Her Forbidden Love (Forbidden Ties Sequel) (Forbidden Ties Series Book 3) (5 page)

              There were many times in my life when I felt that love was my enemy. No matter which guy I met, I seemed to find a pitfall. When my situation became worse, I always thought of Mairead. She had overcome so much to be with her true love. I watched her set aside her own feelings and move with instinct. Suddenly, the path was clear.

              I even witnessed Cade’s parents, Alice and Tim, become better people after accepting the relationship. For myself, I took it as a sign to keep going. There was someone out there for me. That person happened to be someone I had let go many years before.

              After we had graduated college, Allen and I moved back to Mayville to live with our parents. It was the easiest choice so that we could spend time together and decide how to move forward. We didn’t stay there for much longer, and neither did Mairead and Cade. They moved to San Diego when Cade got a job as a sportscaster for the local news. A small furniture company hired Mairead to work as their client interior designer.

              Allen and I decided to move to San Francisco. It was a much larger place than Mayville, but an animation company hired him to be their next great mind. In five years, Allen helped produce three films and won several awards. His next step will be directing.

              I had a bad taste in my mouth from geology, so I decided to take a different path. Inspired from my high school days, I began working full time for a congressional candidate. Successfully, I helped her move from the underdog in the campaign to the winner. She offered me a job with her in Washington D.C., however, I declined so that I could spend more time with Allen.

              The most surprising part, however, was who became pregnant first. Allen and I had our share of scares. Though I told him that I wanted to get married first, he assured me that we were ready for anything that life could toss our way. The bet was that Mairead would get pregnant within a year– however, Penny beat her to it.

              Shortly after the wedding, Penny flirted with a former professor of hers online. She says that I didn’t inspire this, however, I knew how she operated. She flew back to her alma mater, they had sex in his office– which turned out to be her first time– and Penny subsequently became pregnant. Their little girl has crazy red hair just like her mother.

              On the day of my twenty-fifth birthday, Allen made dinner reservations at one of my favorite restaurants near the water. We had a private dining table in a dark room. All I could see was a tiny table near the window with a candle in the middle. Just as we stepped in the room, the lights came on around us. All of our loved ones surprised me there, ready to wish me a happy birthday.

              My parents, Mairead, Cade, their parents, Penny and her new family, and Allen’s side were all in the room. We had an amazing dinner, and after I had opened all of my presents, Allen dropped down onto his knee. I froze as he asked me to marry him in a gathering of our loved ones. Not a moment was spared before I told him
yes
.

The room filled with applause as he kissed me on the lips. “I love you, Jill,” Allen said to me no less than a hundred times that night. After each one, I said that I loved him back. Suddenly, I remembered the heartache, the triumphs, and the love I felt after high school. Everyone had come so far to be where he or she was on that day. As Allen and I kissed, and the cameras flashed, it all seemed that my string of bad luck in college had happened for a very beautiful reason.

The End.

A million thanks for reading this series! I cannot accurately describe how happy it makes me feel that you’ve done so. If you have enjoyed this book, please write a review on Amazon. More to come!

-Lauren

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About the Author

Lauren Branford has traveled the world, meeting people from all walks of life. For Miss Branford, writing is more than expressive, it is liberating. Scribing subjects on matters that society has deemed racy and prohibited are the most delicious treats from her library.
Lauren Branford currently holds residence in California.

New Series Coming February 2015!