A Thousand Blessings - Book One (Blessings Series 1)

by Lisa Heaton

  He watched as a two-year old William sat playing in the sand. Isabel sat next to him watching the same sight with a soft expression on her face.

  She smiled at the thought of it. “Do you think we actually will?”

  “It’s my hope. I don’t intend to rule until I die. I would like our son to take the throne long before that, like decades before that.”

  Isabel turned to Colin and looked at him with wonder. “That surprises me. You are a spectacular king.”

  “Agreed.” He grinned at the way she rolled her eyes at his humility. “I want to be just a man and live here with just a woman.”

  He placed his hand on Isabel’s stomach, his heart tightening and causing him to exhale. The delivery would be only weeks away, so the closer they drew to the day the more frightened he became.

  “I want to be just a women here with you, too. I like who you are here.”

  “I heard that somewhere before.”

  Colin laced his fingers through Isabel’s and leaned in closer. They had come so far from those two people who said those words to one another all that time ago. Their lives were unbelievably simple now, no more back and forth. No more landslides or sorrows.

  “I had a dream last night.” So vivid still, Colin could almost feel the presence of God as he had then.

  “What was it?”

  “I was here before God, and He gave me a comforting word.”

  “What?”

  “That your body knows what to do this time. He then spoke the word peace.”

  Tears filled Isabel’s eyes. “That is comforting.”

  “I hope it wasn’t just a dream.” He turned to her. “Do you think God would speak to me in a dream that way?”

  “After all you’ve endured, I would imagine so. He has been so gracious to us in every other way.”

  “I hope it was Him.” Colin sat a moment longer. “If this is our girl, I want this to be the last. I can’t endure another pregnancy.”

  “You can’t allow fear to stop us from growing our family.”

  “Isabel, I won’t do this again, not intentionally.” He took her hand. “Please say you will abide by my wishes.”

  She forced a smile. “It’s not as if I get to decide without you.”

  “I know, but I need you to give me this. I need you to agree even if you don’t agree.”

  “If this is what you need, then I agree. If this is our girl then no more.” She looked away.

  Because he knew her disappointment, he said, “I have no greater fear than losing you. The hope of another child isn’t worth risking your life.”

  She nodded and after a moment let out a soft sigh. “If anything were to happen to me, I am begging you to continue to love. Love our children. Allow yourself to love again if it comes along.”

  “I will love our children, but I’m making no promises otherwise.” His heart constricted again, so he placed his hand on her stomach. Until this birth was over, he wouldn’t rest easy, no matter his dream.

  “No promises required – just a suggestion.” She grinned a lop-sided grin. “As if you’ll ever find a replacement for me.”

  “True enough. You are hardly replaceable.”

  Colin wasn’t as easily able to make the same offer. “If anything ever happens to me, you can like another, but I’m not so sure about love.”

  “Very generous offer.”

  “I’m known for my generosity.”

  “And humility.”

  “And that.”

  He wrapped his arm around her and rested his chin on her shoulder. This was, indeed, the love of a lifetime, one he had nearly missed out on.

  “The one thing I can promise you, my sweet Isabel, is that I will love you always and with complete abandon.”

  ***

  Off in the distance, far enough away to see the couple without being noticed, Elias sat on horseback watching the king and queen. Their tender moment as a family gave him great satisfaction. After spending the past two years regretting his interference in their marriage, he now found himself at rest, fully forgiven and restored before God and content in his new life.

  The first year was spent drowning in the construction of the outpost and business of Deslan, so he had little opportunity to mourn Isabel’s loss. Once he finally came up for air, he found much of the sharp anguish had diminished. Still, even now, when he saw her he felt a slight sense of yearning, but nothing like before. He could now watch her with her family and be thankful for how the Lord had mended her marriage.

  Elias’s thoughts were interrupted when Eric approached, riding alone, considerate of invading Elias’s private moment. When Eric was within sight, he stopped and waited to be summoned. Elias smiled at that, at what a fine choice the boy was to work alongside him in the building of the outpost.

  They had become close friends and he often spent time with young Sybil and Eric and their new baby. Since their daughter was born, Elias had become a grandfather of sorts to little Edda. In many ways they had all become their own little family. If Elias were to have a son someday, he prayed he would be as fine of a man as Eric.

  Most importantly, he trusted Eric with his unspoken secret, that he had lingering love for the queen. Eric was too sharp a young man not to have noticed. He never mentioned it, but Eric was sure to keep Elias updated if he ever had knowledge of the queen.

  Any time the royal couple spent a holiday in Deslan, Elias kept vigilant watch over their safety. The city was now a bustling seaport with many visitors who required observation. Both Eric and Elias took the couple’s safety with all seriousness. Guards were ever present in addition to Elias’s watchful eye.

  Elias nodded to Eric. “All is well.”

  Eric waved. “Good to know, sir. I will take the position and watch over the royals.”

  “No need, Eric. I choose to stay.” When Eric was out of sight, Elias whispered to himself, “I have promises to keep.”

  That day by the lake when he parted from Isabel, he had recounted only the partial truth, only two of his promises that would be broken. The ones he had failed to mention were the ones he kept still. One was to watch over her, and as much as he was able, he did. The other he had made when she was so ill before arriving in Kidian. His words would always ring true and he spoke them again this day, “I will love you always, no matter how near or far. That is a never-ending promise.”

  A flash of memory warmed his heart, of dancing with Isabel the night she first arrived at the palace. He had assured her then he was a promise keeper – he still was.

  ***

  William was tired and his cheeks pink from too much time in the sun. When he came toddling over, Isabel stretched out her skirt so that he would have a place to rest. With a few babbling words, he cuddled between his parents and closed his eyes.

  Colin took Isabel’s hand. “There has been no better day in all of Kidian than the day you came riding in on horseback, accompanied by a hundred and one love-struck soldiers.”

  She looked out at the water and drew in a long breath of salt air. “I’m not proud of who I was that day or the choices I made.”

  “I’ve considered something this past year, a new way of looking at our beginning.”

  She turned to him. “What is that?”

  “You were the landslide, Isabel.” When her face fell, he clarified. “In a good way.”

  “How can that be good?”

  “I never believed I would love again, but you were that one teetering rock that broke down all my defenses. Now I know what love really looks like. Love came riding in to save me.”

  “I like that.”

  “I thought you would.” He grinned. “I sometimes sit around and think of flowery things to try to woo you.”

  “You’re doing a fine job, Your Majesty.”

  “With ulterior motives, I assure you.”

  “It’s a little late for ulterior motives at this stage.” She looked down at her huge belly.

  “Oh, not that. There’s onl
y one tart left, and I’m hoping you’ll allow me to have it.”

  “Not a chance.” Careful not to wake William, Isabel tried to reach for the tart before Colin could get to it. Too late, she watched with little surprise as he licked the entire pastry. Once he broke the tart in two, she took the larger half he offered her.

  Colin ate his entire half in one bite and talked with his mouth full. “You know it’s love if I’m willing to share my treat with you.”

  “I do know.”

  He leaned in and kissed his wife. “I almost love you enough to give you the whole thing.”

  “I’m working toward that degree of love.”

  “Since I find that I love you more every day – every passing minute even, I would say you’re getting there.”

  Watch for the next books in the series: A Deslan Tale and Promise Keeper

  Check out Lisa’s other books on Amazon:

  Unmending the Veil

  On 4/19

  Beyond 4/20

  Deceiver

  As an author and speaker, Lisa has a fresh voice in the genre of women’s Christian fiction. Because she did not grow up in the church or as an active believer, Lisa’s journey to her current life of faith was one filled with bumps and bruises, a fact that allows her genuine empathy toward broken believers and the lost. More in the line of secular fiction, her characters are in process. Deeply flawed, they are individuals most readers can identify with. Lisa doesn’t shy away from the tough subjects but rather creatively explores elements of the human condition and all the junk that comes along with life and faith.

  New release information is announced through social media.

  Contact Lisa at: lisa@lisaheatonbooks.com

  Connect with Lisa:

  Web: Lisaheatonbooks.com - Blogs and short stories available

  Facebook: facebook.com/lisaheatonbooks/

  Twitter: @LisaHeatonBooks

  Instagram: @lisaheatonbooks