Love Returned

by Mildred Colvin

  Julie stopped several steps past the doorway and looked around. “It’s empty.”

  “That’s because it isn’t in use this year.”

  “I guess I expected pirates to greet me.” Julie laughed and headed toward a stairway leading to the deck above. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  Megan loved the view from the top deck. Trees surrounded the ship on all sides, while the trail leading to camp wound through the woods. Megan walked to the railing and looked out at the top branches of the nearest trees and then to the blue sky above where fluffy white clouds drifted past.

  She thought of Scott and the love they’d shared. The love she’d thrown away as if it didn’t matter. The love she would never again know.

  Closing her eyes, she whispered a prayer. “Lord, forgive me for hurting Scott and Randy and myself. I cannot be with them, but I pray you will keep them in your care. Watch over them always and give me strength to live without them. Amen.”

  As Megan ended her prayer, she let the peaceful scene before her calm her soul. She’d messed up with Scott, but God forgave, and maybe someday she could forgive herself. With a sigh, she turned to ask Julie if she wanted to head back to camp. At first she saw no one on the main deck. Then her eyes focused on a lone figure leaning against the wall of a room at the end of the large, open deck.

  Her breath caught in her throat. Her voice trembled as she said his name. “Scott.”

  “Hi.” He stepped from the shadow of the room, and his half-grin filled her heart with love. “I wondered when you’d turn around.”

  Megan searched the deck again then looked down at the road below. Some distance from the ship, Julie trudged back toward camp.

  “Julie set me up.” She frowned. She should leave. Get away while she could. But she wanted to stay even more. “Why?”

  Scott’s grin widened. “I asked her to.”

  He moved closer to her, hesitant as if unsure. Within three feet of touching her, he stopped. “I’ve been looking for a chance to talk to you. Camp is a terrible place to get someone alone without interruption for more than a couple of minutes. This seemed like the perfect place. Since it isn’t being used this year, there shouldn’t be any distractions.”

  “Why?”

  “Do I want to talk to you?” Scott’s hand moved as if to touch her, but fell to his side. “We have unfinished business, Megan.”

  Here it came. He’d say what he thought of her giving her son away and trying to worm her way into his life because of Randy. She didn’t blame Scott. Anything he had to say was well deserved. She braced herself.

  “I owe you an apology.” Scott’s brows drew together. “I acted like an insensitive jerk when I grabbed Randy and ran to Columbia. One day of looking at houses and listening to Randy talk about forgiveness was all I needed. I planned to tell you this when I got home that day, but you weren’t home, and I had to fly to Iowa.”

  “Tell me what?” Megan lost the thread of Scott’s unexpected apology.

  “That I still love you, and I don’t care if you are Randy’s birthmother. I want to share Randy with you, Megan. I still want us to be married. We can be a family.”

  “No.” Megan shook her head. Scott still believed she was Randy’s mother. “I’m not—”

  Scott held up his hand to stop her. “Don’t worry. I understand. You still don’t want to marry me.”

  The hurt in his expression tore at Megan’s heart. She shook her head. “No, you don’t—”

  He turned away before she could explain. She took two running steps and grabbed his arm. “Scott, please, let me finish.”

  He glared at her, his arm rigid under her fingers. “I think I’ve heard enough.”

  Megan laughed. “What kind of marriage are we going to have if we can’t even communicate now?”

  “None, if you keep saying no.” His voice echoed the hurt in his eyes.

  “All right then, yes. A thousand times, yes.” Megan moved closer to him. “Now, I’ve got something to say before you make a commitment.”

  Scott watched her with wary eyes. He didn’t move, but she still held his arm. “Randy is not my son.” She looked into his face, waiting for his reaction.

  At first, there was none. Then his eyes widened. “What are you saying, Megan?”

  “I wasn’t home when you got back to town that day because I went to John Walden's office. I confronted him about my baby. He had pictures and a letter from the people he gave my baby to.”

  She brushed at the silent tears running down her cheeks. She didn’t want to cry. Not now. “Until I saw those pictures and the evidence my baby is now a happy, healthy little boy with a family who loves him, I was unaware of how much guilt and self-loathing I carried. I’m free now, Scott. Free to love you and Randy. Free to be your wife and Randy’s mother if you still want me.”

  “If I still want you?” Scott pulled Megan close until she nestled in his arms and against his chest. “What do I have to do to convince you? Haven’t I asked enough yet?”

  “Then my past doesn’t bother you?” Megan felt the steady beat of Scott’s heart as she shifted to look into his face.

  He shook his head, and his lips found hers in a gentle kiss of love. He looked into her eyes. “I want to know your past, your present, and your future. They are all a part of you, and I love you now and forever. How could I be threatened by your past when that’s what makes you who you are? The wonderful, beautiful woman I love.”

  Megan’s tears overflowed in spite of her determination not to let them. God had answered her prayer by giving her more than she asked.

  “We’re human, Megan. We make mistakes and we commit sins, but God is sufficient. He gives us each other to strengthen and uplift. Where would I be without you? I’d turned my back on God. I refused to darken the church door and didn’t take my son, either. Because of you and Randy I started going to church. This last month in Iowa, I spent time with the pastor of the church I used to attend. That’s one reason I didn’t come home sooner. There were things I had to work out with God. Things the pastor there knew about and was able to help me with. I don’t blame God for Carol’s death anymore. Just as you’ve let your son go, I let Carol go. The anger’s gone. With God, with Carol for dying, and myself for living. I wasn’t ready for marriage when I asked you before, but I am now.”

  Megan gave Scott a quick kiss that deepened as his arms tightened around her.

  “I love you, Scott.”

  “I love you, Megan.”

  ~Epilogue~

  “Megan, hold still.” Shelly positioned the filmy, white veil on Megan’s head and adjusted the folds of netting around her shoulders. She stepped back and smiled. “You are beautiful.”

  “Thank you, Shelly.” Megan couldn’t stop smiling. She turned as her mother came into the Sunday school room.

  “Mom, what do you think?” She made a complete turn letting the full, ankle-length skirt flow about her.

  A faint smile touched her mother’s lips. “The dress is perfect on you. You’re a beautiful bride.”

  Mom stepped forward and smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from Megan’s shoulder. “I wore this dress for your father the day we were married.” Her eyes grew moist. “You’ve made me very happy, Megan.”

  Disregarding any damage she might do to the heirloom dress, Megan threw her arms around her mother and shared a heartfelt hug. She blinked to keep the tears at bay before stepping back.

  The door opened, and Julie stuck her head in. “It’s time, Mrs. McGinnis. Your escort is here.”

  “I’ve got to go, darling. I’ll be up front watching for you. So proud of my little girl.” Mom moved to the door. “Be happy always.”

  With those words, her mother turned and Megan watched her walk out, her back straight, her head held high. Megan shook her head and shared a smile with her sister.

  They turned as the door opened again, and Julie re-entered.

  “Are you ladies ready?” Julie held the door open.”

&nbs
p; Megan followed Julie and Shelly from the room to the end of the hall where Joe waited. He stole a quick kiss from Shelly before offering his arm to Megan. “As your new brother-in-law, I’m pleased to give you away.”

  Megan giggled. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

  Joe grinned. “That didn’t come out exactly the way I meant. Maybe I should have said, ‘The honor is mine.’”

  “That’s definitely better.” Megan watched Julie begin her slow walk up the center aisle of the church sanctuary as the only bride’s maid. As Julie reached the halfway point, Shelly, as matron of honor, followed.

  Megan stood beside Joe in the opening of the double doors leading into the sanctuary and watched Shelly take her place across from John Waldon, Scott’s best man.

  Late August sunshine filtered through the stained glass windows bringing the rich colors to life. As organ music swelled in the classic Bridal March, the wedding guests stood. Megan’s heart felt as if it might burst as her friends and family on one side and Scott’s on the other side turned to watch her walk up the long aisle.

  Joe gave a little tug, and they began their journey past school and Scouting friends and her church family. Across the aisle were unfamiliar faces from the university and Scott’s home in Iowa. Scott’s parents stood beside the front pew. Randy stood with them. He lifted his thumb in a gesture of approval. His huge grin brought an answering one from her.

  Megan looked to the front again and focused on Scott while everything else faded. The love in his eyes spoke to her heart.

  Pastor Turner cleared his throat when Joe stopped. “Who gives this woman?”

  Joe patted her hand on his arm and smiled down at her. He looked at the pastor. “I do for her mother and in the stead of her father.”

  As Joe stepped back, he placed her hand in Scott’s, and Megan became lost in the love that swelled within her heart.

  “Dearly beloved...” Pastor Turner began the traditional wedding ceremony.

  Megan responded at the right time and hoped she said the right words. The love light in Scott’s eyes stole all coherent thought.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Megan stepped into Scott’s embrace as his lips covered hers in a sweet kiss of promise and love. They turned to face the full church, stepping apart as Randy, a huge grin covering his face, pushed his way between them. Smiles and soft laughter swept the congregation. Pastor Turner introduced them. “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Scott Landis and their son, Randy Landis?”

  A triumphant strain of organ music filled the sanctuary while Scott and Megan led the recessional down the aisle. The next hour they visited old friends and made new ones between cutting the cake and opening gifts.

  Megan had gone with Scott and Randy to Iowa in the previous month to meet his family. They’d welcomed her with open arms. She’d fallen in love with his mother and father. His sister and her husband also had been easy to like.

  Scott slipped his arm around Megan and whispered near her ear. “How soon can we get away?”

  Megan smiled. “I think we’ve done everything expected.”

  Randy, Derek, and Cody, who had become an inseparable threesome, ran up to them.

  “Hey, Dad and Mom.” Randy grinned at Megan. “I can call you Mom now, can’t I?”

  Megan’s heart swelled with love for her soon-to-be adopted son. John Waldon had already started the adoption process. “I’d be heartbroken if you didn’t.”

  His grin stretched even wider. “Don’t you think you should leave now?”

  Scott lifted his eyebrows, and Megan shook her head. “It doesn’t sound good when they want us to go. Are you brave enough to see what they’ve done to your truck?”

  “Yeah, we can handle it.”

  Megan accepted Scott’s hand as they headed toward the door amidst a throng of well-wishers.

  Megan stopped at the door long enough to throw her bridal bouquet over her head. She didn’t wait to see who caught it as Scott rushed her from the church.

  If Megan hadn’t known Scott’s truck, she wouldn’t have recognized it. Tin cans and streamers trailed behind with more streamers caught in each window. Just Married had been written on the side in white foam.

  Joe pushed a roll of paper towels toward Scott. “Don’t worry, there isn’t anything on the truck that will hurt it. I made sure.”

  “Thanks, Joe.” Megan smiled at her brother-in-law. “We should have slipped away like you and Shelly did for a quiet wedding.”

  “No, every woman needs her day. Shelly didn’t want to go through it all again, but this is your day. Enjoy it.” Then Joe stepped back into the crowd where Shelly and the three boys waited. Her sister was a lucky woman. No, blessed, but not as blessed as she was. Scott opened the passenger door.

  Megan climbed in while Scott used the paper towels to clean the windshield. She waved at their friends and family and breathed a prayer. Thank you God for all You’ve given me. Scott and Randy. My mother’s love. And the dreams. Lord, thank you that they’re gone.

  A year ago at this time, when she first met Scott, the dreams had already started. No dreams haunted her nights now. She trusted God they would never start again.

  Scott slipped behind the wheel and stretched his arm along the back of the seat. Megan scooted close, snuggling under the protective circle of his arm. She and Scott had been tested and torn apart, but their love returned stronger than ever. Strong enough to last forever. She accepted his kiss before he drove away from the church.

  ~*~*~*~

  About the Author

  Mildred Colvin, wife, mother, and grandmother, writes Christian romance, both set in the 19th Century and Contemporary. She is an award-winning author of fifteen romance novels, two compilations, and one audio book.

  You can find her online at Romantic Reflections: http://mildredcolvin.blogspot.com

  and Infinite Characters: http://infinitecharacters.com

  Other E-books

  By Mildred Colvin

  Learning to Lean

  She has three kids and a daycare. He has three kids, too, and a Jack-of-all-trades construction business. With six kids, they’d be better off as friends, right? Can they learn to lean on God?

  Lesson of the Poinsettia

  She lost her sight. He can’t see God’s leading when his daughter disobeys to visit the lady with the flowers. Can a little girl and a Poinsettia teach this couple to see with eyes of faith?

  A New Life

  She’s City! He’s Country! She just found out they have something in common. Her son!

  Coming soon!

  Cora’s Deception - previously published as Cora

  Brides of Cedar Creek - Book One

  Sometimes lies are easier to believe than the truth.

  Historical Christian Romance

  85,000 words/ 256 pages