by Lowe, T. I.
“Why do you need to do that?”
“Babe, our scar totally out-does her and Greyson’s.” There’s actual pride in his voice.
Closing my eyes, I release a lazy laugh. I’m pretty sure they feel the same way about Greyson’s scar on his chest as we do about the one on my head. My phone beeps with an incoming message. I pluck it off my nightstand and grin at the message.
Duke – What’s this mean???
I sent him a picture of our entwined hands, showing off the wedding bands.
Me – It’s means you need to change my last name to Thorton in your contacts.
He doesn’t respond right away. I’m guessing it’s taking a few minutes for the news to sink in.
Duke – Ha! Ok, AUNT Willow. Tell the UNCLE I said congrats.
I hold the phone over my shoulder so JP can read the text. Chuckling, he takes the phone, powers it off, and places it on his nightstand before going back to placing soft kisses along my neck.
I shake my head. “I can’t believe I’m in your bed.”
His lips leave my skin. “No. It’s our bed. And I think after you graduate, we need to move to Bay Creek. That’s where we should make our home.”
With this man, holding me and loving me, I know I’ve found my home. A place won’t define that for me, so moving to Bay Creek sounds promising.
“What about this gallery?”
“Tori has been drooling over this place since I purchased it. It won’t take but one conversation and she’ll be packing her bags.” JP turns me towards him and allows me a sweet lingering kiss. “After your graduation, the two of us have a fine arts camp to build.”
I snuggle closer. “Okay, my husband.”
“Great. Now kiss your husband.” No need in saying that twice. I could spend my days doing nothing but that!
I’m in pure wonder of God. He took that horrific night, turned it around and made plans for me with it. Plans that neither me nor JP Thorton could ever comprehend. He’s showed me that life can go on, and can go on beautifully at that. Discovering Hope has changed me. I see the world differently now.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Change is constant and this world is ever evolving. Willow had to finally open her eyes to come to terms with this undeniable fact. Although people do not fit a certain cookie cutter mold, they each are wonderfully and beautifully made by our Creator to be loved. Willow finally became aware of a world starving for compassion and she eventually served up the portion she had been blessed to give.
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40
Willow also went on a journey for something we all need and it led her to a discovery of hope. Such a powerful thing hope can be, and an endless journey of wonder when truly discovered. Hope can change everything. You only need a spark of it to lead to a blazing wonder.
God said, “I Am.”
And He is…
Love, Compassion, Grace, Mercy, Faith, Hope…
Your dreams can be endless just as His love for you, if you only allow yourself the pleasure of hope. An abundant world is waiting. Take God by the hand and ask Him to lead on!
A Discovery of Hope Playlist
“Believer” by American Authors
“Feel Again” by OneRepublic
“Hope Can Change Everything” by Various Christian Artists
“Overjoyed” by Matchbox Twenty
“Broken Man” by Rhett Walker Band
“I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers
“Multiplied” by NEEDTOBREATHE
“Stolen Dance” by Milky Chance
“Left Hand Free” by alt-J
“Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant
Acknowledgements
Jesus Christ, I owe it ALL to you. Thank you for this gift and allowing me to share it with the world. I am humbled and honored that you would use a lowly woman as me.
Bernie, Nate, and Lydia… What can I say? You are my world. Love you to the moon and back a trillion times. Thank you for standing by me and encouraging me.
To the lovely Christina Coryell. You are such an unexpected gift God blessed to me this past year. Thank you for your honesty, and much-needed humor, with helping me become a better writer. I know that I am because of you, my author sister!
Lynnette Bonner, thank you again for the superb job you did with the cover design. I’m amazed how close you came to capturing JP Thorton perfectly.
To my honorary beta reader, Mrs. Laura Spivey. I can only hope I conveyed to you how much your support meant to me. Thank you for always inspiring me on this newly discovered writing path. A lot of times I’ve been scared or simply just wanted to give up. You always seemed to know when that doubt clamped down on me and were quick to give me a pep talk to keep going. I was nervous, so nervous about the release of Coming Home Again with having addressed the brutal topic of rape. You said, “This book will touch the right lives.” Thank you for that. I love you and truly miss you.
My awesome beta readers, aka My Favs, Sally Anderson, Trina Cooke, Lynn Edge, and Jennifer Strickland. You ladies are a support team that I couldn’t live without. Thank you for your valued opinions and comments about this book. Thank you for cheering me on continuously. You ladies rock!
To my younger brother Jamie Ray, thank you for showing me the world through your eyes. You live with Autism heroically and you’re an inspiration.
My daddy Jerry and my stepmom Brenda, my in-laws Kimber and Frank, thank you for being proud of me. No matter how old a child grows, knowing their parents are proud of them really means a lot. Thank you for that.
My church family at Bethlehem Baptist Church, I love you and am so thankful to be a part of this amazing family.
To my school family at Kingston Elementary for always cheering me on. The outpouring support is so appreciated. Thank you for believing in this PTO President when she went chasing her dreams.
About the Author
T.I. Lowe sees herself as an ordinary country girl from South Carolina who loves to tell extraordinary stories. Her amazing readers have made her dream of storytelling become a reality with their outpouring support of her writing.
Lowe is currently working on several upcoming novels, which include:
The Orange Blossom Café – to be released Spring 2016
A Bleu Summer – to be released June 29, 2016
The upcoming Resolutions Series - release date TBA-
Until I Do
Until I Don’t
Until I Decide
She is also writing two other stories and is eager to find the time to complete them.
The Proof of Us
Before This Day
For a complete list of Lowe’s published books, biography, upcoming events, and other information, visit http://www.tilowe.com/ and be sure to check out her blog, COFFEE CUP, while you’re there!
She loves to connect with her reading friends.
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/T.I.Lowe/
