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!"

not the same as having your own place!" Neil insisted,

head. "The inn will be just fine, I promise! As long as the town is thriving, that's all I care

then," Neil relented, though he still looked a bit sad as he

you should get home now. We're heading out!" Calliope

of yourself

"Take care!"

"Safe travels!"

stern look on Silas. "And Silas, you take care of our Callie, you hear me? Don't you dare let her down! We're all her family here. If you ever hurt her, you'll have

and nodded. "Don't worry, sir. I promise I'll look

you can come after

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

few more words, the car rolled

waving for a long time, watching them

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

town, Calliope pulled out her phone and dialed her brother, Quentin

Quentin was overseas on