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

by Hallee Bridgeman

  Her mind swirling with questions, all she could manage to ask was, “What does that mean, really?”

  He smiled and answered, “You know something? I don’t completely know what the final outcome will be. It depends on some things. But, I know this. You will be in Boston, and Rosie will be in Providence. What I know for sure is that I need to be up there near you, and I need to be close to my sister.”

  She felt a panic trying to work itself through the radiant joy. “Are you sure? You’re so content with Mobile –”

  He shook his head. “That’s the thing. I wasn’t content. I was surviving, and working at the University kept me centered and focused on Christ. I needed to heal, and it took years to do it.” He looked at her hand clutched between both of his. “I had prepared myself to be alone. Now I can’t imagine doing anything in life without you. Honestly, I have trouble remembering anything significant about my life before the day we met.”

  She licked her lips and put her free hand on top of their joined ones. “Can you cope with the life that will be my destiny?”

  “I thought about that,” he said, turning his hands so that he held each one of hers. “I think I can tolerate the kind of woman who flies commercial when she could just buy the airline.”

  With a grin, she said, “Don’t forget you could buy the airline now, too.”

  With a heavy sigh, he said, “Don’t remind me.” His face sobered and he looked her in the eye. “I’ve known for some time now that was in love with you. Thanksgiving night, really. But I didn’t realize until last week how much of you is now a part of me. I need you by my side.”

  Heart pounding furiously, she felt tears spring to her eyes again. “I don’t ever want to leave your side again. I love you, Joseph Westcott.”

  “Maddie, I don’t know when I realized I loved you. Once I realized it, it felt like I had loved you all my life. I guess that means I loved you from the first moment you stumbled into the auditorium all jet lagged from England over a year ago. But I know this. I love you like crazy. I really do.”

  They clasped hands, their sandwiches growing cold between them, and stared into each other’s eyes. So intense was their gaze that Madeline didn’t realize exactly when her parents walked up behind them.

  “So,” the unmistakable voice of her father began, “this is young Mr. Westcott, I presume.”

  “Papa? Mama?” Madeline gasped.

  “We were running errands in town and saw Nelson’s truck. We assumed your brother had finally come up for air. I’m pleased to see I was mistaken.”

  Joe shot to his feet. Madeline stood slowly and said, “Joe, these are my parents. Robin and Tony Viscolli.”

  “Sir, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Joe offered his hand.

  Tony grinned and accepted the younger man’s grip. “And you as well.”

  “Ma’am,” Joe offered.

  “Oh, heavens no. My name is Robin. Not ma’am.” She shook his hand.

  “Good luck with that, Mama,” Madeline asserted. “Took over a year for him to call me Maddie.”

  Joe grinned. “Military school. My apologies.”

  Tony grinned, a twinkle in his eye. “‘Sir’ is just fine with me.” He gestured at their table. “Why don’t we all sit and get to know each other better.”

  “Actually, sir, could I have a word?”

  Tony’s eyebrows shot up. “After you.”

  Robin took a seat next to her daughter and the men stepped outside.

  “So that’s Pastor Joe Westcott,” Robin observed.

  “That is him, Mama. Indeed it is.”

  Robin said, “He’s very tall.”

  Madeline grinned. “I know.”

  “I know you don’t know me very well, sir, seeing as how we just met, but the fact is I love your daughter,” Joe began.

  Tony looked as if he felt a tug inside his chest; a fish hook, maybe, or a hot coal. “As do I, young man. As do I. And I know she loves you. My daughter and I have no secrets. Is there something you wanted to ask me?”

  “Yes, sir.” Joe heard his words as if someone else spoke them. Someone who could speak with eloquence and graceful authority. “I would ask for your blessing to bring Madeline a proposal of marriage so that she and I can be joined forever in holy matrimony.”

  “I see,” Tony said, and didn’t even look surprised. “Madeline tells me you had a bad childhood.”

  Though the statement surprised Joe, his poise remained intact. “She says the same about you and her mother. And she told me how her grandfather served time for murder.”

  Tony nodded. “She also says you very recently inherited control of Westcott Marine, though you claim you hate and reject wealth.”

  “That’s almost right, sir.”

  “Almost?”

  “I inherited control of Westcott Marine and I hate every kind of evil the love of money can spawn.”

  “So you don’t love money yourself?”

  “I’d like to say I don’t.” The two men came to a stop beneath the shade of a palm tree that still had Christmas lights wrapped around its trunk. Joe took a thoughtful breath and said, “The truth is I don’t really know. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to go to heaven after I leave here. I want to spend eternity at the foot of my heavenly Father’s throne. I think that will keep my eyes and heart where they need to stay.”

  Tony crossed his arms. “Christ said it’s ‘easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ Notice, He didn’t say it was impossible. He said it was incredibly difficult and only nearly impossible.”

  Joe grinned. “I believe you’ll make it, sir.”

  Tony smiled, “I most earnestly pray you’re right. But let’s talk about you for now. You and my daughter. What are your plans?”

  “When I left Providence I didn’t have a plan.” He put his hands in his pockets. “I like working with Cru at the ground level, down in the trenches. I love it really. But the truth is one day I’ll age out. Pretty soon, now. The students will think I’m too old and won’t open up to me anymore. As much as I never wanted to, my plan is to move back to Providence and take over Westcott Marine. I won’t leave ministry altogether. For the rest of my life, I’ll just continue to support ministries in every way I can and maybe I’ll go on mission trips or take over a pulpit on special occasions.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I know God made me especially for Madeline Viscolli and He made her just for me. Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, sir. He made us to be as one. I know it. And the best way she and I can be as one is if I take over Westcott Marine.”

  “You know it, do you?”

  “Unquestionably, sir.”

  Tony nodded. He uncrossed his arms and laid a firm hand on Joe’s shoulder. “You know, before I married Madeline’s mother, we had some trouble, she and I. It came down to me doing some soul searching. What I realized is that I had to be willing to give up absolutely everything, even though I selfishly didn’t want to, and just be Robin’s husband the way God wanted. And eventually I was willing to give it all up. And I told her so. I take it you’ve been doing some soul searching this past week?”

  Joe nodded. “What I realized, sir, is that I have to be willing to take on Westcott Marine even though I selfishly didn’t want to. I have to take it on and just be Madeline’s husband the way God intended.”

  “Seems like a lot to take on just for love.”

  “Well, I have a good role model. Christ took on the sin of the entire world for His bride, even though He really, really didn’t want to.” He sighed and tried to put into words what he felt. “In Genesis, when Joseph confronted his brothers, he told them that what they intended for evil, God intended for good. He intended it for good. That tells me, that throughout all of it, God’s hand was there. Who knows how long God’s hand has been directing the circumstances of my life, but what my father intended for evil, God revealed to me that I can take and turn i
t into something good.”

  Tony squeezed the man’s shoulder, an affirming grip that signaled his approval. “Have you told Maddie about your plans?”

  “Not yet. I wanted to propose first. So I wanted to get your blessing first.”

  Tony sighed and pulled his hand back. With his arms crossed over his chest again, he quietly demanded, “Tell me why I should give you my blessing to marry my only daughter.”

  Joe blinked. “With all due respect, I think I just did, sir.”

  “THIS here, should be good,” Madeline said, toeing the sand. “We’ll be able to see the New Year’s fireworks perfectly from here.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Joe flicked his wrists and the red and green quilt with the snowflake blocks billowed out in front of them. He bent down and straightened the corner by her foot. While down there, he grabbed her hand.

  She knew. She looked down at him kneeling on one knee and knew what came next. Before he could speak, she said, “Did you know that this is the spot where my father proposed to my mother?”

  “I didn’t, but I bet God knew.” Still holding onto her hand, he reached into his pocket. “Madeline, I have been broken and alone my entire life. The last few weeks have taught me something. I’ve learned that God designed someone especially for me. With you by my side, I don’t have to be alone and I don’t have to be broken. I can be whole.”

  He opened the box in his hand and revealed a beautiful princess cut diamond ring with tiny star sapphires on either side of the gemstone. “Madeline Viscolli, will you do me the very great honor of becoming my wife?”

  As she looked down at him, fireworks shot from the barge just off the beach and lit up the entire night sky. It was as if he had set the stage for the most perfect proposal ever. She thought of the time since Thanksgiving and how right and perfect it felt when they were together.

  “Yes,” she answered with a smile, “I will absolutely be your wife.”

  Instead of waiting for him to stand, she knelt with him. He slipped the ring onto her finger and pulled her into his arms. With the fireworks erupting all around them and the clock striking midnight, they kissed with a promise of forever.

  One Year Later

  SNOW fell in blinding sheets, blanketing the city. Madeline watched it from the window of the apartment, the lights from the Christmas tree reflecting back at her from the window, making a beautiful, festive, picturesque scene. Anxious, she turned toward the door when she heard the lock.

  “I was so worried!” She exclaimed, rushing forward.

  “Maddie!” a well-bundled Rosie squealed from Joe’s arms. “Maddie!”

  “How’s my little sister-in-law?”

  Joe brushed the snow out of his hair and struggled with the wiggly little girl to get her out of her coat and hat. “I thought for a minute I was going to have to stay there,” he confessed. “I probably shouldn’t have tried to drive. But it didn’t get too bad until I was halfway home.” He held up a bag. “These are from Jessica. She sends holiday greetings and said to have fun this week.”

  He hung their coats in the closet while Rosie launched herself at Madeline. “Are you ready for the beach, little one?” she laughed.

  “Yes!” Rosie giggled. “And fishing. Joe said fishing.”

  “Did he really?” Kneeling, she met Rosie at eye level and grinned. “Well then I bet we’ll be fishing. And don’t forget the pool.” She straightened and looked at Joe. “I don’t think we’re flying out tonight.”

  “Not a single chance,” he agreed. “You going to be okay with missing Christmas in the Keys? I know you never have.”

  While Rosie rushed to the tree to look at the gaily wrapped presents beneath it, Madeline went up to her husband and slipped her arms around his neck. “This is our year to be making new traditions, isn’t it?” She gestured at the window. “And it’s my second white Christmas Eve.”

  “Yes, but –”

  “We’ll have Christmas Eve here, and maybe by tomorrow the airport will reopen.” She leaned her head back and looked at him. “In the meantime, we have an anxious three-year-old who is desperate to know what’s in that gigantic box over there.”

  With a smile, he brushed her hair back from her face. “As long as we’re eating grouper sandwiches in a week and watching the fireworks from the beach, I’m okay with that.” He kissed her, long and slow. “Merry Christmas, Madeline Westcott.”

  THE END

  TRANSLATION KEY

  Agape – (Greek) The highest form of love. Love that is stronger than the love of one’s own life. Sacrificial love, as in the love of man for God or God for man.

  figlia – (Italian) daughter

  en route – (French) either going to or departing from a destination

  E’ una tragedia – (Italian) how tragic (it’s a tragedy)

  giovane figlia – (Italian) young daughter

  mia bella figlia – (Italian) My beautiful daughter

  Seanmháthair – (Irish) Grandmother

  semplice – (Italian) simple

  READER'S GUIDE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  SUGGESTED group discussion questions for Christmas Star Sapphire.

  In bringing those He ministered to into an understanding of the truth, Our Lord used fiction in the form of parables to illustrate very real truths. In the same way, we can minister to one another by the use of fictional characters and situations to help us to reach logical, valid, cogent, and very sound conclusions about our real lives here on earth.

  While the characters and situations in Christmas Star Sapphire are all fictional, I pray that these extended parables can help readers come to a better understanding of truth. Please prayerfully consider the questions that follow, consult scripture, and pray upon your conclusions.

  Joe feels like he has sinned by not telling his father about the love of Christ and the relationship with God he had found.

  1. Do you think withholding the Gospel is a sin?

  2. Can you think of someone in your life who needs to hear the Good News?

  Joe Westcott suffered terrible physical abuse at the hands of his father – so much so that his mother removed him from the home. When he saw his uncles it reminded him of the feeling that no one had protected him as a child.

  3. Do you think his mother removing him from the home was the best decision she could make?

  4. Do you think that the uncles should have stepped in and sheltered Joe and his mother?

  5. Have you ever felt like you needed to intervene in a violent domestic situation, but felt like it wasn’t your place?

  6. Do you think when someone has something dark like that inside, that the Holy Spirit can banish it?

  Madeline realizes that Joe will never take “the first step” with her, so she takes matters into her own hands. Like Ruth and Boaz, Madeline goes to Joe and very clearly tells him she’s available. Even though he resists, she persists.

  7. Do you think that defies the behavior of a godly woman?

  The Bible tells us to avoid even the appearance of evil, yet Joe and Madeline spend a lot of time alone together in each others’ homes.

  8. Do you think that type of unaccountability is dangerous in maintaining a pure relationship?

  Madeline knows she is destined to run Viscolli Enterprises, yet Joe wants to remain working for Cru. In the end, he finishes his time as a Cru minister and takes the reins in his family’s company.

  9. Do you think Madeline should have given up her plans for the future to stay in Alabama with Joe?

  10. Do you think Joe will be happy running Westcott Marine, or do you think he should have stayed where he was and continued on as a minister with Cru?

  11. Do you think Joe’s decision to live near his little sister was rooted in the guilt he felt for not witnessing to his father?

  Both Pastor Larry and Joe talked about being specifically “made” for the women they love and the fact that God “made” them specifically for their bride or bride-to-be.

  12. Do you believe
that God purposefully designed another person for you?

  13. Do you think that might be why some people are so drawn to others?

  READER'S GUIDE MENU

  SUGGESTED luncheon menu for a group discussion about Christmas Star Sapphire.

  Those who follow my Hallee the Homemaker website know that one thing I am passionate about in life is selecting, cooking, and savoring good whole real food. A special luncheon just goes hand in hand with hospitality and ministry.

  In case you’re planning a discussion group surrounding this book, I offer some humble suggestions to help your special luncheon talk come off as a success. Quick as you like, you can whip up an appetizer, entree, side, and dessert that is sure to please and certain to enhance your discussion and time of friendship and fellowship.

  The Entrée:

  Blackened Grouper Sandwich with Chipotle Sauce

  Throughout the book, Madeline and Joe talk about a grouper sandwich from their favorite sandwich shop in the Keys. This blackened grouper sandwich will be as memorable to your friends and family as the one found throughout this book.

  4 Grouper fillets, 1” thick

  4 Kaiser rolls

  1/4 cup real unsalted butter (not margarine)

  Creole Seasoning Spice Rub:

  5 TBS paprika

  2 TBS onion powder

  2 TBS garlic powder

  2 TBS dried oregano

  2 TBS dried basil

  1 TBS dried thyme

  1 TBS cayenne pepper