A Mom for Christmas

by Lorraine Beatty

  Evelyn took her hand, rubbing it to restore warmth to her skin. “You’re freezing.”

  “I didn’t notice.” She laid her head back, closing her eyes. “He has to be all right. He has to be.”

  “That’s what I’m praying for.”

  Beth squeezed Evelyn’s hand. “I’m sorry. I should be trying to comfort you. I know you’re as worried as I am.”

  “We both love him, don’t we?”

  “I always have. Life just got in our way.”

  “It happens.” They sat in silence for another forty-five minutes, then Fire Chief O’Brian tapped on the car window.

  “We’re bringing him out now. He’s still unconscious, but he’s stable. He has a leg injury, and probably some cracked ribs. We’re taking him to Magnolia County Hospital in Sawyer’s Bend. You can meet us there.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “He won’t know you’re here, but I guess it won’t hurt.”

  Beth squeezed Evelyn’s hand before getting out and hurrying toward the house. The rain had eased up. She stopped when she saw the men carrying the stretcher. She got as close as they would permit. Her heart was a cold lump in her chest. Noah had a wide brace around his neck, and his right leg was wrapped in thick covering. She ached to touch him to prove to herself he was alive, but she wasn’t allowed that close. She had to settle for whispering his name and telling him she loved him.

  She waited until the ambulance started off before getting into her car. Evelyn had left, probably to go get Chloe. Her impulse was to start the car and race to the hospital. But common sense prevailed. She took a moment to calm herself, then called her mother before she headed out.

  By the time she arrived at the hospital, Noah was in surgery to repair damage to his leg, and all she could do was wait for Evelyn. Since she wasn’t a relative and no one would tell her anything about his condition, she sought out the chapel. Her mind was so clouded by fear that she couldn’t form a coherent prayer so she sat silently, knowing the Lord would understand her pleas.

  She knew now that loving Noah and Chloe was more fulfilling than any starring role. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with them. She’d prove to him somehow that she’d never leave again. She’d stay by his side until he regained consciousness. She wanted to be the first person he saw when he woke up. Maybe then he’d understand that he was her obsession.

  * * *

  Noah fought his way through the gray fog of pain and confusion. He hurt, but he couldn’t pinpoint where exactly. Thinking made his head throb. Something heavy was sitting on his chest, making it hard to breathe. He tried to move, only to regret it when pain shot through the right side of his body.

  He heard his name being called. A soft feminine voice. Beth? He struggled to clear his thoughts, but the gray fog swirled around him again, drawing him down into darkness.

  When he opened his eyes again, his vision was blurred. He blinked and glanced around, trying to grasp where he was. A hospital. He recoiled as the memory rushed back. The house. It had collapsed on top of him. He’d been too preoccupied with thoughts of Beth to notice the danger.

  Beth. Was she here? He started to raise his head, only to wince and drop back down on the pillow.

  “Noah. Oh, praise the Lord.”

  Gram? He closed his eyes to ease the ache and drifted off again.

  “Daddy? Please wake up.”

  His vision was clear when he opened his eyes the next time, and he could process thoughts easier. “Chloe?”

  Her little face held a bright smile. She leaned over the side rail and grasped his arm. “Daddy. You’re awake.”

  He squeezed her hand, but his gaze searched the room. “Beth?”

  “She’s not here. She’s talking to someone about a new job. I’ll go get Gram.”

  Before he could speak, Chloe darted away, leaving him with a new ache that twisted deeper into his core than any physical pain. She’d left. The job had won. His gut kicked, stirring up the old sediment of resentment. When would he learn?

  “Noah. Oh, my dear boy, it’s so good to have you back. You had us worried.”

  He tried to force a smile for her sake but failed.

  “How do you feel?”

  “I’ll survive.” He’d survive his injuries. But not Beth’s defection. “Has she left?”

  “Who?”

  “Beth?”

  “No. She’s right here. She’s on the phone. I’ll go get her. She’ll want to talk to you.”

  “Don’t bother. I know what she’ll say.”

  “You’re not making sense. Maybe I should call the nurse.” She reached for the call button.

  “Chloe told me Beth was taking a new job. I know all about it. There’s nothing I need to say to her. I knew she’d never stay in Dover. Once that friend offered her a job, I knew she’d jump at the chance. I can’t depend on her to hang around.”

  He glanced up as someone stepped close to the foot of the bed. Beth. His heart swelled with affection. She was the only thing he wanted to see when he woke up, and his muddled brain had dangled her image in his mind repeatedly. But she’d been smiling, and she wasn’t now.

  “You’ll never change, will you? I could start a dozen dance schools here in Dover, and you’d still be waiting for me to walk away.”

  “Dance studio?” What was she talking about?

  “If I miss your call, or if I leave town for some reason, your first thought will always be that I’ve left again. Well, I’m done, Noah. I won’t live like that.”

  Tears were seeping from her eyes. “I’m glad you’re going to be all right.”

  He reached out to her, but she spun and walked out. “Beth.”

  Gram pressed him back against the pillow, her stern expression clearly revealing her distress. “Honestly, you are the most blind, closed-minded man I ever knew. Worse than your granddad and your father. I’ll have you know that young woman has been here at your side from the beginning. She stood in the pouring rain while they dug you out from under that house. She’s been here at your bedside around-the-clock the last two days, refusing to even eat. Her mother brought her food because she was afraid you’d wake up while she was down in the cafeteria. Francie had to bring her fresh clothes.”

  “Gram.”

  “I’m not finished. Beth loves you, and if you don’t come to your senses, you’re going to lose her again. You listen to me. I know you’re protecting your heart from being broken again. But that’s not your job. You’re not strong enough to do that alone. You’re supposed to give your heart, all of it, to the Lord so He can heal it and return it to you able to love again.”

  Noah knew she was right. It was the one thing he’d never been able to turn over to God because he feared he’d be opening himself to disappointment and failure again.

  He loved Beth. He’d made a mistake and jumped to conclusions because she hadn’t been the first thing he’d seen when he’d awakened. Now he had to fix the mess he’d made. “Gram, call her, tell her I didn’t understand. She’ll listen to you.”

  “Not on your life.” Gram shoved her hand into her purse and pulled out her phone, laying it firmly on his chest. “Do your own dirty work.”

  Chloe had come to the side of the bed and frowned at him. “Daddy, Miss Beth isn’t like Mom. She loves me.”

  Gram took Chloe’s hand. “Even your daughter sees more clearly than you do. We’ll be back later. The doctors say you can go home tomorrow, and I have to get the house ready. Come along, Chloe. Let’s leave your father to stew in his own sour juices awhile.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I’ll explain on the way home.”

  Noah stared at the cell phone a long while before finding the courage to call Beth. It went straight to voice mail. Four more tries brought the same result.
He left messages, but he was beginning to fear Beth would never listen to them.

  It hit him then that she might leave Dover after this. And it would be entirely his fault this time.

  * * *

  Beth strolled through the lower rooms of her new dance studio. Things had moved quickly, and she’d signed the papers first thing this morning. Her mother had handled all the details and greased some wheels along the way. Beth had wanted to be involved with every aspect of her new venture, but she’d been too concerned about Noah to leave the hospital.

  That was proving to be a pointless endeavor. She’d stayed by his side every moment, but all he could see when he woke was that she wasn’t there. His first reaction had been to assume she’d left again. She’d done all she could to convince him. Now it was time to let go and move on.

  Turning her attention to the building again, she stepped into a small room at the back that held a sink and small fridge. She could expand this to accommodate a full kitchen. She would be spending many hours here now. Retracing her steps, she went back to the front of the store. The room on the left would be her office, and with a little remodeling she could have two large rooms downstairs and two upstairs. It was all working out perfectly. All that remained was to complete the business paperwork and decide on a name for her new dance school. She was undecided between Bethany’s School of Dance and Montgomery’s Dance Academy.

  Hopefully the countless details of setting up her school would keep her mind off Noah. The thought of him never failed to send a spike of pain into her chest and moisture to her eyes. He’d called repeatedly, and left messages begging her to talk to him. As much as she longed to, she knew it was futile. She had to find a way to let go before she went nuts.

  The bell sound on her cell phone was a welcome interruption—until she saw the name on the text message. Evelyn. Her heart ballooned into her throat as she read the words. Noah needs you. How soon can you get here?

  Please, Lord, let him be all right. What had happened? Had he relapsed? Fallen? The drive to Noah’s was only a few blocks, but it felt like forever. She hurried to the front door and didn’t bother to knock. “Evelyn.” She went into the front parlor and stopped. Noah was coming toward her, moving slowly, his hand clutching a cane. He looked pale but better than he had in the hospital. The chambray button-up shirt he wore matched the blue of his eyes. Eyes that were bright with affection and curiosity.

  “Beth. What are you doing here?”

  She scanned his tall frame, searching for something wrong. The bandage was still on his temple where the board had struck him, but it was smaller today. Otherwise he looked fine. A bit pale but solid. Strong. “Evelyn said you needed me and to come right away.”

  Noah frowned then nodded slowly. “I see. She’s right. I do need you.”

  Beth took a step backward. Obviously Evelyn was trying to get them to work out their differences. But it was too late. “You look perfectly fine to me. I have to go.” She whirled, but Noah called out to her.

  “Please don’t leave. I can’t chase after you in my condition. Won’t you take pity on a guy who has no sense, who let fear rule his life for so long it might have cost him the only woman he’s ever loved?”

  She closed her eyes, willing herself not to rush into his arms.

  “Forgive me. Gram told me how you stayed with me through all this. I think I knew that on some level because the only images I remember during that time were of you. When I woke up and you weren’t there I—”

  She heard him take an unsteady breath. Were his ribs hurting him? She faced him, the love in his eyes making her breath catch.

  “I wanted to crawl back into the dark and never come out.”

  He took a few slow steps toward her, never taking his eyes from hers. “Beth, please forgive me. I don’t want to lose you again. I love you. Chloe loves you. We belong together.”

  “How can I trust that you won’t always think I’ll leave?”

  “Because I heard about your dance school and your position with Ballet Magnificat. But mostly because I’m going to love you so much you’ll never want to go anywhere else but in my arms. Beth, you’re my family. You’re where I fit.”

  Her tears blurred his handsome face. She swiped them away and met him in the middle of the room. “And I fit with you.”

  He wrapped her in his arms, letting the cane fall to the floor with a thud. She held him close, too close. He grunted. She’d forgotten about his ribs.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “No. It’s worth the pain to hold you close.” He kissed her tenderly, cradling her face in his palms. “Marry me.”

  “Yes. Oh, yes.” She kissed him before sliding her arms around him and snuggling close to his chest. She wanted to stay here forever. “When?”

  He chuckled. “Are you in a hurry?”

  “Oh, yes. We’ve waited too long to find each other again.”

  He stepped back and pointed to the cane on the floor. “Let’s sit and talk about it.”

  After handing him the cane, she slipped an arm around his waist to steady him, and to feel his warm presence. She sat on the arm of the chair, her hand holding his, unwilling to let go.

  “I thought you’d want a big wedding with all the trimmings.”

  “No. Not big. Fast.”

  He laughed and squeezed her hand. “Lady, you make a man feel like a king. All right, when do you suggest?”

  She took a moment to orient her dates. “Christmas Eve?”

  “That’s only three days away. Are you sure?”

  “What about Christmas Eve eve, would that be better?”

  Noah pulled her down and kissed her again. “Today would be perfect, but I think there are a few legalities to take care of.” He captured her mouth again, kissing her with all the love and promise she knew he held in his heart.

  “Gram. I think they made up.”

  Chloe’s voice drew them apart. Beth stood, taking a place behind him, her hands resting on his broad shoulders.

  “Are you getting married now?” Chloe’s tone was filled with hopeful excitement.

  “Yes. We are.”

  “Oh, Daddy.” She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. “You’ve given me the best present ever. A mom for Christmas.”

  “What’s this I hear about wedding bells?” Gram joined them, her smile wide and loving. “I knew if I could just get you two knuckleheads in the same room, it would all work out. So when is the wedding?”

  Beth bit her lower lip. “Christmas Eve.”

  “Oh, my. Then I need to get busy. It’ll be too late to get the church. We’ll have the ceremony here. Thank goodness I had the house professionally decorated for the holidays. I’ll call Francie about food. But you’d better talk to her first. I know she’ll be thrilled at the news.”

  “Wow. A wedding right here. That’s so cool.” Chloe gave Beth a hug. “Miss Beth, is it okay if I call you Mom?”

  She glanced at Noah before answering. “Yes, but do you think your mother will be okay with that?”

  “She won’t care. She always wanted me to call her Yvonne anyway.”

  Gram gathered Chloe away to start making preparations, leaving them alone again.

  Noah rose to his feet again and tugged her into his arms. “There’s just one more thing I need from you.”

  “Anything.”

  He touched his wounded leg. “You helped Chloe and Gram. Do you think you could teach me to dance—to help with my leg, of course?”

  She laughed and caressed his face with her palm. “I would love to teach you to dance. In fact, I have the perfect studio. All it needs is a name.”

  Noah kissed her lips, letting his finger trace a path across her lower lip and up her chin. “I was thinking Carlisle’s School of Dance sounds nice.”


  “I think it sounds perfect.”

  * * * * *

  Read on for an extract from HIS HOLIDAY MATCHMAKER by Kat Brookes

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for visiting Dover again. I hope you enjoyed meeting the next Montgomery sibling, Bethany. Like most of us, Beth struggled to find a balance in her life between her career, her family and her faith. In her ambition to rise to the top of her profession, she ignored important parts of her life. In losing the thing she loved most, her ability to dance, Beth was forced to reexamine her life and her priorities.

  We’re told to put God first, but life has a way of overshadowing that commandment. It’s especially difficult for those of us in the arts. Whether we are dancers, artists, writers, musicians or actors, we hone our skills, which are fueled by love of our art and our determination to excel, but with little or no monetary compensation. Many times we ask the Lord if this is what we’re supposed to be doing because the journey seems so pointless.

  With the help of Noah and Chloe, the Lord shows Beth that He has unlimited blessings to lavish on his children, and if we keep our hearts and minds open, we can find new dreams.

  I love to hear from readers. You can reach me through my website: lorrainebeatty.com. From there, you can access my Facebook page and other social media links. Or, you can write to Love Inspired, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

  Lorraine Beatty

  His Holiday Matchmaker

  by Kat Brookes

  Chapter One

  “Daddy! Daddy!”

  “Cupcake!” Nathan Cooper replied with a grin as he swung his six-year-old daughter, Katie, up into the air.

  She burst into a fit of girlish giggles. “I’m not a cupcake.”

  “Sure you are,” he said as he lowered her to the ground. Reaching out, he ruffled her unruly curls. “Look at all this chocolate frosting.”

  “That’s my hair,” she said with another giggle, flashing him a smile that reminded him so much of her mother it hurt. So much of Isabel lived on in their daughter. Her dark eyes. Those long brown curls. That determined chin.