Small Town Marriage Miracle

Small Town Marriage Miracle
Jennifer Taylor

Small Town Marriage Miracle

Jennifer Taylor

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Table of Contents

Cover (#u0d3b7c1b-2f49-50cb-bfb0-cddc09cacef0)

Title Page (#udd42d6ab-397b-5cb9-babc-b559389c088e)

Excerpt (#u7c1f5772-e4bc-5507-aef5-64d30c21a02a)

About the Author (#u4bdb7d39-f53d-56e9-b029-213f135001b4)

Dedication (#u26097c85-eda7-56d1-b12f-ca74dc2b6b28)

Chapter One (#uc8720022-7253-5134-9248-507b73443bd7)

Chapter Two (#u7b295f88-c1e3-5442-99e9-5fdb902c856f)

Chapter Three (#u56650ec3-1b9f-5f8e-8928-5da33e938d3c)

Chapter Four (#u80c770dc-652c-5a73-a168-4ee75a695893)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Her voice was so low that it was a moment before Daniel realised what she had said. He frowned, unsure where this was leading. ‘You’re sorry?’

‘Yes. About the way I … I’ve behaved recently.’ She tipped back her head and looked him squarely in the eyes. ‘I agreed to call a truce and I haven’t kept to that. I apologise.’

‘I know how difficult this situation is, Emma,’ he said quietly, more touched than he cared to admit. ‘I find it hard, too.’

‘Do you?’ She looked at him in surprise and he sighed.

‘Yes. I can’t just forget what happened five years ago. You meant a lot to me, Emma.’

‘Did I?’

‘Of course you did.’ He frowned when he saw the uncertainty on her face. He had never tried to hide his feelings—how could he have done? She had meant the whole world to him, and all of a sudden it seemed important that she understood that.

‘I cared a lot about you, Emma,’ he said quickly, wishing that he didn’t have to use such a milk-and-water term to describe how he’d felt. Claiming he’d cared barely touched on the way he had really felt about her—but what else could he say? Admitting that he had loved her with every fibre of his being wasn’t what she wanted to hear. His heart ached as he repeated it with as much conviction as he dared. ‘I really and truly cared about you.’

About the Author

JENNIFER TAYLOR lives in the north-west of England, in a small village surrounded by some really beautiful countryside. She has written for several different Mills & Boon® series in the past, but it wasn’t until she read her first Medical™ Romance that she truly found her niche. She was so captivated by these heart-warming stories that she set out to write them herself! When she’s not writing, or doing research for her latest book, Jennifer’s hobbies include reading, gardening, travel, and chatting to friends both on and off-line. She is always delighted to hear from readers, so do visit her website at www.jennifer-taylor.com

To Pam and Dudley. Thank you for always being there.

CHAPTER ONE

‘I feel terrible about what’s happened, Emma. You came home for a rest, not to be faced with this.’

‘It doesn’t matter. Really it doesn’t.’

Emma Roberts smiled soothingly as she led her aunt, Margaret Haynes, over to a chair. She sat down beside her, seeing the strain that had etched deep lines onto the older woman’s face. Her aunt had aged a lot since the last time Emma had seen her and she couldn’t help feeling guilty. She should have realised that something was wrong and returned home sooner than this.

‘Now tell me what the consultant said,’ she ordered gently.

‘He said that it’s imperative your uncle has a coronary artery bypass done as soon as possible. If Jim waits any longer, there will be no point doing it.’

‘Wait? Do you mean that Uncle Jim has been putting off having it done?’ Emma queried in surprise.

‘Yes. I’m afraid he has.’ Margaret Haynes sighed. ‘His angina has been getting worse for some time now. Even his medication doesn’t always help when he has a really bad attack. I kept nagging him to have the bypass done, but you know how stubborn he can be.’

Emma smiled. ‘I do indeed. Once Uncle Jim gets an idea into his head, it’s impossible to shift it.’ She sobered abruptly. ‘But from what you’ve said, it sounds as though the situation is extremely urgent now.’

‘It is.’ Margaret gave a little sob. ‘I thought I was going to lose him yesterday. He was in such terrible pain.’

‘Shh, it’s OK. He’s going to be fine,’ Emma assured her. She put her arm around the older woman’s shoulders, wishing she were as certain of the outcome as she was trying to appear. Her aunt and uncle had brought her up after her parents had died and she loved them dearly. The thought of anything happening to Uncle Jim was almost more than she could bear.

‘Of course he will. I’m just being silly, aren’t I?’ Margaret blew her nose. ‘The consultant told me that he has high hopes the operation will be a complete success, so I have to remember that and not get upset. I certainly don’t want your uncle to see me weeping and wailing.’

‘It’s the last thing he needs,’ Emma agreed, admiring her aunt’s steely determination. ‘Uncle Jim will need plenty of rest after he’s had the operation, though. I hope he understands that.’

‘Oh, I shall make sure he does,’ Margaret said firmly. ‘He’ll be in hospital for about twelve days and after that I intend to take him away to the cottage. Jim will need at least six weeks to recover from the operation and I won’t be able to keep him out of the surgery for that length of time if we’re at home.’