Maggie.
Nick turned at the sound of her voice.
She moved closer to her father’s bed.
Nick’s breath caught at the nearness of her. The flowery scent of her perfume brought back memories of nuzzling her neck to kiss her when he’d taken her home. Even after working on Fred’s farmhouse, she always managed to smell delicious enough to devour.
“Why didn’t you ever try to find me?” Maggie’s voice was wrought with pain.
“I … I was ashamed,” her father admitted. “By the time I’d managed to pay off my debt, your ma was working for some rich fellow. She didn’t need me anymore and told me to stay out of your life.”
“You talked to her?” Maggie frowned.
“Briefly. It was after I received the divorce papers.” He wiped a tear that rolled down his cheek. “She told me she was getting married again and found a new father for you who wouldn’t run out on them.”
Maggie stood in silence.
“Can you ever forgive me?” Freddie asked.
She nodded and moved closer to hug his neck. “I forgive you.”
“If you don’t mind, Freddie,” Nick said, “I’d like to pray with you.”
He nodded and closed his eyes.
Nick began praying and finished by leading Maggie’s father in the sinners’ prayer.
When the prayer ended, Maggie hugged her father. She turned to Nick and hugged him as well. “I’m sorry about being mean earlier. It’s just … I love you and I was hurt that you hadn’t told me about your wife, or your trust fund, and I now understand you were afraid another woman would hurt you.” A tear trickled down her face. “I don’t want to hurt you—ever.”
Chapter Nine
Maggie’s grandfather hadn’t eaten since she’d been there, which was around noon. She glanced at her phone. Surely he was hungry by now. The hospital staff had only brought her father liquids, since it was all he could get down. “Do you want us to bring you something from the cafeteria to eat, Grandpa?”
“No. I’ll be fine.”
Her father had fallen asleep. If he was awake when they got back, she would see if he needed her to get anything from the nurse’s station.
“We’ll be back soon.” Nick put his arm around her waist.
She liked having Nick close, feeling the touch of his body near hers. Even though she’d given him the chance to leave earlier, he hadn’t taken it—insisting on staying by her side. He wasn’t like her father any more than she was like his ex-wife. She could see that now when she looked at him. He was a good, Christian man.
It had touched her heart earlier when Nick had prayed with her father. Fred cried when he found out his son had accepted Jesus as his Savior.
“If you need anything, just call one of our cell phones.” Nick kissed her temple.
Fred glanced at them for a second and nodded, then went back to watching her father sleep.
Nick’s arm remained around her as they turned and walked down the hall. He stopped and pulled her into a small nook before they reached the elevators.
She looked up to see what was going on.
He drew her closer and wrapped one hand in her hair, bringing her face inches from his. “I have been wanting to do this from the moment you said you forgave me.”
Closing the space between them, Nick’s lips claimed hers. The warmth of them breathed life into her, making her tingle from her head to her toes.
When his lips gently pulled away, she mumbled, “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Nick kissed her again, so tenderly she thought she would cry. “I promise you, Maggie, I’ll always be there for you.” He stroked his thumb along her cheekbone. “I won’t ever leave you.”
A tear trickled down her face. She nodded, at a loss for words.
Thanks to Nick, even though Maggie faced losing her father again, she knew this time he would be in a better place. And Nick’s promise assured her he would always be there for her. All the pain and the unforgiveness she’d felt toward her father and Nick were but a memory.
Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
With her past behind her, Maggie was able to look forward to her future… with Nick.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Seasons of the Heart. It has been on my heart for so very long. Not everyone experiences the wonders of new love like Katie and Wade did. Often, they have baggage from their past that they need to deal with if they want to build strong relationships. You saw how Sasha, Kelly, Maggie and Nick has to overcome things to find true love. In order to have a future with someone, they had to face their problems and overcome them.
I hope and pray that whatever you have had to face, you realize that with God’s help you can overcome. I know there are a lot of things we have had to deal with in life. I am thankful that God has been with me every step of the way and I pray that I will continue to become a better person so that I can make my Heavenly Father proud of the person I am becoming.
May God guide you and bless you in all that you do.
Blessings,
Susette
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Other Books by Susette Williams:
Mail Order Brides novelette series~
JESSIE’S BRIDE –Book 1
MONTANA’S BRIDE –Book 2
CALEB’S BRIDE –Book 3
MARSHALL’S BRIDE–Book 4
HUSBAND OF THE BRIDE–Book 5
Texas Wildflowers novelette series~
FREE TO LOVE –Book 1
FREE TO HEAL –Book 2
FREE TO PROTECT –Book 3
FREE TO SERVE –Book 4
FREE TO ROAM –Book 5
FREE TO FORGIVE –Book 6
The Amish Ways novelette series~
THE WIDOWER’S NEW WIFE –Book 1
ROAD TO REDEMPTION –Book 2
Seasons of the Heart novella series~
FALLING IN LOVE – Book 1
WINTER CHILL – Book 2
SPRING BREAK – Book 3
HEATED SUMMER – Book 4
Maid for Murder series ~
Maid for Murder: DEADLY BUSINESS – Book 1
Maid for Murder: DEADLY CONFESSIONS – Book 2
Novellas ~
ACCIDENTAL MEETING
SCROOGE FALLS IN LOVE – Typecast Christmas series
SHADOWS OF DOUBT
MORE THAN FRIENDS
Novels~
SOMETHING ABOUT SAM
HONORABLE INTENTIONS
Children’s books and FREE coloring pages
Author Website: www.susettewilliams.com
Seasons of the Heart Page 22
