prove different than the last two. Hope was born to be a mother. She couldn’t go on denying herself that particular pleasure for much longer.
“Hey there,” I interrupted when there was a break in conversation between Claire’s mother and her daughter’s future mother in law. “Hope and I are heading out.”
“Oh, Love. Let me introduce you to Sarah, we work together. Sarah Harrington, Love Howard. Her sisters and I used to go to school together.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Sarah smiled.
“Likewise. When are you due, April? It’ll be nice having your kids so close together. Built in best friends.” I gushed.
Sarah exchanged a nervous glance with Roberta. “Oh no, I’m not, I’m not pregnant.”
“That’s strange.” Roberta commented, “Hope asked her the same thing.”
“You know those triplet brains, thinking alike and all. Must be your natural glow then.” Boy was Sarah in for a surprise. “Oh well,” I shrugged. “Thanks for inviting us. Claire sure takes after her mom. She’s absolutely beautiful.”
Roberta hugged my neck. “Thanks for coming. Tell Faith I missed her.”
“I’ll do that. Oh look, here comes Hope with the birthday girl now.” I knew it. The minute my back was turned, she snatched her up.
“She made you a present mom.” Hope averted her nose as she held out the drooling form. “Whooo, and I don’t think it’s roses.”
Roberta laughed, “In that case, come on Sarah you can help me change
Around us people of all ages feasted on cake and ice cream. Children, their faces smeared with icing squealed as a painted clown twisted balloons into animal shapes.
When the munchkin I was feeding pinned me with an expectant glare, letting out a high pitched squeal of her own I emptied the last of the remaining circles onto the tray of her highchair. “Okay, okay, here’s some more, but that’s it. I’m all tapped out. I guess you still have a few more years before this makes sense to you, huh!”
The birthday girl protested the lack of supply by banging her tiny fists on the tray hard enough to jostle what was left of her snack.
“Tell you what,” I leaned in closer, just us girls talking. “I’ll make it a whole lot easier for you, cutie. You see the lady over there talking to your mom? The one who looks fairly nauseous, pale, clammy, and totally out of place surrounded by all these offspring running around her like crazy. Well, she’s the one who will be delivering your true love seven months from now.”
The wide eyed toothy grin of my infantile audience let me know that she was absorbing everything I was saying. She was so cute I couldn’t resist tapping her little button nose.
“He’ll be perfect for you in every way. Something so natural that you’ll slide right into love with him without a single thought. Effortless.” I sighed, envious. Dealing with love this go round would not be as easy for me.
“What are you doing?!” Hope demanded.
I looked up from my chair beside the birthday girl to glare up at Hope. Killjoy.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m giving her advice.”
“On her love life? She’s one.” Hope exclaimed in a terse whisper.
I turned up my nose. “It’s never too early for female guidance.”
Hope just shook her head. “Are you ready?”
“Yep.” I got up, pressed a kiss to the downy head of chestnut curls. “Bye Claire Bear. Happy Birthday.”
“I’ll stay with her. You go tell Roberta we’re leaving.”
Hope didn’t fool me for a second. The moment my back was turned she would have Claire in her arms. Even the most staid person usually had a little room in their heart for baby love. I was hopeful that this life would prove different than the last two. Hope was born to be a mother. She couldn’t go on denying herself that particular pleasure for much longer.
“Hey there,” I interrupted when there was a break in conversation between Claire’s mother and her daughter’s future mother in law. “Hope and I are heading out.”
“Oh, Love. Let me introduce you to Sarah, we work together. Sarah Harrington, Love Howard. Her sisters and I used to go to school together.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Sarah smiled.
“Likewise. When are you due, April? It’ll be nice having your kids so close together. Built in best friends.” I gushed.
Sarah exchanged a nervous glance with Roberta. “Oh no, I’m not, I’m not pregnant.”
“That’s strange.” Roberta commented, “Hope asked her the same thing.”
“You know those triplet brains, thinking alike and all. Must be your natural glow then.” Boy was Sarah in for a surprise. “Oh well,” I shrugged. “Thanks for inviting us. Claire sure takes after her mom. She’s absolutely beautiful.”
Roberta hugged my neck. “Thanks for coming. Tell Faith I missed her.”
“I’ll do that. Oh look, here comes Hope with the birthday girl now.” I knew it. The minute my back was turned, she snatched her up.
“She made you a present mom.” Hope averted her nose as she held out the drooling form. “Whooo, and I don’t think it’s roses.”
Roberta laughed, “In that case, come on Sarah you can help me change
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