Missy Tippens - His Forever Love

Obviously she hadn’t forgiven him for leaving town after high school. Was she upset that he hadn’t said goodbye? Or maybe he was reading too much into her anger. Maybe she just thought she needed to protect his grandmother. “I know I’m not here often, but I do love my grandmother, and I’m here now,” Bill said.

“Where were you when she had the flu last winter or when someone tried to break into her house or when she almost gave her credit card number to a phone scammer? I’m the one who helped her then.”

She sounded hurt that he was trying to exclude her. “I’m sorry. I just thought you might enjoy a little time off.” Plus, I’m not sure my heart can take being around you every day.

Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy met her very own hero when she headed off to grad school in Atlanta, Georgia. She promptly fell in love and hasn’t left Georgia since. She and her pastor husband have been married twenty-plus years now, and have been blessed with three wonderful children and an assortment of pets. Nowadays, in addition to her writing, she teaches as an adjunct instructor at a local technical college.

Missy is thankful to God that she’s been called to write stories of love and faith. After ten years of pursuing her dream of publishing, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to Steeple Hill Books’ Love Inspired line. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened!

Missy would love to hear from readers through her Web site, www.missytippens.com, or by e-mail: missytippens@aol.com. For those with no Internet access, you can reach her c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

—Jeremiah 29:11

To my husband for being my biggest cheerleader

and promoter.

To Belinda Peterson for being a trusted, faithful

friend and sister in Christ.

And, as always, to God for giving me the stories.

Thank you to my church family for supporting me and loving me. And to the Girls’ Night Out Gang (you know who you are!) for helping me stay sane.

Thank you to my kids for allowing Mom to work and for not complaining about eating spaghetti over and over…and over.

I’m so thankful for my critique partner and good friend, Belinda Peterson, for generously and, yes, even cheerfully, reading a zillion versions of this manuscript. And for always being willing to room with me at conferences—snoring and all!

A special thanks to Emily Rodmell and all the wonderful people at Steeple Hill Books for their excellence and their commitment to bringing quality inspirational fiction to the shelves.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

Questions For Discussion

Time flew backward at warp speed for Bill Wellington when the name Lindsay Jones popped up on his cell phone.

Warm summer evenings studying on the front porch swing. Working together on projects.

Holding hands around The Forever Tree.

But then he hurtled back to the present as he realized there could be only one reason why she would call.

Granny.

He snapped opened his cell phone. “Lindsay, is Granny okay?”

“She’s fine. Sorry to scare you.”

He had programmed Lindsay’s number into his phone when Granny hired her as a caregiver, so he’d assumed the worst. Relief nearly brought him to his knees. He waited for Lindsay to say more, but she remained silent. “Lindsay?”

“I’m sorry. I—” She sighed. “Your granny did take a fall, so I wanted to let you know. She has a mild concussion, and they’re going to X-ray her wrist. But the doctor said she’ll be fine.”

Tension raced across his shoulders and ran up the back of his neck. “How did it happen?”

“She fell off the back porch early this morning while taking out the trash.”

Poor Granny. “She’s at the hospital now?”

“Yes. They’ll probably keep her overnight for observation.”

“I’ll head down there as soon as I can get a flight.”

“Oh, you don’t need to do that. I’ll stay with her. And Granny Bea didn’t even want me to bother you.”

She thought he’d be bothered? “No, I want to come check on her. Other than Drake, she’s the only family I have.”

She sighed again. “Do you need a ride from the airport?”

With all the sighs, it made him wonder what she thought of him. Or did she even think of him at all anymore? “No, thanks. I’ll rent a car.”

He closed his phone and clutched it in his palm. Lindsay Jones. Smart, beautiful, kind, funny. Since he’d avoided all the high school reunions, he hadn’t seen her in nearly fifteen years.

A thrill at seeing her surged through him, then immediately plummeted. He hated the thought of heading home to Magnolia, Georgia, for more than a quick weekend. It would mean facing the townspeople he had escaped right after graduation.

It would mean facing Lindsay, as well. The woman he’d been crazy about from the age of ten, with whom he’d fallen in love in high school.

The woman he’d held hands with around The Forever Tree. And had thought he was destined to marry.

Lindsay knew it was all her fault. She was doubting her abilities as a caregiver.

Granny Bea, her eighty-three-year-old employer, had suffered a concussion and a broken wrist. All because Lindsay had tried to do one more favor for her brother. Had tried to squeeze in one last errand.

Now Granny Bea lay in the hospital, her face contorted in pain. Probably wishing she’d never fired the previous certified caregiver.

And worse, Lindsay’d had to call…him….

Shame on me for thinking the call is worse. What’s worse is Granny Bea’s injury.

Lindsay tiptoed into the room. “Granny Bea?”

“Oh, Lindsay, dear, I hate that I went and messed up our workday. I guess I scared you to death.”

“It’s all my fault for being late.”

“Oh, pish-posh. I was too lazy to go down the steps and leaned too far off the porch.”

“How do you feel?”

“I’ve felt better.” She gave a weak laugh. “My wrist hurts worse than anything.”

Lindsay steeled herself to tell Granny Bea the good news. “Well, I have a surprise that will perk you up. Bill’s coming to check on you.”

Bill Wellington, a brilliant physics professor and researcher. Lindsay’s former friend.

Granny Bea looked distressed. “Oh, Lindsay. He’ll miss his classes.”

“I had to let him know.”

She pressed a palm to her forehead. “You’re right, of course. It’ll be wonderful to see him. Thank you, dear.”

“Just doing my job.” She smiled at Granny Bea as she adjusted the blanket.

Lindsay’s best friend Donna Rae rushed into the hospital room. “Are you okay, Bea?”

“Oh, hi, Donna Rae. How’d you get word about my silly fall so fast?”

“Gertie down in the E.R. called Vinny’s mom. And she called me. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I wish you all would quit fussing over me.”

Lindsay caught her friend’s attention, then nodded toward the hallway. “We’ll be back in a minute, Granny Bea.”

Once outside the room, Lindsay said, “I contacted Bill. He’ll be here ASAP.”

Donna Rae’s face lit up. “So God’s at work.”

“What?”

“Oh, never mind.” With an impish grin, Donna Rae rubbed her hands together. “Maybe something good will come of the accident. Bill will come to town, and you two will finally be together.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“The Forever Tree.”

Lindsay groaned. The Forever Tree was a huge, old pecan tree that stood proudly in the park downtown. Donna Rae believed in the town legend that a couple that held hands around the tree would be together forever. Well, just because Donna Rae and her husband were blissfully happy didn’t mean it worked. After all, Lindsay held Bill’s hands around it, and look how that turned out. “Forget the stupid legend. I’m worried about seeing Bill.”

“When was the last time you two talked to each other?”

“We haven’t. Not since he deserted me.”

Donna Rae rolled her eyes. “He didn’t desert you. He went off to college.”

“And never once called. Never answered my letter. Never visited.”

“And you haven’t even talked since Bea hired you?”

“There’s never been the need. Until now.”

“Well, I’m excited. You’re destined to be together.”

Lindsay leaned back and thunked her head against the wall. Her friend was way off base. “We were never more than friends, but the thought of seeing him again scares me.”

Donna Rae gave a deep, throaty laugh.

“Don’t laugh at me. I’m nervous. And just you watch. I’ll end up with a migraine before it’s all over.”

“It’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you again.”

Yeah, right. He’d missed her friendship so much that he’d ignored her for the last fifteen years. They’d been the best of friends. Or so she thought. But two days after graduation, he’d left town. Just disappeared without so much as a goodbye.

Apparently their friendship meant nothing to him. And that still hurt. She would have to steel herself for his arrival.

That evening, Lindsay watched Granny Bea try to grip a fork and scoop a bite of green beans into her mouth with her right wrist enclosed in a spanking-new cast. The cast was brilliant white except for Lindsay’s and Donna Rae’s signatures scrawled in a circular pattern around the wrist area like a pair of bracelets.

A couple of the beans fell down the front of Granny Bea’s hospital gown.

“Here, I’ll help you,” Lindsay said.

“I might as well learn to do it on my own. I’ll have the thing for weeks.”

“I can help today. You’re sore and tired.”

Granny Bea harrumphed, but leaned back against her pillow, relenting. “I hate being laid up. What about the community center?”

“Mr. Kennedy and the others covered for us today. You’ll be able to go back to work in a couple of days, looking like one of the kids.” She smiled at the woman she took care of who was also her friend and coworker. “I know you’ll impress Dylan.”

“Yes. I’ll have to tell him I fell out of a tree or something a bit exciting.”

“Mr. Kennedy will sure want to fuss over you.”

“Oh, don’t even mention his name or you’ll get my ire up.”

“He’s been crazy about you for two years. You should see him mope when you’re not at the center.”

Granny Bea shook her casted arm. “That man is too young for me. If he hovers, I’ll bop him in the head with this thing.”

“Granny Bea has a boyfriend,” Lindsay sang.

“I may have to test it out on your head first.”

Lindsay laughed, then scooped up a bite of beans, held it out to Granny Bea, and watched as she ate it.