by JoAnn Durgin
“At least one of each or whatever the Lord decides is best for us.” She propped herself on one elbow. “We’re going to have a great life together. You can’t begin to know how much I love you.”
“I have a pretty good idea.” He’d found his home in this woman’s arms. Drawing her to him, Sam lowered his lips to hers. “Thank you for the honor of loving you.”
Epilogue
♥
April 24, 1966
Sarah held her newborn son in her arms, her heart close to overflowing. After laboring for close to twelve hours, she kissed her firstborn’s soft, smooth cheek and marveled over his handsome features, so like his father’s.
Lord, you are so gracious to us. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,” she whispered. “The fruit of the womb is a reward, like the arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” In a world full of unrest—President Kennedy had been assassinated the year after she and Sam married, and now ground troops were being sent to fight the war in Vietnam—Sarah held her son close, cherishing him as a precious promise from a loving heavenly Father.
Her handsome husband walked into the room with a bright smile. “I just talked with Tess. They’re planning to come next weekend.”
Sarah laughed quietly. “I’m sure Charlie would like Tess to catch the baby bug while she’s here.”
“Give them time. They’ve only been married a year.” Sam carefully lowered himself to the bed beside her in the Houston hospital where she’d given birth a few hours before. A sister hospital to the one where she’d worked since finishing her nursing degree earlier than expected.
“We have more important things to discuss.” When Sam gazed at his son, love filled Sarah’s soul for both of them. “What shall we name this little guy?”
“No question in my mind,” Sarah said, caressing the side of Sam’s jaw with one hand. He looked tired, but it was the best kind of tired. “Samuel Joseph Lewis, Jr.”
Slipping off the bed, Sam held out his arms. “May I?”
“Time to go see your daddy.” Sarah kissed the baby’s head and transferred the sleeping child to him. Sam cradled the child’s head with one large hand. Her husband looked so at home and natural in his new role as papa.
“You’re going to be a great father, my love.”
“Because he’ll have the best mother in the world in you, sweet Sarah. Thank you for this gift. I’m sorry it was so long for you, baby, but you did great. I’m in awe.” Being mindful of his son, Sam planted a kiss on her forehead.
“Already forgotten,” Sarah said. Not really, but she’d recover soon enough. Their son was robust and healthy—uncommonly long and with a terrific head of thick, dark hair—and that’s all that mattered.
“I’m glad I didn’t faint this time. I hope we can do this again a few more times in the future.” He caught her look and chuckled. “Not anytime soon.”
Sarah shook her head with an amused smile. Leave it to a man to discuss the next child mere hours after delivery. “For now, let’s enjoy this time with the three of us. Get used to being parents.”
“Agreed. I look forward to the journey.” Sam inspected his son’s fingers and toes—and everything else—for at least the tenth time.
“He’s real, I assure you.” She watched as Sam traced his finger over the baby’s cheek. “I hope he has your blue eyes and those irresistible smile lines. A dash of your sense of humor, your compassion, and strong faith.”
“What a miracle he is.” Holding the baby close, Sam smoothed his hand over his son’s dark head. His expression was filled with wonder, his sigh full of contentment. “What a handsome boy you are.” With a quiet chuckle, he kissed the top of Sam Jr.’s head.
“Sam,” he said, his gaze drinking in the sight of his child, “I promise to raise you in the grace and love of our heavenly Father. It’s my prayer you’ll grow to love the Lord as much as your mother and I do, and that one day you’ll raise your own family of children who love the Lord to carry on the Lewis legacy of faith. Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Already missing her son, Sarah reached for him.
“Time to go back to your mama now.” With a gentle smile, Sam lowered the baby into her arms.
“Faith, family and love.” Opening the top of her hospital gown, Sarah prepared to nurse her son. “We’ll be just fine.”
Sam sank onto the bed beside her. “I hope those things will define the Lewis family legacy.”
“Amen,” Sarah echoed.
After a few moments, the baby began to nurse. Taking Sam’s hand, Sarah laced her fingers with his. “This is the anniversary of the day you came back home to Rockbridge.” He ran his thumb over her hand while she supported Sam, Jr. with her other arm.
“God’s providence.” Sam’s smile lines charmed her all over again, the same as they had from the moment she first laid eyes on him, the same as they always would.
“I’m so thankful you came home, Captain,” Sarah whispered.
“For a lifetime, Mrs. Lewis.”
THE END
♥
Awakening
The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 1
A God-fearing man. A God-seeking woman. For Sam Lewis and Lexa Clarke, it proves a combustible combination.
Lexa Clarke signs up for a TeamWork Missions summer assignment expecting adventure in a far-off, exotic country. Instead, she’s sent to sweltering San Antonio to help rebuild homes destroyed by sudden flooding. She survives the four-hour bus trip from Houston, dust in the lungs, a flat tire, a tool-throwing incident and a spitting goat—not to mention an inquisition from a distractingly handsome cowboy—all before reaching the work camp.
TeamWork director Sam Lewis isn’t sure what to think of his newest volunteer. She’s feisty, witty, and incredibly pretty, but looks more prepared to board a cruise ship than build houses. Burned by a past betrayal, he’s got a job to do, a reputation to uphold. Sam can’t afford to be distracted by a woman who attracts animals, defies his rules, finds trouble at every turn and questions God’s purpose. But when she tumbles from the top beam of one of the houses into his arms, Sam suspects his life will never be the same. During their weeks together in the TeamWork camp, Sam and Lexa learn the power of forgiveness and healing.
Enduring a chain of incidents which challenge their faith, trust and growing relationship, they look to the Lord for guidance as together they discover a love greater than either could ever imagine. At the end of the eight-week work camp, Sam is committed to a year-long, dangerous overseas mission for TeamWork. Can Lexa trust the Lord enough to let him go? Will Sam safely return and keep his promise to meet her at the Alamo? You’ll keep turning the pages of this sweeping romantic adventure.
With great characters, plenty of humor, enough emotion to make you shed a tear or two, and an ending that’ll have you cheering, Awakening will leave you breathless. Hold on tight. The adventures of Lewis and Clarke have only just begun!
Second Time Around
The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 2
Marc Thompson is on top of the world—a newlywed with a beautiful wife, the owner of a thriving Boston sports advertising agency, and a century-old home they’re renovating in the suburbs. Then the unthinkable happens. Two months after the wedding, Marc sits in a hospital emergency waiting room after Natalie suffers a horrible fall. One shock follows another. Not only does his wife remember nothing of their life together, but now he has a personal timeline to reconnect with her—seven months.
Marc’s gold wedding band mocks him, a glaring reminder of a promise broken by a rotting basement stair and his own negligence. His renowned psychologist advises him to court his wife again—a daunting task the first time around. Then Marc’s pastor suggests he call Sam and Lexa Lewis
of TeamWork Missions, a ministry dear to Natalie’s heart. Determined to help her reclaim her life, the young groom makes great strides until a ghost from the past surfaces, opening fresh wounds and threatening to destroy it all.
With Natalie’s trust shattered and Marc’s faith wavering, they head to Milestone Ranch outside Helena, Montana, with TeamWork for a two-week work camp. But instead of romancing his wife in the freezing November temperatures with warm fires and shared sweet moments, he’s out in the cold and back at square one. Even if Natalie recovers her lost memories, will she forgive him? If not, can Marc come to terms with his deepest fear—the failure of his marriage?
You’ll root for Marc and Natalie as they fight against the odds and discover that surrendering all at the throne of grace doesn’t mean failure. It’s simply called faith. And it might be the only way to finding their way back to one another…the second time around.
Twin Hearts
The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 3
Joshua Grant is a man redeemed. He’s worked hard to put the past behind him. A mergers and acquisitions attorney in a prestigious Baton Rouge law firm, he pours his energies into his career, hurricane relief efforts, and numerous civic and charitable causes. A near-fatal event in the life of a fellow TeamWork Missions volunteer prompts him to make some apologies, starting with his friend and mentor, Sam Lewis, Domestic Missions Director for TeamWork in Houston. It’s been more than four years since the fateful events in San Antonio when Sam threw him out of the missions camp, and he’s still haunted by the bittersweet memory of his final meeting with another TeamWork volunteer. When he also seeks her forgiveness, Josh gets the shock of his life. Could turning his deepest sin into his greatest blessing be God’s answer for his hurting heart?
Rebekah Grant, Josh’s twin sister, is torn between two men. Adam, a dashing British aristocrat, offers her a world of exotic travel, socializing with royalty, fabulous couture and the life of leisure. Then there’s sweet Kevin, the strong, intelligent, faithful TeamWork member. Will the shy Louisiana lumber man ever take the step of faith to move their relationship to the next level? What Kevin lacks in terms of Adam’s style and panache, he more than makes up for with heart-stirring kisses and soul-searching conversation. When Rebekah suspects Adam is planning to propose a second time, she knows it’s time to make her decision. Juggling both suitors is wrong for so many reasons, but what’s a girl to do if she wants to marry and have children in her lifetime?
When family tragedy strikes, Josh and Rebekah learn the true meaning and value of love, loyalty and what’s most important in life. Leaning on the encouragement and support from Sam and Lexa Lewis and their TeamWork friends, both twins look to the Lord for His divine guidance. It’s up to them to stake their claim on love before it slips beyond their reach, which means it’s also time for a road trip from Louisiana to the peace to be found in seeking and finding the sweetest desires of the heart.
Daydreams
The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 4
It’s early December 2002, and Amy Jacobsen is living the dream: a job she loves with a trendy New York City magazine, a Manhattan walk-up inherited from her grandfather, and a busy social life without the unwanted complication of a steady boyfriend. During dinner one evening with her Wall Street financier brother, Mitch, she spies Landon Warnick at the next table. He’s one of the most influential, successful and youngest magazine publishers in the country—not to mention one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.
After Mitch wrangles a meeting between the two, Landon wastes little time asking her to dinner. Usually wary of smooth men and romantic entanglements, Amy questions her sanity when they share a cozy carriage ride in Central Park and she comes this close to kissing him. Is it the joy and wonder of the Christmas season that’s put stars in her eyes or the enigmatic, intelligent, challenging and incredibly handsome man?
The following weekend, she travels to Louisiana to be a bridesmaid in a wedding and a reunion with Sam and Lexa Lewis and some of her dearest friends and fellow volunteers in TeamWork Missions. Headed down the aisle at the wedding, Amy’s steps falter. Standing at the front is a groomsman who flew into town only an hour before . . . She does a double take. What’s Landon Warnick doing in her world, with her friends? Perhaps more important, why does he suddenly have a Texas drawl and a crescent-shaped scar on his forehead? Sharing a romantic dance at the wedding reception, she casts aside her better judgment and kisses him. She’s lost her mind, and her heart might not be far behind, it seems.
Let the adventure begin! Is the Lord showing her the “right” man for her heart or is Amy in way over her head?
Moonbeams
The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 5
Mitch Jacobsen’s younger sister, Amy Warnick, has tried to pair him off with her fellow TeamWork Missions volunteer, Cassie, for over a year. Why can’t Amy understand that the harder she pushes, the faster he’ll run? Dating a woman who lives 1,600 miles away—no matter how gorgeous and compassionate—isn’t on his radar.
Cassandra Thorenson wants nothing to do with a man who works with money and contributes to corporate greed. Dating a Wall Street broker—no matter how handsome and funny—is the last thing she needs.
Surely, the Almighty must have a better plan.
When these two meet during a TeamWork mini-reunion in Houston over Valentine’s Day weekend, Mitch and Cassie discover they have a lot more in common than they’d ever imagined. Their plan to resist one another quickly derails and then an unexpected event sends them all reeling.
Let the sparks and the tempers fly!