Jessica's Wish
by Marci Bolden
One wish can change everything. This year when Jessica Martinson-Canton blows out eleven candles on her homemade vegan cake, she makes the same wish she's made for as many birthdays as she can remember: she wants a mother. Jessica's father Phil has worked his entire life to create a more stable childhood for his daughter than he had with his unwed teenaged mother. When his wife left him and their newborn daughter in their most vulnerable hour, Phil pledged to give his baby everything. His parents have reunited and are working hard to create a supportive extended family, but rainbow pancakes and princess murals can't heal the dark void left in Phil's heart which he won't even admit is there. Mallory O'Connell leaves her dream job in a big city to return home to help her fiercely independent mother recover from tragedy. After forming a unique bond with Jessica—and a friendship with Jessica's hot father—Mallory finds that in coming back to...