Ryan looked at the stick that very clearly read PREGNANT, then back at Hannah. “This is for real?”
Hannah’s smile widened. “It is very much so.”
“And that’s why you’ve been feeling blah?”
“It would seem so.” She tightened her hold on his shoulders and pressed her cheek to his. “Are you happy, babe?”
“Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel,” Ryan told her as tears pricked at his eyes. “You and Jason would always have been enough for me, so this news is just icing on a delicious cake.”
“I know we didn’t plan for this right away,” Hannah said as she curled into him more closely.
Ryan rested a hand on her hip and smiled. “But we weren’t exactly doing anything to prevent it from happening either.”
“I can’t wait to add another child to our family. I think Jason is going to be a wonderful big brother.”
“He will be,” Ryan agreed. “The best.”
Hannah turned her head and pressed her lips to his, her fingers threading through his hair. “I love you, Ryan.”
“Love you too, sunshine.” Ryan returned her kiss, feeling as if everything he’d ever hoped for was now a reality for him—even if it was very different from what he’d imagined.
Hannah settled Jason on her hip as she walked into the family room at Ryan’s folks’ place, smiling at the scene before her. Emily had somehow managed to find matching pajamas for each family unit. Most had agreed to stay overnight at the family home Christmas Eve, so they could wake up together Christmas morning.
Hannah had thought it was a fantastic plan, and now, seeing it all play out in front of her, she was glad that the others had thought so as well.
The only ones missing at that moment were Kenton, Avery and Benjie, who were spending Christmas Eve with her family. They’d be coming the next day with Avery’s mom and brother. Though Yuka and Max were there, other in-laws would be arriving in time for Christmas Dinner the next day. It would be the largest family gathering that Hannah had ever attended.
She spotted Ryan sitting with Gabe and Mitch. He wore red pajamas with yellow bells on them that matched what she and Jason had on. Gabe had on a pair of red and white ones that looked like candy canes. Mitch sported yellow ones that had red and green wreaths all over them. To her, Ryan looked the best.
When he spotted her, a smile spread across his face, and his eyes shone with love. A love that had gotten her through so much over the past year and a half. A love that she had trusted and that hadn’t failed her in that time. When she’d needed patience and understanding, he’d been both for her. When she’d needed space, he’d given that to her. When she’d felt she was too much hassle, he’d assured her she was worth it. But best of all, when she’d needed him to hold her, he had. Tightly.
As she moved closer to where he sat, she took the hand he always held out to her when she neared him. She settled close on the loveseat next to him, relinquishing Jason to Ryan when the toddler demanded it. Soon all the family members were gathered in the room. Some were seated on the couches and other chairs in the room while the rest sat on the plushly carpeted floor.
Once everyone was settled, they began to sing Christmas carols. It was in that moment, it hit Hannah. The glaring hole created by Dalton’s absence. If he’d been there, he would have been playing his guitar, leading them all in the singing.
Her gaze went to Emily as the woman leaned against her husband. Clearly Dalton’s absence was being deeply felt by her and Steve as well.
Danica and Sierra took charge of leading the group from one song to the next. Joy to the World then O, Little Town of Bethlehem followed by The First Noel. Then, silence. It was a silence broken only by sniffles.
“I know we’re all missing Dalton,” Bennett said.
Hannah glanced over to see that he had leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs. Grace laid a hand on his back.
“Why don’t we spend some time praying for him,” Ethan suggested. “Though none of us has heard from him lately, I believe he is missing us here as much as we are missing him.”
As she listened to the prayers that followed, sometimes uttered with an emotion-laden voice, Hannah found comfort in how the Callaghans and McFaddens drew together and turned to God in their times of need. She had seen that frequently over the time since she’d been embraced by the family.
Once the time of prayer ended, the mood in the room lightened a bit. They didn’t return to singing Christmas carols, but conversations picked up again.
When Ryan squeezed her hand, Hannah glanced over at him. They’d had several discussions over the past couple of days since she’d told him about the baby. They’d weighed the pros and cons of telling the family about the pregnancy. It was still early, and because of what had happened to Avery, Hannah had been a little reluctant to share their news in case something similar happened to her. Ryan, however, had wanted to share since the family needed some happy news, plus, he had insisted that they could use prayer that the pregnancy would go well.
In the end, since it was his family—and because she also agreed with his reasoning—Hannah had decided to let Ryan make the decision. Seeing the smile he gave her, Hannah smiled back and leaned into his side.
“Excuse me,” Ryan said, his voice rising above those around them. “I’d like to tell you all about an early Christmas present I received.”
His brothers tossed out guesses, but when Hannah looked at Emily, she found her mother-in-law with her hands clasped to her chest, a smile on her face. In that moment, she knew that Ryan was making the right decision. While the news of a baby wouldn’t take away the hole left by Dalton’s absence, maybe it could ease the pain for just a little while.
“None of those,” Ryan said, waving his hand at his brothers. “It’s a gift that we won’t officially have for probably about seven months. Give or take.”
“A baby?” Maya asked as she got to her feet. “It’s a baby, right?”
“It is indeed,” Ryan said as he turned to give Hannah a kiss. “We just found out, and we’re super excited.”
For Hannah, super excited didn’t even come close to describing how she felt. Super blessed. Super fortunate. That was more like it. And more than a little amazed. Amazed that this was her life. That this man loved her and together they were going to have a baby. She had a beautiful child already and would soon be adding another to their family.
She’d had no idea of how things would change for her when she’d discovered she was no longer alone in that dark cell of captivity. When she’d woken Ryan with her singing.
As Ryan pulled her closer and kissed her amidst the happy chatter of his—their—family, Hannah whispered a prayer of thanks that even though all she’d asked God for was freedom, He’d granted her so much more.
“This is just the beginning, sunshine,” Ryan whispered, his arms wrapping securely around her and Jason. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I can’t wait to see what our future holds. I love you.”
“I love you too. And thank you for loving me. For loving us,” Hannah replied as she rested her cheek on Jason’s dark curls. “Even through the dark times.”
Ryan’s gaze caught and held hers. “Always remember that even in the darkest of times, God is our light. And the love we share is our sunshine. You are my sunshine.”
Two years ago, Hannah wouldn’t have been able to trust in his words, but now she believed him completely. She trusted in his love and the fact that, in spite of how messed up she’d been, he’d chosen to love her. Because of that, she trusted that in the dark times ahead, he would always be there for her. Just as he’d promised her on the day they’d pledged their love to each other.
Hymns mentioned in A Little Ray of Sunshine:
Heavenly Sunshine by Henry J. Zelley (1899)
God Will Take Care of You by Civilla D. Martin (1904)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Howarth Lemmel (1922)
Je
sus Loves Me by Anna B. Warner (1860)
When Peace Like a River by Horatio Gates Spafford (1873)
Jesus is All the World to Me by Will L. Thompson (1904)
What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven (1855)
Spotify Playlist: A Little Ray of Sunshine
Scriptures quoted in A Little Ray of Sunshine:
Joshua 1:9
Psalm 23
Psalm 102
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights are reserved.
Coming Fall 2018
Reaching Her Heart
He had been the love of her life, but then he was gone.
Alone, her focus was completely on raising her son.
But was that enough for him?
Or were her friends right that she needed to move on with her life?
Would her heart ever be free to feel love for a man again?
It was her son that first grabbed his attention, but then he met his mom.
Though he knew their story, he hoped that maybe there was room in their lives and hearts for another love.
But could he risk his own heart before knowing for sure?
Available now for pre-order.
Reaching Her Heart
Available for just $.99 until August 31, 2018.
Price after September 1, 2018 will be $2.99.
For the latest news on releases and sales for Kimberly Rae Jordan’s books,
please sign up for her newsletter.
http://eepurl.com/WFhYr
If you have enjoyed this book, please check out Kimberly’s website for additional Christian romance books that she has written.
www.kimberlyraejordan.com
Contact
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyRaeJordan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimberlyRJordan
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kimberlyraejordan.com
Mailing: PO Box 40083 Lagimodiere PO
Winnipeg MANITOBA R2C 4P3
FAMILY TREE
A Little Ray of Sunshine_A Christian Romance Page 32
