She looked at Preston. “You had my song published?”
“All those years you worked on it, trying to make it perfect. Trying to make the music say what you wanted it to say. It wasn’t right to leave it in a drawer. Cora, when you play this song on your violin, I feel your joy. I feel your love. I understand what your violin is saying.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “You understand it,” she managed to whisper around the lump in her throat, “because you understand me.”
He’d heard it, of course, this truth that had worked its way into Freedom’s Sonata. A truth that said real and lasting freedom came from giving herself completely to another person. It came from giving herself to him—one day, one week, one month, one year, and one decade at a time.
Together, they were truly free.
Epilogue
September of the following year
Chickadee Creek, Idaho
Chelsea stood in a room overlooking the gardens behind the new Chickadee Creek Inn. The grand opening wouldn’t take place for another month, but today would be a trial run. Today the inn—built to resemble the original Chandler mansion—was hosting the wedding of Liam Chandler and Chelsea Spencer.
“I have never seen a more beautiful bride,” Aunt Rosemary said from the overstuffed chair near the fireplace.
Chelsea looked at the paper taped to the mirror. She’d found a photograph in one of the books at the antique shop and made a photocopy. It was of Cora Anderson on her wedding day. Aunt Rosemary had hired a seamstress to recreate the gown for Chelsea as a special wedding gift.
“I can’t believe it’s me,” she whispered as her gaze returned to the image in the mirror.
The white-satin princesse-style gown had a narrow waist, three-quarter puffed sleeves, and a lengthy train. Although she didn’t resemble Cora Anderson in the least, she did look like a bride from the late eighteen hundreds.
Chelsea’s mom lifted the bridal veil from the bed, holding the comb in her left hand and draping the silk chiffon fabric over her right forearm. Blinking back tears, she carried it to where Chelsea stood.
“Mom, you’ve got to stop crying. People will think you don’t want me to marry Liam.” She was joking, of course. No one would believe that. Debbie Spencer adored the man about to become her son-in-law, and she never hesitated to tell anyone who would listen how wonderful he was to her daughter.
“They’re happy tears,” her mom said. “Anybody can tell that.” She held the comb over Chelsea’s head. “Now, turn around. It’s nearly time for the ceremony to start.”
Nerves exploded in Chelsea’s stomach, but like her mom’s tears, they were happy ones. She hadn’t a single doubt about the life she was about to embark upon.
Once the veil was in place, Aunt Rosemary pushed up from her chair and walked over to Chelsea. After kissing her on the cheek, she said, “‘The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.’” The older woman touched her forehead to Chelsea’s, adding, “God brought you to Chickadee Creek with this moment in mind. I believe that with my whole heart, dear girl.” She drew back, her eyes now as misty as Chelsea’s mom’s were. “Now, I’m going down to find my chair. I’ve got a front-row seat for this joyous moment. Debbie, I’ll look for you soon.”
* * *
“Relax,” Kurt Knight said softly.
Liam looked at his best man. “I’m not nervous.”
“You look it.”
“I’m eager. Not nervous. It feels like it took forever for this day to come.”
Kurt laughed softly. “Between making a movie and building an inn, when exactly did you have time to get married before today?”
The plaintive notes of a violin drew Liam’s gaze toward the back of the inn. A moment later, Evelyn Spencer, Chelsea’s maid of honor, came down the aisle between the rows of satin-covered chairs. After she arrived at the white gazebo in the middle of the garden, she turned to face all the guests, smiling at Liam as she did so.
Then, to the now familiar strains of Cora Anderson Chandler’s Freedom’s Sonata, Chelsea walked toward him. She looked . . . unbelievably beautiful and completely unafraid.
Chelsea nodded to her many friends and neighbors from Chickadee Creek. She smiled and nodded to Liam’s associates from Los Angeles. She nodded to her grandfather, great-aunt, mother, and youngest sister and brother, then did the same to Liam’s mother and father on the opposite side of the aisle. And finally her gaze returned to Liam, her smile growing ever brighter.
For a moment Liam wondered if a man could die from pure happiness.
If so, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go.
A Note from the Author
Dear friends:
Even after writing over eighty books, I must say that a great deal of how a story comes together in my imagination remains a mystery to me. Some books I know exactly where the idea came from. I can point to a certain moment. For other books, they seem to flower so slowly that I scarcely notice them until suddenly they are in full bloom. Some books begin with a character name or a line of dialogue or even a question in my own life. Make You Feel My Love began with a scene, with Chelsea entering the gloomy store filled with shadows while a storm raged outside. I immediately wanted to know who she was and why she was there. And so off I went on a journey of discovery.
As I write this note for Make You Feel My Love, I am putting the finishing touches on what will be the book that releases next (summer 2022). The title isn’t confirmed yet, so I can’t share that. But in case anyone is wondering, I’m not taking readers back to Chickadee Creek. This next story, featuring two sisters, demanded a completely different time and place. I can’t wait to share more about it with you.
I love to connect with my reader friends. The best way to be in the know about my books (new releases, works in progress, special sales, etc.) is to subscribe to my newsletter. You can do so at robinleehatcher.com/newsletter-sign-up.
And, of course, you can find me on Facebook at facebook.com/robinleehatcher.
Please know that you, my readers, bring great joy to the journey.
In the grip of His grace,
Robin Lee Hatcher
[email protected]
Discussion Questions
Who was your favorite character in Make You Feel My Love? Why?
Did you have a favorite scene in the book? If so, what was it and why?
Both Cora and Chelsea suffered abusive relationships in the past. What similarities and differences were there in the way they dealt with their situations? What other characters made a difference in their lives?
Chelsea is a new follower of Christ. How did her faith make a difference in the way she found healing from her fears? Can you trace healing in your own life as your faith has deepened?
Liam is healing from the death of his brother but also recognized that his faith has only been skin deep in many ways. How does he grow in his faith over the course of the story? Do you keep the God-talk (as Kurt puts it) to yourself?
Liam keeps a journal to work through his memories and emotions. Do you keep a journal? Why or why not? If so, has it strengthened your faith?
Both Cora and Chelsea had mentors who made a great difference in their lives. Do you have or have you had mentors who have helped you in your life and/or in your faith?
Cora composes a song she calls Freedom’s Sonata. But freedom is so much more than an escape from bad circumstances. The Bible tells us: “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). How has that truth impacted your life?
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my wonderful editor, Jocelyn Bailey, whose insights always help make my books better.
And thanks to Leslie Peterson, for making sure all those little bad habits of mine don’t make it into print.
To the fiction team at HarperCollins Christian Publishing, as well as the sales reps and everyone in t
he rights department who help my books reach readers. It’s a blessing to partner with you.
Thanks to my literary agent of thirty-two years, Natasha Kern. I can’t imagine this writing journey without you, and I count you among my blessings.
As always, my deepest love and appreciation to my “plot, play, and pray” sisters in Christ—Tammy, Karen, Brandilyn, Gayle, Sharon, Tricia, Sunni, Francine, Sandy, and Janet—who for the past eighteen years have walked with me through the valleys and mountains of life, building my faith, brainstorming my books, praying with me and for me, both laughing and crying with me, iron sharpening iron, and so much more.
Thanks to my readers for spending some of your precious entertainment hours with the characters who fill my stories. You make the long months of writing a book so worthwhile. I love connecting with you through your emails and online.
To all of the above, I thank my God in all my remembrance of you (Philippians 1:3).
And finally, my eternal thanks to Jesus, my Lord, for His daily presence. I am so grateful that, through the power of God’s written word, I can walk in the dust and sit at the feet of the Living Word, Yeshua the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
About the Author
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over eighty novels and novellas with over six million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
Acclaim for Robin Lee Hatcher
Make You Feel My Love
“Robin Lee Hatcher never disappoints! I loved both eras of this dual timeline story, each with characters you will grow to genuinely care for. The beautiful overarching umbrella for both generations’ stories is redemption from the pain of past betrayals. Another keeper from one of my favorite authors!”
—Deborah Raney, author of Bridges and the Chandler Sisters Novels series
“What a delight to step back in time with the charming community of Chickadee Creek! Robin Lee Hatcher is one of my favorite storytellers, and I loved both the past and present threads in her latest novel as the main characters partnered together to overcome their difficult pasts and find genuine hope in God. With endearing characters and elements of suspense, this heartwarming romance was pure joy to read.”
—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Curator’s Daughter and Catching the Wind
“More than a century apart two young women flee home, determined to forge new lives in remote Chickadee Creek, where they pray their abusers will never find them. Robin Lee Hatcher weaves together two generational love stories of the Chandler family, both rich in the courage required to relinquish fear and to discover the freedom in trusting God beyond the pain of betrayal. Make You Feel My Love blossoms as a novel of faith, love, and hope amidst the brave and sometimes faltering steps of newly found faith. An uplifting read with great characters, Hatcher’s fans will love this.”
—Cathy Gohlke, Christy Award–winning author of Night Bird Calling and The Medallion
Cross My Heart
“In Cross My Heart, book two of her Legacy of Faith series, author Robin Lee Hatcher continues to delve into the powerful influence of a spiritual family heritage. She weaves together two touching stories that examine life choices and their consequences. Utilizing a dual-time plot set against World War II and present day, Hatcher writes with realism and compassion about how hope and healing can grow from our deepest wounds.”
—Beth K. Vogt, Christy Award–winning author
“Hatcher (Who I Am with You) continues her chronicle of the Henning family in the powerful second installment of her Legacy of Faith series . . . This touching story of forgiveness and redemption will appeal to fans of Colleen Coble.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Robin Lee Hatcher tells the story of two people dealing with addiction in their lives in Cross My Heart . . . This is a good romance that deals with some very tough issues that happen all the time now.”
—Parkersburg News & Sentinel
“As usual, Hatcher is an auto-buy for all library collections.”
—Library Journal
Who I Am with You
“In this seamless time-slip novel, Hatcher provides inspiration in each character’s growing relationship with the Lord and prompts readers to reflect on their own journey. This story of loss and redemption is sure to win the hearts of contemporary and historic romance fans alike.”
—Hope by the Book
“This [is] a lovely story of love and loss and forgiveness.”
—The Parkersburg News & Sentinel
“Bestselling inspirational romance star Hatcher weaves a story of love and identity lost and found . . . The characters are authentic, the butterflies of anticipation are persistent, and the protagonists’ deferred attraction is thrillingly palpable; you cannot help but hold your breath until they realize it too.”
—Booklist
“Hatcher’s moving novel is rich in healing and hope and realistically portrays the tough introspection that sometimes comes with being hurt.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Tender and heartwarming, Robin Lee Hatcher’s Who I Am with You is a faith-filled story about the power of forgiveness, second chances, and unconditional love. A true delight for lovers of romantic inspirational fiction, this story will not only make you swoon, it will remind you of God’s goodness and grace.”
—Courtney Walsh, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author
You’re Gonna Love Me
“Engaging and humorous, Hatcher’s storytelling will warm readers’ hearts . . . A wonderfully delightful read.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
“Hatcher has written a contemporary romance novel that is a heartwarming story about love, faith, regret, and second chances.”
—CBA Market
“Hatcher (Another Chance to Love You) creates a joyous, faith-infused tale of recovery and reconciliation.”
—Publishers Weekly
“You’re Gonna Love Me nourished my spirit as I read about a hero and heroine with realistic struggles, human responses, and honest growth. Robin Lee Hatcher makes me truly want to drive to Idaho and mingle with the locals.”
—Hannah Alexander, author of The Wedding Kiss
“I didn’t think You’ll Think of Me, the first book in Robin Lee Hatcher’s Thunder Creek, Idaho, series, could be beat. But she did it again . . . This second chance story will melt your heart and serve as a parable for finding redemption through life’s lessons and God’s grace. Thunder Creek will always hold a special place in my heart.”
—Lenora Worth, author of Her Lakeside Family
You’ll Think of Me
“With two strong, genuine characters that readers will feel compassion for and a heartwarming modern‐day plot that inspires, Hatcher’s romance is a wonderfully satisfying read.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
“A heart-warming story of love, acceptance, and challenge. Highly recommended.”
—CBA Market
“You’ll Think of Me is like a vacation to a small town in Idaho where the present collides with the past and it’s not clear which will win. The shadows of the past threaten to trap Brooklyn in the past. Can she break free into the freedom to love and find love? The story kept me coming back for just one more page. A perfect read for those who love a romance that is much more as it explores
important themes.”
—Cara Putman, award-winning author of Shadowed by Grace and Beyond Justice
Keeper of the Stars
“Hatcher is able to unravel emotions within her characters so brilliantly that we sense the transformation taking place within ourselves . . . Readers will relish the warmth of . . . the ranchland.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Hatcher fans will be left smiling and eagerly awaiting her next novel.”
—CBA Retailers + Resources
“True to the contemporary romance genre, Robin Lee Hatcher’s Keeper of the Stars will satisfy romance fans and give them a joy ride as they travel the road of pain and forgiveness to reach the happily-ever-after.”
—BookTalk at Fiction 411
Whenever You Come Around
“Robin Lee Hatcher weaves a romance with heart that grabs readers and won’t let go. Whenever You Come Around pulled me in from the get-go. Charity Anderson, a beautiful, successful author with a deadline and a painful secret, runs into Buck Malone, a handsome, confirmed-bachelor cowboy from her past, and he needs her help. I was captivated, and I guarantee you’ll be rooting for them too.”
—Sunni Jeffers, award-winning author of Heaven’s Strain
“A heartwarming and engaging romance, Whenever You Come Around is a splendid read from start to finish!”
—Tamera Alexander, USA TODAY bestselling author of To Whisper Her Name and From a Distance
“A handsome cowboy, horses, and a hurting heroine make for a winning combination in this newest poignant story by Robin Lee Hatcher. A gently paced but delightful ride, Whenever You Come Around will take readers on a journey of healing right along with the characters. Readers will feel at home in Kings Meadow and won’t want to leave.”
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