“I want to be a father to her,” Reese said, looking back at Gabby.
She opened her mouth to tell him she’d marry him tomorrow, but he held up a hand. “I know I’ve made mistakes,” he said. “If you can’t say yes now, it’s okay, just...just please don’t close the door entirely if there’s even a chance.”
She felt her lips curve into a watery smile. Yes, Reese had made some mistakes, but so had she. She’d readily forgive him if he could forgive her. She climbed up onto the couch right next to him. “I’d love to marry you,” she said, “because I love you. I think I always have.”
His face lit up and he wrapped his arms around her. “I love you so much,” he said.
With those words, all the acceptance she’d desired burst over her like fireworks, and all the hurt she’d felt as a neglected kid and as a victim of assault dissolved in the warmth of Reese’s embrace.
As she lifted her face to kiss him, she thanked God, who’d orchestrated all of it.
“And...that’s a wrap!” came Jacob’s voice minutes later. “Come on, guys, enough kissing already!”
Gabby reluctantly pulled away from Reese and turned. There was Jacob marching into the room, obviously pleased with himself. Nana was right behind him, a huge smile breaking her face into a million happy wrinkles.
“I caught it all on video,” Jacob said. “Nice proposal, dude. A little low-key, compared to how some of the guys ask girls to dances, but hey. Whatever works.”
“Especially the part with Izzy,” Nana declared. “That’s going to bring some tears at your wedding.”
Gabby looked up at Reese, half laughing, half crying, and gestured toward Jacob and Nana. “Package deal, remember? They’re part of the package, too.”
“Package deal,” he said with a smile. “They’re part of who you are. I love you, and I love them, too.”
And as they all collapsed onto the couch together, hugging and laughing, Gabby looked heavenward and thanked God for the good and generous gifts He’d given her.
Epilogue
The tulips and daffodils were just starting to poke their heads through the year’s last snowfall when Gabby, Reese, Jacob and Nana gathered at the barn minutes before Izzy’s first birthday party.
They weren’t the first to arrive; several of the Rescue Haven boys were there ahead of them, finalizing the decorations.
The group had insisted on it. They’d been around Izzy so much by now that they mostly thought of her as a little sister. The streamers, posters and balloons looked a bit haphazard; even Paige’s influence couldn’t tame a whole group of boys who’d wanted to help.
Now more of the boys were drifting in, most of them bringing a parent or relative, since everyone was getting more involved with the Rescue Haven program.
Mr. Romano even showed up, and Gabby glanced over at Reese. “Hope you don’t mind that I invited him.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Great idea.”
Nana was carrying a birthday cake to put on the table and she practically dropped it when she saw Mr. Romano. “My lands,” she said, “I never thought I’d see you in this place.”
“I just wanted to see where my money has been going.”
“Well, you might as well roll up your sleeves and help me set up this table,” Nana ordered.
Gabby was just grateful that Nana was feeling so much better. She was restored to her former state of health and feistiness, and judging from the way Mr. Romano hurried to do her bidding as she bustled around the barn, he liked the change, too.
Corbin was here, and Hannah, and several other friends from church. Of course, Izzy was too little to know what it was all about, but Gabby thought she felt more secure and more loved than ever before, now that they were settled in the community and Reese was playing a more active role in the family.
Now he was lighting the single birthday candle, and she hurried to snap a picture. As they all sang, she let him tug her close.
“We’d better keep an eye on Jacob and Paige,” she said. The two youngsters were sitting side by side on a hay bale, looking at a phone and laughing together.
“They’re good kids. And I think Aunt Catherine and Uncle Clive are lightening up on Paige. They’ll never be thrilled with her dating Jacob, but they’ve learned that crucial skill of keeping their mouths shut.”
Just like they’d kept their mouths shut about what they’d learned from their son. After Reese had told her they’d known about the assault and never spoken up, she’d addressed it with her counselor. With her help, Gabby had had a difficult conversation with the older couple. As of now, Gabby didn’t want them to know Izzy, and they seemed to want to keep everything under wraps, too, watching their grandchild grow from afar; in fact, they were talking about moving to Arizona when Paige graduated.
It was their loss. Gabby wasn’t going to spend time worrying, or raging or hurting because of things Mr. and Mrs. Markowski had done wrong.
Through it all, Reese had been a rock of support. He’d never interfered with what she wanted to do and never even made a pointed suggestion; he just listened, and held her and told her she was doing well.
It was a balm to Gabby’s heart, being with him, and she thanked God every day for the blessing Reese was to her and Izzy.
Still, if Izzy grew up and wanted to know Brock’s parents, if they were still around, they’d reopen the issue. And they’d work with the counselor about how to tell Izzy about her father.
They sang “Happy Birthday” to Izzy and passed out cake, and Gabby thought she couldn’t possibly be happier. As Izzy toddled around with help from the various guests, Gabby and Reese watched, arms around each other.
“You know,” he said, “I’m really enjoying this fatherhood thing. Do you think...” He trailed off. “Never mind. It’s too soon.”
“What?” she asked, curious.
“Sure you want to know?”
“I always want to know what’s going on in your head,” she said.
He tightened his arm around her. “I’m just thinking,” he said, “that after we’ve been married a little while, I wouldn’t mind having another child. If you’d like that,” he added quickly. “I think Izzy would be a terrific big sister.”
“I think she would, too.” The idea of having a child with Reese—of having his support throughout the pregnancy, of a joyous birth with a loving husband beside her, of being surrounded by friends and family—made tears spring to Gabby’s eyes.
“I’d love having a child with you,” she said, and kissed him.
* * *
Look for more Rescue Haven books
by Lee Tobin McClain, coming in 2020!
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading book one in my new Rescue Haven series. Since I love dogs and have a heart for at-risk kids, the Rescue Haven program was really fun for me to write...especially since it takes place at Christmastime, where sledding and church pageants and visits from Santa add to the fun.
The assault Gabby endured, her lonely pregnancy and the initial harsh judgments made by Reese and others are the darker side of this particular story. Darkness is part of life, but how fortunate we are to know a God who can bring joy out of sorrow. Izzy is the wonderful blessing that emerges from the pain of Gabby’s past.
If you felt there was a little extra emotion in the portrayal of the senior dog Bundi, you are right. Bundi is modeled on my sister’s dog. She’s fifteen years old and needs a little extra help navigating the world these days, but she still loves biscuits, belly rubs and everyone she meets. We could all learn a thing or two from Bundi!
Wishing you a very happy Christmas,
Lee
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.
You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives
—always.
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Her Cowboy Till Christmas
by Jill Kemerer
Chapter One
It was going to be another lonely Christmas.
Mason Fanning tripped over a toy bulldozer, and his foot landed on an action figure. Oof! Hopping on the other foot, he winced until the sharp pain subsided. His three-year-old son, Noah, was having pizza and watching a Disney movie with Grandma and Grandpa Page like he did most Friday nights. Which left Mason alone, picking up toys and contemplating what to do with himself. The snowy December evening on his cattle ranch near Rendezvous, Wyoming, was ideal for sitting in front of a fire and watching a Christmas movie the way he and Mia used to. But without her in his arms, what would be the point?
Mia was gone.
He missed her. Three years had passed, and it still seemed like her funeral happened yesterday. He missed Ma and Pops, the grandparents who’d raised him, too. He hadn’t felt this alone in a long time.
Mason snatched up the remaining toys and threw them into a basket. It was stupid to indulge in a pity party when he’d been blessed with more than most. Sure, the medical bills Mia left behind put a huge dent in his budget each month, but eventually he’d get the ranch churning out profits again. He’d leave a legacy to pass down to Noah, the way his grandparents had left Fanning Ranch to him.
A knock on the door startled him. No one ever stopped by on Friday nights.
Unless...
The emails and calls he’d been getting from Brittany Green came to mind. He hadn’t answered them. He had nothing to say to her. And since it had been a decade since he’d seen her, the thought of her showing up was laughable, anyhow.
He strode to the entryway. Opened the door.
Snowflakes and familiar ocean-blue eyes greeted him.
Brittany stood there the way she had a million times during their childhood. Her hair was blonder than he remembered. Must have been all the California sunshine. Wearing jeans, a long puffy coat and tall boots, she was still the petite dancer he’d spent every waking minute with each summer growing up.
It had been ten years since their final summer together, and the anger still burned.
He shifted his attention to the man next to her. The world spun. Impossible! The man looked exactly like him. They could have been the same person. He braced his hand against the door frame.
“Mason?” Brittany stepped forward and touched his arm. He shook it off as if it were a scorpion. “Are you okay?”
His brain scrambled to come up with anything that made sense. Nothing did. Was this a practical joke? Who was this guy? How could they look so much alike?
And why was he with Brittany?
“Why are you here?” Mason’s voice was low, gruff.
Her long dark lashes dipped briefly, then revealed eyes swimming with sympathy. “I’m sorry. You look like you’re in shock.”
“Is this some kind of prank? Did you find an actor to impersonate me or something?” He knew he sounded unhinged, but why was she with this guy? This...this...eerie imitation of him?
“Why don’t we go inside?” She motioned to the open doorway.
He didn’t want her in his home. Didn’t want to have to scrub away the memory later. But—he glanced at his spitting image—someone had some explaining to do.
“Make it quick.” Against his better judgment, he shifted sideways to let them in.
“Ryder Fanning.” The man’s face had drained of color, but he stepped forward and held out his hand. “I believe I’m your twin.”
Twin? Twin? He could not have a twin. Ma and Pops would have known about a sibling. They would have told him.
“I’m an only child.” Mason clenched his jaw.
“So am I.” Ryder’s brown eyes, the same caramel shade as his own, had nothing to hide. “At least, I thought I was until I met Brittany.”
“Come on,” Brittany said, gesturing to them both. “This will be easier to figure out sitting down.”
He wanted to escort her pretty five-foot-two-inch frame outside, slam the door shut and enjoy the satisfaction of hurting her the way she’d hurt him, but Ryder being here complicated things. Mason let out a humph, then jerked his chin for Ryder to enter. Hurt and irritation flashed in the man’s eyes, but he moved with an easy, familiar gait into the house.
It was like watching a video of himself.
Brittany made herself right at home at the kitchen table, and Mason resented it more than he thought possible. Sure, she’d been here countless times when she’d spent summers down the road with her grandmother Nan. But this was his table.
Mia’s table.
Brittany didn’t belong here.
As Ryder folded his sculpted frame onto the chair across from her, Mason sat and crossed his arms over his chest. “Someone had better start talking.”
Ryder and Brittany exchanged glances.
“Two weeks ago, I was at my favorite coffee shop.” She gestured with her hands as she talked, and those blue eyes ebbed and flowed with expressiveness. “I was mentally choreographing a solo for Kelly Jo, one of my best teen dancers—you really have to see this girl move, she’s amazing—and I grabbed my coffee and turned to leave. Well, Ryder was right behind me.” She blinked and shrugged. “I freaked out a little and, what do you know, I splashed coffee onto my white sweatshirt. As I was dabbing at it, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I... I thought it was you.”
Brittany hadn’t changed. She always took the scenic route when telling a story. Her voice had wavered at the end. The thought of running into him had obviously bothered her.
Good. It should.
Ryder cleared his throat. “She started asking me why I was in town and how I was, and she threw out names I’d never heard before. My confusion must have been obvious.”
“You had the deer-in-headlights look, but that was to be expected.” A tender smile lifted her lips, and Mason straightened. Were these two a couple? “I was a mess. Of all the times to be such a klutz... My words kept tripping over each other, and I don’t know what I was doing rubbing the stains on my shirt.”
“She kept saying ‘Mason,’ and it hit me she thought I was someone else.” Ryder’s shoulders and eyebrows rose in sync. His movements were so like his own, it made the hair on Mason’s arms rise. “I told her she had the wrong guy. And I introduced myself.”
“As soon as the last name came out of his mouth, I put it together.” She shook her head slightly. “I could barely take it in. Still can’t take it in, and it’s not even happening to me. Mason, Ryder is your identical twin. All this time and you never even knew each other existed. I remember how much you wanted a brother. Now you have one!”
And there it was—the empathy that had always, always drawn him to her. He ground his teeth together. Once upon a time, he thought she knew him in a way no one else did. That she saw through to his essence and, more, that she liked what was there.
She’d been his first love, and the experience had hardened him. Her lies had helped him see what he really wanted in a woman, and he’d found a beautiful, honest, loyal best friend in Mia.
Mia was gone, and Brittany was here. Fury pulsed, hot and surging, but he forced himself to stay calm. Why was he so mad at Brittany, anyway? It had been ten years. They’d been teenagers. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t moved on with his life. He had.
And he’d lost. Again.
Always losing.
“Why’d you come?” He didn’t miss the wariness that flashed in her eyes. “To flaunt your
new boyfriend?” He regretted the words instantly. Couldn’t take them back. Didn’t know if he would have, anyway.
“You think we’re...” Ryder pointed to Brittany and back to himself. “Sorry if we gave you that impression. We aren’t... It’s not... Well, I recently went through a difficult divorce, and I have three-year-old twin daughters to raise. I don’t see myself dating anytime soon. Maybe ever.”
Why relief sank into his limbs, he wouldn’t examine. Another thing they had in common. Mason didn’t see himself ever dating again, either. He’d had the love of his life. You only got that once.
He studied Ryder more closely. The resemblance was too much to take, kind of like staring into the sun. If this man was his twin—and there seemed to be no other reasonable explanation—his childhood had been built on a lie.
“Mason, I realize this is hard to accept, but I hope you’ll get used to the idea. I mean, you have a brother. How cool is that?” Brittany’s soft tone irritated him. As did the way she was trying to soothe him.
“You have no right to come in here and act like old times.”
“Old times? I’m not... Aren’t you the teensiest bit happy you have a brother?” Her face paled as she shook her head in disgust. “What happened to you?”
He closed his eyes briefly. What had happened to him?
The woman he’d cherished—the mother of his precious son—had died of cancer. That’s what had happened.
And three years later, he still hadn’t figured out how to move on.
* * *
“I can see this was a huge mistake.” The legs of the chair scraped against the floor as Brittany rose to stand. Mason acted like she’d happily skipped up here in some warped attempt to see him suffer. The last place she wanted to be was Rendezvous. Santa Ana was her home. She had people—mostly dance students—who genuinely liked her, who didn’t look at her like she was a scab they’d picked off an old wound. “I’m sorry for putting you through this, Ryder.”
The Secret Christmas Child Page 18
