Love in a Fix (16 page)
Authors: Leah Atwood
Valentine’s Day- One Year Later
Lyndsey checked the biscuits in the oven one final time and took them out. The roast had finished cooking thirty minutes ago, and she’d changed the slow cooker to the warming setting. Dinner tonight was an old fashioned meat and potatoes meal—not the most romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, but it’s what Shep had requested when their original plans changed.
Their planned date for tonight was rescheduled for next Saturday since Bella Joy, now four months old, had an ear infection. Leaving her daughter with Shep’s parents for a few hours would be difficult—she’d not left her before, except for a couple of short trips to the store, during which Shep cared for her.
Josh will be with Bella Joy, and Shep’s parents are more than capable.
She needed that reminder. Josh adored his baby sister, and at five years old, believed it his utmost responsibility to coerce smiles from her. In return, Bella Joy lived up to her name and rewarded Josh with immeasurable smiles and giggles.
Other than maternal anxiety over leaving her baby for the first time, Lyndsey looked forward to an evening alone with Shep. With two young children in the house, one of whom was a newborn, quality time together came at a premium. She wouldn’t complain—she loved their family—but the sparsity of those moments made them that much more special and cherished.
She checked on the baby, asleep in her infant swing in the living room. Staring at Bella Joy, she smoothed a hand over the downy fine brown hairs on her tiny head. Bella Joy cooed in her sleep, and Lyndsey liked to think it was because she sensed her presence.
The front door opened, and she rushed to greet Shep.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.” He kissed her then produced a bouquet of roses from behind his back. “I know we said no presents tonight, but I couldn’t come home to my Valentine empty-handed.”
“Thank you. I have something for you, too.” They’d decided to exchange their gifts next week when they had their date, but something came in the mail today for him. Her fingers itched to give it to him, and she smiled every time she looked at the envelope. She wanted her son present for it. “Josh, come downstairs.”
He bounded down the steps, carrying two action figures.
“Come into the kitchen.” She grabbed a hand each from her two favorite males and led them to the counter where she’d left the piece of mail. Still holding Josh, she let go of Shep to give him the envelope. “Open this.”
Shep’s mouth turned up when he caught a glimpse of the return address. His eyes locked with hers, asking,
Is this what I think it is?
She nodded, excitement coursing through her.
He held the papers steady as he read them, joy lighting his eyes.
“What is it, Daddy?” Josh looked back and forth between them with a wrinkled forehead.
Sliding an arm around her waist, Shep slid his other around Josh’s shoulder. “This paper here officially makes me your father.”
The confusion didn’t leave Josh’s face. “I thought you already were.”
“In our hearts, yes, but now the law also says I am.”
“Cool.”
The moment was lost on Josh, too young to comprehend the impact of the signed document.
Or perhaps in the wisdom of his youth it didn’t matter to him because he already knew that love, not a piece of paper, made a family.
Dear Reader,
I write inspirational romances because I love happy endings and feel good stories. I want people to feel inspired, and I want their hearts to be happier when they reach the end of my books.
The theme verses for Love in A Fix is James 1:2-3.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience
. Life isn’t always sunshine and flowers, and sometimes even a good book can’t distract us from the trials we’re going through, but in Christ, we can have joy, knowing that he’s in control.
I have been blessed to find a church home with an amazing group of women who put this into action every day and every week. No matter the problems they face, they courageouly stand and declare, “I count it all joy.” What an inspiration they have been to me! I wish I could bottle it up and send it to each of you.
Thank you for joining the journey of this new series. You are appreciated!
Until Next Time,
Leah
Connet with Leah:
Contemporary Romance Novels
Come to Me Series:
Come to Me Joyful
(Bonus NOVELLA)
Modern Conveniences:
Calling Love
Lost in Love
Brides of Weatherton Novellas
Texas Wildflowers Novelette Series
Mail-Order Short Stories and Novelettes
The Not Quite Mail-Order Bride
The Most Wonderful Bride of the Year
If you enjoyed Love in A Fix, check out Leah’s
Come to Me
Contemporary Christian Romance Series now available on
Amazon
Come to Me Alive- Chapter One
“Watch out!”
Interrupted from her reading, Sophie Thatcher looked up to see a crazed duck with a bright red beak heading straight toward her. She dropped the latest Gwendolyn Gwen romance novel to the ground, jumped and ran, with no destination in mind except to escape the mad waterfowl. The duck continued after her, relentless in its pursuit. Who knew a duck was able to move with such speed?
The man who’d called out the warning ran up behind her, swinging a clear bag of… bread? The duck retreated, opting to chase food instead of her. She leaned over and tried to catch her breath, her heart beating at an erratic pace. Maybe this was a sign she should exercise on a regular basis. Or it could be it wasn’t the exertion as much her body’s reaction to the duck’s pursuit.
“Are you okay, miss?” The man with a plastic bag approached her. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault,” she managed to say through short, choppy breaths. Returning to an upright position, she got her first good look at the man who’d called the warning. He was attractive, even if not her type. He looked to be around her age, or possibly a few years older. Short brown hair matched deep chocolate-hued eyes, which were framed with eyelashes long enough to make any girl jealous. Rugged stubble lined his jaw. A slate blue t-shirt covered a muscular upper body, and she thought she saw a tattoo peeking out from under its sleeve. She didn’t stare long enough to be sure.
His chest shook, and he clamped his lips shut. He looked as if he were torn between being horrified or wanting to burst out laughing.
“Actually, it is.” He flashed a smile full of a sheepish charm. “My daughter and I were feeding the ducks and the rogue one got mad when the others took all the food. Next thing I know, he started running straight toward you.”
Her cheeks hurt from holding back her own laughter. She gave up trying and soon the stranger joined her as a little girl walked their way.
“What’s so funny, Daddy?” The little girl tugged on the man’s jeans.
“Nothing, sweetheart.”
“Can we finish feeding the ducks now?”
“I think the ducks are full. How about we swing for a little while before going back to Gram’s house.”
“Okay,” agreed the young girl, with a cheerful temperament.
Sophie wiped away a tear from laughing. “Thanks for the rescue.” She began walking back to the tree where she’d discarded her book.
“Least I could do,” he called out, in a deep, melodious voice that set her skin tingling.
Stop it, Sophie
. He had a daughter, which meant a good chance existed that he was married, which meant she had no business thinking about the silkiness of his voice, or the cute factor earned by bringing his daughter to the park.
Her phone buzzed and sang
Come to Me Alive,
the latest hit from country music star, Bryce Landry. A glance at the screen told her it was an unknown number. Probably a telemarketer. She hit “ignore” and replaced the phone to her pocket.
“You’re a Bryce fan?”
Startled, she jumped and looked behind her. The man was following her.
She shoved one hand in a side pocket of her shorts. “This song at least. I’m not too familiar with his other music, but the lyrics are beautiful and came to me when I needed them after a breakup.”
Good grief, Soph. A simple yes or no would have sufficed.
She never spilled her thoughts to a stranger, especially not to a male.
“Sorry to hear. About the breakup, not the song.” He rocked on his heels but maintained eye contact.
She shrugged, giving off the impression the breakup was no longer a big deal. “It was for the best; I see that now.”
Partially because of the song,
Come to Me Alive.
When she’d first heard the song
on the radio two weeks ago, she’d immediately looked it up, and downloaded it as her ringtone. The lyrics and music combined into a beautiful ballad, touching her in a way that made the breakup with Ryan make sense.
Ryan. They’d dated for three years, since the summer before their senior year of college. Last month, he’d broken off their relationship, just when she had thought they were heading toward an engagement.
“
I’ll always love you as a friend
,” he’d said, “
but I don’t feel any passion between us. Staying together wouldn’t be fair to either of us
.”
His words still stung, yet they were true. Especially after listening to the lyrics of
Come to Me Alive
. Was a relationship that didn’t invigorate the right one? With Ryan, she’d been coasting, along for the ride but never looking out the window to enjoy the trip.
“Most of the time, life doesn’t turn out how we plan, does it?” The stranger glanced to his daughter, a peculiar expression crossing his face. “The funny thing is, in hindsight, you can see God’s hand in every moment.”
His words stopped Sophie in her tracks from where she had started back toward the tree again. “You’re a Christian?”
“I’m approaching my one year birthday.”
A smile curled her lips. “Congratulations.” Stranger or not, he was a brother in Christ. She looked at her watch. “Yikes. I’m going to be late for my tutoring session.”
“You tutor?”
“During the summer and as needed throughout the school year.”
“Let me guess— you’re a kindergarten teacher.”
“First grade,” she corrected.
“I was close. Gracie will be in kindergarten this year.”
“I’m five,” the cherubic girl piped up.
She stooped down, putting herself eye-level with Gracie. “Five is a very special age. You’ll love kindergarten.”
“Mommy was a teacher too, but she’s in Heaven now.” The little girl spoke the words with the innocence of a child, but they broke Sophie’s heart.
“Her mom died last year.” Gracie’s still-nameless dad offered the information that she had been wondering, although it wasn’t her business.
“I’m sorry,” she told the man, unsure what the appropriate response was. She glanced at her watch. “I really have to go. Have a good day and stay away from the ducks,” she added before laughing with a nervous edge.
Something about the incident unsettled her in an indescribable way. With a turn of her feet, she hurried to her economic-but-reliable sedan.
“Wait,” the stranger called as she buckled her seatbelt. “You forgot something.”
He ran toward her car, pulling his daughter along in one hand and holding Sophie’s book in the other. Either he was very thoughtful or a psycho. Intuition told her the former was the truth.
“Thanks.” She took the book from him; his hand lingered on the cover.
“Can I have your name?” He gave her a charming grin. “Years from now, when I tell my grandchildren how I saved a beautiful woman from a raving mad duck, I need to have a name for her.”
With his creative plea, how could she deny his request? “Sophie Thatcher.”
She put the car in reverse and backed out from her spot. Once in her client’s driveway, she realized she didn’t get the stranger’s name in return. Her heart thumped harder and an inexplicable sense of loss came over her. The brief interaction with the man affected her in a strange way.
With a dose of reluctance, she admitted he attracted her. He was comfortable in his own skin, something she’d always wished for herself. He had a sense of humor and enjoyed life, despite his wife passing, leaving him alone as a single dad. Most importantly, he was a Christian, unafraid to bring it into the conversation. On the surface, he was nothing she’d ever looked for in a potential boyfriend, but below the surface— well, the pull was undeniable.
