A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"This room's not out of style yet, is it?"

Calliope glanced around her bedroom. It wasn't huge, but everything in it was top- notch. From the plush mattress to the softest throw blankets and the latest gadgets-laptop, TV, you name it-she always had the best.

Ever since she was little, Kermit had spoiled her rotten. He'd bought her every kind of stuffed animal imaginable, and whenever there was a new video game console or fancy headphones on the market, they'd magically appear in her room. When Calliope was a kid, Kermit used to take her everywhere with him. Whether he was heading into the city-Capitalton, of course to collect rent or handle some business, he'd bring her along. He never brought her older brothers, but with her, it was different. He'd say the boys needed to learn to be strong and look after her, but as for her?

"You don't need to worry about a thing, Callie. I've set aside more than enough for you-you can live your life however you want, sweetheart."

Still, Kermit had always warned her to be careful. "Don't let the folks from the Jewell family, or anyone else, know what you've got. Unless you're sure you can protect it, you keep it quiet."

The money was just part of what he left her-he'd also given her a web of connections that most people could only dream of.

since he'd gone. When he was around, she'd felt like the luckiest girl in

hill behind the house. Kermit's grave was there, under a big old maple tree. He'd picked the spot himself, saying it had the best view and the best luck for the family. When he'd known his

a

and a picnic basket-some

grave, though there wasn't much to do; the townsfolk clearly visited

brought Silas to see you!" Calliope said, smiling through tears. "Bet you didn't see this coming didn't marry Gideon Baker after

Silas a teasing look. "You were right, Grandpa. Gideon was

well, really looks after me. So you don't

totally hit the jackpot!" She laughed and shook her head. "You old fox, are you up there watching

at life, at how things had turned out so differently this time. Maybe, just maybe, it was Kermit's doing. Maybe he

spot. Feels like you're still looking out for us," she murmured,