Cookies & Candlelight

by Maddrey, Elizabeth

  Micah drew her closer, but she sat stiff and unresponsive. He swallowed as his stomach churned. “It’s good to have you back home...”

  “Micah, don’t.” Serena leaned away and crossed her arms. “Why did you do this?”

  “Do what, exactly?” Micah clasped his hands in his lap so she wouldn’t see them tremble.

  “This.” She held up her hand, where his diamond sparkled.

  “I almost didn’t. You’ve been...distant. It stung. I hoped you’d just been busy, and that now that you’re back you’d remember what we have. What I think God put into our lives. And it was that sense of right, the peace I get whenever I pray for you—and for us—that convinced me that proposing was the right thing to do.”

  “You deserve so much more than me. A normal life. Isn’t that what you said you wanted? What you found here in Arcadia Valley? Nothing about my life is normal, not anymore. I’m heading back to L.A. on Monday. And I don’t know if I should come back. You see what it’s like out there now, when filming has barely started. What’s it going to be like when the movie’s out? Or if I do another one down the road? You don’t want to be tied to someone who’s always going to be in the public eye and hounded by photographers and reporters looking for a story. To have articles written that we’re on the verge of divorce because of the way I did or didn’t look at you during some event? That’s not your life. It’s not fair for me to ask you to take it on.”

  Micah clenched his teeth together, biting back the retort on his tongue. “And you get to decide all of that for me?”

  “If you’re honest with yourself, you know that kind of life isn’t what you want. It’s not what anyone would call normal.” Serena fumbled the ring off her finger and held it out.

  Maybe it’s what he’d always said he wanted, but he hadn’t known any different. Normal was what everyone wanted until they met someone who offered them something else. Something better. “Not anymore. Not if it means I don’t have you.”

  She closed her eyes, her head shaking. “You can’t know that. This is just such a tiny glimpse of what it could be like, and you already hate it.”

  “Maybe that’s true. Maybe it’s a little annoying. But what you’re leaving out is that I love you.”

  “For now. What happens when it gets to be too much?”

  “Then we—you and I together—figure out a way to make it not be too much. Maybe...maybe we move to L.A. where the craziness isn’t so obvious. Or something. Why don’t we wait and solve the problem after it happens instead of anticipating what might not ever come to pass?” Blood pounded in his ears, but he focused on his breathing. Yelling at her wasn’t going to help any, even if it might make him feel better. For about two seconds. Then, of course, he’d feel worse. Calm and rational. Those were the keywords to choose. Regardless of the churning in his stomach and the sense that he was teetering on the edge of an abyss with no idea if she was going to throw him a lifeline or push him over.

  “I can’t give you what you want, okay?” Tears spilled from her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

  His heart cracked and he scooted closer, fighting the urge to pull her into his arms again. “I want you.”

  “And marriage and a family.”

  Micah gently pried one of her hands free and held it loosely in his own. “Eventually, sure.”

  “I can’t—the accident—I can’t give you kids.” Serena wrenched her hand out of his and turned, her shoulders hunched and quaking.

  Micah let out a breath as relief washed through him. “Is that all?”

  She stiffened. “What do you mean? You didn’t see your face when Ruth told you she was expecting. I can’t give you that. It will never be us. Do you understand that?”

  “There are other ways to have a family.”

  Serena blinked.

  “I love you, Serena. I want a life with you. We can figure out the details as we go along.”

  “Are you sure?” Tears shimmered in her wide eyes as they filled with hope.

  “Of course. There’s foster care and adoption, sponsoring orphans. We have options. Maybe we’ll just end up being the best aunt and uncle in the world.” Micah brushed her cheek with his thumb. “We don’t have to know right now. We just have to be willing to figure it out together.”

  “Really?”

  He took the ring, slipped it back on her finger, and breathed a prayer of thanks when she folded herself into his arms. “Really.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He smiled and rested his forehead on hers. “It’s okay. Please don’t try to shut me out again, okay? Just talk to me.”

  “I will. I love you, Micah.”

  Her lips were salty from her tears, but her arms wound tightly around him. He didn’t have all the answers about their future. The upcoming time apart still made his heart constrict. But for now, they were both right where they belonged. Together.

  * * *

  A Note from Elizabeth

  Don’t you love a Hollywood ending? (Literally!) Serena found a way to have her pottery studio and still do the acting work she loves. And Micah is happy to have the role of best supporting husband on his horizon. Everyone wins.

  Except Jonah. It doesn’t look like Jonah is going to be winning Gloria’s heart any time soon. She might be willing to be his friend, but it seems pretty clear that’s where she’s drawn a hard line. So maybe it’s time for him to move on.

  If he can.

  Gloria has some moving on of her own to do when her past shows up in living color and forces her secrets into the open.

  Dig out your #TeamJonah t-shirt (or #TeamGloria, there’s no judgment here), and clear your calendar for another trip to Arcadia Valley.

  Donuts & Daydreams are just what the doctor ordered. Read it today!

  Sneak Peek of Donuts & Daydreams

  Get your copy today or read in KU!

  “Oh, thank goodness you’re still open.” Jonah Baxter pulled the door to Page Turners closed behind him.

  A young woman with almost orange hair looked up with a smile, slipped a bookmark between the pages, and laid her novel on the counter. “For about another hour. Last-minute shopping?”

  Jonah blew out a breath. “Yeah. The season kind of got away from me. I’m Jonah Baxter. I don’t think we’ve met?”

  “Kenia Akers.” She gestured to the shelves of books that filled the store. “Can I help you find something?”

  He dug in his pocket and drew out a crumpled piece of paper that he unfolded and tried to smooth. “I have a list. Sort of.”

  “That’s a start. Let me see it.” She snagged the paper from his fingers and frowned. “What kind of paper is this?”

  Heat crawled up his neck. “Parchment paper. My brothers and I run A Slice of Heaven Bakery. It’s what was handy. Malachi does all the business stuff and he gets testy if I raid his desk—says I mess up his organization.”

  “It has a nice texture.” She rubbed it between her fingers. “What’s it for?”

  “Lining pans. To keep cookies from sticking, that sort of thing. You’ve never used parchment paper? These days it seems like everyone watches cooking shows and knows all about the tools of the trade.”

  “The kitchen isn’t really my favorite place to be.” Kenia shrugged. “I think we have all of these. Eclectic list though.”

  “My siblings have mixed taste.”

  “You’re all readers?”

  He nodded. Reading was something his parents had prized and the love of it had been learned as little children, cuddled up on the couch while his mom and dad took turns reading aloud. They’d traveled as a family through Narnia and Middle Earth, and had joined the other farm animals in their amazement at Charlotte’s web designs. As they’d gotten older, most families quit reading aloud together. Not his. They’d gone to the center of the earth and the deepest, darkest parts of the sea, then surfaced and walked through the Lake District of England with Lizzie Bennett and pondered philosophy couched in the story of four Russian br
others. Even as adults, before his parents died, evenings when they were back home ended with a chapter or two from whatever Mom and Dad were reading together. “It’s a family passion.”

  “I like that. Flowers are my family’s passion, primarily. But we do like books.”

  “That’s good, seeing as you work in a bookstore.”

  Kenia laughed. It was a strong, friendly sound. “Very true. Here,” she pulled a thick hard cover from one of the shelves, “who’s this one for?”

  “Malachi. He and his wife Ursula are both addicted to this fantasy series, but I know they’re a couple of books behind, so hopefully they don’t have the latest already.” Jonah frowned. What if they did? “What’s your return policy like?”

  “I’ll get you gift receipts. They can exchange it if they need to.” Kenia moved down the shelves, consulting his list periodically and pulling out books. He could’ve done it himself. Wandering a bookstore was a nice way to spend an hour or two. Then again, following behind someone with as nice a figure as Kenia wasn’t exactly a hardship.

  “If you’re busy, I can get the rest.”

  “We’re almost done, and it’s not as if we’re packed.”

  He chuckled. Most people probably did their shopping well ahead of Christmas Eve. He’d meant to do all his shopping online last week, but they’d been slammed with orders for Christmas parties and family gatherings, and it had slipped his mind. When he’d gotten home from the bakery, he’d wanted nothing more than a hot shower, an hour of quiet, and bed. “I appreciate it.”

  “Who’s Ruth?”

  “My sister. You’ve probably met her, Ruth DeWitt? She runs the Fairview Bed and Breakfast. She loves to shop here.”

  “Of course. That means you and I have probably met—or at least seen each other—at Grace Fellowship.”

  He nodded. That would explain the nagging feeling that he knew her.

  “And who’s Serena?”

  “Soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

  “Your wife or girlfriend doesn’t like to read?”

  Jonah shook his head. He’d thought about getting something for Gloria. Not that she was his girlfriend. In fact, she’d made it very clear that she was not. They were friends. Maybe friends rated a Christmas gift, but he hadn’t wanted it to seem like he was pushing. “No wife. No girlfriend.”

  “Really?” There was a glint of something in her eye. It couldn’t be interest, could it?

  “What about you? Do you get your sweetheart books for Christmas?”

  Pink tinged her cheeks. “I’m not currently involved.”

  Hard to imagine. She was cute and spunky. In fact, she reminded him of Gloria a little. They didn’t share any physical resemblance, but their personalities were similar.

  Kenia cleared her throat. “Okay, I think that’s everything, unless your list is missing someone?”

  Jonah set the stack of books on the counter and mentally ticked through the recipients. “Nope, that’s everyone. I really appreciate it.”

  “That’s what we’re here for.” She rang up the books and told him the total. Jonah managed not to wince as he handed her his credit card. Maybe he should’ve gone for paperbacks, but that seemed too cheap for Christmas.

  “It was nice to meet you, Kenia.” Jonah hefted the two bags of books and aimed for the door. “Merry Christmas.”

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  Author’s Note

  Thank you for reading Cookies & Candlelight! I hope that you enjoyed it! I would appreciate it if you’d help others enjoy it too by leaving a review! Word of mouth is how most people say they find new books to read, so I’d love it if you’d also consider telling your friends about it. Any success my books have is owed to readers like you who take the time to tell others about my stories. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

  Working on this project, with the five other amazing authors who are all writing in Arcadia Valley, has been an absolute delight. I love all the characters who fill up our little town, and I hope you will, too. Each of the ladies who are a part of Arcadia Valley has a great talent and a deep love for Christian fiction. I think you’ll agree it shows in the work they produce.

  You can always keep up to date with my writing news via my newsletter. There’s a sign-up form at my website and also on my author Facebook page.

  I continue to owe a huge debt of gratitude to my husband and sons for giving me the time to write, my sister for her unflinching support and encouragement, and my critique partners Valerie Comer, Lynellen Perry, Heather Gray and Jan Elder for catching all the times I use the same word six times in two paragraphs.

  More than anything, I’m grateful that God continues to give me words and makes it possible for me to write them down.

  I’d love to hear from you! You can connect with me on Facebook my webpage or via email.

  About the Author

  Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.