Free Christian Romance: Heaven on Earth... [4 Beautiful Christian Romance Stories] by Joanne Sawyer Page A

answer had been a wide,
unabashed, and nigh unapologetic smile—just as if he believed this
was a matter of course.
    Confusion shooting up to
the sky, their parents were forced to not deny what they were seeing any
longer. Especially as their son’s smile and their daughter’s
glowing look reminded all of them of a special day in their lives,
when they said their marriage vows before the eyes of God, and the
women had looked as happy and hopeful for the future, and the men
emanated the same satisfaction and pride over what they could now
call their own.
    “Is there something…” Helena began.
She cleared her throat and looked to the others, who one way or
another gave the sign for her to continue. “Is there something you
two would like to tell us?”
    “Like when you planned on admitting you’ve
been keeping contact with each other all these years, perhaps?”
Rick interjected, much less calmly than his spouse. Margaret nodded
vigorously, having arrived at the same conclusion.
    “But…” Lucy began. She and Charles
turned towards each other. “We haven’t. This is the first time
we’ve seen each other since the camp. The same as
everyone.”
    Charles smiled again, still looking
only at Lucy. “Which isn’t to say I haven’t thought about seeking
you out all this time,” he revealed, making everyone’s jaw drop,
even Lucy’s. “But I had a feeling I’d see you again, no matter
what. God has plans for all of us, doesn’t He? I trusted that you
were included in His plans for me.”
    A sort of reverential awe fell over
the company at Charles’ words. They weren’t only romantic, they
also displayed the same kind of faith that most of them aspired to
and admired in others. Whatever else their parents thought, he had
already won admirers from the other people at their
table.
    “This is the first I am
hearing of this…” said Margaret weakly. Her husband left his chair,
walked to stand beside hers, and placed his arms around her. She
leaned against him for physical and emotional support. Then she was
in tears again. “I’ve never known you to like anyone. But I am glad
it’s because you’ve been waiting for a special girl instead of…
because you see I was starting to… well, I was concerned that you
were—” she dropped her voice “— homosexual .”
    “Which wouldn’t have been a bad thing
at all, right, hon?” Noah was quick to make clear. “We do not
condone such prejudice, correct?”
    Margaret raised her head and nodded at
once. “Why, yes, of course. No we do not. My concern was for ever
having grandchildren, you know, if my son was…” Margaret cleared
her throat and averted her eyes, judging it best not to finish that
sentence at all.
    Charles sighed fondly at
his mother, then threw a wry smile Lucy’s way. She responded by
hiding a small smile behind her hand, because what she truly wanted
to do was to laugh at and with him. A moment later, that feeling was replaced by
surprise, slight dread, and a very, very welcome warmth and
giddiness.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Bright,” Charles said,
looking solemnly at each of Lucy’s parents in turn. “I would like
to ask your permission to court your daughter. I promise to always
treat her well, and I would show her all the honor and respect she
deserves, from today until the Lord sees it fit for us to
part.”
    At a complete loss, Helena and Rick
looked at each other. What began as a simple twenty-first birthday
celebration now truly marked the end of their eldest’s childhood.
Here was a young man they both liked, from a family they both
respected, and he was essentially asking for their daughter’s hand
in marriage. With someone like Charles, courtship was only a part
of that greater, daunting, but ever significant whole.
    Joy bloomed in Helena’s
chest, erasing all her fears and doubts. She wanted everything for
her daughter—a proper Christian upbringing, a good education, and
someday a career that she cherished—but she wanted this