Jillian's Promise

by Kristin Noel Fischer

  As for the piece of sea glass from Avery, Lyla often carried it in her pocket to remind her that trials and tribulations didn’t have to harden you. Given the right circumstances, life’s challenges could smooth one’s rough edges, transforming them into a new and beautiful person.

  Now in the apartment, she opened a box marked “most important.” Inside, she found the wooden sign she’d bought at the Farmer’s Market all those months ago. Her new home didn’t have a fireplace mantle, but Lyla had already decided to hang the sign in the kitchen.

  “It is well with my soul,” she read, thinking that, yes, it truly was well with her soul.

  Smiling, she walked down the hall and found Avery wearing the pink evening gown Justine had given her. Lying on the floor, Avery stared up at the ceiling with a goofy smile on her face.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Snow angels.” Avery giggled and moved her arms and legs back and forth across the thick, shag carpet.

  Lyla laughed at her sweet little Texan girl. “I’m going to start dinner. How does salad with macaroni and cheese sound?”

  “No. Sushi, please.” Avery loved sushi and would eat it every meal, but Lyla was cutting back on expensive gourmet foods.

  “Remember what I told you about our budget?”

  “Please, Mommy. Sushi.”

  “Not tonight.”

  Avery sighed and returned to making snow angles.

  Lyla walked back to the kitchen and heard a knock at the front door. Praying it wasn’t a reporter, she looked through the peephole, surprised to see Hank holding an aluminum-wrapped casserole dish, a bag of salad, and a loaf of French bread.

  Lyla smiled and opened the door. “Hank.”

  “Hi. My sister made her famous lasagna as a housewarming gift.”

  “Your sister the writer?”

  “Exactly.” He gave an embarrassed grin. “I’m not a very good cook, but I mowed her lawn in exchange for the meal.”

  “Thank you.” Lyla accepted the dish from him. “That was very kind of you and your sister. Would you like to come in?”

  “I don’t want to impose if you’re busy.”

  Avery peered around the corner and squealed. “Coach Hank? Why you here?”

  “He brought us dinner,” Lyla explained. “Wasn’t that nice of him?”

  “Sushi?”

  Lyla shook her head. “No, it’s lasagna.”

  Avery stuck out her tongue. “Gross.”

  “Avery! Apologize to Hank. That was very rude.”

  Avery hung her head. “Sorry.”

  “That’s okay.” Hank held back a grin. “I like sushi, too, but I think you’ll like my sister’s lasagna if you try it.”

  Avery scrunched her face causing Hank to laugh. Lyla went into the kitchen and dug through the boxes until she found plates and silverware. Sitting at the table, the three of them ate dinner and talked about the similarity between snow and the carpet in Avery’s room. At one point, Avery convinced Hank to join her in making carpet angels on the floor.

  “It is kind of like warm snow,” Hank conceded.

  Lyla and Hank returned to the kitchen to clear the table. Humming quietly to himself, Hank rinsed out a dish towel and wiped off the table while Lyla put away the food.

  When they finished, Hank squared his shoulders and smiled warmly. “I don’t mean to sound condescending, so forgive me if I come across this way, but I’m proud of you, Lyla. You should be proud of yourself, too. It takes a lot of courage to make a change and handle life like you have these past months.”

  Lyla blushed as a sense of warmth and well-being filled her soul. Although the details of her life had become very public, Hank had never condemned her for her mistakes. He’d freely offered his friendship and support without judgment.

  Lyla returned his smile. “You don’t sound condescending at all. I’m proud of myself, although I’m ashamed it took me so long.”

  He shrugged. “All that matters is what you’re doing today.”

  They stood grinning at each other, and Lyla couldn’t help but notice how Hank’s chocolate-brown eyes lit up when he was happy. She liked his mop of unruly hair and the adorable dimple on his right cheek.

  The last thing she wanted was another relationship, but there was no harm in admitting that Hank Brown was both sweet and cute. Most importantly, he was a good friend—something she needed right now.

  “So next time I’ll bring sushi?”

  Lyla smiled. “Sushi would be wonderful, but how about I make it here at the apartment? I’ve found a great YouTube video that explains how.”

  Hank grinned. “I’ll bring the soy sauce.”

  Epilogue

  Jillian

  One year later

  With one hand on my belly and the other holding the phone, I swayed back and forth in my hospital room. Keith and I had married in a small ceremony nine months ago. The pregnancy, coming so soon after our wedding, had shocked both of us, but we’d been thrilled.

  “It’s killing me not to be there with you,” Keith said over the phone. He was working overseas as an independent contractor with the army. Resigning his commission had been a difficult decision, but after much prayer and discussion, we’d concluded it was best for our family. Although the separations were tough, the higher pay and additional vacation time helped ease Keith into civilian life.

  “I should’ve come home earlier. I just didn’t think you’d go into labor so soon,” Keith said.

  I clasped the cross I wore around my neck—the cross Keith had given me all those years ago. I no longer kept his wedding ring when we were separated. Due to the nature of his new job, he was able to wear his ring without worrying about losing or damaging it. There was a part of me that missed having it close to my heart when he was gone, but Keith told me he was never removing his wedding ring.

  “I’m okay,” I told him. “I miss you, but I have a great support team with my mom and sisters. Besides, you’ll be home next week and will be able to meet your baby girl.”

  Another contraction hit hard, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Bianca rubbed my back while Vicki checked orders for the bakery on her iPad. My mom paced in the corner, wringing her hands. For a woman who’d had four children, childbirth terrified her. Even so, she’d insisted on being present for the birth of her granddaughter.

  “Your contractions are getting closer,” Keith said. “Are you still walking around? Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

  “Not until it’s time to push.” Another pain gripped me hard and I leaned over, groaning. When it passed, I asked Keith why he was breathing so hard when I was the one in labor.

  “I’m just out running,” he said, casually.

  Suddenly, I felt a tremendous amount of pressure. “Oh, babe, I think it’s time. I think I have to push.”

  “You do? Okay, hold on. I’m coming, baby. I’m almost there.”

  I waited for the contraction to pass before asking him what he was talking about.

  “I’m here, at the hospital on Rose Island. I wanted to surprise you. I’m coming up the stairs now, so don’t have that baby until I get there.”

  I handed the phone to Vicki and bent over as another contraction coursed through my body.

  Bianca rubbed my back. “Honey, I think you better lie down. That baby is going to be here any minute.”

  My midwife agreed, but before I could climb into bed, Keith entered the room. “I made it,” he said, grinning.

  I gasped. “You’re here. I can’t believe you’re here.”

  He wrapped his arms around me and I closed my eyes, breathing in his delicious and familiar scent. Never had I been so relieved to see anyone in my life. I stared into his beautiful green eyes and touched his face. “You’re really here?”

  “I am. Now come on, let’s get you in bed so you can have this baby.”

  I nodded but couldn’t respond because I was struck hard by the desire to push. Bearing down, I held my breath and gave it all I had as everyone a
round me yelled, “Don’t push!”

  The contraction ended, and Keith helped me into bed. I was grateful he didn’t try to lift all five-thousand pounds of my pregnant self.

  Several moments later, the most precious baby girl entered the world. With tears streaming down his face, Keith kissed me. “You did it! She’s beautiful.”

  “What’s her name?” the midwife asked.

  “How about Bianca?” my sister offered, wiping back her own tears.

  Despite Bianca’s emotional state, I scoffed at her. She’d made the same suggestion when Anna and Nick gave birth to their little girl last year, but they’d gone with Zoey Rose.

  I looked up at Keith. “I want to name our baby after your mom. Can we call her Linda?”

  Keith studied his daughter carefully. “How about Linda Faith?”

  “Linda Faith,” I repeated, smiling.

  “Not as good as Bianca, but it’s a pretty name,” my sister said.

  Vicki and my mom stared in wonder at our little miracle, both agreeing that Linda Faith was a beautiful name.

  The midwife handed Keith a pair of scissors. “Would you like to do the honors, Daddy?”

  Keith moved down and cut the cord. One of the nurses wrapped our daughter in a blanket and handed her to Keith. “She’s perfect, Jills. Just like her mommy.”

  Hours later, after Matt and Drew had time to hold their new baby sister and phone calls were made announcing Linda Faith’s arrival, Keith and I lay in the hospital bed together. With my back pressed to his stomach, we watched our daughter sleep in her bassinet.

  “I love you,” Keith said, hugging me gently.

  I closed my eyes and squeezed his arm. “I love you, too.”

  Linda Faith opened her eyes and gave a newborn smile before drifting back into a heavy sleep.

  The End.

  Thank you so much for reading Jillian’s Promise, Rose Island Book #2! I hope you enjoyed it. If you did…

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  Have you read my first book, “A Mother’s Choice?”

  A Mother’s Choice

  By Kristin Noel Fischer

  Chapter 1

  Seattle – 1961

  It was raining the day I fell in love with Jude Kingsley, and whenever it rains I can’t help but think about that February day in 1961, my junior year of high school.

  My best friend Ruby dashed across the parking lot as a light drizzle escalated to a downpour. I scrambled to keep up but found running impossible in the high heels I’d bought for the Valentine’s dance. I despised my freakishly large feet, so I was willing to sacrifice comfort for shoes that made me feel pretty and sophisticated.

  Ruby and I joined the other girls in the bathroom and crowded around a single foggy mirror, where we attempted to fix our hair and makeup before venturing out to the stuffy gymnasium. On the stage, a local band played an old Frank Sinatra song, but nobody danced. Rock ‘n’ roll had been outlawed at our little private school after the archbishop of Chicago had publicly condemned it. My parents, especially my ultraconservative father, agreed with the decision, insisting school dances should be kept innocent and pure.

  Ruby scanned the gym. She’d been distracted all week, and while I suspected it had to do with my seventeenth birthday, I didn’t know for sure.

  I tugged on her sleeve. “Why are you acting so strange?”

  She twirled around and gave me an innocent look. “I’m not.”

  One of our teachers passed by and wished me happy birthday. I thanked him, then placed a hand on my hip and grinned at Ruby. “And how did he know it was my birthday?”

  A sly smile played on her lips. “I don’t know. School records?”

  “Oh, school records,” I repeated, with a smile of my own that called her bluff. Ruby and I were close like that. We always knew what the other person was thinking, and we never kept secrets.

  All that changed after the accident, of course, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

  Ruby had befriended me in the second grade when I’d moved to Seattle from Texas. All the kids had made fun of my southern accent, especially pesky Tim O’Connor who always tried to imitate me. Ruby, however, had brought me into her fold, insisting she’d have her father arrest anyone who bothered me.

  “Okay,” Ruby said, threading her elbow through mine. “If you wouldn’t mind closing your eyes for a moment—”

  “Closing my eyes? What’s going on?”

  Ignoring my question, she covered my eyes with her hand. “Come on. You’ll find out soon enough.”

  She guided me across the gym where voices erupted with shouts of “Happy Birthday, Nadine!” I opened my eyes to see all our friends gathered around a table that held a small pink and white cake with seventeen candles.

  “For me?” I said, feigning surprise.

  Ruby hugged me. “You knew, didn’t you?”

  “No, of course not. This was completely unexpected.”

  We laughed at the absurdity that either one of us could keep a secret from the other. “Attached at the hip” was what people used to say about us.

  Annoying Tim O’Connor sidled up beside me. “How about a birthday kiss, sweetheart?” He waggled his thick brow and puckered his lips.

  I smacked him on the arm. “In your dreams.”

  Everyone laughed except Tim, who rubbed his arm, offended. Over the years, I’d grown fond of him. He was funny, although many people didn’t like him because he often went too far with his teasing. Nevertheless, he had a good heart and had become somewhat of a friend. Part of me even thought he was kind of cute with his curly red hair, bushy eyebrows, and ruddy Irish complexion.

  Ruby lit the birthday cake and led everyone in singing Happy Birthday. Before blowing out the candles, I looked around the room, taking it all in. Nobody had ever given me a surprise party before, and I was overwhelmed. Smiling, I blew out the candles, making a wish that every birthday would be just as memorable.

  When I looked up to thank Ruby, I found her talking to Jude Kingsley, an absolutely divine boy with intense green eyes and thick black hair that swept across his forehead. Jude sat next to Ruby in art class and behind me in world history. He’d just moved here from Boston, and both Ruby and I thought he was gorgeous, although until now neither one of us had worked up the courage to talk to him.

  Tim grabbed my arm. “Come on, Nadine. Dance with me.”

  I pulled away, my eyes glued to Ruby and Jude. Something odd settled in my throat. Jealousy? A premonition that everything was about to change? Or maybe just a desire to reach up and brush Jude’s hair off his brow.

  My stomach clenched as Ruby took Jude’s hand and led him toward me.

  “Nadine,” Tim said.

  “Not now. I’ll save you a dance when they play Elvis.”

  “Elvis! That’s never going to happen. Elvis is a horrible dancer, and according to Sister Hildegard, the devil incarnate.”

  I scowled at Tim. “Elvis is the greatest musician in the world, and he served in the Army, which is more than you can say, Tim O’Connor.”

  He batted the air and shook his head. “That’s it, Nadine Greene. I’m crossing you off my list.” Although he was joking, he turned abruptly and headed toward another girl.

  Ruby nudged my shoulder. “He’s such a dweeb.”

  I shrugged. “He’s okay.”

  Jude sta
red at me with his beautiful green eyes, and I felt a thrill skitter up my spine.

  “You like Elvis, Nadine?” he asked.

  My stomach did a little flip flop. Jude Kingsley knew my name?

  Ruby answered for both of us. “We love Elvis.” Although she was no longer holding Jude’s hand, she continued standing close to him.

  Jude nodded approvingly. “I’m going to sing Jailhouse Rock at the talent show next month.”

  I laughed, convinced he was joking. “Sister Hildegard has outlawed rock ‘n’ roll. I’m certain she won’t allow you to perform a song by Elvis.”

  Jude’s gaze didn’t waver from mine. His lips tugged upward in a conspiratorial smile. “True, but I have a plan, and if you’ll help me—”

  “Me?” Heat burned my face. For the first time, I allowed myself to really study his eyes. In addition to being the most incredible shade of forest green, they contained shards of amber that caught the light as he spoke. I’d never noticed that detail before, not that sparkling shards of amber were something easily noticed during fifth period when our history teacher was droning on about the Bolshevik Revolution.

  “So, will you help me?” Jude asked.

  I wet my bottom lip. “Sure. What do I have to do?”

  “Just play the piano. You can sing if you want, but Tim said you’re a talented pianist.”

  Nervous laughter squeaked out of my mouth. Ruby gave me a disapproving glare, but Jude didn’t seem to mind. He reached his hand toward me. “Come dance with me, and I’ll tell you about my plan.”

  I hesitated a moment, too shocked to move. I liked Jude. Really liked him, but so did Ruby, and I wasn’t going to let a boy—even a boy as cute as Jude Kingsley—get in the way of our friendship.

  Ruby shrugged. “Go ahead. You’re the birthday girl, after all.”

  Her tone held a layer of irritability, but before I could address it, Jude clasped my hand and led me to the dance floor. I glanced back at Ruby, relieved to see her talking with another boy. Maybe she didn’t like Jude as much as I thought.

  Jude smiled and gestured toward my heels. “Can you dance in those things?”