by Irene Hannon
“Mmm-hmm. You know… Small. Pink. Cry and sleep and wet a lot?” she teased.
“A baby? A baby!” he repeated. His tone was incredulous, awed, joyous. “Wow!”
“I just found out yesterday. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure. I hoped you’d be happy.”
“Happy? Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel! This is…this is awesome, as my students would say!”
She laughed softly, a delicious feeling of joy filling her heart. “Yeah. Awesome.”
Zach’s eyes softened with adoration as he leaned over her, tangling his fingers in her hair. His gaze caressed her, taking in every nuance of her beautiful, expressive face. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he asked, his voice catching in a way that tugged at her heart.
“Why don’t you show me?” she whispered, her eyes burning into his.
He complied readily, lowering his lips to hers in the silent but eloquent language known to lovers through the ages, and Rebecca gave thanks once again. For the joy Isabel had brought them. For the new life growing within her. And for the gift of this cherished man’s love, whose patient nurturing had at last healed her heart.
Zach’s heart was also filled with gratitude as he softly gathered Rebecca into his arms. He knew that without this special woman, he might never have discovered the one simple truth Josef had always understood: that love is the only thing that really matters in the end. And for a fleeting moment, just before he lost himself in the wonder of Rebecca’s sweet love, he hoped Josef knew how things had turned out.
Because somehow he knew his friend would approve.
Dear Reader,
As I write this letter, I am sitting in my woodland garden watching the world reawaken after the long cold winter. It is a place of renewal, refreshment and enrichment, where the quiet is broken only by the lovely song of the birds. Here, in this special spot, the beauty of God’s handiwork can be fully appreciated.
Eight years ago, however, when my husband and I bought this house as newlyweds, this garden was a dense thicket, overgrown and wild. Slowly, year by year, I cut and pulled and dug and planted, always working toward a vision of what it could be, always believing it could be transformed into a beautiful and tranquil oasis. My husband even caught the spirit, adding his own special touch—a meandering stone path. And now, at last, my vision is a reality. But I have discovered, the garden is, and always will be, a work in progress, one that requires regular tending. Yet the rewards are great.
Love is much like my special place. It requires vision. And persistence. And faith. And attention. But it returns a hundredfold in joy.
In this story, Rebecca’s heart finds new life (much like her cherished tulips) as she discovers the tremendous healing power of love. Writing this story uplifted and inspired me, and I hope it does the same for you as you read it.
May your life be filled with love!
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0361-7
A FAMILY TO CALL HER OWN
Copyright © 1998 by Irene Hannon
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
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*Vows
†Sisters & Brides
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
Letter to Reader