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CHAPTER ONE

Note If you haven’t read the first two books in the series – or if you’d like to refresh yourin West Bend – the prior books in the series are included in your copy of Luke! This book builds on the first two books, so I’d reco into Luke

You get the complete West Bend Saints Series with this copy! Scroll back a few pages and seeof this book or the table of contents for the links to Elias and Silas!

Autumn

Today should have been the happiest day offor these past four years

The test was positive

I took it three tiht to ot the blood test Still positive

I did a happy dance in the office room My doctor wasn’t just my OB; he was my family doctor He’d known me for all of my thirty-four years, and I think he was as tickled as I was He kne hard this journey has been for us

And then, two hours later, the phone call that changed everything

"Now, Doc Statham, don't tell me that I have to co Nothing could knockon

Nothing, that is, except the words that came out of his mouth after that "Your father," he said "I'm sorry, Autumn"

I shookHis voice sounded like it was far away, like he was speaking to h some kind of tunnel "No," I said "It's not possible"

"It was sudden, Autuolf course"

"Where -- is everyone at the hospital?" I asked "But -- they'll fix hiht?"

"I'ain It was the phrase I continued to hear later, echoing inaround in my skull I'm sorry, over and over and over

I didn’t go straight to the hospital, though I drove to Edward's office in a daze, dialing his cell phone twice, but he didn't answer On the passenger seat in the front of the car was a little gift-wrapped box in shiny pink and blue paper,to have a baby!" box It see it with me, but decided I couldn't keep it a secret, even if I were inter the neith the news of my father's death

When the elevator reached the thirteenth floor, I stood there, staring at the nuhts glowing under the doors of a couple of the offices down the hall Edward's secretary had gone hoolf course Maybe Edith ht Except that wasn't true My sister said Edassurprise, she said bitterly

My fae after this news More than anything in the world, randchild Even if it the child would be Edward’s

Past tense, I realized My father would never see his grandchild The thought brought a fresh wave of tears todown my face when I reached the door

I didn't bother to knock before turning the handle

I should have

I stood there, holding the pink and blue box with the ribbon on the top, the one that contained all of ht were ours The words lingered on the tip of ue: I have news Good news and bad news

I'll take the good news first, Edould always say Because I'm an optimist

My mouth formed the words before my brain was able to even process the scene before nant

But I didn't speak those words They stuck in ht choke on them

I stood there,Edward's pants were around his knees, his pale ass thrusting against the woman on the desk

His secretary Brittany

Her legs rapped around his waist, her bright red heels digging into the small of his back

"Oh shit," she said I wasn't sure at first if the words were , she slapped Edward's forearm repeatedly

"Oh yeah, your fucking pussy is so tight," he groaned “Squeeze it forto come so hard”

"Your wife," she squealed, slapping hiain

His head finally turned "Oh, shit"

I stood there, holding the box that contained everything I’d wantedmy husband fuck his bimbo secretary

When I finally opened my mouth to speak, the words fell out Good news and bad news "I'nant," I said "And my father is dead"

CHAPTER TWO

West Bend, Colorado

Autumn

"Do you see the colors on the trees? There are red, and brown, and gold We're al Olivia the play-by-play, trying to distract her on the car ride home from toith my not-very-creative scenery descriptions Olivia has never done ith car rides, not since she turned a year old; she hasn't wanted to stopin a car seat, even for fifteen minutes, is too unbearable for her little toddler self

Olivia giveshowl of disapproval, the precursor to the full-fledgedsoftly to her while ain -- for the fourth time on the drive home

I should answer, but I ignore the phone, feeling slightly irritated I’eon on call Sure, it’s thecan be that iet ho to be ht now

Today is already stressful enough just because of what day it is to begin with -- the anniversary of my father’s death

And the death of e

Of course, to be accurate, e died well before the day I walked in on Edward and his bi at it on the desk in his office I just didn't want to ad that bitch regular thank you cards and flowers for saving me from my train-wreck of a husband

Especially after Edas arrested four ht-year sentence in a minimum-security federal prison for e his secretary wasn't enough for hi from my father, too

Hell, I can pick a real winner, can't I?

I exhale heavily, suppressing the curse on the tip of ue for Olivia’s benefit as I round the corner toward the orchard I see the grey haze in the air, sravel drive that leads to my house But even if I couldn't, the fire truck blocks the driveway, croith firefighters My eyes ih of relief at the fact that it's intact before I even begin to process what the hell is going on Thank goodness

Olivia howls, clearly sensing that so a lullaby under my breath as I pull up in the driveway in front of the house, trying to cal heart

As soon as I open the passenger side door, one of the volunteer firefighters – West Bend, Colorado is not big enough for its own fire departs me down "Autumn Mayburn?"

"That's ?"

"You've got a fire down in the orchard," he says “It’s contained now”

Olivia squeals from the back seat o