A Very Merry Romance Read online

  Jonathan chuckled. “I’ve asked Marilyn to marry me and she’s accepted.”

  Felicia Laverne clapped her hands, clearly happy. “Congratulations! I can’t wait to tell the others when they get here. Robert went to pick up Diana, and everyone else will be here shortly. I feel blessed to have two sons engaged. Welcome to the family, Marilyn.”

  Marilyn couldn’t help but smile when Jonathan’s mother gave her a hug. She felt totally happy. “Thank you.”

  “Marilyn and I are leaving later today for San Antonio to tell her family,” Jonathan said. “We’ll be back to spend New Year’s here on Whispering Pines.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Felicia Laverne said happily. When she left the room to make a few calls, no doubt to spread the word of their engagement, Jonathan pulled Marilyn into his arms. “I love you and can’t wait for June.” They had decided on a June wedding.

  “I love you and can’t wait for June, either.”

  And then they kissed, knowing this would be their best Christmas ever, followed by a New Year of love. It was the beginning of what she knew would be a love affair that would last for the rest of their lives.

  34

  Present day…

  The minute Jonathan and Marilyn stepped into the hospital waiting room, they saw Erika sitting with her arms wrapped around her mother. Roman Jr., the spitting image of his father, was pacing the floor. At the sound of footsteps, the three glanced up and saw them. Marilyn immediately moved toward Traci and Erika, while Jonathan walked over to Roman Jr., who was fondly called RJ.

  “Any word on how he’s doing?” Marilyn asked, holding Traci’s hand.

  “No, and they won’t let me see him.”

  “I told Mom that’s hospital policy,” Erika said.

  Marilyn smiled at her goddaughter, Dr. Erika Malone-Collins, one of the top neurosurgeons in the country, who now worked at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. “You managed to get here fast,” she told Erika.

  “Not really. Silas, the kids and I landed a few hours ago. We were going to surprise Mom and Dad with a visit. Imagine my shock when Mom called me while we were still at the airport, to tell me about Dad. Then imagine her shock when I explained that we had just landed in Austin.”

  When Roman married Traci he had adopted Erika. The two had always been extremely close and Erika was always quick to say that Roman was her only dad. Her biological father nor his family had never attempted to become part of her life. Erika had met Silas Collins while in medical school, and the two married after completing their internships. He was a heart surgeon, also at Mayo. Silas and Erika had three kids--two boys and a girl. Roman and Traci also had twin girls, who’d been born two years after they married. Roman Jr. had arrived a few years later. The twins had followed in their older sister’s footsteps and were now doctors, working at a hospital in California.

  “Has anyone called the twins?” Marilyn asked.

  Traci nodded slowly, wiping tears from her eyes. “Yes, Spring and Summer are on their way.”

  Not long after getting married, Roman and Traci moved to Austin. A few years later, Roman was elected to the Texas Senate. After over thirty years in the political arena, seven years ago Roman had retired as a senator. Roman Jr. had followed in his father’s footsteps, first by becoming an attorney, then entering politics. A couple of years ago he was elected as a United States Senator from Texas, a seat once held by Senator Nedwyn Lansing.

  Marilyn was about to assure Traci that everything would be all right, when a doctor appeared. Everyone rushed toward him. “How’s my husband,” a tearful Traci asked.

  “I’m happy to say that he will be fine. His EKG came back normal, so we ran a few more tests. It seems he had a gallbladder attack. We’ve made him comfortable, but he will be here for a couple of days. Once he passes the gallstones, he should be fine.”

  Relief was evident in everyone’s faces. “Thank God,” Traci said. Marilyn knew how she felt. She couldn’t imagine anything ever happening to Jonathan.

  “How soon can we see him?” Roman Jr. asked the doctor.

  “Once he’s assigned to a room, he’ll be able to have visitors. It shouldn’t be long.”

  Roman Jr. nodded. “Thanks, Dr. Perkins.”

  An hour or so later, they were all crowded into Roman’s hospital room. By that time, the twins had arrived as well.

  “I can’t believe it took you two thinking I was having a heart attack to get you away from Houston,” Roman said to Jonathan and Marilyn, trying to grin against the pain they knew he felt.

  “You need to stop trying to get attention,” Jonathan countered.

  Roman forced a chuckle. “It worked. Just look around. All three of my physician daughters are here. Even my son, the senator, is here. It’s hard to get him out of the nation’s capital these days, and he still hasn’t found a wife. Maybe I should turn him over to your mother, Jonathan. She’s still in the matchmaking business, right?”

  Jonathan grinned. “Yes, but right now, she’s working on Nolan. Now that Lee’s married, poor Nolan’s next on her list. And guess whose granddaughter she’s picked out for him.”

  “Whose?”

  “Helen Chapman’s.”

  Roman shook his head, not hiding his smile. “Knowing your mother, she’s had that union planned for years.”

  Jonathan nodded. “I wouldn’t doubt it. Mrs. Chapman and Mom have been friends forever.”

  “I’m in no hurry to marry, Dad, you know that,” Roman Jr. protested, a serious expression on his face.

  Jonathan knew Roman liked to push the ‘you need to get married’ button with his son more times than he needed to. Jonathan had to often remind Roman that when he’d been RJ’s age, he was the definition of a womanizer. Marriage hadn’t been on his radar, either. All of that had changed, though, when he’d met Traci.

  “Don’t forget. Our annual Christmas party is in a few weeks, Roman. I expect you to be there, so you need to recuperate quickly, my friend,” Jonathan said, hoping to change the subject.

  Roman reached out and took Traci’s hand in his. “My baby and I will be there with our dancing shoes on. Don’t worry.”

  “And we can’t wait to see your new home,” Traci added smiling.

  “Will Sterling Hamilton be there this year?” one of the twins asked excitedly. The heart-throb movie star turned movie director was a friend of Jake Madaris and his wife and usually attended a number of Madaris family events.

  Marilyn chucked. “Not sure yet. All my RSVPs haven’t come in.”

  After visiting for a few more hours, Jonathan and Marilyn headed toward the elevator. “I’m glad Roman is okay,” Marilyn said.

  “So am I.”

  “Do you know what I thought about while getting dressed to fly here?”

  “No, what?” Jonathan asked.

  “Our courtship, our breakup and our makeup. And do you know what I cherish most of all?”

  “Umm, let me guess. That spanking brand new, sporty blue Camaro I surprised you with as an engagement gift?”

  She chuckled, remembering that expensive gift. It had taken her brothers, his mother and Traci to convince her to keep it. Her first car. “No, that’s not it, although I admit you truly wowed me when I got it.”

  “Taking you to Disney World for our honeymoon?”

  “No, not that either, although we had loads of fun.”

  “What then?” he asked her.

  “The pact we made. To keep love first, always front and center. To always be the best of friends. Team Madaris. We’ve held strong to that, Jonathan.”

  He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. “And we always will, sweetheart. Now with the holiday season upon us, all we have to do is concentrate on getting our new home ready for the Christmas party,” Jonathan said. “You sure you’re up to it this year?”

  Marilyn smiled over at her husband, the man she loved more today than she had the day she married him. “Yes, I’ll be fine. After all, there’s nothing like
having family and friends around for the holidays.”

  EPILOGUE

  Three weeks later.

  “As usual, you’ve outdone yourself, baby. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves,” Jonathan said to his wife when she had finally taken a moment to relax. As usual, the place was packed. But since this house was a lot larger, it accommodated everyone with ease.

  “Thanks.”

  “It’s good to see Lee and Carly,” he said of his grandnephew and his wife. “It’s hard to believe they will be celebrating their first year wedding anniversary on Christmas Day.”

  “They look so happy,” Marilyn said, observing the couple who were standing in a group consisting of other Madaris cousins.

  The Madaris family had grown and was still growing, thanks to Jonathan’s mother. Felicia Laverne Madaris was still playing matchmaker and had turned her attention to her great-grandchildren. She had a list of names and those ‘not-ready-for-marriage’ Madarises were running scared.

  “Yes, they look extremely happy,” Jonathan agreed. “Remind me of how happy we were on our first anniversary.”

  “When I surprised you with the news I was pregnant?” she asked looking at him and remembering. They had spent their first anniversary on a cruise ship to the Bahamas. She had awaken him that morning with a pair of knitted baby booties dangling in his face. He’d deciphered her message real fast.

  Jonathan’s smile let her know he was remembering that day as well. “It was definitely a special day, Marilyn. So were the forty-eight that followed,” he said, leaning over and brushing a kiss across her lips.

  Just like always, any time his lips touched hers she was renewed with even more love for her husband. “Did you notice the way Nolan is avoiding your mother tonight?” Marilyn asked grinning. Nolan was Jonathan’s grand-nephew, who’d been given the word that he was next on Felicia Laverne’s matchmaker list.

  Jonathan chuckled. “Yes, I noticed and I can’t much blame him. He’s also avoiding Helen Chapman. I guess he’s gotten word that Helen’s granddaughter is the woman he’s supposed to marry.”

  “He probably has found out.” Marilyn glanced over to where Stuart Jr. stood with Arlene. It had taken her brother five years to prove to Arlene that he’d changed. Stuart Jr. hadn’t given up and he and Arlene had finally remarried. Now they’d been together for more than forty years, had a strong marriage and four handsome sons - Wyatt, Camden and the twins, Branson and Brenton. A few years ago Stuart Jr. had retired from the police force. He and Arlene had moved to Galveston Beach and opened a boat rental company.

  Seeing how being a manwhore had nearly ended Stuart Jr.’s life had been an eye-opener for her brother, Roland. He hadn’t wasted time settling down and marrying Mallory, an attorney he met on a ski trip. They had four beautiful daughters. It amused Marilyn whenever her former womanizing brother complained of the no-good guys chasing after his girls.

  She shifted her gaze to where her own children stood, conversing with their many cousins. Justin, named after his father’s deceased best friend, was their oldest. He’d followed in his Uncle Roland’s footsteps, becoming a doctor. Then there was Dexter, who was a geologist and who’d been born eighteen months after Justin. Clayton, her attorney son, had arrived eighteen months after Dex.

  Marilyn shook her head, thinking that Clayton had inherited some of her brothers’ womanizing ways. But thankfully, none of his girlfriends had ever come around wanting to cry on her shoulder.

  Then there were her daughters, Traci, Kattie and Christy. Even though Jonathan had kept his promise of six kids, they’d both been surprised when Christy had come along. Justin and Dex had left for college by then and Clayton was in high school. All of Marilyn’s older children had spoiled their baby sister rotten, and the boys had been fiercely protective of Christy.

  Marilyn and Jonathan were happy that all six of their children were married to wonderful spouses, and had given them beautiful grandchildren. She loved this time of year. It had been during the Christmas holidays, those many years ago, that she and Jonathan had taken that pivotal turn in their relationship. And she’d never regretted it.

  Roman and Traci had arrived two days ago, and had helped with all the holiday decorations. And just like Roman had promised, he had come with his dancing shoes. She smiled when she saw Roman and Traci dancing, thinking that, even after all these years, they looked good together. She believed the same thing could be said about her and Jonathan.

  Marilyn had to admit, everything looked beautiful. With the help of her grands, she had decorated five Christmas trees and thought they looked spectacular. She glanced over to where her grands were huddled in a group talking. She and Jonathan had done well with their family, their pride and joy.

  Earlier, she had rushed upstairs to switch into a pair of flat shoes only to run into her son Clayton and his wife Syneda, coming out of one of the guest bedrooms. She didn’t miss Clayton quickly zipping his pants or Syneda readjusting her dress. Marilyn had simply smiled at the amorous couple and wished them a very merry romance and a New Year filled with plenty of passion. Not that they needed any more than they had already.

  “Have I told you lately that I love you?” Jonathan asked, reclaiming her attention.

  She smiled up at him. “Umm, not lately.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s been a few hours but l never tire of hearing you say it.”

  “I love you Marilyn.”

  “And I love you Jonathan.”

  When he pulled her close to his side, she said “We did good, didn’t we, Jonathan? We made things work. We kept the promises that we made to each other and learned from our mistakes. In the end, we produced a beautiful family and have shared a wonderful life together.”

  “Yes, we did good.”

  The math coach project had been a huge success. It had spread to not only to other school districts in Texas, but to other districts over the United States. And her book, which she’d updated a few times, was still being used as a textbook.

  Pursuing his dream, Jonathan had become the principal of a local high school while attending night classes at the university to get his doctorate degree. She’d earned her graduate degree and later her doctorate as well, while raising a family. Eventually, they both left the public school system to work as college professors a few years before retiring.

  The only sad moment in the Madaris family had come when they got the news that Robert had been killed in Vietnam. Everyone had mourned his death, especially Diana and their little girl Felicia Laverne – who was named after her grandmother. Diana had remained a widow for over thirty years and had remarried a few years ago. She and her husband, former Senator Nedwyn Lansing, had arrived at the party earlier in the evening and Diana looked happy.

  The biggest surprise had been when Jonathan’s baby brother, Jake - the one everyone thought would wash his hands of Whispering Pines the first chance he got - proved them all wrong. After attending Harvard, Jake returned home to take over the running of the ranch. The Madaris brothers had signed their shares of the ranch over to Jake and only kept an investment interest. Under Jake Whispering Pines had tripled in size.

  Marilyn wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck. “You, Jonathan Madaris, have made me a very happy woman.”

  A huge smile stretched across his lips. “And you, Marilyn Erika Bannister Madaris, have made me a very happy man. And look what I have,” he said, holding up a sprig of mistletoe.

  He leaned down and whispered close to her lips. “And you know what that means, right?”

  Yes, she knew and was more than ready when he leaned closer and captured her mouth in a Jonathan Madaris kiss.

  *****

  Coming in February 2018! Nolan Madaris novel, Best Laid Plans. Turn the page for an excerpt of Brenda Jackson’s next Madaris novel.

  Also, an excerpt from Brenda Jackson’s December novel, His Secret Son, is included in this book! This is a Westmoreland Legacy Novel.

  Turn the page to enjoy an excerpt fro
m Best Laid Plans by Brenda Jackson. This is a Madaris Novel, coming February 2018.

  *****

  Pre-order this book from your favorite ebook retailer.

  BEST LAID PLANS

  PROLOGUE

  Christmas Day

  NOLAN MADARIS III took a sip of his beer while standing on the balcony of his condo. Leaning against the rail, he had a breathtaking view of the exclusive fifteen-story Madaris Building that was surrounded by a cluster of upscale shops, restaurants and a beautiful jogging park with a huge man-made pond. The condos where he lived were right across from the water.

  The entire complex, including the condos, had been architecturally designed, engineered and constructed by the Madaris Construction Company that was owned by his cousins Blade and Slade. For the holidays the Madaris Building, surrounding shops, restaurants and jogging park were beautifully decorated with colorful, bright lights. It was hard to believe a new year was just a week away.

  When Nolan had arrived home from his cousin Lee’s wedding, he hadn’t bothered to remove his tuxedo. Instead he’d headed straight for the refrigerator, grabbed a beer and proceeded to the balcony for a bit of mental relaxation. But all his mind could do was recall the moment his ninety-something-year-old great-grandmother, Felicia Laverne Madaris, had finally cornered him at the reception that evening. She was a notorious matchmaker, and he’d been avoiding her all night. Her success rate was too astounding to suit him—and she had calmly warned him that he was next.

  He was just as determined not to be.

  Nolan, his brother Corbin, and his cousins Reese and Lee had all been born within a fifteen-month period. They were as close as brothers and had been thick as thieves while growing up. Mama Laverne swore her goal was to marry them all off before she took her last breath. They all told her that wouldn’t happen, but then the next thing they knew, Reese had married Kenna and today Lee married Carly.