The Shadows Trilogy Box Set: A Christian Romance

by Juliette Duncan

  “Thank you, Nessa.” She shook her head and looked up. “I don’t believe it’s happened.” Lizzy’s eyes widened and she grabbed Nessa’s arm. “What happened to Daniel?”

  Nessa shrugged and had a painful look on her face.

  “I don’t know yet, Liz. I haven’t been able to find out. I left a message at the courthouse to tell Riley where we were, but I haven’t heard anything yet.”

  “Oh Ness, I’m so worried about him.”

  Nessa leaned down and hugged her as Lizzy began to sob. “Try not to worry, sweetie. We’ll know soon enough.”

  Lizzy sniffed and tried to calm herself. Every time she moved, it hurt. It was almost too much to take in.

  “Here, let me take this little one,” the nurse said, leaning down and gently picking up Lizzy’s baby. “I’ll bring him back shortly once you’ve had a little more recovery time, Mrs O’Connor. It mightn’t hurt to get some sleep if you can.” The nurse was right. Maybe it was the after effects of the anaesthetic, but whatever it was, she was very drowsy.

  “I think I’ll have a little sleep, Ness, but wake me the moment you hear anything from Daniel. Promise?”

  “I promise.” Nessa smiled at her and squeezed her hand before leaving the room.

  “Lizzy, are you awake?” Lizzy blinked at the sound. “Lizzy, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  Lizzy opened her eyes wide as she recalled where she was. Nessa was standing over her. Was there news of Daniel?

  “Here, let me help you up.” Lizzy leaned on Nessa’s arm and wriggled herself up until she was sitting. Her eyes questioned Nessa, but her gaze averted round her as she caught a glimpse of blue helium balloons being held by someone standing in the doorway.

  Lizzy’s skin tingled and her grin broadened when she realised it was Daniel.

  “Daniel! Oh my goodness! You’re here! I can’t believe it!”

  Daniel raced towards her and hugged her gently as she sobbed in joy. “My precious Lizzy. Thank God you’re alright.” He kissed the side of her cheek before pulling slowly away. “And I believe we have a son…”

  “Yes Daniel. We have a son. And he looks just like you!”

  “Poor little baby! Fancy looking like his daddy!”

  “It was a compliment!”

  “I know, I was only joking, sweet girl. When can I get to meet him?”

  “We can call the nurse. But Daniel,” she grabbed his hand and peered into his face. “Tell me - what happened in court? You’re here, so I’m guessing you didn’t get jail?”

  “Yes, thank God. Bill was brilliant. I got off with a fine and a suspension. No jail.” Daniel’s smile was infectious, and tears welled up behind Lizzy’s eyes as all the built up tension fell away.

  “Daniel, that’s wonderful. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

  “Go on with you. You had other business to attend to… So, where is he?” He turned as the nurse entered the room with a tiny bundle in her arms. She leaned down for him to see, and then placed the tiny bundle in Daniel’s arms. Lizzy’s heart filled with love for the two men in her life as Daniel gazed in wonderment at their son, and she revelled in God’s goodness.

  Daniel sat gently on the side of the bed with his son in his arms. “What are we going to call him?” He glanced at Lizzy as he allowed the tiny baby to wrap his fist around his finger.

  “How about ‘Dillon’, after your brother?” Lizzy suggested.

  Daniel’s face expanded into a wide grin. “That’s perfect, Lizzy. A perfect name for a perfect boy!” He leaned down and kissed his little son. “Welcome, baby Dillon.”

  Lizzy leaned over and looked at the baby.

  “I think it’s my turn,” she said with a mischievous grin on her face.

  Lizzy spent the days following the early arrival of baby Dillon getting to know him, and learning how to care for him. Daniel was brilliant. He had it down pat when it came to changing Dillon, and showed Lizzy a trick or two. Every time she saw him with the baby, she smiled.

  She telephoned her mother and told her the exciting news, and she also telephoned Sal. Both were ecstatic. Sal said she’d try to get up to see her, and Gwyneth also promised a visit as soon as she could.

  Meanwhile, Riley helped Daniel apply for the job he’d mentioned, and organised for his counselling sessions to start. Daniel told Lizzy he was really looking forward to finally kicking his old habits, even though he wasn’t looking forward to the sessions. He said he felt bad that they didn’t have a car, but even if they did, he wouldn’t be able to drive for another year.

  “But I guess it’s my fault. I can’t blame anyone else.”

  “We’ll be alright, Daniel. We’ll sort it somehow.”

  Not long after she’d been allowed to go home with baby Dillon, her parents told her they would pay a visit the following weekend.

  Daniel, although nervous about meeting Lizzy’s father again, was determined to prove to him that he was worthy of being Lizzy’s husband, and that he was fully prepared to take responsibility for her and Dillon. It just would have been better if he had a job. He’d been waiting to hear whether his application had been successful, and had been checking the mail box every day. The interview had been the week before, and he’d been told he should hear within the week. The interview had gone well, and he was surprised at how keen he was to get the job.

  Yes, it would mean living in a community environment, and yes, he may feel a little threatened, but it didn’t matter. It’d be an opportunity to learn and grow, and to mix with Christians who could provide support as he learned to live his new life with God and without alcohol. He’d told Lizzy all about it, and they’d prayed about it, and although they agreed they’d trust God for the outcome, he was still on tenterhooks about it.

  The Friday before Lizzy’s parents came, Daniel picked up the mail and it was there. He carried the envelope to the kitchen where Lizzy was making tea, and stood before her with the envelope in his hand.

  “This is it, Lizzy love.”

  “Well, go on. Open it.” She stopped and studied him. “You’re nervous, aren’t you?”

  Daniel nodded as he stared at the envelope.

  “You’re not going to find out if you don’t open it. Do you want me to do it?”

  He held her gaze and breathed deeply.

  “No, I’ll do it.” His heart pounded in his chest as he carefully opened the envelope and took out the piece of paper. Lizzy bent her head so she could see, but he turned it away from her. “Let me look first.”

  Lizzy didn’t need to see it, however, as a moment later, Daniel’s whole face exploded into a huge, beaming grin.

  “I got it! I got it!!” He wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on her cheek as they jigged up and down together.

  “Daniel, that’s wonderful news! Congratulations!”

  The following day when Roger and Gwyneth arrived, Lizzy’s heart expanded with pride when Daniel was eager to tell them his good news. Her father also appeared to be making an attempt to be friendly, and was less officious looking than normal. Maybe holding his tiny grandson for the first time softened him a little. Whatever the reason, there was hope that Daniel and Father might at last be able to remain in each other's company without an argument.

  As Roger and Gwyneth prepared to leave, Gwyneth caught her husband’s eyes and tilted her head as if she was trying to tell him something. Lizzy caught sight of this and wondered what was going on.

  Roger coughed and cleared his voice.

  “Elizabeth,” he paused and glanced at Gwyneth before turning to look at Daniel. “And Daniel… we have a gift for you.”

  Lizzy raised her eyebrows and glanced at her mother, puzzled. They’d already given them a huge basket full of baby clothes and baby items. What more could there be?

  “Best come downstairs,” Roger said, pointing to the doorway with his outstretched arm.

  “I’ll wait here with little Dillon,” Gwyneth said, walking over to look at the sleeping baby.

/>   “Are you sure, Mother?” Lizzy asked.

  “Yes, off you go.” Gwyneth shooed them out the door.

  “What’s all this about, Father?” Lizzy asked as they walked down the stairs together with Daniel following.

  “Just be patient, dear. You’ll see in just a few moments.”

  He led them to where his car was parked, but surprised Lizzy by continuing past it before stopping at a red Ford Fiesta hatchback.

  Lizzy looked at him, and then back at the car, her mouth and eyes gaping as he handed her the keys.

  “Go on. It’s yours.”

  Lizzy couldn’t stop the stream of tears that began to flow as she threw her arms around her father.

  “Thank you, Father! I don’t believe it,” she said as she bent down and inspected the car. Stepping back, she reached out for Daniel, and put her arm around his waist. This could go well, or it could cause an argument between him and her father. The old Daniel would never have accepted a gift like this from him, but what would the new Daniel do?

  She looked at her father and then turned her head to look at Daniel as tension filled the air. Their eyes locked together. Daniel was fighting a battle, there was no doubt about it. Everything within her pleaded with him to accept the gift graciously. Her heart stopped while time stood still.

  She breathed out slowly when he broke the silence.

  “Roger, you needn’t have done this.”

  “I know, Daniel. But we wanted to. Please accept it as a gift for you both. A peace offering?”

  Roger held out his hand towards Daniel.

  Lizzy held her breath again and then let it out as Daniel slowly reached out and shook Roger’s hand.

  “Well, go on then. Take a look.” Roger walked over to the car and unlocked it for them. Lizzy hesitated before climbing in, and relaxed when Daniel chose the passenger side. She inhaled the new car smell before inserting the key into the ignition and starting it. It was so quiet compared to the old Escort. Turning her head, she smiled broadly at Daniel. How much more could they take?

  When they walked the stairs back up to the apartment, Lizzy hugged her mother and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  “Thank you so much Mother. It’s beautiful!”

  “Our pleasure, Elizabeth. Consider it a wedding gift.”

  Lizzy chuckled and caught her mother’s eye. It was so good to be on better terms with her parents after all this time.

  “Thank you so much for coming all this way,” Lizzy said to her parents as they made their way to the door. As a last minute thought, she asked, “You wouldn’t consider staying would you?”

  Roger and Gwyneth both stopped and looked at each other before turning back to Lizzy.

  “It would be alright,” she assured them when they hesitated. “The bed’s made up, and we’d fit somehow. I can’t promise a good night’s sleep, however.” She grinned as she glanced at little Dillon lying peacefully in Daniel’s arms.

  Gwyneth smiled warmly and squeezed Lizzy’s arm.

  “That would be lovely, dear. Roger?” She tilted her head towards him and raised her eyebrows.

  “I don’t think I could say no. She’d never forgive me.” He shrugged with resignation and then grinned at Lizzy.

  “So I take that as a yes?” Lizzy glanced from one parent to the other.

  “Yes, dear, we’d love to stay,” Gwyneth said, before giving Lizzy a hug.

  Lizzy was amazed at how well behaved her father and Daniel were that night. What a difference a few months had made. No longer were terse words spoken, in fact, they were deep in conversation for a good part of the evening. Her mother had been working on him, and at last he’d seen sense. Lizzy wondered if the time would ever come when she could quiz him about his relationship with Hilary Carter, or maybe that would be going too far. Time would tell.

  Daniel was due to start his new job in two weeks, just before Christmas. In that time, he and Lizzy packed up their apartment, and arranged for their belongings to be moved to the small cottage that was to be their home. Riley and Nessa helped as much as they were able, and Riley told Daniel his counselling sessions would be transferred to one of the staff members at the college.

  Moving day finally came, and Lizzy was as excited as a small child about to go to the spring fair for the first time at the prospect of moving into a proper house, after she’d feared so recently it would never happen.

  Although Daniel had described the cottage to her, she was in no way prepared for her reaction when it first came into sight.

  “Daniel, it’s simply perfect! I couldn’t have wished for a lovelier place!” Lizzy jumped out of the car and ran with her arms wide open towards the white picket fence surrounding the small thatched roofed cottage. Window boxes overflowed with bright yellow pansies and dark blue lobelia, and all sorts of other pretty flowers that somehow managed to bloom despite the chill of the season. She reached the fence and turned around, stretching her arms behind her and threw her head back, allowing her long unruly hair to fly freely in the breeze, and her heart soared.

  “You like it, then?” Daniel looked at her with a cheeky grin on his face.

  “Like it? I love it!” She turned around and opened the gate, before remembering one little thing. Dillon. Dillon! How could I forget him?

  Lizzy spun on her heels and began to head back to the car, when Daniel caught her in his arms.

  “He can wait. This can’t.” Daniel wrapped his arms around her and gazed into her eyes. With one hand he brushed the hair from her face. “Lizzy, what a happy man am I. A beautiful wife, a handsome son, a cottage of our own, a job to die for, and new life in Jesus. What more could a man ask for?”

  Lizzy’s heart swelled with gratitude to God for blessing a marriage that seemed doomed for failure not that very long ago, and for taking her and Daniel, and little baby Dillon, by the hand and bringing them to this place where they could grow closer to each other and to God.

  She held his gaze and looked into his eyes. Yes, they still held mischief and a glint, but they also now held purpose and resolution. Life with Daniel O’Connor would never be boring, but he was a changed man, and she longed to make a start.

  “Kiss me, Daniel.” Her eyes drew him in, and his hold on her tightened before he lowered his mouth over hers.

  Note From the Author

  Hi! It’s Juliette here. I hope you’ve enjoyed Lizzy and Daniel’s story so far, and that you’ve been touched by their unfolding relationship with each other and with God. Their journey continues in Book 3, “Beyond the Shadows”, which starts on the next page.

  I know you want to see what happens, but I’d really appreciate if you’d consider leaving a short review on the second book in the series before you read on. Reviews help people decide whether to buy a book or not, so if you could you spare a moment or so to leave a review, that would be greatly appreciated! It doesn’t need to be long - just a sentence or two about what you thought of the book would be fine. Here’s the link to Book 2. Just scroll down down to where it says “Leave a Customer Review”.

  In gratitude,

  Juliette

  BOOK 3 - Beyond the Shadows

  Cover Design by http://www.StunningBookCovers.com

  Copyright © 2015 Juliette Duncan

  All rights reserved.

  THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

  Chapter One

  Lakes District UK February 1982

  Daniel threw the telephone receiver back into its cradle and thumped the wall.

  How dare Da return! Twenty years gone, and he waltzes on in, and expects everyone to come running. The hide of the man! Inhaling slowly, he shook his head and fought the anger swelling up inside him. Not on your life, Da. Not on your life. Even if you’re dying.

  Clenching his fists, he stared out the window at the mountains in the distance without seeing them. Just when everything was falling in
to place. He’d been doing so well. Three months sober. Hadn’t even felt like a drink. But now… no, he must stay strong, for Lizzy’s sake. He ran his hands through his hair. God, give me strength. I can’t handle this.

  Life had never been so good - he and Lizzy loved living at the College. Why should Caleb expect him to drop everything and come running back to Belfast to see the man he hated most in this world? How did Caleb even get the number?

  So many memories. So much pain and hurt. He’d pushed their ugliness away for so long. Why should he be forced to revisit the past? He had a new life. A life full of happiness and peace. Going back was the last thing he wanted to do.

  Daniel looked up and clenched his muscles. That's it. I won't go. Nobody can make me. Not Caleb. Not Da. Not anyone.

  “Look Dillon, Daddy’s home.”

  Lizzy held their three month old baby to the window as Daniel drove the tractor towards the shed and excitedly pointed out his daddy. Her heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of Daniel’s strong, masculine frame atop the tractor. Wearing his heavy sheepskin jacket and colourful beanie, even from a distance he caused her heart to flutter.

  Although almost two months had passed since Daniel began his job as a groundsman at the College in the Lakes District, Lizzy was still in awe of the way God had provided for them. She adored the little cottage where she and Daniel lived. Yes, it was small and basic, but compared to the apartment in Hull, it was paradise. She’d already planned what flowers and vegetables she’d plant when spring came, but until then, she’d busy herself making the cottage into a home.

  As much as she loved being a mother and a homemaker, Lizzy missed her friends and her job as a teacher. With Daniel gone early each morning, and the weather too cold to venture outside with baby Dillon, her days were long. Daniel’s homecoming was the highlight of each day.

  Daniel had surprised her with his devotion to his job and to the Lord. Since giving his heart to the Lord several months earlier while recovering from his car accident in hospital, he’d been hungry for the word and so keen to learn how to live as a Christian. Every day he asked God to give him strength to withstand the hold of alcohol on his life, and every day he gave thanks for one more day of sobriety. He’d also recently made the decision to give up smoking. Lizzy had suggested he wait. It wasn’t a problem for her, and besides, staying sober was way more important. But Daniel believed he should. He’d been convicted about how badly he’d abused his body over the years before coming to Christ and was committed to making amends.