Dan left the service and headed over to his sisters. He had been invited to her home for Sunday dinner. Cindy's husband had planned to put some steaks on the grill, how could he pass that up. He smiled because he knew there was an ulterior motive to his sister’s invite. She knows that Cara and he have been communicating on line. So Cindy has been bombarding him with questions. He also suspects that she must be drilling Cara as well, he knows his sister. He sees his sister's house now on the left and pulls in to her driveway. He spotted Terry in the yard with a ball, and as he got out of his car he waved at his nephew. “Uncle Dan!" "Where's, your mom and Dad?" “They are out back, waiting for you." "Let me make my appearance and I'll come back and toss you some balls your way." Dan said as he noticed Terry holding a baseball. "Cool, sure thing Uncle Dan."
Cara had just finished tucking in her twin nine year old boys and settling her teen girls ages thirteen and fifteen down for the night. She sat at her computer and logged onto the net to check her email. "Hello Cara." He must have seen her log on. "Hello Dan Just logged on to read my mail." "Am I bothering you?" "No, not at all, I was a little surprised you’re on.” She answered. "Well to be honest, I was only checking my email when I saw you log on and thought I would say hi. How was your day?" He asked. "We had a sermon on faith at church. It spoke to me. God always knows what we need to hear."
Dan read what she wrote about faith and smiled. I wonder if she is referring to our lunch date? He thought to himself. "I know what you mean." He typed back to her. "How was your day?" she asked. “After church Cindy invited me over for a bar-b-que had a fun time!" "How nice, she told me that she and Mitch like to give bar- b- ques." "Boy, do they! Lol." he typed. "lol, Sounds like you are a close family!" "I'm sure chatting with Cindy yourself; you can get a picture of how close we are. Lol” She smiled. "She has spoken quite highly of her family." Dan yawned and stretched and looked at the time. “Yeah, Cindy and I are close were close in age and grew up more like friends. Well on behalf of you needing to be up early for your kids. I will bid you goodnight."
Cara stifled a yawn. She hadn't realized how late it was. "Ok I'll let you go. I hadn't realized the time till now. Goodnight Dan. God Bless.” "God Bless you, Cara Goodnight," she logged out and stood up and stretched. Then she shut the computer down, walked out shutting off the light. She smiled as she climbed the stairs and headed towards her room. She undressed then showered and pulled on her night gown, Climbed into bed and sent up a prayer to the Lord before she settled to go to sleep.To Be Continued
The next day she was just setting down her plate with her small salad she fixed for lunch and her hot green mint tea when she heard. “Bling.”She herself sat down in her chair and saw his IM. "Hello Cara, you on?" "I'm here. Hello Dan." Again her heart flipped. "I said a prayer for you and your kids." She read the words and replied. "Thank you. I had said a prayer for you as well.""I was thinking about where we could meet for lunch. Is there any place to your liking?" He is so thoughtful."I was thinking there is a mall we can meet at downtown and we could discuss the place at that time, if that is all right with you?" she answered. "That would be fine." "What about tonight? Can we chat again at seven?" She stared at the screen with so many questions inside her. "Bling." "Are you still there?" All she could think to say was. "Why this sudden interest in me?" she clicked send, before she could change her mind about the question.
Dan saw her question. He wanted to answer with the right words so he wouldn’t sound crazy. So he sent up a quick prayer of guidance. Then, wrote. “Cindy showed me your picture. Told me all about her friend Cara, It sparked my interest in her friend. Is that alright?" He hoped and prayed for her to receive this in a good way. Lord, do not let her take this wrong. "Bling" "Oh I see checking me out for your sister huh? lol.”he let out his breath and smiled yes she had received it good naturedly. "lol yeah looking out for little sis." and wanting to see why the stirring in his soul. “Yes I guess I can understand that since Cindy and I had thoughts of meeting one day. Tonight would be fine." He looked over at the time and saw it was about three. "I'll be chatting with you then at seven this evening. I know you will want to spend time with your kids."
She couldn’t help but like him, she is finding herself looking forward to the chats. A week had gone by and they were chatting twice a day everyday. Laughing and joking and getting comfortable with each other. She found herself excited about the lunch date. It was Sunday and she was enjoying the service at church. The Pastor was talking on Faith. "Jesus said ‘Blessed are those that have not seen yet believed. Thomas didn't have the Faith to believe until he had seen Jesus himself. To be a believer it is a big step in Faith for us to believe that the Word of God is truth." Like a big step in Faith that God is in this meeting between her and Dan. A peace washed over her she knew she is to meet him. It's all in Gods plan.
When she got home she finished the last minute ingredients to her Sunday dinner tradition, of a roast and potatoes and carrots. It was the easiest to fix on Sunday. She prepares it the night before, and in the morning places it in the oven on low heat, while at church the dinner is cooking, and ready by the time they come home. Then they spend a wonderful Sunday just being together. How she loves Sundays with the Lord and family.
To Be Continued
Dan sat there and still couldn't believe he had just asked her for lunch. To top it off she had accepted! What is the Lord doing? He took in a sigh, "Oh well, Father you’re in control." he spoke softly to himself. He looked at the time and saw he had to get back to work. "I'll be looking forward to our lunch. I do have to sign off now and get back to work. Would it be alright to chat with you about seven this evening?" He clicked send and waited her reply. "Bling," "Of course, that would be fine. I'll be on at seven. God Bless you Dan and nice meeting you. Give my love to Cindy." He typed a quick. "Ok I will, God Bless you too Cara." Then he logged out.
Cara tried to get back to work, but she found she couldn't focus on her job. So she got up and went to the kitchen and fixed her a cup of green mint tea with honey and a sandwich and went back to her computer sat down and brought up Dan’s picture. "Lord what is it about him?" she prayed. He had short dark brown hair combed back into a neat style and the most incredible blue eyes she had ever seen. Just looking at his picture her heart began to beat faster. "This is crazy!" she told herself and closed out his picture.
Dan sat at his computer in his den and was waiting for it to finish loading. He took a sip of his iced tea and waited. As it came on line he saw she was already logged on. So he double clicks on her name and typed. "Hello Cara."
Cara was feeling a little nervous as seven o’clock came around. She sat at her computer already logged in. One minute after seven she jumped when she heard "Bling." It was him! Her heart began to beat faster. She took a breath and typed "Hello." "How was your day?" He asked. "I spent some time with my kids this afternoon." She typed. "Cindy had told me about your divorce and how you have full custody of your four kids. I do hope you'll forgive Cindy for telling me?" She sat and stared at the screen. Of course she'll forgive Cindy. After all she had not told her to not tell anyone. "It's alright, and yes I do forgive her." "lol, Ok I was hoping you'd say that." She smiled. He has a pleasant way about himself, she thought to herself. "My kids and I went rollerblading in the park. Then we rented a movie and ordered pizza. Its Friday night, family night. It's a tradition with my kids and me."
He smiled at that thought. "Sounds like fun. Traditions are nice." He had kids himself from a bad marriage; he loves his kids and remembers spending time with them when they were younger. "My two kids are grown now. My daughter is married with a baby on the way. My son is in college, so for now it's just me. lol I do see my kids from time to time, when they visit with me.” “A baby, that's great! So you'll be a grandfather, a very young looking grandfather. lol” He chuckled when he read it. "Thank you for the compliment. At times I feel my age. lol I'll be forty seven in March." "Forty seven! Wow you don’t look it! I will be forty three in May,”forty three? He couldn't believe it; he thought by her picture that she was at least thirty five. "Wow! Not only beautiful, young looking too."
He called her beautiful! She couldn't believe it. She accepted who she is in God, but she had a hard time believing she was beautiful. All she could think of to say was "Thank you." "You’re welcome. Would I be able to chat with you on line tomorrow during lunch? I know its Saturday." He wanted to chat with her again! "Of course you can, same time as earlier today?" "Yes one o clock." "Alright I will be looking forward to it." "I'll let you go for now so you can spend the rest of this evening with your kids. Good night and God Bless." "Good night and Blessings to you." She signed off and went to the living room to join her kids and the movie. To Be Continued
Cara Roberts logs on to her computer to begin work. She really doesn’t need the internet for what she does, but she likes to take breaks and chat with a few of her friends. As she was typing her transcript an invite popped on to the screen. “Who, on earth?" she spoke to herself. There was a message with the invite, “Cindy Wilcox a mutual friend gave me your screen name. Please accept so we can chat." She clicked, the accept button added this person on to her list. She set aside her transcript and brought up her list. As she was doing so an IM popped up with a "Hi" on it. She smiled and said to herself. "So you beat me to it." Then she answered with a "Hi, so Cindy gave you my screen name, who are you?" "My name is Dan Barns, I am Cindy's Brother. She speaks of you all the time. I thought it was time I met you." Cara sat back and stared. Cindy's brother! She talks the most with Cindy. They had more in common, then anyone else she has chatted with on line. She had even thought of bringing it up to Cindy about them meeting one day in person, being that they lived a little over a hundred miles away. "Bling" her thoughts were interrupted. "Hello? Are you still there?" he had typed. "I'm here, Sorry." She answered. "How is Cindy today?"
Dan was at his computer in his office looking at his screen. "She is doing fine today. She just had some errands to do so she couldn’t get on line to chat." Ever since Cindy showed him Cara's picture he felt a stirring inside. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to chat and see if God would reveal something. "Bling" He looked back at the screen. "I remember she told me yesterday she may not be on today due to errands." A thought came to him, and he wondered as he typed. "Had Cindy ever sent you pics of her and me together?" As he waited her answer he brought up his picture file and opened it to find the picture of Cindy and him standing outside of Cindy's house. The picture was a nice one and showed him real well. His blue eyes like that of his sisters. "Bling" "Only the pictures of her, her husband and her kids," was her reply. "Ok, I thought so. Watch your email I am sending you a pic of Cindy and me." He opened his mail box and clicked onto the composed mail. He clicked the attach icon and attached the picture. Then he wrote a message inside. “Here is Cindy and me, outside Cindy's house. Now you have an idea of who you are chatting with. May God bless you and your children, Dan Barns" Then he clicked send.
Cara heard the click of email arriving. She opened her box and opened her mail. She read the note then scrolled to look at the picture. Her breath caught as she saw Dan standing next to Cindy. He had deep blue eyes and dark brown hair and a smile that could melt any woman’s heart. Cindy was laughing like a joke was just told, but the only one Cara saw was Dan. She couldn’t stop looking into those eyes. The photo was as if he was looking right at her. "Bling" she shook her head and brought up the conversation. "Had you received it?" She began typing. "Yes I did. Nice pic." She wasn't about to tell him she was taken off guard with the photo. She had met so many and seen many photos. So why was his different? "Bling" "I have business in your area in a few weeks, would it be possible for us to meet somewhere for lunch?" Her heart began to pound at what she had read, lunch? She closed her eyes for a moment in silent prayer. A peace washed over her. She knew her answer. "Of course I would love to meet you for lunch." she replied. To Be Continued
He reached out and wrapped his arms around his bride, “Will you forgive an old fool, Martha?” She hugged him with all the love she still holds for her husband. “I have forgiven you years ago. I was just waiting for Gods timing to answer my prayer. Now my husband there is another matter we must address.” She indicated with her hand Jonathan and Kathryn standing there patiently waiting, Kathryn with a big grin. “Umm Aw Yes. Well… umm it seems I owe you an apology as well young man. I guess the problem was, I saw too much of myself in you, and I wanted more for my daughter. Now as I am reminded, my wife is right. We were happiest before my fortune. Now I come to realize, you are what is best for my daughter. I see in your faces all the love and joy my wife and I have once shared. So with all that said, I give you two my blessing.” “No, she is promised to me.” Tommy cried, as Kathryn hugged her dad then her mother. “Young man its Kathryn’s life and her choice if you don’t like her decision then you can leave our home.” Tommy threw the wine glass and it shattered on the floor and stormed out of the house. “Everyone it seems the birthday party has just turned into an engagement party. Let’s all enjoy ourselves.” Mitchell said addressing the guest. Kathryn turned to Jonathan after her dads announcement and threw herself into his arms and kissed him soundly on the lips for all to see, when a sudden burst of cheers and applauds erupted in the room. Kathryn truly has received the best birthday gift ever, her parents respect and Jonathans love. What more could I ask for? Not a thing. Was her thought as she gazed lovingly into the eyes of the man she loves, her husband to be. The End
Jonathan felt uncomfortable with all eyes on him. He walked over and got him a soda to drink. He could hear murmurs all over in the room. “What does he think he’s doing here?” He heard a woman say. “Of all the nerve.” He heard another. “Isn’t Kathryn betrothed to Tommy?” another one said. Tommy walked up to Jonathan, “You’re not welcomed here.” He told Jonathan. Jonathan just looked at him taking a sip of his soda. Tommy had what looked like wine in his hand. “You know you have no chance at her, don’t you?” he said taking a sip of wine. “We are to be married. Her parents and mine are already making the arrangements.” Another sip and his drink was gone he asked for another one. Jonathan gulped his soda down. “We will just have to see about that.” Tommy threw his head back and laughed. “And what do you think you have to offer her, a slum of a home? Do you think that would be enough? Look around you man. Look at what I could give her.” “Is that all you think life is about money?” Tommy sneered at Jonathan. “Of course it is.” “No, it’s not. I may not be able to give her material things, but I can give her my heart. The greatest gift ever created by a very living God, love.” With shaking hands he set his empty glass down and continued. “Life does not revolve around money. It’s about how one lives their life and how they can serve God. Its about embracing the gifts God places in their life.” “Bravo.” He heard a woman’s voice say as well as clapping. He turned to the voice at the door way and saw his Kathryn standing there clapping. Then she turned to her parents who stood behind her and spoke, “Another gift God gave to us is choice. And my choice is Jonathan. I love him with all my heart and I know God will take care of us. Even if we did end up living in a one room shack that would be enough for me cause of all the love in that home.” Jonathan walked over to her, as she continued. “That’s what makes a home daddy not a building, the love inside that building.” She looked over at her mother and noticed the tears in her eyes. “We used to have that once Mitchell, don’t you remember?” Martha began, “We had nothing when we first got married and yet we had more then, then what we have now. I miss that. It seems the money only brought us separate lives. We are not living a life; we are only existing in it.” Mitchell looked at his wife of thirty years and for the first time saw loneliness in her eyes. “What have I done? I only wanted for my family what I never had growing up. I wanted the very best for you all.” “Oh sweetie, I know you meant well. I myself had even gotten caught up in all this.” Martha said the last indicating the big fancy house with her arms. “I said my vows thirty years ago and I still mean every word. I will always love you Mitchell, I just want my husband back.” That weakened the barrier around Mitchell’s heart. To Be Continued
He smiled as he explained. “This had belonged to my grandmother. It was passed down to me for my soul mate.” She looked up at him at the word soul mate. What she saw there was so much love as he removed the ring from its box and asked, “Kathryn with all my heart I know you are for me, my blessing, and my soul mate. Will you marry me?” She could feel her cheeks getting wet with her tears, and then it happened. It just broke free like a dam over flowing. She felt warm all over with the new knowledge of her feelings. She was in love with him. With new awareness in her heart she smiled and threw her arms around him as she answered, “Yes! Yes I will marry you Jonathan.” She pulled him away just enough to look him in his eyes. “I love you.” That felt so good to say.
He couldn’t believe his ears, yet as he looked her in the eyes he knew it to be true. He slipped the ring on her finger and took her hand in his. “I’m about to marry my best friend.” She smiled a radiant smile and with eyes sparkling, “As I am about to marry my best friend.” His kiss was just so sweet as he staked his claim on her, that she drew closer to him relishing the sweet kiss. They belonged together now he has his answer. “The next time I leave it’s going to be with you for our honeymoon.” She smiled as she melted in his arms and hugged him. “I like the sound of that.” All of a sudden a rustling sound broke them apart as Tommy appeared. “Well now isn’t this cozy.” He spoke clearly agitated at what he witnessed. “Tommy, what are you doing here?” Kathryn asked “Your parents sent me out to look for you. Am I interrupting?” he asked looking at Kathryn and then glaring at Jonathan. “I thought you were away for another five months.” Jonathan put his arm around Kathryn as he answered. “I cut it short. I had some business to do.” Kathryn just stared back at Thomas (Tommy) Breckenridge. She knew Tommy wanted to one day marry Kathryn as well as her parents wishes. Money it was all about money. She knew she could never marry any one she didn’t love. Now with her new found feelings for Jonathan she was not about to let her family control her life any more. She was going to marry Jonathan and they can’t do anything about it. They will just have to accept it. With her head held high she entwined her fingers with Jonathans and marched right past Tommy with Jonathan beside her and went into the house to her birthday party. Seeing the two enter the house holding hands the room suddenly got quiet. The couple just stood there in the middle holding hands. Tommy came up behind them and announced with sarcasm. “I found them in the garden looking too cozy.” Her dad walked a little towards the couple. “Is this true Kat?” The pet name her dad has called her ever since she was little. Well she wasn’t a little girl anymore. So with all the bravado she now felt she answered, “Yes daddy it’s true.” Gasps went all through out the room. This was unheard of he had no money came from the poor side of town. His mother worked cleaning offices at night to feed her family after the death of her husband. They came from two different worlds. Anger began to fill Mitchell Perry as he looked to his daughter, but instead of making a scene he walked out towards the library saying “Kathryn, Martha follow me please so we can talk.” Martha his wife looked at her daughter and turned to follow her husband. Kathryn looked at Jonathan and when he nodded his understanding she let go of his hand and walked in the direction of the library. With his ring on her finger it gave her strength to face her parents. She stood at the closed door of the library took a deep breath and opened the door and entered. To Be Continued
He couldn’t believe she was responding, so he deepened the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him like her life depended on it. As they parted he looked down at her, her eyes closed as if in a dream world.
As they slowly opened she looked up at him and asked rather breathlessly,
“How long have you wanted to do that?”
He smiled slowly as he answered. “Ever since high school, since that first time I saw you in the lunch line looking disgusted at the food.”
She laughed “The food was pretty awful.” She stopped laughing and got serious. “You said your leaving or staying depends on me?”
She turned away and walked over to a rose and touched it. “I don’t know what to say.” She whispered.
“You could begin by telling me if you have feelings for me.” He walked behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Could there be an us Kathryn?”
She closed her eyes at the touch of his hands. They felt so warm yet strong. It was as if an electrical current was running through her. She couldn’t think clearly, it was as if she was suddenly aware of Jonathan the man, no longer a boy she grew up with.
“I’m not sure Jonathan. All I know is I have missed you, missed being with my best friend.”
She turned to face him, was it his imagination or did he just see hope in her eyes. How many times he has prayed that Kathryn would feel what he feels. Does he dare to hope that his prayers were being answered?
As she stood there looking in to Jonathans eyes a shiver went through her very soul. She now is looking at him in a different light. He was so handsome dark wavy hair and aqua blue eyes. At Least six feet tall he towers over her by a head. The after shave he wore smelled so good it tickled her senses.
That wasn’t all she was aware of, there was something more in his eyes it both frightened her yet excited her at the same time.
She couldn’t stop what was happening to her all she knew was she didn’t want her Jonathan to go away again. Her Jonathan, where did that come from?
He shifted his weight and she took it as he was getting ready to leave and in desperation she said,
“Don’t leave me.”
He took her in his arms kissing the top of her head as he kept saying to her,
“I’m not leaving, not now not ever. I love you Kathryn, I have been in love with you since the first day we met. I want you as my wife.”
At his words she held him so close, she couldn’t believe her ears. He loves her, her dreams has finally come true. Some one who loves her for who she is and not what she has, her daddy’s money. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and then he knew. He sat her down on the bench and got down on one knee. She couldn’t believe it; her heart was pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet jewel case. Her breath got caught in her throat as he opened it revealing the most beautiful ring she has ever seen. It was made of white gold with little designs on it with a solitaire in the middle and two smaller ones on each side.
“Oh Jonathan it’s too expensive.”
To Be Continued
Kathryn was standing there on the patio, hearing the music of the party inside the home of her parents. She walked further out into the rose garden to escape the noise. Taking a deep breath she inhaled the scent of roses and looked up. The night sky was blanketed with stars so bright it appeared she could almost reach up and touch them. In the distance she could hear the barking of a neighbor’s dog. Walking over to a bench she sat down, removed her shoes and rubbed her aching feet. She will never get used to wearing high heels. Her long flowing royal blue evening gown was quite modest, yet draped over one shoulder giving it an elegant look, but at this moment she was wishing she had remembered her shawl for the evening air had a slight chill to it. Replacing her shoes she sighed and stood to go, almost bumping into something hard. As she stepped back to get a look at who she bumped in to her hands flew to her mouth.
“Jonathan, I thought you were in the Caribbean islands?”
“I flew back to be here tonight. After all how could I stay away from the most beautiful woman on her birthday?”
“You say the sweetest things.” She commented as she gave him a hug.
Jonathan has always been in love with Kathryn since high school. Only he kept it a secret of how he felt about her. He felt he could never be in the same league as she is, with her influential rich family. Yet they developed a beautiful friendship. At least the differences hadn’t stopped their friendship. Now as she was celebrating her twenty third birthday, he plans to let her know how he has always felt about her. While he was away all he could do was think about Kathryn. He spent many sleepless nights praying and feeling a strong emotion of needing to tell her. That was the reason for coming back from his missionary work so soon. Looking at her now in the moon light, he was wondering if she possibly could be feeling the same way.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked with a smile.
“Oh I know you have another surprise for me, right?”
He smiled and hugged her, “Well you could say that.”
Her smile fading she looks deeper into his eyes. “I really have missed you. A half a year is such a long time.” Her smile returning as she continued, “I am just so glad you are home. This really makes my birthday even better.” She gave him another hug. “So what’s my other surprise?”
He laughed and kissed her forehead.
“In due time sweet Kathryn, in due time.”
“How long are you staying before heading back?” His expression got serious and she thought she saw something in his eyes, but what? She didn’t know.
“That will all depend on…” He was about to say (you) but stopped his words.
“Depends on what?” she persisted.
His eyes got darker as he leaned forward cupping her face with his hands and whispered as his lips touched hers,
“You.” The kiss was gentle and she responded.
To Be Continued
(Love Inspired and Steeple Hill are trademarks of the publisher. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. For more romance information surf to: http://www.eharlequin.com)
