Gift-Wrapped Family (Family Ties #3) by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer [Richer, Lois]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Christian, Religious, Faith, Inspirational, Spirituality, Love Inspired, Bachelor, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Family Ties, Series, Family Life, Children, Holidays, Christmas, Widow, Wedlock, Illegitimate, Lawyer, Attorney, Adoption Agency, Ranch Owner, Second Chances
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2015-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Determined not to let Lily fret over the visit with Dr. Frank, Mia kept the little girl busy with games and puzzles during the flight to Toronto.

“You thought of everything,” Caleb said when Lily’s head nodded onto his shoulder and she fell asleep. “She hasn’t had time to worry.”

“That was the goal.” Mia tucked the computer Lily had used in her bag.

“It hasn’t stopped me worrying,” Caleb admitted. “What happens if he can’t do anything for her? What if—”

“Caleb.” Mia reached across Lily and threaded her hand in his. The touch made her stomach wobble, but she held on anyway. This was not the time to let her personal feelings get in the way. This was the time to join together and support this little girl. “This morning I read a scripture. ‘The Lord will provide.’ Let’s hang on to that.”

He squeezed her hand. “I am continually shamed by the strength of your faith.”

“Shamed?” she asked, pleased by the compliment but too aware of her own personal struggles to trust God, of her ache to hold her own child when she knew that wasn’t His will. “Part of being in God’s family means supporting each other.”

Mia drew her hand away. Contact with Caleb always made her wish for more, but she simply couldn’t imagine ever again depending on another man. It felt utterly humiliating to remember how she’d been hoodwinked by Harlan and hadn’t even suspected it, to recall her blind obedience to his edicts as if she had no mind of her own when all the time he’d been using her to get the inheritance her mother had left. Bella had summarized the totality of his nefarious schemes on the phone last night, leaving Mia feeling stupidly naive.

But at least she’d learned from her miserable marriage. She’d learned to listen to the still, small voice inside her. She’d learned to ask questions, a lot of questions, and to look for answers from more than one person. Most of all she’d learned that the freedom of choice was worthy of staying independent. So far anyway.

“Wake up, sweetheart. We’re landing now.” Caleb brushed Lily’s cheek with his knuckles and smiled when her long dark lashes lifted. “Is your seat belt fastened?”

“Uh-huh.” Lily peered at him, trust glowing in her dark blue eyes. “Will it hurt, Uncle Caleb?”

“I don’t think it will hurt today. The doctor just wants to look at your leg to see if he can help you,” Caleb explained.

“What if he can’t, Uncle Caleb?”

Mia’s heart broke as shadows moved into Caleb’s silver eyes. He opened his mouth but clearly had no words, so when he looked to her, she smiled at him and then Lily.

“You mean what if he can’t fix your leg?” Mia said softly.

Lily nodded. “I’ll be the same then, won’t I?” she asked.

“I don’t know. None of knows what God has planned for us, honey.” Mia cupped the child’s chin in her palm. “Six months ago I didn’t even imagine I’d be living at Riverbend.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.