Can God's hope renew her?
Jules
Summers, a proverbial Jonah, runs from family, career, and
neighborhood. Where’s she going? To find a place of healing for wounds
so deep, she shuts the door against the very One who restores. But God
never abandons and a kindergarten angel arrives, towing her father,
Rhett Carsen. Rhett Carsen vows never to marry again. He redoubles his
efforts to raise his motherless daughter alone, but runs into trouble
when work sends him traveling. His daughter instantly bonds with
newcomer Jules Summers, who in turn assists him in caring for his
daughter. She seems like the answer to his prayers—an instant live-in
nanny. Yet, why does she captivate his every thought? They work together
as a team to care for Rhett’s child. But is “practicality” the only
thing God has planned for these two? Or could there be a whole lot more?
$3.99 Ebook
Available through these popular eBook retailers & more!
(Click to follow link)
$12.99 Print
EXCERPT
Copyright 2015 © Peggy Trotter
“And
God bless Grammy and Gramps, Nona and Nono, Daddy, Julie, Lucy, Goldie
and Mrs. Steeler, and all my friends at school. And please send a sister
for me ’cause I really need one. Amen.” Andi stood up from her prayer
position on the floor beside her bed and climbed under the comforter.
Rhett
clenched his jaw. For two weeks straight, the child had begged for a
sister. When would she forget this silly notion? He brought the fuzzy
pink blanket up and tucked it under her chin. “Listen, Peaches. You know
God doesn’t give us everything we ask for, don’t you?”
She
gave a sleepy sigh and blinked at him. “What do you mean, Daddy? Mrs.
Steeler says Jesus give us good gifts. And we can’t quit praying. We
have to keep asking until we get an answer.”
That
Mrs. Steeler was certainly doing her job. He shrugged off his
irrational irritation at this thought. “Yes, that’s true. But we must
pray according to God’s will.”
Andi yawned. “What does that mean?”
“It
means God knows what’s best for us. And sometimes, it’s not what we’re
praying for.” He settled on the bed in the shadowed room and stroked her
dark hair from her face. “You see, Andi, to have a little sister, Daddy
would need to be married. And I’m not.”
Andi nodded, her lids drooping. “So I need to pray for a mommy first?”
Holy
cow. Now what had he gotten himself into? Andi swung the blanket off
and slipped once more to the floor on her knees, her little hands
clasped in prayer.
“And,
dear Jesus. We need a mommy first. Amen.” Andi clambered back in bed
and covered up. “It’s okay, Daddy. God will take care of it.”
“Andi…”
He paused as her eyes blinked closed and her body stilled. Instead of
correcting her, he tiptoed from the room and shut the door. He stood
outside, looking down the shadowed hallway, internally finishing the
conversation.
It doesn’t happen like that. There will be no mommy. There will be no sister. You need to push it from your mind.
Man, he hated killing her dreams. He
jammed his hands in his pockets and headed for his room. If they were
handing out the award for the world’s worst dad tonight, he was sure to
be close to the front of the line.
Thanks Jacqui!
ReplyDeleteAlways welcome, Peggy. And anytime.
ReplyDelete