Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 (23 page)

Ava added her weight to the proposition. “I only had two children, not your five, but I know all too well the toll a family takes. You need to be feeding your soul, Ellie. You’ve still got a long way to go down this road of life, and you have a right to reserve some of it for yourself. You give everything to Wyatt and the kids, but Wyatt is a grown man, and the kids will need you less and less as they get older. It’s time to start thinking about Ellie.”

“But I know how fast it goes. Before I know it, Sam will be leaving for college. I can’t miss these years.”

“Come on, Ellie,” Laken’s dry tones crackled. “You’re not talking about abandoning them. You can do this while they’re all at school.”

“But they’re not used to—”

Ava spoke gently. “Your kids are great and amazingly unspoiled, but they won’t die if you don’t lie down in the road to be run over by them.”

Ellie blew her nose, her back stiffening. “I don’t do that.”

Luisa’s hand touched her gently. “What Ava means is that you give yourself to everyone you know, including us, and never reserve anything for yourself. We’re all very lucky that you do,
chica
, but you have to look out for yourself, too.”

“The well runs dry, kiddo,” Ava reasoned. “Nothing faster than a family to drain you. Cut yourself some slack and think of it this way: if you’re happier, they’ll be happier.”

“I should be happy now.”

Ava waved a dismissive hand. “We should all be happy. None of us are starving in Africa, we all have roofs over our heads, we have love in our lives—”

“Speak for yourself,” Laken said dryly.

Ava shot her a glare. “All right, everyone but Laken has love in her life, but constant hot sex is a workable substitute—”

The entire group broke up laughing. Even Ellie grinned.

…Excerpt from
THE BOOK BABES OF AUSTIN
by Jean Brashear © 2015

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“In all of Jean’s books so far I love the strong independent heroines and the men who know right away these women are special and fall in love in such a sweet way. Loving this series and can’t wait to read more.”

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