Hometown Family

by Mia Ross

  “I’m a lawyer,” she reminded him curtly. “I don’t just walk into people’s houses uninvited.”

  “Why didn’t you call my cell?”

  “I did, but it went straight to voice mail. You must have forgotten to charge it.”

  He didn’t doubt that. Since the fire, he’d had a lot on his mind.

  “I think we’ve got this backwards,” he teased, balancing his arms across the sill. “I’m supposed to be the one sneaking in to see you in the middle of the night.”

  She laughed quietly. “Grandpa would’ve chased you off with a seat full of buckshot.”

  “That sounds painful.”

  “This conversation is painful,” she shot back. “Will you let me in or not?”

  “Sure. Meet you downstairs.”

  Dressed in sweats and a ratty T-shirt, he padded downstairs in his bare feet. When he opened the kitchen door, he wasn’t sure what to do next. He wanted to take her in his arms, apologize for stepping in where he never should have been in the first place. He really wanted to kiss her and hear her say she forgave him. He wanted to tell her again that he loved her. The words were new for him, but he liked the way they made him feel.

  But she made no move to come in, and the stern expression on her face made him glad there was a screen door between them.

  “You sent Brian out to the cemetery, didn’t you?” she demanded.

  He shrugged, hoping he looked unconcerned. “I figured you might go there.”

  “Why did he go?”

  “He thought your mom was still alive. You should’ve seen his reaction when I told him she died twenty years ago. He just about collapsed.”

  “He brought her roses,” she snapped.

  Matt decided he’d had enough of this lethal back-and-forth. He’d never won an argument with her, and this wasn’t likely to be his first victory. He knew if he went at her directly, she’d cut him off and quit listening. So he went with humor.

  “Last I knew, that wasn’t a crime in North Carolina.”

  A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth before she could straighten it into a disapproving line. “If that’s your best defense, I’m leaving.”

  She turned to go, but he pushed the door open and caught her hand just before she left the porch. “Don’t go. I just like messing with you.”

  “You’re very good at it,” she huffed, not looking at him.

  “I have two sisters.” Reeling her in for a kiss, he rubbed noses with her. “I’ve had lots of practice.”

  In the moonlight, he saw the warmth come back into those amazing green eyes. “I don’t even want to think about all the things you’ve had practice with.”

  “Good plan.”

  He flashed a grin that finally made her laugh. “You’re really, really bad, you know that?”

  “Yeah, and I’m all yours.”

  “How lucky am I?” she retorted.

  “Very.”

  She studied him for what felt like a long time, and he wondered for the millionth time what was going on in that quick mind of hers. Finally, she seemed to decide something and smiled up at him. “Thank you for bringing my father back to me, Matthew.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Epilogue

  It was Christmas Eve.

  This year, despite Ethan’s absence, Marianne had decided to throw her usual celebration after church. Caty lost count of the guests milling around the house, mingling and chatting, some singing carols near the gigantic tree in the living room. Kyle and Emily had dragged the rest of the family from one end of the woodlot to the other before settling on a twelve-foot spruce. The boughs held hundreds of lights and treasured ornaments, and the antique crystal star on top grazed the living room ceiling.

  There were so many people that the crowd spilled out onto the porches, where decorated pine trees and swags of lighted garland mimicked the inside decor. Caty was on the much quieter back porch, waiting for her father. He didn’t know many people in Harland, and she didn’t want him walking into a sea of less-than-friendly strangers.

  Her father.

  Even though they’d visited back and forth a few times, the idea of it still gave her a chill. A good one, because she couldn’t believe that after all these years, she was getting to know the man who’d been absent from her life but had never forgotten his little girl.

  When he parked his car on the side of the driveway, she went out to meet him.

  “Merry Christmas!” she said, giving him a quick hug. “How was your trip?”

  “Fine.” He gave her the same warm smile she’d seen in that old picture. “Have I missed anything?”

  “No. Marianne’s got enough food for an army.”

  She turned to go, but he called her back. “I have something for you.”

  He reached in his car to pop the trunk and walked around to open it. Inside were stacks of presents, all wrapped differently.

  “Wow,” she commented. “It must have taken you hours to buy and wrap all those.”

  “It wasn’t that much, really.” Looking hesitant, he cleared his throat. “They’re for you.”

  “For me?” she echoed, totally stumped. “Why so many?”

  “Every year at Christmas, I bought something for you. I missed you every day, but it was worst at Christmas. Getting you a gift made me feel a little closer to you.” Digging through, he pulled out a package wrapped in faded paper and handed it to her. “This was for your first Christmas.”

  Looking at the tag, Caty saw the year written beside her name. Then she looked at the pile in his trunk, and tears welled in her eyes. “You bought me a present every year?”

  “The boxes got smaller as you got older,” he explained in a rush, as if he expected her to cut him off. “Jewelry, watches, things like that. I tried to get things I thought a young lady would enjoy.”

  “You kept them all this time?” she choked out around the lump in her throat.

  “I prayed we’d meet someday and I’d have a chance to give them to you.”

  She stared up at him in disbelief. “You prayed about meeting me?”

  He reached out and took her free hand. “Caitlin, when I met your mom, I was a selfish, miserable young man. She showed me what I was missing, and I’ll always be grateful to her for that.” His expression grew thoughtful. “When you were born, something changed inside me. I’d gotten away from my faith, and I think God saw enough good in me to bring me back. Since then, I’ve done my best to live right.”

  That did it. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Caty opened the package to find a slightly flattened pink bunny staring out at her from its tissue-paper nest. She pulled it out and smoothed the fur, marveling at the love he’d shown her, even when she didn’t know who he was.

  Gazing up at the man she’d longed for her entire life, she could think of only one thing to say. “Thank you.” Gathering her courage, she swallowed hard. “Dad.”

  His own eyes brimming over, her father opened his arms, and she went into them, cuddling that precious stuffed animal between them.

  It was like the sappy final scene from an old-fashioned Christmas movie. And it felt absolutely wonderful.

  * * *

  “I love Christmas Eve,” John announced, catching Caty for a quick peck on the cheek.

  Laughing, she pointed across the living room to the archway that led into the kitchen. “Mistletoe’s over there.”

  “You’re a lawyer. Sue me.” He gave her his blinding country-boy grin and sauntered off to continue spreading his own special brand of Christmas cheer.

  On her way into the kitchen, Caty stopped to chat with several of the hundred or so guests milling around the main floor of the Sawyers’ farmhouse. “Marianne, y
ou’ve outdone yourself again this year,” Caty complimented her with a hug. “Everyone’s having a great time.”

  Focused on the tray of small quiches she was preparing, Marianne smiled. “They seem to be. I wasn’t sure we should do it, but Matt said Dad would want us to. It was a very un-Matt-like thing to say.”

  “People change,” Caty replied.

  “You had a little something to do with that.” Pulling on candy-cane oven mitts, Marianne slid a tray of quiches from the oven and replaced them with uncooked ones. “He didn’t come that far on his own.”

  Marianne wasn’t the first person to say something like that. As Caty arranged the yummy treats on a platter, she allowed herself a smile. She might have made Matt’s life a little better, but he’d helped her find things she’d thought she’d lost forever.

  He’d taught her to trust, in herself and others. But most important, he’d taught her to love without fear of losing. Strong and solid as the farm he’d fought to save, he’d shown her that some things were worth the risk.

  “Now that your stubborn big brother’s settled,” she began, “you could be next.”

  Marianne shook her head. “I’ve sworn off men, remember?”

  “Oh, come on.” Caty laughed. “There are still some good ones around.”

  “Maybe,” Marianne commented in a tone that said she didn’t really believe that. “Unfortunately, my ex-husband taught me they’re just not worth the trouble they cause.”

  In the interest of keeping peace on Christmas Eve, Caty decided it was best to let the subject drop. “So, what do you and the kids have planned for Christmas vacation?”

  Glancing around, Marianne whispered, “Now that Emily’s old enough, I’m taking them to Charlotte for a few days. One of the hotels downtown has a package deal with the theater showing that kids’ Broadway musical. I also managed to get day passes for the new indoor amusement park. It’s one of their Christmas presents.”

  “From that smile, I’d say you’re as psyched about it as they’re going to be.”

  “It’s been tough around here. It’ll be nice to get away for a few days.”

  As Marianne left to take the quiches into the living room, Matt came up behind Caty, dropping his head over her shoulder to give her a hug.

  “Was my little brother bugging you earlier?” he murmured in her ear.

  “No more than usual.” She tilted her head to look back at him. “Congratulations, by the way. Rededicating yourself as a Christian on Christmas Eve is fabulous.”

  “Caused quite a stir, didn’t we?”

  “Oh, you loved it. Ruthy was so proud of you, I thought she was gonna cry.”

  “How ’bout you?” he asked, taking her hand to lead her back to the festivities. “Were you proud of me?”

  “And then some. Which reminds me, how did the farm audit go?”

  “Well, we’re not exactly millionaires, but we’re treading water.” He popped a cream puff in his mouth and just about swallowed it whole. “After next year’s harvest, I might even be able to pay myself.”

  “That’s awesome news! Congratulations.”

  “Couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “Or your family,” she added. “We all make a good team.”

  “Your dad looks like he’s enjoying himself.”

  They glanced toward the couch where Brian sat with Emily on one knee, listening patiently while she talked his ear off.

  “I have a bunch of cousins scattered around, but he never had any more children,” Caty told him. “He’s such a nice man, it’s really sad.”

  “He’s got you now,” Matt reminded her. “That’s enough for any guy to manage.”

  “So funny.”

  Rolling her eyes, Caty was surprised when he stopped under the mistletoe. Because they didn’t want any grief from anyone, they’d kept their kisses private. This one would be in full view of half the town. Interpreting that as progress, she gladly accepted his quick kiss and moved to keep walking.

  When he tugged her to a stop, she turned with a confused look. “What?”

  Settling his arms around her waist, he smiled down at her. “I wanted to give you my present tonight. It’s kind of a two-parter.”

  Intrigued by the twinkle in his eyes, she waited for him to go on.

  “I’ve spent a lot of years running away from things.” He was frowning now, but the twinkle was still there so she let him talk. “I didn’t know it at the time, but now I see it for what it was.” His expression softened into a lazy smile, and he chuckled. “No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t outrun you. You wouldn’t chase after me, but you wouldn’t let me go, either.”

  “Yeah, I’m stubborn like that.”

  “I’m glad you are.” Warmth flooded his eyes, washing over her from head to toe. “I love you, Caty.”

  It was the first time he’d said it so directly, and in full hearing of their guests, no less. Stunned beyond belief, she actually had to remind herself to breathe. She stared up at him, this maddening man who’d pulled her in, only to push her away. And then, when she’d needed him most, he’d risked his life to save her. She understood how much it meant to him to say those words. Because he took them so seriously, she knew he felt them with all his heart.

  When she found her voice, she beamed up at him. “I love you, too, Matthew.”

  Gathering her in his arms, he gave her another, much longer kiss as her feet left the ground and he spun her around under the mistletoe.

  When he set her down, the mischief lighting his eyes warned her to brace herself for part two.

  “I finally thought of a nickname for you.”

  “Great,” she sighed. “Let’s hear it.”

  He reached above the doorway for something sitting on the wide casing. Bringing it down, he fiddled with it for a second and then held it out. Nestled in a blue velvet box was an antique engagement ring. Gold and diamonds surrounded by dainty filigree, it was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she’d ever seen.

  Grinning, he picked up her left hand and slid it onto her finger. “How ’bout Mrs. Sawyer?”

  For several moments, all she could do was admire that stunning ring. It could be hers, along with the man cradling her hand so gently in his. Somehow, she tore her eyes away and looked up at him. Matt was offering her everything she’d ever wanted, and all she had to do was reach out and take it.

  When she finally found her voice, she answered the most important question of her life with one simple word.

  “Perfect.”

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed Mia Ross’s book, be sure to check out the other books this month from Love Inspired!

  Dear Reader,

  Hometown Family is my debut for Love Inspired, and I hope you enjoyed Matt and Caty’s story. So often, we get caught up in the past and forget that we have the power to make tomorrow better than today. To do that, we have to learn to forgive and follow the path God has in mind for each of us. Sometimes the trail is a little overgrown, but if we look carefully it’s there.

  The message of this book is a simple one: if you can believe, all things are possible. Whether it’s belief in Him, someone else or ourselves, that faith helps even out the bumps in the road and make our lives all they were meant to be.

  If you’d like to stop by for a visit, you’ll find me online at www.miaross.com. While you’re there, send me an email. I’d love to hear from you!

  Mia Ross

  Questions for Discussion

  Caty knows that for Matt and her to have a future, he needs to embrace God. It’s a difficult thing for him because it requires him to have a change of heart. Do you think such a fundamental change is possible?

  One of
the themes in this story is forgiveness. Have you ever been reluctant to forgive someone? How did your faith help you overcome that reluctance?

  With patience and persistence, Caty helps Matt understand that God wasn’t responsible for his mother’s death. This allows him to forgive God and allow Him back into his life. Has something similar ever happened to you?

  Ruth Benton is a pragmatic but compassionate Christian who strives to make life better for those around her. Do you know anyone like her? Or are you that rock for someone else?

  After losing her job, Caty suffers from an almost paralyzing fear of failing again. Matt tells her she’ll get past it, and eventually she does. Can you think of a time when you faced and conquered your own fear?

  When Matt discovers the farm is bankrupt, his first instinct is to sell the land and get on with his life. Later, he realizes he’d be letting his entire family down, and he couldn’t live with himself. Have you encountered situations like this in your own life? If so, how did you handle them?

  The night of the fire, Matt humbles himself and begs God to save Caty’s life. This is a turning point for him, both spiritually and with Caty. Have similar circumstances in your own life changed your perspective on what’s truly important to you?

  Caty and Matt are slow to trust each other. When does Caty start to trust Matt and why? When does Matt start to trust Caty and why?

  Matt neglected his family for years and had to make some serious concessions to strengthen those bonds. Why did it take him so long? Do you have relationships in need of rebuilding?

  If you can believe, all things are possible. This phrase shows up throughout the book and is important to both Caty and Matt. What does it mean to each of them?