“A shame, though,” Vincent continued, as though Jack hadn’t spoken, “I’d hoped to surprise you with the other passengers.”
Jack squeezed the phone. “What other passengers?”
“At least now I know Cody can keep a secret. Then again, he wouldn’t have learned about the trip until two days ago. I’m guessing you didn’t see him on Thanksgiving? He told me he’d invited you to Willow’s Haven. Didn’t go?”
“No, I didn’t. Vincent, what—did—you—do?”
“I know he’d have loved going on the plane with you. And seeing the film.”
Adrenaline hit Jack’s veins so fiercely, his skin burned. “Cody,” he managed, “is on the plane?”
“And Elise. From what I hear, they were thrilled to be one of the few to see Finding Home first. Though I know they’d have rather seen it with you.”
Jack snatched the envelope from the counter. “You put them on a plane, Vincent? A plane? After what happened last time?”
Silence echoed through the other end.
“Vincent!”
“Jack, man, I didn’t even think about that. But I’ve checked in with the pilot. Everything is going fine with their flight. And I’m sorry. I did what I thought would work to get you out here. We need you, Jack. You know that. And you need them, Elise and Cody.” He exhaled roughly. “I saw it all over your face when I was there. I hear it in your voice when you talk about them. God put those two in your life to give you another chance at a family, Jack, and you’re ignoring it. Following your own direction. God is trying His best to give you a happy ending, and you aren’t letting Him.”
Jack picked up the envelope, slapped it against the counter. “I didn’t get on the plane. There is no happy ending here.”
“Yeah, I didn’t figure you’d get on the first one. I know you well, remember? There’s another plane waiting for you in Stockville. If you get there within an hour, you’ll make the screening. I’ve got a car on this end too, waiting to take you to the theater. Same way I got a car for Elise and...”
Jack had planned to head to Willow’s Haven to show them what they meant to him, tell them what a fool he’d been. But he’d show them—tell them—today. Even if it took going to the screening.
He grabbed his keys and headed out the door.
Chapter Twelve
Jack still couldn’t believe he would be attending the screening of Finding Home with Elise and Cody. And wearing a tux.
Vincent had the thing ready and waiting for him in the plane. He had to hand it to his agent; he went all out. And he did know Jack.
The pilot had already confirmed that Elise and Cody had landed safely and were on their way to the screening. They’d arrive for the prefestivities, the red-carpet photos and impromptu interviews with television crews, but Jack would be there for the show.
He wondered how Cody would like it.
And Elise.
An excitement rushed through him that he hadn’t experienced in a very long time, but he recognized it immediately.
Anticipation. The moment he’d waited for, when the public got to see a piece of his heart and had the opportunity to see God the way Jack saw Him.
Because somewhere in the course of this season of Thanksgiving, Jack realized what a complete fool he’d been. God didn’t take his family. God had been there, all along, through the storm. He’d been waiting for Jack to reach for Him, call for Him, and yet Jack had chosen to forego everything he’d claimed to believe and everything he’d portrayed on-screen.
Not anymore.
God, thank You for keeping Elise and Cody safe during their flight. And help me show them how much they mean to me. And forgive me, Lord. Forgive me for not having faith that You hadn’t abandoned me. Let me never forget that again. And, Lord, if it be Your will, let my team forgive me. And, God, please, let Elise forgive me too.
He stepped off the plane to see that Vincent hadn’t sent someone to pick him up. Vincent stood next to the black limo that would undoubtedly take them to the screening.
“Happy day after Thanksgiving, friend.” He waved off the chauffeur and opened the door. “You forgive me yet?”
“I forgave you on the flight over.” But Jack still punched his arm before climbing in.
Vincent laughed. “Now, that’s the Jack I remember.” He nodded to the driver. “Come on, let’s go. He has a movie to watch and two special people to see.” He winked at Jack. “Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right.” Jack leaned his head against the seat, the flurry of events in the day hitting him and causing him to close his eyes as they made their way through typical LA traffic. Soon, he’d be with Elise and Cody again. And he’d show them the movie he was so proud of. Because he was proud of Finding Home, and he expected the public would like it as much or more than the previous films, because he had no doubt God had been there, guiding every scene.
The car moved slowly, which wasn’t uncommon, but then they came to a complete halt.
Jack allowed himself to doze while they sat, until he realized they’d been still for quite a while, and he opened one eye. “What’s happening, Vincent?”
“I knew it would be busy with people trying to get to the red carpet, but I can’t remember it ever stopping traffic completely for this long when a screening was set to start. Especially if they’re waiting for the director. They have to know you’re en route.”
The chauffeur had picked up his phone and started talking to a fellow limo driver who provided an update on the traffic ahead.
“There’s been an accident,” he said. “They’re trying to get the emergency vehicles through. That’s the holdup.”
Vincent nodded, but fear shot to Jack’s heart.
“Not again, Lord. Please.” He grabbed his cell and dialed Elise’s number. He hadn’t called her and told her he was coming. He’d wanted it to be a surprise. But what if something had happened?
He vaguely heard Vincent ask the chauffeur, “Can you ask about the people involved in the accident? Anything at all? It’s important.”
Jack smashed the phone against his ear, gripped it so tightly his fingers stung. “Come on, Elise, answer.”
More mumblings from the driver into his phone and then, “Yes, sir, it’s one of the other cars from our company. He hasn’t heard yet about the condition of the driver or the two passengers, a woman and a boy, yet.”
Jack opened his door and started out. The thing was locked from the front and wouldn’t budge. “Unlock this,” he commanded. “Now!” He heard the lock disengage and climbed out, then started running...and praying.
Please, Lord. I’m begging You. Let them be okay.
* * *
Elise couldn’t discern what had happened. One minute, she and Cody were riding in the car talking about the way they’d left snow in Alabama to arrive in hot and sunny LA, and then—Elise wasn’t sure what had happened after that. There was a loud thunder. No, louder than thunder. And then she’d screamed. And Cody had yelled her name.
He’d yelled her name.
“Co-dy.” Her throat didn’t want to work.
“Everything is going to be okay. We need you to stay calm until we get you checked out.”
Elise didn’t know the man’s voice. And she no longer heard Cody call her name.
“Elise! Cody!”
“J-Jack?” Now she knew she was dreaming. Jack was at his cabin. In Alabama. And she was certain that she and Cody had landed in LA. She remembered that clearly. The pilot. Cody in his suit. And the satin blue gown she and Savvy had found at a consignment shop on the square in Claremont. She remembered all of that, but Jack wasn’t in any of the equation.
“Elise!”
No doubt, that was Jack. But how?
It took everything she had to ease one eye open.
And see him, running toward her and wearing a black tuxedo, looking so tall and strappingly handsome. If she were dreaming, she really liked this dream. She decided to close her eyes and let it continue on.
Then she felt his hand on her cheek. “Elise, honey, are you okay? Tell me you’re okay.”
That hand felt so real. She forced a squint again.
There he was.
She tried to smile, but it hurt. Even so, she whispered, “You have the most beautiful eyes.”
His relieved smile warmed her heart. “Elise, where’s Cody?”
Cody. She forced her eyes wide, struggled to push herself upright.
“Miss, please. Let us do our job. And don’t worry, your son is okay. He’s visiting with one of the firemen there, see?”
Elise turned to view Cody, standing at the front of a fire truck and discussing the engine with one of the firemen.
“Thank God,” Jack said beside her.
Elise prayed this wasn’t a dream. “Really?” she whispered.
He looked back to her, leaned down and kissed her softly. “Really. I don’t know why it took me so long to see the truth, Elise. You told me. Vincent told me. But I had to figure it out on my own. God didn’t leave me. He’d never leave me. He was waiting for me to let Him guide me through the storm.” He gently stroked her hair. “And He led me to you. And Cody.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “You came to the screening.”
“I did.”
“Okay, we believe everything is fine, but we’re going to take you to the hospital just to make sure.” The EMT adjusted something on the gurney.
“What about the screening?” she asked Jack.
“I’ll let everyone know what happened and that I won’t make the screening.”
When she opened her mouth to protest, he added, “They will understand this, sweetheart, especially when I promise to make every other event on the press junket, including the Christmas premiere, which I plan to see with the woman I love by my side.”
“The woman you love,” she repeated, dazed.
“If she’ll have me. But not only for the premiere, Elise. I don’t want to be away from you for another minute. God has shown me how precious life is, and He’s shown me how much you mean to me. I love you. I fought it, and that was crazy, because there’s no denying how I feel about you. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Elise started to answer, to tell him she loved him too, but her mouth stung, and she tasted a little blood. Then she put her hand to her face and felt dampness on her cheek.
“It isn’t bad,” he soothed, bending down and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“Your husband is right. Not bad at all. A couple of stitches, and you’ll probably have a tiny scar reminder of the event, but I suspect you’ll be just fine.”
“A tiny scar to remind me of this day,” Elise repeated. “Thank you, God. Because I never want to forget. And he isn’t my husband,” she corrected, “but he will be.”
Jack nodded toward Cody, now dragging the fireman toward the gurney that held Elise. “You do realize this is a package deal, though, right?”
Her heart swelled as Cody neared. She’d been miserable at the thought of leaving him after Christmas, because she’d grown so very close to him and truly thought of him like a son. Now he would be a part of her life forever, as would this wonderful man whom she truly, deeply loved. “Oh, Jack, really?”
“Really.”
“So this is Miss Elise and Mr. Amazing Jack,” Cody said. “She was in the car with me when we were hit, but she’s okay. The EMT lady said so. She said she just needed to rest a minute. Isn’t that right, Miss Elise?”
It hurt, but Elise smiled. “That’s right, Cody.”
“We were in that car. It’s a Maybach S600. It’s made by Mercedes. It’s a pretty cool car, and most people might think it’s the coolest car they have ever seen, but they haven’t seen our 1964 1⁄2 Mustang. It’s the most rare Mustang ever. But we have one. Do you want to know what all we did to the one Mr. Amazing Jack bought? We started with...”
“That’s our boy,” Jack said.
“That’s our boy,” she whispered.
“How soon do you think we can adopt him?” His hand found hers, and she squeezed it tightly.
“I hope very soon. Oh, Jack, this is so perfect. I can’t imagine how life could get any better.”
He lifted her hand to his lips, brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles. “Oh, I have one little idea.”
“What kind of idea?”
The EMTs had moved on each side of her gurney and wanted to lift it up, but they too awaited Jack’s answer.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
She blinked. Not what she was expecting. Did she trust him? Trust him not to hurt her? Trust him to count on God whenever life dealt him a difficult hand? Trust him to come to her if he needed help and not attempt to handle things on his own?
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t try to fix another broken man.
But then again, weren’t we all broken without God?
And Jack had found his way through the storm, turned to God and found hope with Him, and with Elise and Cody.
She moved closer, brushed her lips against his and told him the truth. “Yes, Jack. I trust you.”
Epilogue
Two years later
“Mr. Simon,” a reporter yelled, as cameras flashed toward the red carpet, “can we expect another short film at the beginning of this movie about the Alabama children’s home?”
“Yes, Mr. Simon,” another called, “are you going to melt my heart and make me grab my checkbook again?”
“That’s the goal.” Jack smiled. “And Willow’s Haven can always use your donations to help the children there, but the main goal of our short films for the home is to open eyes to the astounding possibilities of adopting or fostering God’s children. You’ll never know how much you can gain by loving a child until you experience it. And while you’re giving them a chance at family, they’re giving you so much more. The chance to love as God loves us. What’s more beautiful than that?”
“See now, you’re already making me cry.” The journalist wiped her tears.
“Mr. Simon, tell us about your family.”
Jack wrapped an arm around his wife, who turned and kissed his cheek. She was that way, always reminding him he was loved, and that he was God’s first and hers second. He loved her even more for that.
“I’m happy to,” Jack said. “This is my beautiful wife, Elise, our son, Cody.”
“Cody Simon!” Cody yelled loudly. “I’m Cody Simon.”
A few chuckles echoed through the crowd, but not because they were making fun of Jack’s son; they, like Jack, adored the way Cody was so very proud of his new name.
“And that’s my dad, Mr. Amazing Jack, but you can call him Jack Simon. I just call him Dad.”
The little girl beside him giggled. “I call him Dad too.”
“And what is your name?” the reporter, smiling, called.
“Naomi,” she said proudly.
“Naomi Simon,” Cody said. “She’s my sister. But she isn’t my only sister!” His grin stretched into his cheeks.
“What’s that?” several reporters called out. “What did you say, son?”
They were all used to asking Jack about his family. Everyone loved the responses from Cody and Naomi. But this was a new bit, and they didn’t miss a beat.
Jack and Elise had thought they’d wait until after Christmas to share their news that she was expecting, but it was the premiere of Jack’s latest film, so why not? “Okay with you?” he whispered to his wife.
“Very okay,” she whispered back.
“All right, then. Go ahead, Cody. Tell them our news.”
“We’re going to have a sister. She’s supposed to come April 6, but they don’t really know. She could come in March, or she could come later in April. And some people think she’s most likely to come on a full moon, but we’re not certain about that. But if she does come on a full moon, then the date would be either March 31 or April 29.”
“Let’s hope for March, then, Cody,” Elise said, and Jack laughed.
He drew her close and put a hand protectively over her belly, joy and contentment flooding through him at the new beauty in his world.
“So, do you have a name for the new addition yet?” another lady called out.
“Naomi,” Elise said, “do you want to tell them, since you picked her name?”
Naomi nodded, pigtails bobbing. “Her name...is Faith.”
* * * * *
Pick up the first story in Renee Andrews’s
WILLOW’S HAVEN series:
FAMILY WANTED
And enjoy these other sweet romances from
Renee Andrews set in Claremont, Alabama:
BRIDE WANTED
YULETIDE TWINS
MOMMY WANTED
SMALL-TOWN BILLIONAIRE
DADDY WANTED
Available now from Love Inspired!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from ROCKY MOUNTAIN COWBOY by Tina Radcliffe
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Dear Reader,
While writing this book, I received a phone call I never wanted to receive. “I’m at the hospital.” Those were Matt’s words, and I could tell from his tone that it wasn’t good news. If you’ve read anything about me or follow me on social media, you know that five years ago I met a twenty-four-year-old young man who needed a kidney and hadn’t found a match. God put it on my heart that day that I would match, even though his family members hadn’t. And God doesn’t lie. We were a perfect, better-than-sibling, all-six-antigen match. Merely six months after meeting Matt, I gave him my kidney, and it began working in the operating room. Praise God!
Second Chance Father Page 17