Clyde’s eyes were filled with heavy tears, and so were mine. I’d judged him. I should have been the first to see what everyone else saw. Clyde Stowe had come home.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Clyde
At eleven-foot-tall, the Pierce Christmas tree was a beautiful commitment to the holiday. Not only was it busting with gifts for family and friends, but there were nearly fifty packages behind it for the kids in Stephen’s foundation.
This house was full of love.
I heard a noise coming from the kitchen. I followed it and found Stephen. “Hey, don’t you need some rest to play Santa?”
“I’m making a cup of honey and lemon tea for Tamar. She’s fighting a cold.”
I grunted. “I’m surprised we don’t all have coughs and runny noses.”
“Are you feeling alright?” Stephen asked. “I can see the windburn on your cheek is disappearing, but what about everything else?”
I waved my hand. “Yeah, I’m fine, man.”
“So, you trying to steal some of my cake or pie? Or you got something on your mind?”
“I’m leaving in the morning,” I said. “I wanted to say goodbye.”
Stephen frowned. “Why?”
“It’s Kim. I can’t be around her.”
“It’s Christmas tomorrow. Come on, one more day. Stay with us.”
I shoved my hands in my pocket. “This is a big house, but it’s not big enough for the two of us. I gotta jet.”
Stephen picked up Tamar’s mug. “Let me take this to Tay. I’ll be right back, and we can talk.”
I shook my head. “No. You take that to Tamar and stay with your wife and family. You know me. I always bounce back and now that I have a better perspective on some things, I’m really going to be good.”
“But, Clyde, Isaiah and Tamar want you here.”
“I love them, but her rejection, man,” I sighed. “I can’t stand it. I never expected it to go this way.”
Stephen raised his chin and I could tell someone entered the room behind me. I turned. It was Kim.
“I’m going to take this to Tamar. You two need to talk.” He left the room.
Before I could say a word, Kim spoke. “I owe you an apology.”
I swallowed and shook my head. I wasn’t here for sympathy. “No, you don’t and we’re good.”
“Yes, I do.” She took a few steps closer. I wanted to take a few steps back, but I couldn’t. My feet were bolted to the floor. “You shared something wonderful and personal with me and instead of celebrating with you and praying for you, I decided you weren’t good enough. I judged you and called you a backslider before you even had time to let it all sink in. I’m so sorry.”
I could feel my heart filling up. I swallowed again.
“I hurt you, Clyde. I didn’t mean to do that.”
I took my hands out of my pocket and crossed them over my chest. “Is that it?”
“No. That’s not it. You were right about me being scared. My fear made it easier for me to search for an excuse to keep you at a distance.”
“Yeah, well, I’m scared too. At least you have the Tony’s of your world in your history. As much as I’m sure he wasn’t about nothing, I’ve never had a serious relationship before you. I’ve never wanted a woman to get this close. I didn’t want to feel the pain of losing someone. Losing my mother...it nearly killed me.” I raised a hand to pinch my nose. I wasn’t going to cry again. I didn’t want to.
Kim pulled my hand down and kissed the back of it. “I am so sorry, Clyde. I’ve never wanted to take words back more in my life. I swear to you, I didn’t mean it.”
I shed a tear, looked away from her. Could I do this? God, can I be what this woman needs? Is she who I need?
“Together, we can be great.” Kim had read my mind. “We can do all things through Christ, but we can’t let fear get in our way and we have to forgive each other. Every day because, Clyde, we’re going to mess up.”
A chuckle escaped from my throat. Peace washed over me. God had answered my questions.
“You told me you loved me – twice, but both times you said it with disappointment in your voice like it was the saddest revelation you ever had. So, now I need you to say it like you’re happy about it.”
Kim smirked. “You act like that’s going to be hard for me.”
I shrugged. “Show me what you got.”
She cocked her head to the side. “I love you, Clyde Stowe. I love you just the way—”
I cut her off with a kiss. I rushed her, but the kiss was tender and sweet, like her. “That right there did not need a mistletoe over it.” I took her hand. “Come with me.”
We walked into the living room, and I led her to the tree. I reached for a box I’d wrapped earlier and handed it to her. “It’s almost midnight. I want you to open your gift.”
She unwrapped it. Appreciation shone in her eyes for the Tiffany’s box. I dropped to my knees. Kim’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
Her hand was trembling, so I removed the lid. Diamonds mixed with the lights on the Christmas tree sparkled in a rhythmic pattern on the ceiling.
“I love you, Kim. I never want us to be apart, so will you be my woman again?”
She took the diamond cross out of the box and laid it against her wrist. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Just like you,” I said. She continued to stare at the necklace. Groaning, I said, “Baby, this bad knee isn’t going to last much longer. I need an answer.”
“That’s what you get for playing me like you were proposing.” Kim raised the necklace eye-level and admired it some more. “I’ll give you another chance.” She took my arm. “I’ll even help you up because I’m ride-or-die like that.”
I stood. “Good, I need somebody to have my back.” I pulled her into an embrace. “But for real, if I had proposed would you have said yes?”
Kim rolled her neck. “I don’t know. I think I need to try your spirit by the spirit.”
Did she not realize her special gift was trying me? “I like a challenge.”
She chuckled. “You do know you still won’t be getting any loving? Ain’t nothing changed. I’m saving myself for my wedding night.”
I raised a finger. “In that case, let me go exchange this for a ring.”
Kim laughed and swatted at my chest. “You’re silly. Put this on, player.”
I took the necklace from her hand, lowered it around her neck, and fastened the clasp. Kim took a few steps over to a wall mirror and looked. Her smile was wide. It reminded me of the smile she’d given me in the picture we took during our happiest time – the trip to St. John. I loved seeing the joy on her face. It was the best Christmas gift in the room.
“I love it,” she said.
I closed the distance between us. I raised my hand to her chin and kissed her on the forehead. “And I love you. Merry Christmas, baby.”
“Merry Christmas, back.” Kim reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of mistletoe. “I was hoping this would come in handy.” She pushed up on her tiptoes, held it over my head and pressed her sweet lips against mine.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Pastor Jack
Christmas Morning...
Pastor Jack couldn’t contain his joy. The church was full. The heat was on. A feast fit for a king was being set up in their small fellowship hall. He stood and walked to the pulpit.
“Church, I greet you on this Christmas morning with an overwhelming amount of joy in my heart. None of you know the events that transpired over the past few days because like scripture shares in Luke 2:19 about Mary, I’ve treasured the things that God has done in my heart.
More than two thousand years ago, a baby was born in Bethlehem. The mother, after a long trip, went into labor and delivered him in the most unlikely location she probably could in those days. In a barn, among the animals. God does much with little.
This week, a baby was born in this church. Right downstairs in one of the classrooms. The mother was traveling
to her father’s wedding in Pine and her party slid off the road in the storm. They wandered into this church. North Bethlehem of Winter Haven became a haven of refuge in the freezing cold. The mother had a healthy baby, but she almost died.” Pastor Jack got choked up and paused. He cleared his throat. “God connected events and people and had us intersecting at the right times to ensure I would come to the church and find this woman and her friends.
“There was a young man involved. He nearly froze to death trying to find help for her. I could talk about his heroism, but that wouldn’t be the point I want to make. Today, I’ve come to be transparent in hopes that I can help someone else. I’m going to read a letter to you.
Dear God,
Today is the 18th of December...I think I’m writing this letter more for myself than you, because of course, you already know. You know we’ve done all we can do. I’ve poured in all I have. There’s nothing left but you. Maybe that is the lesson we have to learn. But I can’t help thinking this is a good community with good people. What we lack in money, we make up for in spirit. Most of the members bring all they have as an offering. You know that. But it’s still not enough. Without this church, many would have no place to fellowship. So I speak to you as God the Provider. We need oil and we’ll soon need a furnace. We need you. Please keep the doors of Bethlehem open by your grace. Give me a Christmas miracle.
In your name I pray, Lord Jesus.
Your Servant, Jack”
There was a low murmur of hushed voices in the sanctuary.
“Most of you know I was a widower when I came to this church. What you don’t know is that despite all my years in ministry, I’ve struggled with believing God would come through for me. I’ve been blessed to be your pastor and I’ve had wonderful years with Nan and my sons, but I’ve been holding my breath and waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’ve been fearful that I would lose everything – again.
“Beloved, I have a message for you today. It’s about the baby born in this church. God used the baby to give me a miracle. He gave me what I asked for in my letter. The woman who had the baby was Tamar Pierce, the wife of Stephen Pierce.” There was more noise, shock and nearly an uprising in the voices.
Pastor Jack raised his hands to calm them. “Stephen Pierce offered a million-dollar reward for his wife’s rescue. Many were looking for her, but I was the one to take her to the hospital. I couldn’t accept Mr. Pierce’s reward money. Charity is not something that should have money attached to it. But you sit in this warm church today because I did ask Stephen Pierce for something. I asked him for enough money to pay our oil and electric bills and to purchase a new furnace and a few other things for our church, including a small bus so our youth could again begin to travel to events with other churches. He has taken care of those things, but what he and his friend, the man I found nearly frozen to death, also did was establish a two-million dollar foundation that will help struggling churches in rural areas all over the northeast with financial needs, so the doors can stay open in their communities. The charity is one that I and Mr. Pierce’s father-in-law, our friend, Pastor David Johnson, will oversee as a part of Mr. Pierce’s larger foundation.”
The church members stood and clapped.
Tears came to Jack’s eyes. He wiped them and continued. “First Peter, chapter five, verse ten says, ‘And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’
“The baby who was born here this week was a gift to her family. She was also a gift to this church. But we must never forget the gift God gave us more than two thousand years ago. Because of that baby, we operate in His eternal glory. We have the promise that no matter what storms we may face, through God’s grace, after a little while, we will be restored and strengthened. Jesus is a very present help and a hope in times of trouble, saints. Pray and believe always in the promise that was fulfilled on Christmas Day.”
I PRAY YOU HAVE ENJOYED The Winter Baby. I hope you’ll tell a friend or two about the series which includes the other titles, The Winter Reunion and The Winter Wedding. If you would, write a brief review for me. I’ll be forever grateful.
If you aren’t already, please join my newsletter sign up at Rhonda McKnight and visit my website www.RhondaMcKnight.net to find out about my other books and future releases.
Grace,
Rhonda
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my father, Jimmie McKnight, for helping me to develop some aspects of this story.
Dr. Sherri Lewis, you always come through with the medical and the developmental feedback. Thank you for giving me what I needed to make this story better.
My editor, Felicia Murrell, your suggestions, and keen eye were just what I needed to polish this book to perfection. I appreciate your commitment to excellence.
My destiny-sisters, Tia McCollors and Sherri L. Lewis, y’all the best. You know how I feel. I’d never want to do this without you. Vanessa Riley, I appreciate your support and listening ear. You’re a righteous, talented sistah for real. Jacquelin Thomas, thank you for always inspiring me to give my stories a twist. You are a master and a good friend. I love you.
My sons, Aaron and Micah and my new daughter-in-love, Tamaria, you inspire me to be my personal best.
And as always, I love my Readers. Thank you for following the series. Your reviews, emails, and social media feedback has blessed my heart.
About the Author
Even as she earned degrees in Textile Technology, Organizational Leadership, and finally Adult Education, Rhonda McKnight’s love for books and desire to write stories was always in the back of her mind and in the forefront of her heart. Rhonda loves reading and writing stories that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. She writes from the comfort of her home in South Carolina with black tea, potato chips, and chocolate on hand. At her feet sits a snappy mixed breed toy dog. She can be reached at her website at www.RhondaMcknight.net and on social media at http://www.facebook.com/booksbyrhonda and www.instagram.com/authorrhondamcknight and www.BlackChristianReads.com where she has joined with nineteen other Christian fiction authors to introduce her stories to the world.
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