Backward Blessings

by Rachel A Andersen

Then, he kissed her.

  EPILOGUE

  Lilian

  One Year Later

  The chime of the doorbell broke the silence of the Beautiful Blessings Bed and Breakfast. Lilian Rampton checked the watch on her wrist. Right on time. Relief crashed over her. With the storm last night, she’d been certain that she’d get a phone call telling her that flights had been delayed or roads were impassable. She hadn’t known how heavy it had weighed on her until after that doorbell rang.

  Her eyes flickered to the timer on the stove. She had a few minutes before it would be time to take the muffins out.

  On her way to the door, she paused in front of a mirror to fluff her hair with her fingers.

  She would never be able to describe how wonderful it felt to be back to hosting her own Thanksgiving dinner again. As much as she’d loved the turkey-themed game night Teresa and Jake had spent with her last year, she was grateful to be out of that long-term care center and back home where she belonged.

  She flung the door open and almost got bowled down by a four-foot-tall figure barreling toward her at full-speed. “Grandma Lilian.”

  She laughed as she squeezed her great-grandson. “Logan, you’ve grown!”

  He turned wide, hopeful eyes to her. “Can I have my job back, Grandma Lilian? Can I be the bellhop again?”

  Lilian winked. “If it’s okay with your mom, I’ll even give you a promotion.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “A promotion?”

  Lilian nodded, her demeanor much more serious than it had been just a moment before. “I’ll let you join my housekeeping staff.”

  He gasped, his mouth stretching so far that Lilian was afraid he was going to catch bugs in it.

  Teresa walked through the door, untying her scarf and letting it drop onto her shoulders. “Let me guess, you’ll pay him in cotton candy.”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of paying him in pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, but whatever works.”

  Logan let go of Lilian’s waist with a cry of triumph. “YES!”

  Teresa tousled the boy’s hair as he whirled toward her. “Why don’t you take that energy and help get the bags out of the car, hm? One last bellhop tour?”

  Logan grinned and raced out the front door.

  Teresa watched her son with a soft smile on her lips before she turned back to her grandmother. “Hi, Grams.”

  Lilian hugged her granddaughter. “How are you, sweetheart?”

  Teresa held her for a few moments before she let go with a small sigh. “Good. Busy but good.”

  Lilian reached for her coat and hung it on one of the pegs along the wall. “Moving will do that to you. Are you just about finished packing?”

  Teresa nodded. “Jake insisted that we hire professional movers, but I like my boxes just so. I’d hate to get to Denver and have to worry about calling the moving company when I’m supposed to be on my honeymoon.”

  Footsteps up the porch stairs stole the women’s focus back to the front door, and Teresa opened the door more widely. Jake carried a baby seat in through the front door as Logan followed with a rolling suitcase behind him.

  “Grandma Lilian! Did you see my baby cousin?”

  Lilian grinned as Jake turned the car seat toward the older woman. “Logan, she’s precious.”

  “We like her.”

  Lilian patted Jake’s arm. “Good to see you again, Jake.”

  “You too, Grandma Lilian. Thanks again for inviting my sister and her family here for Thanksgiving.”

  Melissa and Dan walked through the door with a second car seat and two more suitcases. “Yes, Mrs. Rampton. Thanks so much for letting us come. Jake insisted that after last year’s bet, I not stand him up again.”

  Lilian hurried over and took the baby carrier from Melissa and propped it on the coffee table. “Logan, you didn’t tell me you have two cousins!”

  Logan dropped the suitcase by the stairs and ran over to Lilian. “That’s Matthew. My other cousin’s name is Laura. She’s named after my other grandma—the one who died. You know, Jake and Melissa’s mom.”

  Lilian’s gaze drifted back to Jake who was freeing baby Laura from her car seat. The look of adoration on the pilot’s face told her that once Jake and Teresa tied the knot, Logan wouldn’t have to wait long for a parcel of baby brothers and sisters. She turned her attention back to her great-grandson. “And what about Matthew’s name? Where did that one come from?”

  Logan’s irises darkened in confusion as he rocked back on his heels. “Melissa? Where did you get Matthew’s name?”

  Melissa sank into one of the armchairs as she took Matthew out of his car seat. “Matthew is the name of Dan’s dad.”

  Confusion cleared as Logan’s mouth formed a soft oh. He peered over Melissa’s arm at the baby. “Mommy?”

  “Yes, sweetheart?”

  He looked up at Teresa whose arms were wrapped around Jake’s waist, her head nestled against his shoulder. “When you and Jake get married, can you have two babies too? A boy and a girl like Melissa?”

  Lilian’s lip curled in amusement as she heard Melissa and Dan try to disguise their laughter behind coughs and hands over their mouths.

  Teresa’s cheeks turned pink. “Well, sweetheart, I don’t know. Jake and I have to discuss it.”

  Logan pointed a finger at his mother. “Well, when you do, make sure you remember I want a boy and a girl, okay?”

  Jake’s chest shook with silent laughter. “We’ll keep that in mind, kiddo.”

  The kitchen timer rang, saving Jake and Teresa from anymore prying questions. Lilian stood with a smile. “That’ll be the muffins for tomorrow’s breakfast. You should talk about what the plan is for the rest of the weekend. The fall festival starts tomorrow, and I know you’re going to want to check that out.”

  Melissa rubbed her son’s back and bounced him on one knee. “Unless, of course, you have something against corn stalk decorations and giant pumpkins.”

  Lilian laughed as she walked out to the kitchen.

  “It’s less objectionable when you’re planning on being here for family fun. If you remember, last year I was a bachelor.”

  The group laughed as Lilian pulled the muffins out of the oven.

  “You’d still be a bachelor if you’d gone with your plan. Teresa, I don’t know if he told you this, but Jake almost didn’t check into the Beautiful Blessings last year. He tried to get out of it. If it wasn’t for our deal, Jake, you wouldn’t be here about to marry the love of your life.”

  Though she was through with her work in the kitchen, Lilian leaned against the railing of the upstairs staircase and watched the family laugh and reminisce.

  Jake passed off a fussing Laura to her daddy. “Yes, Melissa, if it wasn’t for your dogged persistence, I would be a bachelor right now. Are you proposing a second deal?”

  Melissa shook her head. “I don’t have time to wheel and deal with you, Jake. I have two babies now!”

  As they all laughed, Jake wrapped his arms around Teresa and pulled her close. “Mel, the only deals I’m interested anymore are the ones I make with my bride.”

  Lilian hadn’t seen Teresa so happy in years—not since before Colin. She made a mental note to thank Jake for treating her so well. “You mean like that one about ‘til death do us part?”

  “That.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “And any others you might have in mind for the next fifty years.”

  Logan tugged on Lilian’s arm. “They’re going to kiss now. They always kiss when he says stuff like that.”

  His voice interrupted the tender moment shared by the young couple who leaned their foreheads together and chuckled at the interruption. They whispered something to each other that was too quiet for anyone else to hear.

  Lilian pulled the boy into a sideways hug. “Does it bother you that they kiss?”

  He screwed up his lips to one side as he pondered her question. “I guess not. I mean, Mr. Jake’s cool. Ever since Mom got custody of me, he’
s been a pretty good dad. I can put up with a little kissing after the wedding tomorrow.”

  He pointed at his mother and her fiancé as if he was making a point. “But only a little kissing. Like once a year. On your anniversary.”

  Amusement dancing in Jake’s eyes as he turned his attention from his fiancée to his future stepson. “Buddy, we might have to renegotiate on that. Your mama’s pretty kissable.”

  Lilian laughed as Logan shielded his eyes with his hands. Jake pulled Teresa in toward him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re pretty kissable yourself, Mr. Littlefield.”

  Lilian guided Logan back to the kitchen with promises of a muffin hot from the oven. As they walked away, Lilian heard Jake’s voice again. “Thank goodness for backward blessings.”

  Books in the Blessings of Love series

  Brushstrokes and Blessings by Danielle Thorne

  Blessed by the Fake Boyfriend by Lacy Andersen

  Bless His Heart by Jessica L. Elliott

  Abundantly Blessed by Rachael Eliker

  Twice Blessed by J. J. DiBenedetto

  Backward Blessings by Rachel A. Andersen

  Read on for the first chapter of Brushstrokes and Blessings by Danielle Thorne,

  Blessings of Love Book One.

  Brushstrokes and Blessings

  Blessings of Love Series Book 1

  by

  DANIELLE THORNE

  CHAPTER ONE

  The button on the vending machine rattled and hummed, but the over-caffeinated can of soda didn't roll out. Darcy Malone grabbed the sides of the machine and shook. Nothing happened because she was half the size of the gargantuan money-eating monster.

  She looked up at the teachers' lounge ceiling and let out a heavy breath. "What I wouldn't give for a hot yoga class right now." She gave up and walked over to the water cooler to stare out the window and think about snacks. At least it was a pretty fall day outside.

  The quiet of the break room was interrupted by two chattering voices as the door swung open.

  "—on my side of the hall," one voice complained.

  Darcy moved behind a potted palm tree and watched the last bus pull out. She pressed her forehead against the glass window and swirled a paper cup of tepid water in her hand.

  "She thinks she owns all of the walls outside the classrooms," agreed another. "I'm so tired of looking at those leering jack-o-lanterns."

  "I get that she's new and everything, but she's a substitute, not a real teacher."

  The cup in her hand crumpled and soaked her fingers. Darcy held her breath. She scrunched down further behind the plant as her stomach sank. She was a real teacher and a real artist, too. She'd graduated from college almost six years ago with an art degree and a teaching certificate. Her entry to this year's Kansas Life and Memories Art contest was in the mail.

  "I wish she'd go back to waiting tables at the diner," snorted the now familiar voice. "My students return to class covered in paint and bouncing off the walls."

  "Oh, mine, too. We wouldn't have this problem if my niece had been hired, you know."

  Darcy felt trapped. Even sneaking into the teacher's lounge after school was no escape from Tricia Darlington. The woman usually had bus duty.

  "I'm going to tell her she can have the space all the way to the fire extinguisher," continued the muffled voice, "but the rest of the wall beyond that is mine."

  Darcy took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the potted palm. She tossed her paper cup into the trash can beside Mrs. Darlington and Mrs. Gavel. They were both gray-headed, plump, and wore too many rings.

  "That sounds great," Darcy agreed. She smiled like she'd been a part of the conversation all along. Both women froze, one with a cup of coffee at her lips and the other with a mouthful of donut.

  Darcy averted her eyes to hide the anger she felt but gave them a stiff wave as she marched out. She wanted to sling the break room door shut with a bang, but she eased it closed behind her.

  Go back to waiting tables? She'd put in her time and worked hard to get through school. She'd even held two jobs last year to help Momma out while they waited for a teaching job to open up in Blessings.

  Blessings, she snorted. She stomped down the hall and around the corner to her classroom. More like curses. She'd hated this town so much as a teenager she'd left it before she finished high school, but here she was again. Like it or not, she'd missed the beautiful green fields, tall trees, and quaint historic buildings on Blessings' main street, but not the people who judged her.

  Living in Topeka had seemed like the answer, but after only a few years teaching in the city, she'd gone home to visit and realized how much her mother needed her.

  The classroom smelled like burnt popcorn. Darcy left the door open so it could air out. Burnt popcorn may have left a bad smell, but the kids had loved making popcorn art. She planned to use it for decorations during the month of November.

  With a scowl, she put her hands on her hips. The room looked like a mess, and Mr. Jenkins, the warmest, kindest janitor in the whole world had asked her to make sure the chairs were on top of the desks at the end of each day. She'd forgotten to ask the last group of students to put them away.

  Footsteps in the hall echoed behind her, but Darcy didn't turn around. She knew it was probably another herd of teachers complaining about the art classroom. They'd never accept her at Earhart Elementary. She was Darcy Malone after all.

  A GIANT CHICKEN DARTED across the road. Wade Spears swerved to avoid hitting it. With a gasp, he caught the steering wheel in time to avoid skidding off the road and joyriding through a field of brittle corn stalks. A bright red barn stood guard in the distance, and he hoped no one was home.

  With a glance in the rearview mirror, he watched the large wild bird flap away unhurt and realized it was a turkey. It'd almost become a turkey platter, and right in time for Thanksgiving. He smiled at the idea of Thanksgiving dinners past and realized he looked forward to seeing his family back in Tennessee again at Christmastime.

  A light on the car's dashboard blinked. Wade noted the gas gauge had dropped below the perfectly straight halfway mark. He tried not to fixate on the imperfectly crooked line the arrow made against the black background. It'd drive him crazy. He might as well fill up now rather than risk running out later.

  Through the windshield, the closest historical town along the Santa Fe Trail seemed as green and golden as the rest of the state. The crests of the treetops looked like they'd been dipped in flaming orange paint, so he shifted his attention to the natural beauty around him that was perfectly imperfect and yet something he could appreciate.

  He slowed as he approached a town limit sign: Welcome to Blessings, Kansas. This was the place. He glanced at the gas gauge again then at the address for "The Beautiful Blessings Bed and Breakfast" printed out on the itinerary beside him.

  It sounded charming, but he wouldn't get his hopes up. His last stop had been a seedy motel endured for the low cost and good location. Luckily, it'd only been for one night, because the room smelled like stale smoke, and there was a ring around the tub. He'd showered in flip flops.

  The highway narrowed, and his GPS informed him there was a gas station ahead. Wade squinted. It wasn't his usual chain. It looked like a mom and pop place instead, but at least the price was fair. He pulled in and headed for the closest gas pump. A blue two-door hatchback careened forward from the opposite direction and screeched into his spot. Wade swerved and slammed his brakes to avoid a head-on accident. Again.

  "Geez!" Wade squeezed the steering wheel and caught his breath. He waved a hand in irritation, but the driver didn't seem to notice. She jumped out of the car with her face hidden behind enormous sunglasses and darted inside. He cruised around her vehicle to another pump.

  A sign told him he'd have to pay upfront first, so he turned off the engine and headed inside for a soda. He wanted to stretch his legs anyway. It'd been a great drive. The sun was warm but the air felt cool, so he didn't
need a jacket. It reminded him of autumn in Tennessee. His brother, Grant, had been right. He just needed a break and a fresh perspective. Taking a permanent job as a history professor would be life-changing.

  Jangling bells announced his presence so he gave the station cashier a little wave. A row of glass doors in the back looked like the place to find a refrigerated drink. He trudged through the candy bar aisle resisting the urge to fill up on sugar. A young woman stood in front of the flavored waters with hands on her hips. She held a big pair of sunglasses in her hand.

  "Dale Earnhardt," he murmured, half-amused. She looked pretty. Definitely a Midwest farmer's daughter, but with a city-girl air about her. Classic and country. If she noticed he was waiting for her to make a decision she didn't show it. Her eyes scanned each row as she rocked forward on her toes.

  He was running out of steam. It'd been a long day. "Do you mind?" Wade cleared his throat, and she looked sideways at him.

  A dead-pan stare said she did mind, but he slipped past her, pulled open the door, and grabbed a watermelon-flavored sparkling water. "Excuse me," he added in the awkward silence.

  Her response was a cold nothing. He glanced back as he brushed past her and noticed her clothes were splattered with orange and green paint.

  "Wow," he said before he could stop himself.

  Cool, olive-brown eyes widened with offense.

  "I mean," he chuckled, "it looks like you lost the paintball fight."

  The woman's features softened, and she dropped her fist from her hip. "Art teacher," she replied, and he gave a nod although his heart melted a little. "That explains it."

  "And I never lose at paintball." A small dimple in her cheek made him realize she was teasing.

  "I'll have to watch out for you then."

  She let out a small laugh with a whoosh of air. "Oh, do you play often?"

  He tried not to smile and shook his head. "No, never. I don't like to get messy, but if I ever do, I'll stay on the lookout."