Love Inspired November 2013 #2

by Emma Miller

  Laura opened the other door for Joy, but Titus intervened. “Here, that’ll be heavy for you to get with the seat and all,” he said, and then he proceeded to unhook Joy’s carrier.

  “I figured you already knew why I was here,” Titus said as they walked toward the house. “But I really wasn’t sure how he did it all—Secret Santa, I mean. Remember when I came in the bookstore not knowing what I was going to do about work and Christmas for Savannah? Well, the next day I got an envelope of cash and a credit at the building supply store with instructions to fix this place up for you. So that’s what I’ve been doing,” Titus said with a grin. “He’s left me notes every now and then about things he wanted done, and when I got a note—on a candy cane, of course—I did what it said.”

  “Seems like everybody does,” Laura said, crossing the porch and putting her hand on the door. “Can we go in?”

  “Of course,” Titus said.

  Laura opened the door and then held it wide so Titus and David could carry the babies in. They placed the carriers on the hardwood floor near the stairs, while David stood in awe. The walls had all been painted the original shade of creamy yellow, and the furniture that had previously been covered with sheets had been recovered with new fabrics in shades of rust and gold that gave the place a homey, farm appeal.

  “I could so live here,” Laura whispered.

  Titus winked at David. “Listen, Daniel and Mandy are watching Savannah for me, and I want to spend some time with her today, so I’m going to head on out. Everything is done here. This morning was the last finishing touches. I’m going to leave so you can have some privacy to see your new home.”

  David nodded as Titus saw himself out, and then he simply moved through the place to appreciate the beauty of the restored home. “It’s exactly like I dreamed,” he said. Then he heard Laura’s gasp and turned to see what had her attention.

  She faced the fireplace in the living room and stood with her mouth open as she focused on the photograph above the mantel.

  “I never saw the photo,” David said, staring at the picture, “but I remember when Mandy took it.”

  Laura blinked several times as she took in the image of herself, reading to the children’s book club, Savannah leaning against her and peering at the book and Kaden peeking at the page. Several other children faced her and leaned forward to hear every word. “That touches my heart,” she said.

  “Mine, too.”

  The front door opened, and David turned, expecting to see that Titus had forgotten something, but instead Zeb walked in.

  He’d started moving slower lately, and today was no exception. “Okay if I come on in?”

  “Of course,” David said, walking to welcome their guest. “How did you know we were here?”

  “Titus,” he said, smiling as he moved to the stairs, held the rail and then sat down beside the carriers. “They’re so beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Laura said.

  “I...” Zeb began, then reached out to touch Grace’s tiny hand. “I have something to tell both of you, before the others arrive.”

  “Others?” Laura asked. She walked over and sat on a cushioned chair near the stairs. David moved to sit beside her and held her hand.

  Zeb nodded. “I believe a few folks are in on this little secret, or they will be soon.”

  “Because of Titus?” she asked.

  “Because of Secret Santa.” Zeb looked up at them and smiled. “All of those years that you’ve been giving me those books for free,” he said to David, “I kept up.”

  “You kept up with what?” David asked, confused.

  “With what I owed. I kept up with my debt,” Zeb said. “I had a debt to repay. That’s the thing about helping others, about giving to others. God gives you back so much more. All these years I’ve been visiting the hospitals and the shut-ins and the nursing homes, I’ve gotten close to a lot of folks, lots of times during their last years, their last days.” He sighed, apparently reflecting on some of the people he’d helped over the years. “I give them my time.” He shrugged. “I give them God’s love.”

  David concentrated on listening to everything Zeb had to say.

  “And when it comes their time to meet their Lord,” Zeb continued, “they leave the stuff that doesn’t matter up there to me, ’cause they know I’ll give it to the ones who need it, and I do. To the best of my ability, I do.”

  “Oh, Zeb.” Laura reached for his hand.

  “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re Secret Santa,” David said.

  Zeb nodded. “I am.”

  “I can’t thank you enough,” David said.

  “I’m just doing what’s right.” Zeb looked at the sleeping babies. “This place was meant for the four of you.”

  “Oh, Zeb, we aren’t—I mean, David hasn’t asked me,” Laura stammered, but David merely grinned at the older man.

  “No, I haven’t, but I’ve learned something over the past few days. When you’ve got something to say, or in this case, something to ask, then you certainly shouldn’t waste time.”

  Zeb grinned, and Laura’s mouth dropped open.

  “David?” she asked as he moved in front of her and lowered to one knee.

  “Laura, I’ve loved you for longer than I was willing to admit, but I’ll never make that mistake again. If I’m thinking that I love you, I’ll say it. If I want to hold your hand, I’ll hold it. If I want to kiss you and love you and cherish you for the rest of my life—and I do—I promise I’ll do it.” He slid his hand into his pocket and withdrew the ring that’d been keeping him company for the past five days.

  Laura gasped as he opened the box. “That’s—that’s my ring!”

  “If you’ll say yes, it is,” David agreed.

  “Yes, yes, oh, yes!” she said as David slid the ring on her finger and marveled at the beauty of the three sparkling stones, even prettier on the hand of the woman he loved.

  “For our past, our present and our future,” he said.

  “Maybe you can have a Valentine’s Day wedding,” Zeb said, “so I can be there to see it?”

  David didn’t like the way that sounded, at all, and from the way Laura tensed, she heard the same thing. “Zeb, what are you saying?” David asked.

  The older man took another glance at Grace and Joy then wiped a couple of tears away. “I’ve been waiting a long time to be with my Dolly again. And now, according to the doctors, I don’t have to wait much longer. Three months at the most, they say.” He turned his attention from the babies to Laura and David. “That’s why Valentine’s Day might work.”

  Laura’s tears were flowing now, and she took Zeb’s hand in hers. “Valentine’s Day would be perfect, especially if we have you there.”

  David nodded, unable to speak for the emotion squeezing his heart.

  “I want you two to run the bookstore the way you have, taking care of the children in town and also those special ones at the hospitals and the nursing homes. And, Laura, I know you wanted to teach at a school, but what you do at the bookstore, that’s important teaching, too. And at the hospital. I truly believe you were meant for those things.”

  David believed so, too, and he wanted the bookstore to stay open and for her to be able to continue working with children there, but even with a place to live, he wasn’t sure...

  “David,” Zeb continued, breaking into David’s thoughts.

  “Yes?”

  “Your bookstore is going to be fine now.”

  David was floored. What was Zeb saying? “Going to be fine now?” he asked.

  Zeb nodded. “The line of credit on the farmhouse is taken care of, and as of this morning, you’re debt-free.”

  “Zeb!” Laura exclaimed, and David shook his head. “It’s—gone? Paid for? All of it?”

  “All of it,
” Zeb said with a nod.

  “I— Zeb, I don’t know what to say.”

  “You should tell your fiancée about her Christmas present, the one from you, since she’ll be able to use it now,” Zeb said.

  David hadn’t even mentioned the gift to Laura, since he had thought they wouldn’t get to use it, but he swallowed, cleared his throat and said, “The work that my dad and I did over Thanksgiving upstairs, and that I’ve been pecking away at ever since...”

  “Yes?” Laura asked.

  “We finished a room for the girls, a place for them to stay when we’re at the bookstore. Thanks to my dad’s help, it turned out very nice. I think you’ll like it.”

  “I’ve seen it,” Zeb said. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Oh, David, thank you.” She hugged him tightly and held on. “And, Zeb, thank you so much for giving us this gift!”

  “Zeb,” David said, “I don’t know how we can ever repay you.”

  Zeb’s mouth slid into a smile. “I do. Say you two will take over, when I’m gone on to see my Lord and be with my Dolly.”

  “Take over,” David repeated.

  “You need a new Secret Santa,” Laura said, obviously putting the puzzle together quicker than David.

  “I believe I need two, if you get right down to it,” Zeb said. “It’s been a lot for one person to handle, but I’ve been watching you over the past months, the love you have for children, for the community and for each other. That’s what I was looking for, what I prayed for, and God gave it to me...with you.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a tiny black bank book. “This here will tell you what I have in the account for your giving. Actually, what you have, since I’ve already added your names to the account. And this is how it works. The more you give, the more you’ll have in the account. I know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s the way God does things.” He smiled. “Trust me.”

  David took the book. “We do, Zeb. We do.”

  The sound of crunching gravel alerted them that someone else had arrived.

  “That will be all of your family and friends,” Zeb said.

  “How did they know to come here?” Laura asked.

  “That’s easy. Candy canes.”

  Epilogue

  Laura hadn’t even realized her father was interested in changing schools until he announced he’d taken the eighth-grade teaching position vacated by Mr. Nance at Claremont Middle School. He transferred in January, so he and Marjorie were already settled into a house not far from the town square by the time Thomas had the blessed opportunity to walk his daughter down the aisle on Valentine’s Day.

  “Are you ready, honey?” he asked, patting Laura’s hand.

  Laura looked to the front of the church, where Brother Henry held his Bible and waited to perform the ceremony, and David stood waiting to make her his wife, to love, honor and cherish her as long as they both shall live.

  Thank You, God, for this day, and for the man that I love. Thank You for our baby girls and for making my family whole again.

  Grace began whimpering from her spot in Marjorie’s arms, but Joy, as usual, slept away in the arms of her Papa Zeb.

  Laura concentrated on every word of the ceremony, on every beautiful emotion pulsing through her being as she said her vows. And then David surprised her when he asked for Marjorie to bring Grace and Zeb to bring Joy and stand beside them.

  Then Brother Henry continued, “David, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

  David took Laura’s hand and gently slid the ring on her finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  In the rehearsal, this was the part where David kissed her, but instead of that happening now, Brother Henry spoke again.

  “Because this marriage is so much more than the joining of two hearts but is instead the blending of four lives, David asked to also give a token of his love and devotion to their daughters.”

  While Laura watched in awe, David withdrew two small gold rings from his pocket and lovingly slid one on each girl’s tiny finger. “I love you,” David said, then looked to Laura. “All of you. You are my life, you are my love.”

  Brother Henry nodded. “And you may kiss your bride.”

  David took the woman he loved in his arms and replied, “Gladly.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS by Teri Wilson.

  Dear Reader,

  Growing up, I remember my Paw-Paw picking turnip greens and leaving them in sacks on the porches of those who he knew loved the leafy veggie. He would deliver them early in the morning before they woke and never told anyone of his gift. One woman reciprocated by bringing Paw-Paw cakes and leaving them with my grandmother at the house when he was out in the field working. Neither said anything about the gifts. Over the years, I’ve heard other stories of secret givers, but it’s the Secret Santa stories, the ones that happen in the season where we’re thinking about God’s gift of His Son, that touch my heart the most.

  I enjoy mixing facts and fiction in my novels, and you’ll learn about some of the truths hidden within the story on my website, www.reneeandrews.com. While you’re there, you can also enter contests for cool prizes. If you have prayer requests, there’s a place to let me know on my site. I’ll lift your request up to the Lord in prayer. I love to hear from readers, so please write to me at renee@reneeandrews.com. Find me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AuthorReneeAndrews. And follow me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ReneeAndrews.

  Blessings in Christ,

  Renee Andrews

  Questions for Discussion

  Laura had two main reasons for leaving her home in Nashville. What were those reasons? Do you think leaving was her best option?

  David found his dear friend asking for help when he didn’t feel he had any help to offer, yet he helped anyway. Can you think of any biblical examples that follow this principle of giving even when you don’t have much to give?

  Zeb found his joy in helping others. Do you know anyone like this? Do you think that, like David, people often will go out of their way to help those who help others?

  Marjorie’s main issue throughout the beginning of the book is that she didn’t feel wanted; she didn’t feel she was chosen. How can we relate her feelings to the way we feel with or without God in our life?

  Why do you think the entire town joined in on the distribution of Secret Santa’s candy canes?

  Laura told the book club children about the children in the hospital and helped form a bond between the healthy children and those who were sick. What do you think it teaches those children, both the ones in the book club and the ones in the hospital?

  Titus Jameson’s little girl Savannah was withdrawn due to her mother’s abandonment, yet she opened up to Laura. Do you know a child who has been hurt or disappointed by an adult? How can you reach out, like Laura did, to bring that child out of his or her shell?

  Zeb looked forward to being reunited with his sweet Dolly. Do you know of anyone longing for heaven even more because of a loved one who’s passed on? Zeb coped with his separation by keeping himself busy serving others. How do you or those you know cope with the separation?

  In my life, I’ve heard of a few instances of real Secret Santas, providing gifts or financial assistance during the Christmas season without any acknowledgment or recognition. Do you know of any real Secret Santas? How do you think their presence impacts the recipient’s life?

  Did you see any symbolism in the names used in the book, specifically the children’s names?

  Many people have “family” members who aren’t blood related, those who have grown as close as family over the years. Zeb was this type of individual in David’s life, and then in Lau
ra’s. Do you have anyone like Zeb in your life? Or are you that person in someone else’s life?

  Laura’s parents moved to Claremont to be closer to their daughter and granddaughters. How do you think having family nearby can benefit new parents? Do you see any ways that it might not be beneficial?

  Brother Henry, Mary, Daniel, Mandy and all of the other “church people” that Laura met could have tried to make her feel guilty for turning away from God, but instead they showed her love and compassion, reminding her that God still loved and wanted her. How do you think she would have reacted if they’d tried to “guilt her” back to God?

  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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  Chapter One

  In her wildest dreams, Zoey Hathaway never thought she’d wind up an heiress. And dreaming was something of a specialty for Zoey. She’d been dreaming for the better part of her life.

  But this...

  She glanced overhead at the snow-covered arched sign that read Up on the Rooftop Reindeer Farm, wondering how in the world she’d lived in Aurora, Alaska, her entire life and never known such a place was nestled right in the cleft of the mountains. She’d never even heard of the place. And now, according to the lawyer who’d called her the day before, it was her reindeer farm.