Marc’s jaw dropped. What could he say? Tell her Jesus loved her? It wouldn’t feel like it to her when one more adult was turning her away—like her parents had.
The scripture about looking after the widows and orphans came to mind. He’d failed to set a Christ-like example. Perhaps he could do something? Maybe adopt her like a big brother, if the children’s home would allow him to take her out on field trips.
*
God must have known Marc needed someone to talk to, because when he got home, Nic pulled into his driveway. Marc stopped and waited for him to roll down his window. Instead, Nic got out, hoisting a bag with Chinese.
“I brought dinner.”
Marc smiled. “My day just got better.”
“Then I’m really glad I came by.” Nic patted Marc on the back and followed him to the door. “Sorry I didn’t bring anything to wash it down with.”
“It’s all right.” Marc opened the screen and unlocked the front door. “I’ve got what every fireman needs.”
“What’s that?” Nic asked as they went inside.
“Water.” Marc laughed at his own joke.
Nic shook his head. He set the food on the table and started pulling it out of the bag. “You really need to get out more.”
“Then you should have asked me out instead of bringing me dinner.” Marc grabbed a couple glasses and filled them with ice and water from the dispenser on the refrigerator door.
“Speaking of going out.” Nic opened and closed a couple drawers until he found the silverware and grabbed their utensils. “How’s it going with Kelly?”
“I actually saw her the other day.”
Nic’s eyebrows arched. “That’s good, right?”
“Given that one of the kids from the children’s home talked another kid into climbing out on the roof with their cat so she could find a reason to get me to come by?” Marc chuckled. “Yeah, not sure that was totally a good thing. In fact, the first time I got called out there was because the cat was in a tree.”
“That’s where you met Kelly, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Sounds like a sign to me.” Nic took a bite of his beef and pepper steak. “God keeps putting you in a situation or place for a reason.”
“I don’t know.” Marc’s shoulders slumped. “I thought God brought Kelly to me, but then I found out she can’t have children.”
“You can always adopt.”
Marc frowned. “That’s why the little girl staged the rescue. She wanted to get me and Kelly back together in the hopes that we would adopt her.”
“See, there you go.” Nic smiled. “Even if a child isn’t your own flesh and blood, they need someone to love and care for them. There just aren’t enough foster homes to take care of them.”
“It’s not that I’m against adopting.” He wasn’t. He’d even thought about it more since seeing the look of dejection on Annie’s face. “I’d just like to be able to have my own children as well.”
“I can understand that.” Nic nodded. “But after Katie told me about what Kelly went through, perhaps you should look at it from her side. Should she be condemned to a life without love because she can’t have children? Or is she as disposable as these children?”
Was that the unspoken message Marc had sent Kelly? He’d only thought about his desires and hadn’t stopped long enough to think about how not being able to have children had affected her.
Chapter Ten
As nervous as he was, you would have thought Marc was the one getting married. His palms were sweaty as he waited for Kelly to show at the church for Katie and Wade’s wedding rehearsal.
Nic’s talk with him a little over a week ago had set in, and he finally started looking at things from Kelly’s side. He tried to call her once this past week, but her phone went to voicemail. He’d texted her too. She never responded. Seeing her in person was the only way he’d have a chance to apologize and beg her to give him another chance.
With Katie’s approval, Nic agreed to trade him places, since he was originally supposed to walk Kelly down the aisle. Even though it now meant Nic would have to walk with Maggie. The two of them seemed to rub each other the wrong way. Nic’s only comment was that she was a lot like his ex-wife. Marc let the conversation drop at that.
When Kelly walked into the church, Marc’s breath caught. He tried to swallow as his heart raced. She was beautiful, even in a pair of jeans and a tank top. If she smiled at him, his heart would stop. She glanced his way and he started to smile until he saw the pain in her eyes. Her pointed look confirmed he was the reason for her discomfort.
Marc continued to eye Kelly, looking for a moment to talk with her alone. When the opportunity presented itself, approached her. “Can I speak with you?”
Kelly nodded slowly. “I’m sorry I can’t give you the one thing that you want.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but she walked away before he could get a word out. Marc hadn’t meant to hurt her at all. He’d been taken aback by her revelation in front of his family, he hadn’t had time to let the news settle.
The past couple of weeks had given him time to think about things, especially about how much he missed her. Kelly needed unconditional love and so did Annie. His job was to save people. Right now he was the one drowning. Did he dare risk his heart? If he didn’t, he would crush theirs.
He still had another opportunity to talk to her. If he had to, he’d make his walk with her down the aisle drag on as long as possible so that he could say his peace. His mind rehearsed what he wanted to say while he tried to think of how to say it. He didn’t want to cause her to run down the aisle to get away from him.
As they lined up for rehearsal, the women laced their hands in the crook of their escorts’ arms. Kelly stared at the arm Marc offered her and frowned. She reluctantly reached up and took his arm, not bothering to glance at him.
When it was their turn to walk down the aisle, he took small steps. “I need to talk to you about Annie.”
“I already had a talk with her,” Kelly’s tone was flat. “She won’t call you again.”
“She wants me to adopt her.”
Kelly’s gaze darted toward him.
“What do you think about adopting her?” Marc tried to keep his tone level, even though his heart raced. “I realize I would need to get married first.”
“That would be ideal,” Kelly mumbled, her face turned pale. “It would increase your chances.”
“What about the wife part?”
“I don’t understand?” She blinked, then stumbled.
Marc reached out to catch her. They stopped in the middle of the aisle, both staring at the other. “Do you think it is a position you would consider filling?”
The deer-in-the-headlight stare she gave him almost made him smile. Except he was holding his breath in anticipation, hoping she’d say yes.
“Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, we would need to adopt a boy as well.”
“Are… you sure?”
Marc chuckled. “Yes. I definitely want a son.”
“You would be okay with not being able to have any children of your own?” Her head cocked sideways slightly, as if she was seeing him for the first time, and perhaps thought he was a sideshow for the circus.
He nodded. “The last couple of weeks has given me time to think about it more in depth and I’ve come to realize that I don’t want to lose you.”
“I don’t want to lose you either,” she admitted, “but I also don’t want you to have regrets later.”
“Too late for that.” Marc sighed. “I regret causing you pain.”
“I should have told you.” A tear trickled down Kelly’s cheek.
Reaching up, Marc wiped it with his thumb and continued to caress her face in his hand. “I understand why you didn’t.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Now how about helping me with that problem.” Marc leaned his forehead against hers. “Would you give me a chance to
start over? A chance to prove that I’m the type of man you might want to spend the rest of your life with?”
“That’s an awful long time,” Katie said.
Marc lifted his head.
“Are you sure you could handle being tied to me that long?”
“I’m not sure an eternity would be long enough to spend with you.” His lips descended on hers. If kissing in church was wrong, he’d repent later. Although, at the moment, he felt like he’d died and went to Heaven.
“Do you think the two of you could hurry things up?” Wade’s voice echoed in the church. “Some of us would like to get married tomorrow.”
Laughter erupted.
“Sorry,” Marc replied. “I’m trying to make plans to book the church for the future.”
Dear Reader
I hope you are enjoying this series. In Falling in Love, we saw new love. Winter Chill dealt with a cold heart, having to overcome something bad that happened to Sasha so that she could move on to find happiness. In Spring Break, Marc has to come to terms with a cold, harsh reality that Kelly has already had to deal with in her own mind. There’s even more in store for you in Heated Summer. The one thing we see in these stories is that love isn’t always tied up in a very neat little package. Sometimes we have baggage we have to overcome or deal with in order find true love. No matter what you have been through, where there is love, there is a way. May God always guide your path as you follow Him.
Blessings,
Susette
www.susettewilliams.com
About Author Susette Williams
Having raised six children, I realize how busy and hectic schedules can be, which is why I decided to begin writing novelettes—for the busy reader on-the-go. Now you can enjoy a shorter story when you don’t have time to sit down and read a novel. These are the perfect length book to read when you are waiting in a doctor or dentist office, trying to kill time while your child is at practice or a school sporting event, etc. I have waited for children a lot over the years, or at the doctor/dentist visit, and it helps when you have something you can do. It’s also nice when you can read a book for entertainment for less than the price of a cup of coffee!
I hope you will enjoy not only my novelettes, but all of my longer stories as well. I can’t thank you enough for your continued support and hope that you are truly blessed in the year to come. Thank you!
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For more information:
@SusetteWilliams
Author-Susette-Williams-182094681851446
www.susettewilliams.com
Books by Susette Williams
Mail Order Brides Novelette Series
JESSIE’S BRIDE – Book 1
MONTANA’S BRIDE – Book 2
CALEB’S BRIDE – Book 3
MARSHALL’S BRIDE – Book 4
HUSBAND OF THE BRIDE – Book 5
Texas Wildflowers Novelette Series
FREE TO LOVE – Book 1
FREE TO HEAL – Book 2
FREE TO PROTECT – Book 3
FREE TO SERVE – Book 4
FREE TO ROAM –B ook 5
FREE TO FORGIVE – Book 6
The Amish Ways Novelette Series
THE WIDOWER’S NEW WIFE – Book 1
ROAD TO REDEMPTION – Book 2
Seasons of the Heart Novella Series
FALLING IN LOVE – Seasons of the Heart Novella Series, Book 1
WINTER CHILL – Seasons of the Heart Novella Series, Book 2
SPRING BREAK – Seasons of the Heart Novella Series, Book 3
HEATED SUMMER – Seasons of the Heart Novella Series, Book 4
Novellas
ACCIDENTAL MEETING
SCROOGE FALLS IN LOVE – Typecast Christmas Series
SHADOWS OF DOUBT
Novels
Maid for Murder: DEADLY BUSINESS
NEW GARDEN’S CONVERSION in The Quakers of New Garden - Barbour 2012
SOMETHING ABOUT SAM
HONORABLE INTENTIONS
Other Books
Children’s books and FREE coloring pages
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For More Information: www.susettewilliams.com
Thank You for Reading LOVE BLOSSOMS
We hope you enjoyed reading the LOVE BLOSSOMS anthology. If you did, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon. Your opinion counts and can help other readers find the books they want to read. Thank you so much!
Kimberly Rae Jordan
Narelle Atkins
Autumn Macarthur
Lynette Sowell
Jan Thompson
Marion Ueckermann
Susette Williams
Love Blossoms: 7 Spring-Fresh Christian Romances Page 59