Protected (Jacobs Family Series Book 2) by Vannetta Chapman

Author:Vannetta Chapman [Chapman, Vannetta]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Suspense, New Adult, Christian, Adult, Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781511883993
Published: 2015-05-14T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Five

Erin walked into the kitchen, feeling more like her old self than she had since the fever began four days before.

“Tea or coffee?” Barbara asked.

“A cup of hot tea would be wonderful. Thank you.” She bent and planted a kiss on Joshua, who was propped in an old-fashioned high chair. Excited to see her, he kicked his legs.

“The shower helped,” Barbara noted.

“It did. I feel almost like an animal rescuer again.”

“How did you choose such an interesting career?”

Erin laughed as she accepted the hot tea and slice of warm cinnamon bread, suddenly realizing she was famished. “Thank you. I suppose my career choice was Doc England’s doing.”

“I guessed as much. He speaks very highly of you.”

“Doc and Jules were very close.” Erin sipped the chamomile tea. She braced herself against the tightening in her chest that always accompanied memories of Jules and Nina, but it didn’t come. Studying Barbara’s kitchen, she thought she knew why. Who could be sad sitting in the midst of a bird’s nest? Feeders hung outside every window. As she watched, a goldfinch hopped to the tube nearest her and pecked at its breakfast.

The nature theme echoed throughout the kitchen, with placemats touting different types of woodland birds, window valances displaying nests photographed in the wild, even the salt and pepper shakers imitating male and female woodpeckers.

“Like birds?” Erin asked.

Barbara smiled and sat down on the other side of Joshua. “I do, as a matter of fact. When the boys were small, I used to worry about every little thing. My grandmother was eighty-seven at the time. She would remind me that God even looks after the sparrow.”

“Sparrows?” Erin pressed her tea cup to her lips, staring over the rim at Barbara.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Barbara laughed, reached out, and retrieved Joshua’s pacifier from the tray where it had tumbled beyond his reach.

Erin could tell the words had transported her to another time, another place. “Sounds like something from the Bible, but I’ve never heard it before.”

“Luke, chapter twelve. The disciples are in a tight spot, and Jesus is trying to comfort them, encourage them. He’s also telling them not to fear death.”

“Doesn’t sound like much of a pep talk.” Erin ran her finger along the top of her cup, but didn’t dare look up into Barbara’s eyes.

“There are worse things than death. Jesus knew that, and the disciples were about to learn—as was I.” Barbara hesitated while two more finches settled at the feeder. When she continued, her voice brimmed with precious memories. “Granny Ruth would visit me, always quoting Luke before she left. I’d nod and pat her hand because I loved her more than I loved chocolate mint ice cream, but I thought her a little senile at the time.”

She stood and refilled their cups with fresh tea from a small white pot that was covered with a quilted tea cozy.

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