Heart Unbroken (The Potter's House Books Book 3)

by Alexa Verde

“I’m grateful to God for that.”

  “I nearly died myself when I thought you might not make it. I can’t imagine my life without you.” He wondered whether he should give her the news now or later and opted for now. “The bungalow at the beach I used to rent is up for sale. I decided to buy it. Amigo really liked it there.”

  She studied him. “Only Amigo?”

  Rodrigo grinned. “Me, too. He really misses you, you know. Asks for you all the time.”

  Her lips tugged a little higher. “Really?”

  “Yep. In dog’s language. Do you like the bungalow? It’s right near the ocean, and I know you love the ocean.”

  “Not as much as I love you.” Her fingers laced through his. “And I want to do the same things as you. Help in church. Minister to families affected by addiction. Work at the treatment center.”

  Hope blossomed in his chest. “Do you want to do them together with me?”

  She nodded. “Yes. And... we can’t make the poor dog suffer. Do you think you can survive life with someone like me?”

  “Nothing would make me happier.” Rodrigo meant every word.

  “Then ask me again.”

  “Marry me, Emma. Make me the happiest person alive.”

  “Yes.”

  Elation filled every fiber of his being. He wanted to lift her in his arms and to kiss her senseless. But he couldn’t disturb her IVs.

  He just repeated that short word again and again in his mind.

  Yes.

  Thank You, Lord.

  EPILOGUE

  FOUR MONTHS LATER

  The ceremony at church nearly made Emma cry happy tears.

  She’d opted for a simple long white gown and a veil, letting her hair fall on her shoulders. She couldn’t be happier that Junior was her ring bearer and Joy her maid of honor. Cody was the best man, and he had a slightly uncomfortable look in his eyes. The church had way more people than she’d expected. She’d even spotted Gnat’s tall, scrawny figure in a faraway pew.

  Her heart filled to the brim with happiness.

  As Emma looked at the amazing man she was about to marry, she prepared to say her vows.

  “You’re the beautiful testimony of God’s love to me.” For several moments, she couldn’t say anything because her throat closed up from emotion.

  Rodrigo kept his encouraging gaze on her.

  “I love you, Rodrigo. You knew me when I was broken and accepted me the way I was, sharp edges and all. I was wandering in the wilderness, thinking myself unworthy of God’s love, and you led me by hand to the Lord. Because that’s just the man you are. You’re kind, generous, strong-willed, forgiving, caring... You’re building a center for drug addicts when many people would hate them. But you’re not a man of hatred. You’re a man of love. Most importantly, you’re a man of faith.”

  Rodrigo’s eyes misted. “About forgiving... You once said I won’t be able to truly love someone until I forgive Corina’s killer and myself for being unable to stop him.” He paused as if it was difficult for him to speak.

  There were sniffles in the church. From the corner of her eye, she saw several people crying. She ached to run to Rodrigo and give him her support.

  His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I watched on the internet the documentary Gnat made about his life and the life of people like him again and again. Especially the part where he talked about what happened to Caleb, Harry, and you, and you said that you forgave Harry. It changed me. I felt God healed me. I was able to forgive.”

  There was noise from one of the pews. Someone leaped to his feet.

  Carl!

  Emma tensed. Couldn’t Carl have stayed away on the day of her wedding? Rodrigo shifted in her direction, as if ready to shield her from insults.

  Utter silence fell over the church.

  Tears ran down Carl’s cheeks. “I think everybody here knows my story. I spent a lot of time hating the likes of Emma. Hating the person who killed my brother the most.”

  “I’m so sorry it happened to you, Carl. I truly am,” Emma whispered.

  Carl raked his shaky fingers through his dark hair. “I can’t say I’ve forgiven him yet. But... I’m working on it.”

  Several cheers and applause sounded in the church.

  “I’ll pray for you,” Emma whispered.

  “And that’s one of many reasons why I love you,” Rodrigo said. “Yes, you’re a beautiful woman, but what matters the most is that you have the heart for God. And you show your love for God by helping other people. I said it before and I’ll say it again. I’ll love you until my last breath.”

  Elation filled her every cell.

  After the ceremony and the reception at Mari’s restaurant, Rodrigo whisked Emma away to the beach.

  As Rodrigo and Emma walked along the shore and watched the sunset, she could hardly believe she was Mrs. Ybarra now.

  Rodrigo’s wife.

  But the ring on her finger and the man walking by her side told her it was a reality. The wedding was over, but their life together had just begun. Amigo trotted nearby, taking off from time to time to chase seagulls.

  Her heart swelled with happiness.

  “I’m so glad you didn’t let me push you away,” she whispered.

  “You’re my soul mate. I don’t know how to live without you.” He brushed her hair away from her face.

  “Ditto. Cody and I had a heart-to-heart conversation yesterday. He apologized, and I told him he had nothing to apologize for. He was looking out for you.” She stared at the ocean. This was where it all had begun for them. “I’m glad the treatment center will open its doors in three days. You turned your grief into something to help people. I admire you for that, among other things.”

  “I’m doing what feels right. Do you think we’ll have enough people who’ll need us?”

  Emma turned to him, a bittersweet taste in her mouth. “Sadly, there are a lot of people like me. Especially in the beginning of the addiction, we don’t show signs and hide our secret well. Nobody knows what happens to us until it’s too late. Sometimes not even then. I’m glad you decided to cater to families of drug addicts, as well. Often, people have no clue their beloved might be using, and when they find out, they don’t know what to do. And the public becomes aware of us only when one of us kills or steals. But being blind to the issue won’t make it go away.”

  Rodrigo nodded. “True.”

  “Like Corina said, if we can help even one person or at least try, it’s already worth it. You wouldn’t believe how many messages I got after Gnat’s documentary went viral.”

  “I believe it. I watched his other documentaries, too. He’s talented indeed.” Rodrigo drew her close.

  Her pulse spiked like always at Rodrigo’s touch. Maybe she shouldn’t be talking about sad things on the happiest day of her life. But she had a feeling Rodrigo would understand. “Gnat called me a week ago. He felt bad about lying that Caleb was okay. Gnat wants to quit drugs.”

  “Then he’ll be one of the first patients at our center.”

  “I hope so. I’m implementing Caleb’s recipes at the restaurant and giving him the credit. They are a huge success. It might be a small thing, but this is my way of keeping his memory alive.”

  “I admire you for it. And for the way you were able to forgive Harry.”

  Her heart squeezed in her chest. “It was difficult at first. But then I thought about the way I’d feel if something happened to Junior and I thought I knew who to blame for it. I don’t know what I’d do then.”

  Rodrigo’s eyes darkened. “Harry was in so much pain that he felt he needed to hurt somebody else to lessen it.”

  “I hurt for him. I honestly do. I can only imagine what he went through. And I worry about Junior a lot because he has my genes.” She took a deep breath. “I want to be there for the parents of drug addicts so none of them reach the point Harry had. Sometimes we can help drug addicts. Sometimes we can’t, and we have to accept it and not blame ourselves. It wasn’t my fault C
aleb started using drugs, but it wasn’t Harry’s fault, either. He did everything he could to help his son. I won’t let myself hate Harry because hatred only breeds hatred.”

  “Have I told you lately how incredible you are?” Rodrigo kissed her on the cheek.

  The simple gesture made butterflies flutter their tender wings in her stomach.

  “You can say it again.” Emma smiled.

  “You’re incredible.” Love shone in his eyes.

  “Right back at you.”

  Amigo joined them with a loud bark, and she patted his back.

  “I have some happy news, too. Joy told me right before the wedding that she was pregnant.” A warm wave spread inside Emma. “Dylan and she are thrilled, and I’m thrilled for them.”

  “I’m happy for Joy.” Rodrigo grinned.

  His smile touched something deep inside her. “Life with me won't be easy. But I do love God, and I’m grateful to Him for guiding me to you. I'll cherish you always.”

  Rodrigo drew her close. “At the end of the day, that’s all we might have: faith, love, and a little hope. And that’s more than enough.”

  She was a different person from when she’d been younger. Granted, she was still a work in progress. She’d always be.

  But as she looked in Rodrigo’s eyes, she knew she was finally whole.

  And her heart that she’d thought would be in shambles forever was unbroken.

  THE END

  THE POTTER’S HOUSE BOOKS

  I hope you enjoyed Rodrigo’s and Emma’s story, and that it encouraged you in your own personal walk with the Lord. You’ll find further inspiration and encouragement on The Potter’s House Books Website, and by reading the other books in the series. Read them all and be encouraged and uplifted!

  If you could kindly leave a review for Heart Unbroken on Amazon and/or Goodreads, it would mean a lot to me.

  Find all the books on Amazon and on The Potter’s House Books website.

  Book 1: The Homecoming, by Juliette Duncan

  Book 2: When it Rains, by T.K. Chapin

  Book 3: Heart Unbroken, by Alexa Verde

  Book 4: Long Way Home, by Brenda S Anderson

  Book 5: Promises Renewed, By Mary Manners (pre-order April 24, 2018)

  Book 6: A Vow Redeemed, by Kristen M. Fraser (pre-order May 8, 2018)

  Book 7: Restoring Faith, by Marion Ueckermann (pre-order May 22, 2018)

  THANK YOU FOR READING

  THANK YOU FOR READING this book. If you could kindly leave a review for Heart Unbroken on Amazon and/or Goodreads, I’d be very grateful.

  I hope that you might enjoy other books in the Secrets of Rios Azules series: River of Danger, Color of Danger, Taste of Danger, Scent of Danger, and Touch of Danger. I also write contemporary Christian romance. Rios Azules Christmas series includes sweet, heartwarming books about God, love, joy, family, and the meaning of Christmas. If you’d like to read the story of Emma’s friend, Joy, here’s the link to Season of Joy.

  If you email me at alexaverde7@gmail.com, or visit me on Goodreads, Facebook, or Twitter, you’ll make my day. For giveaways, free books, news, and recipes, please sign up for my newsletter. I love to meet up with other authors to give free books to readers, and I enjoy giving news about such giveaways in my newsletter!

  Thank you for sharing your time with me and my books, and I hope we’ll meet again.

  Blessings,

  Alexa

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  IF YOU ENJOYED READING my contemporary Christian romance books, please know that I’m happy to offer a FREE book to my newsletter subscribers, a sweet and heartwarming novella, Season of Faith. Here’s a link to download it. Please note that by downloading it you’ll be subscribed to my newsletter, but never fear: you can unsubscribe at any time. I do love sharing news about free and discounted books and giveaways, so I hope you’ll stay!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ALEXA VERDE PENNED her first literary masterpiece, a rhymed poem, at the ripe age of eight, and since has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. She has a bachelor degree in Spanish, a master's in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters with diverse cultures. She's worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer's hat suits her the best. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules. Please visit her online, on Facebook and Twitter. For news about her books, as well as information about giveaways and free books, please sign for her newsletter.

  OTHER BOOKS BY ALEXA VERDE

  Secrets of Rios Azules Series

  Christian Multicultural Romantic Suspense

  Sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and murder

  Welcome to Rios Azules, a small south Texas town, where rivers and emotions run deep, and the secrets are deadly.

  Prequel River of Danger (Jacob and River)

  Book 1 Color of Danger (Luke and Mari)

  Book 2 Taste of Danger (James and Soledad)

  Book 3 Scent of Danger (Connor and Maya)

  Book 4 Touch of Danger (Ivan and Julia)

  Book 5 Danger Under the Mistletoe (Sebastian and Rachel) This book!

  Rios Azules Christmas Series

  Contemporary Christian Romance

  Sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and hope

  Season of Miracles (Book 1)

  Season of Joy (Book 2)

  Season of Hope (Book 3)

  First Street Church Romances (Kindle World Novellas)

  Love’s Christmas Cheer

  Love’s Ransom