Hummingbird Lane by Brown, Carolyn (good books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

“Oh, Em, what we had was beyond words and went beyond even my wildest expectations. I was just wondering if it was good enough to set this tray on the floor and—”

“Oh, yes,” she butted in before he could finish the sentence.

Sophie awoke the next morning with her cheek on Teddy’s chest. How could she have ever doubted anything about him or their relationship? She lay there for several minutes listening to the steady beat of his heart that was so like the solid, kind man he was all the time. She eased away from him and slid off the side of the bed, grabbed his shirt, and pressed it against her nose for a second, breathing in the woodsy cologne that he wore. Then she slipped her arms into it and buttoned it up the front. She tiptoed to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee, and when it had dripped, she poured herself a mugful and carried it to the porch. A steady breeze moved fluffy, white clouds across the sky. A cute little bunny dashed across the yard in front of her and headed off for the mesquite grove in the distance.

This must be what it would feel like to confess my sins, she thought. The burden is lifted from my heart, and I’m ready to go forward with life.

“Good morning, beautiful.” Teddy came out of the trailer with a mug of coffee in his hands. He set it down on the rail of the porch, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and buried his face in her hair. “It’s going to be a good day. How are you feeling this morning?”

“I’m fine,” she said and smiled. “That’s what Em said when I first found her, though she didn’t mean it. I was so guilt ridden when I came back from Del Rio, I wouldn’t have meant it, either, but now I’m fine and I mean that with my whole heart.”

“Do you think Em feels the same way?” Teddy asked.

“I hope so, but why don’t we ask her?” She nodded toward Josh and Emma heading toward them. “I’d say from the glow on both their faces that they’re more than just fine.”

“Good morning,” Emma said.

“Mornin’ to you,” Sophie and Teddy said at the same time.

“Coffee?” Sophie asked.

“We’ve had breakfast.” Emma grinned.

“Josh, I was wondering if I could get you to help me load up Sophie’s things,” Teddy said. “I thought we’d just grab a couple of bananas and some breakfast bars to eat on the way. We need to start taking care of business in Del Rio.”

Josh let go of Emma’s hand and brushed a kiss across her lips. “Sure thing. This shouldn’t take long.”

Emma slumped down in the chair beside Sophie. “So you got things all worked out, right?”

“We did,” Sophie said. “We’re going ahead with the house and the gallery, and even the commitment ceremony. We talked half the night and had makeup sex the rest of it.”

“And you feel better, right? You’re not going to let the past ruin the future?” Emma asked.

“I’m working on it, and Teddy has vowed to help me,” Sophie said.

“You’re going to be all right?” Emma asked.

“Are you?” Sophie fired back at her.

“I don’t kiss and tell, but you don’t have to worry about me being afraid anymore,” Emma said. “And I’m home at this trailer park, no matter which trailer I sleep in at night.”

“Even Arty’s?” Sophie teased.

Emma air-slapped her on the arm. “Arty is like a favorite uncle, so yes, I’d feel right at home on his sofa if I needed a place to stay. Sophie . . .” Her voice cracked.

“I know.” Sophie smiled. “Words aren’t necessary between friends like us, and goodbyes will always be tough.”

Neither of them could keep the waterworks at bay any longer. They stood at the same time and wrapped each other up in a fierce hug, sobbing as if their hearts were broken.

“I’m getting tears on your shirt,” Emma said, but she didn’t take a step back. “Oh, Sophie, thank you is so little to offer.”

“It’s Teddy’s shirt, and . . .” Sophie had to stop to catch her breath before she could go on. “And, God, this is hard.”

“We’re both happy, so why does it hurt so much?” Emma finally took a step back and wiped her eyes on the tail of her shirt.

“It’s crazy, isn’t it?” Sophie dried her wet cheeks on the sleeve of Teddy’s shirt.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry when you left,” Emma said. “This is not the end of our friendship. It’s the . . .”

With a new batch of tears streaming down her face, Sophie laid a hand on Emma’s shoulder. “It’s being friends forever.”

“No, it’s being family forever,” Emma corrected her. “I’ll see you on July Fourth, right?”

“No, I’ll be back next week. Teddy and I don’t want to wait until July Fourth to have our commitment ceremony. We’re coming back next Saturday and having it on Sunday. That’s Mother’s Day, and Mama said she couldn’t ask for a better present than a son-in-law. And before you ask, I don’t feel like I’m rushing into anything at all.”

“I’m so, so happy for you, Sophie, and for me since we get to be together for your ceremony in a week. Can I pretend that Rebel is my mother that day since it is Mother’s Day?” Emma managed a weak grin.

“Of course you can. Rebel would have an adoption ceremony if there was such a thing to make you her daughter, too,” Sophie answered. That brought on even more tears. “I’m so sorry that Victoria is . . . well . . . you know,” Sophie said. “You deserve a mama like mine.”

Emma stepped forward, and the two women wrapped their arms around each other again.

“Mother failed. She tried to make me weak and dependent, but I’m a strong woman who can make it on her own now,” Emma said.

“Strong enough that you helped me, so . . .” Sophie wept. “We’ve got to stop this bawling like babies.”

“We’ll