A Mother's Love
ALONE AND IN TROUBLEMaggie Gardere's trust in her fiance had been repaid by him stealing her innocence. Now her straitlaced family was doing everything in its power to see that Maggie left town for good. And it looked as if she and her unborn baby would just have to make it on their own.Local minister Jake Mathison knew a lost soul when he saw one. Giving her a job as church secretary and a place to live were the first steps he took toward bringing Maggie back into the fold. And with each day, Jake knew he was falling more in love with this amazing young woman. But could Maggie's heart and soul ever heal enough to let him become part of her family?
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CHERYL WOLVERTON
Growing up in a small military town in Oklahoma where she used to make up stories with her next-door neighbor, Cheryl says sheâs always written, but never dreamed of having anything published. But after years of writing her own Sunday school material in the different churches where sheâs taught young children, and wanting to see more happy endings, she decided to give it a try, and found herself unable to stop.
Seeing so many people hurting, afraid to reach out and accept Godâs forgiveness, inspired her to begin writing stories about Godâs love and forgiveness in romances, because, she says, âWe canât truly have happily ever after if we donât have that happily-ever-after relationship with God, too.â
Cheryl now lives in a small Louisiana town and has been happily married for fifteen years. She has two wonderful children who think itâs cool to have a âwriting mama.â Cheryl loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 207, Slaughter, LA 70777.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
âPsalm 91:15
To Marcia Bender, who was the first to ever tell me
how much she loved my books. This oneâs for you. Thank you to Donna Blacklock and Denise Gray, who have supported each and every book Iâve written with book-signings and encouragement and who were both enthusiastic when I told them about this one. Youâll never know how much that means. And to my sister, Deborah. I love you, hon. I hope this one touches your heart, too.
Maggie looked at the suitcase sitting by the front door. It didnât contain much, just her most treasured possessions. Funny how everything she really cared about could fit into one suitcase.
Looking back at the house and the lavish staircase, she realized what a pampered life sheâd led.
Fear clutched her heart, emerging from her numbness. So much had happened in the past seven weeks, things that had totally changed her outlook on life. No more was this house a haven for her; no more was it a place she could run to when she was hurt or afraid.
She saw a maid peek around the corner, heard the muffled sniffles of another when she picked up her suitcase. Maggie hadnât realized how much the staff cared for her. Of course they wouldnât say anything about her leaving. Their jobs wouldnât permit it.
Had her whole life been so marked by privilege? Sheâd been so innocent, working at a job that had been provided for her, going to the church where sheâd been raised, doing everything sheâd always been told.
Until now.
But she just couldnât do what her parents had asked of her.
She couldnât.
At twenty-six, she was old enough to make her own decisions. It was time to stop listening to everyone else. Past time.
So, when the ultimatum had been given, she had shocked everyone by accepting it.
She went to the door, then looked back one last time. Black dots danced before her eyes, and she swayed before fighting off the dizziness. Sheâd never been on her own before. She was scared, more scared than she could ever remember being. She took a deep breath.
Pushing the desolation from her thoughts, she reached for the brass doorknob and pulled the door open. She wished once again there was an easy way out of the mess she was in.
But there wasnât That was why she was leaving.
For better or worse, she had made her bed; now she had to lie in it.
Squaring her shoulders, she headed toward the cab, refusing to look back, promising herself to only look ahead. She would rely only on herself from this day forward to get herself through the next six months.
âShirley quit?â Jake Mathison swerved to avoid a huge puddle in the middle of the road, the beat-up truck bouncing as he hit a pothole instead. He moved the cell phone from his ear, then brought it back. âBut she was assisting with those plans weâve been working on as well as keeping my notes. And,â he suddenly added, âshe helps with the childrenâs programs.â
Doom loomed before him as he realized all that would be left hanging with Shirley gone. He almost missed Jenniferâs next words, but instead nodded with exasperation. âI know, Jennifer. Iâm not blaming her. If Charlie finally asked her to get married, I can see why she jumped at it. Sheâs been head over heels in love with him forever. I even counseled her when he left. Thatâs why she took that vacation out there.â Jake now wished in a small way that heâd had her wait just a bit longer.
