And Preston. God had brought him into her life, too. Preston loved her no matter how many times she’d pushed him away. Sure, he’d told her how he felt. He’d also shown her in more ways than she could count. She believed her heart had recognized his love, even when she refused to believe it before.
Hope. There’d been many times in her life when it would’ve been easy to lose hope. But every time she got close, God had reached down and given her a large enough dose to make it through. She hadn’t realized it at the time, but looking back, she recognized the people in her life had shown her that hope was alive and well. That God was always there, even when she couldn’t see Him. From Papa and Granny to Preston, from Ellen and Stanley to the amazing people at church, God continued to shower her with more blessings than she could count.
Family. God had provided Mandy with the family she needed. He’d given her Papa and Granny when her parents left her behind. And now? She had Preston.
She took their wedding photo out of the older frame and replaced it with the image of her, Granny, and Papa. With a soft smile, she touched Preston’s face with one finger before putting their picture in the new frame.
She and Preston were a family. She sat in wonder as the love she’d ignored for far too long pushed its way to the surface. She loved Preston. Probably always had. She chuckled. Two people crazy enough to enter a marriage of convenience like they had deserved each other. She had to talk to him.
Mandy got dressed and cleaned up as quickly as possible. Disappointment doused her smile when she entered the living room and realized Preston wasn’t home.
Ellen came in from the kitchen. When she saw Mandy’s face, her own clouded with worry. “Is something wrong?”
“Where’s Preston? I need to talk to him.”
“He left early for the workshop.”
Mandy was sure Preston had said yesterday he’d finished his work for the next couple of days. “What’s going on, Ellen?” Her mother-in-law looked uncomfortable. “Please, tell me.”
Ellen dried her hands on the towel she’d carried out with her. “Preston wanted to get quotes on the equipment in the workshop. He’s hoping he can sell it and pay for repairs to your house.”
“What? No! He can’t do that. The business is his dream.” Mandy ran into the bedroom and slipped her shoes on. She gave Ellen a hug on the way back through the living room. “We’ll be back in a while.” She barely registered the growing smile on Ellen’s face as she closed the door behind her.
Once in her car, she dialed Preston’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Mandy? Is everything okay?”
“Are you at the workshop?”
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
Mandy let out a sigh of relief. “I’m on my way. Please, don’t sell anything until I get there.”
“Mandy?” Preston sounded confused. She wasn’t about to tell him any of this over the phone.
“I promise I’ll tell you everything in person.”
~
Preston stared at the phone after Mandy hung up as if he expected clarification.
Dad had offered to come with him this morning when Preston said he wanted to get quotes on the equipment. Selling it was the only thing he could think of to pay for the deductible for the house.
It was more important for him to make sure Mandy didn’t lose the one thing that mattered most to her. That house reminded her of everything her grandparents stood for. Money would be tight, but he could help her with the websites and find another job in town. They’d make it work.
All that mattered was that they were together.
“Mandy’s on her way here.”
Dad looked confused. “Is everything okay?”
“She wouldn’t talk to me on the phone.” He dusted his hands off on his pants and headed outside to wait for her.
“I’ll stay in here, son. You go on and talk to her.”
Preston gave him a small smile and crossed the yard. He sat on the porch steps in front of the house, thankful for the shade the roof provided, and waited.
Mandy’s car rolled up the driveway and stopped. She jumped out and ran to the stairs. “You didn’t sell your equipment, did you?”
“What? No. I haven’t even gotten quotes on the equipment yet.” He stood and walked down the steps to join her. “Mom told you what I’m going to do, didn’t she?” He motioned toward the workshop. “If we can sell it all, we should be able to pay for the deductible. Then we can get the house fixed for you.”
“I don’t want it fixed.”
He blinked at her, half expecting her to tell him she was joking. But the way she was looking at him said she was serious. “What do you mean?”
“Look at it. The damage, it’s too much.” She looked around her a few moments before meeting his gaze again. “If we sell this place and all the land, we could afford a house and a place for your business. Probably with money to spare.”
Preston couldn’t believe his ears. “But you love this place. It means everything to you.”
“Not anymore.” She took a step toward him, her stature radiating confidence.
Surely, she didn’t fully grasp what she was saying. “It’s the last connection you have to your grandparents. The legacy your family left you.”
She shook her head. “That’s just it, Preston. I’ve been so focused on the past that I grew up clinging to my life as if it could be taken away at any moment. But I realized something this morning. Every time I thought things were falling apart, God was holding my hand. Papa and Granny took me in when they didn’t have to. They showed me God’s love every day of their lives. Their example and the memories I hold are their legacy to me. Not the house.” Her lips curved into a smile. “And God brought you into my life when I needed you most, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.” She chuckled. “You are my family, Preston.”
His heart stalled as her words sank in. He reached out to touch her face with one hand.
She covered his with one of her own. “I’m sorry I took so long to see it. This house? The land? It’s just a place. And you’ve been willing to give up everything to keep it for me. I can’t let you do that. You’ve worked too hard for this business to let it go like that. This is your dream.”
“No, you’re my dream. And I’d sell all of this in a heartbeat if that’s what made you happy.”
“That’s just it. You are what makes me happy. I was stubborn, and I refused to see that for years.” She squeezed his hand. “I love you, Preston. Honestly? I think I always have.”
He searched her eyes, desperate for confirmation. The love and trust he saw reflecting back at him kicked his pulse into high gear as every doubt fled his mind. In one motion, he claimed her lips in a kiss expressing all the love and happiness he wanted to show her for the rest of their lives.
When he pulled back, he enjoyed seeing the pink in her cheeks and the way her lips appeared fuller and redder from his kisses. “It sure took you long enough.” He smiled and gave her a wink.
She grinned as she tried to give him a playful shove. He dodged her hand and stepped to the side. It took little effort to snag her by the waist, pull her close, and hold both her hands in one of his. “I think I’ve got you now. What are you going to do about it?”
With a mischievous little quirk of her eyebrow, Mandy stood on tiptoes until her mouth was only a breath away from his. “This.” She closed the gap in one of the sweetest kisses he’d ever known.
~
Two months later, Mandy and Preston stood in front of her grandparents’ house. The last of the items salvaged from the fire had been removed a week ago. Thankfully, the photo albums kept in the cedar chest in the living room had come through the ordeal unscathed.
Mandy zipped up the front of her coat to keep out the cold January wind. The news said there was a possibility of snow later in the week. Even the air smelled like winter. She tilted her head slightly as she stared at the house. “Perspective is a weird thing.”
/>
Preston pulled the hood of his jacket up over his head and looked at her quizzically. “How so?”
“In September, my whole life was wrapped up in that house. Now? It’s just an empty hull. I thought I’d be sad coming here and seeing it for the last time.”
He moved behind her and put his arms around her waist. “And you’re not?”
“Not really. I’m good with the company buying this land and turning it into a camp for families. I think Papa and Granny would love the idea of kids playing by the creek and chasing fireflies every summer.”
“I think they would, too.” He nuzzled her cheek.
Mandy giggled as his cold nose tickled her. “Besides, I can’t wait to move into our new place next week.” They’d found the perfect house on five acres of land only twenty minutes from church and fifteen minutes from his parents’ place. This coming spring, they hoped to have a large metal building built on the property. For now, the oversized garage would be big enough to house the woodworking business.
“Me neither. Mom and Dad have been great about letting us stay with them.” Preston turned her around in his arms until she faced him. “But I can’t wait until we’re in our own home.” His lips brushed against her cheek. “And I have you all to myself.”
This time, his warm lips covered hers. Everything around Mandy faded away as she melted in her husband’s arms.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Mandy drifted in and out of sleep. The beeps of the heart rate machine helped to drown some of the noise from outside her hospital room. Every cell in her body seemed drained of energy. The sudden sound of the blood pressure cuff accompanied the tightening band on her arm and broke into her moments of rest.
A noise at the doorway prompted Mandy to open her eyes. One of her nurses smiled at her. “Your guys should be back any minute now. You doing okay?”
“I am, thank you.”
The nurse looked behind her and shifted out of the doorway. “Right on time. Come in.”
The moment Preston appeared with the little blue bundle in his arms, all of Mandy’s exhaustion faded away. She scooted herself up on the bed a little. “Hey! I missed you both. Everything go okay?”
“Are you kidding?” Preston sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at his infant son a moment before handing him over to Mandy. “They got him all cleaned up, and Barry here handled it like a champ.” He lifted the hat a little to reveal soft swirls of hair. “Look how dark it is, even when it’s dry.”
She ran a finger over the strands and breathed in deep. Everything about their son was perfect, from his ten fingers and toes to the way he pursed his tiny lips. “He has your nose.”
“You think so? I also see some of your family in his face. Doesn’t he have your grandfather’s chin?”
The possibility brought moisture to her eyes, and she blinked it away. “They’d be really proud that we named Barry after Papa.”
“They sure would.” Preston pressed a kiss to her forehead and another one to Barry’s.
The baby shifted before releasing the sweetest little sigh. Mandy shook her head in amazement. “How is it possible to fall in love with someone you’ve just barely met?”
Preston shrugged. “All I know is that it’s happened to me twice now.” He winked and gave her a smile that melted her heart.
“Sometimes you say the sweetest things.”
“It’s a gift.”
Mandy giggled. “I love you, Preston.”
He stood so he could lean in and give her a proper kiss. “I love you, too, baby.”
She smiled at him and marveled at how her life had turned out.
Praise God, Preston was right. Never say never.
Thank you!
I appreciate you for taking the time to read Marrying Mandy. I hope you enjoyed it and you’ll consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I like hearing what you think about it, and it’ll help other readers discover new books as well.
If you enjoyed Marrying Mandy, you might enjoy my other marriage of convenience book, Calming the Storm.
Acknowledgments
Doug, I can never thank you enough for your support. Your belief in what I’m doing, the extra opportunities to write, and your encouragement make all the difference in the world. I love you!
As always, Crystal, your support as my friend and critique partner made this whole process that much easier. I’m so thankful to have someone I can bounce ideas off and who isn’t afraid to tell me when I need to take a scene or plot point and chuck it out the window. Here’s to tea, chocolate, and friendship. You rock, girl!
Krista, it was a pleasure to work with you on this book. Your editing was exactly what I needed to polish things up and get the story to where I wanted it to be. Thanks for taking care of my book baby. I look forward to working with you again in the future.
Thanks for the gorgeous work you did on the cover, Vicki. It turned out beautifully! Your encouragement, advice, and suggestions on this project as a whole were invaluable.
There’s a lot that goes into writing a story that I’m proud to send out into the world. A big thank you to the members of my critique group, Rachel and Kris, who offered great suggestions. I’m also thankful for my beta readers: Denny, Steph, Suzanne (Mom), and Sandy. I appreciate you all!
More than anything else, I’m so grateful that God’s given me the opportunity to not only do what I love, but to share my books with others. To Him be the glory!
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About the Author
Melanie D. Snitker has enjoyed writing fiction for as long as she can remember. She started out creating episodes of cartoon shows she wanted to see as a child, and her love of writing grew from there. She and her husband live in Texas with their two children, who keep their lives full of adventure, and two dogs, who add a dash of mischief to the family dynamics. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, crocheting, baking, and hanging out with family and friends.
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Books by Melanie D. Snitker
Stand Alone Titles:
Calming the Storm
Love’s Compass Series
Finding Peace (Book 1)
Finding Hope (Book 2)
Finding Courage (Book 3)
Finding Faith (Book 4)
Finding Joy (Book 5)
Finding Grace (Book 6)
Coming November 2017
Life Unexpected Series
Safe in His Arms (Book 1)
Someone to Trust (Book 2)
Welcome to Romance
Fall Into Romance
Marrying Mandy (Brides of Clearwater Book 1) Page 16