Gemini (43 page)

As soon as Cedric and I exchanged rings, the butterfly flapped its wings and landed on top of our joined hands.

Cedric’s hands started to tremble a bit and I realized he knew what I was thinking.

Was it Amanda?

“In the name of the Lord and by the authority vested in me by the state of Rhode Island, I pronounce this couple to be united in marriage. Cedric, you may kiss the bride.”

The sound of ocean waves crashing filled the air and we kept still as the butterfly remained on our joined hands as we kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

Just as our faces parted to the cheers of our family and friends, the butterfly flapped its wings, disappearing into the sky above.

First and foremost, thank you to Allison, to whom this book is dedicated.  Your constant encouragement and ‘anything is attainable’ attitude are what motivated me to finish it. Gemini started out as your bedtime story. You are a true sister in every sense of the word.

To my parents, for their lifelong love and support. You are the best role models anyone could ever ask for and I would have never had the courage to write a book if it weren’t for your ingraining confidence in me early on.

To my grandmother in heaven, I carry you with me in my heart and look for you in butterflies.

To my husband, for working so hard and not totally laughing at me when I said I was writing a book.

To Sonia, for her friendship and for being my “smut book” buddy. I knew my book would be good, as long as you enjoyed it.

To Angela, for your unbreakable friendship and for always making me feel, just from watching all that you accomplish professionally, that I should be getting up off my butt and doing something more.

To Tarah, for telling me way back when, that I needed to write a book and for providing the precious journal in which I started this story.

Special thanks to Kim York for printing the first hard copy of the book and serving as the designated editor.

Last, but not least, to my daughter and son. Mommy loves you and thanks you for your patience while her head was in the clouds.

Penelope Ward grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career.

             
Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

             
She is the proud mother of a beautiful 9-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 7-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

             
Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.