Arizona Pastor (20 page)

Eustace lifted him higher, and Kristy took her son in her arms. “Took his bottle. Got his diaper changed. Then fell asleep.”

“He only woke up once last night.” Kristy kissed his cheek. “And he might have gone back to sleep on his own if Bo hadn't whined and nudged Wade until he finally went and picked him up.”

“No fair.” Carrie grabbed for Noah, who cackled and ran away from her. “He's almost fifteen months and still doesn't sleep through the night.”

Kristy looked around the room. “Where's my other big guy?”

Eustace pointed to the adjoining room. “Ida's got him in there. She's got a sweet spot for that one.”

“I've got him now,” said Mel as she scooped up Benjamin's diaper bag off the shelf.

With her free hand, Kristy tickled her grandson's belly. “What are you doing? Were you a good boy for Miss Ida?”

Benjamin kicked his legs and waved his arms up and down. Mel raked her fingers through his unruly curls. “The kid's six months and desperately needs a haircut.”

“Don't you dare cut off those beautiful blond curls.”

Joel stepped inside the door, and Benjamin squealed and reached for his dad. “Don't you worry, Kristy. I won't let her cut 'em.”

Joel hefted Benjamin high in the air, then blew bubbles on his belly. The baby squealed with delight as he grasped at Joel's hair.

Mel lifted her arms and opened her hands. “Can I hold my little brother?”

“May you?”

Mel huffed. “Come on, Mom. I've passed all my English classes. You can't still correct my grammar.”

“Actually, I can, meaning I am physically able.”

Mel narrowed her gaze as she snatched Micah from Kristy's arms. Micah opened his eyes and puckered his lips. Mel tapped his nose. “How's my little brother doing?”

Carrie reached for Noah, who managed to escape her grasp once again. “Are we still having some girl time today? I need a break.”

“You sure are.” Wade walked into the nursery and snatched Micah from Mel's arms.

“Hey!” Kristy feigned anger.

“My turn.” Wade kissed their baby's head, then pecked Kristy on the lips. “We're having some male bonding time today, aren't we, bud?”

“What kind of male bonding time are you planning?” asked Kristy.

“Thought we'd take Bo for a walk.”

“Without me?”

“I think I can handle it.” Wade leaned over toward Mel and mumbled, “Your mother is ridiculously protective of your brother.”

Joel pointed to Mel. “Now I know where she gets it.”

Wade took the burp cloth from Kristy, placed it on his shirt and rearranged Micah so that he rested on Wade's shoulder. “If you don't trust me, then trust Bo. That dog isn't going to let anything happen to his baby.”

Kristy grinned when she thought of the last time they'd gone for a walk. Micah had started to fuss, and Bo had plopped down in a sitting position and refused to move. He'd even stuck his nose in the stroller to assist her in getting the pacifier back in Micah's mouth.

“I can't help it that I'm overly protective. It's a maternal thing,” Kristy said.

Carrie raced by them until she caught Noah and scooped him up. He shrieked and straightened his back, trying to get her to let him down. “I'm maternal, but I'm all right with Michael watching Noah today.”

Michael grimaced. “I can't wait.”

Carrie punched his gut, and Michael lifted his hands. “I'm kidding. The kid's a spitfire 'cause he takes after his old dad.”

Wade turned around. “Eustace, you were in the nursery today?”

“Sure was.”

“The boy was in good hands, then.”

She grinned. “He was, at that.”

“When are you going back to Maryland?”

She sat up straighter and puffed out her chest. “Labor Day weekend. Can't get here any quicker.”

Kristy and Wade had encouraged her to try to find her son. They contacted the hospital and then the adoption agency. Within a month, they'd learned her son had been looking for her for years. She had four grandchildren, two boys and two girls, and six great-grandchildren.

A couple who'd been visiting the church a few weeks walked in to pick up their child. Wade spoke with them a few minutes while Kristy gathered Micah's things.

“Bye, Mom. See you in a little bit,” Mel said as she and Joel walked out the door.

Wade followed behind them. Kristy realized she'd left her Bible and Sunday-school material in the adjoining room. She was walking to the other side when she heard the woman's voice. “Was that baby the pastor's son?”

“Sure was,” Eustace responded.

“Was that woman with the older baby his daughter?”

“Stepdaughter.”

“So the bigger baby is the littler baby's nephew?”

“You've figured it out, and it's the neatest story how that all came to be.”

Kristy walked out of the nursery before Eustace began the tale. She thought she'd never recover from the title of being a teenage-pregnancy statistic. Now she'd become a thirtysomething grandma and mom-again statistic. Though she didn't recommend the route she'd taken in the beginning, she wouldn't change the blessings and teaching God had given her along the way.

She walked outside and slipped into the car beside Wade. Peeking in the back, she saw Micah sleeping contentedly in his car seat. Wade rubbed his thumb against the top of her hand. “You seem contemplative.”

Kristy smiled. He still hadn't found a word that she didn't know the meaning of. “You're right. I am thinking.”

“Good things?”

She thought of how far God had brought her in her walk with Him, in such a short time. She thought of Joel and Mel. They weren't living without trials, but they loved each other and they took good care of Benjamin. And Mel was even in school, as Kristy had wanted. She thought of Wade and Micah and how never in her wildest dreams would she have thought God would bless her with them. She turned to Wade. “Very good things.”

He shuffled his brows and offered a mischievous smile. “Do the good things have to do with me?”

Kristy leaned toward him and cupped his jaw with both hands. “Let me answer that for you.” Then she claimed his lips with hers. She'd never tire of his kiss.

* * * * *

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ISBN-13: 9781460379097

Arizona Pastor

Copyright © 2015 by Jennifer Johnson

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereinafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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