Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

Author:Melissa Tagg [Tagg, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Books & Bibles, Literature & Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, United States, Religion & Spirituality, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Christian, Religious & Inspirational Fiction, Christianity, Christian Fiction, Reporters and reporting—Fiction, Deception—Fiction, FIC042040, Women television personalities—Fiction, FIC042000, FIC027020
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Published: 2013-09-14T22:00:00+00:00

Matthew heard the crunch of rock underfoot before he saw Miranda rounding the same clump of trees he’d passed through moments ago. He sat, back against a boulder the size of a small car, his Twins baseball cap shielding his eyes.

“Hand me your phone.” Miranda’s soft voice accompanied her shadow, now looming over him.

He tipped his head. Shrugged. “Okay.” He pulled the device from the pocket of his fleece pullover, then watched as Miranda strode to where the landing ended in a dip. She clicked one shot, then another, moving the phone to capture the scenery in a series of views.

She returned. “Now Cee won’t be disappointed.”

He accepted the camera from Miranda, smile teasing his lips. Miranda lowered beside him. He’d been childish to walk away. After all, he’d been the one to bring up his father.

But lately he couldn’t get Jase’s phone call out of his head. “He’d really like to hear from you.”

And Matthew would like to oblige about as much as he’d like to step off the side of the mountain, flail his way to a broken neck. But what if his father was sick? Had an emergency? Needed him?

Yeah, well, Gordon Knox’s family had needed him, too. Mom’s original cancer diagnosis had come just one month after Dad left. Matthew had been so sure the news would prompt Dad’s return. But no.

Still, he probably looked like a moody kid, stalking off from the group like he had. He’d felt invaded by Liv’s questions. From beside him, Miranda gave a contented sigh now. Maybe that’s what she’d felt this past week, as his questions steered closer and closer to memories she’d obviously walled in.

He chose a photo to send Cee, typed in a message. “She’s dying to meet you—Cee, I mean.”

“You’re a good uncle,” Miranda said. “Not all uncles would text their nieces every day.”

“Not all nieces are like Cee.” He pocketed his phone. “I used to think fatherhood wasn’t for me. After the way my own dad was, I figured I’d rather not gamble with someone else’s life on the off chance I’d turn out like him. But Cee? She makes me think maybe I could be a good dad.”

“I think you’d be more than a good dad, Matthew. I saw the way you were with Anya, Peter, and Claire.” No hint of flattery, only sincerity in Miranda’s voice.

“It’s just I have this tendency to screw up. It’s one thing when it’s my own life, but a child’s?” He tasted the vulnerability in his own words. Overhead, an eagle soared through drifting clouds.

He turned his head to the side, Miranda’s profile coming into view—head leaning against the boulder, tipped to the sky, sun kissing her skin.

“Matthew, I’m sorry Liv pushed you. She comes from the perfect family. Her parents are like Ward and June Cleaver on happy pills and she has tight bonds with her siblings. She thinks familial perfection is possible for everyone.”

Miranda lifted her hand to brush stray wisps of hair away from her face.

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