“Trust me.”
Confused but too emotional to question it, we wave to our family as they head to their vehicles. Once they’re gone, Jackson takes my hand and leads me over to a secluded bench just beyond the gym doors.
“Jackson, what are we doing?”
“We’re reading your card.”
“Oh.” I smile down at the yellow rose. “He can’t possibly remember that trip to the florist, can he?”
“He wanted to give you a gift today. The yellow rose was my idea. But the poem is all Ryder,” he says softly. “Read it. And I’ll hold you while you cry.”
“How do you know I’ll cry?”
“Because he let me read it before the ceremony. Go on.”
With trembling fingers, I unfold the card. Jackson’s arms wrap around me as I read aloud.
Dear Mom,
I found this quote, and it made me think of you:
I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine.
She helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights.
I know I couldn’t have reached such great heights without you.
Love you forever.
Your son,
Ryder
As always, thank you to my editing team— Kathie Spitz, Shaina Hanson, Patti Jaeger, Terri Gislason, and Ginelle Blanch.
Thank you to Autumn Beaty and Sydney’s Sweethearts Book Club for all their support!
Special thanks to T.M. Franklin for the beautiful book cover, and to Lindsay Gray for formatting.
To my family and friends—thank you for always being so excited each time I release a new book.
And to my readers—out of all the books in the world, you chose this one. Thank you for your support!
Sydney Logan writes heartfelt novels that feature strong women and the men who love them. In addition to her novels, she has penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul. She is a Netflix junkie, music lover, and a Vol for Life. Sydney and her husband make their home in beautiful East Tennessee. Visit her online at www.sydneylogan.com.
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Sweet Promise Press Books
Rissa’s Rebel Heart
No Time for Lullabies
Standalone Novels
Songbird
Listen to Your Heart
Turn the Page
Between the Raindrops
Piece of My Heart
Appalachian Hearts Series
Lessons Learned
Mountain Charm
Soldier On
Stealing Hearts
Short & Sweet Collection
Cracks in the Crystal Ball
Meet Cute
Novellas & Short Stories
Breathe Again
Force of Nature
Halfway to Anywhere
Winter Song
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Inner Strength
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Less
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Sydney Logan