Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 1 of 2

by Marta Perry

  She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could believe that. Her time with Mick and Sadie had filled parts of her she wasn’t even aware were there, and for a brief moment, she’d felt loved.

  But those times were over. Her idyllic life had evaporated.

  Peering out the window again, she found herself faced with a choice. Stay and live with the constant reminders of what she’d lost, or return to her former life and lose herself in her work.

  * * *

  Mick stared out the open window of his truck as he waited in the line of vehicles slowly inching their way toward the elementary school for student pick-up Friday afternoon. A warm breeze sifted through an ancient live oak on the playground, sending its spent leaves drifting aimlessly toward the ground as new buds pushed forth.

  Watching Christa walk away earlier today had him realizing that he’d lost everyone he’d ever loved. His parents, Jen and Kyle, Christa. All he had left was Sadie, and if he lost her—

  No! He could not think that way. Sadie deserved to be in a home where she was loved and wanted. Not treated as a possession the Sandersons paid no mind to unless it was convenient for them. He had to fight to make sure Jen and Kyle’s wishes were upheld.

  Taking his foot off the brake, he kept an eye on the sedan in front of him as he rolled forward. The hearing was less than a week away, and he had yet to mention anything to Sadie. He sure wished Christa could be there to help him. To fill in the blanks or smooth things over when he said something that wasn’t quite right.

  He scrubbed a hand over his face. Man, he missed her. They’d made a good team, though she was definitely the better half.

  Some country breakup song started on the radio, and he promptly turned it off. He didn’t need to feel lower than he already did. Seeing Christa today had been as tough as it was unexpected. If she hadn’t gotten caught on that fence, he would have stayed on his tractor where he couldn’t see the hurt in her pretty hazel eyes or be tormented by her apple-scented shampoo. Instead, he was left longing to hold her, trying to play it cool and pretend he was fine with being only friends.

  What was she doing there in the middle of the day anyway? Something about a video call. If it pertained to store business, wouldn’t she have wanted to do that at the store, regardless of distractions?

  Lord, I miss her so much. I never meant to hurt Christa. God, I’d give just about anything to have another chance with her, but that may not be a part of Your plan. If that’s the case, then help me to accept it. But if it’s not, if Christa is the one for me, show me what to do.

  Once he had Sadie, the two of them made their weekly run to the grocery store. And just like every other time, when they were finished, the amount of items in their bags far exceeded what had been on his list. One of these days he’d have to stop being such a pushover where his niece was concerned.

  When they arrived back at the ranch, he heard Sadie sigh behind him as they passed Christa’s place.

  “I bet Dixie misses me.”

  He eyed her in the rearview mirror as he veered off toward the camp house. “I’m sure she does, princess.”

  After hauling the groceries inside, he stood at the island to unload them.

  Perched atop the opposite side of the counter, Sadie munched on her fruit snacks. “How come Miss Christa doesn’t come over anymore?”

  His chest tightened. “We talked about this, Sadie. Miss Christa and I had an argument.”

  She ignored her treat long enough to send him a look that said she was on to him. “You fighted.”

  Taking a bunch of bananas from a bag, he chuckled. “Yeah, sort of.” He set them by the window over the sink.

  “How come?”

  Finding a way to explain adult things to a five-year-old was always a challenge for him, but he was getting better. “Well, there was something I should have done that I didn’t. And when she found out, it made her very sad. She felt like she couldn’t trust me anymore.”

  Sadie tilted her little head, looking at him as though she was truly trying to wrap her brain around this conversation. Then again, she probably was, because she really missed Christa. “Why don’t you just tell her you’re sorry?”

  “I did.” Putting the eggs and bacon in the refrigerator, he continued. “But she was pretty angry with me. So she doesn’t want to be around me much anymore. However—” closing the door, he returned to the island and met her gaze, wanting her to understand “—she still loves you just as much as she did before.”

  Without missing a beat, she asked, “Does she love you?”

  He wished. “I don’t think so, Sadie.”

  She wadded up the empty wrapper and handed it to him. “Do you love her?”

  Did the kid know how to go for the jugular or what? “Yeah, I do. A lot.”

  She fell silent as he moved the canned goods and numerous boxes of mac and cheese to the cupboard. Finally, “Uncle Mickey?”

  “Yeah?” He watched her as he gathered up the empty grocery bags.

  “Do you want to marry Miss Christa?”

  Oh, to live in a world where life was so simple. “Well, I never thought about—wait, that’s not true. I have thought about it a time or two.”

  “So… Do you want to marry her?”

  He had to laugh. “Yes, all right. I want to marry Miss Christa.”

  “Good, cuz I want you to marry her, too.”

  He lifted her off the counter and set her feet on the floor he still hoped to replace. “Oh, you do, huh?”

  “Yes.” She gave one firm nod. “You hafta ask her.”

  He stared down at her. “Princess, it’s not that simple.”

  “Yes, it is. You getted a ring, you tell her you love her so much—” she threw her arms wide “—then she says yes, and you live happily-eber-after.” She sighed, holding her hands against her chest. “It’s like a dream come true.”

  Shaking his head, he said, “Now where did you hear that?”

  She frowned up at him. “Everybody says it, Uncle Mickey.”

  “Oh, they do, huh?” A dream come true. He froze. “Sadie, I think you might be on to something.”

  “What?”

  “A dream come true.”

  Her hand went to her hip. “That’s what I said.”

  He lifted her into his arms. “Sadie, I don’t know if Miss Christa will marry me or not, but I think I can make her dream come true.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “Okay.” She nodded. “Let’s do it.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “You’re leaving us?” Laurel’s eyes were wide, as were Rae’s and Paisley’s as they stared at Christa across her desk at Bliss Hardware Saturday afternoon.

  Leaning back in her office chair, she gulped. “Come on, guys. I’ve been offered an amazing opportunity.”

  “I thought you hated corporate life.” Rae crossed her arms over her chest, her blue eyes boring into Christa.

  “This will give me a chance to help others build their businesses.”

  “Yeah, so they can become cutthroat jerks.” Her favorite barista huffed.

  “What about Mick and Sadie?” Paisley tilted her head, sending her long red braid spilling over her shoulder.

  “They have their own life.” One she’d give anything to be a part of.

  Her three best friends looked at each other.

  “What happened?” Laurel’s tone held a note of sympathy.

  After a moment, she gave in to their pleading looks and told them about her desire to expand the store and everything that had transpired in the last week.

  Rae shifted in her seat. “I guess that explains the special deliveries Mick asked for.”

  Christa looked at her. “What deliveries?”

  “The macchiato and cookies. Lunch yesterday.”

&nb
sp; “That was Mick?” Christa wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

  “Yes, he said he knew you were too busy to stop, so he wanted to help you out.” Her brow lifted. “I just assumed you knew.”

  “No.”

  “So you’ve decided to run away.”

  Christa shifted her attention to Paisley, who sat there stone-faced, arms crossed tightly over her chest, one leg over the other, bobbing it at a frenzied pace. “No.” She thought about seeing Mick yesterday and how much it hurt knowing she couldn’t be with him. “He should have told me as soon as I revealed I was the one wanting to buy the Gebhardt building. But he didn’t say a word until I confronted him with the truth.” Resting her elbow on her desk, she plunked her chin in her hand. “Why is it that every guy I like feels the need to lie to me?”

  Uncrossing her legs, Paisley leaned forward. “Mick isn’t Brody, Christa.” Gripping the edges of her chair, she added, “Before you had this little exchange with Mick, how did you feel about him?”

  Christa lifted a shoulder, refusing to look at her friends. “At first I thought my feelings were just about Sadie. But the more we were together, the more I realized he was a tenderhearted man who was willing to do almost anything for someone he loved. Just the kind of man I’d always dreamed of finding. Until he lied.”

  Laurel stood and moved around the desk to grab a piece of chocolate from Christa’s emergency stash. “I don’t think Mick’s hesitance can compare with what Brody did. Brody was calculated and self-serving. Mick is grieving his sister and learning to be a father.” She set a hand on Christa’s shoulder. “He deserves a little grace.”

  Paisley cleared her throat. “I think the real problem here, Christa, is you.”

  “What? Why?” She shoved her chair back and grabbed the entire bucket of candy.

  “I think you’re afraid.”

  “Of Mick?” She fished out a Tootsie Roll before setting her stash on the desk.

  “Of love. Or more to the point, of losing someone you love.” Paisley cocked her head. “It’s easier to send him away on your terms than to risk your heart again.”

  Tears sprang to Christa’s eyes. Her friend knew her too well. “How can you say that when you lost your husband and child?”

  “Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, my friend.” Standing, Paisley moved toward Christa. “I miss Peter and Logan terribly. But I was so blessed to have had them in my life if only for a little while.” She paused a moment to ward off her emotions. “You love Mick, don’t you?”

  Christa lowered her head. “Yes.”

  “Then remember the passage in First John. ‘There is no fear in love.’” She knelt in front of Christa. “Don’t let fear dictate your life, darlin’, because you just might miss the greatest blessing ever.”

  There was a knock on her office door.

  Christa looked up as Paisley stood. “Come on in, Patsy.”

  “This just came for you and I was instructed to give it to you right away.” She placed square gift box on the desk.

  Christa eyed her assistant manager. “Who’s it from?”

  Instead of responding, Patsy merely clamped her lips together and closed the door on her way out.

  Christa looked from the silver-colored box to her friends.

  “Well, open it already.” Rae stood to join Laurel and Paisley around the desk.

  Christa lifted the lid. Inside was a note card. When she lifted it out, there was a key on a heart-shaped chain beneath it with a tag that read The Gebhardt Building.

  Her breath caught in her throat as she opened the card. “The key to your success. Check it out.” She glanced at each of her friends, excitement welling inside her.

  “Well, don’t just sit there,” said a grinning Rae. “Let’s go.”

  They made their way out of the store and to the building next door like a bunch of giddy schoolgirls.

  Christa paused to take in the narrow building with a blue door situated between two picture windows. A week ago, this was what she wanted. But now?

  “Don’t keep us waiting,” Laurel said. “Unlock the door.”

  With trembling hands, Christa finally managed to do just that. Inside the building, century-old longleaf pine flooring stretched front to back while exposed brick walls climbed to meet the original tin ceiling. It was even better than she remembered.

  Lowering her gaze, she nearly lost her footing when she spotted the path of red rose petals that wove through a series of floor easels that held large photos of her, Mick and Sadie.

  After a moment, a gentle shove urged her forward. “Check it out, darlin’.”

  She glanced back at Paisley. “Did you know about this?”

  “No, but I wish I had.”

  Christa moved past the images of the three of them in the ice storm, with the calf and around the campfire. The final picture sat atop a tall pedestal table and was of her and Mick beside the cow pond. Sadie had taken it on their last night together. A night that had held so much promise.

  Her gaze fell to the bouquet of red roses, then continued to a velvet box beside a note that read, I want to make all of your dreams come true.

  A sound had her looking up, and she drew in a sharp breath when she saw Mick moving toward her, looking finer than any man had a right to. His hair had been trimmed, he was clean shaven and he wore a pair of medium wash jeans and that black pearl-snap shirt she liked so much.

  Could her heart beat any faster without exploding?

  He stopped beside her, his smile tremulous as he took hold of her hands. “Christa, you brought color into my camo world and made it fuller, richer and more beautiful than I ever thought it could be.” He looked away for a moment and swallowed before meeting her gaze. “I know I messed up. But if you could find it in your heart to forgive me, I’d like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life making you smile. I love you, Christa, with every fiber of my being.” Letting go of her hands, he reached around her to retrieve the box. Then he opened the lid to reveal a glistening solitaire ring before dropping to one knee. “Will you marry me?”

  If she thought she was giddy before… “Yes!”

  Looking up at her, he appeared shocked. “Really?”

  She set her hands on his cheeks. “Really.”

  Standing, he pulled her to him and kissed her with an intensity she’d never felt before. How could she have doubted this man? He was as honest as the day was long. Steady and unchanging. And he was hers.

  But—she abruptly pulled away. “Where’s Sadie?”

  “Stand by.” He pulled out his phone and sent off a text before looking at her. “I wanted to make sure you said yes first.”

  A second later, Bum’s daughter Sandy approached the door with Sadie. The child that had stolen Christa’s heart was wearing her prettiest dress and those pink cowboy boots.

  She cautiously entered the space, scanning the faces until she found her uncle and Christa.

  Mick practically beamed. “She said yes!”

  Sadie’s face lit up as she rushed into his waiting arms. “See, I tolded you.”

  “You sure did, princess.” He slipped his other arm around Christa’s waist, looking deep into her eyes as he tugged her close. “You sure did.”

  Across the room, Rae cleared her throat. “So, does this mean you’re not leaving us?”

  As Mick slid the ring on Christa’s finger, she said, “Not on your life. Bliss is where I belong, and Bliss is where I’m staying.”

  * * *

  The happiest day of Mick’s life was about to collide with the scariest day of his life.

  Deciding they had no reason to wait, he and Christa had acquired their marriage license first thing Monday morning and were married Thursday morning, only hours before he was due in court. The ceremony had taken place at Bliss Community Church, with
only their closest friends and Sadie in attendance. He’d never been happier.

  But now, as they posed for wedding photos among the magnolia and live oak trees on the courthouse square, the weight of this afternoon’s hearing threatened to choke him. There was no telling how many lawyers the Sandersons would have with them. Probably a whole army.

  “These are some great shots.” Birds chirped overhead as the photographer looked up from her camera and smiled at Mick, Christa and Sadie. “The three of you are such an adorable family.”

  Her statement only intensified the knot in his stomach. Then he spotted the white Mercedes SUV pulling into a parking space along the square. Moments later, Chuck and Belita Sanderson emerged.

  His hold on Christa’s waist tightened.

  “What is it?” She looked up at him, then followed his stare. Squeezing his arm, she whispered, “David took down Goliath with a slingshot and a stone. This is God’s battle, Mick.”

  He peered down at her, fully aware of how blessed he was to have her at his side. She looked so beautiful in her wedding dress. Not the typical gown with a train and a veil, but the ivory knee-length dress with sheer sleeves and lace was no less stunning. “I’m so glad I married you.”

  “Me, too.” She smiled.

  “Sadie, sweetheart.”

  He turned to see Chuck and Belita coming toward them. Belita’s arms were wide, her gaze fixed on her granddaughter.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Christa whisper something to Sadie before the child started toward her grandmother. Though Sadie appeared somewhat nervous, she earnestly hugged the woman.

  Mick and Christa had talked with her several times over the past few days, carefully explaining that her grandparents wanted her to live with them. At first she’d stomped her foot, stating emphatically that she didn’t want to live with them. Thankfully, she seemed to have calmed some since. Though there was no telling what things might look like if she was forced to leave with them today.

  “Mick.” Chuck continued toward them.