Passing through the double glass doors of the large, relatively modern office building, into the reception area, he hoped he looked better than he felt. Because he felt as though he’d been run over by a tank.
A young woman smiled as he approached the reception desk. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to meet with Eddie Perkins.”
She took Wes’s name then told him to take a seat while she let Eddie know he was there.
Perhaps it was good he’d be seeing his old friend today. He and Eddie had always been close and Wes appreciated his friend’s perspective on things. Once Wes told him all that had transpired in the past few weeks, his friend was certain to have some sage advice.
Easing into a padded chair, Wes stared blankly out of the floor-to-ceiling windows, wondering what Laurel and Sarah-Jane were doing. Probably finishing up breakfast. They were an hour behind him, after all. How he longed to see his baby girl. But what would that look like now? Laurel would be a part of any video chat. Sitting on the other side of the screen, staring at her beautiful face, knowing she would never be his. How awkward was that going to be?
Before Wes had time to contemplate the magazines on the table beside him, Eddie came around the corner.
“Wes.” Arms wide, he approached as Wes stood.
“Good to see you,” Wes said as the two briefly hugged.
“You, too.” Releasing him, Eddie studied Wes. “You’re looking kinda rough, though. You must have really jumped through some hoops to get here.”
Wes rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not gonna kid you. It’s been a rough couple of days.”
“Let’s go to my office so we can talk.”
Wes followed his friend across the tiled lobby, down a carpeted hallway and into a rather generic office, save for the family and military photos that lined one wall.
Eddie motioned for Wes to take one of two chairs in front of the desk, while Eddie continued to his office chair. “So how have you been? What have you been up to?”
Pondering all that had transpired in the last three weeks, Wes shook his head. “Well, for starters, I’ve just recently learned that I have a daughter. I don’t know if that’s going to be a problem for the organization or not, the fact that I wasn’t married to her mother.”
Forearms resting on his desk, Eddie studied him. “No wonder you’re so messed up.”
“Saying goodbye to that little girl was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, especially since I just met her.”
“How old is she?”
“Just turned fifteen months.”
“Oh, so she’s little.”
“Yeah. Cute as a bug, too.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, brought up a picture and showed it to Eddie. “Her name is Sarah-Jane.”
Eddie leaned in to look at the screen. “What a doll. She’s got your eyes.”
A sense of pride swept through him. “I got to see her take her first steps.” That was also the first time Laurel had referred to him as daddy.
“Where does her mother fit into this picture?”
“I’m not sure.” Wes leaned back in the chair. “Laurel is the only woman I’ve ever been drawn to. And while I’ve always said I don’t deserve a family, now I want it so bad I can taste it.”
“Are you saying you love Sarah-Jane’s mother?”
He thought about the way he felt when he was with Laurel. And how horrible he’d felt since he’d left. “I think so. Yes.”
“Any idea how she feels about you?”
“That’s what’s got me so confused.” Resting his elbows on his knees, he went over the ups and downs of their relationship, before sharing the events of Friday night.
“Wes, do you think Laurel is worth fighting for?”
“Without a doubt.”
Eddie leaned back in his own chair, clasping his hands behind his head as he contemplated everything Wes had shared. A move Wes recognized from their time together in the military.
“To answer your first question,” Eddie began, “I don’t think you fathering this child will be a problem for the organization. We’ve all sinned. If not, we wouldn’t need Jesus. What I’m wondering, though, is if this job is still a good fit for you. Your life has changed a lot and rather suddenly. You have a little girl who needs her father. So, perhaps, this position isn’t the best fit for you anymore.”
“But I made a commitment.”
Straightening, he turned his chair, so he was looking straight at Wes. “And what about your commitment to your daughter?” Hands clasped tightly, his gaze bore into Wes’s. “Being a father is the greatest gift you could be given.”
His friend’s intensity had Wes sitting taller. “I’m aware of that, sir. Trust me, I don’t take this lightly.”
“And what about her mother? Are you just going to let her slip through your hands? Or are you ready to fight for that family, I believe, God wants you to have?”
* * *
Wes had been gone for a week, and Laurel still missed him. Countless times she’d reached for her phone, determined to call him and tell him that she loved him. Yet each and every time she’d stopped herself. The man was preparing to go overseas, and she didn’t want anything to distract him from his mission.
Besides, he hadn’t called her, either—well, Sarah-Jane, anyway. Laurel knew he must be missing his daughter. He was probably just busy with his training.
With Irma’s house complete, and Wes and her father gone, Laurel had tried to return to her usual routine. It was nice to make her morning trips for coffee again but, other than that, things just felt...different.
Her life had changed so drastically in the last few weeks. Things she’d once only dreamed of—a father, falling in love—had, by the grace of God, found their way into her life. And while neither had come without trepidation, she wouldn’t trade them for the world.
She and her father had spoken every day since his return to Midland on Tuesday. Not only had they made a promise to be open about their feelings, he was worried about her. And Laurel couldn’t help thinking how good it felt to have someone, family, who cared.
She’d also spent a lot of time thinking about her grandmother this week. The woman had truly loved Laurel, in her own misguided way. And without Grandmama Corwin, Laurel never would have found her way to Bliss, where her life had taken on so much more meaning.
If only Wes were here. Apparently the old adage “absence makes the heart grow fonder” was true, because there wasn’t a moment that had gone by that she didn’t think about him.
“Mah.”
Standing in the kitchen, Laurel looked down at her daughter, who was trying in vain to open the cabinet door.
“I knew those child locks would come in handy someday.” She knelt beside Sarah-Jane. “Sorry, baby. There are things in there that could hurt you.”
Sarah-Jane smiled and began to bounce.
“Let me finish restocking your diaper bag and then we’ll go to the farmers market, okay?” Standing again, she snagged a couple of snacks from the pantry, carefully hiding them from those watchful blue eyes that seemed to have grown keenly aware of the portal that contained a certain little person’s favorite treats.
After adding them to her bag, she snatched it up and started for the front door to put it in the stroller before loading Sarah-Jane.
“I’ll be right back, baby.” She moved around the peninsula, continuing into the living room. But when she opened the door, her heart skidded to a stop.
“Wes?” Standing there, dumbfounded, she found herself clinging to the knob as a thrill sprang to life inside her, though angst and doubt quickly tried to overtake it. “What are you doing here?” Well, that was a stupid question. “I mean, let me get Sarah-Jane.” She started to turn.
“I’m not here because of Sarah-Jane.”
A lump fo
rmed in her throat as she faced him again.
“I’m here because of you, Laurel. You captured my heart the moment I saw you at that pool two years ago, and no matter how hard I’ve tried to dismiss or forget you, I can’t.”
She had to be dreaming. Wes was in North Carolina.
She squeezed her eyes shut. But when she opened them, he was still there on her porch, hands dangling from the pockets of his faded jeans.
“Dah!”
Laurel turned at the sound of her daughter’s voice. “You heard your daddy, didn’t you?”
Spotting her father, Sarah-Jane’s pace quickened. Arms in the air, she grinned as she beelined toward him. Until she lost her balance.
“Uh-oh.” Wes stepped inside, scooping Sarah-Jane into his arms before she hit the floor. “Got a little too much forward thrust going on there.”
“She’s excited to see you.” Truth be known, Laurel was, too. She watched as her daughter laid her head against Wes’s shoulder.
Wes patted her back, his attention returning to Laurel. “That night we had dinner with Irma and Joyce, I told you my dream of finding the perfect partner died along with my parents. But since spending time with you, that dream has been resurrected.”
Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. Could this really be happening? Was Wes really saying these words to her?
“I’m back in Bliss for good, Laurel, in hopes that I can win your heart. I love you, and I’d like nothing more than for us to be a family. You, me and Sarah-Jane.”
Emotions threatened to overtake her. She’d never heard such words directed at her. And the amount of joy vibrating through her being was almost more than she could stand.
With her heart racing, she stared at this man she loved more than anything. “But what if I want more babies?”
His grin went from hesitant to certain. “Then I’m in for that, too. Whatever God has in store for us.” He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “So long as I get to share every moment of it with you.”
Placing her hand over his heart, she felt it pounding every bit as wildly as her own. She peered up at him. “My heart already belongs to you, Wes. I love you, too.”
He lowered his head and kissed her as thoroughly as he could with Sarah-Jane in his arms. When they parted, he said, “You hear that, Sarah-Jane? We’re going to be a family.” He tossed their daughter in the air before setting her on the floor. Straightening, he cupped Laurel’s cheeks in his hands and stared into her eyes. “You are the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. Will you marry me?”
With happy tears streaming down her cheeks and her heart overflowing with joy, she smiled bigger than ever before. “In a heartbeat.”
Epilogue
“What do you think, Sarah-Jane?” Standing in the glow of hundreds of tiny white lights, Laurel smiled at the wide-eyed child tucked in her father’s arms. “Our first Christmas tree as a family.”
“And in our new house,” Wes was quick to add.
Laurel looked around the spacious room with vaulted ceilings. “When we came here back in April for dinner with Joyce and Irma, I never would have guessed I’d be living here.”
“You mean that we’d be living here.”
Deciding she wanted to be near her children in Dallas, Joyce had come to Laurel and Wes even before their September wedding and offered them her house, saying, “It’s the perfect home for a family.”
Of course, as soon as Wes heard it was on an acre and half and there was already an outbuilding he could use as a shop, he was sold. Then he learned Joyce had offered it to them at well below market value. After updating the kitchen and bathrooms, not to mention going through gallons of greige paint to cover that dark wood paneling, the home had turned out to be perfect for them. An office plus four bedrooms meant they had room to grow.
“All that’s missing now,” said Wes, “are the ornaments.”
As if on cue, the doorbell rang.
Laurel feigned a gasp. “Who’s here, Sarah-Jane?”
The three of them made their way to the door. Laurel and Wes knew that no tree-trimming party would be complete without the rest of their family.
“Merry Christmas!” Rae, Paisley and Christa cheered collectively as Laurel opened the door.
“Merry Christmas to you.” Laurel hugged each of them as they entered.
Rae promptly kissed her niece while a Santa hat–clad Christa held up two bottles of sparkling cider.
“Where should I put these?”
“The refrigerator is good for now.” Laurel started to close the door.
“Wait for me.”
She yanked it back open. “Hey, Dad.”
Almost three months ago, he’d walked her down the aisle, making two of Laurel’s dreams come true at one time. He’d also sold his business in Midland and moved to Bliss shortly after that and was now living in Laurel’s old house, where she could keep him under a watchful eye. Fortunately, his congestive heart failure was in the early stages, and getting out from under the stress of his business had greatly improved his blood pressure. Now all she could do was monitor his diet and pray that God would grant them as much time together as possible.
“Looks like it’s time to get this party started.” Wes set Sarah-Jane on the floor and followed her as she ran back into the family room.
“Would you like to eat these now or later?” Beside Laurel, Paisley motioned to the beautiful tray of cookies she’d brought.
“Now. Definitely.”
They all moved into the family room, where Sarah-Jane stared up at the illuminated tree.
“Before we get started—” Laurel grabbed a sparkling bag from the kitchen counter “—I have something for each of you.” One by one, she handed each of their guests a wrapped bundle. “I wanted every member of our family to have an ornament on our tree.”
“Can we open them?” Anticipation filled Rae’s voice.
“Of course.” Laurel had chosen ornaments suited to each person. Rae’s was a glittering cup of coffee, Christa’s a shimmering tool belt. Paisley received a stylishly dressed baker holding a plate of cookies, while Jimmy’s was an oil derrick.
“This is perfect.” Her father chuckled as he held it up for inspection.
Reaching into the bag, Laurel pulled out one final box. “And I have one more for Sarah-Jane.” She handed it to her daughter, who was now sitting in her daddy’s lap on the floor. “Why don’t you help her, Wes?”
“All right. Let’s see what we got, Sarah-Jane.” He tore one end open, allowing his daughter to take over from there.
Anticipation rose inside Laurel.
Finally, he pulled out the ornament with two teddy bears sitting atop a rocking horse. “Look at that, sweetheart.” He held it up for her to see. “It says Big Sister.”
Notes of “White Christmas” played softly in the background as everyone except for Wes fell quiet.
“What do you think about that, Sarah-Jane? Shall we put it on the tree?”
Laurel held her breath, trying not to laugh. She glanced at her father, Rae, Christa and Paisley, who were all doing the same. Obviously Laurel’s little hint was lost on her husband.
Helping Sarah-Jane hang her ornament, he said, “See there, someday you’re going to be a big sist—” Slowly he turned to face Laurel. “Wait. Does this mean...?”
Laurel nodded. “You’ve got until July to get the nursery ready.”
A nanosecond later, he swooped her up in his arms and kissed her.
“Now this calls for a celebration,” she heard Paisley say. “Christa, pop the top on that sparkling cider.”
When Wes finally allowed Laurel’s feet to again touch the ground, he cupped her cheek and stared at her with an intensity that made her heart race. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.”
Moments l
ater, Rae lifted her glass. “A toast to my brother and my best friends.”
Surrounded by all the people she loved, Laurel’s heart overflowed. God had been so gracious to her. He’d heard the prayers of a lonely heart and given her the family she’d always longed for. And that was the greatest gift she’d ever been given.
* * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Cowboy’s Missing Memory by Shannon Taylor Vannatter.
Dear Reader,
Have you ever made a mistake? Sometimes those mistakes impact our lives and the lives of others. The good news is that God can turn even our biggest mistakes into our greatest blessings.
I loved getting to know Wes and Laurel and watching these two wounded souls discover their hearts’ desires. And Sarah-Jane was an absolute delight. I hope you enjoyed your first visit to Bliss, Texas, where life moves at a slower pace and traditional values still abound. Having moved from the suburbs of Dallas–Fort Worth to a small rural community three years ago, I share Laurel’s appreciation for a simpler way of life.
I’m looking forward to sharing more Bliss with you as we delve into the lives of Laurel’s friends, Christa, Paisley and Rae. Until then, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me via my website, mindyobenhaus.com, or you can snail-mail me c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th floor, New York, NY 10007.
Wishing you many blessings,
Mindy
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The Cowboy’s Missing Memory
by Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Chapter One
On her way out, Lexie Parker glanced toward the ER.
Audrey Rawlins paced the waiting room.
Stopping Lexie in her tracks. A knot developed in her stomach and sank. Gathering her courage, she sat the goodbye plant from her coworkers on a bench, pushed the red button to open the door and hurried to the woman she’d let down two and a half years ago.
A Father's Promise Page 18