Reunited at Christmas

by Belle Calhoune

  “I know,” she said with a fierce nod of her head. “You showed me that you would support all of my dreams and aspirations. It actually made my decision all the more meaningful, knowing that it was my decision to make.”

  She took a deep breath. “So that brings me to my next venture.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Which is?”

  “Training search-and-rescue dogs,” she said in a triumphant voice. “Like Rufus.”

  Liam shook his head. He wasn’t even surprised at his wife’s ingenuity. Once a road closed she was planning to travel down another avenue. “That’s a wonderful idea, Ruby. It’s a nice way of staying tied to the search-and-rescue community. And with your love of dogs, it’s perfect for you.”

  “I’m really excited about this, wherever it leads me. I’ve done a bit of dog handling before, but I’m really intrigued by all the possibilities.” She crossed her hands in front of her. “I’m going to start small at first but, hopefully, I’ll be able to really expand it into something much bigger. Hazel has been a real inspiration for me with her Lovely Boots.”

  Liam closed the gap between them and placed his hands on either side of Ruby’s face. “Have I ever told you how much I love your tenacity? And your vision? There’s nothing you can’t do, Mrs. Ruby Prescott.”

  The door opened with a bang. “Smooching again?” Aidan asked with a loud groan. “Everyone is out there sitting in the pews. They’re waiting for the wedding to start.” He scrunched up his face. “Jasper is walking back and forth and mumbling to himself. He told me to tell you to get a move on.”

  Liam rolled his eyes. Ruby giggled and raised her hand to her mouth.

  Liam locked eyes with Aidan. “Are you ready to do this?”

  “I was born ready,” Aidan said with a cocky tilt of his head.

  Ruby chuckled. “Uh-oh. You’ve been hanging around Declan way too much.”

  “In the famous words of the mayor of this town, ‘let’s go get hitched,’” Liam said, placing his hand on Aidan’s shoulder.

  “Amen,” Ruby said. “I can’t wait to be your bride all over again.”

  A few minutes later Ruby walked down the aisle of the church to the strains of the “Wedding March.” Kyle was at her side, ready to give her away to the man she adored.

  As she walked past pews filled with friends and family members, she couldn’t help but feel incredibly blessed. Her fears had all been put to rest. In the end, love had been her healing balm. The love she felt for Liam and Aidan stamped out all the darkness. And the tremendous way they adored her in return made her feel as if she could do anything...be anything. God had placed her exactly where she needed to be. She would never take it for granted again. Love, Alaska, was home.

  Never again would she focus on the memories she had lost. From this moment forward she and Liam would be stepping toward their brilliant future, secure in the knowledge that nothing could ever shake this union or derail them from their path. From this point forward they would be walking in faith as husband and wife.

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed REUNITED AT CHRISTMAS,

  don’t miss the other books in the

  ALASKAN GROOMS series:

  AN ALASKAN WEDDING

  ALASKAN REUNION

  A MATCH MADE IN ALASKA

  Keep reading for an excerpt from YULETIDE REDEMPTION by Jill Kemerer.

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  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for joining me on this journey to Love, Alaska. I truly hope you enjoyed Liam and Ruby’s love story. I really enjoyed writing this reunion romance with a twist.

  I love Christmas. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Peppermint hot chocolate. Decking the halls. Placing the star on top of the Christmas tree. Spreading cheer and goodwill. And above all, celebrating the birth of Christ.

  Liam and Ruby’s love story was one I really wanted to tell. Marriages go through tough times, and with love and faith, coupled with God’s guiding light, we can work through these obstacles. Love really can move mountains.

  Ruby Prescott is a woman who is searching for truth and family connections. The ties that bind us to the ones we love is a powerful theme. Although Ruby questions whether she truly belongs in Love, what she finds in the small fishing village is true, enduring love and happiness.

  Although Liam has a clear view of the past, he’s not certain of his future. He’s bogged down by the mistakes of the past and his fear of Ruby remembering that their marriage wasn’t perfect. What he learns is that God doesn’t expect perfection from us. All of us are flawed, imperfect beings, but saved by God’s grace.

  Both Liam and Ruby needed faith to get them through the difficult questions surrounding the future of their marriage. Ultimately, they discover that love is truly the best gift of all.

  I am honored to write for the Love Inspired line. It’s been a dream come true. Being able to work in my pajamas is the best perk of the job.

  I love hearing from readers, however you choose to contact me. You can reach me by email at scalhoune@gmail.com, at my Author Belle Calhoune Facebook page or at my website, bellecalhoune.com. If you’re on Twitter, reach out to me @BelleCalhoune.

  Blessings,

  Belle

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  Yuletide Redemption

  by Jill Kemerer

  Chapter One

  Sam Sheffield curled his fingers around the wheelchair’s hand rims and, for the first time in months, tried to fight his bitterness rather than lingering in self-pity. His prayers had gone unanswered, but his family was right. He had to accept his limitations and move forward.

  But how?

  The bank of windows showcased maize leaves drifting to the deck. Sunshine glinted off the blue waters of Michigan’s Lake Endwell. A stunning day in late October. He still loved the lake. At least the accident hadn’t taken that. Too much had been stripped away almost a year and a half ago, though. He’d yet to step foot in his auto dealership. Couldn’t imagine running the business from a wheelchair.

  A knock on the door made him flinch. It must be the woman his sister had mentioned last night. Claire had advised him in her gentle-but-firm tone to be on his best behavior, that Celeste needed a new start. What Claire hadn’t said had come through clearly—his family was tired of doing everything for him. It was bad enough Claire had hired a caregiver without his permission, but the bomb his brothers had thrown out yesterday? Turned his blood to ice. He wouldn’t think about it. Not n
ow, anyway.

  Sam rolled across the hardwood floor. He had no need for a caregiver or personal assistant or whatever his sister wanted to call her. Sure, Claire claimed it was the only way Celeste would stay in the cabin next door for free. But whatever had happened to this girl couldn’t compare to what he was going through.

  Leaning forward, he winced at the tremors in his leg and opened the door. A willowy brunette stood before him, and Sam moved back for her to enter. With her face shadowed by long dark hair, she took a few tentative steps his way. He held out his hand. “Sam Sheffield.”

  “Celeste Monroe.” Her grasp, like her entry, was elusive, as if she wanted to be as invisible as possible.

  He tried to catch a glimpse of her face, but her tucked chin and curtain of hair didn’t give him much to work with. Spinning the wheels around, he headed to the oak table. “Have a seat.”

  She obeyed, not bothering to look his way.

  “I saw the moving truck earlier.” He splayed his fingers on the smooth wood. “I take it Claire’s cabin is working out for you?”

  “It’s perfect.” Celeste pushed her hair behind her ear. Deep brown eyes, nervous, glanced at him.

  His breath caught in his throat. She’s beautiful. “I’m glad you like it.”

  She smiled, revealing slightly misaligned teeth. Only then did he notice the scars. Jagged silver lines crisscrossed her left cheek and forehead, and one slashed her chin. They in no way detracted from her unusual beauty, and he was tempted to stare, to memorize her face. She bobbed her head, her shiny hair slipping back into position.

  A volley of questions flew around in his mind. How had she gotten the scars? Why did she need a new start? What had Claire left out? But the puzzle kept coming back to those eyes—they’d touched a part of him that had been buried since the accident.

  He forced his attraction deep down, unreachable. What woman would want a man who couldn’t do the most basic life tasks for himself? He couldn’t protect her. He could barely take care of himself.

  “How do you know Claire?” he asked.

  “I don’t. Not really. She works at the zoo with my mom’s best friend, Nancy, who told your sister about my accident. A few weeks ago Nancy put the word out that I was looking for a cheap apartment. Claire said she had the perfect solution. Basically, I get to stay in her cabin for free if I help you out.”

  His meddling sister. He wasn’t angry, though. Claire couldn’t help worrying about him any more than she could control her urge to help Celeste by letting her stay in the cabin.

  “You mentioned an accident,” he said. “What happened to you?”

  “Car accident.” The words tumbled out. “My face took the brunt of it. The first five weeks were a blur in the hospital followed by a month in the rehab center. When they released me, I was in no shape to take care of myself. I ended up moving back in with my parents.”

  “How long were you out of work?”

  “I never went back. Until this summer, some issues prevented me from working full-time, and my boss hired someone else anyhow. But I’m working again. Self-employed. Virtual assistant. I’m hoping to take on more clients now that I’ll have my own place.”

  “The cabin’s been empty since June,” Sam said gruffly. An accident had ripped her life apart, too. And she didn’t look much older than his twenty-seven years. “Claire and her husband moved into a new house. She hasn’t had the heart to sell it. I hope she cleaned it for you.”

  “She did.” Celeste cast a sideways peek his way. “You didn’t know, did you?”

  “Know what?” He itched to return to the windows, to stare past the deck and lawn out to the lake, to let the peaceful view soothe the commotion stirring inside him. Did Celeste mean he didn’t know about Claire’s arrangement with her? Or something else?

  “My face.”

  The scars. If he wasn’t so focused on himself, he would have put it together. It explained the fragile air about her. “Why would that matter?”

  “It matters to most people,” she said so softly he barely heard her.

  Wanting to put her at ease, he lifted his shirt to reveal the right side of his abdomen. He had his own scars, except they’d faded to a dull red. They lashed up and down the length of his torso. “I guess we’re even, then.”

  Her eyes widened, and a breathy “oh” escaped her mouth. “I’m sorry.” The way her eyebrows dipped assured him she meant it.

  “They’re the least of my worries.” His physical scars didn’t bother him, but the collateral damage from the accident festered. Memories from the conversation yesterday returned with a vengeance. His brothers, Tommy and Bryan, had actually suggested he consider selling his dealership.

  Sell his dream?

  He balled his hands into fists. Maybe they were right. The accident had been over sixteen months ago, but he couldn’t do even simple work tasks. The first time he’d printed out a sales report, his professional goals had seemed so out of reach he’d almost thrown up. He’d printed another one since then, but within minutes he’d broken down in tears. Tears. From him, the man who never cried. But then, he wasn’t the man he used to be. He wasn’t sure he would ever be more than a broken body.

  Celeste’s shoulders hunched as she picked at her fingernail. Sunlight spilled into the room, making the table glow.

  “I’m glad you recovered enough to work again.” He tapped the table lightly. “I don’t know how much Claire told you, but I was in a boating accident. The propeller sliced my right side. Severed the sciatic nerve in my upper thigh. The nerve graft wasn’t completely successful.”

  Just speaking those words riled him up. Why hadn’t God listened to his prayers? Half of patients like him were able to get around on two feet again. Why couldn’t he be one of them?

  Well, he had been making progress. Before the slip in the shower a few months ago, he’d been walking on crutches, getting closer to graduating to a cane—working hard so he wouldn’t need a wheelchair to resume running his dealership.

  Let it go. Accept it. Move forward.

  “Are you dealing with any long-term issues?” Sam asked. “Beyond the scars, I mean?”

  “Some nerve damage. Headaches.” Those espresso eyes met his, warming him. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  He envied her for only having headaches and scars. She had her legs. She could walk.

  “When was the accident?” Sam asked.

  “It will be a year on December 18.” Her attention shifted to her hands.

  “The first annual Lake Endwell Christmas parade.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Sorry.” Being trapped in this cottage all the time must have gotten to him. His conversation skills needed work. “The date’s stuck in my head. My aunt Sally has mentioned it about fifty times in the last month. December 18. She’s on the planning committee.”

  “A parade.” Her chin lifted as she gazed ahead through the windows. He couldn’t tell if she liked or hated the idea of a parade. “A nice distraction. I’ll be honest—I’m dreading the date.”

  A twinge of guilt pressed against his chest. Her accident may not have taken her legs, but it obviously had taken a lot from her, too. “I don’t blame you.”

  “How did you get through yours?”

  “Through clenched teeth. My family stayed with me all day.” Reminding him how much he’d lost. His brothers and sisters went on as usual while his life had been turned upside down. They either spoke in hushed tones, or they faked chipper, everything-is-fine conversations. He ignored their furtive glances and nagging for him to go back to physical therapy. After his fall in June, he’d stopped going, knowing he might never walk unassisted on both legs. The torn ACL and resulting surgery had left his right knee unstable and both legs weak.

  A cane, crutches, a wheelchair—all props reminding h
im he’d suffered permanent damage. He would never carry a bride over the threshold. Even if a woman could see past his disability, what did he have to offer her? Not a whole lot.

  “My parents will probably insist on spending the day with me, too.” Celeste rubbed her upper arm. “Your family seems nice.”

  “They are nice. They just don’t get the fact I want to be alone.”

  “I get it.”

  She was the one person who probably did get it, and for some reason, that made him feel better.

  “Yeah, well, my family is tired of me.” Sam gave her a tight smile, squaring his shoulders. “You’re the only one brave enough to be here right now.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true.”

  “Oh, it’s true. Ask any of them.” His family had been taking turns checking on him, cleaning, making meals, doing his laundry and anything else he needed for months. While he appreciated everything they did, he was tired of the strings attached, the incessant hints about physical therapy being at the top of his list.

  Maybe they all needed a break from each other.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” He wheeled away from the table in the direction of the kitchen, which was part of one wide open area along with the dining and living rooms.

  “No, thank you. I’m fine.”

  He opened the fridge and swiped a bottle of water. Celeste seemed quiet—easy to be around. Not too talkative or demanding. But before he let her into his world, he needed to set some boundaries. After taking a drink, he returned to the table.

  “Well, we should discuss the arrangement,” he said. “Regardless of what my family thinks, I don’t need or want a nurse.”

  “No one said anything to me about nursing.”

  “Good. If you wouldn’t mind picking up a few groceries for me, doing some light cleaning and helping with my laundry, I think everyone will be happy.”

  “Oh, no.” Celeste faced him, her brown eyes wide. Once more he was struck by her pretty features. “Claire wouldn’t be happy at all. When I talked to her a few days ago, she was quite specific.”