Hearts Key

by Marianne Evans

  Kiara just nodded, wearing a wise, but non-condemning expression.

  “You said it best when he came back into town and you told me to reconcile the boy I knew with the man Tyler is now. I have. Without question. At his core, he was always the one for me. My life and my heart synchronize with him so beautifully. I’ve been given the most incredible luxury imaginable—the gift of a second chance with the man I should have been with from the start. I’m not turning my back on that again. I can’t. To do so is making me miserable.”

  “OK.” Kiara’s eyes went wide, and they were misty, but she smiled, and seemed just a touch nostalgic, as though she was already letting Amy go. “You know what I have to ask, right? Just to be a proper big-sister-type person.”

  Amy laughed. She was already two steps ahead. Reaching into the pocket of her shorts, she pulled out a folded piece of paper and opened it up. “Here witnesseth my reservations at the Country Inn and Suites Hotel in Franklin.”

  Kiara started to laugh, too.

  “Not because I can’t be trusted, but because I want you to know exactly where to reach me if anything should come up with Pyper.”

  “Naturally.” Kiara let out a soft sound and pulled Amy in for a long, tight hug. “Oh, Amy…I wonder if you realize how much I’m going to miss you.”

  “Kiara, c’mon. It’s just for the weekend!”

  Kiara pulled back. Now the moisture spilled over into a few teardrops that skimmed her cheeks. “Sure it is, Miss Thing. Sure it is.”

  Hearts Key

  19

  Tyler fiddled restlessly with his cell phone. He held it in his hand and immediately began to drum his fingertips against the side of the device. He paid a visit to his list of contacts and started to scroll until the last name Maxwell was highlighted.

  She was right there. A simple key click and they’d be connected. He’d hear her voice. Just the idea set his heart racing, his blood pumping.

  He backed out of contacts in a hurry, expelling a frustrated groan. The decision had to be hers. But a full week of silence left him less and less able to maintain an even-headed, confident spirit.

  He nearly pocketed the unit, but it sprang to life with a vibration, then a chime of melodic bells. It was a ring tone he had assigned to just one person in his far-reaching phone book.

  Amy.

  He bobbled the phone in his eagerness to activate the connection and see what was going on. What he found wasn’t a phone call, but a one-word text message.

  Faith.

  “What?” Tyler spoke aloud, to the empty quiet of his living room. Was her message sent by mistake? Must be, because it made no sense at all.

  This warranted a call. Perfect excuse, Tyler figured. She had sent the text after all. If it was in error, then she could explain, and maybe talking would open up an avenue to something deeper.

  Seconds later, Amy’s chimes sounded again. Another text. Another single word.

  Opens.

  Tyler shook his head, puzzling at the message on the display screen. He wasn’t about to try to figure out what was going on. Instead, he called Amy promptly. Four interminable rings later, he got to hear her voice—in recorded form, anyhow.

  Hi, you’ve reached the voicemail for Amy Maxwell. Sorry I missed you, so leave me a message. I’ll get back to you. Thanks!

  In acute terms, Tyler learned that even in electronic format, the sound of Amy’s voice had the power to do him in. He missed her that much. He realized he was hanging on the line, filling up her voicemail with nothing more than dead air so he spoke up in a hurry. “Amy, it’s me. Got a couple weird texts and wanted to be sure you’re OK, or what it, what they, you know, what you mean.” He was reduced to stammering. Tyler rolled his eyes at himself. “Anyway, call me when you get this. Miss you. A lot.”

  The quietly spoken endnote left him to sigh as he disengaged.

  The sound of tires crunching on the gravel drive out front of his home barely registered with Tyler, especially since at that precise moment a third text from Amy rolled in. What in the world was she doing?

  Doors.

  The doorbell rang and Tyler groaned for a second time. He was so not in the mood for company right now. He strode to the front door, redialing Amy as he yanked it open with an impatient, bothered tug.

  Tyler stared, mouth open, phone to his ear. Amy stood before him, the woman he had longed for day in day out, smiling and as glorious as an angel.

  Amy held her phone in her hand, and her smile quivered as tears sprang to her eyes. Moisture beaded and glittered on her lashes like diamonds before tracking slowly from the corners of her luminous blue eyes.

  “Faith opens doors, Tyler,” came her greeting.

  He could hardly breathe.

  ****

  “Where’s Pyper?”

  It was the first question that popped into his head and by her smile alone, Tyler knew Amy appreciated that particular consideration.

  “She’s enjoying a weekend with Annie, and Ken and Kiara.”

  Tyler still hadn’t found center, but that didn’t bother him in the least. “Weekend. You’re here.” He wasn’t making much sense, just trying to absorb.

  “I’m only here until Sunday. I took the first flight I could after work today and booked the last flight home on Sunday night.” She shuffled a bit, seeming, for the first time, a bit uncertain. “That is, if you don’t mind.”

  Mind? Was she insane?

  While he stared, Amy looked past his shoulder. “Ah, do you think I could come in, or…”

  She burst out laughing, and Tyler joined in. The sound of it filled him like he most beautiful music. Before he let her cross the threshold, he yanked her into his arms and lifted her up, carrying her to the entryway where he spun her in circles.

  This was too good to be true! Too blessed for belief!

  She was here. She was home. And she was his.

  Finally.

  It only got better. “I had to see you,” she whispered as she flew in his arms. “I had to let you know…know that…that…”

  He didn’t need roadmaps. He needed Amy. He set her down then pulled her in for a kiss that left them both out of breath and silent with awe.

  “I hope you keep selling a lot of records, because my daughter is going to cost you a fortune in family airfare.”

  “Well, honey, since in the times to come I’d love for her to become our daughter, all I can say to that is: bring it on!”

  ****

  He made sure he kept his word.

  In the months that followed, while summer gave way to the cool breezes and leaf-fire of autumn, Tyler arranged for Amy and Pyper to visit Tennessee as often as possible. Weekends spent together became precious bookends to weeks full of work on the new album, tour plans and preparations, and a relationship with Kellen Rossiter that increased his confidence as each day passed.

  September was on the wane when, on a blustery Saturday night, he took them to dinner at The Franklin Chop House, a favorite haunt of theirs. Private booths, intimate atmosphere and delicious food were a perfect combination that allowed them to relax together in peace and anonymity.

  Since it was Saturday night, Amy gave voice to her usual weekend-concluding sentiment. “I hate to leave.” Tyler kept quiet for the moment and simply watched her instead. Candlelight flickered, shimmering against the curls of her upswept hair as she tilted her head. Her eyes roamed the restaurant and its patrons. “The more time that goes by, the more Tennessee feels like home to me.”

  Pyper, he noticed, kept watching her mother. The keen-eyed girl sat next to Amy and didn’t say a word, but there was expectancy to her appearance. Hope.

  That made Tyler smile. “Know what? I forgot something in the car. I’ll be right back.”

  Amy nodded, and opened up the menu to explore dinner options with Pyper. When he passed by, Tyler planted a kiss on Amy’s cheek, then Pyper’s forehead. His reward? Twin smiles as bright as the twinkle lights that framed in the restaurant ceiling and
booth windows.

  He returned just a minute or two later, a crackling plastic bag from a local drug store swinging from his hand. He made a ceremonious production out of settling it in the middle of the table. Shocked expressions registered on Amy and Pyper’s faces. The waitress approached with her pad in hand. Tyler smiled at her, but shook his head slightly. “Thanks, but can we have a minute here?”

  “Absolutely. Y’all just let me know when you’re ready.”

  Amy ignored the exchange. “What’s this?”

  Tyler stretched back against the padded bench seat and grinned. “Guess there’s only one way to find out.” With a wave of his hand, he invited her to explore the offering.

  “Is it for Mommy?”

  “Mmm…actually, sugar beet, it’s for all of us.”

  Pyper bounced in her seat. “Cool! C’mon, Mama, what is it, what is it?”

  Amy snickered under her breath and Tyler covered a laugh by coughing. Lately, Pyper seemed determined to pick up a southern twang. She vacillated, currently, between Mommy and Mama, which both Amy and Tyler thought was hilarious. She’d even busted out a “y’all” for the first time yesterday.

  Amy unsealed the bag, and her quizzical expression only intensified when she pulled out a good old-fashioned box of sixty-four crayons—secured by a pair of rubber bands.

  “This looks like it’s for me, Tyler,” Pyper said.

  “Nope. Not quite. Just wait while your mama opens it.”

  Amy spread out her hands in surrender, but she smiled. Oh, how she smiled. “I get it. I’m the crayons. You’re the rubber bands. Cute reminder of the mission trip to Pennsylvania. But seriously—what’s going on?”

  Tyler straightened and slid the box toward the place setting in front of him. “Let me explain.” He pulled off the rubber bands and knotted them together. After that, he opened the box of crayons so that a vivid, colorful display could be seen and enjoyed. He then settled the offering in front of Amy. “Yes, the rubber bands are me, and I’m connected to you, my lady of rainbow colors and vivid beauty. Kinda like this.” Demonstrating, he stretched the slender piece of tan rubber toward Amy. “Here. Take hold. And Pyper, you have a very important job. Make sure she holds on real tight and doesn’t let it go no matter what, OK?”

  “Mm’kay, Tyler. I will!”

  Fascinated, squirming with anticipation, Pyper monitored Amy’s hold on the rubber band with the utmost care.

  Quick as lightning he removed an item from the pocket of his slacks and hooked it onto the rubber band. He set it gliding along the taut connector where it ended up bumping against Amy’s fingers. Pyper gasped. Amy let out a shocked exclamation that nearly caused her to drop her hold on the rubber band, until Pyper yelped. “Hang on, Mama! Hang on tight!”

  “Yeah, Amy. Hang on tight,” Tyler reiterated tenderly, smiling wide as Amy’s stunned eyes touched on his.

  Dangling between them, resting against her hand, was a brilliant cut solitaire diamond set in platinum. It sparkled in the dim lighting of the restaurant like wildfire.

  “T..T..Tyler…”

  “Mommy, it’s the prettiest ring ever in the world!”

  Tyler gave the little girl a moment to settle. “I can’t think of a more perfect moment to ask you to be my wife, Amy. I want Pyper to be my daughter. I want you to grow old with me. I want to build a family with you. You’re my best friend, and my soul mate. But beyond anything else, with God’s grace and hand, I promise I’ll love you forever.”

  Amy remained silent and overcome, the fingertips of her free hand pressed against her trembling lips. Pyper squiggled, seeming to fight the urge to cut in. In the end, though, the task proved too great. Pyper let out an urgent sound. “Mama, please say yes. Please? Please?”

  Amy burst out laughing through an onslaught of tears that flowed down her cheeks. Her hold on the rubber band was so shaky it trembled between them, making the ring dance a bit. Tyler moved his hand toward hers, relaxing the tension on the rubber band. He took possession of the ring, and held tight to Amy’s left hand. He arched a brow, waiting.

  “Yes! Of course my answer is yes!”

  Pyper clapped and let out a shout that drew a bit of attention from nearby guests of the restaurant. Tyler stood just far enough to stretch across the length of the table and kiss Amy’s lips. They were moist and giving, salted by her tears. He uncurled her ring finger and slid the ring into place. While Amy and Pyper studied its flash and sparkle, Tyler kissed Amy’s cheek. “Didn’t I promise you this moment would be precious?”

  She nodded. “And you’ve always, always kept your promises. I love you, Tyler. You’ve made every one of my dreams come true.”

  “Well, there’s a lot more to come, honey. Just wait and see.”

  Be sure to look for the other books in the Woodland Church Series!

  Hearts Surrender, Book 2

  Kiara Jordan is a sophisticated modernista, but beneath an engaging personality and super-model looks, her heart hungers, and she longs for deeper meaning in her life.

  Ken Lucerne is the charismatic young pastor of Woodland Church; he's adjusting to life as a widower and copes by keeping as busy as possible with his parish and missionary work.

  A home-building mission in Pennsylvania brings them together, and forces them to look hard and deep at the relationship they share, and where God means for it to go. Already bound by mutual respect and caring, love dawns, a love that takes them to a life-point neither would have expected.

  After all, can a chic, vivacious woman find fulfillment within the quiet, mission-centered life of a clergyman? Can they trust God's hand strongly enough to surrender their hearts to one another...forever?

  Hearts Communion, Book 3

  Jeremy “JB” Edwards dreams of one thing: Having a loving wife and children of his own. Not a surprising ambition, since he was raised at the heart of a large, tight-knit family.

  Monica Kittelski spends her days at Sunny Horizons Daycare Center pouring her heart and faith into other people’s children. But Monica harbors one impossible dream: Having children of her own someday.

  JB and Monica seem the perfect match, but what will come of their electric, sassy relationship when Jeremy learns of Monica's infertility?

  Hopes and reality collide when they must confront the idea of finding God's plan and following His will when a dearest hope is destined to remain unfulfilled.

  Can these two loving, passionate hearts survive a communion of dreams and reality?

  Haven’t read the story that started it all?

  Be sure to pick up Hearts Crossing,

  Available now in electronic formats

  “How do you feel about God, Collin?”

  “I don’t.”

  Collin Edwards, a former

  parishioner at Woodland Church of Christ, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.

  Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God and the community of Woodland. But lately she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.

  A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists—but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better.

  Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.

  Can Daveny trust in Collin’s fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?

  Thank you for purchasing this White Rose Publishing title. For other inspirational stories of romance, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.whiterosepublishing.com.

  For questions or more information, contact us at titleadmin@whiterosepublishing.com.

  White Rose Publishing

  Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Love™

  www.WhiteRosePublishing.com

  May God’s glory shine through


  this inspirational work of fiction.

  AMDG