Ty tossed two more bags of garbage into a plastic bin, then glanced—for the tenth time—at the big metal clock on the kitchen wall. “Seems like the cook must’ve slept in, Elizabeth,” he muttered as he swept up a pile of debris. “How is she going to handle breakfast at six if she can’t get to work ...
Maggie confided from her perch on a nearby chair the following Friday. “But I don’t think he will.” “Who is Ted and what makes you think he won’t?” Nick asked, glancing up from his second prototype of Maggie’s roly-poly. She called it Tiger. She’d used the first one only a...
It would be the last really good day of autumn, Caitlin decided, eyeing the baby’s nursery with dismay. Where had the time gone? She had intended to have Wintergreen, her apartment, and especially the baby’s room, ready at least a month ago. With a little more than a month before her due date, it...
If I could just figure a way to get those sets built.” “You will.” Piper tossed her briefcase on a chair, flung off her shoes and smiled at Ashley. “Such faith. Thanks, pal.” She sniffed. “Something smells wonderful. I love i...
The storm’s made it too dangerous.” Elizabeth reached out to enfold her in a comforting embrace. “No one could have known it would change direction so rapidly. But they’re not alone, dear. God is with them.” “I knew something would happen.” Elizabeth didn’t understand. No one did. Gracie gave Lad...
When she went inside the sod house, he moved to the side and stood beside the small window, feeling guilty about listening in but determined to check on his baby girl. “Are you okay, Giselle?” Alicia asked quietly. “I don’t think I’ll ever be okay,”...
I’m thinking about it,” Chloe said as they drove to church. The discussion had grown old in the week since Maddy’s game. In fact, Chloe had begun to wish her life was back to the mundane normalcy it had been before the mayor’s shooting, even if that meant Brendan left. He saw too much. She looked...
Connie Ladden couldn’t bear to quash the hope shining in Silver Abbot’s glossy blue eyes, so she brushed the riot of blond curls away from her four—almost five—year-old charge’s face and eased onto the bed, next to the little girl. “Remember, I showed you on the map how far away Argentina is?” “U...
Zac stemmed his irritation that she would rather eat alone than join him and Cory. “But—” “Kent can’t make it tonight so it will be just the three of us.” He saw her hesitation and pounced. “I know your dad is eating with your mom tonight. I met him...
Their talks were helping him finally shed the anger that had clung to his shoulders ever since his father had died. But he wasn’t there yet. He said that to Rick. “Let go and keep your mind open,” his new friend advised. “God has a plan, even if you don’t know what it is y...
The warm afternoons were the most difficult times for the children in Ward A, especially the older kids who couldn’t yet get out of bed and move around. Technically she was on an extended lunch because she would be on duty all night, but since she had nothing else to do, Glory decided to help out...
Connie said. “Nick. Yes.” Susannah nodded. “But—” “I know it sounds stupid and gullible,” Susannah muttered and hung her head. “He said he didn’t want a fuss, that he wanted our wedding to be just us, private and intimate.” “But to lie about marriage—I am so sorry.” Connie touched her hand in wor...
You may have met her already as a high school student in Small-Town Sweethearts or a college nursing student in Small-Town Dad. My daughter, who is a certified nurse midwife, inspired the story. Early in her career, she had a birth where the baby didn’t make it. She wasn’t...
Sophie tamped down the frisson of excitement that always fluttered across her skin whenever she was near Tanner. “Can you fix my oven or not?” “Probably not,” he muttered in disgust as he squeezed out from behind the appliance. “We’ll find out when you turn on the breaker....
Tate’s eyes roll up into his head. Holt sprang forward but not quickly enough to keep the other man from folding into a heap on the oiled wooden floor. Holt reached his side at the same moment as Lizzie. They bumped into each other, backed away. Embarrassment fluttered through her eyes and then s...
Abby said to Ed. “Look at him with his friends, running and laughing. I’ve never heard him so boisterous. It’s good to see.” She rose from the bench next to his chair to ensure the twins were still sleeping in the stroller she’d purchased with Ed’s birthday-money gift. Cad...