She excused herself with a word to Lettie and left the table. He watched her go, wondering what he could do to help. He would give anything to see her happy again. A sharp pain in his shin brought his attention back to his aunt.
“Go after her,” Lettie said, motioning with her head.
He rubbed his smarting leg. “I don’t think I can walk.”
She leaned forward. “Go, or I’ll kick the other one.”
He wasn’t sure which he dreaded more, Lettie’s torture or having Melissa rebuff him again. No, that wasn’t true. He was more afraid of having Melissa say no again than anything he had ever faced. He gathered his courage, rose from the table and followed Melissa into the adjoining room.
He found her standing by the window. She looked embarrassed, and adorable as she sniffed into his hankie.
She waved one hand. “I’m crying again. I can’t help it.”
“What’s wrong, Lissa?” He moved to take her by the shoulders.
“Everyone is so happy.” She sniffled again. “Everyone is planning weddings and making sheep eyes at the people they love.”
“And that makes you cry?”
“Yes.”
He pulled her close. “Why?”
She sobbed twice. “Be—be—because.”
“Because you don’t have someone making sheep eyes at you?”
She shook her head. “Don’t be silly.”
He put one finger under her chin. “I’m not sure how the sheep do it, but if you look up here you’ll see someone who loves looking at you.”
She turned her face away. “Don’t.”
The noise of the other room faded as he looked upon the woman he loved. “Don’t what? Don’t tell you that I love you beyond all reason? Don’t tell you that the sun looks dim compared to the brightness of your smile? Don’t tell you that I will never love another woman but you?”
“Yes.”
“I have to tell you these things because they are true.”
“You just want to rescue me.”
“I thought that once, but more and more I see that you don’t need rescuing.”
She peeked at him from beneath her lashes. “You do?”
“I do. I see a strong woman finding her own path in life.”
“I am.”
“I noticed, but I desperately need to know something.”
“What?” Her voice was so low he barely heard her.
“Can I share your path, please?”
She looked at him then, doubt clouding her beautiful eyes. “Do you mean it? Do you really love me?”
He took a step back and, holding on to both her hands, he dropped to one knee. “I love you, I love you, I love you!” he shouted at the top of his voice. “Will you marry me?”
The voices in the dinning room grew suddenly silent. “That a boy!” Lettie called out.
Melissa stared at Richard as her disbelief slowly gave way to joy so sharp she could hardly breathe. “I love you, too.”
She heard the scrape of chairs from the other room and a second later, Lettie and Lauren were standing in the doorway. “Well, girl, what’s your answer? Speak up,” Lettie declared.
Richard stood, blocking her from the doorway that was quickly filling with interested family members. “Will you marry me?” he whispered, never taking his eyes off hers.
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she whispered back.
“And may I share your chosen path?”
“Every step of the way.”
“What did she say?” Lauren called out.
“Shall we keep them in suspense a little longer?” he asked with a grin only she could see.
“I think they’ve waited long enough.” She leaned to the side and looked at the gallery forming in the doorway. “I said yes!”
Cheers broke out and her family rushed in. Lauren was the first to reach her. She threw her arms around Melissa’s waist. “Now I’ll have a cousin to play with.”
“It’s about time,” Lettie said, smiling like a fool. “I was beginning to wonder if I’d live to see the day.”
Tim and Chris pumped Richard’s hand and slapped him on the back as Nora hugged Melissa.
“You look a little shell-shocked, Mom,” Melissa said.
“I’m so happy for you, but I’m thinking—five weddings in a year. How am I going to do this?”
Vera Mae worked her way in to hug Melissa. “Never you mind about that, Miss Nora. You’ll have lots of help.”
Melissa accepted hugs and congratulations from Richard’s family as well as her own. As her gaze swept around the room, she noticed Jeremy standing apart from the others. She crossed the room to stand beside him. Taking his arm, she said, “Let’s go for a walk. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“I’ll say.”
She turned to face everyone in the room, but it was Richard who caught and held her gaze. “I can’t thank you enough for the love and support you have all shown me in the past weeks. I once doubted that God cared about me. I see now how blind I was. He brought me back to my family and gave me someone special to love.”
She glanced down and touched her stomach, then smiled at Richard. “Actually, He’s given me two special someones to love.”
“What?” Jeremy interjected, looking totally stunned.
She patted his arm and pulled him toward the door. “Boy, do we have a lot of catching up to do.” At the doorway, she turned and blew a kiss to Richard.
He watched her go with a heart full of pride. She had grown into a beautiful and loving woman and she was going to share his life. He was overwhelmed with happiness.
“Did you kiss her?” Lettie demanded from beside him.
He looked heavenward. “No. Not yet.”
“Richard, what am I going to do with you?”
“There was quite a crowd, if I recall. Not exactly the time and place for kissing.”
She shoved him toward the entry. “Go after her, and when she is done talking to her brother you find someplace quiet and kiss that girl.”
Grinning, he gave his aunt a quick kiss on her cheek. “Aunt Lettie, that’s one order I’ll be happy to follow.” He winked, then sprinted for the door.
Dear Reader,
Writing Prodigal Daughter proved to be more difficult than I had dreamed and even more rewarding than I had dared hope.
Many years ago, my daughter gave me the news every mother of a teenage girl dreads to hear. She was pregnant. It was a very difficult time for my family. Ultimately, through prayer and God’s grace, we became a stronger and more caring family because of it. Today, I can’t imagine a world without my grandchildren. They have been God’s greatest gift to me.
To write this story I had to put myself in the heroine’s shoes. In trying to reach the emotions that all unwed mothers must face, I also had to put myself in my daughter’s shoes. It wasn’t easy trying to see what those uncertain days must have been like for her. It was a heart-wrenching journey for me, but one that was worth taking. I hope I have done justice to it here.
Blessings to all.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What was the nature of Melissa’s relationship with her father? How did their relationship affect her?
Was Richard right to offer Melissa a place to live without asking her family first? Why or why not? What would you have done?
Many young women face unwed pregnancies each year. How do you think you would react to the news that your daughter or granddaughter was about to become an unwed mother?
What was the role of Aunt Lettie in Melissa’s journey toward God? Has someone helped you in your journey in a similar way? Share a story about that person.
What is the role of past guilt in our lives?
Was Melissa right to consider placing her child for adoption? Should she have gone through with the adoption? Why or why not?
What was the nature of Melissa’s guilt and fear? Have you experienced similar emotions? How?
At what point did you see Melissa
beginning to behave as a mature adult? How did that manifest itself?
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Patricia Davids for her contribution to the Davis Landing miniseries.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8577-8
PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
Copyright © 2006 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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.
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