A Family for Christmas
THE CHILDREN OF HIS HEARTTrenton Osborne knew that his beloved wife, Maggie, was made for raising little ones. But Trent secretly, desperately, feared failing at fatherhood. So even with Christmas coming and ten years of marriage at stake, he had to let Maggie go….But on the brink of their divorce, like a gift from God, four orphaned children entered their lives and their hearts. Watching Maggie instantly open her arms to his nieces and nephews, Trent himself couldn't turn away. But could he triumph over his terror and make his marriage whole once more? Could he finally give Maggie a family for Christmas?
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Table of Contents
It was decided.
He and Maggie would be guardians to his orphaned nieces and nephews.
But doubt assailed Trent once again. How would he deal with Maggie?
Heâd loved his wife so deeply, and yet heâd been unable to give her what she wanted most children. And that dream had proved more important than their love.
But now sheâll have both, a voice within him whispered. And you can have her back.
Trent ached to be able to forget his anguish in Maggieâs arms. But the day sheâd left with tears in her eyes, heâd sworn never again to open his heart to that kind of pain. And never to inflict it on Maggie, either.
Because Trent was afraid.
And he was right to be.
Because now he found he had no idea how to be a loving parent.â¦
KATE WELSH
A two-time winner of Romance Writers of Americaâs coveted Golden Heart Award, Kate lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband of twenty-six years. She has two daughters whose childhood antics often wind up in her stories. Besides her writing career, Kate works part-time as a graphic artist and does administrative work for an international manufacturer.
As a child she was often the âscript writerâ in neighborhood games of make-believe. Kate turned back to storytelling when her husband challenged her to write down the stories in her head. With Jesus so much a part of her life, Kate found it natural to incorporate Him into her writing. Her goal is to entertain her readers with wholesome stories of the love between two people the Lord has brought together and to teach His truths while she entertains.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
âJohn 3:16-17
Leona, I couldnât write a Christmas book and not
think of you. Thank you for all those extra years you kept me believing in Santa, for the camaraderie during the Great Tree Hunts and on Christmas Eves when we couldnât get to sleep, and for all the years when making Christmas special for the whole family couldnât have been easy but you did it anyway. Most of all, thanks for being my big sister. Oh, and I hope you appreciate that the painting gets finished before Thanksgiving. Ainât fiction great!
âThereâs a Mr. Edward Hanson to see you, Mrs. Osborne. He says itâs urgent that he speak to you.â
Maggie stared at her secretary. What could Trentâs lawyer have to say that would be urgent? Hope flared to life in her heart. Could this be the Lordâs answer to prayer? she wondered. Had Trent rethought the idea of divorce as sheâd begged him to do?
The flame of hope flickered and dimmed a bit. Were that the case, Trent would have come himself. Just last week hadnât he said he wouldnât change his mind? Heâd even asked her not to contact him again. Heâd reminded her that he was dating. He was marvelously happy with his life the way it was. The past was past, heâd said. His future lay ahead.
Without her.
And losing him was all her fault.
âShow him in, Connie.â She forced a smile, her heartache too personal to share with a co-worker.
âOhâ¦okay,â Connie said, clearly surprised at the break in policy.
Having cut her hours, Maggieâs appointments were carefully scheduled now. Forty to forty-five hours a week. That was all sheâd ever give to a career again.
Maggie watched Connieâs wide retreating back for a few short seconds, then she closed her eyes. Please Lord. Let this be good news. Bless my marriage. Bring Trent back to me.
Maggie stood to greet Ed Hanson. His sandy hair was in its usual disarray, his jacket wrinkled as always. He was a man sheâd once considered a friend, though heâd been Trentâs friend since childhood. And like most of their friends, he had chosen sides in the divorceâTrentâs side.
âEd, good to see you. Wonât you have a seat? Can Connie get you something? A cup of coffee? Iced tea or a soft driââ Maggieâs breath hitched in her throat when she saw the desolate expression in Edâs pale blue eyes. Her hand came up to cover her heart. âWhatâs wrong? Is it Trent? Has something happened to him?â
Ed shook his head. âItâs Sarah and Michael. And the kids. They were on vacation.â
âYes, I know. Sarah and Michael have remained friends. We attend the same church now. In fact, theyââ She stopped. She was babbling. Her heart clenched with fear. âWhatâs happened?â
This time Edâs eyes clouded with tears that he blinked back. Maggie instinctively sank into her chair as Ed began his explanation. âThey apparently almost made it to their destination. Two more exits and theyâd have been fine. But they didnât make it. Their van was hit by an eighteen-wheeler. The police say the driver fell asleep at the wheel.â
