A Soldier's Prayer--A Fresh-Start Family Romance

by Jenna Mindel

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Pretty good, actually.” She truly meant it this time.

  She’d never wanted Cash worried or distracted by her health, and had refused to let him see her down or sick. When she had looked horrible because of broken capillaries in her face from throwing up after chemo, she’d texted him that she was tired and going to bed early for a whole week. She hoped God didn’t fault her for lying so many times, but she did it to protect the man she loved.

  That man backed up and she saw him fully and laughed.

  Cash Miller had shaved his head and he wore a pink bandanna around his neck. “The guys have something they want to ask you.”

  Spanning back farther, the camera picked up a group of his men, standing amid the dusty terrain of who knew where they were. As one, they took off their hats. They, too, were all bald and each one wore a pink bandanna.

  Tears gathered in her eyes at the sight of such support for her and the respect these men had for their first sergeant. Then they held up cardboard squares and her breath caught when the first guy flipped his around.

  It read: Monica.

  She had an idea what this was all about, but who did this kind of thing anymore? Cash Miller, that’s who.

  The next guy flipped his: Will.

  Then the next: You.

  PLEASE.

  Marry.

  Cash.

  Miller?

  Tears ran freely down her face by the time Cash was back in focus. He’d asked her this before and she’d stalled him every time. She had wanted to wait until after chemo and surgery. All that was over now, along with the nausea. Pain she’d handled pretty well with meds, and even those she hadn’t needed to finish. She’d switched to plain old ibuprofen.

  She’d been very blessed that the tumor had responded so well to the chemo that she could have opted for a lumpectomy. She still chose to go through with a single mastectomy and was able to have reconstruction in conjunction with a total skin-saving surgery.

  Cash had supported her decision without hesitation. He said that he didn’t care about reconstruction, but she did. Big time.

  At her last doctor’s appointment, she’d been given a promising outlook. She was finally on the mend and healing up nicely. Another two months or so and Cash would be able to take a short leave when his unit returned to the States.

  “So, what’s it going to be, Stork?” Cash waited.

  “So, it’s going to be a big fat yes.” Monica breathed deep.

  “When?”

  She laughed, but really, he should know the answer to that. She braved up and took off the scarf to show him what she described as peach fuzz covering her head. “When I have hair.”

  He narrowed his gaze, but the smile never left his face. “How much hair?”

  There’s no way she’d be a bride with a buzz cut, so it was going to be a while yet. “Enough to look nice in pictures.”

  Cash turned serious. “That’s now, baby, because you look beautiful.”

  Her throat tightened and her eyes watered some more. He had a way of making her feel beautiful, and she loved him all the more for it. Running her finger over the screen, she outlined his dear face, missing him terribly. “Thanks, Cash. You do the bald thing pretty well, too.”

  He smiled. “We’ll figure it all out next time I’m home.”

  She gave him a salute. “Yes, sir.”

  “That’s yes, First Sergeant, sir. Gotta go.” He kissed his fingers and placed them on the screen. “I love you.”

  She did the same. “I love you more. See ya.”

  “Later.” With a wink from eyes that also looked a little watery, he was gone.

  Monica disconnected. They were apart, sure, but they would never again say goodbye—not in texts or emails, and they never would.

  Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the sparkly notebook and matching pen Ruth Miller had given her. Cash’s sister-in-law had visited her a couple times and they’d become fast friends. She brought the boys, after Monica had encouraged her to. Owen had been precious, holding her hand and telling her she was still pretty. Ethan had drawn her a picture of the four of them at her uncle’s cabin with sparklers.

  A thought suddenly hit her, so she wrote it down. Remembering her mother’s wise advice to have fun while she was at her uncle’s cabin, she knew exactly what she was after. She got busy making a list, because she had a big wedding to plan and it was going to be fun.

  Epilogue

  Cash stood at the altar and waited while seemingly hundreds of candles were being lit around him and up the aisle, where Monica would soon meet him. He wasn’t nervous, but standing still was a challenge.

  “Easy, big fella.” Monica’s brother Matthew stood next to him as his best man.

  “Where is she already?” he whispered back.

  “I don’t know. Maybe she wants to make a grand entrance by being a little late.”

  Cash checked his watch, to the amused murmur of the guests. They were over ten minutes behind schedule.

  Scanning the crowd, he smiled at the large number. Monica’s mom and family members took up several rows, while his family managed to fill only one pew. His mom sat in the front, along with Ruth and his nephews. The boys had trouble sitting still, too. His sister-in-law looked ready to take them both outside by their ears.

  The early evening sun filtered through the stained glass, casting colored patterns on the floor. Some of the colors reminded him of how he’d felt about Monica at the cabin, when he’d wielded those brilliant-hued crayons. That had been over a year ago, and so much had happened since then.

  Checking his watch once again, he hoped they’d get outside in time. Monica wanted their wedding pictures taken at sunset by Maple Bay. They’d been blessed with a beautiful mid-October day. Mild temperatures and sunny.

  If she ever got here.

  The light classical music pumping over the sound system stopped and the live organist began playing some other kind of classical piece. That was a good sign they were ready to begin.

  The back doors of the church opened and Monica’s sister Cat walked toward him, smiling until she took her place at the altar. Another good sign.

  Cash rubbed his damp palms against his trousers. This was it. Today was the day he’d become a husband. Today he’d tell his wife that he’d accepted a new role within the Marine Raider Regiment. The organ music changed to the traditional bridal march and everyone stood.

  He took one look at Monica and swore his heart stopped for at least a second or two before pounding so hard his ears rang.

  She was stunning in a lace halter dress the color of candlelight that shimmered as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her father.

  Her hair had grown back wavy and it was a little darker than before. The golden-honey tone suited her, as did the short cap of curls that showed off the length of her graceful neck. She didn’t wear a veil, but a headband with a spray of sparkly stuff to one side.

  The closer she came toward him, the better he could see her bright blue eyes and the happiness he read there.

  It matched his own, so he grinned at her.

  She smiled back.

  The beginning of the ceremony whizzed by in a blur until her father offered him Monica’s hand. Taking it, he leaned close to her and whispered, “What took you so long?”

  “I misplaced my ‘something old’ pin.” She tipped her bouquet of a handful of lilies wrapped with ribbon. On the ribbon was a sparkly stork pin.

  He shrugged, not understanding the “old” reference, but loving the pin. She’d always be his Stork.

  “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” she hissed.

  He figured her dress was new. She’d confirmed that the stork pin was old. He didn’t care what she’d borrowed, but was curious about what might
be blue. He couldn’t see that color anywhere. “What’s blue?”

  She gave him a pointed look as the clergyman cleared this throat. “Pay attention.”

  Another murmur of laughter emanated from the guests.

  Cash grinned again. He’d ask later.

  He looked forward to showing Monica the acceptance letter for his new position, which rested in the coat pocket of the dress blues he was wearing. After sixteen years of active duty, it was time to work behind the lines for a while. At least for the next four years, until he could retire and they could perhaps raise a family.

  They had a lot of living to do now that they’d postponed death. They both wore battle scars that reminded them how close they’d come to it. Time seemed more precious now. Time together, priceless. He prayed that from here on out they wouldn’t venture anywhere near death’s door until the Lord called them home in their old age.

  “Do you, Cassius William Miller, take Monica Marie Zelinsky to be your wedded wife?”

  Cash looked into Monica’s eyes and got lost there. “Yes, I do.”

  * * *

  Monica waited for the master of ceremonies to announce their names before entering the reception hall at the Maple Springs Inn. They’d just returned from the beachfront, where they’d taken photos against a gorgeous sky at sunset. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Like everything in her life right now.

  It had been fourteen months since she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. At her one-year follow-up there had been no sign of cancer, and Monica couldn’t have been more grateful. Or blessed. God’s timing was perfect.

  Hearing their guests cheer was their cue to enter.

  “Wait till you see this.” Monica hooked her arm through Cash’s. “I got the idea from your nephews.”

  She’d planned their wedding down to the finest detail and it had been remarkable therapy while she’d recovered. It had also been a fun diversion from selling her house and moving back home with her parents while she waited for Cash’s extended leave for their wedding.

  “What’d you do?”

  “Come see.” She pulled Cash forward into the large space, which had a dance floor set up in the middle.

  They marched past guests lined up waving sparklers. Owen and Ethan were front and center, waving and twirling their sparklers just like they had at the cabin.

  Folks pointed toward the dance floor, where they would join Cat and Matthew, each dancing with their spouse to an upbeat love song. Monica had chosen this first number with care after listening to dozens of lyrics. Titled “You and Me,” the song was of course romantic, but also perfect. The tempo was more lively, positive and carefree sounding, but the words resonated deeply. She’d loved the message that together, the two of them could do anything.

  Monica believed that was indeed true, because after all these years, they were here. Together and working on their forever.

  “Nice touch with those sparklers,” Cash whispered in her ear as he pulled her into his arms. “Nice song, too. I guess it will be ours from now on.”

  “Yes, it will, but we will find more, I’m sure.”

  They’d never danced together before and Monica was surprised at how smooth his movements were. Cash led her with confidence around the dance floor, twirling her in and out of his arms. There were so many things she wanted them to do together, new things they’d never done before, starting with their honeymoon on Hilton Head Island.

  At least they’d have a solid week together before he was called somewhere for a mission. Biting her bottom lip, she tucked her head against Cash’s and held on a little tighter.

  “What?” He knew her so well.

  “Nothing. Just looking forward to spending time alone together after all this.”

  He chuckled and gave her a squeeze. “The party is just getting started.”

  “I know, but—”

  “I was going to wait until later to tell you this, but now seems like the right time.” Cash stopped dancing and pulled an official-looking piece of paper from inside his uniform.

  The song ended and the MC invited others to join the wedding party as dance mix music pounded out around them.

  Monica took the paper from his hands and read the news that Cash had been assigned to special operations training at the Marine Raider Training Center at Camp Lejeune.

  Smiling, she looked up at him. “When did you do this?”

  “I put in for it a while ago, before you finally agreed to marry me.”

  Monica wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the strength of his returned embrace. “Thank you.”

  “I love the marines, Stork, but I love you even more.”

  She laughed. “Today couldn’t get any more perfect.”

  Cash rubbed his nose against hers.

  Monica took a deep breath, nervous about later.

  “It’ll be okay.” Cash kissed her quickly.

  Remembering the angry-looking mark on Cash’s stomach, she relaxed. She not only believed him, but she trusted him. They were both warriors with battle scars, and although they had fought different wars, God had brought them both out victorious.

  Monica threaded her fingers through his and squeezed. “It will be better than okay.”

  Together, they’d become whole by placing their trust in the One Who stole the sting of death and held the keys of their life firmly in His hands.

  * * *

  Pick up these other stories in

  Jenna Mindel’s Maple Springs Series:

  Falling for the Mom-to-Be

  A Soldier’s Valentine

  A Temporary Courtship

  An Unexpected Family

  Holiday Baby

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at

  www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Amish Bachelor’s Choice by Jocelyn McClay.

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  Dear Reader,

  I hate cancer for what it does and the wreckage it leaves behind. I, like many of you, have friends and family who have been touched by this awful disease. I was halfway into writing this book when my brother was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer and that really brought this subject much too close to home. As I write this, his treatments are complete and his outlook is very good. I thank God for His healing!

  By choosing a heroine with cancer, I wanted to honor those who’ve been there before. Monica has never been comfortable in her own skin and that plays deep into her insecurities at the start of this book. What I love about her is that she becomes a true warrior who overcomes those insecurities supported by the unwavering love of the hero, as well as her trust in God.

  Living a redeemed life doesn’t mean we won’t face trials or even end up with cancer. But we do have a God Who walks with us in this imperfect life whether our race is long or cut short.

  My prayer is that we keep our eyes fixed on the eternal prize and live the life God gave us, focused on Him.

  Jenna

  I love to hear from readers. Please visit my website at www.jennamindel.com or follow me on www.Facebook.com/authorjennamindel or drop me a note c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

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  The Amish Bachelor’s Choice

  by Jocelyn McClay

  Chapter One

  “I wonder if the new owner will change the name? It’d be strange to have it no longer be Fisher Furniture.” Jacob’s words were barely audible over the humming of the lathe.

  The blood drained from Ruth Fisher’s face. She hadn’t considered that possibility. Oh, Daed, if missing you wasn’t enough, how can I bear to see your name removed from the business you built? The end of her nose prickled as she swallowed against the lump in her throat.

  Widening her eyes against threatening tears, Ruth willed her coworker not to look up from his focus on the spinning chair leg until she eliminated any trace of the effect his words had had on her. She glanced around the workshop to ensure the few others working in the extensive room weren’t paying attention, before tipping her head back and blinking any telltale traces away. No one would see her cry.

  The others understood her grief. Friends and neighbors as well as employees of her father’s furniture business had helped her through his difficult passing and funeral. But they were moving on. When Ruth moved on, it would be away from her daed’s legacy. She’d made a promise. She swallowed again, this time against a flash of nausea at the reminder of her recent resolution. It took pinching the skin between her thumb and forefinger to stop any renegade tears. But when Jacob looked up, he was met with clear eyes behind her safety glasses.