by Kristin Holt
Adam tisk-tisked. “Oh, no. Now she’ll never know if you like her for herself, or just for the baby, Mother.”
“Adam!” All three turned to chastise him.
His father looked confused. “Of course we like her. In fact, we love her already.”
Josie swallowed as her throat tightened. “Adam told me that right after we met. That he planned to love me, right away. And he did.”
Mrs. Taylor took Josie’s arm and walked her into the living room. “Of course he did, my dear. I can tell you’re very easy to love.”
Josie glanced back to see Adam smiling. Maybe she’d viewed everything all wrong. Maybe his parents weren’t primed to hate her, after all.
“We’ll eat as soon as our daughter arrives. She’s a bit late as usual, but she’s really excited to meet you. Adam said you love chicken, so that’s what I made.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Taylor.”
“Oh, no. You must call me Mother.”
“And me, Father.” Adam’s father was quick to insert.
Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded, startling both parents who looked to Adam.
Adam wrapped an arm around her once more. “Don’t mind her. She does that all the time.”
“Adam, I do not.” Wiping her eyes, she turned to Adam’s parents. “I don’t.”
Adam leaned down to whisper in her ear. “What excuse will you use after the baby is born?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why, my poor deceased husband, of course. He died from teasing his wife once too often. It was so very sad.”
Adam laughed, and his parents joined in.
Maybe they weren’t so bad after all.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Christmas in Denver, at the home of his parents and younger sister, was destined to be the reunion he’d been looking forward to.
Adam helped his bride down from the hired carriage, and stood with her at the base of the walk toward the house he’d called home— until ‘home’ had taken on a whole new meeting. Home had become his life with Josie.
He ducked beneath her hat, kissed her cheek, and made sure she was steady on her feet.
“Ready to go inside and see your sister?”
He couldn’t wait to reunite his wife with her twin. The previous months had been a challenge, but also a time of bonding and connection.
A time when their own family had become his entire focus.
Perhaps those months in the desert had been a blessing.
CONFLICT:
Carolers made their way along the street, their merry tunes mingling and bringing a joyful Christmas Spirit to his heart.
Someone had cleared the walk of every bit of snow and salted the ice. But he ensured Josie had a firm footing and with one arm about her and his hand at her elbow, he made sure she wouldn’t fall.
Expectant mothers needed to take care, exercise caution, and do all they could to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
At his parents’ door, carolers finished singing Here We Come A-Wassailing, and begun a joyful rendition of Joy to the World just as Lucinda answered the door— her bright blue eyes and hair every bit as black as Adam’s own— a sight that filled him to overflowing with a sense of homecoming.
He wanted so badly to create this type of family, home, belonging when he’d sent for his wife… and now that he was finally home with the bride his parents had never met, he couldn’t wait to introduce them.
The many letters and explanations had helped to smooth the way. His parents knew Adam and Richard had married identical twins, and just yesterday before Richard and Lessie arrived, Adam had paid his parents a visit, leaving Josie to nap at the hotel. She needed her rest and he’d needed a chance to speak to his parents.
No matter what happened, his wife came first— and if an uncomfortable lecture were to occur, it would have happened for his ears alone. To his relief, his parents had hugged him close, embraced him, urged him to bring his bride home for Christmas.
He’d brought his bride, Josie, to supper the previous evening. They’d laughed and visited and embraced Josie with all the warmth Adam could have asked for.
DISASTER:
Tonight was about reuniting the brides.
His father stood in the doorway, blue-eyed and handsome, his hair more streaked with gray than the last time Adam had been home, well, except for yesterday.
Father ushered them inside to the tunes of the carolers singing joyful verses of the familiar carol.
Adam watched his wife expectantly, knew she smiled with warmth and reunion at his father as Adam helped her off with her coat and hat.
Then Josie was laughing, the melodic tunes warm and sparkling and full of life and vitality.
She pulled her twin to her feet and the women embraced with joyful tears.
Adam reached for Richard’s hand. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you.” Richard shook but pulled Adam in for a back-slapping embrace. “I thought you couldn’t make it home in time for the holiday.”
Adam’s grin stretched even wider. He tipped his head in Josie’s direction. “She wanted so much for this to be a surprise. It was our little secret.”
Richard’s gaze took in the women together, his expression so full of love and abandon he couldn’t withhold it.
“I see, cousin, you’ve learned love is a wondrous thing.”
“She’s… amazing. Perfect. Better than perfect. The most gloriously imperfect woman, the best match for me.”
Adam chuckled. “I do know what you mean.”
REACTION:
His bride, his wife, turned to him then, slipping easily into his arms and with merriment shining in her eyes, stepped into his arms. As they’d done so many times in the past weeks, he swept her into the steps of a dance.
DILEMMA:
His parents listened to the carolers, enjoyed the well-wishes of their neighbors.
Adam glanced at Richard, noticed his focus so wholly on his wife. “Look at them,” he urged Josie, “do you suppose they’re half as in love as we?”
“I do hope so.”
Emeralds set in gold sparkled on Lessie’s finger and Adam recognized the setting immediately as Grandmother’s. Richard had done it, then. He’d presented his bride with the gift Grandfather had pressed upon him with the charge to ensure he found the love of his life and put the ring on her finger within the bonds of matrimony.
“I have something for you.” Adam had claimed it from his boyhood room, in a safe place tucked inside the closet wall where it couldn’t be lost and the average thief wouldn’t think to look. “Actually, it’s for me, but I want you to give it to me.”
He tucked Josie into a spin, laughing with her as she chuckled. “I’ve already given you your Christmas gift.”
Yes, she had. And in a handful of months, he hoped that gift would be sleeping through the night.
Richard pulled out a knotted handkerchief he’d tucked deep into his pocket. Inside, Grandfather’s own wedding band. He’d worn it from the day he wed Grandmother until the day he died. Never, no matter the work grandfather had done, had Adam ever seen him without this visible token of his vows of marriage.
“This was my grandfather’s. He gave it to me, told me that one day, when I’d found the great love of my life, that I should wear this as a reminder that the best kind of love is a choice.”
Josie’s coffee-colored eyes filled with tears. She wept easily, tears of happiness, tears of joy, tears of frustration… impending motherhood brought out the most tender side of her nature and he couldn’t help but love her for it.
“Will you put this ring on my finger? I want to wear it always, as a sign and token of the love we share, of the marriage that unites our family.” He kissed her briefly. “And I want all the ladies to know I’m spoken for.”
Josie laughed at the outrageous comment. “Yes, I’ll gladly put this ring on your finger.”
He stole another kiss, this one more ardent and full of love. “I want a daily reminde
r— for both of us— that the legendary love my grandparents shared is within our reach. I want that kind of adventure, that kind of magnificent tale to pass along to our children. I want them to know their father loved their mother to distraction.”
She took the heirloom from him and with steady hands and her heart in her eyes, she slipped the band over his knuckle. “I do.” Her gaze met his and somehow, the love that seemed to continually grow, always enlarging, expanded his capacity even further.
She slipped the ring fully into place. “It fits perfectly.”
“I’m the man my grandfather wanted me to become. How can I not have the same ring size as he?”
“You’re a tease.”
“I’m a man who’s found his one great love. Grandfather’s fondest wish for me.”
Lucinda had sat down at the piano, begun playing a lovely holiday melody. No sense wasting it, not when his wife was in his arms and dancing with her brought them both such pleasure. Besides, his parents were kissing beneath the mistletoe and Richard and Lessie were so engrossed in one another, he had no desire to be anywhere else.
“Life with you will never be dull, Adam Taylor.”
She rose on her toes and he met her eagerly halfway. This kiss echoed with promises and hope and mingled with a little Christmas magic.
DECISION: “Dull? Darling, I don’t imagine life will be anything short of a grand adventure.”
To mirror opening line: “Yes. It’s going to be a grand adventure.”
Christmas in Denver, at the home of his parents and younger sister, was destined to be the reunion he’d been looking forward to.
Adam helped his bride down from the hired carriage, and stood with her at the base of the walk toward the house he’d called home— until ‘home’ had taken on a whole new meeting. Home had become his life with Josie.
He ducked beneath her hat, kissed her cheek, and made sure she was steady on her feet.
“Ready to go inside and see your sister?”
She smiled.
He couldn’t wait to reunite his wife with her twin. The previous months had been a challenge, but also a time of bonding and connection.
A time when their own family had become his entire focus.
Those months in the desert had been a blessing. A honeymoon, certainly.
Carolers made their way along the street, their merry tunes mingling and bringing a joyful Christmas Spirit to his heart.
Someone had cleared the walk of every bit of snow and salted the ice. But he ensured Josie had a firm footing and with one arm about her, and his hand at her elbow, he saw to it she wouldn’t fall.
Expectant mothers needed to take care, exercise caution, and do all they could to protect a healthy pregnancy. And his job was to keep Josie safe.
At his parents’ door, carolers finished singing Here We Come A-Wassailing, and began a jubilant rendition of Joy to the World just as his sister Lucinda answered the door— her bright blue eyes and black hair exact shades of Adam’s own— a sight that filled him to overflowing with a sense of homecoming.
He wanted so badly to create this type of family, home, this sense of belonging for his own children.
He’d brought his bride, Josie, to supper recently. They’d laughed and visited and embraced Josie with all the warmth Adam could have asked for.
Tonight was about reuniting the brides.
His father came to the entry, blue-eyed and handsome, his hair liberally streaked with white. He ushered them inside to the tunes of the carolers singing joyful verses of another familiar carol.
Adam watched his wife expectantly, knew she smiled with warmth and expectation, barely noting as his father as Adam helped her off with her coat and hat.
Then Josie was laughing, the melodic tunes warm and sparkling and full of life and vitality.
She rushed across the room to pull her twin to her feet and the women embraced with joyful tears. A moment later, Lessie squealed as Josie shared her secret.
Adam reached for Richard’s hand. “Merry Christmas, cousin. Something I should know about?”
“Just a new addition to the family, that’s all.”
Richard laughed. “Well, Merry Christmas to you.” Richard shook his hand, then pulled Adam in for a back-slapping embrace. “I thought you couldn’t make it home in time for the holiday?”
Adam’s grin stretched even wider. He tipped his head in Josie’s direction. “She wanted for this to be a surprise, another secret.”
Richard’s gaze took in the women together, his expression so full of love and abandon he couldn’t withhold it.
“I see, cousin, you’ve learned love is a wondrous thing.”
“She’s… amazing.” Richard enthused. “Perfect. Better than perfect. The most gloriously imperfect woman, the best match for me.”
Adam chuckled. “I know exactly what you mean.”
His wife turned to him then, and with merriment shining in her eyes, crossed the room to step into his arms. As they’d done so many times in the past weeks, he swept her into the steps of a dance.
His parents listened to the carolers, enjoyed the well-wishes of their neighbors.
Adam glanced at Richard, noticed his focus so wholly on his own wife. “Look at them,” he urged Josie, “do you suppose they’re half as in love as we?”
“I do hope so.”
Emeralds set in gold sparkled on Lessie’s finger and Adam recognized the setting immediately as Grandmother’s. Richard had done it, then. He’d presented his bride with the gift Grandfather had pressed upon him with the charge to ensure he found the love of his life and put the ring on her finger within the bonds of matrimony.
“I have something for you.” Adam had claimed it from his boyhood room, in a safe place tucked inside the closet wall where it couldn’t be lost and the average thief wouldn’t think to look. “Actually, it’s for me, but I want you to give it to me.”
He tucked Josie into a spin, laughing with her as she chuckled. “I’ve already given you your Christmas gift.”
Yes, she had. And in a handful of months, he hoped that gift would be sleeping through the night.
Richard pulled out a knotted handkerchief he’d tucked deep into his pocket. Inside, Grandfather’s own wedding band. He’d worn it from the day he’d wed Grandmother until the day he’d died. Never, no matter the work Grandfather had done, had Adam ever seen him without this visible token of his vows of marriage.
“This was my grandfather’s. He gave it to me, told me that one day, when I’d found the great love of my life, that I should wear this as a reminder that the best kind of love is a choice.”
Josie’s coffee-colored eyes filled with tears. She wept easily, tears of happiness, tears of joy, tears of frustration… impending motherhood brought out the most tender side of her nature and he couldn’t help but love her for it.
“Will you put this ring on my finger? I want to wear it always, as a sign and token of the love we share, of the marriage that unites our family.” He kissed her briefly. “And I want all the ladies to know I’m spoken for.”
Josie laughed at the outrageous comment. “Yes, I’ll gladly put this ring on your finger.”
He stole another kiss, this one more ardent and full of love. “I want a daily reminder— for both of us— that the legendary love my grandparents shared is within our reach. I want that kind of adventure, that kind of magnificent tale to pass along to our children. I want them to know their father loved their mother to distraction.”
She took the heirloom from him and, with steady hands and her heart in her eyes, slipped the band over his knuckle. “I do,” he said, meaning the words with his whole heart. Her gaze met his and somehow, the love that seemed to continually grow, always enlarging, expanded his capacity even further.
She slipped the ring fully into place. “It fits perfectly.”
“I’m the man my grandfather wanted me to become. How can I not have the same ring size as he?”
“You’re a teas
e.”
“I’m a man who’s found his one great love. Grandfather’s fondest wish for me.”
Lucinda sat down at the piano and began playing a lovely holiday melody. No sense wasting it, not when his wife was in his arms and dancing with her brought them both such pleasure. Besides, his parents were kissing beneath the mistletoe and Richard and Lessie were so engrossed in one another, he had no desire to be anywhere else.
“Life with you will never be dull, Adam Taylor.”
She rose on her toes and he met her eagerly halfway. This kiss echoed with promises and hope and mingled with a little Christmas magic.
“Dull? Darling, I don’t imagine life will be anything short of a grand adventure.”
She pressed her cheek against his. “Yes, my love. It’s already the grandest adventure of all.”
The End
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If you enjoyed reading this book...
Two days prior to the release of this book (1-4-16), the companion novel, Lessie: Bride of Utah, was released on 1-2-16. Lessie and Josie are identical twin sisters. Each story stands alone and it’s not necessary to read Lessie before reading Josie.
If you enjoyed reading this book, there are 49 more in the series! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Brides here.
Each of the 50 books are exclusive to Amazon (at the time of this book’s initial release). Find the series for sale here.