The Family Man

by Irene Hannon

  “Heather?”

  “Bryan?” Her voice sounded uncertain.

  “Yeah. Look, sorry to bother you at home, but have you heard from Amy tonight?”

  “Amy? No. Why?” Now her voice was puzzled.

  “I’ve been trying her condo, and I’m not getting any answer.”

  “Is there a problem?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to find out.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I spoke with her just before she left work to do her meals-on-wheels deliveries, and I warned her about the storm. She promised to be careful, but the roads are bad and…” His voice trailed off.

  “Yeah. I see what you mean.” Now Heather’s voice was laced with concern as well. “Especially considering her isolated route.”

  The knot in Bryan’s stomach tightened. “What do you mean?”

  “She makes rural deliveries.”

  Another wave of panic washed over him. If he’d known she had a rural run, he wouldn’t have backed off as easily when he was talking to her earlier. “Do you know her route?”

  “No. But Dawn does. Tim’s secretary. They sub for each other on occasion.”

  “Do you have her number?”

  “Sure. Hang on.” A few seconds later, she recited it for him. “What are you going to do?”

  “Get the route from Dawn and call the people she was supposed to deliver to. Then I’ll try Amy again, and if there’s still no answer I’ll drive out there.”

  “Could you or Amy call me later? Just so I know everything’s okay?”

  “Sure.”

  Ten minutes later, after a quick call to Dawn, Bryan had a list of Amy’s clients and their phone numbers. Calls to each place confirmed that she’d come and gone. Her last stop had been an hour before. After one more futile call to her condo, Bryan bundled up Dylan and headed for the door.

  “Where are we going, Dad?” Dylan asked.

  He hated to take his son out in this kind of weather, but worry for Amy overrode his concerns for Dylan’s improving cold. “We’re going to look for Amy. She’s out in the country, and I think she might be stuck somewhere.” He tried to keep his tone conversational. Experience had taught him that kids were hypersensitive to the nuances of grown-up moods.

  Dylan’s face brightened. “Can I help?”

  “Sure thing. Just keep a sharp lookout while we drive, okay? And let me know if you see anything.”

  Since Amy had finished all of her deliveries, Bryan headed toward her last call. The rural area around Davis Landing was crisscrossed with a network of small, two-lane roads, and he knew she could have taken a number of routes. But considering the weather, he opted for the one that he thought was the most direct.

  That, however, proved a dead end—literally. A creek had overrun its banks and washed across the road, rendering it impassable and dangerous. Bryan knew firsthand about the hazards of flash flooding. A good buddy of his from high school had almost drowned when his car was swept off the road after he’d attempted to cross a flooded creek just like this.

  Fighting down his escalating panic, and straining to see through the dark, Bryan scanned the creek bed for any sign that Amy had run into similar trouble. Lord, please keep her safe! he prayed.

  “Is she here, Dad?” Dylan spoke from the back seat, his voice uncertain and a little scared.

  “I don’t see her. But I’m going to take a closer look, okay?”

  “It’s dark here.”

  “I’m not going far. I promise. I’ll leave the headlights on, and you’ll be able to see me, okay?”

  “Okay, I guess.”

  Turning up the collar of his jacket, Bryan exited the car and headed toward the creek for a closer look, trying to remain calm. But as he peered into the dark, swirling water, he knew that any attempt to hang on to his composure was destined for failure. And with a sudden jolt, he knew why. He had come to care deeply about Amy. So deeply that it scared him. So deeply that somewhere along the way his feelings had evolved into love.

  As Bryan stared at the creek, oblivious to the cold rain seeping through his jacket, he thought back a few days, to when he’d told Amy that he needed time to sort out his feelings. Now he realized that hadn’t been true. He knew, as surely as he knew that the sun would rise tomorrow, that the woman he’d once loved, the woman who had matured and grown and changed, had once again stolen his heart. And deep inside, he’d known it for some time. But he’d been afraid. Afraid to take another chance on love. Yes, he’d been concerned about dishonoring the memory of his love for Darlene. But Pastor Abernathy had helped set his mind at ease about that. The thing that was holding him back was fear. After the losses he’d already suffered, he hadn’t been willing to take the risk of loving again.

  Now, as he stood watching the gentle stream that had been transformed within minutes to a rushing river, he was reminded how fast things can change. And how quickly roads can be blocked and opportunities snatched away—sometimes just because people waited too long, thinking time would reveal the answers that were already in their hearts, just waiting for release. Often it wasn’t time that was needed, he realized, but courage.

  With sudden resolve, Bryan returned to the car, backed into a turn and set off again. He’d find Amy. And when he did, he wasn’t going to make her wait another minute for an answer to her question about whether there was an “us.”

  They drove in silence for a few minutes, until Dylan’s excited voice called out, “Look, Dad! There’s a car!”

  He’d seen it at the same time, in between swipes of the wiper blades, and he’d immediately recognized the dark blue sedan as Amy’s Toyota. It was on the opposite side of the road, half on the shoulder. Pulling over to the side, he jammed on the brake and opened his door, speaking to Dylan as he slid out of his seat. “I’ll be right back. Sit tight, okay?”

  Without waiting for a response, he strode toward Amy’s car. When he realized it was empty, his gut tightened as a dozen possible scenarios flashed through his mind, none of them pretty. Then he noticed an odd glow coming from the shoulder side of the car. Proceeding with caution, he rounded the vehicle, and almost collapsed with relief. Amy wasn’t hurt. Or worse. She was changing a tire. Or trying to, he amended. She’d propped a flashlight on the ground, angling it toward the tire, and was cranking the car up with a jack a fraction of an inch at a time. So focused was she on her task that she was oblivious to his presence. Although her blond hair had been darkened by the rain, there was grease on her cheek, and her clothes were soaked, she’d never looked more beautiful to him.

  When he stepped forward, Amy turned. With the flashlight shining in her face, blinding her, all she saw was a looming presence in the blackness. Her eyes widened, and with a startled gasp she groped for the lug wrench and attempted to stand. Instead, she lost her balance and sat back, hard.

  Bryan went down at once on one knee beside her, letting the light illuminate his face. “It’s me, Amy. I’m sorry I startled you.” With a gentle hand, he pushed some of the wet hair back from her pale face.

  “Bryan?” Her voice was so shaky even she didn’t recognize it. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

  “Looking for you.” He pried the wrench out of her fingers, then stood, pulling her up beside him in one smooth motion. She was shaking badly, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, stroking her back as he thanked God for keeping her safe during the storm. “I was so worried,” he murmured, his voice close to her ear, his breath warm on her face.

  As Amy stood there in the rain, within the protective circle of Bryan’s strong arms, she could feel the pounding of his heart and knew that this moment was the one she had been wishing for for more years than she cared to count. Until the past few days, she hadn’t let herself believe that it might ever arrive. But now, in her heart, she sensed that it had, that her time of waiting was past. Her knight had come riding by after all, bringing with him the hope of a happy ending.

  Bryan held her for a long time, though not
long enough. Then again, even forever wouldn’t be long enough, Amy thought, sorry when he at last pulled back. But she was only sorry for an instant, because as he stared down at her, warmth flooded his eyes, chasing away the chill in the autumn air. It was the same warmth she remembered from long ago. The warmth that spelled love in capital letters. The warmth she had seen in his eyes that rainy day years before, when he’d kissed her for the first time in Sugar Tree Park.

  As she looked back at him, her own eyes alight with love, his darkened with an intensity that took her breath away. Then he leaned down to claim her lips in a gentle kiss of reunion, of healing and hope. Time stopped, and she lost herself in the wonder of his embrace.

  “Hey, Dad, you’re all wet.”

  When Dylan’s voice at last intruded on her consciousness, breaking the romantic spell, she made a halfhearted effort to pull back. But Bryan’s lips lingered on hers, as if he couldn’t bear to release them. When he at last broke contact, the look on his face left Amy breathless and told her that he considered this only a brief interruption.

  Together, they turned toward Bryan’s car. Dylan had unhooked his seat belt and rolled down the window, and his arms were resting on the windowsill, propping up his chin. A grin split his face from ear to ear.

  With a chuckle, Bryan tucked Amy closer to his side. “You’re right, champ. But the rain has stopped. And you know what? Tomorrow is going to be a sunny day.”

  Then he looked down at Amy once more, his eyes warm with love and filled with promise. And she didn’t have to wait until tomorrow to see the sun. It was already shining in her heart.

  Dear Reader,

  As I write this letter, summer is waning. After a long dry spell, the parched ground is yearning for autumn’s promise of cooler days and refreshing rains, which will strengthen and renew the plants that have begun to wither.

  Often, our lives mirror the seasons of nature. Sometimes we go through dry spells when we yearn for emotional or spiritual refreshment. In The Family Man, both Bryan and Amy experience such a time. But with trust in God, and blessed by His renewing grace, they find the courage to take a second chance on love.

  The Family Man marks the first time I have participated in a continuity series, in which each book is written by a different author. Although every book is a complete romance in itself, each also carries certain plot elements forward until all the loose ends are tied up in the final book. It has been an interesting experience, and I hope you enjoy all six Davis Landing novels.

  Please watch for my next Love Inspired book, Rainbow’s End, coming in January. And be sure to check my Web site at www.irenehannon.com for the latest news on my upcoming releases.

  In the meantime, have a wonderful autumn and a blessed holiday season!

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  As the eldest, high-achiever daughter, Amy has always been a role model for her sisters. But her success and confidence have also been somewhat intimidating, sometimes giving both sisters a feeling of inferiority. As she matured and found her way back to her faith, Amy realized this and now makes an effort to bolster their self-esteem. What are some examples of this from The Family Man? What role might her renewed faith have played in her heightened sensitivity?

  Despite their different personalities, the Hamilton siblings are all quite close. How have they created such a strong family bond? Why are family ties important? What are the hallmarks of a strong family?

  Although Amy was eminently qualified to take over the helm of Hamilton Media when Jeremy left, her brother was chosen instead. How did she come to terms with this? Have you ever been passed over for something you felt you deserved? How did you deal with the jealousy and resentment you might have experienced? How did your faith help you through this difficult time?

  When Bryan returns to Davis Landing, it takes him quite awhile to realize—and admit—that Amy has changed. Why was that hard for him? Why did he fight the attraction? Have you ever had a preconceived image of a person? How did that affect your relationship with them, especially in the beginning?

  Why did Amy and Bryan break up when they were in college? If the timing of their first meeting had been different, might their relationship have progressed differently? How? How important is timing in romance?

  When The Family Man starts, Amy’s once-lax faith has stabilized and strengthened, while Bryan’s once-solid faith has become shaky. Why? How does Bryan find his way back to the Lord? What events in your life have affected your faith journey? How?

  Nora chose not to tell Wallace about Jeremy’s departure. Though her motive was well-intentioned, her husband found out anyway. Should she have kept this secret? What were the consequences? Have you ever kept information to yourself that you could have shared? Why? Was it a good decision? Why or why not? What factors should be considered in making a decision of this kind?

  IMPRINT: Mills & Boon Love Inspired

  ISBN: 9781488732300

  TITLE: The Family Man

  First Australian Publication 201309

  Copyright © 201309 Hannon, Irene

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher, Harlequin Mills & Boon©, Locked Bag 7002, North Sydney D.C. N.S.W., Australia 2060.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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