A Mother for His Twins

by Jill Weatherholt

  “Nick, did you hear?” Joy glanced toward her gorgeous husband, who now resembled a raccoon in headlights. “Honey? Are you okay?”

  A quick shake of his head broke the trance. “Yeah, I’m good,” he stuttered.

  “What do you think?” she asked, reaching for his strong hand.

  “I think we need a bigger house.” He chuckled.

  Joy shook her head at her husband, who always tried to make her laugh. “Seriously—that’s all you’re thinking right now?”

  He smiled as he took her hand and squeezed three times... I-love-you, their secret message to each other whenever they held hands. “Doctor, could I have a few minutes alone with my beautiful bride?”

  “Of course. Take all the time you need.”

  When the door closed Nick leaned in and brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. “I’m wondering how in the world a guy like me ever deserved a second chance with you.” He caressed her cheek. “You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet, Joy Capello. You’ve not only blessed me with more children, you’ve given me another opportunity at life—to be the husband and father God created me to be. He is pretty good, isn’t He?”

  For a moment, the couple embraced in silence.

  Joy cuddled into him. “I can’t wait to share the news with Tyler, Jordan and Alexa.” Warmth coursed through her body as she thought of her family. Nick’s boys, whom she’d fallen in love with the first time she’d laid eyes on them. And precious Alexa, a ten-year-old child raised in the foster care system after being abandoned by her mother when she was two years old. The moment she and Nick had met the soft-spoken little girl, two months into their marriage, they knew she’d been their special present from God. The adoption paperwork would be finalized within the month.

  And then two more surprises blessed their marriage. Shortly after Joy had taken over as principal and Nick was happily settled in Mrs. Murray’s old classroom, a large anonymous donation had been made to the school. The board voted unanimously to use the funds to have Whispering Slopes K-12 headed by coprincipals. Joy and Nick had been ecstatic.

  The second and even bigger surprise was the unexpected pregnancy. When the morning sickness started, Joy thought she had the flu. But after a visit to Dr. Peterson’s office, the blessing was revealed to the newlywed couple. The heartbreaking news of permanent damage and the inability to ever conceive again given to that terrified teenager so many years ago had been wrong.

  How quickly her life had changed. She’d never imagined the wondrous gifts God had in store for her when He’d brought her first and only love, Nick Capello, back into her arms.

  Overwhelmed by the joyous occasion, she couldn’t believe that less than two years ago, she’d lived a lonely life in her empty home. Now she and Nick had exactly what he’d promised her the night they opened the time capsule—a houseful of kids and enough love to last them a lifetime. As for the promise ring, it had never left her pinkie finger.

  Joy settled up against Nick as they both sat on the examining table, still glowing from the news that their family was continuing to grow. “I guess you’ll have to fly without your copilot at school when I go off on maternity leave—you okay with that?”

  “If I have you to come home to, you can take all of the time you need, Mrs. Capello.”

  * * *

  If you enjoyed A Mother for His Twins,

  look for these other great books

  from author Jill Weatherholt, available now:

  Second Chance Romance

  A Father for Bella

  Find more great reads at

  www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Hometown Healing by Jennifer Slattery.

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  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for once again paying a visit to Whispering Slopes...my favorite fictional town nestled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I hope you enjoyed reading the reunion story of Nick and Joy. Two wounded hearts who struggled with the “if only” when it came to their pasts.

  If and only—two words that can start a person down the road of self-doubt. Questioning things we should have done, or something we shouldn’t have done. Choices. We all make them each day of our life. Some take us down the right path while others might send us spiraling into a world of regret.

  But what is past is done. We don’t get a redo, but we don’t have to let our past define who we are today. That was the challenge both Nick and Joy faced, but thankfully they realized God’s forgiveness isn’t only available to a selected few. It’s there for the taking, if we step out in faith and ask.

  Remember, nothing surprises God, so let it go! Don’t live a life burdened with guilt and regret. He has bigger plans for you, so don’t waste another minute.

  I love connecting with readers and getting to know you. Please visit my website, jillweatherholt.com, and follow my blog. You can also find me at www.Facebook.com/jillweatherholtauthor or email me at authorjillweatherholt@gmail.com. I’d love to chat with you.

  Jill

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

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  Hometown Healing

  by Jennifer Slattery

  Chapter One

  Paige Cordell felt as if she had regressed back to that awkward, frizzy-haired bookworm who’d left Sage Creek, Texas, fourteen years ago. With no intention of ever returning.

  And yet here she was. As a divorced unemployed single mother no less.

  Nothing screamed failure like sitting in Mom’s driveway with all of her belongings crammed into a U-Haul hitched to her car.

  She glanced back at little Ava, sleeping soundly in her car seat. She looked so peaceful with her rosy cheeks, the halo of red curls and the slight part of her lips. As if she hadn’t just spent nearly an hour fussing, not that Paige could blame her. They’d had quite the drive. Traffic, work zones, an accident just outside of Houston.

  Her phone rang. Paige glanced at the screen. It was Mira, her old high school friend.

  “Hey.”

  “Just checking you made it into town okay. And to see if maybe you’d like to stop by my place for a nice cold milkshake.”

  “Just got in.” She explained the reason for her three-hour delay. “And though I appreciate the offer, I’m wiped.”

  “I imagine.”

  “And discouraged. I know I’ll find another job eventually...”

  “Have you prayed about it?” Mira’s statement sliced through Paige like an accusation. “Might help.”

  “Please don’t talk religion to me. Not today.” She believed in God. But unlike her friend, she didn’t find comfort in toss
ing every decision up to Him.

  Besides, she and God hadn’t exactly been on the best terms as of late.

  “Well, like I said, this is only a hiccup.” Mira’s overly perky pep talk wasn’t helping. “Consider this an extended vacation.”

  “I can’t believe Ardell let me go. I mean, I get budget cuts, but why me? I was a high performer. I never missed a deadline, pitched great article ideas...”

  “You’ll find something even better with more job security.”

  Paige inhaled a fortifying breath. “You’re right.” She’d never allowed setbacks to discourage her before, and she had no intention of starting now. “Maybe even for a better magazine with a larger readership.”

  Only, Chic Fashions was about as big as they came. Not only was it Chicago’s premier fashion publication, but it was considered the top in the nation. She’d worked long and hard to land a position with them, only to end up jobless and living with her mother.

  The antithesis of adulthood.

  She glanced at Mom’s single-story brick house, heavily shadowed by a towering oak. Thick roots snaked through the grass, and a handful of dandelions dotted the lawn. The windows were dingy, like they hadn’t been washed in...ever, and the canary-yellow trim was beginning to peel.

  Other than that, the place seemed well-kept, and the yard had been mowed, which was surprising if her sister were right about how much Mom struggled. Hopefully Paige’s arrival would help pull Mom out of this phase she was in.

  A blur of red seeped into her peripheral vision, and she shifted to watch a shiny red pickup truck pull into the adjacent driveway.

  Her pulse spiked as a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat stepped out and then turned her way. “Seriously? Could this day get any worse?” she muttered.

  “Why? What happened?”

  With the phone still pressed to her ear, she sank farther into her seat with no intention of leaving her vehicle. At least, not until Jed Gilbertson was no longer standing less than fifty feet away. Staring at her.

  She turned to the box of office junk on the seat beside her to avoid making eye contact. “Jed just pulled up at his grandmother’s.” It’d been too long, and her heart had been too shattered, for him to still have such a pull on her.

  “I thought you were over him.”

  So did she. “That doesn’t mean I want to see him.”

  “I doubt you can avoid that, considering the close relationship he has with his grandmother.”

  As did Paige. At least, she had, before moving away. She loved that woman dearly and wanted to see her, to reconnect—without Jed hovering nearby.

  “He’ll probably be paunch bellied and balding in another five years.” Mira laughed. “Does that help?”

  Paige envisioned him in his junior year, sneaking extra cookies off his grandma’s counter, something he’d done often. Laughter danced in his chocolate-colored eyes, and a scruff of a beard was just beginning to fill in.

  He’d filled out some since then, though he’d always been muscular, and his features had sharpened. Other than his Stetson—he’d traded his signature black one for a tan variety—he dressed as she’d always remembered. Simple T-shirt, faded jeans and boots that were scuffed and worn but not tattered.

  The man who had once been her entire world. For a while, she’d thought she’d been his, as well.

  She hated to admit it, but he’d only grown more attractive, while she’d noticed the first hints of crow’s-feet on her own face.

  “Your breakup was a long time ago, Paige. Let it go. Maybe you two can become friends again. You used to be so close. And if not, who cares? Guys like him peak in high school.”

  And apparently women like Paige peaked in their thirties, then regressed.

  As much as she wanted to remain in her car for the rest of the evening, Paige needed to get out before she looked even more foolish than she felt. “I should probably get going.”

  “You’ve got this.”

  “Thanks, Mira.”

  “And don’t forget, you, me, coffee or dinner. Soon.”

  “For sure.”

  After ending the call, she took a quick glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Hair the color of a new penny, in a slightly frizzed bob that cost little more. The spider veins accumulated from three nights of poor sleep contrasted sharply with her pale blue eyes. And her peach-toned skin made the flush in her cheeks all the more noticeable. She eyed her yoga pants, which were splotched with bleach stains, and cringed. Of all the times to choose comfort over appearance...

  Just then, little Ava began to fuss. “Mama’s coming, sweet girl.” She fluffed her humidity-flattened hair and stepped out into the hot August sun. Footsteps scuffed toward her.

  Ignoring the tall, handsome figure standing an arm’s length away, she unfastened her daughter from her car seat and positioned the little one on her hip.

  “Howdy.”

  She turned to find Jed looking as handsome—and country—as ever. His chocolate-brown eyes made a visual sweep of her, pausing a fraction on little Ava, before locking onto hers. “Haven’t seen you in a spell. You...you look good.” He lifted his hat to scratch his head, revealing those wavy chestnut locks she’d always loved. Like she’d expected, he wore his hair short, almost shaved on the sides, but longer and fuller on the top.

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Thanks.”

  “Who’s the little princess?”

  “Ava Marie, my daughter.” As if he hadn’t heard all about Paige’s relationship troubles and her gem of a baby-leaving ex-husband. She had to be on every prayer chain in Sage Creek, if not all of Texas.

  “Need help?” Stubble covered his square jaw, and his lips curled upward in his characteristic crooked smile. The one that had captured, then shattered, her heart when she’d needed him most.

  She took a deep breath, hoping her voice wouldn’t reveal her rush of emotions. Emotions she’d thought were long buried. “I’ve got it, thanks.” Then, to prove the point, she grabbed her computer bag from the back and slung it over her shoulder. “How are you?”

  “Oh, you know, same ol’, same ol’.”

  His response provided the perfect end to an awkward conversation. She forced a smile. “If you’ll excuse me...”

  Little Ava squirmed in her arms.

  He eyed her U-Haul. “You moving back?”

  She swallowed but held his gaze, though his question zeroed in on all of her insecurities.

  Divorced.

  Rejected.

  Discarded.

  Proving she stunk at relationships. And choosing men—something she’d do well to remind herself of every time Jed’s deep brown eyes spiked her pulse.

  “For a while. To help my mom.” Which was true. He didn’t need to know the rest. “How’s your grandmother?”

  “Putterin’ around, as ornery as ever. She’ll be glad to see you. Does she know you’re back?”

  Paige gazed toward Mrs. Tappen’s house. “Probably.” Her mom likely mentioned something to her. Still, Paige really needed to stop by, see how she was doing.

  “Bet she’d even make a batch of those snickerdoodles you always loved.”

  The mention of her favorite cookies brought back a slew of memories—of her sitting at Mrs. Tappen’s breakfast counter with her cold hands wrapped around a hot mug of cocoa that was topped with miniature marshmallows. Of her parents’ fighting, the reason Paige had always ended up at the sweet woman’s home. After her father had bailed and Mom had shut down completely, when Paige had been in desperate need of a friend, Jed’s grandmother had opened wide her arms and her house.

  But the memories that most squeezed her heart were of the hot summer nights she and Jed had sat on Mrs. Tappen’s back porch, sipping lemonade. They’d talked about everything, from pop music to where they wanted
to land as adults.

  Back then she’d felt certain Jed’s future would include her.

  He stepped closer, and his cologne teased her nose. “What can I carry for you?”

  “I’m good, but thank you.” She marched up the walk to her mom’s house, locking her car en route.

  She’d unload the rest of her things later. On her own.

  Because despite Jed’s little welcoming act, she had no intention of being friends with the man.

  Her heart couldn’t take another rejection.

  * * *

  With his hands in his pockets, Jed watched Paige march into her house. She was more beautiful than ever. Her auburn hair, streaked with blond, was cut in one of those modern, windblown styles. Her teeth were straight and white. Way back then, she used to wear braces.

  She looked classy, even in workout clothes. And for sure citified. She looked nothing like the quiet, shy teenager he’d once kissed.

  If he had to do it over...

  If her abrupt departure was any indication, the girl wanted nothing to do with him. Did she hate him that much, or had she simply moved on, determined she was too good, too...elegant and proper, for guys like him? But he only had himself to blame. He should’ve held on to her when he had the chance, been there for her. Should’ve stood by her and fought for her. Instead he’d been too wrapped up in his own drama. Too busy chasing the next party and running from the high-dollar, fancy life his parents tried to force on him.

  He wasn’t fool enough to think they could ever have anything between them again, but he hoped they could at least be friends. And that somewhere beneath her sad eyes, he’d catch a glimpse of the girl he’d fallen in love with. Did she still exist, or had city life squeezed that out of her?