A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"If it weren't for our Callie, there's no way we'd have sorted things out with Ivory Town so quickly!"

"And Callie, don't think I haven't heard. Our little town's tourism project has a lot to do with you, right?"

Calliope just smiled, not giving anything away.

"I knew it! You little rascal! You're our good luck charm, always have been!"

"Thank you, Callie. Even though you haven't been around much lately, you've never stopped thinking about us. This town will always be your home, you know that? Promise you'll come back and visit, whenever you can?"

"You know, I didn't tell the other ladies you were leaving this time. If I had, they'd be bawling and trying to keep you here again!"

"When you get back, you take care of yourself, alright? And if you ever need anything, you know you can always come home. We all miss you, you know that? We really hate to see you go."

"Even though your grandpa's old farmhouse is coming down, I promise I'll figure out a way to build you a new place someday, okay?"

Neil said all this with that earnest, fatherly look he always gave Calliope.

"Oh, Neil, you really don't have to! If I come back, I'll just stay at the inn, it's no trouble. Isn't the new bed-and-breakfast going up right on Main Street? When I come back, I'll stay there!"

same as having your own place!" Neil insisted, stubborn as

I promise! As long as the town is thriving, that's all I

though he still looked a bit sad as he

should get home now. We're heading out!" Calliope called as she climbed into the

care of yourself

"Take care!"

"Safe travels!"

Callie, you hear me? Don't you dare let her down!

"Don't worry,

I ever mess up, you can come

man. You look like a good kid. Callie's in your

a few more words, the car

there waving for a long

back in the rearview mirror, her heart a little heavier than she wanted to admit. This was the place she'd grown up, and even though she knew she wouldn't be back much, she still hated saying

way out of town, Calliope pulled out

Quentin was overseas on