Child of Grace (Love Inspired) (17 page)

Grace raised her arms toward him, never breaking eye contact, and without thinking, he lifted her to his shoulder, his hand supporting her back. She rested her head against him and snuggled close, and he heard her emit a tiny sigh as she relaxed in his arms.

When had he last held a baby? Luke couldn’t remember. Medical school, maybe. He’d forgotten how soft and fragile and vulnerable they felt.

As he continued to rock, he stroked Grace’s back. He could feel the beat of her heart as she burrowed deeper against his shoulder. As if she belonged there. As if he were her father. For her, it was simple.

And maybe it could be for him, too. Maybe instead of thinking about how she came to be when he looked at her, he needed to think about the precious gift of life she represented—and the sweet, innocent love she so willingly offered.

A love that was his for the taking. From a child who could be his daughter.

Her tiny hand worked its way across his chest toward his heart, and a rush of tenderness stole his breath and tightened his throat.

And suddenly he
felt
like a father.

Even as the feeling jolted him, he realized it made sense. Because fatherhood wasn’t just about genetics and biology. It was also about love. More importantly about love.

As for the past—perhaps he should leave it there. When he looked at Grace in the future, why not think of the joy she’d brought Kelsey? And give thanks to God that He’d showered them with the grace to turn tragedy into triumph and recognize the blessing He’d sent their way?

In a sudden, blinding flash of insight, Luke knew this was the attitude he should take. And if he did, they could make this work.
He
could make this work.

Buoyed by a new optimism, Luke settled back into the chair as Grace slept against his shoulder.

And in the silent early morning hours, he prayed Kelsey would give him a chance to prove he could be a worthy husband and the father Grace deserved.

It was time to feed Grace.

Blinking past the drugged sleep that had sucked her into a black hole for the past…Kelsey peered at the clock on her nightstand…three hours, she swung her feet to the floor and stood.

Strange that Grace wasn’t fussing by now. She had to be hungry.

Still trying to shake off her heavy slumber, Kelsey padded down the hall to the nursery—and found an empty crib.

Her pulse skittered, chasing away the last remnants of sleep, and for one terrifying instant she panicked.

Then she remembered. Luke had offered to watch Grace while she grabbed a few hours of sleep.

Favoring her injured foot as she made her way down the hall, she passed the mess on the kitchen floor and paused at the entrance to the living room.

The scene melted her heart.

Near as she could tell, they were both out cold. Luke was half-sitting, half-lying on the couch, his broad shoulders wedged into the corner as he held Grace against his shoulder, his large hand cradling her tiny head against his pristine white tux shirt, her soft golden ringlets peeking through his long, lean fingers.

They looked as if they belonged together.

A wave of melancholy swept over her, but she tamped it down as she moved beside them and touched his shoulder. It was foolish to wish for something that would probably never be.

“Luke…” She spoke in a whisper, keeping tabs on her daughter. “I need to feed Grace.”

His eyes flickered open. For a moment he seemed disoriented. Then he carefully straightened up, keeping Grace cradled in his arms.

Puckering her mouth, Grace blinked and focused on Luke. He smiled at her…and Kelsey could have sworn her daughter smiled back. But that was silly. Babies this age didn’t smile. It must be gas.

“Chow time, Grace.” He touched the infant’s cheek with his finger.

The baby gurgled.

Kelsey reached for her, but even though her daughter had to be hungry, she clung to Luke’s shirt.

“Looks like you’ve made a friend.”

Grinning, Luke disengaged her fingers with a gentle tug and handed her over. “Yeah. It’s mutual. She and I have come to an understanding, right, sweetie?”

Sweetie?

“Have I missed something here?” Kelsey shot him a cautious glance.

“You have. And I’ll fill you in while you feed her.”

An ember of hope sparked to life in Kelsey. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait until tomorrow? It’s almost four o’clock. You must be tired.”

“This can’t wait.”

The spark ignited. “Okay. Let me grab a blanket.”

Kelsey retraced her steps to the nursery, snatched one off the bed and rejoined Luke. He patted the cushion beside him, and she sat.

Anxious to hear what he had to say, she draped the blanket over her shoulder, got Grace started, and turned to him. “So what couldn’t wait?”

His eyes warmed and deepened in color. “This.” Leaning close, he brushed his lips over hers.

Kelsey’s heart stopped. Raced on.

When he backed off she stared at him, willing her lungs to kick in again. “Wh-what was that for?”

“To let you know I’m falling in love with you. And with Grace.”

She closed her eyes.
Lord, is this for real? I want to believe You’ve answered my prayers, but it seems too easy.

“Hey.” Luke touched her cheek, waiting until she opened her eyes before he continued. “I know what you’re thinking. That I’m just saying this because I don’t want to let you go. And I don’t blame you, after all the fuss I made. But you know what? I’ve been praying for guidance. And tonight, when I held Grace in my arms, I realized that what counts is the future, not the past. I saw her for what she is—a blessing from God. Without her, you would still be clawing your way up the corporate ladder and we would never have met. When I look at her now, I feel gratitude for the role she played in transforming your life and bringing us together. And I’ll give thanks for her every day of my life.”

Tears blurred Kelsey’s vision as she looked at this man of integrity and honor who’d entered her life in the most unexpected of ways. Whose selflessness and compassion had driven him to keep a promise made to a fallen comrade, and thereby led him into her arms. Whose kindness and caring had helped her heal and find the courage to love.

Reverend Howard had been right. God had indeed envisioned a larger role for them, one that went far beyond simply being neighbors or working together to help a young man realize a dream.

Shifting toward her, Luke put one arm around her shoulders and laid his other hand atop hers, where it rested on Grace.

“Here’s what I’d like to propose, Kelsey. We’ve only known each other a short time. I’m leaving Tuesday. But as Hannah reminded me, distance doesn’t have to be a problem. We’ll talk often, and I’ll come back for frequent visits. Take as long as you need to feel comfortable that my love for Grace is real and that what we have is strong enough to last forever. I’ll wait.”

He gestured to Gram’s wall hanging. “I was looking at that tonight as I rocked Grace. And it reminded me of a comment Hannah made the day she showed me
her
wall hanging. She said you’d smoothed out the rough edges.” He turned to her, and the love shining in his eyes was as warm as an August day on Pier Cove beach. “You did the same for me, Kelsey. You smoothed out the rough edges of my life. A life that was pretty tattered after ten tough years. And I’d like to spend the rest of it returning the favor. So will you give me a chance to prove I’m worthy of you—and Grace?”

At the mention of her name, Grace batted away the blanket and tipped her head out to peer up at them. Then she reached out her tiny hand and touched their linked fingers.

Luke chuckled. “I think I won
her
over. What about her mom?”

A tear spilled out of Kelsey’s eye, even as joy overflowed in her heart. “I’m not usually a crier, just so you know.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that.”

“It’s the hormones.”

“I don’t care what it is, as long as you’re willing to give me a chance.”

She smiled and blinked the moisture out of her eyes. “I am absolutely willing to give you a chance. And I’d throw myself in your arms to prove it if I wasn’t otherwise occupied.”

A slow smile spread over his face, warming her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. “Hold that thought for later. Right now, I guess this will have to suffice.”

He leaned toward her, and as she angled her head for his kiss, she caught sight of Gram’s wall hanging.

“Live. Love. Rejoice.”

It was good advice.

And she intended to follow it every day of her life.

Four Months Later

S
hovels poised, Luke and Father Joe posed as cameras clicked around them and a dozen network and local news teams recorded the groundbreaking ceremony for the Carlos Fernandez Interdenominational Youth Center.

From her spot on the sidelines, Kelsey gave the hood on Grace’s snowsuit a little tug and sent Luke a reassuring smile as he looked her way. She knew he was worried about Grace being out in the late-December cold, but her daughter was well bundled up. Besides, with Dorothy preparing to walk down the aisle later this afternoon, the older woman had been unavailable for babysitting duty.

And no way had Kelsey intended to miss this moment.

Once the photographers were satisfied, Luke shook hands with Father Joe and the other board members, then started toward her. He was intercepted several times by reporters, and while he answered their questions graciously, she could tell he was anxious to rejoin her.

No more anxious than she was to have him by her side.

In these past four months, they’d talked every day—often several times a day. Their phone calls had been supplemented with long weekend visits when he’d flown up to see her, once again occupying his friend’s house next door.

Now it was her turn to visit him. Tomorrow the three of them would fly to Atlanta so she could meet his parents and spend Christmas with his family.

Meeting the parents was a big step.

One she was ready to take.

For over the past four months, all her concerns had been put to rest as she’d watched Luke interact with Grace. Every tender touch, every gentle smile, every loving cuddle had proven he did, indeed, consider her daughter a blessing.

Coming up beside them, his breath making frosty clouds in the cold air, he adjusted the scarf that covered the bottom half of Grace’s face and leaned down to give Kelsey a quick kiss.

“Wow. Cold lips.” He reared back with a grin.

“Warm heart.”

He winked. “I know. Come on. Let’s get you two out of the wind.” He ushered them toward her car, settled Grace in her safety seat, and slid behind the wheel. “One down, two to go.”

“Two? Is there some other event on our agenda besides Dorothy’s wedding?”

“Maybe.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Want to let me in on the secret?”

“Nope.”

With that, he pulled into the street and headed back to Pier Cove so they could get ready for the wedding.

Leaving her to wonder what he had up his sleeve.

Two hours later, as Luke climbed the steps to Kelsey’s screened porch after freshening up at his friend’s house, he fingered the ring in his pocket.

This was the day.

He could have waited until Christmas Eve. Or Christmas. That would have been more traditional. But somehow, it seemed right to propose here, in the place Kelsey had always loved.

He only hoped she was ready.

Because even though he’d told her he’d wait as long as necessary, it was getting harder and harder to leave at the end of every long weekend. He wanted her and Grace with him all the time, not just six days a month.

He knocked again, and a few seconds later she pulled the door open, checking her watch. “Aren’t you early?”

“More like anxious. I was missing my girls.” He slipped inside, shut the door behind him and gave her a slow head-to-toe perusal. She’d returned to her pre-pregnancy weight, and although she complained that she’d gained a permanent inch on her waistline, she was still more attractive—and appealing—than any woman he’d ever dated. “Is Grace awake?”

“Yes.”

“Want to get her for a minute?”

“Why?”

“I have a surprise.”

She gave him an appraising look, then retreated without another word.

As she disappeared down the hall, he moved into the living room and sat on the couch, holding up his arms for Grace and patting the seat beside him when she returned.

“Aren’t we pretty today.” He smiled at the little cherub in the crook of his elbow, all dressed up in her first Christmas outfit—a red velvet number with a plaid taffeta insert at the bodice and a skirt edged with lace. Kelsey had even added a red velvet headband with a bow. Then he lifted his eyes. “That goes for both of you.”

A becoming blush pinkened Kelsey’s cheeks as she started to sit.

“Leave room for Grace.”

Following his instruction, Kelsey edged over slightly.

He propped Grace on the seat between them. “I want our little lady here for this. Because it wouldn’t have happened without her.”

Once Grace was settled, he took Kelsey’s hand in his and twined his fingers with hers. “Your hands are still cold.”

“But my heart’s still warm.”

Her husky response, and the encouraging spark of anticipation in her eyes, helped calm his unexpected jitters.

With his free hand, he removed a square jeweler’s box from the inside pocket of his jacket and set it on the sofa between them. Her eyes widened, and he heard her breath catch.

“Before I make my little speech, tell me if this is too soon. If it is, I’ll put this away.”

“No.” The word came out in a croak, and she tried again. “No. I love you.
We
love you.” She gestured toward Grace, her voice stronger now. Firm and sure. “And we know you love us.”

His throat constricted, and when he spoke, his own voice had roughened with emotion. “You’re making this much easier than I expected.”

“Luke.” She leaned toward him and put her hand on his shoulder, her glorious green eyes giving him a window to her heart. “Whatever doubts I once had are long gone. We belong together.”

Hearing his own conviction put into words gave him the confidence to open the box and take out the sparkling solitaire on the gold band.

“I bought this in Atlanta, a few days after the benefit dinner. I was hoping that if I had it in hand, things would progress as I hoped. I guess it worked. Along with a lot of prayers.”

Between them, Grace was watching the proceedings with a solemn expression, her thumb stuck in her mouth, and he sent her a smile as he dropped to one knee beside the sofa and took the hand of the woman who’d stolen his heart.

“Kelsey, I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone, and I would be honored to have you as my wife. I promise that I will love, honor and cherish you all the days of my life. Will you marry me?”

Before Kelsey could respond, Grace pulled her finger out of her mouth, grinned at them, and clapped her hands.

They both stared at her.

“She’s too young to do that,” Luke said.

“I guess she’s a woman who knows her mind. And I’ll take that as a sign of approval.” Turning back to him, Kelsey smiled, too. “On behalf of the two of us, my answer is
yes
.”

Luke slipped the ring on her finger, then framed her beautiful face with his hands. If he lived to be a hundred, he would never forget the love shining in her eyes at this moment. Or the sudden, distant strains of “Amazing Grace” that unexpectedly echoed in the recesses of his mind.

Carlos’s favorite song.

How appropriate. For though he’d come to this place to honor his friend, he’d been blessed tenfold in return.

And as he claimed Kelsey’s sweet lips in a kiss that spoke of love and hope and a bright tomorrow, he sent a silent thank-you heavenward for the gift of grace that had, indeed, led him home.