When Snowflakes Never Cease (Crossroads Collection)

by Amanda Tru

  Would they get back to her place today? He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when he gave her his gift. Hopefully, she wouldn’t think it was too soon.

  Adaline felt Kent’s eyes on her from across the room. Making eye contact, she winked and blew him a kiss that brought out that sexy grin of his she loved so much.

  Loved?

  Yes. Loved. She wasn’t sure exactly when it had happened, but it felt right. Kent Clark was her tall, dark, and handsome hero—cliché as that sounded—who showed his own love and affection easily and accepted her just as she was. So yes, she could say with certainty that she loved the guy.

  Kent winked back, shaking his head with a laugh that bobbed his shoulders. Ada excused herself from the conversation and made her way to him. This wasn’t the right moment to tell him of her feelings, but soon. She’d made him wait to acknowledge their relationship. She wouldn’t make him wait long for this.

  Ada was only halfway to him when a loud cheer erupted from behind her. She turned to see a wall of patrons peering through the windows into the parking lot. Excited energy flitted through the vast space, people cheering and murmuring and laughing at the sight of a mammoth snow plow followed by a sand truck making their way into the parking lot.

  Jeff had been right. There were definite advantages to being right off the freeway. It would probably still be several hours before they’d be completely clear to leave, but for now, she’d join the cheers.

  And then come up with a plan to tell Superman she loved him.

  “Five! Four! Three! Two! One!” The New York City crowd cheered the ball’s descent from the wall-mounted television in Ada’s living room.

  “Happy New Year, Ms. Danvers.”

  “Happy New Year, Mr. Clark.”

  His warm lips met hers, softly at first. Then the world fell away, and it was only him and her in a deep, smoldering kiss that left them both sucking in air as they recovered.

  Her eyes blinked open to Kent’s satisfied grin.

  “I don’t think you should be kissing me like that without a chaperone, Superman.”

  “Probably not. I think we’re okay, though. Karalee and Taylor are here.”

  “Some chaperones they are, sacked out before midnight on New Year’s Eve.” Ada laughed.

  “They’re probably in a sugar coma,” Kent tilted his head toward the kitchen counters still lined with the remnants of their overindulgence.

  “I hope Jane and Xander are okay. I don’t like them not being home this time of night.”

  “They’ll be fine. Safe at the church lock-in. Jaydon won’t let them get away with anything. Besides, they invited Sadie and Tawnie. Their parents made an exception to their grounding just this once.”

  Ada smiled. He had a point.

  The four had become fast friends since their harrowing experience at the theater last week. Hours after the city had gotten the main roads and most of the theater parking lot clear enough for the crowd to risk getting home, the two girls’ parents had arrived to pick them up, furious but relieved to find them safe and sound and assuring them they’d be grounded for at least a month.

  They’d made a single exception after Ada had personally called to invite the girls to the youth group lock-in. Mike and Kim hadn’t been able to refuse the woman who’d looked after their girls.

  “What can I help with before I head home?”

  Kent’s question jolted Ada back to the present. “Um, let’s just put the food away and put water in the dishes. I’ll load the dishwasher tomorrow.”

  “You sure? I don’t mind.”

  “I’m sure,” she smiled. “I’d rather have a few more minutes like this.” She curled back against him on the couch, fingering the two charms on the bracelet Kent had given her for Christmas.

  “I like how you think.” Kent pressed a kiss to the top of her head and went back to watching whatever musical act was on the television special.

  Her fingers grazed the tiny book and the intricate poinsettia, but it was the eternity symbol along the top of the bracelet that drew her focus.

  “I know you already have a charm bracelet. But I plan to add a whole lot more of these over the years. You need one with more space.” He’d spoken the words softly late Christmas night in front of her tree, the tiny lights giving the room a romantic glow.

  “And this,” he’d added as he traced the cursive words more than enough along the bottom right of the infinity loop, “is so you know I will always feel this way. I’m not asking for forever yet. But one day, I will.”

  She hadn’t known what to say then, other than the three little words she’d wanted to utter at the theater earlier in the day. Here, a week later, as she burrowed into the warmth of his body under her favorite throw and watched a pop duo serenade one another, she thanked God for giving her the words now.

  You’re more than enough for me, Jesus. Thank You for showing me the same. Thank you for Kent. I know he’ll never let me doubt or forget, and neither will You. Ada blinked against a single tear that clung to her lashes.

  “Kent?” She waited for the eyes of the man she loved to meet hers. “You’re more than enough for me, too.”

  His grin filled his whole face, crinkling his eyes and creating deep brackets on the sides of his mouth.

  “I love you, Ada.”

  “I love you, too, Kent.”

  Their lips met once more, filling her with a rush of joy and peace and rightness.

  The End

  For much of the story, Ada struggles against the words never enough.

  II Corinthians 12:9 in the Amplified Bible tells us “but He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.”

  1. Do you think Ada has fully accepted God’s grace in her life?

  2. There’s an element of truth to her fears of never being enough. How is God’s power magnified through Ada’s weakness?

  To compensate for her feelings of inadequacy, Ada micromanages her world almost obsessively.

  3. Have you noticed this trait within yourself or someone you love—the need to take control when their world feels off its axis? Does this behavior tend to help or hinder the situation?

  4. I have to remind myself of Proverbs 16:9 (NIV): “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” At other times, Matthew 6:27 is a swift kick in the pants. “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” What spiritual truths have you discovered helpful in such times?

  Kent still grieves the loss of his infant son over a decade and a half earlier.

  5. Grief knows no time table. There’s no question here, just love. If you or someone you love has suffered such a loss, my heart is with you. God sees you and knows your pain. If you have been holding the pain of your loss inside, I encourage you to share these feelings with someone. A burden shared is a burden halved.

  During the snowstorm, Ada believes she can use her gifts for organizing and managing things to help people at the theater.

  6. Were you expecting Adaline to jump in and save the day? How did you respond when she wasn’t needed and had to face her compulsion to be in control and surrender it to God?

  7. Have you had a moment like Ada did, coming to realize that you don’t need to be anything other than who God has called you to be? That because He is enough, you don’t have to be?

  The prevailing theme of this story is clear from the title More Than Enough. Modern motherhood places endless demands and so often, the job is daunting.

  8. While the hailed Proverbs 31 woman is held as the standard to which all Christian women should reach, it can also be a lot of pressure to live under. How do the qualities of the woman in that passage compare to such truths as Romans 8:1-2 (“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because throug
h Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free…”) and Acts 15:11 (“We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”) and the first passage above, II Corinthians 12:9?

  9. While we should seek to be our best selves, living a life that pleases the Lord, we must remember that we can do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5) and through Him we can do great things. How do these passages speak to your heart?

  I pray you will find peace and confidence in whatever role(s) you are filling in your life. God sees you. He has a purpose and a destiny for you. In Him you can do all things as He gives you strength (Philippians 4:13) and equips you with everything you need for doing His will (Hebrews 13:21). Be blessed!

  Find the latest information and connect with Jaycee

  on her website: www.jayceeweaver.com

  Jaycee Weaver lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her amazing husband, three daughters, a crazy shih-tzu, and a dwarf rabbit. When she’s not writing, she’s probably in hot pursuit of her 90 million other hobbies or shuttling the kids around. Jaycee loves to read books in multiple genres, drink too much coffee (honestly, when are they going to make the coffee IV a real thing?!), sing, take landscape and floral photos, sew, cook, bake, and craft nearly anything. She considers herself a recovering perfectionist and sometimes hot mess. She does her best to live her faith in action, being open, honest, and real; letting God be Lord over the good, the bad, and the ugly even when it’s hard.

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  by Jaycee Weaver

  Everyday Love Series

  Book 1: What Could Be

  Book 2: Whatever Comes Our Way

  Book 3: What Makes a Home

  Book 4: Whatever Happens Next (coming in 2020)

  Grace Springs Novellas

  Adrift

  Refined (coming soon)

  Deserted (coming soon)

  Uprooted (coming soon)

  Standalone Books

  Love, Laughter, and Luminarias

  A Splash of Love (part of the Once Upon a Christmas collection)

  Dear Crossroads Reader!

  My very real-world prayer is that More Than Enough blessed you and touched your heart—especially you mamas out there who struggle with feelings similar to Ada’s.

  It is now my sincere joy to introduce the fifth and final book in this collection, When Snowflakes Never Cease by the always accomplished Amanda Tru. Until a few months ago, I had only known Amanda as a reader. I first discovered Amanda’s books a few years back and devoured the five previous Crossroads Collections. When she messaged me to participate in this one, I was honored and ecstatic. I had only a few days prior finished reading The Second Yes and prayed, “Lord, how cool would it be to have one of my books in a Crossroads collection?” He’s got some sense of humor and timing, doesn’t He?

  Since then, I’ve come to know Amanda a bit more and found we share several things in common. She’s a former elementary teacher who now stays home with her kids, writing at night. I’ve spent most of the last fifteen years staying home with my kids, but now write part time and also substitute teach on the side. I love her sweet spirit and the way her stories always point readers directly to Christ in a personally meaningful way. I’m truly grateful to Chautona for introducing us.

  In When Snowflakes Never Cease, you will finally get to know Dr. Geneva Hutchins. When her young patient, Allie, needs the best care to save her life, Geneva turns to top cancer specialist and the man who broke her heart, Dr. Carter Solomon. Together, they embark on a journey to save Allie and grant her wish to see her daddy by Christmas.

  Please enjoy this story of love, dependence on God, and faith through the storms of life. This is the book that ties this entire Crossroads Collection together, bringing meaning and a larger story arc to four other wonderful, seemingly random Christmas romances. Enjoy unraveling the mystery connection, meeting some unforgettable characters, and sharing some laughter and tears. You’ve made it this far, and now we get to see you at the Crossroads!

  Jaycee Weaver author of More Than Enough

  A Novel by

  Published by

  Published By

  Walker Hammond Publishers

  Copyright Notice

  When Snowflakes Never Cease, copyright © 2019 by Amanda Tru, all rights reserved. First edition. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or recording — without express written permission of the author. The only exception is brief quotations in printed or broadcasted critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations, places, locales or to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or publisher. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  PUBLISHED BY: Walker Hammond Publishers

  Some scripture quotations courtesy of the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. Some scripture quotations courtesy of the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Holy Bible, Copyright© 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas-Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Each book in this collection is the intellectual property and the copyrighted material of the respective author and/or publisher and is reprinted as a part of this collection (anthology) only once and only by permission of the owners. The publisher makes no claim on, or to, the property of the owners which exceeds that permission. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the authors’ imagination or intended to be used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations, places, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental and beyond the intention of either the authors or the publisher.

  A chill scurried down Geneva’s spine, confiscating all the air from her body in its escape.

  “This can’t be right,” Geneva choked out, her eyes roving over the report in her hands. Unfortunately, even the third glance through didn’t change the numbers on the page.

  Snatching a dose of denial before the ugly numbers could fully process, Geneva recovered quickly. “There must be some mistake.” Confidently dismissing the report, Geneva briskly held the paper back to the nurse as if it were tainted and Geneva needed to avoid contamination.

  The sorrowful look on the nurse’s face contrasted with her “Hello Kitty” scrubs and bright pink bottoms. She shook her head and refused to accept the unassuming white page back from Geneva’s outstretched hand. “I’m sorry, Dr. Hutchins, but the results are accurate. I had the lab recheck three times to make sure.”

  “Then we need a different sample.” The suggestion ranked as ridiculous, and Geneva knew it. Impatiently, she pushed the wayward strands of honey blonde hair back into the knot at the back of her head and turned her attention to the next paper in the stack that required her attention.

  The determined attempt at distraction didn’t work. Deep down, she knew the truth, even if she didn’t want to admit it. If she followed through and insisted on another sample, it would yield the same results. She’d ordered multiple samples with the initial request for lab work, and if Ilene had requested three verifications, then the multiple samples had already been used.

  The test resu
lts were accurate.

  Geneva turned away from the waiting stack of papers and her attentive nurse, not wanting the older woman to see her struggle to maintain control.

  “I can call Kara,” Ilene offered helpfully, already turning to the computer to look up the phone number. “Maybe she can drop by the hospital tomorrow so Allie can give another sample for testing.”

  Geneva shut her eyes and took a deep breath. With her voice controlled and professional, she turned back around. “No. Thank you, Ilene. That won’t be necessary. I’ve worked with you long enough to know you are thorough.”

  Geneva cared deeply for all of her patients, but Allie was different. Not only was Allie an eight-year-old child, but she was also the daughter of one of Geneva’s oldest friends. After a long, ugly battle, Allie had been declared cancer-free two years ago. The report in front of Geneva now rescinded that label. Allie’s cancer was back.

  At the compassionate look in Ilene’s eyes, Geneva realized she hadn’t successfully kept her emotions hidden entirely beneath her usual professional mask.

  “I’m sorry, Dr. Hutchins,” Ilene said softly. “Do you want me to make a referral for her? Who was her doctor before remission?”