Page 113 of Third Time is the Charm

“Oh, Beth. I’m so happy for you… so happy. After everything that has happened, I just… I’m just so happy.”

“Me too,” she agreed. “And I have you to thank, you know. You opened my eyes to the idea that there was another side of the story that I needed to hear. Without you, I don’t know that any of this would have happened… I don’t know if I would have truly gotten my happy ending.”

Jane’s choked sobs resonated through the line again at Beth’s words. They were the truth though. She wanted to hate Darcy, she’d wanted to think of him as he was and remember what he had done… she’d wanted to think that she’d been the only one affected. But that hadn’t been the truth. Jane encouraged her to set her hurt and pride aside, move past her prejudiced preconception about what she thought had happened, and find out the truth – not just for Darcy, but for herself.

“I love you, sis,” she said softly as Jane’s tears finally subsided.

“I’m always here for you, Beth. I love you.”

“Ok, I should probably get going. Darcy and I are spending the day together celebrating. I think we’ll probably come back next weekend to see everyone and give them the good news, so don’t say anything to mom or dad yet.” Beth implored her sister.

“Of course,” Jane assured her. “That will be so wonderful. The whole family will be here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, mom just told me that Lydia is coming in for the weekend… I’m not sure why. I guess just to visit.”

And tell everyone that she was leaving George.

At least Beth would be there now to provide support – and a distraction for their mother.

“I guess…”

Darcy came back into the room then, dressed and ready to go, his eyebrow raised at her in question.

“Ok, I gotta run!”

“Congratulations, Beth. Charles and I are so happy for the both of you. We love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Beth ended the forty-five-minute call with a deep sigh. So many emotions filled her, but they were all good ones; they all had her looking forward to the future – a future that she hadn’t thought possible.

“How long until you’re ready, gorgeous?” Darcy asked with a smile.

Beth sighed in happiness, standing from her chair and walking over to him to plant a deep, long kiss on his mouth. “I love you.”

One arm came around her, his hand grabbing her ass. “Keep that up and we’ll celebrate in here all day…”

Beth moaned, capturing his lower lip between her teeth and sucking it into her mouth with a devious smile. “Just give me a minute to get dressed…”

“You have one minute,Mrs. Intolerable,” he growled. “Or I’ll be keeping you in a permanent state of undress for the rest of the weekend.”

She smiled again at the nickname. “I mean… we aren’t in a rush, are we?” She asked seductively, her eyes darkening with desire. “I think I’d like to celebrate here for a little first.” Her words dropped off as she pulled his lips back down onto hers, their kiss now molten with passion.

His hoarse groan caressed the sensitive skin of her mouth as he hoisted her up against him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and carried her back into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them. “Anything for you, gorgeous.”

The End.