Calm & Bright: Huckleberry Lake, #1 by Autumn Macarthur

Author:Autumn Macarthur
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: small town romance, Christian romance, reunion romance, Christmas romance, single mom romance, second chance romance, heartwarming romance, inspirational romance
Publisher: Faith, Hope, & Heartwarming
Published: 2022-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Brad thanked God with every fiber of his being for the precious truth glowing in Maddie’s eyes. She did love him. Her body repeated the message, in the way she leaned against him, surrendering to his support.

His arm tightened around her. If they weren’t where they were, surrounded by all her neighbors, he’d kiss her. The yearning grew so strong, he might just kiss her anyway and let Sunset Point think what it liked.

Jacob interrupted with a tug on his jeans and an excited, “Did you see me, Daddy? Did you?”

Somehow, he’d completely missed the end of the play.

“Sure did. I’ve got you on video, too.” He pushed the replay button on his phone and showed it to Jacob. “See? You did great.” Releasing Maddie, he scooped his son up in his free arm. Maddie smiled and rested a hand on Jacob’s shoulder. As Brad held her close again, they formed a circle.

A family.

Something he’d never felt before, either growing up or in their marriage.

Emotion swelled in his chest, knotting his throat. So this was what she’d wanted from him, what she’d yearned for and not found.

For the first time, he started to understand what she’d meant when she tried to explain why she divorced him. They’d shared the same bed. They’d been physically intimate. But the amazing blessing of this emotional connection and overwhelming tenderness — this — had been missing.

“I want to sing.” Jacob wriggled to be put down.

“We’ll be singing in a minute,” Maddie reassured him.

Brad lowered the boy to the floor, breaking the physical circle they’d formed. But the circle of their love remained, bright and real as an eighteen-karat wedding band. It always would.

As if he’d heard Jacob, Hiram announced, “Tonight’s carols are old favorites. ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks’, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’, and ‘Silent Night’. As always, we’ll sing all the verses. So if you don’t know them, be sure to take one of the sheets circulating through the room with the words.”

Brad took one each for himself and Maddie and passed the last sheet on to the disheveled older man beside them.

“Me too,” Jacob protested as the singing began. Brad handed the boy his page, but chuckled when he held it upside down. As Jacob piped, “While shepherds washed their socks at night,” he decided they’d better do some practice before next year’s carol singing.

He needed to share Maddie’s sheet after the first verse. Maddie hardly glanced at it, singing with her whole heart in a clear true voice.

The group worked their way through the traditional carols, ending with “Silent Night”. He glanced at Maddie. Joy transformed her. Unexpected salt stung his eyes as he glimpsed the radiant light of love the carol spoke of reflected in her face.

She’d never looked lovelier.

The song ended. After a still moment, a hum of chatter began. Hiram raised a hand. “Before we share our food, let’s take time to pray.” Once the room quieted, he began, “Heavenly Father, we thank You for blessing us with this time of food and fellowship tonight.

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