Christmas Star Sapphire (Inspirational Romance): A Second Generation Jewel Series Novella (The Jewel Series Book 6)

by Hallee Bridgeman

  An excited little feeling fluttered in her heart. “Until now?”

  With a small smile, he looked at her again. “I went to my pastor’s house last night after you left and he and I talked for a while. I went back home and I prayed a lot. I think maybe that’s not where God wants me anymore. I’m not sure He ever planned that for me.

  “So here’s where I am. I am going to believe that Paul knew what he was saying when he said that in Christ, we’re new creations. I’m going to claim that the Holy Spirit banished that darkness out of me, because John tells us that there is no darkness in God at all. So, I’m going to trust that and believe that it’s okay if I try to build something with someone. I don’t have to worry about hurting her. Hurting you, Maddie.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to quit pushing me away?”

  Taking her hand in his, he said, “I don’t want to push you away anymore.”

  Madeline didn’t even notice the silent tears she shed. She couldn’t hear her pulse roaring in her ears. Her feet felt light and her fingertips tingled. The sight of this wonderful, handsome man filled her field of vision.

  JOE took Madeline’s hand, feeling exhausted and somehow cleansed by telling her about his past. He had more to say, but he didn’t know how well it would go. “There’s one more thing, though.”

  A worried look crossed her face. He wished he could take her into his arms and promise her that everything would be okay, but he knew it might not be. The ball would be in her court. “What one more thing?” she asked as she scrubbed the tears from her face.

  He pulled her toward the couch and gestured for her to sit, then picked a spot a full cushion away. Deciding the best thing he could do would be to just say it, he spoke. “I do not like wealth. I reject it.”

  Of all of the things that he expected from her, the lifting of an eyebrow in conjunction with a snort was not one of them. “Yeah, right.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Her eyes shone with mirth as she said, “Okay. I get that you don’t drive a car and you carry a secondhand canvas bag. Got it. But, Joe, you live on a boat worth, what, half a million dollars?”

  Despite the seriousness of the conversation, he felt his face fuse with color. “Actually, quite a bit more when you buy it brand new.”

  “Right. Quite a bit more than half a million dollars, then.”

  He cleared his throat. “I bought it with the trust fund from my grandfather that matured after I graduated from college. I intentionally paid retail for a boat from my father’s competitor. I realize it’s an expensive vessel. But, it's meant to last me for the rest of my entire life.”

  “Right. Your life of solitude.”

  “Yes.”

  She leaned back against the couch cushions and crossed her legs. “Joe, living on a boat worth more than what ninety percent of the country could ever possibly afford does not equate to rejecting wealth. It could even equal a little bit of hypocrisy.”

  Indignation flooded his chest and he opened his mouth to respond, but she held up her hand. “I’m not criticizing you or your feelings. I’m just saying that you can dislike what money does to people or the suffering in the world due to selfishness and greed, but you really can’t live on that boat and say you reject wealth when the bathroom stall is lined with teak wood and the counters are clad in Italian marble.”

  “Just because I live on a boat doesn’t make me a hypocrite.”

  “Joe, all kinds of things can drive people to sin. It is hypocritical to hate the thing. If a father shoplifts a can of tuna fish because his children are hungry, that’s sin. He’s stealing. You can love him, love his kids, and still hate the sin. That makes sense. But the tuna is just a thing. Besides being illogical, it would be a little bit hypocritical to claim you hate the tuna while you yourself eat half a million dollars worth of tuna. The tuna didn’t drive him to sin. The hunger did.

  “Money is just a thing. It doesn’t make people sin. The love of money drives people to sin. So, yes, it is hypocritical to claim you hate wealth while you live on a yacht.”

  Understanding her logic, he gave a small nod. “I see your point.” He paused. “I guess I’m not saying it right. Maybe I can try again.”

  “By all means.” With a smile, she waved a hand in his direction, as if bidding him to continue.

  “My point is that I don’t want to live my life the way I grew up. I don’t want a mansion on the beach or fancy cars or private jets or upstairs maids or nannies. I simply do not.” Resting his elbows on his knees, he laced his fingers together. “I know that your future is running your father’s empire and that empire comes with hotels and limos and dinner parties.”

  When she threw her head back and laughed, he straightened. What could he possibly have said that was so funny? “Why are you laughing?”

  “Because you’re assuming glitz and glamour and I’m thinking of my Seanmháthair Caroline’s ratty carpet and the fact that my grandfather got out of prison after serving time for murder when I was ten.” With graceful movements, she slid over until she was right next to him. “When you meet my family, you’ll understand that you’re wrong about them.” Picking up his hand, she laced her fingers through his. “And we don’t have to fly in the private jet to get there. We can buy tickets and fly commercial like everyone else. In fact, I prefer it.”

  While he wondered about the imprisoned grandfather, he said, “However your family dynamics work, it doesn’t change the facts. It doesn’t change the life for which you’re being groomed.”

  She pressed her lips together and nodded. “True. But, truth be told, right now I’m looking at several more months of school before anything even becomes an issue. So I don’t really understand what we’re talking about here.”

  He sighed. “What we’re talking about is that, this spring you will graduate with your Master’s degree in business. This summer, I’ll take Cru on a summer mission trip to Kenya. When we come back, I’ll spend weeks in planning, and in August, we’ll gear up for the new school year to begin. I need you to understand that those are my plans.”

  She tapped her finger to her bottom lip for several seconds before replying. “I don’t have specific plans yet. I’ve been waiting for God to reveal them. So, sounds like you do have a plan, and that makes one of us.” She raised their joined hands. “In the meantime, I really – really – want to spend time with you and grow in a relationship with you. I’ve felt that since we met, and the way you acted yesterday tells me you’ve been feeling it too.” She brought their joined hands to her cheek. “Is that okay with you?”

  CHAPTER 6

  JOE put his arm around Madeline as she snuggled closer to him on the bench. The crisp December wind blew at them. When the University of Southern Alabama Jaguars scored their second touch down, the two of them jumped up together and cheered along with the students and faculty all around them.

  Madeline pulled the red knit hat further down over her ears and blew into her gloved hands as they sat back down. “Wow, it’s cold.”

  “It’s the humid air. Feels colder.”

  “I’m from Boston. I shouldn’t feel cold in Alabama.”

  He laughed and grabbed the red and blue checked blanket that had fallen off their laps, covering them back up. He couldn’t believe that in a week’s time, he had grown this close to her. It honestly felt like they had been together his entire life. Having her by his side felt natural and right and he wondered – very seriously – how he had ever even imagined he could have lived the rest of his life alone.

  “We’ve made it past half time. Are you ready to go?” he asked, his lips close to her ear. When she turned her head to nod at him, he felt his heart beat faster. Her blue eyes shone like sparkling gems. The cold had made her nose and lips rosy red.

  About twenty minutes later, she poured boiling water over the tea bags in her teapot. He still felt cold and kept his coat on for the time being.

  “Do you want to light the fire?” She picked up the tray wit
h the teapot and cups and carried it out of the kitchen.

  “Sure.” He looked at the gas logs and back at her. “Where are the controls?”

  She grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and settled into the corner. Then she gestured. “Just flip the switch. Pilot light should already be lit.”

  He crossed the room and followed her directions. Seconds later, flames enveloped the gas logs. He slipped out of his coat and put it on the back of the couch before sitting next to her. In seconds, she had scooted closer to him and he put his arm around her.

  A Christmas tree stood next to the window, decorated in Florida Gator orange and blue ornaments and natural seashells and sand dollars. A garland of sea life swirled around the tree, shining in the blue and orange lights.

  “Now that’s an interesting tree.”

  She chuckled. “My cousin Rebekah is thirteen. She got all of the accoutrements for me for Christmas last year. I put the tree up to take a picture and send it to her.”

  He picked up a strand of her hair and wound it around his finger. “What a heart you have. Rebekah is your Aunt Sarah and Uncle Derrick’s daughter?”

  “Their youngest. My youngest cousin. Redhead, like you. If you knew Rebekah, you’d do anything to make her happy, too. She’s been sick.”

  He could hear the pain in her voice and felt a tug on his heart. While he stared at the dancing flames, he let his mind drift. “Did you know that the first time a gas log was used was 1871?”

  Madeline pushed away from him and looked up at him. “How do you know that?”

  The tip of her nose was still red, so he leaned down and kissed it. “I have no idea how I know that.”

  She laughed and settled back against him. “I have to get back to my paper.”

  “I know.” He glanced at his watch. Somehow, evening loomed. “I have errands to run and work to do.” But he was so content just to be here, her body pressed against his, the fire warming the room.

  “Maybe five more minutes?” She looked up at him.

  He couldn’t help kissing her in agreement.

  MADELINE sat on the leather couch on Joe’s boat, typing the introduction to her paper. She sat with her back against the arm of the couch and had her feet in front of her, crossed at the ankles. Joe sat at his desk working on the order of ceremonies for the Christmas celebration. The sound of stringed Christmas music – fiddles and violins accompanied by bass and harp – drifted from speakers hidden somewhere above her. She loved it. It reminded her of the music her Irish grandparents in Boston played.

  Pulled out of her paper, she took a moment to watch Joe work. He focused on his laptop screen, his fingers typing, his right hand occasionally using the mouse next to the computer. The light above his head highlighted the blond streaks in his hair, giving him an almost halo-like appearance. He paused, staring at the screen, and absently rubbed his chin. Because she had looked, she knew the spot he rubbed carried the scar left by his father. The thought made her heart twist in pain.

  She couldn’t fathom mistreatment at the hands of someone who was supposed to love you unconditionally. Even more, she couldn’t imagine the callous disregard his mother had shown him. Thinking back to a conversation they’d had, she now understood what he meant when he said he’d found peace during his year on the ocean.

  She felt it demonstrated a caliber of character most men didn’t possess when he came back to the real world and decided to work as a missionary for Cru. He didn’t go cry in a corner. He didn’t rage at the world for the injustices he’d suffered. He didn’t ingest chemicals and whine about a bad childhood. Instead, he took his orderly life, docked it in slip 67, and worked for God, pouring his love out onto the students with whom he worked.

  Thoughts like these let her know that she loved this man. She hadn’t fallen in love with him. It wasn’t something that had happened to her like a fall. She had grown in love with him. It happened naturally, like growing from childhood to adulthood. She could barely remember a time in her life before now when she hadn’t loved him.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  Startled, she focused back on him and caught him looking at her. Who knew how long she’d sat there staring at him. She couldn’t very well tell him she was thinking about how she loved him. Two weeks into a relationship shouldn’t generate undying love, so instead, she said, “I was just wondering; how would you like to come with me to the Keys for Christmas?”

  His lips thinned and he started to look away. Rather than let him reject the idea outright, she said, “If you say yes, I’ll buy you a grouper sandwich.”

  For a moment, he didn’t respond. Then the grin stretched across his face. “I’d love that. Thank you.” Before she could fully celebrate, he added, “I’ll stay in a hotel, though. I hope you understand.”

  He needed to be able to control his environment. She understood. “Of course. In fact, I’ll call the Viscolli and make sure you have a room.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’ll take care of it.”

  Knowing his response had to do with the cost of the room as much as the act of making reservations, she raised an eyebrow. “Joe, please don’t insult me by rejecting my hospitality.”

  Clearly, he decided to pick his battles, because he laughed and said, “Yes, ma’am. Thank you. I’d appreciate it if you would make the reservation on my behalf.”

  MADELINE sat next to Joe in the Student Center, nursing a cup of coffee, reading over the printed copy of her paper. She had a red pen in her hand that she fidgeted with as she read. She looked up as Max startled her by pulling out the chair next to her. “Hey kids.”

  Joe stopped writing in his planning book. “Max.”

  “I’ve heard some news.” He crossed his legs and tapped a long finger on the top of the table. “I have it on good authority that there’s a romance blooming between a student and one of my senior staff members.”

  Madeline felt her cheeks flood with color. She darted a look at Joe, who simply grinned at Max. “And?” he queried.

  Max let out a sigh. “And I don’t think I have to caution you about any kind of perceived impropriety or that I need to remind you that you are to strive to honor God in all areas of life –”

  Joe raised an eyebrow. “And yet –”

  Madeline giggled as Max cleared his throat and said, “And yet here I am doing exactly that.”

  Joe let that hang in the air for a moment before he said, “Feel better now, brother?”

  Max grinned and nodded. “Strangely, yes.” He laughed. It sounded like he was enjoying a private joke. When he stopped laughing, his face had lost some of the serious discomfort it had displayed before. “I’m not sure you can imagine the issues I’ve had to handle over the years.”

  “I have personally witnessed some of the issues you’ve had to handle,” Joe said. “I would have just thought that you wouldn’t classify Maddie as an issue. I guess it’s best for you never to assume.”

  “It really is best that I not.” He pointed at the notebook. “Is this for the Christmas party?”

  Madeline went back to her paper, letting the two leaders put the finishing touches on the upcoming Christmas party. She hoped she could make it. As it looked right now, her paper might be done. But until she bound the final sheet of paper to the stack and had it ready to turn in, she could have absolutely no socializing that didn’t include her working on the paper while doing it.

  MADELINE walked into the classroom with thirty minutes to spare. There would be no classes today. Instead, the professor’s teaching assistant sat at his desk, collecting the papers that the students had written while shedding blood, sweat, and tears. She put her printed and bound 200-page mini-thesis in the stack and gave him her name and student number. Once she saw that he had marked her off on his list, she headed out the door.

  She had now completed her eleventh semester of college. She just had one semester left. But, as thoughts of Joe went through her mind, she remembered how God’s timing is p
erfect every time, and that He brought her here to be here right now. Still, she didn’t know what would happen once she crossed that stage at graduation.

  After shedding the millstone of paper, she felt fifty pounds lighter and almost like she walked on air. She glided to her car. Joe had a dozen meetings today, so she was free to do her own thing. She contemplated what to do. Christmas shopping sprang immediately to mind. Maybe she really should get started on that, seeing how Christmas loomed just two weeks away. Her family didn’t do big Christmas gift-giving. They each had one name and the only rule was that the gift had to be special and personal. She had pulled her sister-in-law Faith’s name for the gift exchange. Knowing how her pilot sister would love it, she had bought a scarf worn by the American pilot, Florene Miller Watson, who had been the first ever commanding officer of the WASP, at an auction.

  Except, now she had Joe. What could she possibly get for her boyfriend? She always hated when she pulled her dad or brother or one of her uncles. She found men so hard to shop for. What could she possibly get the man when she had a feeling he’d be happy with a grouper sandwich?

  She drove to an independently owned Christian bookstore that she loved near Mobile’s old downtown. Christmas hymns played while she browsed the books and made her way to the gift section. There, on a glass shelf, she found a brass and wood sailboat figure with a Bible verse etched in the brass sail.

  She loved it! How perfect for Joe. Taking the statue and a leather bound journal she’d found to the cash register, she paid for her purchases then checked her watch. She had time to get some laundry finished so that she could get packed for their trip to Key West.

  CHAPTER 7

  CORA Anderson actually squealed when she saw her cousin standing at the baggage claim. The twenty-year-old had her mother Maxine’s straight black hair and emerald green eyes. Inheriting her father Barry’s athletic ability and height, she currently played volleyball for a school in Virginia.