No Ordinary Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

the
champagne was flowing. Of course, Samantha and Allen were running
late. Not surprising considering that
Samantha nearly missed her appointment at the courthouse this
morning to marry Allen.
    After a celebratory lunch at the Courtyard,
Connie went to the Hilton to check on Allen’s family and see to
their comfort before tonight's surprise. Samantha wanted to
incorporate them in the brief ceremony, but there was no way she
could do that without ruining Allen’s surprise.
    Connie shook her head in amazement at
Samantha’s determination to reunite Allen with his family. Allen’s
father, US Marine, stationed in Viet Nam when he met and married
Allen’s mother. His father lost a leg in combat and was sent
statewide losing all contact with his wife and child.
    Allen’s mother went in search of her husband
and left Allen in the care of her aunt who was killed during an
enemy attack. Allen was placed with an orphanage and later adopted
by Americans never to see his mother and father again.
    Connie let her gaze rest
upon Allen’s parents. They held hands waiting so patiently to be
reunited with a son they have not seen in
nearly thirty years. She wondered how Allen would feel about
Samantha’s surprise. He was a demanding man who liked being in
control, and the stage Samantha set was destined to be fraught with
emotion and tears.
    Connie left the reception area in search of
Samantha and Allen. It was close to midnight, and the party
revelers had their noisemakers ring in the New Year. Connie finally
caught a glimpse of them; they were greeting Jenna and Mike when
Samantha made eye contact with her. She nodded at Samantha giving
her the thumbs up sign and went back to the smaller reception room
where she was hiding Allen’s family.
    She opened the door only to see the letdown
expressions on their faces. “Don’t worry Samantha is bringing him
over.” She gave them a quick hug and then faded to the rear of the
room to watch the reunion from a distance.
    Connie held her breath as Samantha and Allen
stepped into the room. Allen stood there transfixed, he had trouble
comprehending the sight before him. His eyes narrowed at the older
woman and the man standing in the center of the room. They were
surrounded by a younger woman who had two little girls standing in
front of her and a man standing at her side. A taller man who could
have been his twin stood on the other side of the older man.
    He eyes went back to the older woman. It had
been thirty years, but he would recognize his mother’s face
anywhere. “Mẹ thân yêu!” He whispered. “Mẹ thân yêu is that you?”
She moved slowly towards him uncertain how she would be
received.
    “Con trai.” Hong Hahn whispered to her
beloved son.
    Connie felt the tears on her face as Allen
hugged his mother. The whole scene made Connie wish for a mother
who longed for her and spent years trying to find her. The reality
is that Connie’s mother wasn’t a mother in any true sense of the
word. She was an alcoholic, drug addicted whore who left Connie and
her brother in a burning house.
    Connie grabbed her purse and stole, quietly
taking her leave. She was unable to keep her emotions intact, and
her tears blinded her way. She left the reception room and ran into
a man spilling a drink on his jacket. “I’m so sorry!” Connie took
some tissues out of her purse and blotted the wetness from the
jacket. When she was through, she looked up to offer another
apology only to be captivated by the most stunning sea green eyes.
“Thomas!”
    Of all the people, she had to bump into why
did it have to be Thomas Galvin. He’s arrogant, obnoxious, and a
severe pain in her ass. Unfortunately, for her, his flirty green
eyes and sexual magnetism made her feel all shivery inside.
    “Constantina, are you okay?”
    She didn’t respond right away as she blotted
the alcohol on his tuxedo trying to hide from him. “I’m sorry about
your suit. Send me the cleaning bill and I’ll take care of