Phoebe's Groom

by Deb Kastner

  “Do you know which airport she’s heading for?” he asked as he shrugged into his trench coat and planted his cowboy hat on his head, adjusting the brim low over his brow as he always wore it. On a whim, he grabbed the green bandana and tied it around his neck, replacing the worn black one.

  “I can do you one better,” Aunt Jo replied, the curls in her red hair bouncing in all her excitement. “Phoebe gave me the name of the airline and the flight number before she left. Because I had the foresight to ask for it, of course.”

  He kissed his aunt noisily on the cheek. “You’re brilliant.”

  “I’d like to think so,” she replied, turning him around by the shoulders. “Now go get Phoebe and bring her home where she belongs.”

  Chance half-frantically searched in his pockets for the keys to his SUV but came up empty.

  Lucy had disappeared for a moment, but now she returned, jangling the car keys in one hand. In her other she held the locket Phoebe had given her.

  “Give her this,” Lucy instructed him. “Tell her she has to bring it home to me.”

  She opened the locket and showed it to Chance. His throat burned with emotion and he swallowed hard. On one side of the locket was a picture of a smiling Phoebe. On the other side was a recent photo of Chance and Lucy.

  A family.

  He had no doubt Phoebe would know exactly what this meant, much better than any words he’d be able to say, if he could speak coherently at all by the time he caught up with her. He took his daughter into his arms and squeezed her until her feet no longer touched the floor.

  “I’ll give it to her. I promise,” he said as he set her back down on her feet and kissed her forehead.

  “Now, scoot!” Aunt Jo waved him off with her dish towel. “And don’t forget to call us when you get settled, dear.”

  “I will,” he assured her.

  “Love you, Dad,” Lucy called.

  “I love you, too, baby.”

  “Bring her home,” was the last thing he heard Lucy say before he got in the SUV and drove away.

  Bring her home.

  Finally, he knew what he really wanted, and, stunned out of the complacency that had become his life, he was going after it—after her—with all his heart.

  His true love.

  But was it too late? Would she even want to come home with him?

  He could only pray.

  STATUS UPDATE: PHOEBE YATES: The attendant just called my flight number for boarding, so I have to turn off my cell phone. I guess this is goodbye.

  It was time to board the plane and fly back home to her real life, even if that life held little meaning to her anymore. Phoebe turned her cell phone off and tucked it in her purse, and then, with a deep sigh, stood to join the line for her flight.

  When she’d flown out to Serendipity six weeks ago, she’d had no idea how it would change her life. How was she supposed to face the future and pretend it had any significance for her? Everything she loved was back in that little Texas town.

  She settled herself in her economy seat by the window, feeling a little cramped and claustrophobic. She could have afforded first class, and in hindsight, maybe should have splurged on it, but at the time, it hadn’t really seemed to matter.

  She took out the magazine she’d brought with her to browse through but it held little interest for her. Her mind kept drifting back to a certain dark-eyed, moody man who would forever hold her heart. Before long the plane was cruising along at thirty thousand feet and Phoebe was staring down the Texas landscape far below, warm tears stinging in the back of her eyes.

  “Excuse me, ma’am.” As distracted as she’d been, Phoebe hadn’t even seen the attendant hovering over her row. Since the other two passengers were male, it was clear the attendant was speaking to her.

  “Yes?”

  The young, blonde woman with a sharp blue uniform and her hair in a bun smiled broadly at her. “I’m afraid there’s been some sort of a mix-up concerning your seat. I’m going to have to move you to another location.”

  “I’m sorry?” Phoebe queried perplexedly. She glanced around. There weren’t any empty seats that she could see, and there weren’t any passengers waiting to take over her seat. Then there was the fact that they’d already taken off. Why would she have to change seats now?

  “If you’ll come with me, please,” the attendant instructed.

  “I don’t understand.”

  The attendant only smiled. Gathering her purse and her magazine, Phoebe pardoned herself as she slipped into the aisle and then waited for the attendant to lead the way to wherever it was she was now to be seated. Surprisingly, the attendant was walking forward down the aisle, toward the curtain behind which was the first-class seating. She reached for the attendant’s shoulder.

  “I paid for economy,” Phoebe explained.

  “Consider this a courtesy upgrade,” the attendant suggested. “Don’t worry, you won’t be charged for it.”

  Phoebe still had no idea why they would choose to move her to first class, or what it was about her economy seat that was in question, but she followed the attendant nonetheless.

  “Here we are,” the attendant said, gesturing to an empty aisle seat. It was large and plush, and Phoebe had to admit it did look good to her. “Enjoy the rest of your flight.”

  Phoebe sighed and moved to slip into the seat. She wasn’t going to enjoy this flight, not even in first class.

  “Excuse me, ma’am,” said a low, raspy voice from the window seat beside her. “But can you tell me where this plane is headed?”

  Tears sprang forward at the sound of that beloved, familiar voice. He’d been hiding behind an opened newspaper, but now he folded it and placed it on his lap.

  “What are you doing here?” she whispered raggedly.

  “Fixing the biggest mistake of my life,” Chance answered promptly. “Telling the woman I love just how much she means to me. It wasn’t easy getting a seat on this flight. I had to bribe a couple of businessmen to give up their seats for me.”

  Phoebe sniffled. “How romantic.”

  He chuckled. “I’m hoping she’ll think so. I’m also hoping that if I ask nice, she might consider coming back home with me.”

  “Back home? To Serendipity?”

  “I know it’s not New York,” he amended. “I think you have the makings of a wonderful country-baking chef, and I know all of our friends and neighbors will be appreciative.”

  “Do you really?”

  He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers with hers. “I do.”

  She turned in her seat. She needed to see his eyes when she asked this question. “What are you saying?”

  “I thought I might have to spell this out for you,” he answered with the lopsided grin she loved.

  Phoebe’s heart caught in her throat and she couldn’t breathe, but with Chance there she wasn’t sure she needed the air, anyway. She would have been floating at thirty thousand feet with or without the airplane.

  He reached into the front pocket of his shirt and removed a locket. Phoebe immediately recognized it as the one she’d given Lucy that morning.

  “Did she not like it?” Phoebe asked, wondering if another gift would have been more appropriate.

  He pressed the locket into her hand. “Just open it, will you?”

  Phoebe gazed at him for a moment, soaking up the unconcealed love flooding from his obsidian eyes. How could she ever have considered walking away from this man, for any reason? Her heart belonged to him and it always would.

  She turned the locket over in her hand and then slowly, reverently flipped it open. When she saw the picture of herself with Chance and Lucy, she burst into a fresh round of tears.

  “Luc put the pictures in there. She said you need to bring it home to her.”

  Phoebe wept even harder.

  “Do you have to cry at everything?” he queried with a chuckle. “I’m never sure quite what to do with that.”

  “Does this mean what I th
ink it means?” Phoebe was afraid to hope, but she had to ask.

  Chance put his hand over hers. “What it means, Phoebe Yates, is that I’m not the only one whose life wouldn’t be the same without you. You have a whole family waiting back for you in Serendipity, if you’ll have us. Will you marry me?”

  Phoebe was glad they were in first-class and had the added room, because nothing on earth could have stopped her from launching herself into the arms of the man she loved. She couldn’t wait one more second to hold him. Kiss him. Love him.

  And now she had a lifetime.

  Epilogue

  STATUS UPDATE: PHOEBE YATES: Thank you all so much for your wedding wishes. Chance and I were married in the most adorable little white chapel in Serendipity. It was a small family ceremony that I’ll cherish forever. My new daughter, Lucy, was my maid of honor, and Chance looked so handsome in his western suit. Aunt Jo prepared the reception and the whole town showed up. It’s wonderful to have such caring friends and neighbors. I know I’m going to love living here.

  I’ll post pictures soon. Love to all.

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to the first book in my new series, EMAIL ORDER BRIDES, set in the small, fictional town of Serendipity, Texas. I hope you enjoyed reading Chance and Phoebe’s story as much as I took pleasure in writing it.

  As Chance learned in Phoebe’s Groom, life changes can be difficult. A death of a loved one, the loss of a job, moving to an unfamiliar town—change is stressful. If we lean on God, perhaps our life changes may bring the opportunity to start over with a fresh heart and grow from our trials. I encourage you to lean on Him no matter what your life brings. He truly is our Rock.

  Next I’ll be tackling Zach Bowden’s story. He’s the EMT who rescued Aunt Jo in Phoebe’s Groom. Look for it soon!

  Nothing makes my day like hearing from my readers. You can email me at DEBWRTR@aol.com or friend me on Facebook.

  Keep the Faith,

  Questions for Discussion

  Phoebe takes a break from her high-profile chef’s life by baking simple country fare. Why does she not stop cooking altogether? Can you be on vacation and work at the same time?

  The five stages of grief are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Where was Chance stuck in this cycle, and why?

  It’s difficult to experience loss, whether that is loss of a loved one, a pet, a job, status or security. Have you experienced a loss recently? How are you dealing with it?

  Chance pushed both God and his in-laws away instead of reaching for their support. Why do you think he did that?

  Phoebe broke off her yearlong relationship because she felt she would have been certain by then whether the relationship should be permanent. How long do you think it takes to know if a man is Mr. Right rather than Mr. Right Now? Why?

  Lucy saw Phoebe as a threat and did not immediately accept her. Why do you think that is?

  At what point in the novel did Lucy change her tune and decide Phoebe was the right woman for her father?

  Do you think Aunt Jo was meddlesome or supportive, or both?

  Which character in Phoebe’s Groom do you most relate to? Why?

  How did the barn-raising at the Sparkses’ ranch parallel what Chance was going through in his life?

  What is the major theme of this novel? What is its take-away value in your life?

  Even though Chance was in love with Phoebe, he allowed her to leave. Why do you think that is? And why did he finally go after her? What changed?

  Aunt Jo and Lucy played matchmakers. Do you think it was right for them to intrude on Chance and Phoebe’s developing relationship?

  Phoebe had never experienced life in a small town. How is Serendipity different than a big city?

  What will you remember most from this book?

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-0857-5

  PHOEBE’S GROOM

  Copyright © 2011 by Debra Kastner

  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, Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Love Inspired Books,

  ® and TM are trademarks of Love Inspired Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

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  *Email Order Brides