A Heartwarming Thanksgiving

by Amy Vastine

  Holly glanced at the clock on the wall. “Five hours until game time. What’s it going to be?”

  The annulment. His ring. Brenda’s silence. There was only one possible answer. “No.”

  * * *

  Brenda sat in a station at the country jail fuming at Clinton. She didn’t even wait for him to place the receiver to his ear to chew him out. “The game is in three hours. Mom said Uncle John offered you a great deal.” She wouldn’t have answered the phone if her mother hadn’t kept hitting redial.

  Clinton’s grin spread from ear to ear. Brenda didn’t think she’d ever seen a picture of him looking that happy.

  “I had a rider I wanted to add to the deal,” Clinton said.

  Brenda tried to contain her frustration. “Mom could have handled that. You’re so confusing. You say…” She lowered her voice. “…you could be falling for me. And then when I try to help you make this game so your backup won’t play all juiced up—”

  “I figured you wouldn’t see me again if I was released.” He gestured toward the ring she still wore. “Knowing you, you’d hire an armored vehicle to return the ring to me.”

  He knew her too well. She planned to call a secure delivery service on Monday. In the meantime, she was afraid of taking the ring off. But it was a constant reminder of Clinton and his kindness. And his kiss. And a myriad of other things she liked about him.

  “I don’t want an annulment or a divorce,” Clinton said, just as smiley as he’d been when he sat down. “I want to date you.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I think we have a shot. That’s what I want to add on to the release deal.” His grin faded and his voice softened. “We’re already in a committed relationship. Let’s date and see how this goes. If things work out the way I hope, we can have a big wedding.”

  Brenda was confused. “Do you think things like big weddings and big wedding rings are important to me?”

  All levity vanished from his face. “No. What matters to you is honesty and integrity and family. Those things matter to me, too. I just…I just haven’t had a family in so long…You might have to help me with that part.” He placed his palm against the glass. “Pep talks and croissants, like we had before your race.”

  That small corner of her brain sighed. “I’m scared.”

  “I won’t let you fall.” Clinton nodded toward his hand, an invitation ready for her to accept.

  Brenda placed her hand across from his. “Maybe you can let me fall just once, since I’m falling for you completely.”

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, Melinda Curtis has a compelling Heartwarming romance, Marrying the Single Dad, coming out in November 2016. Available in paperback and digitally for order online at Harlequin.com and through online retailers everywhere.

  Apple-Pineapple-Blueberry Minis by Melinda Curtis

  I make these every holiday. They’re a real crowd-pleaser—tasty with lots of texture and crunch. You may substitute different fruits that please your family, but you cannot substitute fresh pineapple for canned crushed pineapple, as fresh pineapple won’t allow the gelatin to set—learn from my mistakes!

  Ingredients

  1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple

  1 package (6 oz) strawberry gelatin (Jell-O)

  1 small package (6 oz) blueberries

  1 small apple, chopped

  2/3 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

  Directions

  1. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

  2. Drain canned pineapple, reserving juice in measuring cup. Add water to juice to measure 2 1/2 cups of liquid. Microwave liquid until boiling.

  3. Mix gelatin into boiling pineapple/water mixture. Stir until completely dissolved.

  4. Pour mixture into paper cupcake cups, filling each to half.

  5. Add pineapple, blueberries, apple and nuts to each cup until liquid rises to the 3/4 mark.

  6. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours until firm. Serve in liners.