Among other things, the investigation into Sheila’s disappearance tied him to the town. During the ups and downs of the investigation, the detective who’d questioned him had gone on to question him three more times—the final time in the presence of the lawyer he’d finally hired. He’d never gone so far as to tell him he couldn’t leave New Hope, but it had been insinuated. Strongly. It didn’t matter, however, because Eli had no intention of leaving his home or his family. So he’d needed for Anna to be willing to tie herself to the town too.
She’d also shown how much she understood the intricate relationship he had with the town and the people within it by how she’d handled the situation with Coral. When Pete had appeared at the door of the lodge to ask if they would consider coming to Coral’s sentencing to speak on her behalf, Anna hadn’t hesitated to agree. She would have been within her rights to say no and make Coral face the consequences of her actions, but she’d had empathy for what that family had already gone through.
Coral had pled guilty to the vandalism and the attack, and there had been a possibility she would have faced some jail time. It seemed fitting that Anna was able to help make it even less of a possibility. So instead of jail time, the judge had let Coral off with probation, as long as she went to counselling and kept her distance from Anna.
If Eli hadn’t been completely in love with her already, he would have fallen in love with her over all that because it had proved how big her heart was.
“Here you go, love,” Eli said as he slid the mug of coffee, doctored the way Anna liked it, across the counter to her.
“Thank you.” Anna’s look was full of love as she reached out to take the mug.
“Is that…?” His mom’s voice trailed off as she turned to look at Eli. “Did you ask her to…?”
It was as if his mom was afraid to be wrong, to say the wrong thing. After all, Anna could afford to buy herself any number of diamond rings.
“Oh,” Anna said, lifting her hand to look at the ring. “Are you talking about this?”
“Yes.” His mom shot him a questioning look before turning her attention back to Anna. “It’s a lovely ring.”
Anna smiled. “Yes, it is, isn’t it? Your son has wonderful taste.”
“Then it is an engagement ring?” his mom asked, her gaze moving rapidly between him and Anna.
“Yes, Mom, it is.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news.” His mom brought her clasped hands to her chest. “I’m so happy!”
When she went to where Anna sat, Anna got to her feet and welcomed her hug. Sarah was quick to join them while Leah moved to Eli’s side.
“So when did this happen?” she asked.
“I asked her at the airport when she arrived.”
Leah looked at him with a lifted brow. “Seriously? The airport? Could you have picked a less romantic place?”
Eli wasn’t surprised by her response, so he just shrugged. “I had my reasons for doing it there, and she knows what they are.”
“Well, apparently she was okay with it because she clearly said yes.”
“She said yes before I even asked the question.” Eli chuckled. “I guess my being down on one knee was clue enough for what I intended to do.”
“I guess she knows what’s she’s getting into. Brave of her to take on our family.”
“It’s love. She loves me.” Eli turned to look at Leah. “But you know she loves the rest of you too.”
Leah sent him a skeptical glance. “I doubt she loves me.”
“Why not?” Eli asked. “Even prickly pears deserve love.”
His comment earned him an elbow to his ribs. “Jerk.”
Eli looped his arm around her shoulders. “I love you too, prickly pear.”
Anna looked over at him, affection radiating from her smile. Slipping his arm from Leah’s shoulders, he went to where she stood.
“Congratulations, both of you,” his mom said, her eyes glistening. “I couldn’t be happier about this. Anna, you’ve already proven to be part of this family, but I’m glad it will be official. I was worried, because of what happened with my marriage, and with Sheila, that Eli would have difficulty trusting anyone enough to find love. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your presence in his life. For you loving him. Thank you.”
The tears that had been blinked back until that point spilled over and down her cheeks. Anna immediately moved to hug her.
“And I am so grateful for Eli. For each of you, really. With him, I’ve experienced love in a way I never have before. I feel so blessed that God brought me to you. I was floundering on so many levels when I saw that sign for New Hope Falls. It called to me.” She reached for Eli and drew him close. “You have helped me learn about love and guided me back to God. I love Eli with all my heart, but I also love each of you and consider you my family already.”
With her words, Eli suddenly found himself as part of a group hug as his sisters joined them. He’d always thought there was a hole in their family that could never be filled, and that was true. No one could step into the role his father had left behind. However, as he looked into the faces of his family, he could see healing, and he knew that Anna had played a role in that.
Even amid her own struggles, Anna had brought joy into their lives. He also believed that God had brought her to them. Through her joy and her acceptance of each of them, their hearts had begun to heal. Now, almost eight months after she’d first arrived at the lodge, love had overshadowed the hurt and the fear that had paralyzed them for far too long.
Eli couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead for him and Anna. For the first time since he was a teen, he found himself excited about the future. And their love…it was a love so real that he didn’t doubt that it would form a solid foundation for the future he saw for them.
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Dearest Reader ~ Thank you so much for reading Eli and Anna’s story! I hope you enjoyed the time you spent in New Hope Falls and meeting some of its many residents. Delving into the world of YouTube and social media influencers made for some interesting research for this book. I hope I was able to convey it clearly, especially for those of my generation and earlier since there was really nothing like that when I was a teen. Heehee!
If you enjoyed this story, I hope you’ll consider sharing about it, and be sure to pick up book 2, Because of Him. You’ll find out more about the investigation into Sheila’s disappearance and meet a few more of the residents of the town.
Thanks again for spending some of your precious time in New Hope Falls with me!
- Kimberly Rae
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If you want to continue to follow the lives of the people of New Hope Falls, be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you find out when future books become available!
Click here to sign up.
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New Hope Falls: Book 2—Because of Him—will be available in late 2019.
Available now for pre-order!
In the blink of an eye, Cara Morgan lost her mom and the life she’d been building for herself as a professional ballet dancer. Within months, she had a new name and a new life in a small town on the other side of the country. Still mourning the loss of her mother and trying to accept the other changes in her life, Cara has struggled to put down deep roots in New Hope Falls. But when faced with the prospect of losing her remaining parent, Cara knows she needs to let people in.
Kieran Sutherland has been through his own time of mourning in recent years. After the tragic loss of both his brother and father, he brought his mom back to her hometown of New Hope Falls. Taking a position with the Sheriff’s Office for the county, he soon finds himself working as a police chief in the small town…a world away from his previous job with the NYPD. A couple of break-ins in New Hope lead him to the door of Cara’s studio in search of help, and he finds himself curious about the woman he’d only seen from afar.
Given her past, Cara isn’t sure dating someone in law enforcement is a great idea. But with her dying fa
ther’s encouragement to embrace her new life and find love, she accepts Kieran’s romantic overtures. As her connection with Kieran deepens, so does her connection with the town and its inhabitants. But when the past rears its ugly head and secrets are revealed, Cara isn’t sure she can stay in New Hope Falls.
Will the past rob Kieran and Cara of the love they’ve found with each other? Or will their faith and love be strong enough to guide them through one of the most difficult times of their lives?
Click HERE to get your pre-order copy!
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Please visit Kimberly Rae Jordan on the web!
Website: www.kimberlyraejordan.com
I’m not very active on social media, but these are the addresses for the ones I have, listed in order of which I’m on more frequently.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kimberlyraejordan
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A Love So Real: A Christian Romance (New Hope Falls Book 1) Page 33
