A Temporary Courtship

by Jenna Mindel

  Darren shooed them away and pulled Bree into a hug. “I missed you.”

  “You have no idea how much I missed you.” Bree clung to him. “And I have something to tell you.”

  “I have news for you, too.” He kissed her, quick and hard.

  Bree laughed when they broke apart. The dogs circled them both, tails wagging and yipping for attention. Their turn. She knelt down and gave each dog a hug. “Is this what you want?”

  Darren ordered the dogs to their bed. They scampered to obey his master tone. He got first dibs on Bree’s attention. “Come in and tell me.”

  She followed him to the kitchen. “Maybe you should go first.”

  “Want something to drink?” Darren opened the fridge and pulled out a can of pop.

  Bree leaned against the counter, glowing with excitement. She waved away the can. “Later. Tell me your news.”

  Darren took a deep breath. He’d waited till now to tell her. “I’ve been interviewing with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. I have a job out there.”

  Bree openly stared at him, and then her eyes filled with tears. “When did you interview?”

  “Christmastime. I met with their captain when I was out there. I’ve video-conferenced a few times since.”

  She blinked. “But you said you’d never move.”

  “Things change.” He smiled. He’d changed.

  Bree still looked like she couldn’t believe what he’d done. He didn’t know if that was good or bad. “But what about your supervisor position here? The one you’d wanted for so long.”

  “I talked to my boss. I may be able to return. They can’t guarantee my same position or location, but I have good internal references. I figured we’d know after a year or so where we want to be. When you finish your residency.”

  “Oh, Darren.” Bree launched herself into him and hung on. “I don’t know what to say. You’d move for me?”

  He hugged her close. He’d learned that he’d move around the world and back if it meant they could be together. Forever. As much as he loved Northern Michigan, he loved her more. She’d become his home. His real home, and that’s what mattered most. “Yes, Bree, I’d do that, because I love you.”

  “Oh, I love you, too.” She pulled back and laughed. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “But you don’t have to—”

  Sure he did. It was time to take that next step in their relationship. “I can’t do this distance anymore. Nothing matters if I can’t share it with you.”

  She put a finger against his lips. “I’m moving here.”

  He grabbed her hand. “But you haven’t finished the residency.” He couldn’t let her give that up.

  She only smiled broader, and her eyes shone with excitement. “I have finished. I went as far as I wanted to go. I learned a lot. More than I ever expected. I worked hard, but the longer I stayed, the more I knew I wanted to leave. I wanted to come home.”

  “What about your dream to hear the music you’ve created played?”

  “Maybe the whole reason God gave me this opportunity was to prove that my desire for fame was misplaced and not the best use of my gifts. Hearing my piece—you know, the one I played in the sugar shack—hearing it played by the strings section in Seattle wasn’t what I thought it would be. Nice, sure, but empty. There was no deep, lasting impact on anyone but me. I realized that instead of trying to prove my music worthy, I need to show others why theirs is worthy. Does that make any sense?”

  Maybe. He rubbed the back of his neck. “So, you quit?”

  She laughed. “Not right away, but after I got a call from Jan Nelson, I sure did.”

  “Who’s she?”

  “A Bay Willows board member who is behind the Bay Willows School of Music. It’s not a music camp catering to the residents’ kids like I’d originally thought. Jan has some great connections, and the board decided to give her free rein. The program will be geared toward college students who want intensive training in professional development with sessions ranging from a couple of weeks to three months of study. Right up my alley. You’re looking at the first faculty artist hired.”

  Before Darren could join in her excitement, he had to know that he wasn’t the reason she’d abandoned her dreams and left Seattle. He didn’t want that forever between them. “What if I had moved out there before you got this call? Would you still have taken it?”

  Bree bit her lip. “I would have wanted to, but knowing you’d given up everything you loved... I don’t know. I would have talked to you first, you know, and found out what you wanted to do.”

  Good enough. Darren opened his arms wide. “Well, then, congratulations.”

  She jumped into his embrace. “I’m so excited. I mean, this is a ground-floor opportunity. It’s something I can grow with and help mold. I’ll travel some, work with planning and admissions, but the best part is that I get to live here with something really special to do.”

  “Instead of just vacationing.”

  She pulled back and looked him straight in the eyes. She glowed from the inside out. “You’re my vacation, Darren. But I need to make it permanent, if you’re willing to make it so.”

  He knew where this was going and grinned. “Yeah? What did you have in mind?”

  “I should probably wait and let you get used to having me around all the time, but...well, sometimes a woman has to brave up and ask...”

  He threaded his fingers through her hair. “Ask what?”

  Bree tipped her head back. “Will you marry me?”

  “Funny you should ask that. Wait here.” He let go of her and headed down the hall, into his bedroom, for yet another surprise.

  * * *

  Bree paced the kitchen floor, waiting. What was taking him so long? They’d shared so much at Christmas, and yet Darren hadn’t let on that he’d been working on a way for them to be together. He’d never once asked her to give up the residency, even when she’d complained about how hard it had been.

  She heard his footsteps and whipped around. She knew what he’d gone to get, but seeing that small black velvet box in his hands caused her to tear up all over again.

  “I’m not giving you this if you’re going to cry,” his deep voice teased. Gently, ever so gently.

  “I’m just happy. Darren, I never dreamed I’d be this happy. I nearly settled—”

  He hushed her with his fingers against her lips, like she’d done to him earlier. “We’ve both made mistakes, but God had better things in mind for us. He knew we’d be us.”

  Bree sniffed. “Yes, He knew. And I love us.”

  “Me, too.” Darren opened the box to reveal a beautiful solitaire diamond engagement ring. “And so, to answer your question, yes, Bree. I will marry you.”

  She gasped at the ring’s unique setting. Two white gold swirls cradled the diamond amid folds of more white gold. “Where did you find this?”

  “A new jeweler in Maple Springs designs them. I took one look at it and thought of you.”

  “It’s gorgeous.” She held out her left hand for him to slip the ring on her third finger. It fit perfectly. “How’d you know my size?”

  “Your mom told me.”

  Bree gave him a sharp look. “She knew about this before me?”

  “Hey, you’re the one who proposed. I was getting ready to, clearing it with your folks and all.”

  “Yeah, and you’ve gotten pretty chummy with them from what I hear. Mom says you’re over there a lot.”

  He shrugged. “Just making the rounds while checking on Stella.”

  No doubt fixing things too. Her mom had said that Darren had helped her father with a host of little projects. “Well, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Bree stared at the ring, a pledge of their love and commitme
nt. He’d been planning this all along. Taking his time and getting it right. Getting to know her parents, too.

  She recalled Darren’s poetic descriptions of the area when they’d first met. This ring reminded her of that, only warm summer moonlight instead of winter blue. He had a way of not only seeing the beauty surrounding him but also protecting it. He was music in the making, filling her with emotion that translated well into notes and chords. Inspiring her. He’d always inspired her.

  God had brought them together under the guise of a wild edibles class. Little had Bree known that she was in for the experience of a lifetime. Life with Darren promised love and acceptance and her innermost dreams come true.

  Epilogue

  The last Saturday of the summer and it was a hot one. Standing along the shoreline of Lake Michigan’s Maple Bay, Darren waited for Bree, his bride.

  It was a small wedding ceremony with only their closest friends and family. Neil stood next to him, cane in hand, as Darren’s best man. Bree’s sister had accepted the role of matron of honor and she stood on the other side of him. Waiting, too.

  Despite the stifling temperatures, a cool breeze blew in from the lake. He felt his phone vibrate with an incoming text from the depths of his pocket. He’d turned the volume off for the ceremony. Who texted him at this moment, of all moments?

  It dawned on him who it might be and he grabbed the phone for a quick peek.

  “What are you doing?” Neil hissed.

  “It’ll only take a second to check.” Yup, the text came from Bree, making him smile.

  For a split second, Darren’s stomach flipped. What if— No. Not a chance. He read her message.

  Are you ready?

  Her question was followed by several hearts.

  Darren chuckled. No worries about his bride showing up today. He texted her back.

  Hurry up.

  The music started. A gentle sound of a string quartet played something soft and sweet. He’d get to know this kind of music pretty well in the coming years. He looked forward to attending the concerts Bree would take part in and help plan.

  Bree loved her new job. Loved the process of interviewing musicians for the following year when the school officially opened for their first sessions. Already they had a good roster of college and post-college students registered to attend. Darren had no doubt that this was where she was meant to be. Here in Northern Michigan, impacting the lives of others. Making a difference in his.

  Finally he spotted her walking toward him on the arm of her father, and his breath caught.

  She was beautiful in a simple white gown with a top of delicate lace. Pretty, like her. She didn’t wear a veil. Her hair had been swirled up into a loose knot. Within the mink-colored mass, she’d tucked tiny white baby’s breath that grew wild around here. She carried a bouquet of sunflowers bundled with more of the airy white wildflower.

  He cleared his throat, trying to loosen the emotion that tightened it. He felt Neil’s hand grip his shoulder. Darren needed to get it together. He’d have to talk if they were to exchange their vows.

  But right now, all he could do was watch Bree walk toward him, her golden eyes shiny and wet. If she starting crying, he’d be hard-pressed not to join her.

  So Darren scanned the guests present to get a handle on his composure. Stella dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, as did his mom and even Bree’s mom. This joy was certainly contagious.

  He’d waited a long time for this moment. God had given him the right woman not only to share his life but also to open his eyes. None of them were good enough but for the grace of God. They were all God’s people, whether they knew it or not.

  Darren needed to serve with that in mind. Always. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

  * * * * *

  Pick up the other stories in

  Jenna Mindel’s MAPLE SPRINGS series:

  Where love runs sweet

  FALLING FOR THE MOM-TO-BE

  A SOLDIER’S VALENTINE

  And enjoy these other sweet romances

  from Jenna Mindel:

  MENDING FENCES

  SEASON OF DREAMS

  COURTING HOPE

  SEASON OF REDEMPTION

  THE DEPUTY’S NEW FAMILY

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A FAMILY FOR THE FARMER by Laurel Blount

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  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for picking up a copy of my latest book in the Maple Springs series and the continuing tale of loss and love within the Zelinsky family. I hope you’ve enjoyed Darren and Bree’s journey to real love.

  This might have been the most difficult book I’ve ever written. I had quite the time getting a handle on what these two people not only wanted but also needed. In the end, it all boiled down to how they viewed themselves—incorrectly and certainly not as God saw them.

  None of us are good enough outside God’s grace. Only through Him and His gift of salvation are we perfected and made whole. No matter what comes our way, what hurts we’ve experienced in or out of our control, God can heal them if we keep our hearts tuned toward Him.

  May your innermost dreams come true, and happy reading.

  God bless,

  Jenna Mindel

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  A Family for the Farmer

  by Laurel Blount

  Chapter One

  “I don’t want a peanut butter sandwich. I want one of the hamburgers we smelled outside.” Five-year-old Phoebe’s voice sounded unusually whiny, and Emily Elliott sighed as she dropped the baggie-wrapped offering back into her purse.

  She knew her children were tired. She’d had to roust them out of bed early to make the drive down to Pine Valley from Atlanta in time for this appointment with her grandmother’s lawyer. She could have saved herself all that heroic rushing around, because the attorney had already kept them waiting twenty minutes.

  And of course his office would have to be located downwind of the small town’s one and only fast food restaurant.

  “You can’t have a hamburger, Pheebs. There’s no money.” Paul spoke calmly to his twin as he flipped through the book on reptiles he’d just pulled out of his backpa
ck. “There never is.”

  Emily’s heart clenched, and she cast a quick glance over to the desk where the sleek secretary was busily clicking the keys on her computer. The other woman caught her eye and gave Emily a pitying smile. She’d heard.

  Emily felt her face flush. It didn’t matter, she reminded herself sternly. She was here to get the details of her grandmother’s estate settled, not to impress Jim Monroe’s secretary.

  Her daughter pushed her bottom lip out. “I’m tired of sitting here. You said this would take just a few minutes, but we’ve been waiting a really long time.”

  “We have been waiting a long time.” Emily shifted uneasily in her chair. She really hoped Mr. Monroe wasn’t going to ask her to reschedule this meeting. If she had to drive down again, it would cost gas money she didn’t have, and she’d have to ask Mr. Alvarez for another day off.

  Asking for this one off had been bad enough.

  Well, there was no point fretting over all that now. “All things work for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose,” her minister had assured the congregation last Sunday. Surely that included late lawyers and cranky bosses. Emily forced a smile and smoothed a stray tendril of blond hair away from her daughter’s sulky face. “Try to be patient, honey. I don’t think it’ll be much longer.”

  “Here, Pheebs.” Her son pushed his reptile book over so that it rested halfway in his sister’s lap. “You can share my book. It shows the inside of the lizards, not just the outsides. See? That’s his guts.”

  “Eeww!” Phoebe made a face, but soon she was as absorbed in the book as her brother.

  Emily sighed again and fished the rejected sandwich out of her bag. She was starving, and those hamburgers had smelled good. She broke off a small chunk and tucked it discreetly in her mouth while avoiding looking in the direction of the elegant secretary. The peanut butter stuck to the roof of her mouth and made her long for the travel thermos of double-strength coffee she’d left in the cup holder of her elderly compact car.

  The twins were almost to the end of the lizard book. By the vigorous way Phoebe was kicking her small tennis shoes against the legs of her chair, Emily knew that keeping her small daughter appropriately behaved was about to get even harder. Something had to give.