Free Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins Page B

see the wisdom in making a strong, beautiful woman your wife.”
    “Probably not,” Marc joked. They finished the chores earlier than usual and Kale took his brother out for a ride. They exercised the horses, gave them a good rub down, and fed them before heading back to the house.
    “Mom and Mercy back yet?”
    “Haven’t seen them yet,” Josiah Preston said. He returned to the book he was reading and waited patiently. Something Kale hoped he’d learn during his marriage as well. How his dad could just sit there, he didn’t know. He was already about to crawl out of his skin. After a while his father looked over at him and asked, “You gonna ask that woman to marry you?”
    He smiled and nodded. “I’m planning on it.”
    “About time son,” his father said, his mouth turning up in a grin. “We’ll be more than happy to welcome her to the family. Just don’t let your mother hound you too much about grandbabies. You take some time to spend with Mercy as your wife, babies will come along when they should.”
    “We both want a family. It will happen when it should.”
    His father nodded in agreement. “Good. It’s important to be on the same page about decisions that crucial.”
    ***
    Mercy woke on Thursday morning and couldn’t get the smile off her face. She was having a fantastic time getting to know Kale’s family. Shopping the other day with his mother had been so much fun. She’d even bought a new dress, thanks to the salary Kale had given her. She showered and slipped on her petticoat layers. The she put the new dress on, braided her long, dark hair and coiled it neatly at the nape of her neck. After adding the only pair of earrings she owned, Mercy looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Today was Thanksgiving and she felt amazing.
    Oh Father! Thank you for the many blessings in my life. You’ve completely changed my life and without you I am nothing. Thank you for bringing Kale into my life. He is such a tremendous blessing. Thank you for his family, for giving me the one thing I’d given up the hope of having. Help me to be worthy of Kale’s love. Help me to see him through your eyes, to know even a pinch of the love you have for him. Especially today, I want to thank you for the gift you gave the world when your son came to save us. Amen.
    Feeling lighter than she had in nearly a year, Mercy came downstairs to see Kale waiting. He wore a suit and Mercy caught her breath when those dreamy blue eyes met hers. Much more than an inkling now, love for this man flowed through her, spreading a huge smile across her face. “Happy Thanksgiving.” he smiled. When she took his arm, he pulled her close and whispered, “You look breathtaking.”
    “Thank you,” Mercy blushed. She allowed Kale to lift her up to her seat and smiled when he sat next to her.
    “There’s a lap blanket there if you need it. Now that winter is starting to set in, you’ll find the air can get quite chilly here.”
    “I’ll take your word for it.” Mercy smiled her thanks. “In Florida we had a few chilly days during the winter, but nothing that would require a lap blanket, unless you were driving after dark perhaps.”
    “Well regardless, I didn’t want to take a chance that you would get cold. Better safe than sorry.” Mercy smiled.
    “I trust you’re still getting along well at Clara’s?”
    “Oh yes,” she smiled. “I got a letter from my friends at the shelter yesterday. My boss said she misses me, but she’s so glad I’m happy out here. My friends wish me well and a Happy Thanksgiving.”
    “Sounds like it was a good place for you.”
    “l didn’t know it at the time, but I now believe that God was directing me and everything that happened in Florida. I don’t hold any grudges against my stepmother anymore. I pity her in fact. She is so miserable that she has to make everyone around her miserable.”
    “Misery loves company?”
    “Something like that.” mercy chuckled. Kale helped Mercy