Hope Against Hope: The Hope Brothers Series Read Free

decision I made, if I would respect myself the next day.”
    A proud smile spread across my mom’s face, causing her to look ten years younger. “That’s right,” she said, more to Lora than me.
    “Okay, okay,” Lora conceded. “I don’t have a daughter, I was just trying to be helpful. Looks like I’m way behind. Just remember, honey pie, nobody’s gonna pay for the cow if they can get the milk for free.”
    “Oh, hush, Lora! George has been a good girl, so far, right George?” she asked.
    A pink flush spread across my face.
    “Mom!” I said, my eyes widening with a silent plea for ending this conversation.
    “Okay, okay…go help your father. He probably needs these plates,” she said, as she stood up and retrieved a stack of plates that she proceeded to shove in my hands.
    Grateful for an escape, I kissed her on the cheek, and strolled out of the room, leaving behind my embarrassment.

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

    Dad stood and clinked his glass with a spoon as soon as everyone had their dessert in front of them. The cabin was packed full of friends and family, the balloons only serving to make the room feel even more crowded.
    His tall, broad frame towered over us, his black hair had turned grey at his temples, and his dark grey eyes sparkled with intensity. My father had a deep appreciation for tradition, family, and doing the right things in life. He was strict, and demanded complete respect, but more than demanding it, he earned it.
    He treated my mother like a queen, and if one of my brothers ever even thought about raising a voice to her or any other woman, he would put them in their place before they knew what happened. I adored him. He was the most responsible person I knew, but also the most fair. Hayward Hope was the rock of our family.
    I watched him begin his speech with a lump in my throat, even if he insisted on making us laugh.
    “I’d like to say a few words,” he said, pushing the long string attached to the balloon over his head to the side, as the voices around the room fell quiet.
    “Thank you, thank you,” he began. “Thank you all for being here, for helping us celebrate George’s twenty-first birthday and her graduation. And thank you to George for being born this week, so we can combine these two celebrations and not have to pay for two parties!” I shook my head and everyone laughed.
    “George is special to us. She’s our last one, as you all know. Our little baby girl is all grown up, and we can’t believe it. Although, it’ll be nice for Goldie and I to have some time to ourselves!” He paused to wink at Mom and then looked at me again. “Georgie, you’ve surpassed our wildest dreams and we couldn’t be more proud of you, baby. You were our miracle girl, and it was a miracle we all survived!”
    I rolled my eyes, and shook my head again. My father loved giving speeches and I knew, from enduring countless others, that he was far from finished.
    “Seriously, babe. You’re amazing. You’re smart, talented, beautiful and not too much of a pain to be around. I mean, what more could we ask for really?” His eyes filled with tears as he grew serious. “I know you’ll be running off soon, George, and you’ll be faced with countless people who won’t understand just how spectacular you are. I can only hope we’ve instilled in you a strong enough sense of self and where you’ve come from, so that you may find the strength to share your light with the world with uninhibited abandon.”
    “Awwww,” a loud chorus of sarcastic moans rang out from my brothers. I reached over and hit Crit, since he was the only one within hittin’ distance.
    “Shut up!” I hissed, before turning back to my dad. “Thank you, Daddy.”
    “Thank you, baby, for not being another boy,” my father replied. The crowd laughed, and my mother stood up.
    “George, I just want to say thank you for being you, sweetheart. We love you so much and we’re so proud of you!” my mother said, her