THE TRUE LOVE SERIES BOX SET: A Christian Romance

by Duncan, Juliette

  “Amen.” Tessa drew her head back and looked deep into her husband’s eyes. She thanked God so much for bringing him into her life.

  Persistent knocking on the expansive glass sliding door leading out to the deck and pool area broke the moment. Jayden stood on the other side with both dogs at his heels, tails wagging and filling the air with short sharp yaps. Ben located the correct key and opened the door, letting Jayden in but holding the dogs back.

  “Let them in, Ben.” Tessa laughed as she picked Sparky up and cuddled him, trying to protect her face from his eager kisses. Bindy snuck in through the gap but Ben grabbed her before she got too far.

  “They should stay out. They’ll destroy our new furniture.”

  “Seriously?” Tessa arched an eyebrow. Although Steph had never been too happy about it, Sparky had been allowed inside their cottage whenever they were home, and she hadn’t thought about him not being allowed inside here. Was this going to be their first disagreement? “Maybe we could just set some ground rules? They’re smart—they’ll learn, I’d hate them to be outside all the time.”

  She hugged Sparky to her chest as she waited for Ben’s response. His gaze bounced between Tessa, Jayden and the two dogs.

  “Yeah, Dad, the backyard’s way too small. There’s hardly any room for them to run around in. You’ve got to let them in.”

  Ben let out a slow sigh. “All right then. But they’re not allowed on any of the furniture or upstairs. Agreed?”

  Tessa winked at Jayden as they nodded their heads in agreement. His shy grin gave her hope that he might start to accept her, maybe not as his mother, but at least as a friend.

  Reversing beepers sounded from the front of the house. Ben dashed to the door to meet the truck drivers, and she and Jayden reluctantly put the two dogs outside for their own safety.

  “I’m going to check out my room.” Jayden picked up his box of bits and pieces and headed upstairs. “Hope it’s bigger than the backyard…”

  Tessa laughed lightly, but cringed at the sarcasm in his voice. Would he learn to be happy here? She took a few moments to pray for him and to look around her new home before Ben returned with one of the drivers and a load of boxes.

  The next few hours were filled with unpacking boxes and finding new homes for all their belongings. Later, once the drivers had left and they’d eaten the dinner Tessa’s mother had pre-cooked for them, they relaxed on their new soft leather sofa. Subtle lighting in the garden highlighted a range of lush tropical plants surrounding the pool, and Tessa could almost imagine she and Ben were still on their honeymoon.

  “It’s hard to believe we were in Fiji this time last night.” She leaned back against his chest and gazed outside. “I wish we had longer before going back to work. This month has been wonderful. I don’t want it to end.”

  “Me either, my sweet. We’ve got tonight and tomorrow, so let’s make the most of it.”

  He nuzzled his face into her hair and sighed contentedly.

  The next morning, Ben suggested they have breakfast out before tackling the remaining boxes. The rest of the day passed too quickly, but by the time evening came, everything was unpacked and in its place.

  Tessa woke early on Monday morning to Ben kissing her forehead. “Good morning, sweetheart,” he said softly as he gazed into her eyes. “I’m going for my morning jog. Be back in twenty.” She returned his kiss and rolled over, warmth and contentedness enveloping her body as she curled up, cuddling his pillow. She was drifting off when a jolt stabbed her body and she sat with a start. What am I doing? I can’t go back to sleep. Her pulse quickened. She couldn’t be late for work, today of all days. The day she started her new job. She showered quickly and threw on a pair of pink scrubs. As soon as they were on, she realised they weren’t fitting for her new role as manager, and quickly changed into a white shirt and black trousers. She ran a brush through her hair, grabbed some pins off her dresser and finished putting her hair up as she ran downstairs to where Jayden was in the family room watching television.

  “Good morning, Jayden,” she called out as she headed straight to the kitchen and turned the coffee machine on.

  He glanced up and mumbled something unintelligible.

  “Did you sleep okay in your new room?”

  “Preferred my old bed.”

  She inhaled slowly. Be patient. Count to ten.

  “Do you always take so long to get ready?” He turned his head away from the television and looked at her directly.

  She fought the temptation to tell him off for being rude. Instead, she replied in a controlled voice. “The new clinic’s right near here so I don’t need to get up so early. It’d be a different matter if I was still working at the old one.” She wasn’t going to tell him she’d slept in and was now in a rush.

  “My school’s on the other side of the city. How am I getting there?”

  “We’ve already talked about that.” He really is trying me out… She clenched her fists and steadied her breathing. “Your dad will drive you today since it’s your first day back after the break, but then you’ll need to catch a bus most mornings.”

  She took a deep breath as he continued to glare at her. “You should be able to catch the same bus to the city as your dad, but then you’ll need to change and catch the bus to Indooroopilly on your own. From there it’s only a short walk to school.” She held his gaze firmly as she paused. “Remember?”

  “Dad used to drive me every day.” His eyes narrowed.

  “I know, but let’s give this a try, shall we? It’s not fair to expect your dad to drive through the city and then back to his work every day when you can catch a bus. It was different when you lived on the other side of town.”

  He shrugged and gave her a glassy stare before picking up his school bag and absentmindedly checking the contents. “Guess I have no choice, so I suppose we’ll have to. Where’s Dad?”

  “Gone for his run. Should be back any minute.” Tessa poured herself a coffee and sat at the breakfast bar, resting her elbows on the marble benchtop as she wrapped her hands around the mug and studied her new step-son. Her heart was heavy. How am I going to get through to him, God? Please help me, I’m really struggling.

  She sighed as she sipped her coffee, letting the warm liquid slide down her throat, settling her. He’d be a good-looking boy if only he’d cut his hair. But that doesn’t matter, it’s what’s going on inside him that’s important. He’s been through so much, God, it’s understandable he’s struggling with everything. What child could ever understand why their mother would walk out on them without explanation? Even though he’s surrounded by people who love him dearly, there must a deep ache in his soul. Her heart cried for him. I just want to love him and have him love me, Lord.

  But she had to earn that right. She couldn’t expect a fourteen-year old boy who’d been through everything he’d been through to automatically accept her as his new mum.

  “Jayden, I’m sorry if I was short with you. Let’s try to get through this first week and then we can see if it’s working. Okay?” Her voice was warm and much softer than before.

  He stopped fiddling with his bag and looked up, tilting his head a little. His lips were still tight and he wore a pout on his face. “Whatever.”

  She cringed. She was starting to hate that word. “Tell me about all your sports and after school activities. I’d like to come and watch when I can—if you’re happy for me to do that.”

  He leaned back and crossed his arms, studying her face as he reeled off his weekly schedule. “This term I’ve got rugby training on Mondays and Fridays, rowing on Tuesday mornings, and tennis on Wednesdays.” He paused, as if waiting for her to say something, but then continued before she could. “I’m also part of the science club which meets on Thursday afternoons.”

  “Wow! All of that?”

  His mouth lifted slightly at the edges, falling just short of a smile. “It’s nothing.” He shrugged again as if he were trying to play it down, but her reaction
had obviously pleased him. “And you don’t have to worry about watching me play. Dad hardly ever comes even though he says he will.”

  “That’s not true. Your dad tries to get there as often as he can. You know he does.” She couldn’t help herself. He wasn’t being fair on Ben at all. During their courtship, Ben was always having to hurry away to either watch him play something or other, or to pick him up. She’d occasionally gone with him, but most often she’d just let Ben go on his own. But that was about to change. She would go whenever she could. She stood her ground and looked him in the face. Jayden’s smile had disappeared and his sullen look had returned, and it made her blood boil.

  “Yeah, well, what you think is often and what I think is often must be two different things.” He turned his attention back to his bag. “By the way, what’s for breakfast?”

  “Breakfast?” Tessa dropped her striped leather work bag onto the floor and slapped her forehead. “Breakfast! Of course, I nearly forgot.” She let out a small laugh as she hurried into the kitchen.

  Jayden sat with crossed arms watching her with amusement as she pulled out pots and pans and yanked food items out of the pantry.

  “Stop looking at me like that! I’m not used to making breakfast for a family.”

  He flicked the television off and joined her in the kitchen. “We normally only have cereal and toast.” He grabbed the packet of Weetbix from the cupboard and placed four of the breakfast biscuits into a bowl.

  She sighed with relief and chuckled to herself as she leaned back against the counter. He’d been testing her again. Such a changeable boy. One minute he was horrid and the next he was joking with her. Was it typical teenage behaviour, or was it because he was working out how to treat her now she was his step-mum?

  “Thank you.” She gave him a grateful smile, and her heart warmed as a cheeky grin spread slowly across his face. Maybe, just maybe, they’d made some progress.

  Chapter 2

  After Ben and Jayden left, Tessa spent a few minutes doing a quick tidy up before leaving for the Clinic. She reluctantly decided to take the car instead of her bicycle. Riding along the tree-lined streets, feeling the sun on her back and the breeze tickling her face always put her in a good frame of mind for work, but today she needed to make an impression. And she couldn’t be late.

  Pulling up in the parking lot of the New Farm Veterinary Clinic just before eight o’clock, Tessa sighed heavily when she saw several cars already there. She paused to settle herself before climbing out. The morning definitely hadn’t gone to plan. Everything had been hurried, and the interaction with Jayden had left her drained. She and Ben had hardly said a word to each other. By the time he got back from his jog, he only had time for a quick shower and an even quicker breakfast. They had a very short Bible reading and prayer together, with Jayden sitting between them with crossed arms. Nothing like the leisurely breakfasts they’d had on their honeymoon and the extended devotions they’d enjoyed so much. They’d have to get up earlier in the future.

  And now she had to face her new staff. Most of them she’d worked with at the old clinic, but there, she’d been one of them; now she was the boss. Why had she let Fran talk her into it? Fran knew how much she loved having hands-on contact with all the animal patients, but had insisted she’d make a great manager and convinced her to take the position. At least she had the option of reverting to her old job as head surgeon after six months if she didn’t like it. Six months! Tessa sighed again. Okay God, I prayed about this, and everyone seemed to think it was the right thing to do. I’m still not sure, so you’ll have to be with me today. Please help me to manage my staff wisely. Thank you.

  She opened the car door and climbed out. The new clinic was impressive with its fresh paint job and brightly coloured murals of animals of all sorts covering the front and side walls. Fran had been busy. The old run-down building she’d bought for her second clinic was now warm and welcoming.

  She glanced at her watch. Right on eight. No more time to procrastinate. She inhaled slowly and deeply before pushing the door open and entering her new work place.

  The staff members were grouped around the reception desk and they all looked up as she entered. Two new faces. Fran had briefed her about Sandy and Harrison, but Tessa had yet to meet them. She greeted the group and introduced herself to the new members. Sandy Bowman had sharply arched eyebrows and a mole the size of a pen point above her top lip. She talked with her hands and jiggled on the spot. “Today’s my first day on the job,” she told Tessa enthusiastically in a high-pitched voice.

  “Is that so?” Tessa already knew this was the receptionist’s first day of paid employment, ever. Fran had taken a liking to the young, enthusiastic New Zealander and was prepared to give her a go.

  Sandy nodded, her face lighting up even further.

  “You’re not from around here, are you? Let me guess...” Tessa tilted her head and tapped her finger to her chin. “Across the Tasman Sea? New Zealand?”

  A wide smile, showing a set of braced teeth, appeared on Sandy’s face. “Yes! I grew up on a sheep farm, but we also had goats and pigs, and ducks and chickens. I’ve been around animals all my life.”

  Tessa laughed at Sandy’s enthusiasm. “Fantastic. Glad to have you on our team.”

  She then turned her attention to Harrison Smith, the new surgeon. Lean and tanned with high cheekbones and big brown eyes, his black hair hung loosely around his shoulders. She was tempted to remind him to tie it back before he operated, but instead, she offered her hand. “Nice to meet you, Harrison.”

  He nodded and shook her outstretched hand, but his steady gaze unsettled her a little. As he leaned against the reception desk, he stuck his hands into the large pockets of his white lab coat and crossed one ankle over the other. A little too cool for my liking. But he’d come with excellent references, and Fran had raved about him.

  Tessa excused herself and found her office just down the corridor on the left. Spacious and impressive, just like Fran’s, a large, silky oak desk dominated the room. A row of matching shelves lined one wall, and a large occasional chair sat beside the window that looked out onto the busy main road. She hung her jacket on the coat rack behind the heavy door. From her work bag, she pulled out two framed photos and set them beside her computer screen on the desk. The first was of Jayden sitting on the beach beside Bindy and Sparky. The second was of her and Ben in front of the Tavoro Waterfalls in Fiji. She picked it up again and her pulse quickened as she gazed into her husband’s loving eyes, and for a moment she was back there…

  Sandy’s high-pitched voice welcoming their first patient to the clinic interrupted her reminiscing. She replaced the photo and got to work.

  By late morning, the vet clinic waiting room was full and Tessa’s staff were stretched to the limit. The maximum wait time was meant to be twenty minutes, but some patients had been waiting for nearly thirty. She joined Sandy in apologising for the delay and offered refreshments to the waiting owners, something Fran would never do. She even handed out free treats to the animals.

  Fran called around lunch time. Instead of the brusque, business-like tone she often adopted, Fran’s voice was warm and congenial. “Hi, Tess. Just checking to see how everything’s going on your first day.”

  Tessa flopped back in her chair. “It’s way different to what I expected. We’ve been flat out all morning. I’m exhausted already. Did you send people our way?”

  “No, but I’ve done a lot of advertising. Good to see it’s paying off.”

  Tessa pressed a hand to her forehead. Outside her office door, Harrison shouted to his assistant to clean the surgical supplies. Working all morning without a break had made him demanding, and he seemed to resent Tessa dropping in to check on his work.

  “I’m not used to managing staff.” Tessa cupped her hand over the mouthpiece and spoke quietly. “I’m used to getting in there and doing the job myself, not standing back and letting them do all the work. I’m feeling a little frustrated.”
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  “You’ll get used to it. Your job is to manage, so as much as you’re tempted to jump in and help, it’s better if you don’t, otherwise your staff will never take you seriously.”

  Tessa’s sigh blew loose strands of hair from her face. That might be Fran’s way of managing, but it wasn’t hers.

  “The first day is always the hardest. It’ll get easier, and I’ve got faith in you. I wouldn’t have encouraged you to take the job if I didn’t believe you were the right person.”

  Tessa drew a deep breath. “Thanks Fran—I hope you’re right.”

  “And remember, I’m just a phone call away, so don’t hesitate to give me a ring if you need any help.”

  “Thanks, I’ll remember that.”

  It was only the first day, but Tessa was already questioning whether she’d made the right decision.

  Chapter 3

  Tessa breathed a sigh of relief when the day finally ended and she was on her way home. She could hardly wait to change into more comfortable clothes and put her feet up for a few minutes before fixing dinner. She’d make sure Jayden didn’t have to remind her about making meals again. Her first weekday dinner would be simple—chicken stir fry with noodles. Surely both boys would like that.

  Arriving home shortly after her, Jayden dropped his backpack and a green and white training rugby ball onto the kitchen floor.

  “Hey Jayden. How was school?” She looked up from where she was cutting vegetables. Her few moments of rest had been interrupted by a phone call from her mother.