A Time of Seasons

by Kay Edwards

Chapter Thirty

  The men found the ladies all in the kitchen making lunch when they returned from their camping trip. Wyatt scooped his niece out of the playpen. “Did you miss me?” he asked as he nuzzled her cheek.

  Dalton smiled at Misty. He couldn’t help but notice the guilt written all over her face. He then took a good look around. All of the women seemed quiet. His voice was firm as he said. “All right whatever it is spill it.”

  Darby burst into tears surprising Grant. He walked over and started to comfort her. “It’s ok. It was just a little sugar.”

  Misty felt horrible for Darby and started to tear up too. When Darby looked at her, Misty started crying too. The men looked absolutely stunned. Dalton was just getting ready to console his future wife when Chad looked at Terry. “What in the world happened and don’t you dare tell me this is about the candy?”

  Darby pulled away from Grant. “I had to go to the ER. It wasn’t the candy, though.”

  Grant kept calm, but he couldn’t help being alarmed. His wife seemed beside herself with worry. “Why?”

  Darby sniffled. “It will be ok. The doctor said the sugar wouldn't hurt the baby.”

  Grant opened and closed his mouth. He looked at the other women. He pulled his wife into his arms. “You had that much sugar, and you’re pregnant?”

  Darby knew she should have put a bit more thought into her words but darn it she was upset. “I didn’t know. When I almost passed out is when we knew something was wrong. I felt so sick when I smelled the chicken and then everything got fuzzy.”

  Grant didn’t want to shout. He just didn’t. He very calmly asked. “Why didn’t someone come and get me if you were feeling so sick?”

  Darby tried to breathe. “Grant, you are squishing me.”

  Misty answered. “We didn’t want to disturb you unless it was something serious. Don’t be mad. We tried to come up with a plan to use your trip against you, but Mom Adams said that would be wrong. We decided our best bet was to throw ourselves on the mercy of the court.”

  Terry looked at her daughter. “Thanks for letting them know that bit of information.”

  Misty looked at the other women. “I thought we agreed, to be honest.”

  Liz looked at Misty. “Being honest is one thing telling them the entire plan was not necessary.”

  Darby looked up at Grant. “Are you mad? We stopped the plan before we went through with it.”

  The men all looked at each other. Vince spoke softly. “They are all crazy. Every one of them is absolutely nuts. What were we thinking leaving them alone together? We should have seen this coming.”

  Misty took exception to that statement. “Now you can’t blame us for Darby being pregnant. That is all on Grant. We didn’t know that when we indulged just a bit.”

  Dalton started coughing but decided to keep his mouth shut. He pulled Misty against his chest and said nothing.

  Darby looked up at her husband. “I’m not nuts. I just ignore good choices sometimes. Are you mad at me?”

  Grant pulled away and looked down at his wife. “I’m not mad.” He said gently. “We are having a baby.”

  Darby smiled up at him. “We are having a baby. I would not have done that if I had known. You know that, right?”

  Grant kissed her softly. “I know you wouldn’t. You are a good mom.”

  Misty leaned into Dalton. She smiled up at him and then frowned. “Are you mad about the candy?”

  Dalton didn’t say anything. He was waiting to be soothed. When she pulled on his hand and led him out of the kitchen, he winked at everyone.

  Vince laughed. “He sure does like being soothed.”

  Misty turned and looked at Dalton. He could see her mind working she had all intentions of trying to butter him up. He couldn’t wait to see what she would do. When she walked up and hugged him, he could not help but grin. He wiped it off his face as she pulled away and looked at him. “Please don’t be mad. I don’t do it all the time.”

  Dalton watched her stand on her tiptoes to kiss him. He pulled her close and kissed her. He knew it was time to end the kiss and reluctantly pulled away. “I’m not mad.” He said softly. “I just wanted to be soothed.”

  Misty punched in the stomach. “Shame on you worrying me like that now I need to be soothed.”

  Dalton pulled her into his arms. “Ok.” He said before he kissed her again. He ended the kiss as he heard a cough.

  Brock shook his head. He smiled at his sister’s face. “It is time to eat lunch.”

  Misty smiled up at Dalton. “That was some pretty impressive soothing.”

  Dalton winked at her. “I learned from the best.”

  The two walked into the kitchen. Misty looked at Grant and Rodney. “I thought you two promised not to say anything about the candy fest.”

  Rodney smiled. “We didn’t. Before Darby took our phones, we sent pictures to dad’s phone. All we did was text.”

  Chad looked at the ladies. “Eight bags of candy and twenty cans of soda seems a bit excessive don’t you think.”

  Terry looked at Misty. “She drank six of the root beers herself.”

  Misty looked at her mother. “You ate a bag and a half of candy all by yourself. Darby had the least amount out of all of us and still had three sodas and a bag of candy.”

  Vince spoke. “The pictures were hysterical. I didn’t realize my wife was so affectionate with soda cans.”

  Liz looked at Rodney. “Did you send that one?”

  Rodney gave her a devilish grin. “I’m not admitting to anything.”

  Darby looked up at Grant. He was still holding her close, she smiled. “Are you really happy about the baby?”

  Grant leaned down and kissed her brow. “I am ecstatic about the baby. I can’t wait to see your belly grow again. You are the most beautiful pregnant woman I know.”

  Misty smiled. She leaned into Dalton. Their life was just getting ready to start. She couldn’t wait to be his wife. She smiled up at him. “Are you ready to be a married man?”

  Dalton raised an eyebrow. “I am ready. Are you ready to wake up beside me?”

  Misty nodded. “I am.”

  They all sat down and started to eat. Liz smiled as she watched Misty shamelessly flirt with Dalton. She smiled at Vince. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

  Vince had to agree. “No, it doesn’t. The loss is still there and is painful but seeing her happy it just feels right.”

  Jeanie smiled at them. “Kyle would have been so proud to see the man he became.”

  Vince nodded. “I know Dalton will bring Rachel up to be a Godly young woman. You did raise an extraordinary man.”

  David looked at the couple. “I have been humbled by what God has entrusted to me. When I think back to the night, I asked God for direction I can honestly say it was one of the hardest things to trust God in. It was the most rewarding too.”

  Vince smiled as he gestured toward Misty and Dalton. “Your willingness to obey the leading of God has allowed this special relationship to happen.”

  David looked at his son and soon to be daughter. “They really are happy.”

  Vince smiled as he watched Misty wink at him. “She is a handful. He will need to stay on his toes.”

  Jeanie and Liz looked at each other. If they had, to be honest, their husbands would realize Dalton wasn’t getting himself into anything they hadn’t already gotten themselves into. Every woman in the room was a handful.

  David chuckled as Misty winked at him too. “Life will never be boring.”

  Vince looked at Liz and nodded. They stood and walked over to Wyatt. “Can we have Rachel for a second?”

  Misty looked at Vince and Liz. They had told her what they had wanted to do and she had agreed it was a beautiful idea. She watched as they came closer. As predicted Rachel reached for Dalton. She watched as Dalton smiled and reached for her. She
watched tears gather in his eyes as Vince said. “There you go, Rachel. Sit with your daddy.”

  Dalton looked up at Vince and Liz. He looked down at his parents who both had tears in their eyes. Pulling Rachel close to him, he stood and hugged the couple. “Thank you.” He whispered in a strangled voice.

  Liz kissed his cheek. “Thank you. You are one of the most beautiful human beings I have ever met.”

  Dalton kissed her cheek. “I could say the same for you.”

  There was not a dry eye in the room as Dalton sat back down with his daughter. Misty’s cheeks were wet with tears as she leaned into his arm and looked up at him. “I love you, Dalton. Thank you for being her dad.”

  Dalton looked down at Misty. “Thank you for letting me. I love you both so much.”

  The group finished their meal with a sense of rightness. It was one of the most beautiful things to have witnessed by those that were there. It was easy to see that God had brought them all from a season of sorrow to a season of joy.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Misty giggled as Dalton pulled her closer. She turned in his arms and smiled. “Don’t you work today?”

  Dalton kissed her neck and laughed as she giggled some more. “I do work today. I have all morning though with my girls.”

  Misty smiled up at him. “Do you like being married?”

  Dalton raised his eyebrows and asked. “What do you think?”

  Misty blushed. “I would guess yes.”

  Dalton kissed her forehead. “I can’t believe we have been married for two months now. The time is going so fast, and in another month Rachel will be a year old.”

  Misty cuddled into his chest. “I still can’t believe it will be Thanksgiving soon. I wish your family could come, but I guess we have to wait till Christmas.”

  Dalton held her close. “As long as I have you and Rachel I’m satisfied.”

  Misty could hear Rachel on the monitor. “I guess someone is ready to face the day.”

  Dalton watched her stand and reach for her robe. When she looked back at him, he smiled. “You are one beautiful woman Misty Nelson.”

  Misty grinned at her husband. “You are one ‘healthy’ man Dalton Nelson. I am glad I said yes.”

  Dalton watched her leave. He looked up at the ceiling and thanked God for his life. What had started as a friendship based on an urgent need had blossomed into a friendship of love. His best friend was in the next room tending to their daughter. He could not help but thank God for the seasons that life had. The good and the bad were both needed. If you never had a season of sadness or sorrow how could you know a season of joy? Right now, at this moment he and Misty were in a season of joy, and it was beautiful.

  Misty watched her husband from the doorway. She had Rachel on her hip as she watched the play of emotions cross over his face. Walking over to the bed she handed him, Rachel. “Say good morning to Daddy.”

  Rachel cuddled into Dalton. She looked up into his face and said “Da… bow do.”

  Dalton nuzzled her cheek. “I love you too princess.”

  Misty looked at her husband. “What was going through your mind right now?”

  Dalton looked at her and smiled. “I have waited so long for you and this. I’m glad my season of waiting is over.”

  Misty leaned down and kissed his lips softly. “I don’t know what seasons wait for us, but I’m glad to know I serve a God that can hold us through them all. I am glad that he led me from a season of sadness to a season of love. I love you, Dalton.”

  Dalton kissed her head as she laid it on his shoulder. “I love you Misty.”

  The little family would grow eventually, but at this moment and in that season, it was complete.

  Note from the Author

  I hope you enjoyed getting to know Misty and Dalton in the first book of my Crazy in Texas series. If you did I invite you to join them again as we watch Wyatt find lost love. Please join me on Wyatt and Kelly’s story in A Season of Secrets which is now available for purchase.

  Other Books by Kay Edwards

  Susquehanna Trilogy

  A Prelude to A Dance

  The Storm’s Journey

  To Be Blessed

  Crazy in Texas Series

  A Time of Seasons

  A Season of Secrets

  A Season of Hiding

  A Season of Justice

  Felix Brothers Trilogy

  Always Enough

  A Heart’s Strength (released 1/16/2017)

  A Beautiful Faith (release date 6/2017)