Four novellas, each with a seasonal theme, prove that love can happen at any time.
"Spring's Fling" by Sherry Derr-Wille:When Spring Morrison asks the Easter Bunny for a perfect man, she has no idea that her mother will use the opportunity to play matchmaker with Wade Parker. Does mother know best? "Summer's Challenge" by Luanna Rugh:Summer Woods is starting a new life with a new identity. Can Officer Nathan Lockhart protect her from her past while he’s falling in love with her? "Autumn's Blessing" by Christie Shary:Young and pregnant widow Deidre feels her life is over until she becomes the patient of Dr. Jeremy Saunders. Can he help her let go of the hurts and burdens that weigh her down and embrace life again? "Winter Song" by Lorna Collins:To Dan Jensen, life seems hopeless. But when he gets railroaded into performing in a Christmas musical, a lovely young woman named Amy Roberts provides more than musical assistance. She brings hope and the promise of a new life.
Excerpt
February 2007, Aspen Grove, Colorado
Through the window, soft, fat flakes fell onto the accumulated mountain of white stuff outside. The sky was dark and had been for several days while clouds wept cold, white, icy tears.
Just like my life. Dan Jensen stared out. Cold, hopeless, lifeless, bleak.
There was no point in continuing to watch as the mounds grew and the day came to an end. He turned away, overcome with longing for his girls. Are they okay? Are they warm? Fed?
He knew they were with their mother for a supervised visit, but that was little solace. Who knew where Lizzie was, or who she was with. Or what state she was in. Drunk? High? Or worse?
“Oh, God, how did I get here?’ he asked the empty room.
* * * *
May 1999
He’d fallen in love at first sight. It was just that simple—and complex. Maybe it was her red curls or her big blue eyes, but when she looked up at him that first time, he was lost.
He’d gone for a walk in the town park that cool spring day, when a small whirlwind spun in front of him. He’d barely snatched her out of the path of a speeding bicycle.
“Sami. Samantha, come back here right now,” he heard as he imagined what fate might have befallen the child. Even as he caught his breath, he spotted her, ‘the mother,’ racing down the opposite hill.
“There you are, you bad girl,” she scolded.
Dan immediately noticed the resemblance to the cherub held safely in his arms. The toddler had her mother’s huge blue eyes, but Mom had straight brown hair. The copper curls must have come from the father.
“I hope she’s not bothering you,” ‘the mom’ apologized to Dan.
“Not at all, but she was nearly mowed down by a bicyclist.” He smiled.
“Sami, what am I going to do with you?” ‘the mother’ scolded.
“Really, she’s fine,” Dan said in an attempt to save the beauty in his arms from parental retribution. “I’m Dan, by the way,” he added and extended his hand.
“Thank you, Dan. I’m Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Liz. And the imp you’re holding is my daughter, Samantha.”
Dan stared seriously into Samantha’s huge eyes for a moment. “Hello, Samantha.”
Then she giggled, and from then on she owned his heart for life. She patted his cheeks as she chortled. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and rewarded him with a big smacking kiss on the cheek.
“I’m surprised. She’s usually shy around strangers.”
“It must be my boyish charm.” Dan grinned.
Liz didn’t smile back. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes and how frail she appeared.
“I was going to stop by the lake and grab a hotdog. The paper said they were opening today as long as the weather was nice. Would you and the little lady like to join me?” he asked.
Liz hesitated.
“And we can throw pieces of bun to the ducks,” he added as enticement.
“Uh, thanks,” she finally answered. “That would be nice.”
He swung the child to the ground and held firmly to her hand as they walked through the dappled sunlight toward the lake.
“How old is she?” Dan asked to make conversation.
“Two-and-a-half,” answered Liz.
“Too bad her dad couldn’t be here with her. It’s such a gorgeous a day to spend indoors.”
Liz came to a halt and lowered her head. “He’s, um, not indoors. Not really.”
Dan paused next to her.
She looked up. “He died before Sami was born, on a motorcycle. It was stupid, and senseless.”
“I’m sorry,” Dan said, knowing it sounded lame, even to him. “It must be hard for you,” he added as they moved along.
“Being a single parent isn’t much fun,” she confessed.
They strolled in comfortable silence with Samantha bouncing between them. They soon reached the stand.
“We’ll have three dogs,” Dan began.
“Two,” Liz corrected. “Sami and I can share one.”
Looking at her, he thought she probably needed a couple herself. But he acceded to her request. “Make that two. One with mustard and…” He looked toward Liz.
“One with ketchup,” she finished.
“And two lemonades,” Dan completed the order. Then he turned to Liz. “Isn’t there some law against ketchup on hot dogs?”
“Sami likes ketchup, but not mustard,” Liz explained.
They found an empty bench facing the lake and began to eat their lunch. Liz seemed indifferent to the food, but Sami laughed and smacked her lips with each bite. Dan noticed that Liz made sure the pieces were small so the child didn’t choke.
Dan tore off a small bit of his bun and tossed it toward the ducks sunning themselves on the grass. Since there was still a nip in the air, they were taking advantage of the warmth just as the humans around them were.
Sami clapped as the ducks swarmed, vying to be the first to reach it. “More, more!” she squealed.
So Dan obliged and she cheered again, her own hot dog forgotten.
“It doesn’t take much to amuse her, does it?” he asked as he lobbed another chunk into the melee of feathers and beaks.
Liz sighed. “Life’s so easy at her age.”
Dan wondered what wasn’t being said.
“Well, thanks for the lunch and the show,” Liz said as she rose to leave.
“You’re going so soon?”
“Yes, I, uh, have some things to do.”
“If there’s anything I can help you with…” Dan offered.
“No. I just have to find somewhere else to live. And I can’t afford much,” she explained. “But I’ll manage. I always do. Thanks again.”
Dan watched her walk away, the little girl in tow. He wanted to call out and ask them to stay. But he was rooted to the spot.
He’d never felt parental. Not in college. Not in the two years he traveled around Europe, earning his way by singing in small clubs and on street corners. Not in law school, or since graduation. He’d reached thirty-two years of age without ever once feeling any desire for a child. Not until the small person toddling away had looked at him with absolute innocent trust.
Suddenly he wanted nothing more than to care for her, protect her and make sure no one ever had the chance to hurt her. And he felt the need to protect Liz, as well.
It didn’t occur to him until they were out of sight that he hadn’t asked their last name and had no idea where they lived.
“Get over it,” he muttered as he turned in the opposite direction toward home.
When he approached the clapboard house on Whitman Street, his thoughts once again turned to Liz and Sami. He could almost see the child playing in the yard, just about hear her laughter. He visualized her spotting him coming through the front gate and running to meet him, throwing herself into his arms. He felt pain around his heart and an ache for the love of a child. Not just any child, but that one.
“Stop being an ass,” he muttered. But the feeling wouldn’t go away. The house felt even emptier inside. It was too large for one person. It needed a family. His family.
He’d bought the place after his parents convinced him that he was throwing away money paying rent. It was close to his office, just off Main Street in Aspen Grove. Yet it was far enough out of town to have a large yard and a few trees. He hadn’t thought about the three bedrooms and two baths except his realtor had said it was a good investment property.
Now it was home, but one missing a real family.
Dan shook his head, trying to rid himself of the annoying and unwelcome thoughts. He did his best to get back into his routine. There was a brief to review before Monday morning, so he forced himself to concentrate on it.
But that night, a large pair of blue eyes and a riot of copper curls haunted his dreams.
Professional Reviews
Loving Seasons of Love
Very enjoyable romantic stories. This is the kind of romance you could give to your mother to read without being embarrassed. Come to think of it, this would make a nice Mother's Day gift!
I loved him. At age twelve he touched my heart with his music. At age twenty he captured my heart when our eyes met as he sat on a stage and sang Four months later, he fractured my heart with his refusal to allow us to stay together. At age seventy
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Zara’s Bois:
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