Falling For The Mom-To-Be (Maple Springs #1) by Jenna Mindel

Author:Jenna Mindel [Mindel, Jenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Forever Love, Christian, Religious, Faith, Inspirational, Spirituality, Love Inspired, Bachelor, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Maple Springs, Series, Widow, Husband's Best Friend, Deceased Husband, Comfort, Gossip, Business, Pregnancy, Family Life, Second Chances
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2015-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“The lilacs will be in full bloom.” Annie grabbed her ball cap before it blew off her head. The passenger ferry they rode revved to top speed.

Water sprayed like fine mist when they bounced on a wave. It felt good considering the heat of the day. Only the beginning of June and yet they’d had a hot start of summerlike weather.

“Yeah.” Matthew brushed droplets of water from his knees.

His mother had lilac bushes. They grew well all over northern Michigan, ambling wild along the road and in fields. Something about the sandy soil made them flourish. Mackinac Island celebrated peak bloom time with a festival that happened to be the upcoming weekend. They’d certainly see lilacs.

He and Annie sat on the open top deck of a newer boat that belonged to one of three Mackinac Island ferry companies. The thing hauled. It wasn’t exactly packed as not many headed to the island this late on a Tuesday afternoon. Seating was scattered with mainly young people enjoying the twenty-minute ride.

“Lilacs remind me of my mother,” Annie said.

“Your parents aren’t alive.” Matthew remembered Jack telling him that once. In fact, this was the first time he’d ever heard Annie mention them.

“Killed in a car accident when I was in college. I got the call from my aunt right before a big audition.”

“What happened?”

Annie grinned at him. “I landed one of the leads.”

She had powered through the pain even then. Or maybe, that’s when she’d learned how. “Did anyone know about the accident?”

“No. I didn’t want them to. And that might have been one of my best performances.”

Matthew wished he had gone to see her dance. Jack used to brag that Annie had been something special up on stage, and Matthew imagined that to be true. She certainly moved with grace and lightness at her studio. Annie might be lithe and lean, but she was also strong. She had to be to hold those positions as long as she did.

Annie Marshall was stronger than she realized.

“I forgot how gorgeous this is.” Annie looked around, soaking in the sight of the mighty Mackinac Bridge. “The last time I went to Mackinac Island was after Jack and I moved to Maple Springs. That was almost five years ago. Sad, I haven’t been back since. Thank you for suggesting this.”

Matthew nodded. He was glad he’d thought of it. He didn’t want her powering through the pain of losing Jack alone. Annie needed a fun time away from home. He was beginning to think he might need her. Annie Marshall was the kind of woman he’d always wanted but had never found.

He glanced at her hands. Her wedding ring sparkled in the sunshine. What would Jack think about all this?

Matthew had always cared for Annie, maybe too much. He searched the expanse of dark blue water that met a lighter blue, clear and cloudless sky. A perfect day. He’d do his best to keep it that way by maintaining a friendly distance.

He spotted an oceangoing boat heading through the Straits and slipping under the Mackinac Bridge.

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