Her Secret Daughter

by Ruth Logan Herne

  Easy if you had millions of dollars to invest. She stared at the paper, then the two men. She didn’t want to ask the question with Addie right there, but the coincidence of timing wasn’t lost on her. “Mr. Weatherly, you know I’m not looking for anything, don’t you, sir? That was never my intent.”

  “Young lady, I believe I fell in love with your food before anything else occurred, and while I pride myself on being a Southern gentleman, that mode does not inspire me to invest a small fortune into a new business endeavor. Great food, however, which fills a dearth in a market niche, does. This—” he tapped the cover sheet lightly “—is all business. The rest?” He raised a glass of sweet tea as if in her honor. “I’m leaving up to you.”

  “I need to think on it. Seriously think on it. Read it,” she added. “And pray.”

  “I’m in no rush, but once you give me the green light, it will be full steam ahead. Son, these burgers smell perfect.”

  Simple delicious food, grilled by Jacob, and salad mixed by Bob’s own hands.

  A lovely afternoon, calm and peaceful, but awkward, too. She couldn’t address her relationship to Addie, and Jacob’s parents seemed just as reticent.

  Did she spark memories of their lost daughter? Good ones? Bad ones?

  By eight o’clock she begged off an evening boat ride. “It has been a long week, and it seems I’ve got a date in the morning,” Josie reminded Addie when she asked her to stay longer. “I’ll see you then, okay?”

  “Okay.” Then Addie won her heart further when she wrapped her arms around Josie’s waist and whispered, “I just miss you when you’re gone. That’s all.”

  “I miss you, too. How nice that I won’t have to miss you for long because I’ll see you in fourteen hours. Okay?”

  “’Kay.”

  She waved goodbye as she eased out of the awkward driveway, then waved from the road as Jacob and Addie watched her go.

  Bob’s offer gave her a lot to consider, and a lot to think over.

  If Jacob took the job to oversee this project, did that mean they’d be staying in Grace Haven? And if they did—

  Heat climbed her cheeks with this next thought...

  Was he interested in her? Was he falling in love with her like she was with him? And could they honestly forget the past? And what about Addie? How could she ever tell Addie the truth?

  Chapter Seventeen

  She went to bed with more questions than answers, and woke up the same way.

  By ten o’clock she was ready, and when Jacob rolled his upscale SUV into the driveway, she climbed into the front seat, high-fived Addie behind her and fastened her seat belt.

  “I didn’t think you could beat last night’s look, but you did.” Jacob checked out her lace top and the loose capris, cinched in with a turquoise scarf that matched her earrings. “I feel like I’m picking up a Native American princess, which must come from your father’s side because your mother is way too fair.”

  “My Grandma Gallagher was Cherokee, so my dad was part Native American,” she replied. “But he definitely favored the Cherokee side of the family. Me, too.”

  “Do you look like your daddy, Josie?”

  She made a face at Addie. “Well, I think I’m a combination of my Grandma Gallagher and my Grandma Moore. I look like both of them. It’s funny how things skip generations sometimes,” she went on as Jacob turned into a driveway just a few minutes into their trip. “Is this where we’re going? The Soules’ house?”

  “Yup.” Jacob climbed out and Addie followed.

  Josie got out at a slower pace. “Do you know them?”

  “I don’t. But she does.” He pointed as one of the successful local Realtors pulled into the driveway behind them. “Linda’s going to show us some houses. Did I forget to mention that?”

  He’d moved closer, gazing down into her eyes, and his expression teased. “I’m sure I meant to say something, Josie.”

  “You’re staying.”

  “Yes!” Addie fist-pumped the air and grabbed Josie. “I’ve been dying to tell you that, but Dad said I have to learn to be good about keeping secrets, the good ones, you know, the kind that surprise people with good stuff?”

  Linda had come up alongside them. “Does she stop for air?”

  “Not as a rule,” Jacob replied.

  “Ah, the excitement of youth.” Linda motioned toward the classic hillside home. “Let’s check this one out first, shall we?”

  She moved ahead to unlock the door of the pretty brick split-level overlooking the water.

  “There are others to see?”

  “Several,” Jacob told her as they walked toward the door. “Because sometimes you know you need to keep on shopping, Josie. Other times...” He cradled her cheek with his hand, and his eyes said more. Much more. “...you know you’ve already got the best thing that could ever happen to you.”

  “Jacob, I—”

  “Let’s check it out.” He led her forward, and they spent the next two hours house hunting, looking at granite countertops and fancy fireplaces and lofted ceilings. All beautiful, all upscale, and not one of them exactly right.

  And then they pulled into a log cabin ranch, tucked into the hills as if it was part of them, and Josie let out a breath. “The clearing there, for a garden. And down below, too. But mostly woods, and how perfect for a play area, Jacob. Right there. And can you imagine it trimmed with colored Christmas lights, shining through the woods at night?”

  * * *

  He could, now that he’d seen it through her eyes. Addie raced around the yard, looking this way and that. “I love this one the most, Dad! It’s the most perfect house ever! What do you guys think? Can we get it?”

  Josie started to back away from the conversation, but Jacob slipped an arm around her waist and wouldn’t let her go. “What do you think? It’s not in a neighborhood, and tucked away just enough to offer privacy with a view.”

  “You remembered.”

  “I did.” He locked his hands around her waist, refusing to let her go. “Do you love it?”

  “Well, yes...” The log cabin house was beautiful. Wonderful. But nothing compared to the man holding her, or the child running free between the trees.

  “And what about me, Josie?” He leaned closer and feathered the lightest of kisses to her mouth, teasing. Tempting. “Do you think you could love me as much as the house, darling?”

  “More.” She leaned into the circle of his arm and gazed up at him as Addie came their way again. “So much more.”

  “You both love it? Does that mean we can buy it, Mom? Dad?”

  Mom? Josie’s heart beat faster. Her pulse sped up. She turned around, certain Addie had misspoken.

  “Do you love it, Mom?” Sea green eyes gazed up at her. “Do you love us?”

  “I told her who you are on Saturday.” Jacob kept a light grip on Josie’s waist, a gentle hand of support. “I told her she had the bravest, coolest, most beautiful mom in the entire world and that God must have brought us here to Grace Haven so we could find you. And love you. So, Josie.” He tugged Addie into the circle of his other arm. “Would you do us the honor of marrying us? Of being Addie’s mom and my beautiful wife? And most likely running a crazy-busy business if my father has his way?”

  Honor.

  She’d felt less than honorable too often in her life. To hear that phrase from Jacob, from the man she loved, a man who now knew everything about her and still loved her...

  She bent and hugged her daughter.

  Her daughter.

  And then lifted Addie right up into her arms and held her close while she stretched up for Jacob’s sweet kiss. “Why, yes, Mr. Weatherly, Miss Weatherly,” she stated in the most Southern of Southern drawls she could muster. “I would be right pleased to be your wife and her sweet mama. And you might be overseeing that chain of re
staurants on your own from time to time, Jacob darling, because I do believe Miss Addie put in a heartfelt request for brothers and sisters like normal folks do. And if we grant her that wish...” He grinned when she stretched up for another kiss, longer this time. “...I’m going to be taking a little time off.”

  “Not too much, right?” He was teasing her, and she loved it.

  “Enough so our babies will always know their mom and dad love them more than anything in this world.”

  Linda cleared her throat nearby. “Forget somebody?”

  “Guilty.” Jacob laughed as he turned her way. “But the lady said yes, so we’re ready to make an offer, and the sooner the better. My apartment lease is up in six weeks, and it would be good to start our new lives, and the new school year, living here.”

  “I’ll get things rolling right now.”

  A home. A family. A husband. Her daughter. Their daughter, she realized.

  Two months ago she’d lost her business, her apartment, and envied her cousin Kimberly’s dream life. And now the dream was hers, right here in Grace Haven. As Jacob took her hand to walk into their new home, Addie raced ahead, bright, happy and wholesome. And Josie realized it couldn’t possibly get better than it was right now.

  Epilogue

  “This long, trailing veil makes the look, Josie June.” Cissy Gallagher spread the ivory veil over the back of Josie’s embroidered satin gown on a sun-soaked mid-October Saturday. “This whole effect is perfect for you.” Sniff. Sniff.

  “You promised you wouldn’t cry,” Josie pretended to scold, but she couldn’t. Not really.

  “I know.” Cissy squared her shoulders, resolute. “If I’m walking my daughter down the aisle, I need to be stoic and strong.”

  Kate thrust a handful of tissues into Cissy’s hand. “Just in case. And may I remind you that I cried at every one of my girl’s weddings. It’s a mother’s prerogative. Now, do we have something old?”

  Josie pointed to a nearby table. “Grandma’s handkerchief in my emergency bag.”

  “And the dress is something new. Something borrowed?”

  “Kimberly’s long slip because they’re ridiculously expensive for one day.”

  Her frugal choice inspired her mother’s smile. “That’s my girl.”

  “And something blue,” Aunt Kate finished.

  Jacob surprised her by stepping into the bride’s room with Addie as Aunt Kate spoke. “That’s our cue.”

  “Jacob.” Josie turned, smiling, glad he’d broken protocol. Just seeing him eased the war of nerves racing inside her.

  “This is a present from us.” He and Addie crossed the bride’s room and handed Josie a small package. “We went to the jewelry store and they made us something special.”

  “Special for all three of us,” added Addie, excited.

  Josie opened the small box and sighed when she spotted the pendant necklace inside. “Jacob. It’s gorgeous.”

  “It’s us!” Addie wriggled with delight when Josie bent low. “The coppery stones are for you, the blue part is for Dad, and the green part is me! It matches our eyes!”

  “And twines us all together. Just the way it should be.” The interwoven pendant bound all three colors together in an unbreakable bond. “Jacob, will you fasten it for me?”

  “Happily.”

  He slipped the delicate necklace from the box and draped it around her neck while Cissy held the veil aside. His fingers fumbled the clasp at first, but then a tiny click indicated success.

  He left his hands there for just a moment while Kate held up a hand mirror. “Do you like it?”

  “Not like. Love. And I love both of you.” She smiled at him through the mirror, then down at Addie. “Thank you, both. I’ll cherish this forever.”

  “The feeling’s mutual, darlin’.” He kissed her cheek, then Addie’s. “Are you ladies about ready to meet me up front? Because it looks like there’s a crowd gathering.”

  “I’m ready,” announced Addie.

  “Me, too.” Kim handed the baby off to her mother in time to take her place as matron of honor.

  Josie trailed one finger to the beautiful pendant just below her throat. “I love you, Jacob.”

  He paused. He didn’t joke. He didn’t tease. He simply looked at her, then Addie, then her again. “I know, darlin’. I know. And the feeling’s mutual.”

  And when she stepped into the church moments later, her arm tucked through her mother’s, Josie didn’t see the packed pews, or the smiles, or the cell phones raised for pictures.

  She saw Jacob, her beloved, standing at the altar, waiting for her. With her daughter trailing floral petals before her, Josie walked toward her dream come true.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story,

  pick up the other books

  in the GRACE HAVEN series

  from author Ruth Logan Herne.

  AN UNEXPECTED GROOM

  HER UNEXPECTED FAMILY

  THEIR SURPRISE DADDY

  THE LAWMAN’S YULETIDE BABY

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE LAWMAN’S RUNAWAY BRIDE by Patricia Johns.

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  Dear Reader,

  Life isn’t always fair. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and we could spend a lot of time questioning God’s will and arguing why, but in the end we still have choices. To put bad and evil behind us and move on with our lives...or to wallow in anger.

  Josie Gallagher doesn’t wallow. She took charge of a bad situation, trying to act in the best interests of her daughter, but when she realizes her intentions were thwarted by another’s deceit, she has no choice but to check things out. In the end, she stays true to her King Solomon beliefs: A true mother will never pull her child apart.

  Jacob Weatherly became a father by default, but he’s a good, God-fearing man, determined to tip his daughter’s life in happy, normal directions. His fear at losing her is palpable and understandable, and it isn’t until Josie and Jacob embrace the sacrificial nature of being a true parent that they realize God’s timing.

  Have you ever faced cruel decisions, only to find out later things worked out for the best? God’s timing isn’t always clear to us...but as long as it’s clear to Him, we’re okay!

  I love to hear from readers! Email me at loganherne@gmail.com or visit my website ruthloganherne.com, friend me on Facebook/Ruth Logan Herne or find me cooking at the Yankee Belle Café (www.yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com) with several other Love Inspired authors who love to share their joy of cooking, baking, God and romance with readers!

  Thank you for taking the time to read Josie and Jacob’s beautiful story, and may God bless you!

  Ruthy

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

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  The Lawman's Runaway Bride

  by Patricia Johns

  Chapter One

  Chance Morgan tucked his chief-of-police hat under his arm as he jogged up the worn wooden staircase to the second floor of Comfort Creek’s town hall. He rubbed a hand over his short-cropped sandy-blond hair. There were times he thought it was working with the mayor that had caused the premature gray at his temples. He was five minutes early for his meeting with Mayor Scott, and he was dreading it already.

  Mayor Eugene Scott was planning a remembrance ceremony for the four men from Comfort Creek, Colorado, killed in the military over the last five years. The mayor’s son was one of them, as was Chance’s fraternal twin brother, and since both Chance and Mayor Scott had someone close to them die overseas, the mayor figured they wanted the same thing.

  He was wrong, of course. Chance was a private man, and while he grieved his brother deeply, he didn’t like having to do that in front of the entire town. Regardless, when the mayor summoned, the chief of police showed up—he glanced at his watch—four minutes early.

  “Good morning, Chief.” Brenda, the middle-aged secretary, shot him a smile from her desk. Her hair was tucked behind her ears, along with a pen, and she was clicking through something on her computer screen that seemed to be absorbing most of her attention.

  “Is he in?” Chance asked.

  “Go on through,” Brenda said, turning back to her computer. “He’s waiting for you.”

  Chance settled what he hoped was an appropriately professional look on his face, and tapped on the closed office door, then opened it. He could see Mayor Scott behind a mammoth mahogany desk. His bald head had a thin strip of hair swept over the top of it, and his dress shirt was already open at the neck despite the snow on the ground outside.

  “Chief Morgan,” the mayor said. “Come on in.”