“He got involved in a church back home, and then he started talking to them, confessing what he’d done, all the pain he inflicted, and how he wanted me to take him back. He asked them to call me and plead his case.” She shook her head, but smiled. “They were quite relentless, too.”
“And ever since she’s given me another chance, I’ve been trying to make sure she takes all of those trips and sees all of those things she’s always wanted to see.” He smiled, touched his finger to her chin, the way Gavin had touched his finger to Haley’s. “This past weekend, we went back to Charleston, where we were married, and renewed our vows.”
“Isn’t that something?” her mother asked.
“Yes,” Haley said softly, “it is.”
“Your mom has forgiven me, Haley, but I wanted to ask if you would, as well. I have no excuses, but I can promise you that I will do my best to never hurt your mother, or you, again. Will you—forgive me?”
She brushed her tears away and said honestly, “I already have.”
Eli rushed onto the porch with Buddy in his arms and Bagel at his feet. “I made y’all some Pilgrim hats. You’re going to have Thanksgiving with us, right?”
“Can’t imagine anything we’d rather do,” they said.
Haley sniffed, thinking life couldn’t get much better.
Then she realized it could, but the man of her dreams was on the other side of the country, with no plans on coming back.
* * *
Gavin ate another bite of turkey, but he didn’t taste a thing. The group home was beautiful, much larger than Willow’s Haven, with multistory cabins that each housed at least twenty children and several counselors.
The kids were great, though he hadn’t learned yet which cabin he’d be assigned to permanently. There was a two-month training period where his abilities would be assessed and he’d be matched with the best cabin for his talents.
The home was well organized and run meticulously. And he’d have the opportunity to be involved with many more children here.
But it wasn’t Willow’s Haven.
And none of the little boys was Eli.
And he missed Haley. Terribly.
Jared, one of his fellow counselors, pointed a crescent roll toward him from across the table. “Hey, man, it’s Thanksgiving, and you look like you lost your best friend.”
A very accurate assessment. His best friend...and more. Had he done the right thing, leaving Claremont? Leaving Eli?
Leaving Haley?
Gavin forced a smile. “You’re right. It’s Thanksgiving. And I have a lot to be thankful for.”
“When you’re done, you should head outside and see what the kids are doing. That’ll cheer you up.”
Gavin didn’t want another bite. “Think I’ll head on out now.” He saw the counselors and kids gathered in small groups near every exit, but he hadn’t known what holiday activity they were participating in. When he got to the door, however, he saw the baskets of markers and small sheets of paper.
“Here you go,” one of the teen boys said, handing him a white slip of paper. “You write some things you’re thankful for, and then take it outside.”
Gavin took the tiny slip and moved to a small table, away from the crowd. It didn’t take him but a moment to write what he was most thankful for.
God. Christ.
He paused, his jaw flexing at the truth of the next two on his list. He could keep from writing them down, but he’d be lying. So he continued.
Haley and Eli.
Who was he kidding? He didn’t want the pain of loving again, the way he’d loved Selah and their son, because he didn’t want to betray their memory. And he didn’t want to risk losing that kind of love again.
But Selah and their baby would always be in his memories and he would always love them. The way Eli would always love his first mommy and daddy, like he’d put in that heartfelt letter he’d sent to Heaven.
Gavin...loved that little boy. Wanted to be his new daddy. He knew that with absolute certainty.
And he loved Haley. Not as a friends-only kind of way, but in a till-death-do-us-part kind of way.
He folded the piece of paper and went outside with the other paper-yielding folks.
And that’s where he saw the balloons. Hundreds of balloons of all colors. One of the teen girls came up to him and handed him one. “You tie what you’re thankful for to the balloon and let it go,” she explained. “Our phone number and email for the home is on the back of the page, and we’ll see how far your note travels. It’ll let the person who finds it know what you’re thankful for, and remind them to be thankful, too.”
He glanced up at the big, fat purple balloon she’d handed him. Then he tied his note to the ribbon and let it fly.
He had no idea how far a balloon would travel from Oregon and doubted that it would make the trip to Alabama.
But his message, what he was most thankful for, needed to be delivered. And Gavin knew what he had to do to make that happen.
Chapter Eighteen
“Mr. Gavin! You came back!” Eli ran full blast from the barn toward Gavin’s car on Saturday afternoon.
Gavin was spent. He’d left Thursday and had only stopped to sleep briefly during the thirty-seven-hour drive. But just seeing that little boy, hearing the loudest voice he’d ever imagined for a seven-year-old, sent a surge of adrenaline through his body...and pure joy to his soul.
He climbed out of the truck in time to catch Eli, hurling himself into his arms, with Buddy, running and barking behind him and Bagel howling from the front porch. Sterling even issued a noticeable neigh from the barn at his arrival.
The only one he didn’t see was the one he needed to see most of all.
Gavin released a ragged breath. He needed to apologize. To confess his faults.
And his love.
“Hey, there,” he said, hugging Eli and kissing the boy’s cheek. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you,” Eli said, laughing. “And I think Miss Haley missed you, too.”
“You do?” he asked thickly. “Did she say that?”
“No, but I think she did.”
His hopes slipped a little. “Okay, then. Is she in the house?”
“She’s not here right now,” a man said, stepping off the porch. He was older, with charcoal hair and a bit of silver at the temples. Distinguished looking, even if he was currently wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans. There was a tool belt strapped around his waist and he had a hammer in one hand. “You’re Gavin, I’m guessing?”
“Yes, sir, he’s Mr. Gavin,” Eli answered. Then he looked to Gavin and said, “That’s Mr. Pierce. He’s Miss Haley’s daddy.”
A woman walked out onto the porch rubbing her hands on a dish towel. “Pierce, is someone here?”
Gavin didn’t have to ask. Haley was the spitting image of her mother. “Mrs. Calhoun?”
“Yes, that’s Miss Haley’s momma,” Eli informed him. “This is Mr. Gavin!” Eli yelled to the lady.
“Ah, I see,” she said, exchanging a knowing look with her husband.
Gavin must not have controlled his surprise quickly enough, because the man’s mouth slid into a grin. “Yeah, I guess she told you about me, but you should probably also know that Haley’s mom—and Haley—have forgiven me.”
“After I made him eat a bit of humble pie,” the woman said, which caused her husband to wrap an arm around her and grin.
“Well-deserved humble pie.”
Gavin looked toward the driveway, wondering when Haley would also make an appearance.
“She’s not due back for a while,” her father said. “She went to the Cutter farm to check on the animals there. Their dog had gotten into a tussle with a skunk, I think. And then she said she needed to go check on the animals at the clinic. She has a few boarded th
ere for the holiday.”
“Right,” Gavin said, disappointed she wasn’t here.
“I’m sure she hasn’t made it to the clinic yet,” her mother said, “if you wanted to go and meet her there. And talk.”
Gavin grinned, looking to her folks. “Thanks.” He hugged Eli again. “I’ll be back to see you in a little bit, okay?”
“Are you staying forever?” His hazel eyes were wide and filled with...hope.
“That’s what I want, Eli,” Gavin said honestly, “more than anything. It just took a little time for me to figure that out.”
* * *
Haley had thought she would have a leisurely day at home. Helping her dad as he made repairs on her porch railing. Watching her mom utilize her culinary skills in transforming the Thanksgiving leftovers into some mystery masterpiece. Enjoying the last of her Thanksgiving break with Eli.
Then Roscoe had proved, once again, to be her best customer when he’d managed to get into a fuss with an angry skunk. It’d taken Haley, Landon, Georgiana and Abi a good hour of scrubbing to de-skunk the Lab. Thankfully, Haley’d already had the solution mixed and ready at the clinic and they’d had Roscoe back to normal in a jiff.
After texting her folks to let them know her plans, she stopped by the clinic to check on her boarded pets before coming home. It felt good seeing her parents together, introducing them to Eli and being a real family again.
Haley had so thought she would have that kind of family for herself, but she was very blessed with Eli. The two of them would do just fine, even if they both had a huge hole in their hearts left by the handsome counselor.
She lifted the flower pot, got the key, unlocked the front door and stepped inside.
“You really should find a better place to hide your key.”
The key fell to the floor. “You’re...here?”
“I am.” Gavin leaned against the counter, looking as ruggedly handsome as ever, in the very spot that he’d been a few weeks ago when he’d held her close and...
She couldn’t let her mind go there. Couldn’t let herself hope. Not until she knew for sure why he’d returned.
“I always wanted to see you with your hair down,” he said. “You’re so very beautiful, Haley.”
“Why...?” she whispered. “Why...are you here?”
His smile lifted, but he seemed hesitant, so she held her ground. She couldn’t bear the thought of assuming anything and having him tear her apart again.
He eased away from the counter and started toward her. “I realized you were right,” he said softly.
She moistened her lips, said a quick prayer for God to stay with her...and that she wasn’t dreaming. “I was right? About what?”
“About it being dangerous.” He crossed the floor, slowly but surely closing the distance between them. “You said getting close to you was dangerous, because I might decide I can’t live without you,” he murmured, stroking his fingers against her cheek then gently tunneling them through her hair.
Haley did her best not to faint. This wasn’t a dream. But it was her dream.
“And I can’t, you know,” he said hoarsely. “I need you, Haley. I was miserable being so far away from you, and from Eli. I love you—both of you. And I don’t want to live my life without you. So I’m asking you to forgive me.”
Not what she expected. “Forgive you?”
“For walking away. For leaving when I should have stayed. I can promise you that will never happen again. I won’t leave you.” He moved his hand to the back of her neck, leaning until his mouth hovered above hers. “I won’t let you down. So will you—forgive me?”
“I already have.”
His mouth claimed hers and Haley lost herself in the wonder of the man she loved...and the man who also loved her.
The kiss went on, and on, and on, until, weak-kneed, she collapsed against him.
He looked into her eyes and grinned. “Haley Calhoun,” he said, “I’ll do my very best...to make your every dream come true.”
She kissed him again, relishing the feeling that she’d be kissing him, loving him, from this moment on. “You already have.”
Epilogue
“The women at the Cut and Curl outdid themselves,” Haley said to the man at her side.
Her father laughed softly, patted her arm. “From what I’ve been told, they’ve been planning your wedding for years. They simply needed to figure out who the man would be. And I think they were tickled with the fact that you planned it for Valentine’s Day. Gave them plenty to work with.”
“Seemed perfect, especially since it’s Gavin’s birthday. I’d have never imagined my barn being transformed like this,” she said, taking in the strings of lights that formed an illuminated ceiling and emphasized the mass of people on both sides of the aisle ahead. From all appearances, the entire town of Claremont and every child from Willow’s Haven was in attendance.
“Oh, Theodore, she’s gorgeous!” a woman’s voice echoed through the crowd.
Haley recognized the voice immediately, because she heard it often, almost daily now, on the phone.
“Ivalene,” her grandfather grumbled, “if you can’t talk quiet, I’m going to make you go sit in the car.” This was followed by a hefty “Oomph” as Ivalene elbowed him in the side. Which was followed by her grandfather’s chuckle.
“I’m guessing they’ll be the next ones down the aisle,” her father said.
Which caused Haley to chuckle.
“Am I supposed to go now, Miss Haley?” Eli asked. He stood a few feet ahead of them, wearing a dashing black suit and a bow tie that his new daddy had helped him pick out and apparently tied “just right” earlier. The bright red bow tie matched the roses in her bouquet and went along with the theme for the day.
“Sure, you can,” she said, smiling at the boy who, very soon, would carry a new last name.
The same one she’d have before this evening ended.
She couldn’t wait.
Holding a white pillow with the wedding bands tied to the top, Eli took a step forward but then stopped and turned around. “Wait,” he said, and walked back to her.
A small tinge of panic shimmied down Haley’s spine. Was he not happy about this? “Eli, what’s wrong, honey?”
“I need to ask you a question.”
She crouched to eye level with the little boy she adored. “Anything,” she said. “What do you need to know?”
“Can I—” he slid his mouth to the side “—call you Mommy now?”
Her heart lodged in her throat, emotions beyond what she thought possible washing over her, filling her to the absolute brink...with joy. Love. Happiness.
“Oh, yes,” she whispered. “I would like that very much.”
He hugged her, and she heard the pillow hit the ground, but neither of them cared. “I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you, too,” she said, while her father, wiping away tears, picked up the pillow and handed it to his grandson.
“Okay, now,” he said, clearing his throat. “I think this wedding is ready for us to get started. You ready, Eli?”
“Yes, sir!” he said.
He turned and started down the aisle, walking way faster than he’d been shown in the rehearsal, but earning an abundance of smiles, laughs and chuckles with every quick step.
Haley glanced forward and saw several of Eli’s friends waving from their pews. Ben, of course, stood out, as he stepped into the aisle and grinned.
“When will you tell Ben?” her dad quietly asked.
She smiled. “We wanted to make sure everything was approved by the court, and that should happen next week, so it should be soon.”
“I think it’s great that Eli is going to have a brother so quickly.”
She nodded. “And we can’t wait to have both of them.” Then she winked. “And m
aybe a few more eventually.”
“Sounds great to me.”
By the time Eli reached the front, he was practically skipping, and Haley laughed at his joy.
Then it was her turn.
The crowd stood and she saw her mother peeking down the aisle to get a glimpse.
And then she saw the man who, with each day, filled every part of her heart.
“Mr. Gavin!” Eli yelled, and the guests turned from viewing Haley to see about the commotion up front.
Haley stopped walking, curious to see what was about to happen between the two “men” of her family.
“That’s Mommy. I can call her Mommy now,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Haley saw several hands move to their mouths. But his next question was what brought them all to tears.
“Can I call you Daddy now, too?”
Gavin didn’t miss a beat. He picked him up and swung him around. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”
“Except marrying Mommy?”
Gavin put their son on the ground, then looked down the aisle...and reached her heart.
“Except marrying Mommy,” he agreed gruffly, then added, “my very best friend. And the woman I’ll love always, till death do us part.”
“Till death do us part,” she whispered then glanced at her father and smiled.
“You ready?” he asked.
She looked down the aisle, toward the life full of dreams coming true that would start...right now.
Thank You, God.
“I’m ready.”
* * * * *
Pick up these previous books in Renee Andrews’s WILLOW’S HAVEN series:
FAMILY WANTED
SECOND CHANCE FATHER
CHILD WANTED
Available now from Love Inspired!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from THEIR SECRET BABY BOND by Stephanie Dees.
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Finally a Bride Page 18