LITMIR.BIZ

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      …we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are

       wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

      —II Corinthians 4:16-18

      In the good times, in the bad times, in all times give

       thanks—to paraphrase a Bible verse. And that’s what I want to do here—give thanks to my family for their love and their long-suffering patience. A writer who works at home could not succeed if their family did not support him or her. Thank you, dear ones, with the love in my heart.

      Pam Schlutt, who has taken over my mailing lists,

       etc…. Pam, you are such a lifesaver. I would not have finished this book if you hadn’t assisted me. Thank you, dear one.

      And finally, to my Heavenly Father.

       Through the ups and downs, triumphs, disappointments, my Father is always there, my best friend, my confidant, my Father who laughs with me, holds me when I cry, but especially who died for me. Without Your love, Father, I would not know love. Thank You.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Letter to Reader

       Chapter One

       “T essa? Tessa?”

      Tessa Stanridge heard her name and turned on her knees to locate her visitor. The soft ground, still slightly damp in the early morning hours, gave her easy access to pivot. She’d been watching her turtle build a nest for her soon-to-be eggs in her little fenced-in area. She loved to spend mornings outside. And her friend knew that well. That was obviously why she’d come to the backyard. “Back here, Dr. McCade,” Tessa said.

      She had taken quite nicely to the offbeat woman—a woman who reminded Tessa of herself in some ways. Except that she wasn’t a doctor like Susan “Freckles” McCade, nor was she married. She was simply a school-teacher working to eke out a living in the town of Hill Creek, Texas. A peaceful town, quiet, a place to heal and recover.

      Freckles McCade came around the corner, hands curled in the pockets of her sweater which she held against her body to fight off the chill of the windy, late springlike weather they were experiencing. Her red curls bounced and her freckles—where she’d gotten her nickname from—stood out against her pale skin. A huge grin spread across her face when she spotted Tessa. “I’m so glad I found you. I just might have some information for you about a summer job.”

      That was Freckles. She always spoke what was on her mind. Tessa smiled. “Good morning to you too, Susan.” After pushing herself up from the ground, Tessa stood and brushed off her hands. Her turtle would be all right for now. She’d check on her again later. “Come in and have some tea.”

      Freckles chuckled, her cheeks turning pink. “Don’t mind if I do.”

      Tessa started toward the back door. “Careful of your step,” she warned. “We don’t want you falling in your condition.”

      Freckles sighed dramatically. “I’m only a few weeks pregnant, Tessa. And stop referring to my pregnancy,” she chided with a chuckle. “If you keep treating me differently, everyone is going to figure it out.”

      Tessa hurried up the wooden steps and pulled open the creaking door. She shoved it back, giving Freckles time to catch it as she entered the kitchen. Crossing the dark wooden floor she paused to rinse her hands at the old-fashioned porcelain sink.

      Sam the parrot waddled over, his toenails clicking, his green and red feathers flapping as he perched himself upon the nozzle of running water. Moving the parrot to the side, Tessa paused to give him fresh water and peel a banana for him. After cutting it up, she slipped it into the holder on the large wooden table that was set up with perches and ropes and all kinds of paraphernalia just for Sam.

      She then put on water to boil. “I’m not treating you differently,” Tessa said lightly to Freckles.

      Seeing Freckles attempting to warn off a rabbit that was insistent on nibbling at her toes where she sat, she chuckled. Going over, she seated herself at the rickety wooden table and nudged the rabbit’s chew toy toward it. The rabbit promptly gave up Freckles’s toes and happily went to work on his toy. “I treat all women in your condition the same.”

      Freckles sighed loudly. “Okay, Tessa. You win.”

      Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone knew how clumsy Freckles could be. The only one who would be surprised that Freckles was pregnant would be Freckles herself when she told everyone. It was obvious that Freckles carried a child. The woman glowed and her hand kept going to her abdomen. Her husband, Julian, walked around like the baby had already been born, pride shining off his face and his gaze constantly on his wife. And he was so careful with her it wasn’t even laughable. If he could get away with packing her away in a padded room for her entire pregnancy, Tessa wouldn’t doubt that Julian would do it.

      Envy

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