A Baby for Christmas (Love at The Crossroads)

by Simmons, Pat

Hershel eyed her. “If I didn’t know any better, I would accuse you of using me for my boys.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing you do know better.” Solae jutted her chin in a challenge. “Because God doesn’t like liars.”

  “Then maybe you’re the one who needs to tell the truth!” Spinning on his heel, he stormed out the room, nodding at her parents. Her mother came to her while her father escorted Hershel to the door.

  “He’s a good man, you know, and he loves you,” she said softly, coming to sit next to her.

  “I love him, too, Momma. I’ve never stopped, but I don’t want to be rushed. When I left for Chicago, my heart accepted that I might always be alone and without a family, but God said otherwise. I no longer need a man anymore.”

  “I’m not talking about another man; I’m talking about Captain Hershel Kavanaugh.” Her mother got to her feet. “Hershey will grow up and leave the nest and then that man you wanted so long ago may have moved on. That’s food for thought.” She walked out of the room at the same time Hershey became fussy.

  ***

  Hershel was not in a good mood, and he did his best not to snap when his sons begged to see Solae. The stalemate had gone on for more than a week and neither appeared to want to be the first to apologize.

  When he mentioned to Royce that he was thinking about pawning the ring he purchased for Solae—not for the money, but because it was apparent she no longer wanted him and his family—his brother called another family meeting. When he arrived at Royce and Candace’s house, there was only one car in the driveway and it wasn’t Trent’s or Julia’s.

  Getting out of his vehicle, he walked up the driveway to the house. He peeked inside and saw the car seat in the back. “Set up,” he griped as he thought about turning around and going home, but Candace opened the door and waved him inside.

  He stomped up the steps and cleared the doorway, barely acknowledging his sister-in-law. “This is becoming more of a headache than any woman is worth,” he mumbled and he didn’t care if Candace heard it or not.

  “Solae isn’t like every other woman. She’s my sister and you better be on your best behavior,” Candace ordered in a tone he had never heard before.

  Women. Shaking off his jacket and slipping it on a brass hook in the closet, he strolled into the family room, not in a mood for a confrontation. Hershel didn’t anticipate a favorable outcome because he was done with chasing after Miss Solae Wyatt-Palmer.

  But two things happened to shake his resolve when he turned the corner. First, Solae no longer looked as if she was recovering. She wowed his senses with her rust-colored sweater, denim jeans, and boots. She looked nothing like a mother to him, but more like the diva that enticed him without trying that first day they met more than a year earlier. Hershel did his best to keep a straight face.

  What did make him smile was Hershey’s reaction to him. She seemed excited to see him with her tiny arms beckoning for him to pick her up. Hershel swallowed. How could these two women in front of him have him wrapped around their fingers?

  “May I?” He asked permission, although he didn’t think Solae had a choice. Hershey was already bouncing in her mother’s arms.

  Solae stood to hand over her baby. They were so close he wanted to kiss her, but refrained.

  “Now that the offending parties have arrived, we can begin the proceedings,” Candace said as Royce placed two chairs directly in front of him and Solae.

  “There is nothing—” Hershel began to argue.

  Royce cut him off. “First, let us begin in prayer. Let’s join hands.”

  Solae seemed reluctant, but she scooted closer to his side while Hershey seemed to be content in his other arm. Hershel noted he was next to Solae’s injured shoulder, so he was mindful of his hold.

  “Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus, we come before You because of the stubbornness of your people. Lord, we need You to convict their hearts and seek Your will concerning their lives…”

  The more his brother prayed, the weaker Solae’s hold in his hand. He didn’t know how much strength she had regained, so he took the liberty of loosening his hand and slipping an arm around her waist to steady her, but didn’t want to break their connection.

  “Love is patient, love is kind, love bears all things…” Candace prayed.

  When Solae lifted her voice, Hershel joined the endless circle of petitions before the Lord. He didn’t lose hold of Solae as she began to cry out to the Lord in praise. Hershel surrendered his pride, misunderstanding, and all his imperfect thoughts that he had blamed on Solae.

  “Amen,” Royce murmured.

  Hershel opened his eyes to find Royce and Candace were sitting and grinning. Solae sniffed and turned into his free arm for a hug. He kissed the top of her hair. “I’m sorry, babe.”

  “Me too,” Solae mumbled against his chest.

  Surprisingly, Hershey was asleep. Solae reached for her, but Hershel resisted as he kissed the child’s cheek. “I’ll hold her.”

  Nodding, Solae sat on the sofa and Hershel joined her instead of in the chair that he had pegged for himself when he first arrived.

  Candace folded her hands and cleared her throat. She looked dead at him. “Hershel, in my opinion, this is all your fault.”

  Keeping a straight face, Royce nudged his wife. “Stick to the script, babe.”

  “Okay.” Candace twisted her lips as he had seen his defiant son do many times. “I’ve known Solae all my life. I think you know firsthand how much love she has to give unselfishly. Her love is pure. All she wanted in return was someone to love her unconditionally.” She stopped and looked to her husband.

  “Solae.” Royce gave her a stern look and then grinned. “You have been the best thing that has ever happened to my brother—the best. But I feel that you’re playing with his heart—”

  “Royce.” Candace gritted her teeth. “Watch it.”

  “Right.” Royce nodded. “Solae, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if I didn’t think you two loved each other. Like my wife said, my brother can be stubborn.” When Hershel was about to say something, Royce stopped him. “The fact is you two have made bad choices. Solae, using Hershey as an excuse not to get married is weak. Hershel, you’ve been selfish. Solae never would have left if you had given her the one thing she wanted—to be your wife and a mother to my nephews. You snoozed and lost that opportunity because she became a mother without you.”

  “Amen.” Solae nodded.

  Candace frowned. “Shh. The bottom line is this is God’s will about Hershey.” The baby stirred, hearing her name. Everyone held their breaths as the baby took center stage. Looking around, she crawled out of Hershel’s arms into Solae’s. “The biggest question is if you two were already married, would you have adopted Hershey when the call came.”

  Solae looked at Hershel, then shrugged. “Honestly, I want to say I would have, but I don’t know.”

  “It’s almost Christmas, why don’t you two work out your differences and give Hershey the best gift any child would want—a mom and dad.” Royce stood and pulled Candace to her feet. “That is all. This meeting is adjourned.”

  Chapter 22

  Christmas Day

  Solae and her mother had gone overboard buying toys for Madison Hershey Wyatt-Palmer. That didn’t count the clothes Candace, Julia, and Desiree had bought. But it was her daughter’s first Christmas, and as far as Solae was concerned, it was her prerogative to spoil her only child.

  Not surprisingly, her daughter had a ball playing with the bows and gift paper rather than the toys. Hershey loved being the center of attention as she and her parents laughed at her antics.

  She could never thank Candace and Royce enough for intervening on Hershey’s behalf—as they were quick to tell her. Since then, she and Hershel had reconciled. Now Solae was waiting on the proposal that he promised would be memorable. Solae smiled, she couldn’t wait to see that.

  The doorbell rang as she finished dressing Hershey, followed by her mother an
nouncing that she had company downstairs.

  “Okay.” She brushed Hershey’s soft curls and then put a gold cap with a red velvet bow on her head. Giving her daughter an approving nod, Solae praised God for the perfect gift, a baby for Christmas.

  Coming down the stairs, Solae noticed it was too quiet for there to be company. Once she made it to the landing, Solae went in search of her guests. Seconds later, she sucked in her breath at the sight of three handsome Kavanaugh men, dressed in black tuxedoes and red bow ties. Each knelt on one knee, but only one had a black velvet box resting in the palm of his hand. Her parents were nowhere to be seen, but Solae suspected they were within hearing distance.

  So this was it. The moment Solae had been waiting for all her life. Although she knew it was coming, her eyes still watered with emotion. Hershel stood and walked to her. After brushing a kiss on her lips and then on Hershey’s cheek, he lifted the baby out of her arms.

  “Boys, I want you to take your sister in the kitchen. I think your soon-to-be grandparents have a treat for you,” he stated as if they were already a family.

  Hershel was making this seamless. Harrison scrambled to his feet and hugged Solae. She rubbed the top of his head when he looked up at her.

  “Daddy said you were our Christmas present.” He squeezed her tight.

  Brandon joined them. “Now, I’ll have a pretty Mommy to show my friends.”

  “Sons,” Hershel reminded them, and Brandon carefully took Hershey and disappeared down the hall.

  Alone, Solae stared into Hershel’s eyes as he guided her to the sofa. He got back down on one knee. “Merry Christmas, babe.”

  “Merry Christmas,” she whispered.

  “There’s no doubt that the greatest gift today is salvation. The second is finding a wife, and the third is having beautiful children—two sons and a daughter. I love you, Solae. What makes you so special is your gift to me today—a woman who loves me and a daughter that, without you, I wouldn’t have.” He opened the box and she gasped at the ring.

  “It’s so beautiful.”

  “It’s so you. Will you marry me?” He slipped on the engagement ring before she could answer.

  But she was filled with so much emotion; she couldn’t speak, so she nodded.

  “If you can tell me you love me, then you can say, ‘yes, I’ll be Captain Kavanaugh’s wife.’”

  “I would be honored to be your wife and Harrison and Brandon’s mother.”

  As if her parents and the children had been cheerleaders standing on the sidelines, they all rushed into the room, cheering, clapping, and celebrating the good news.

  “If you would marry me today, it would be a done deal.” Hershel kissed her.

  “I don’t think I would stop you either.” Solae laughed, admiring her ring. Then within minutes, they had their coats on and hurried out the door to the church to celebrate the greatest gift on Christmas.

  Epilogue

  Months later

  Hershel stood at the altar. Solae’s parents spared no expense for their nuptials. Solae said she wanted the affair to be centered on them as a family, which explained why his ten-month-old-daughter-to-be captured the crowd’s attention as her little legs carried her down the aisle as if she was tap dancing next to Lindsay.

  She was the center of attention with guests’ “oohs and ahhs”. Hershel squatted and encouraged Hershey to come to him. Lindsay released Hershey’s hand and she took off down the aisle.

  After sweeping her up in his arms, he kissed her and then handed her off to Candace, who was the maid of honor and Julia was a bridesmaid. Both women were a couple of months pregnant.

  The background seemed to fade as Mr. Wyatt-Palmer escorted Solae down the aisle. Wow. She reminded him of a princess and he was blessed to be her prince.

  When her father stopped at the altar to hand her over, Hershel was waiting. It seemed like he’d been waiting his whole life for the woman that would complement him. The ceremony concluded not long after it began. The only moments Hershel remembered were the kiss he bestowed on his wife as if no one was around and the hug she gave him after the kiss that conveyed her love.

  “Finally, I’m a wife.” Her voice trembled as she looked up into his eyes. Her arms were still around his waist.

  Kissing her forehead, Hershel closed his eyes and snuggled her closer. “Thank you for saying yes.”

  “Thank you for asking,” she whispered.

  Coming soon 2014, THE KEEPSAKE (Love at the Crossroads #3). Desiree and Michael Bishop’s story.

  About the Author

  Pat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels.

  She hopes her off-beat method will track down distant relatives who happen to pick up her books. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven years old in 1988.

  She describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. She believes God is the author who advances the stories she writes.

  Pat has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in various media positions in radio, television, and print for more than twenty years. Currently, she oversees the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions.

  She is the author of nine single titles and several eBook novellas.

  Her awards include Talk to Me, ranked #14 of Top Books in 2008 that Changed Lives by Black Pearls Magazine. She is a two-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance for Still Guilty (2010) and Crowning Glory (2011), and the first recipient of the Katherine D. Jones Award for grace and humility as an author.

  Her bestselling novels include Guilty of Love and the Jamieson Legacy series: Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, and Free from Guilt. The Acquittal is her 2013 release; No Easy Catch, April 2014.

  Pat has converted her sofa-strapped, sports-fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and daughter.

  Pat’s interviews include numerous appearances on radio, television, blogtalk radio, blogs, and feature articles.

  Visit www.patsimmons.net or email her at authorpatsimmons@gmail.com

  Snail mail: Pat Simmons, P O Box 1077, Florissant, MO 63031

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  WORDS OF LOVE (Making Love Work #3). Call it old fashion, but Simone French was smitten with a love letter. Not a text, email, or Facebook post, but a love letter sent through snail mail. The prose wasn’t the corny roses-are-red-and-violets-are-blue stuff. The first letter contained short accolades for a job well done. Soon after, the missives were filled with passionate words from a man who confessed the hidden secrets of his soul. He revealed his unspoken weaknesses, listed his uncompromising desires, and unapologetically noted his subtle strengths.

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