Claire's Hope: A Contemporary Christian Romance (Love's Enduring Promise Book 3)

by T. K. Chapin

  The wedding music began to play as Nicole made her way through the tent and brought over the flower girls to head down the aisle, Hope and Lizzy. Nicole had called me about six months ago when she found out through the grapevine that Joshua and I were getting married. We made up over coffee and vowed to never stop being friends again. I was understanding with her about keeping a distance between us as she had to process the idea of accepting what she had done with her unborn baby. She explained over coffee that if she never had friends with kids, she’d never have anyone in her life the older she got. She’s been attending my Healed and Set Free classes, so far no major decisions have been made, but the fact she comes is huge. She has left the party life behind her and seems to be heading in the right direction in life.

  Bending a knee down to Hope, I brushed her bangs back a little and kissed her forehead.

  “Wuv eu,” Hope said.

  “I love you too, Honey,” I replied, giving her a hug. I grabbed onto Lizzy and brought her in for a hug also. Releasing, I pointed towards the opening. “Be mommy’s big girl and go throw the flowers…”

  Hope smiled.

  Lizzy stayed by Hope’s side as they journeyed out into the aisle and began tossing flower pedals. The crowd laughed as Hope turned and looked back at me and said, “Mommy!” Then looked back towards Joshua, and said, “Daddy!” and then she ran to him the rest of the way down the aisle. While Joshua wasn’t her biological father, we made the decision a few months back to let her call him that since he’d be adopting her after the ceremony.

  Smiling, I stood upright and looked Dale in the eyes. My gratefulness for him taking my family in shone through my eyes, the debt could never be repaid. He loved me, loved my family, and never let my past define who I was. While my father could never be replaced, Dale sure did a good job of stepping up to the plate as a father figure to me, and a grandfather figure to Hope.

  “It’s your turn,” Dale said, holding out his arm for me to latch onto.

  I smiled, fighting back the tears as I latched on. Coming out to the aisle the crowd rose to their feet and fixated their eyes on me. My pulse quickened and I felt nervous with everyone looking at me. I kept my eyes locked on him, my one and only. I couldn’t help but feel so in love with him. Joshua made a funny face that made me giggle, but the crowd never saw what he did. He had told a week ago that he was going to make one while I walked the aisle because nobody ever notices the groom while the bride does the walk.

  He was everything I ever wanted in a man, it’s crazy it took us this long to figure out we were meant to be together. I guess I never saw the signs of him being the one until it was almost too late. Joshua had been in my life for quite a while, but it wasn’t until I found God that I was able to see him for the man he truly was.

  Coming up to the front, Dale took his seat and the crowd sat down at the same time, while I turned to look into Joshua’s beautiful and comforting brown eyes. As Pastor Johnny Ray began the ceremony, Joshua mouthed the words ‘I love you.’ Mouthing it back, I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was that he was about to become my husband.

  When we arrived at the vows, Joshua went first. He pulled out a little piece of paper and he looked over at the crowd as he nervously held it. Looking down at Jennie as she held Hope, he said, “Could I have Claire hold Hope in her arms?”

  Jennie stood up and gave Hope over to me. What’s he doing? I wondered. Hope gladly clung to me, the large crowd made her nervous, so she snuggled up to my chest before turning to Joshua and smiling.

  “Thanks,” Joshua said, smiling back at Hope. Clearing his throat, he looked her in the eyes. “I promise to always hold your hand when we cross the street. Bring you comfort and always give you something to eat. I promise to read you stories at night, and to always tuck you in real tight. I vow to show you how a man should treat a woman in my relationship with your Mother. And above all else, I vow to protect you, care for you and love you forever.”

  Looking up at me, he continued, “I vow to never stop loving you Claire. I vow to you that I will be a man of God that you can rely on through thick and thin. I vow to lead our family and always put you and Hope above my own self.”

  Dang you Joshua! I thought to myself as tears ran down my cheeks causing my make-up to run. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I took a quick look around the crowd and was glad to know I wasn’t the only one brought to tears by his amazing vows. Handing Hope back to Jennie, I turned to him, and cleared my throat getting ready to deliver my own vows.

  “I don’t know if I can top that, but here it goes. Thank you for loving me when I was so unlovable, and thank you for picking me." Sniffling, I took a deep breath before continuing. "I am standing here wondering how on earth I got so lucky... and so I am going to keep this short so you have less time to change your mind about me." I smiled and the crowd laughed. "Joshua, I give you my love, my life, and my daughter as yours. I promise to make it all worth it, and I promise to make you proud every day to call me your wife. I promise there will be great times, but I can't promise there won't be tough times; but I do promise every time I will be by your side. I will love you through any trial, sickness or whatever else life has in store for us. I'll cherish you until the moment I take my last breath here on earth. I promise to be yours and only yours for the rest of my days. I love you.”

  The rest of the wedding passed in a blissful blur. After we were pronounced husband and wife we turned to face the crowd as they clapped and whistled. Hope wanted her mommy when we got ready to walk back down the aisle. We walked down it as a family, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

  After the wedding ceremony while I was getting into something more comfortable for the reception at the community center up the road from Dale and Jennie’s; I was upstairs in Hope and I’s room and I heard the rain begin to fall outside. Coming over to the window I dodged some boxes so I could watch as the raindrops fell from the storm clouds above. Most of Hope and I’s stuff were already boxed and some of the stuff was even at the new house.

  Suddenly my door pushed open and Joshua came walking in with Hope in his arms. I smiled at him as he joined my side at the window. Watching the rain fall outside, I relaxed my head against his shoulder and looked into Hope’s eyes. I knew at that moment that no matter what happens in the future, I’d be able to get through it with God, Joshua and Hope by my side.

  The End.

  Sneak Peek

  Sneak Peek of Dylan’s Faith

  Prologue

  Life has a way of taking us down roads we never thought we’d travel. Sometimes we might be on a long stretch of freeway that never seems to end. Other times we can’t keep up with life’s turns, hills and construction zones. No matter what part of the journey we’re on, each road can lead to the unexpected. A little detour here, a wrong turn there, it’s all just part of the experience. When the love of my life showed up, there was no big billboard alongside the road letting me know it was the one. Thankfully, God was in my passenger seat when she came into my life, and if it wasn’t for Him, I might have passed her by. My faith has been a large part of my life, and God has helped through more struggles than I can count.

  This brittle and fragile body of mine is wearing out with every passing day, but I take comfort as I sit in the same rocking chair that my beloved rocked our children to sleep in. I take not only comfort in the chair, but the overwhelming peace that the Lord has given me. This chair I had crafted with my own two hands years ago and over the years it’s worn out much like my body. But my faith never ages, never ceases, and never grows weary. And while my body seems to have new aches and pains in areas I never knew existed, my God never weakens. He’s the same as He was yesterday as He is today and that He will be tomorrow.

  Glancing at the picture of my late wife between my cracking fingers, I smile and laugh a little to myself as I let my thumb cross over it. What I used to fear, death, I now look forward to. The day I pass onto glory will be the day when I finally get some rest for the
se old bones and see loved ones who have passed on. And best of all, I’ll meet Jesus. What a glorious and wonderful day that will be. I have no regrets for the life I have lived. I wasn’t perfect by any means, but I have lived a satisfying and full life. I have loved another with all my heart and have raised my family in the house of the Lord.

  My successes in life, both in business and in family, I contribute fully to my Savior Jesus Christ. It’s been through His grace, comfort and love that I’ve been able to live this blessed life. It hasn’t all been butterflies and roses by any means, but regardless, I have loved every moment of it. If it weren’t for God being by my side in times of struggle, my life would have turned out much differently, I’m sure of it.

  All my children have long left the home and have gone on to start their own families. I do hear from each one of them from time to time and see them on holidays, but I often reminisce of the days of their youth. Those years might be in the past, but the memories are what comforts me in my old age.

  Who am I? I’m Dylan Holden. You won’t find my face on the front page of a magazine and you won’t see my struggles on an episode of some reality television show. No, my story lives in the recesses of my memory. I’m an ordinary man who was able to rely on my faith in God to endure what felt like the impossible.

  As I sit here in the tranquility of my solitude, I reflect back on the days of when I first met the love of my life. That whole period of time I relied heavily on my faith. Without it, I would have never been able to live the life that I have now. Those days were so long ago, but when I close my eyes for long enough, I can transport back in time and it’s as if I were there in that transformational part of my life. I can feel my youth return to my bones and my strength to my body. I can even see my old house I shared with my brother Chris out in Chattaroy and my old shop around back. Oh yes, it all seems just like it happened yesterday. The winter of two thousand ten was when it all began.

  CHAPTER 1

  December 01, 2010

  It was one of the coldest winters in forty years for Chattaroy, Washington, but the space heater out in my shop kept the frostbite from setting in while I toiled away on the table I was crafting for Mr. Nortaggen, better known as Floyd around town. He was one of the farmers out here who I became good acquaintances with over the years. His son Levi and I knew each other through our youth, but became better friends after graduating High School.

  This particular table I was working on was not just one of the typical pieces of furniture I crafted to sell down at the local feed store; this one was a favor. Levi provided me with an old photograph that came from Floyd’s childhood, and in that photograph was a long and elegant triple-pedestal dining room table that had been in the family for over fifty years. I always admired its beauty the times I had been over there. A fire at Floyd’s house last year burned up the family heirloom, and just a few months ago is when Levi approached me about making a new table for the family. He said he wanted the table to be an anniversary gift to Floyd and Margret for thirty years of marriage. I gladly accepted the request, and I viewed it as a good challenge for myself.

  As I applied the primer to the table top that measured just a smidge over six feet, I was interrupted by my brother Chris. He came barreling through the shop door panting heavily. Chris was a couple years younger than me; just twenty three at the time, but his strength about matched my own.

  “Roy just called; he said they had another pack of coyotes come down from the hill last night and kill another sheep.”

  “You heading over there?” I asked.

  “Yeah, did you want to go?”

  Looking down at my table, I replied, “Let me finish up this coat of primer and then we’ll head over.”

  “Okay, I’ll go load the guns into the truck.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Brother.”

  Chris took off back through the shop door, shutting the door behind him. Turning my attention back to work, I continued my strokes of primer carefully, being sure not to leave any streaks behind.

  We were able to find the coyotes and take care of the problem. After we put our guns back in my truck’s cab, we ventured up the sidewalk to Roy’s farmhouse to tell him the issue had been resolved.

  Kicking our boots off on the porch and hanging up our coats, we came into the kitchen through the side door. Roy was sitting at the table, with his hands folded. Roy was a role model I looked up to for my own life. Strong in his faith with the Lord, he never wavered in his beliefs and stayed rooted in God.

  “You get them coyotes?” Roy asked, as we joined him at the kitchen table. Glancing out the window, I nodded. “We sure did. We had to high tail it up around the corner of the hill to catch the pack, but we got them all.”

  “Those coyotes had no chance with Dylan’s sharp eye and quick trigger finger,” Chris said, patting me on the back.

  Grinning, I shook my head. “You got a couple of them also, Chris; you can’t let me take all the credit.”

  “Regardless… you guys did a great job,” Roy said. “Thank you.”

  Jess came into the kitchen and fetched a glass from the cupboard. She was my friend Levi’s wife and Roy’s granddaughter. She was pregnant and due in just a few months. After pouring herself a glass of orange juice from the pitcher in the fridge, she took a seat at the table. “How are you guys?” She asked. “We haven’t seen you two around very often this winter.”

  “I’ve been working on that table,” I replied.

  “Oh yeah, Levi is excited about that. How’s it coming along?”

  “Pretty good, just working on the priming and staining now,” I replied. “Speaking of Levi, why’s he not back from Colville yet?”

  Jess shook her head. “He got snowed in up there. The roads are bad, and what sucks is he didn’t even buy any cattle on this trip.”

  “That’s a tremendous waste of time,” Chris said.

  “Exactly,” Jess replied with a sigh.

  “He should have gone to Quincy. They had an auction going on also--way better selection up there,” Roy said.

  “Oh well,” she replied taking a sip of her juice. Jumping a little in her seat, she smiled, “One of them kicked!”

  “Them?” I asked.

  She covered her mouth. “Oops… we were keeping it a secret, but that’s out now! We’re having twins!”

  “Grats, bet Levi’s looking forward to that,” I replied.

  “Congratulations!” Chris said.

  “Thank you, we are excited. Few more months and they’ll be here!” Jess said, beaming with a smile.

  Glancing up at the clock, Chris cleared his throat. “We better get going, Dylan. I’m getting hungry.”

  Peering up at the clock above the sink, I nodded and rose to my feet. “Crazy how looking at the time can make you hungry, Brother,” I replied smiling. Looking over at Roy, I shook his hand and said, “Let us know if you have any more coyote problems and Levi isn’t around.”

  “Of course. Why don’t you stay and have a meal with us? It’s the least I can do,” Roy replied.

  Shaking my head, I said, “Thanks for the offer, but Chris here has been itching to see his little lady friend.”

  “Alright. That’s fine, just thought I’d offer,” Roy replied with a grin. “Take care of yourselves.”

  Arriving at the Wagon Wheel, we were greeted by Elly, Chris’s girlfriend. She was one of the servers there and had been ever since she graduated from high school and quit her job at the convenience store.

  “Heya, gorgeous,” Chris said, laying a kiss on Elly’s lips.

  Squirming, she laughed as she replied, “I’m working. You can’t do that.” She pushed him back gently.

  “Alright, it’s just hard to keep my hands off you,” he replied smiling.

  “Bar or dining area?” she asked grabbing menus from the side of the podium.

  “Bar’s fine,” Chris replied.

  “Let’s do the dining area, Bro. It’s always loud in the bar with the TV’s and
whatnot, I just want to relax.”

  “Alright, fine,” he replied.

  We followed Elly over into the dining area and she led us to a booth. Setting our menus down on the table as we took a seat, she asked, “Pitcher?”

  “Yep,” Chris replied.

  “I’ll let your server know. Should be the new girl Trisha. Be nice.” Elly took off back towards the front entrance. Chris’s eyes watched as she walked away.

  “How’s that possible promotion at work going?” I asked as I looked at my menu. Chris was up for a promotion at the Chattaroy Feed Store; it was between himself and another worker named Tyler. They had both been working at the store for almost two years and the assistant manager had plans to move to another state. Ever since he put his one-month notice in just a week ago, it’d been a fight between Tyler and Chris for the job.

  “It’s going… it’s so early, we have no idea who’s going to get it.”

  “Who’s better buds with Ken?” I asked.

  “Well Ken hangs out with Tyler a lot more outside of work, but I work a whole heck of a lot harder than he.”

  “Sounds like Tyler has the upper hand on this one.”

  “C’mon, Dylan. My hard work has to count for something!”

  “Maybe, but if I had to bet money, I’d say it is whoever is better buds with the manager; it’s all about who you know.”

  “We’ll see,” he replied.