the connection. Kimmy’s burnished hair, still damp from a bath, fanned out along the pillow like flames. Cole stroked the smooth, freckled cheek and kissed her forehead before heading to his own room to catch some sleep. But sleep hadn’t come. Questions invaded, jumbling his thoughts until he finally gave up.
He filled the mug with muddy brew and strode through the patio door and onto the deck. An Adirondack chair beckoned as a cool breeze whispered through the trees. The sky was brilliant with stars, and he wondered if Becca sat watching the symphony of light.
Becca…the kiss they’d shared jumpstarted his heart. There was no turning back now. Where would it lead?
Cole eased into the chair and drew a sip of coffee. The heat scalded going down and made him think of Becca once more, and the coffee she’d shared with him in her office mere days ago.
Prior to their reunion his world had been normal—whatever that meant—filled with legal cases and storybooks and trips to the park to push Kimmy on a swing. There were romps through the yard with the cat following at their heels, dinners of macaroni and cheese, and coloring books before bedtime. The routine was simple, mindless…comfortable.
But that comfort had exploded in the course of a single sentence— I think you have my daughter.
How easy would it be for Cole to use his connections to sort this out—at least the legal side of it? His emotions were another matter altogether. The very idea losing Becca again shredded his heart. Because I love her. What’s the answer, Lord? What should I do?
They’d have to find a way through this mess…a way to each other and the blessings he felt certain God had waiting. Cole drew a sip of coffee and closed his eyes. His question was answered by the stars…unseen when his eyes were closed but still there, still brilliant. Becca, was like those stars. A document might declare her to be gone from Kimmy’s life, but she remained just the same…in the color of Kimmy’s hair, the shape of her eyes, her blood type…
…in his heart.
When Cole opened his eyes again, the stars shone like precious diamonds nestled in a velvet case. He leaned back and sighed.
I’m listening, Lord. I hear you. Help Becca to hear you, as well. My love for her is true, steady, and enduring.
****
Rebecca tossed the paperback onto the coffee table and stood to stretch the kinks from her back. There was no use trying to read…tears blurred her vision and the words were nothing more than a muddy pool that made no sense at all.
Like the mess she was in. She reached for the remote, switched off the background noise of the TV. Outside, the wind whispered restlessly through trees, singing to her aching heart. She took the throw from the couch and padded through the front door to the porch.
Cole had kissed her. She pressed a finger to her lips, still tingling from his gentle touch. What did it mean? Where would it lead?
She relaxed against the rail for a moment, drawing a breath of air that carried the scent of drying leaves and wood smoke. The sky was brilliant with stars, the moon a sliver that winked at her.
What’s Kimmy dreaming about? Does she ever wonder…?
Rebecca slipped into the porch glider and wrapped the blanket tight around her shoulders. Setting the bench into motion, she considered her options. Should she consult an attorney? Plead with Cole? Or, maybe she should just take Kimmy and run.
The very thought brought a wave of guilt. She couldn’t, no matter how much her heart ached, ever do that to her child—or Cole. She’d seen Kimmy with Cole and knew the love they shared was unbreakable. She would never want to destroy that bond, and it was ludicrous to consider breaking it.
The way it was ludicrous to imagine that Kimmy had been taken from her in the first place. A single act…insurmountable heartache.
Rebecca splayed a hand across her belly, remembering the first time she’d felt Kimmy inside her. The
He filled the mug with muddy brew and strode through the patio door and onto the deck. An Adirondack chair beckoned as a cool breeze whispered through the trees. The sky was brilliant with stars, and he wondered if Becca sat watching the symphony of light.
Becca…the kiss they’d shared jumpstarted his heart. There was no turning back now. Where would it lead?
Cole eased into the chair and drew a sip of coffee. The heat scalded going down and made him think of Becca once more, and the coffee she’d shared with him in her office mere days ago.
Prior to their reunion his world had been normal—whatever that meant—filled with legal cases and storybooks and trips to the park to push Kimmy on a swing. There were romps through the yard with the cat following at their heels, dinners of macaroni and cheese, and coloring books before bedtime. The routine was simple, mindless…comfortable.
But that comfort had exploded in the course of a single sentence— I think you have my daughter.
How easy would it be for Cole to use his connections to sort this out—at least the legal side of it? His emotions were another matter altogether. The very idea losing Becca again shredded his heart. Because I love her. What’s the answer, Lord? What should I do?
They’d have to find a way through this mess…a way to each other and the blessings he felt certain God had waiting. Cole drew a sip of coffee and closed his eyes. His question was answered by the stars…unseen when his eyes were closed but still there, still brilliant. Becca, was like those stars. A document might declare her to be gone from Kimmy’s life, but she remained just the same…in the color of Kimmy’s hair, the shape of her eyes, her blood type…
…in his heart.
When Cole opened his eyes again, the stars shone like precious diamonds nestled in a velvet case. He leaned back and sighed.
I’m listening, Lord. I hear you. Help Becca to hear you, as well. My love for her is true, steady, and enduring.
****
Rebecca tossed the paperback onto the coffee table and stood to stretch the kinks from her back. There was no use trying to read…tears blurred her vision and the words were nothing more than a muddy pool that made no sense at all.
Like the mess she was in. She reached for the remote, switched off the background noise of the TV. Outside, the wind whispered restlessly through trees, singing to her aching heart. She took the throw from the couch and padded through the front door to the porch.
Cole had kissed her. She pressed a finger to her lips, still tingling from his gentle touch. What did it mean? Where would it lead?
She relaxed against the rail for a moment, drawing a breath of air that carried the scent of drying leaves and wood smoke. The sky was brilliant with stars, the moon a sliver that winked at her.
What’s Kimmy dreaming about? Does she ever wonder…?
Rebecca slipped into the porch glider and wrapped the blanket tight around her shoulders. Setting the bench into motion, she considered her options. Should she consult an attorney? Plead with Cole? Or, maybe she should just take Kimmy and run.
The very thought brought a wave of guilt. She couldn’t, no matter how much her heart ached, ever do that to her child—or Cole. She’d seen Kimmy with Cole and knew the love they shared was unbreakable. She would never want to destroy that bond, and it was ludicrous to consider breaking it.
The way it was ludicrous to imagine that Kimmy had been taken from her in the first place. A single act…insurmountable heartache.
Rebecca splayed a hand across her belly, remembering the first time she’d felt Kimmy inside her. The
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