North Country Dad (Northern Lights #4)

by Lois Richer

  “You’re a daughter to be proud of.” Her mother stepped forward. “We’ve always regretted that we never gave you enough credit.” She shook her head. “We’re so sorry, honey. And so proud. You moved here and used that indomitable inner strength of yours to create something lasting.” Her mother’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Your Granny Bev must be celebrating in heaven over you, Dahlia.” Tears glittered in her father’s eyes, too. “Will you forgive us? Will you allow us to share in this project of your heart?”

  “Of course,” Dahlia said. “You’re welcome here.” She threw herself into her parents’ arms as peace filled her heart. “I love you guys.”

  Around her, the crowd cheered. Finally Laurel managed to be heard. She thanked Dahlia for all her hard work, presented her with a plaque on behalf of the town and then invited everyone to Lives for a celebratory snack before the Christmas Eve service at the church.

  At Lives, Dahlia was stunned to learn the lengths Grant had gone to in order to locate her parents in Florida without her assistance, and bring them here.

  Dahlia couldn’t stop smiling. Grant had done this for her because he truly loved her. And she loved him. She ached to tell him so. Her heart sank when Laurel told her he’d already left to get the twins ready for the service. She hadn’t even had the chance to properly thank him yet for all that he’d done.

  “We should go, too, honey,” her mother said. “We don’t want to miss Churchill’s Christmas Eve service. We’ve heard it’s very special.”

  “It is,” Dahlia agreed. Just then, Arlen appeared with a box.

  “I want to give you this.” He opened the lid and lifted out a rose bowl with a gorgeous tangerine rose nestled inside. “To thank you. You and Grant helped me change. I came here believing I was alone, but how could I be alone when you kept pestering me?” He grinned.

  “Oh, Arlen.” Dahlia inhaled the rich scent of the gorgeous flower. “I’m really glad you’re going home.” She had no regrets. God had a plan for Arlen, too. “Come back and visit us,” she said, giving him a hug.

  “I’ll be here for the opening of the track.” He tolerated her hug, then hurried away, red dots of color on each cheek.

  “What a lovely boy,” her mother said.

  Dahlia smiled, remembering how unlovely Arlen had been.

  As she drove her parents to her house, her thoughts turned to Grant, and everything he’d done for her.

  She couldn’t wait to tell him how much she loved him. She only hoped it wasn’t too late.

  *

  Grant pulled up in front of the church.

  “You can’t tell anyone,” he reminded the twins.

  “We know what to do, Daddy,” Glory promised.

  “We won’t tell anyone.” Grace’s nose wrinkled. “Not even Miss Lucy?”

  “Not anyone. Okay?” He tried to be satisfied with their nods.

  Praying his scheme would work, he helped the twins from the car and escorted them backstage. Then he found a seat where he could watch Dahlia, who was up front with her parents. His heart hurt from the burgeoning love inside, but, as Glory would say, it was a good hurt.

  The kids’ choir filed in, backed by the teen group of mostly Lives boys. Rick led everyone in “Silent Night.” When the congregation was seated, the lights dimmed and the choir filled the little stone church with glorious music.

  Grant imagined that night when God the Father had sent His son to earth. For him. A sweet certainty filled him. He could be the father the twins needed because he had his Heavenly Father to lean on. He could be what Dahlia needed—with God’s help.

  When the service ended everyone rose, took a cup holding a lighted candle and paraded through the town to the huge Christmas tree in the square. The group circled the big, lit tree singing “O Holy Night.” After wishing each other merry Christmas, the crowd dispersed.

  “You know what to do?” he asked the twins as he took their candles.

  “We know, Daddy.” They waited until he’d moved out of sight before racing toward Dahlia. “Merry Christmas, Dally.” Their voices rang out in the frosty air like joyful bells.

  Grant hurried toward the manger scene in front of the church to wait.

  Dahlia took her time arriving. When she saw him waiting by the wooden donkey, she paused before continuing toward him.

  “Your parents took the twins?” he asked, just to make sure the girls followed orders to go home with Dahlia’s parents as soon as they’d delivered their message to Dahlia.

  She nodded.

  “Good.” He took her hands in his, strong hands that gave so much. He placed a kiss in each gloved palm, then pressed her fingers around it. Dahlia’s eyes widened, but she said nothing.

  “My beloved Dahlia.” He couldn’t stop staring at her, so lovely in her long green coat and matching beret. “Do you know that you make my world live? You’ve taught me to see my possibilities in God, to understand that with God’s help, I can be the man He wants. But what you doubted is that with God’s help, I can also be the man you need.”

  “Grant—”

  He leaned forward and kissed her, lightly, tenderly.

  “Let me say this,” he begged and waited for her nod. “I love you. You, Dahlia. If you’ll trust me, I can change to be what you need.”

  “No.” Dalia shook her head, her hazel eyes glossy with tears. When she tugged her hands from his, Grant thought his heart would crack, until she cupped her fuzzy white gloves against his cold cheeks and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Don’t change, Grant. Don’t ever change. You’re the man of my heart, the one I trust completely.”

  He was speechless.

  “I was wrong, Grant. I was afraid and hurt and so scared to trust that you could love me. But I know now that with you and God, I can accomplish whatever God wills.”

  She kissed him again, showing her love so sweetly.

  “I thought I had to be strong to be used of God. I’ve come to understand that God works with weakness to make great things. My future plans are now subject to His approval,” Dahlia whispered.

  “Am I part of your future plans?” he asked softly.

  “Without you, I don’t have any plans.”

  “I love you, Dahlia Wheatley.” Grant drew her into his arms and kissed her. His dearest wish had come true.

  It was only when she finally drew away that Grant noticed it was snowing, hard. As in blizzard. Dahlia’s gorgeous auburn curls were covered in white crystals. She looked like a snow princess.

  He felt like her prince.

  “Are you going to marry me, Dahlia?”

  “Yes.” She laughed before sliding her hands around his waist. “Is the deal off if I tell you I want brothers or sisters for the twins?”

  For a moment, Grant’s heart raced. How could he be a father to more children when he struggled so much with being the right father for the twins?

  Then he saw the manger scene and the spotlight shining on it. God would supply all the knowledge Grant would need to raise a family. Hadn’t He done that so far?

  “My darling Dahlia, you and I are going to have the family that God gives us, whatever its size,” he told her as assurance swept through him.

  After one last lingering embrace, they hurried arm in arm through the whirling snow to Grant’s house, where Dahlia’s parents sat reading to the sleepy twins in front of the fire.

  As Grant sat beside Dahlia, their hands entwined. They listened to the age-old story of love from heaven. He could hardly wait for tomorrow when Dahlia would open her Christmas gift and find the engagement ring he’d bought for her. Their future would be anchored in the Father’s love. Nothing from Grant’s or Dahlia’s past could ruin that.

  Epilogue

  On the longest day in June, Dahlia clung to her father’s arm as they followed Grace and Glory down the aisle—the aisle being the now-finished Damon Wheatley Go-Kart Track.

  The girls had chosen pink dresses and pink shoes. They carried little nosegays of palest
pink rosebuds. Dahlia wore a blush-pink ankle-length dress with a silk organza overlay. She carried one bright pink rose.

  With the community in attendance, Rick officiated as Dahlia and Grant pledged their love to each other.

  “I promise to love you, cherish you, honor you and always believe in you. I promise that together we will teach our children to love God. I love you, Dahlia.”

  “I promise to trust you no matter what and to love you forever. I promise to be by your side through whatever God sends our way. I love you, Grant.”

  When Rick pronounced them husband and wife, the audience rose and clapped. A sudden roar of an engine came from the end of the track. Then Arlen, who’d returned for the wedding by special request of the couple, burst over the smooth pavement to run the first lap of the new track in a freshly painted, perfectly humming go-kart.

  “Did you know?” Dahlia asked her new husband.

  “No clue. Pretty cool way to open the track, huh?”

  “Way cool,” she agreed as everyone clapped when Arlen returned, grinning from ear to ear.

  Dahlia and Grant celebrated their marriage in a reception at Lives, reveling in the support they received, but eager to be alone together. They snuck away after cutting their cake. Dahlia’s parents drove them to the train station.

  “You have our phone numbers,” Dahlia said to her parents. “If anything happens with the twins, you promise to call?”

  Glory tugged on her new grandmother’s skirt. “Do they know about the boat ride we’re going to take?” she whispered.

  “Boat ride?” Grant asked carefully. “What boat ride?”

  “To see the whales,” Grace explained. “It’s a blow-up boat. A Zoe-something. I hope the whales don’t poke a hole in it.”

  “I hope you don’t fall out,” Glory said.

  Grant opened his mouth just as the train whistled. Dahlia leaned over, kissed his cheek and reminded him, “We’re leaving things up to God, remember? He surely knows how to care for two little girls.”

  “I have a hunch it’s your parents who will need looking after,” Grant told her.

  They got on the train in a flurry of confetti and took seats by the window, where they could wave goodbye until the train slowly pulled out of the station.

  “I love you,” Dahlia whispered.

  “I love you,” Grant replied.

  The bride and groom were oblivious to the other passengers as they stared into each other’s eyes while the train rumbled over the tracks, taking them away from the tiny town where they would create their first home together.

  “They’re all looking at us, you know,” Dahlia whispered after a quick glance around the train car.

  “They’re looking at you, the most beautiful woman in the world,” Grant corrected.

  “Thank you, darling.” Dahlia returned his kiss then laid her head on his shoulder to watch the taiga give way to trees as the midnight sun shone on. Suddenly she sat up. “I never did find out where you’re taking me for our honeymoon.”

  “Banff.” He waited for the smile to light the flecks of gold in her eyes.

  “Really?” A smile spread across her lips.

  “I know how much you love nature, and I have it on good authority that the stargazing is unbelievable.” Grant snugged his arm around her.

  “‘The heavens declare the glory of God.’ They’re a marvelous display of His handiwork,” Dahlia murmured. “It’s the perfect place to thank God for all He’s done for us.” She leaned over to kiss Grant’s cheek.

  Grant turned his head just in time to catch her kiss. When it ended, they heard the woman behind them sigh and say, “Love. Nothing can beat that gift from God.”

  Grant smiled at Dahlia, who nodded in perfect agreement.

  *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE FOREST RANGER’S CHRISTMAS by Leigh Bale.

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome back to Churchill. I hope you’ve enjoyed Dahlia, Grant and the twins. Dahlia’s struggle to break free of feeling weak led her to a new life. Grant’s feelings of inadequacies as a father turned out to be a blessing. Each learned that if they trusted God, He would lead them on a better path.

  As you press on through your own struggles and difficulties, I wish you abundant joy in knowing God is always there to lead you, too. May you see beyond what troubles you, and find peace knowing that your Father has everything in His hands. And lastly, may your life be filled with people, places and things that touch you at the core of your being.

  Blessings,

  Questions for Discussion

  Grant made a decision to move to the far north for a job. Discuss issues children face when the family moves.

  Dahlia’s go-kart project was designed specifically for the Lives Under Construction boys. Do you think this was wise?

  Dahlia’s struggle to prove herself was rooted in her parents’ and fiancé’s actions, which left her feeling hurt and left out. Using you own experience, suggest ways to handle our disappointments when those nearest to us don’t live up to our expectations.

  Do you think Grant’s issues with fatherhood were because he actually didn’t know what to do, or because he was afraid of the ramifications of his decisions?

  Do you think Laurel’s program for troubled boys could work in your community? Would you be opposed to having such a program near you?

  Dahlia agreed to help Grant find a mom for his kids. Do you think marriages of convenience can work? Why or why not?

  Dahlia became caught up in making her project succeed to the detriment of other things in her life. How do you achieve balance in your world?

  The precocious twins seemed to readily accept Grant as their father. Do you feel this made his job as their father more difficult? Consider things he could have done to grow more comfortable.

  Grant never considered giving up the twins. Do you think he should have?

  Dahlia was crushed when the track was damaged. Discuss ways we can handle those kinds of disappointments in our own lives.

  Dahlia desperately wanted Arlen in her life, to the point where she was willing to tolerate his rudeness. Talk about how our deepest desires sometimes cause us to settle for less than the very best way God may have planned for us.

  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.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

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  Chapter One

  Jocelyn Rushton decreased her speed and switched on the windshield wipers as she entered the sleepy mining town of Camlin, Nevada. Home for the holidays. Or at least the only place on earth Josie had ever considered a real home.

  As she turned down Garson Way, a siren sounded behind her. She peered into her rearview mirror at the squad car coming up behind her. Great! Just great. A speeding ticket to welcome her home.

  The deep-throated noise escalated to a shrill whine. She slowed her compact car, the tires slicing through furrows of slush covering the black asphalt. Inching her way over into a drift of snow, she hoped she didn’t get stuck in the frozen mud.

  Red lights flashed and she shook her head. She hadn’t been speeding. Not on these slick roads. Maybe she had a taillight out. Maybe…

  The patrol car zipped past and Josie expelled a breath of relief. Then her mind went wild as she thought about where the police car might be headed. Her grandfather’s house was on this street. He’d lived here most of his life. A cul-de-sac, with no outlet. What if…?

  A blaze of panic burned through her chest. Glancing in her rearview mirror again, Josie pulled her car back onto the
icy pavement and drove steadily toward Gramps’s house. Forcing herself not to speed. Anxious to see Gramps and know that he was all right.

  Rows of quaint little homes with spacious yards covered in pristine snow flashed past her window. Fresh wreaths of pine boughs and holly decorated almost every door front. The late afternoon sunlight illuminated strings of red, yellow and green Christmas bulbs hanging along each roof.

  Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she forced herself to remain calm. To take deep, even breaths. In these slippery conditions, it’d do no good if she ended up sliding into the shallow irrigation ditch bordering the narrow road.

  Finally she saw Gramps’s white frame house. A bevy of ice-crusted vehicles sat parked out front. The squad car dominated the scene, perched at an odd angle in the driveway. It blocked a green Forest Service truck.

  Josie pulled up in front of the house. Two elderly women wearing heavy coats scurried through the snow toward their cars. The siren still blared and they clapped their hands over their ears to shut out the deafening noise. No doubt they were eager to vacate the premises, now that the police officer was here.

  Hearing the siren, neighbors came outside and perched on their front porches like gawking fowl. They crossed their arms against the chilly temperature and crinkled their noses at all the commotion.

  Josie killed the engine and clicked off her seat belt. She scanned the area for an ambulance, then remembered this tiny town didn’t have one. Just a volunteer fire department, with the nearest hospital sixty-eight miles away in Bridgeton. One more reason for her to worry about Gramps. If he ever needed quick medical care, he could be in real trouble. And who would drive him to Bridgeton? With her living ten hours away in Las Vegas, Gramps was all alone. Something she hoped to change very soon.

  She threw her car door open wide. Stepping out in her tennis shoes, she skirted a pile of slushy snow. She glanced at the roof of the two-story house, searching for smoke or some sign of a breakin. Except for a cluster of missing shingles on the west side, nothing looked out of place. No obvious reason that would warrant a cop.