A.J. glanced at the tall man who was looking at her with resignation.
Was this Blake Sullivan? If so, he sure didnât match the image sheâd created in her mind. Sheâd envisioned a bookish type, fiftyish, possibly balding, sporting a paunch. A fussy, precise and stern curmudgeon.
Sheâd been dead wrong about the physical description. Blake was tall, with dark brown hair and intense cobalt-blue eyes. His crisp oxford shirt, beige slacks and well-polished leather shoes bordered on being preppy. His attire also showed off his athletic build.
A.J. could only imagine how she appeared, standing there dripping rainwater on the hardwood floor of the bookstore, her hair no doubt plastered to her head. She could read enough from the look in his eyes. So much for first impressions.
âIâm looking for Blake Sullivan.â
Blake waited a moment, as if trying to decide what to do. Finally he approached her. âYouâve found him.â
She extended her hand. âIâm A. J. Williams. Your new partner.â
is an award-winning author who has been a writer for as long as she can remember. She âofficiallyâ launched her career at the age of ten, when she was one of the winners in a âcomplete-the-storyâ contest conducted by a national childrenâs magazine. More recently, Irene won the coveted RITA>® Award for her 2002 Love Inspired Never Say Goodbye. Irene, who spent many years in an executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company, now devotes herself full-time to her writing career. In her âspareâ time, she enjoys performing in community musical theater productions, singing in the church choir, gardening, cooking and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband, Tomâwhom she describes as âmy own romantic heroââmake their home in Missouri.
The Best Gift
Irene Hannon
The Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in every
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God.
âPhilippians 4:5â6
To my darling niece, Maureen Elizabeth,
who came early to claim our hearts with her sunny smile. We love you, snowflake!
Dear Reader,
As I write this letter, I am in the midst of making plans for my parentsâ fiftieth anniversary party, and legacies are on my mind.
The dictionary defines legacy as a gift by will, especially of money or personal property. But a legacy doesnât have to consist of material things. Nor does it have to follow someoneâs departure from this earthly life. In fact, the best legacies arenât. They are living things, given daily, so that the lucky recipients find themselves richly blessed with the things that matter most. The things money canât buy.
My parents have given me such a legacy. I will be forever indebted to them for magical Christmas mornings, memorable family vacations and special moments of infinite sweetness. I am grateful to them for teaching me that itâs better to give than to receive. For making home a word to be revered and honored. And for providing a shining illustration of what marriage is all about. Their legacy to me includes the gifts of acceptance. Laughter. Encouragement. Respect. Family. And, most especially, absolute love that is unconditional. Unlimited. Forever. That is a legacy beyond price.
In this first book of my new series for Love Inspired, SISTERS & BRIDES, Aunt Jo offers A.J. and Blake a legacy. But it is up to them to recognize itâand to have the courage to claim it. Because love doesnât always come in the form we expect. And it often requires a leap of faith. But with Godâs grace, with trust in His abiding presence, we can learn to overcome our fears and find our own happy endings.
Just like my mom and dad did.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Morgan Williams glanced impatiently at her watch, then gave an exasperated sigh. âI wish heâd hurry. I have a plane to catch.â
A.J. turned from the window, which framed a row of flame-red maples against a brilliant St. Louis late-October sky. âChill out, Morgan,â she said wryly. âThe advertising world can live without you for a few more hours.â
Morgan gave her younger sister an annoyed look as she rummaged in her purse for her cell phone. âTrust me, A.J. The business arena is nothing like your nonprofit world. Hours do matter to us. So do minutes.â
âMoreâs the pity,â A.J. responded, turning back to admire the view again. âLife is too short to be so stressed about things as fleeting as ad campaigns.â
Morgan opened her mouth to respond, but Clare beat her to it. âDonât you think we should put our philosophical differences aside today, out of respect for Aunt Jo?â she interjected gently.
Morgan and A.J. turned in unison toward their older sister, and A.J. grinned.
âEver the peacemaker, Clare,â she said, her voice tinged with affection.
Clare smiled. âSomebody had to keep the two of you from doing each other bodily harm when we were growing up. And since I was the only one who didnât inherit Momâs McCauley-red hairâand the temper that went with itâI suppose the job had to fall to me.â