We’d been living in Hartwell for six months now and Mary-Joe was a miracle from above. The kids loved her, she was great with Abigail and she always had a hot meal ready with a side plate of cookies or some dessert she’d whipped up.I had a cottage built for her a few yards from the house, exactly the way she wanted it, so she wouldn’t have to travel from town. It worked out better for all of us. She said what she thought and meant, she didn’t lie and she took no nonsense from the boys.“Mary-Joe can you watch the kids tonight?” I asked her one afternoon.“Sure, are you going on a date?” she asked me.“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said.“Nothing wrong with going out and meeting new people,” she said.“I meet people all the time,” I said.“I’m not talking about the cashier at the grocery store,” she said.“You forgot about the nurse that sells me blood bags for Milo and Mr. Nickerton at the post office …”“Fine, grow old and die alone,” she said as I laughed.“I won’t be alone, you’ll be he

Friday evening Lindy arrived full of cheers and smiles with a big, wrapped present for Abigail. She air kissed Mary-Joe who gave her a look of disdain and I had to hide my smile.“Hello boys,” Lindy said as she bent down to look at them.“Hi,” Wynter and Milo said simultaneously.“Be a sweetheart and take my bag up,” she said and shoved her bag into Simon’s hands.“I’ve got it,” I said and took the bag. “Simon lives here.”“Oh, he looks like a butler,” she said and clicked her way to the kitchen counter as Mary-Joe glared daggers into her back.After dinner, which was awkward as hell because Lindy didn’t eat red meat or potatoes and the vegetables had too much sugar in it, I put the kids to bed after reading them two stories and finally made it to my room at eight thirty pm.“That took you like forever,” Lindy said as she sat on the bed with a very see-through negligee on.“Lindy, I’m pretty sure I put your bag in the guest room,” I said.“Exactly, what’s up with that?” she asked.“My

My new friendship with Nova was going really well. Abigail and Alexis became inseparable, best friends and sometimes maybe even twins. We did a lot of things together and I learnt more about Nova. She could paint, sketch, make pottery, jewelry and decorate. She was infinitely positive and cheery and had a sense of humour.We’d spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together and celebrated the new year together with the kids all sleeping in the living room in front of the fireplace and Nova and I talking until the wee hours of the morning.“Are you planning anything special for Valentine’s day?” Mary-Joe asked me.It was the first week of February, the weather was cold but getting better and some snow was predicted. I insisted on picking Alexis up for school even though they lived within walking distance, I didn’t want them to walk when it snowed.“Why would I?” I asked her.“Because it’s Nova’s birthday,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.“On Valentine’s?” I asked her.“Uh huh,” she repli

Five years later …Nova and I had gotten married a month later on the farm, our close friends and family present. It was a small, intimate wedding and we’d gone to the Bahamas for two weeks afterwards. Lucas and Rylee had stayed at the farm with Mary-Joe and Simon to watch the kids.Lucas and Rylee loved Nova and in return she loved them as well. The kids were happy with our union and Alexis and Abigail were now truly sisters. Nine months after our honeymoon, Shae was born. She had a full head of black hair and the most beautiful pair of blue eyes that reminded you of the sky.We lived our lives in peace, albeit sometimes boring but always loving. We were happy and Nova was a great mom to our five children. The boys were fifteen and the girls were turning ten with Shae at almost five. Shae ruled over her brothers and sisters with a strong mindset, a strong will of her own and she had me wrapped around her finger.“It seems you’re happy to see me,” Nova said as I turned towards her and

Nova drove in front with the girls and I followed with Wynter and Milo. We kept up a steady pace and stopped twice, once for gas and once to eat. We reached Aurora by nine pm and I overtook Nova as she followed me to the house.The front door opened and I saw Rev as I parked the car and climbed out. “It’s good to see you Ryder,” he said as he slapped me on the back as we hugged.“I want to know everything you know,” I said as the kids climbed out.“Hi, I’m Nova,” Nova introduced herself and shook hands with Rev.“Rev,” he grunted out and looked at my family.“Ryder?” I turned and looked at Hannah as she came down the steps.“I’m so sorry Hannah,” I said as she hugged me tightly and I felt her tears against my neck.“Look at them all so grown up,” Hannah said once she had released me. “Come inside, let me show you where you’ll be sleeping.”“There’s a folder on Chase’s desk,” Rev said as I threw the keys to Wynter to unload the bags.I left Nova and the kids with Hannah and followed Re