“Watching you surrender to the work that God was doing in your life was such a privilege. You went through so much, but you trusted Him to carry you through it. You have shown me so much love and appreciation that I don’t deserve. I was called to be obedient to Christ, and He has given me the gift of you, the man I love.
“It was never your wealth or your looks or your charm that I adored. It broke my heart to know how long you believed that was all you had to offer this world. But the real you has always been there, deep inside. And that version of you, the real you, is the man God is leading you to be.
“Mitch, I don’t only love you. I trust you. I can easily trust you because I know that even when pressed with the greatest of consequences, you told the truth. I respect you. I can respect you because I’ve seen you work so hard for everything you now have. I admire you. I can admire you because I saw you walk away from everything the world deemed of value when you knew that it was the very thing wounding you.
“So today, I commit to spending my life with you. Through the love and help of Jesus Christ, I commit to being your wife. I commit to following where you lead and taking my own responsibility in our marriage. I will give grace when it’s needed and I’ll be thankful for the grace you show me.
“Thank you for being my husband and thank you for taking me as your wife.”
The ceremony ended with the pronouncement that they were now husband and wife. Mitch lifted her veil, and slipping his arms around her, lowered his mouth and kissed her with a hunger he knew would soon be satiated.
Chapter 30
The reception was coming to an end and the guests had started to leave. Jenna had been delighted when she and Mitch had their first dance together as husband and wife to the same song they’d danced to the night he proposed. It had been such a wonderful day, marred only by the fact that her parents weren’t there to witness their ‘little princess’, as they used to call her, marrying her Prince Charming. Nor was Mitch’s father present, but they both agreed it was probably for the best.
Looking at Mitch, her husband, she lifted her hand and placed it lightly on his cheek. Their eyes locked and they kissed once more before making their way to the car they’d recently bought together, an older SUV they could drive along the beach, a pastime which was quickly becoming their favourite.
“Was it the wedding you’ve always wanted?” he asked as they drove away, tin cans rattling behind them.
She smiled. “Better. When I was young, I sometimes thought about what my wedding day would be like, but I’d never imagined that my Prince Charming would be so wonderful. So yes, it was the wedding I’ve always dreamed of but with an extra special touch. What about you? Was it the wedding you always wanted?”
Mitch laughed. “I wasn’t really the sort to plan my wedding. No, it took a very special woman for me to want that.”
Jenna grinned, knowing how true that was. Mitch hadn’t been the sort of man to seek out a wife, to think about marriage, but God had changed his heart and provided them with each other, in spite of that.
“Are you finally going to tell me where we’re having our honeymoon?” she asked.
“It’s really not a huge surprise.” He wore an apologetic look and she wondered if his plans had fallen through. It didn’t matter. As long as they were together, that was all that mattered.
“Then you should tell me.”
“You’ll see in about half an hour.” He leaned across and squeezed her hand.
Jenna tried to be patient and looked out the window. She could hardly believe that they were finally wed and that the future was just starting for them.
Mitch drove for forty-five minutes before turning off the highway onto a smaller side road that led to the beach.
Within moments, a beautiful beach house sitting high above the dunes came into view. “Wow! Is that where we’re going?” she asked excitedly.
“Yes. A friend of my mum’s owns it and she rented it to us for the honeymoon. Do you like it? I know it’s not as fancy as it could be. I would have loved to take you to Bali or Hawaii, but this was the best I could do for now.”
“Mitch, this is amazing! Why would I want to go anywhere else when we can stay here?” She meant it with every fibre of her being.
She knew there’d always be a part of Mitch that apologised for not being able to spoil her more, but Jenna was entirely content with everything they had. She didn’t want anything fancier. She wanted a normal life with the man she loved as her husband.
“You mean that?” he asked.
“I really do. It’s perfect. And I can’t believe we have the privilege of staying here.”
“I’m so relieved. I didn’t think it would be good enough.”
“It will be the best two weeks of our lives.” She smiled at him and then leaned over and kissed his lips. “It’s going to be perfect.”
He lifted her carefully out of the car and held her in his arms as they gazed at the ocean. Waves crashed against the shore, sending salty spray into the air, tickling her nose. Above, seagulls squawked before swooping onto the sand below. Jenna turned her face to Mitch’s and gazed into his eyes. “I love you, Mitchell Carmichael.”
“And I love you back, Jenna Carmichael.” He lowered his mouth to hers and she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’d married the man of her dreams.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
I hope you enjoyed Mitch and Jenna’s love story as much as I enjoyed writing it. In many ways, the story portrays God’s amazing and sacrificial love for mankind. Not one of us deserves His love, and yet He freely gives it, offering new life to all who believe.
Read the next book in the series, “Her Compassionate Billionaire”, for more uplifting, God-honouring romance!
To make sure you don’t miss any of my new releases, why not join my Readers’ list if you haven’t already done so? You’ll also receive a free thank-you copy of “Hank and Sarah - A Love Story”, a clean love story with God at the center.
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And now, here’s a chapter from “Her Compassionate Billionaire.” Read and enjoy!
Blessings,
Juliette
Her Compassionate Billionaire
Chapter One
Melbourne, Australia
Jonathan Montgomery looked up from his project blueprints and rubbed his chin, the scratch of his overnight stubble snapping him out of the daze he’d been in for what seemed hours. He fixed his gaze across Port Phillip Bay and released a deep sigh.
On the horizon, the hint of pink gave promise of yet another beautiful summer day. The view across the bay helped him focus. At ninety-five floors, Regent Towers was the tallest building in the city, and from his penthouse office he could see past the downtown skyscrapers clear across the expanse of the bay. Having this luxury made him thankful for all he had, but it hadn’t always been this way. His mother would say it was by God’s grace that he was now in this position, but he wasn’t so sure about that. Once he would have agreed with her, but now, he wasn’t certain God cared. Not since his beloved wife Larissa died.
He glanced at his watch. Six a.m. Normally his children would be rising and getting ready for school, but since they were now on their summer break, he assumed that the oldest two, Stuart and Bethany, at ten and twelve years of age respectively, would most likely still be in bed, but Molly, the youngest at seven, would no doubt be up and waking Rose, the nanny, if the woman wasn’t up already.
He shou
ld have gone home last night, but there was so much to get done in such a short amount of time. Besides, that’s what the nanny was there for—to care for his children when he couldn’t. Like now. Tearing his gaze from the view, he returned his attention to the blueprints.
A short while later, Mrs. Shields his long-time secretary, slipped into his office almost unnoticed. For as long as he could remember, his faithful employee was in the office each morning before anyone else, her routine so perfected he barely noticed her as she moved this way and that, bringing him coffee and the morning paper with a cheery smile often accompanied by a quick admonishment if he wasn’t properly caring for himself.
“Did you sleep in the office again, Mr. Montgomery?”
He feigned a scowl at the plump, pleasant woman who had been his stepfather’s secretary long before he took over the reins of the family business and inherited her as his own.
“Don’t bother giving me that look, sir. I know yesterday’s shirt when I see it.” She was possibly the only woman, aside from Larissa and his mother Peggy, who would speak to him so frankly without being intimidated.
Letting out a small chuckle, he shrugged and leaned back in his chair, giving her his full attention. “I didn’t mean to stay so late, but I needed to make sure everything’s under control with the Bayside Project.” Bayside was a lower socio-economic suburb in Melbourne, and the Montgomery Corporation was committed to building not just a new community centre, but an entire neighbourhood to help improve the standard of living for the local people.
It was where Jonathon’s heart in business truly lay. Giving back to the community where he’d been born and raised was the least he and his company could do.
“Your hours are not for me to judge, sir.” She set a tray down on a corner of his desk. His stomach growled as the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled his nostrils. “I think it’s commendable you trying to get the centre open in time for Christmas. Those children deserve to have a safe, wonderful place to celebrate the birth of Jesus.”
He reached for a blueberry pastry but she moved the tray out of his reach and stared him down. “But, if I may be so bold, I’d hate to see you neglect your own children in the meantime. They need their father this time of year, just as much as that community needs you, Mr. Montgomery.”
He sighed heavily as she moved away and allowed him to grab the pastry, but the taste was bitter in his mouth as he absorbed her advice. Of course, she was right. His children were his world and he hated leaving them in the nanny’s care for days at a time while he worked. Yet, without his philanthropic projects which absorbed so much of his time, many other children would suffer and go without.
“The children are fine. I’ll head back to Seaforth shortly. Until then, the nanny is perfectly capable of taking care of them.” Even as he spoke the words, they rang hollow and a pang of guilt gnawed at his insides. The children were growing so fast and they needed more than a nanny to help them navigate the difficulties of growing up without their mother who’d lost her battle with a brain tumour four years earlier. It was always a fine line he walked between father and businessman, and he knew that too often the line blurred.
The phone on his desk rang, and before he could get to it, Mrs. Shields answered it, her face growing more pensive by the moment. His first thought was that something had happened with the project, but then he chastised himself. The call had come through on his personal line. Something must have happened to one of the children.
The phone was snug against her ear, so he could only hear Mrs. Shields’ side of the conversation.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll put him on, dear. And take care. We’ll all be praying for you and for your father.”
She covered the mouthpiece. “It’s the nanny, sir. The children are fine, but her father is ill, not expected to make it past Christmas, and she has to leave immediately.”
“The nanny’s leaving?” Jonathon’s brows drew together and he let out an exasperated sigh. What was he meant to do now?
Mrs. Shields nodded. “Yes, sir. Would you like to speak with her?” She held out the receiver. He had no choice. He took it from her and cleared his throat. “Rose, I’m sorry to hear about your father.”
“Thank you, sir. And I’m so sorry to leave at such short notice. Your mother is coming over to mind the children.”
“It’s fine, Rose. Family comes first. When do you expect to be back?”
The line went quiet before she replied. “I…I don’t think I will be coming back, sir. My mother will need me after…”
“No need to say it, Rose. I understand. It’s okay. We’ll manage.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
“You’re more than welcome. And don’t worry, Mrs. Shields will attend to your severance package.” He ended the call and spun his chair around to stare out the window. The bay was now dazzling in the early morning sunshine, but his mind was elsewhere, searching for a quick solution. The phone rang again, and this time he answered it before Mrs. Shields. It was his mother.
“Jonathon. I guess you’ve heard?”
“Yes, I have. Rose called a few moments ago.”
“I hope you were kind to her.” His mother’s voice bordered on condescending.
“Of course, Mother. How could I not be, under the circumstances?
“Good. Make sure you give her some extra money for the journey.”
He rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he covered the phone with his hand and mouthed to Mrs. Shields, “Make sure the nanny gets a nice severance package in her final pay.”
The woman nodded.
He returned his attention to his mother. “Taken care of.”
“Great. Now Jonathon, you know I’m more than willing to care for the children.”
He tried to interrupt her but she continued talking, telling him what her plans were for the day. He appreciated her kind heart and willingness to help, but he couldn’t allow her to care for all three of his children along with his stepfather who had advanced Parkinson’s disease and needed almost constant care. It simply wouldn’t be fair or right, even though he knew she would do it gladly.
“Let me give it some thought. I’ll see what I can do to find a replacement nanny.”
“This close to Christmas?”
“You never know. Miracles still happen, so I’ve heard.” Although as the words slipped off his tongue, he wasn’t so sure he believed them. There’d certainly been no miracle as far as Larissa was concerned.
After ending the call, he dropped his head into his hands, his thoughts turning to his children. They deserved so much better than he was giving them. He might have all the money in the world, but he’d gladly give it all away to have Larissa back. They needed a mother, not a replacement nanny, but since he hadn’t looked at another woman since Larissa’s passing, that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.
He blew out a breath and raised his head. Time to get on with it. But who’d be looking for a full-time live in position so close to Christmas?
Mrs. Shields stood with her hands neatly folded in front of her, dutifully awaiting his instructions, which he proceeded to give her. “Place an advertisement immediately. I’ll start interviews today.”
“Right away, sir.” The woman gave a nod and strode out the door.
Continue reading “Her Compassionate Billionaire” here.
Book 4 - Her Compassionate Billionaire
BOOK FOUR
Chapter 1
Melbourne, Australia
Jonathan Montgomery looked up from his project blueprints and rubbed his chin, the scratch of his overnight stubble snapping him out of the daze he’d been in for what seemed hours. He fixed his gaze across Port Phillip Bay and released a deep sigh.
On the horizon, the hint of pink gave promise of yet another beautiful summer day. The view across the bay helped him focus. At ninety-five floors, Regent Towers was the tallest building in the city, and from his penthouse offi
ce he could see past the downtown skyscrapers clear across the expanse of the bay. Having this luxury made him thankful for all he had, but it hadn’t always been this way. His mother would say it was by God’s grace that he was now in this position, but he wasn’t so sure about that. Once he would have agreed with her, but now, he wasn’t certain God cared. Not since his beloved wife Larissa died.
He glanced at his watch. Six a.m. Normally his children would be rising and getting ready for school, but since they were now on their summer break, he assumed that the oldest two, Stuart and Bethany, at ten and twelve years of age respectively, would most likely still be in bed, but Molly, the youngest at seven, would no doubt be up and waking Rose, the nanny, if the woman wasn’t up already.
He should have gone home last night, but there was so much to get done in such a short amount of time. Besides, that’s what the nanny was there for—to care for his children when he couldn’t. Like now. Tearing his gaze from the view, he returned his attention to the blueprints.
A short while later, Mrs. Shields his long-time secretary, slipped into his office almost unnoticed. For as long as he could remember, his faithful employee was in the office each morning before anyone else, her routine so perfected he barely noticed her as she moved this way and that, bringing him coffee and the morning paper with a cheery smile often accompanied by a quick admonishment if he wasn’t properly caring for himself.
“Did you sleep in the office again, Mr. Montgomery?”
He feigned a scowl at the plump, pleasant woman who had been his stepfather’s secretary long before he took over the reins of the family business and inherited her as his own.
“Don’t bother giving me that look, sir. I know yesterday’s shirt when I see it.” She was possibly the only woman, aside from Larissa and his mother Peggy, who would speak to him so frankly without being intimidated.
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