His heart skipped a beat at the realization. He’d as much as told Sierra he couldn’t love a child who wasn’t his, but in a matter of hours Maddie had made a mockery of his words. Without him knowing quite how, she’d stolen her way into his heart.
Loving Sierra carried with it great responsibilities, he realized. If he married Sierra, he would not only be responsible for making her dreams come true, but those of this little girl, as well. It was a daunting task and would likely be more than most men could handle.
But then, Matt reminded himself with a smile, he’d never been like most men.
Libby barely blinked an eye when Rachel informed her that Mr. Dixon was “in conference” with his father and didn’t want to be disturbed.
Instead, she rounded Rachel’s desk, rapped lightly on Matt’s office door and entered the room without waiting for an acknowledgement.
Maddie was at the desk contentedly cutting out pictures from a magazine while Matt and his father sat in the two matching wing chairs.
They stopped talking when she entered and rose to their feet.
“Did you get the crisis resolved?” Matt asked. A tiny smile hovered at the corners of his lips and a knowing look filled his gaze.
“Crisis?” Libby stammered, finding it impossible to concentrate with Lawrence Dixon’s steely gray eyes fixed on her. Even dressed casually in navy pants and a polo shirt, the man cut an imposing figure.
“At the restaurant?” Matt reminded her.
Libby waved one hand in the air and tried to collect her thoughts. “It was ridiculous,” she said. “A complete waste of my time. How did you and Maddie get along?”
“Fine,” Matt said, casting a quick glance at Maddie. “We got along just fine.”
“Is this Stella’s daughter?” Dix demanded.
Matt quickly introduced the two. It didn’t surprise him that his father would interrupt. Dix never had liked being on the sidelines.
Dix’s gaze swept approvingly over Libby. “You’re a beauty, just like your mother.”
Libby smiled. “Thank you.”
“Your mother and I were hoping you and Matt would get together.” Dix shrugged. “But I guess some things aren’t meant to be.”
Light dawned in Libby’s eyes. “Is that what her donation to the Advocacy Center was all about? Matchmaking?”
Dix chuckled. “You know Stella. Once she gets a notion she goes full speed ahead and money is no object. For a while I thought it was actually working. Until I found out that the woman my son fell in love with was someone who was only masquerading as you.”
“Fell in love?” Libby’s gaze shot to Matt. “You love Sierra?”
Matt nodded. “I do.”
“Why haven’t you told her?” Libby demanded.
“There were some things I had to work out.” Matt’s gaze lingered on Maddie.
“Maddie is a wonderful girl,” Libby said, her tone daring him to say anything different.
“Yes, she is,” Matt concurred. “And after what she’s been through, she deserves to have a father who loves her.”
Understanding flickered in the depths of Libby’s blue eyes. “You know about Jerry.”
“Dad was telling me about the case,” Matt said. “I’m surprised Sierra wanted anything to do with me, knowing my father defended the man.”
“Everyone is entitled to a defense,” Dix protested.
Matt shot his father a silencing glance. “Personally I agree with Sierra’s mother. The man should have been locked up for what he did.”
Matt’s stomach churned at the thought of anyone hurting such a sweet, innocent child. He could see why Sierra found it impossible to forgive the guy. And certainly why she’d divorced him.
Libby stared at Matt for a long moment.
“Sierra’s birthday is Tuesday,” she said. “She’s having lunch with Carl at Crane River. He wants to be the man in her life. You can’t let that happen.”
“You don’t like Carl?” Matt couldn’t hide his surprise. He’d thought everyone liked the minister. Even Rachel had raved about Carl after hearing him preach last Sunday.
“Sierra deserves to be with someone she loves,” Libby said. “And someone who loves her.”
“And you think that someone is me?”
Libby tilted her head and gazed up at him through lowered lashes. “Time will tell.”
The hostess at Crane River had no problem changing Carl’s reservation from two people to four and seating Rachel and Matt at the table to wait for their luncheon companions.
“Are you sure they won’t mind if we join them?” Rachel asked, a hint of unease in her tone.
“Not at all,” Matt said. “Carl will be happy to meet an adoring parishioner.”
Rachel blushed. “He’s a wonderful preacher.”
“And you think he’s cute,” Matt reminded her of what she’d told him earlier.
The pink in her cheeks turned rosy. “I hope you’re not going to tell him that.”
Matt winked and sipped his iced tea. “Nope. I’m going to leave that for you to do.”
The hostess stopped next to the table and Sierra’s breath caught in her throat. She turned an accusing gaze on Carl. “What’s going on here?”
“I don’t have a clue.” Carl’s gaze shifted to Matt and his companion then back to the hostess. “Our reservations were for two.”
His voice was strained and Sierra realized he’d had no part putting this chink in their plans.
Matt rose to his feet and smiled, directing his words to Carl. “I hope you don’t mind if we join you. This is Rachel Eaton, my new receptionist. She’s recently moved to Santa Barbara and joined your congregation. She’s been dying to meet you.”
“Mr. Dixon, please.” The woman blushed.
Matt finished the introductions and Carl glanced at Sierra, leaving it up to her whether they joined the twosome or left.
Sierra’s gaze shifted to Matt. The uncertainty in his eyes told her he was nowhere near as confident as he appeared. But it was the bald hope she glimpsed beneath the uncertainty that solidified her decision.
“I’d like some mango iced tea,” she told the waitress who hovered nearby.
Surprisingly the conversation flowed easily, especially between Rachel and Carl. It turned out Rachel’s father was a minister who now taught at the same seminary Carl had attended.
Sierra didn’t say much. She couldn’t. Every time she looked at Matt, a hard lump filled her throat. He looked so handsome in his khaki pants and a button-up shirt. His dark good looks caught the eye of more than one passing female and she knew it wouldn’t be long before he found someone else and forgot all about her.
The thought tore at her heartstrings and to her horror, tears filled her eyes. Sierra rapidly blinked them back, glad Carl and Rachel were too engrossed in discussing the role of “shepherding” within a congregation to notice.
But she wasn’t so lucky with Matt. His gaze had barely left her face since she’d sat down.
“I’d like you to come back to my office with me for a second,” Matt said. “I have some papers I want you to see.”
Carl shifted his gaze momentarily from Rachel. “The food should be here any minute.”
“We won’t be long,” Matt said, pushing back his chair, rising to his feet and holding out a hand to Sierra.
She hesitated for only a second before taking the hand he offered. But the minute his skin touched hers, all the old feelings came rushing back and Sierra wondered if it was smart to be alone with him.
His hand cupped her elbow as they walked the few short blocks to his office. He kept the conversation flowing about inconsequential things and she found herself relaxing. Until they were in his outer office and he turned to face her.
“I’ve missed you,” he said suddenly.
“Matt, please don’t—” Her voice caught and she stopped, cleared her throat and started again. “Don’t make this harder on both of us than it already is.”
; He leaned back against the door leading to his office, making no move to open it. “I love you, Sierra. I’ve loved you for a long time.”
Her heart twisted. “Don’t confuse what you felt for me with love.”
“I’m not confused,” he said. “I know what I feel. And I think you love me, too.”
Sierra could no more deny that fact than she could deny her own name. “I do love you,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter. We both know that sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“And sometimes it is,” Matt said. To her surprise he turned and unlocked his office door, pushing it open. “Come in. I want to show you something.”
Sierra entered the room and stopped short, her eyes widening in surprise. She stared for a long moment before shifting her gaze back to him. “It’s the hope chest from the Praise Festival.”
He nodded. “I won the raffle. I want you to have it. I want you to fill it with not only linens and cooking supplies, but with your hopes and dreams.”
“So my husband can one day make them come true?” Sierra scoffed, feeling her cheeks warm. “I told you I don’t believe in such nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense,” Matt insisted. “I can make your dreams come true, if you just give me the chance.”
Didn’t he realize what he was doing to her? Sierra drew a ragged breath. “Matt, there are—”
“Don’t give me your answer yet” he said. “Open it first. Your birthday gift is inside.”
Sierra paused.
“Open it, Sierra. Please.”
Reluctantly Sierra stepped forward. The cherry wood finish gleamed like satin and the chest was even more beautiful than she remembered. She crouched down and lifted the lid. There weren’t any brightly wrapped gifts inside, only several pieces of paper. She shot Matt a questioning gaze.
He smiled. “I told you I had some papers I wanted you to see.”
“The papers are the gift?”
He nodded.
Her fingers closed around the thin sheets and pulled them out. For a moment she couldn’t figure out what they were until she realized they were crayon drawings.
“These are Maddie’s,” she said, recognizing the tiny lopsided hearts her daughter always drew on her pages. “How did you get them?”
“Libby brought her to the office a couple of times,” Matt said nonchalantly. “And I watched her one time when Libby had to run an errand.”
“You and Maddie?” Despite her best efforts to control it, Sierra’s voice rose.
“I took good care of her,” Matt said quickly in a reassuring tone. “She’s a wonderful girl. To know her is to love her. Any man would be lucky to have such a daughter.”
His words took her breath away and her heart skipped a beat. “What are you saying?”
“Look at the picture,” Matt said gently.
Sierra dropped her gaze back to the paper in her hand.
“I had Maddie draw what she wanted more than anything in the world,” he said. “I thought maybe she’d draw a bike or a doll, but she surprised me.”
Sierra stared at the colorful drawing. “It’s a house.”
“And a lawn.” Matt pointed to a patch of green spikes. “And that black blob is a dog.”
Sierra smiled. “She’s always wanted a Scottie.”
“And that’s you,” Matt said, gesturing to a stick woman with bright yellow hair.
“Who’s this?” Sierra’s finger stopped on another stick figure.
“That’s a dad,” Matt said. “Maddie wants a house with a yard and a dog and a mom and dad. That’s all she wants—just the basics.”
Sierra blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall. “Once I get through school, I’m going to try to get a house for us. Then we can get a dog.”
Matt gently took her hand.
“But you won’t have a husband. And Maddie won’t have a father. I love you, Sierra. I want to marry you. And I want to make not only your hopes and dreams come true, but Maddie’s hopes and dreams, too.”
Blood coursed through Sierra like an awakened river, but she held tight to her common sense. She couldn’t let herself be swept away. “You said you didn’t want to raise someone else’s child.”
“I believe I also said I wasn’t ready for love and marriage,” he said with a wry smile. “But that was before I fell in love with you. And Maddie won’t be my stepchild, she’ll be my child.”
Though Sierra hesitated, her heart was already starting to sing. “Are you sure you have enough love for two?”
Matt laughed and pulled her into his arms. “For two and for many, many more. Just give me the chance to prove it.”
Sierra wrapped her arms around his neck and raised her lips for his kiss. And, as his mouth closed over hers, she thanked God for giving her and Maddie the man of their dreams.
Epilogue
Four Years Later
The outdoor dining area of the café on State Street was nearly empty. The lunch crowd had thinned to a few stragglers like Libby and Sierra who sat in the warmth of the midafternoon sun sipping tea and talking.
“I heard Jerry’s getting married again,” Libby said. “I saw his mother at the store last week.”
“They say third time’s a charm.” Sierra lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug. “Supposedly he’s turned over a new leaf. Again.”
“Did you know about the marriage?”
Sierra shook her head. “We don’t talk. I may have forgiven him, but it’s not like we’re best friends or anything.”
Libby nodded understandingly and dumped a packet of sugar into her tea. “By the way, I saw Rachel at the Farmer’s Market last Saturday and she told me she and Carl are expecting.”
“Again?” Sierra’s eyes widened. “Little Amy isn’t even one.”
“Rachel’s going to be busy. And she’s not the only one.” Libby took a deep breath. “I had my ultrasound yesterday.”
Sierra leaned forward. “How did it go?”
She and Libby had found out they were pregnant at the same time but, unlike Sierra and Matt who’d already found out they were having another boy, Libby and Carson were adamant they didn’t want to know their baby’s sex.
“You’ll never believe it.” Libby chuckled and her smile widened. “Dr. Lew was doing the ultrasound and all of a sudden he says to us, what do you see? Of course, I reminded him that we didn’t want to know the sex but he says, ‘I’m not talking about the sex, I’m talking about there being two babies.’”
Sierra plopped her glass on the table with such force, tea sloshed over the side and onto the tabletop. “You’re having twins?”
Libby laughed. “Can you believe it? I thought Carson was going to faint.”
“But he’s happy about it, right?” Sierra asked, remembering how Carson had wanted to wait until his business was more established before starting a family. After opening his third restaurant this year, they’d decided the time was right and Libby had promptly gotten pregnant.
“Ecstatic,” Libby said, her lips curving up in a smile.
“Boys? Or girls?” Sierra asked.
“They’re going to be fraternal,” Libby said. “So it could be one of each.”
“You still don’t know?” Sierra asked in disbelief.
“What can I say?” Libby wrinkled her nose. “We like surprises.”
“I have enough surprises in my life with an eight-year-old and a three-year-old,” Sierra said with a laugh. “My motto is Be Prepared.”
“I can’t believe you’re having another,” Libby said. “You’re going to be so busy.”
“Thankfully Matt is great with the kids,” Sierra said. “I don’t know why he was so worried. He’s a natural-born father.”
The words had barely left her lips when Sierra saw him, the father of her children, the man who had done as he’d promised and made all her hopes and dreams come true.
He was across the street, standing in front of the Creamery with Maddie and Caleb. Each child held a large do
uble-dip cone.
Even as she shook her head at the foolishness of getting each child so much ice cream, Caleb bent to look at something on the sidewalk and the entire top of his cone crashed to the ground. The boy shrieked and immediately began to wail.
Sierra started to rise but Libby put a restraining hand on her arm.
“Let him handle it,” Libby said. “Live And Learn is my motto.”
Matt immediately scooped his son up in his arms.
“Watch out, Daddy. Caleb’s got chocolate on his hands.” Maddie’s voice rang loud and clear across the street and Sierra understood why Dottie thought Maddie would be a great actress. With her set of lungs, Maddie could definitely reach the back row of any theater.
The warning had barely left the girl’s lips when Caleb flung his arms around his father’s neck, his chubby fingers smearing chocolate ice cream across the back of Matt’s new shirt.
Libby gasped.
Maddie giggled.
Sierra’s breath caught in her throat.
Matt twisted around in a vain attempt to inspect the damage before he burst into laughter. He reached down and took Maddie’s hand, while Caleb remained in his arms, one sticky hand looped around his neck.
“He’s not even upset.” A hint of awe filled Libby’s tone.
“Oh, when he gets a good look at that shirt he’ll probably be a little upset,” Sierra said with a laugh. “But Matt understands kids and he doesn’t sweat the small stuff.”
Libby shook her head. “Lucky kids.”
Though Sierra didn’t correct her friend, she knew God had more to do with it than luck. And she would forever give Him thanks and praise for sending her a man that not only had love enough in his heart for two, but for many, many more.
Dear Reader,
Sierra Summers has a special talent; she can oink like a pig. Her friend Libby can squawk like a chicken. How about you? Me, I do a great parrot imitation. When I was on my first date with my husband, I did my parrot sound and he was really impressed. Well, at least he called for another date. One of the biggest challenges for writers is making their characters “come alive.” You can’t have perfect characters, because people aren’t perfect; we do goofy things, sometimes we even do the wrong thing. We struggle with temptation and with our faith.
Love Enough For Two (Love Inspired) Page 15