A Dream of Family

by Jill Weatherholt

  “I have to say, son, when you want something, you go after it.” Rusty smiled, energized by the news.

  “I couldn’t have done any of this if it weren’t for my father. For the past two years, I couldn’t accept that my father had flaws. I allowed his actions to alter what I wanted for my life.”

  “None of us are without flaws, son.”

  Derek nodded. “It took time for me to come to that realization. I’m thankful my father and I have been able to put what happened in the past behind us and start over. I hope Molly can do the same. I know she means the world to you. I love her, too, and I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy.”

  Rusty reached across the table and gripped Derek’s hand. “From the first time I saw the two of you together, I knew your lives were meant to become one. You have my blessing, son.”

  “Thank you, sir.” The two men said their goodbyes, and once outside the coffee shop, Derek slipped his phone from his pocket. He had one more person he needed to speak with before heading to the festival to find Molly.

  Fifteen minutes later, Derek pulled into the gravel parking lot. Children’s laughter and music swirled in the air. The sweet aroma of kettle corn tempted his taste buds. He exhaled a deep breath when he spotted Annie standing near the pumpkin carving station. He moved toward her.

  “I’m so excited for the three of you.” Annie squeezed Derek’s forearm. “Thank you for calling me. They’re over by the fountain.” Annie nodded toward the Ferris wheel and gave him two thumbs up.

  Derek sprinted across the grassy field to the cement patio where the fountain sat surrounded by park benches. He hoped Molly hadn’t talked with Grace about the adoption yet. His heart squeezed when he spotted them each tossing a coin into the water.

  “Mr. Derek!” Grace’s eyes popped wide open, and she ran toward him.

  “Hey, kiddo!” He scooped her into his arms and spun her around.

  Grace giggled. “I can’t believe you’re here! I hoped for that before I threw my penny into the water.”

  Molly approached Derek. Her brow crinkled. “What are you doing here?”

  Next, she turned to face Annie, who had moved toward them. “Annie? I thought you were going to pick up Grace at my house tonight.”

  Derek kneeled so he was face-to-face with Grace. “Sweetie, you go with Miss Annie for a minute while I speak with Miss Molly.”

  “But I don’t want to go.” The child’s lip quivered. “I want to stay with you guys.”

  “Grace, come along.” Annie motioned for the child.

  Grace’s shoulders slumped as she trudged toward the social worker.

  Molly faced Derek, and her floral scent drifted toward him.

  “Why is Grace leaving with Annie? I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about the adoption. I have to be the one to tell her that I can’t be her mommy.”

  The moment Derek saw the tears starting to stream down Molly’s cheeks, he stepped closer and took her into his arms. Rubbing his hand on the back of her head, he whispered into her ear. “You can be her mommy. You can have everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”

  Molly slowly pulled her head back but remained in his arms. “I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”

  Derek’s heart pounded against his chest. “I love you, Molly.” He paused, searching for the right words so she would understand his motives. “You and Grace have brought a sense of meaning and purpose back into my life. I’d allowed my father’s actions to control my future. I’m not going to use that as an excuse any longer. I want to make a happy life for you and Grace. It might not be perfect, but I promise you I’ll do the best I can.”

  Molly remain silent, obviously trying to digest what he had revealed.

  “Are you okay?”

  She focused her eyes on him. “You love me? But I thought you didn’t like me.”

  Derek laughed. “Oh, I more than like you.” He dropped to the ground, kneeled on one knee and placed his hands around hers. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Grace. We can adopt her as a married couple and be her forever family.”

  “But...my store. I can’t stay in Whispering Slopes and watch it be turned into office space.”

  “That’s not going to happen. My father and I talked early this morning.”

  Molly smiled. “I’m happy to hear that, but I don’t understand what that has to do with my shop.”

  “I had to let it go. The anger I’ve held on to for so long. It was wrong, especially since I want to move on and share my life with someone. With you. God is so good. He gave me the grace I needed to forgive my father for what he did to my family. My father wants to lend us the money to purchase the property. I’ve already spoken with Rusty.”

  Derek stood, still holding Molly’s hands. “So, what do you say?”

  “First, I need to say I’m sorry. You had a good reason to go to Ryan the day of our wedding. You were hurt and confused. I shouldn’t have put all of the blame on you. Ryan didn’t have to react to what you told him. He made a choice, and that choice wasn’t me. I didn’t see it then, but now I know it was for the best. I would never have met Grace if Ryan hadn’t dumped me. And I would never have had the chance to fall in love with you.”

  “So, does that mean you think you could marry me?”

  Molly placed her hand on the side of his face. “Well, I guess it all depends.”

  Derek’s stomach twisted. Was she going to turn him down? He couldn’t imagine his life without her. “On what?”

  “Do you think you could learn to like mushrooms on your pizza?” A devious smile parted her lips.

  Derek took her into his arms. “Most definitely!”

  The couple laughed and shared a kiss before Derek pulled away. “What do you say we go get our daughter and take a ride on the Ferris wheel?”

  Epilogue

  “Close your eyes,” Derek instructed Molly.

  Grace squealed with delight. Jumping up and down, she clapped her hands while holding Duke’s leash.

  Molly’s heart raced. “But you’ve kept this a secret long enough. I can’t stand it any longer.”

  “Good things come to those who wait, Mrs. McKinney,” Derek whispered into his bride’s ear.

  Chills traveled through her body. Mrs. McKinney. After Derek had confessed his love and proposed to her at the festival, the months that followed had been a whirlwind, starting with an intimate wedding on Christmas Eve. After the holidays, they had finalized the adoption of Grace and welcomed her home. She had legally become their daughter. Molly’s dreams had come true thanks to her gorgeous husband.

  “Okay, watch your step.” He placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her inside.

  Molly smelled a combination of fresh paint and coffee. What in the world? She never served coffee in her bookstore. After Derek proposed, he’d told Molly once they were married, he wanted to close her store for a few weeks. He didn’t provide any details other than that it was his wedding gift to her. She’d still operated her online business, but in-store sales and all of the bookstore activities had been put on hold. And under no circumstances had she been allowed to come anywhere near the store.

  “Let’s show Mommy now, Daddy!” Grace chirped and danced a jig. Duke barked.

  Molly’s heart melted at the sound of Grace calling her Mommy. She had a feeling she’d have that reaction to it for the rest of her life. “Yeah, come on, Daddy!” Molly laughed and tried to tug on her blindfold.

  “Okay, let me get this off. But keep your eyes shut until I tell you to open them.” His fingers fiddled with the scarf tied securely around her head.

  “Hurry!” The anticipation was killing her.

  “I’m trying, but there’s a big knot. I can’t get it—”

  Cheerful lighting blinded her when the scarf dropped to the ground. “Oh
my! It’s beautiful!” Molly threw her hands over her mouth. The place was enormous. The wall once dividing her store with Derek’s coffee shop was gone, leaving behind a large open floor plan.

  “It’s all one place, Mommy.” Grace swung her arms wide open, dropped the leash and twirled. “You and Daddy get to work together now. I can help, too, when I’m not in school.”

  Molly moved through the shop to make sure it wasn’t a dream. The selection of books was larger, and the children’s section had doubled in size. She gasped and pointed to the brightly colored rocking chairs. “Look how many there are!”

  Derek stepped beside his wife. “I know how important Book Buddies is to you. Plus, I figured if we make room for more kids, it would mean more parents in the store shopping.”

  Taking in her surroundings, Molly was filled with joy. She turned to Derek. “You are brilliant, you know? This is such a natural pairing, books and coffee. They go together.” She pointed at the large sign over the counter. “And the name—Caffeinated Reads—it’s genius.”

  “Well, I figured since we got married, why not marry our businesses?” Derek slid his arm around her waist, and she melted against his muscular frame. “So you like it?”

  “Like? I love it. It’s the perfect wedding gift. I think it might be a good time to share the surprise we have for Daddy. Don’t you think, Grace?” Molly flashed a smile and peered over at Grace.

  “Let me guess. I’m not going to be forced to eat mushrooms on my pizza anymore?” Derek winked.

  Molly laughed and shook her head. “Do you want to tell him, Grace?”

  The child bounced up and down. Her face beamed. “Yes! Yes! I’m going to have a baby brother or a baby sister, Daddy.”

  Molly watched as Derek’s mouth fell open and his eyes widened.

  “We’re going to be the family I’ve always prayed for,” Grace exclaimed, and a tear of joy rolled down her cheek.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, don’t miss

  Jill Weatherholt’s next sweet romance,

  available next year from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from An Amish Mother for His Twins by Patricia Davids.

  Dear Reader,

  Writing a book is always a challenge. When I first began to write Molly and Derek’s story, I was going to my day job each day and visiting with family and friends. Life was routine, at times mundane. But it was the life I knew and it was good. When COVID-19 took the world by surprise, my world changed in ways I’d never imagined. I’m sure yours did, too.

  As weeks turned into months, one thing didn’t change—my trust in God. Like Molly, who believed it was part of God’s plan for her to bring Grace into her home, I knew I could rest my worried mind in the truth that God always has a plan for us. It might not always make sense, but in the end, it will all work out for our good.

  I hope you enjoyed revisiting Whispering Slopes as much as I did. In times such as these, being able to write happy endings to share with all of you is truly a gift from God.

  I love to connect with readers. Please sign up for my newsletter at JillWeatherholt.com. I’d love to chat.

  Jill Weatherholt

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  An Amish Mother for His Twins

  by Patricia Davids

  Chapter One

  His head was ready to explode.

  Nathan Weaver sat at the kitchen table in his one-room cabin with his hands pressed to his throbbing temples. He had come to Maine to live a quiet life and to forget. For six months he’d done just that. In less than a week his peace was gone. He’d never know solitude again.

  Both babies were crying at the top of their lungs in their Moses baskets near his feet. His hound, Buddy, howled in accompaniment. The yellow cat, yowling to be let out, had crawled to the top of his screen door and hung splayed like a pelt on the wall. The kettle’s piercing whistle was close to drowning out everything. He closed his eyes and moved his hands to cover his ears. It didn’t help.

  Buddy stopped howling and started barking a challenge. The abrupt change made Nathan look up. An Amish woman stood outside the screen door. For a moment his heart froze. It wasn’t possible.

  “Annie?” he croaked.

  Was he hallucinating? It couldn’t be her. Annie had died in childbirth six days ago.

  The woman opened the screen door. His cat launched himself into the night, just missing her head. “Not Annie, Nathan. It’s Maisie Schrock.”

  He blinked hard. Maisie? Annie’s twin sister? She was a widow who lived in Missouri caring for their ailing father. What was she doing in Maine?

  She gazed inside, an expression of shock on her face. She held a suitcase in her hand. Buddy stopped barking and went to greet her with his tail wagging. The babies continued to cry.

  “Annie died.” Nathan swallowed against the pain. Saying the words aloud still didn’t make it feel real.

  “I know. The hospital told me yesterday. I’m so sorry. My sister is with Gott now,” Maisie said with a catch in her voice. There were tears in her eyes.

  Seeing her grief propelled Nathan to his feet. He stepped to the stove and pulled the kettle off the fire. The whistling died away, but the babies kept crying.

  “What are you doing here? If you’ve come for the funeral, it’s over.” Maisie lived in the tiny Amish settlement near Seymour, Missouri, where he had married her sister last fall.

  “I was afraid of that. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to share your burden.” She focused her attention on the babies. “Boys or girls?”

  “One of each.”

  “Are they hungry?” She crossed the room to kneel beside their Moses baskets. Gifts to Nathan from the hospital staff when they’d learned he didn’t have a place for the babies to sleep. Maisie lifted a child to her shoulder and the baby quieted. Buddy, the stray hound that had shown up a few weeks after Nathan arrived in Maine, followed her with his tail wagging.

  Nathan raked his hands through his hair. “I don’t know what’s wrong with them. I tried feeding them, but they wouldn’t take much and then they started crying as soon as I put them down.”

  She stroked the baby’s cheek and rocked her gently. “Aw, liebling, it’s okay.”

  Liebling. Darling. He used to call Annie that. Before she left him with only a cryptic note a bare two months after their wedding. He still didn’t understand why. He took some comfort in knowing she was trying to get back to him before she died. He would have forgiven her and taken her back, but would he have been able to trust her? Or grow to love her again?

  Maisie laid her cheek against the baby’s fine auburn hair. “Ach, you look like your mother. Your poor mamm. How you must miss her.”

  Maisie straightened and wiped her cheeks again. “I think they just want to be held.”

  She wrapped the blanket snugly around the baby and handed her to Nathan. He took his daughter gingerly, afraid he might somehow damage her with his big coarse hands. Maisie picked up his son, and he quieted in her arms.

  Suddenly there was silence in the cabin. The pounding in Nathan’s head eased. “What are you doing here? I only wrote to you yesterday. I think it was yesterday. How did you find me?”

  Maisie moved to the beat-up blue sofa he’d claimed from the side of the road where someone had dumped it. The two broken legs had been replaced with rocks. His brown-and-black hound parked himself at her feet.

  “Annie sent me the money to come three weeks ago, along with your address. She said she was on her way here to make amends with yo
u. In her letter she said she wanted her babies to grow up in an Amish family, with their father. She regretted leaving you, Nathan.”

  “Three weeks ago? If she knew where I was why didn’t she write or call?”

  While he didn’t own a cell phone or have a landline in his home, like most Amish he shared a community telephone with neighbors. It was housed in a small building centrally located between the homes. The phone shack contained an answering machine, so his boss and others could leave messages.

  Maisie shook her head. “I don’t know why she didn’t call you.”

  “I found out five days ago that I was a widower and the father of twins all in one breath when the bishop came with the news that Annie had died in childbirth. Eight months without a word from her. That doesn’t feel like she regretted it.”

  “Leaving you as she did was a terrible thing. I know that, but you must find forgiveness in your heart.”

  “Must I? Sure, I forgive her.” It was easy enough to say the words, but he didn’t mean them. Not yet. Maisie knew it, too. He saw it in her expression.

  Her eyes softened. “She was coming home to have your babies. She asked me to come and stay for a month or so to help her and you. Of course, I said yes. She knew twins would be lots of work.”

  “They are.”

  “But you haven’t found anyone to help you.”

  It was a statement more than a question. He hung his head. He didn’t want to depend on anyone. He’d never joined the Amish congregation in New Covenant so he didn’t expect help from them. “I can raise them by myself.” But could he?

  “You don’t have to, Nathan. I’m here now. We can get through our loss together.”