by Camille Eide
Sue’s gaze fell to the center of his chest. “I don’t know if she ever did,” she said quietly. “I found out this morning that the charges were dropped. I can only assume she changed her story.”
Joe’s mind worked to add it up. It didn’t. “Then … why the message two days ago saying you believe in me?”
She raised grief-filled eyes to meet his. “I know what kind of man you are. Kind, honorable, and more trustworthy than anyone I’ve ever known. I know you’re not capable of hurting anyone.”
Bitter words bubbled up before he could stop them. “You didn’t know those things the last time I was here?”
Her chin quivered. “My heart always knew,” she said. “The heart I should have been listening to.”
Joe found it hard to breathe. “So you believe I’m innocent? Without even hearing my side of the story?”
She nodded, cheeks flaming. “I’m sorry for not listening to you. And for what I said that day. And for all the things I’ve said and all the ways I’ve hurt you—” Her voice choked on the last word. She looked away and wept.
His heart hammered.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered between sobs. “I can’t stop thinking about all the things I said.”
“You were scared.”
She shook her head. “Please don’t make excuses for what I did. I know I hurt you.”
“Yes, you did.” He blurted it without thinking.
With a sob, Sue crumpled to the ground.
Heart twisting, Joe sank to his knees in the snow and touched her arm.
She didn’t look up. Her face nearly touched her knees. She gasped between sobs, as if trying to stop.
Go on, tell her again how she hurt you, jerk. “Sue, listen to me.” He swallowed hard. It was a huge risk, exposing the still-tender wound. Huge. “It broke my heart that you believed me capable of that. But only because I loved you so much.”
She wept harder.
Ringo licked Sue’s hand.
Joe looked toward the house. He caught movement at the den window.
Bertie peeked from between the curtains.
The front door opened, and Jasmine came outside. She clunked down the steps and crutched across the lawn. “Papa Joe?” She was shivering by the time she reached them. “Mama Sue talk to Papa God in chapel for you. Every day.” She leaned on Sue and stroked her hair. “Tell him what you tell me, Mama. Tell him you love him and miss him so much.”
Hope rushed through his veins and burst through his heart like an anthem.
“Mama Sue so sad for you, Papa Joe. See her bones? She not eat. Not even Miss Layne’s chocolate.”
But Joe didn’t care about a single word after tell him you love him.
* * *
Sue’s snow-soaked knees and legs were numb. She wiped her face and glanced up, but she couldn’t meet those searching eyes, the ones that suddenly seemed to see straight through her. “Joe, you once asked me ‘what if?’ Well, now I want to ask you. What if I hadn’t run away that night after the banquet but stayed in your arms and told you I loved you too? What if I could go back and undo the terrible things I did?”
He didn’t say anything.
She closed her eyes, even though she’d been crying her guts out in the middle of her lawn and had nothing left to hide. “Because I need to know what I threw away. Maybe knowing what I lost will help me never make the same mistake again.”
He still didn’t answer.
Sorrow shot straight through her.
Warm fingers lifted her chin. “Sue,” he whispered.
She looked up.
His eyes were tender, not hateful.
Her heart hammered.
“Sue, if I knew you cared for me, even a little, I’d be here now, on my knees in the snow, unable to think straight, because you’re so close I can almost hear your heart beating.”
Funny, because the rumble in his voice nearly stopped her heart.
“And if I thought you loved me, then I’d pour out my heart and tell you I want nothing more than to be right here with you.”
Tears welled again, blinding her.
Joe brushed a thumb over her cheek. “I’d wipe your tears and tell you how God brought me here to show you His love, but I fell in love with you along the way. I’d tell you how I …” He glanced at Jasmine and cleared his throat. His voice fell to a husky whisper. “How I’ve loved you since the moment I carried you in my arms.”
The depth of his voice sent tendrils of warmth curling through her.
He turned to Jasmine. “And the worst thing is, I miss you guys so much it’s wrecked my appetite. I’m so weak from malnourishment I probably can’t even make it up those stairs.”
Jasmine giggled.
Sue felt a smile tugging at her frozen cheeks. She cupped his face, savoring the roughness of his unshaven jaw and the raw hope in his eyes. She pulled him close and touched his lips with a tiny, trembling kiss. “I love you, Joe,” she whispered against his skin. “So much.”
With a sigh, he wrapped his arms around her, warming her instantly. Then he reached for Jasmine and pulled her in, engulfing them both in a suffocating bear hug.
Joy surged through her. She did not deserve this forgiveness, these kids, and certainly not Joe’s love. The love that began when—
Her head snapped up. “Wait. You carried me? When?”
A slow smile spread across his face. “After your knee surgery. Torpedo? Sesame Street? Any of that ring a bell?”
She shook her head. “You carried me, and I missed it?”
Joe grinned. “Want me to do a reenactment?” He stood and scooped her up. Love shone in his eyes.
“Hey,” Jasmine said. “What about me? I have broken leg!”
Joe reached for the girl.
Sue laughed. “Joe, you can’t possibly—”
“What? You guys are like feathers.” Joe lifted Jasmine too. With Sue in one arm and Jasmine in the other, he jogged to the porch and up the steps, Ringo trailing them.
As Jasmine bounced, her laughter sounded like bubbles on the wind.
At the door, Joe hesitated and turned to Sue. “Sweetheart, I can only go in there on one condition. You know that, right?”
She bit back a smile and raised a brow. “More conditions? But we’re freezing.”
He blasted out a giant, steamy puff. “You have to marry me. That’s the only way I can stay.”
Her heart skittered. Loving Joe, sharing this home, this family with him—
“Duh.” Jasmine rolled her eyes at him, grinning. “Of course Mama will marry you, Papa.”
Sue looked into his eyes. “You know the kids are part of the deal, right? All of them.”
“All of them?” Joe turned to Jasmine in mock horror. “Even this little one here?” He jiggled her until she broke out in giggles again. He looked into Sue’s eyes. Something solemn and tender radiated from his expression. “Yes, ma’am,” he said softly. “I sure do.”
Her heart swelled to nearly bursting. “And the guitar comes along on all of our picnics from now on.”
“You drive a tough bargain.” Joe heaved a sigh, eyes twinkling. “All right. So is it a deal?”
Smiling from the joy she couldn’t contain, Sue nodded. “Deal.”
Bertie flung the door wide, her glasses glinting from a peculiar sparkle in her eyes. “Welcome home, Joe.”
The End
Bio
Camille Eide is an award-winning author of faith-inspiring love stories and relational dramas for women who might like to read Karen Kingsbury, Deborah Raney, Susan Meissner, Rachel Hauck, Susan May Warren, or Robin Jones Gunn, just to name a few.
She lives near Portland, Oregon, with her handsome hero of more than 30 years. Camille is mom to three charming adults and is a proud Grammy. By day, she’s a church office manager. When she’s not pounding the keyboard, they let her play bass guitar and sing in the worship band. She is a fan of Harleys, Oldies Rock, Jane Austen, muscle cars, and Peanut M&Ms. She has ran
dom skills that include whipping up a pile of cinnamon rolls for a crowd of drooling young adults.
Camille blogs about God’s amazing grace at Along the Banks, (www.camilleeide.wordpress.com) reviews books and inspirational TV/Film at Extreme Keyboarding, (www.camilleeide.blogspot.com) and writes heart-tugging tales of love, faith, and family, sprinkled with bits of wisdom and wit.
Camille’s Other Books:
Savanna’s Gift (White Rose)
Like There’s No Tomorrow (Ashberry Lane)
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Acknowledgments
Although the bulk of writing a novel falls on the novelist, it often takes multiple people to gather up all the dangling participles and bring a book to fruition. Randy Ingermanson’s Columbia River Christian Writers, ACFW Genesis judges, and the “Friday Critters” have all christened this story in its early days with their helpful red pens. Thank you!
I’m deeply grateful to the dedicated, professional team at Ashberry Lane and their diligent partners for believing in my stories and in me, and for making publishing a book seem like a fun family project.
I owe more than I can say to my amazing husband, Dan, for his godly wisdom, patience, and support. And I am forever indebted to my writer friend & soul sister—the ever-gracious, immensely talented Carla Stewart.
This book would not exist if not for the hospitality of the Christmas Valley Eides who helped me envision “Juniper Valley” through decades of visits to Central Oregon’s high desert, where I fell in love with its quiet, rugged beauty.
I would like to give special thanks to Megan Eide and Donnalee Velvick-Lowry for introducing me to foster group home life and to the unique kind of “family” that Hope House (Marsing, Idaho) provides, giving love to abandoned kids who would otherwise have no home to come home to.
And most of all, I owe my humblest gratitude to God for his love of story; particularly the Genesis account of how the brokenness of one turned into the blessing of many. I thank God for revealing his Father heart and unwavering love without fail.
If you would like to know more about helping a special young person become a successful, self-confident adult, visit Hope House at www.ahome2come2.com. Gifts to Hope House are tax deductible.
Discussion Questions
Sue Quinn is a woman with old wounds and trouble with trust. How did lingering fears influence some of the choices she made?
What effect did her buried hurts have on the foster kids and on Joe? Have past betrayals or injuries ever skewed your choices, decisions, or reactions in a way you later regretted?
Sue tried to keep the kids from becoming attached to Joe. Was that wise? What would you have done in her place?
Joe bears a strong allegorical resemblance to a man in the book of Genesis. Who is it, and how many similarities to that story can you find in this one?
Joe soon finds himself falling for Sue. What is it about her that draws him? Why do you think these attributes appeal to Joe?
Sue claimed she expects nothing from so-called family. Did you doubt her claims? How do the kids living at the Juniper Ranch group home meet her unacknowledged needs?
Several spiritual themes appear in this story. Which do you struggle with most?
Though people may disappoint or even hurt us, God’s love never fails.
God can use bad things for a greater good (Genesis 50).
With God, surrender brings freedom.
Sue dislikes being dependent on others, yet she agreed to give over a measure of control in order to realize her dream. In what ways, if any, have you ever had to relinquish control in order to bring about something bigger than your abilities?
How is Jasmine similar to Sue? How is she different?
What prompted Joe to “finish what he started”? Could you set aside your personal feelings or pride if it meant bringing about a greater good?
To whom do you relate in the story? What would you say to him or her if given a chance?
What fueled Sue’s dream to run a group home, and what did she expect to accomplish? Were her expectations realistic?
If you, like Joe, had an opportunity to face people who had at one time betrayed, abandoned, or hurt you, what would you do with it?
What can we learn about family from this story?
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Winner of the 2014 Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Award!