The Caregiver - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,78

like she’d never trusted anyone else in her life. And she longed to be with him, like she’d never wanted another man before.

Again, his expression filled with doubt. And resolve. “Lucy, if you’ll give us a chance, I’ll follow your lead. We can take things as slow as you want. We can be engaged for as long as you’d like. For as long as it will take for you to trust me. To trust us. I mean . . . that is . . . if you decide you want me, too.”

Lucy smiled. “I do, Calvin Weaver.”

“You do . . . what? You do want me . . . ?”

“I do want to marry you,” she said, feeling so sure. So happy—perhaps feeling the happiest she’d ever felt in her life. God had just given her a gift. A gift of love and a happy future. She felt His approval. And His love for her . . . and for Calvin. “Calvin, I do not need a long time to know that my heart will be safe with you.”

The pure joy that lit his eyes made her smile. “You’ve made me terribly happy.”

“I feel the same way.” As they stared at each other, there in the near-empty train car, Lucy couldn’t help but feel giddy. Words could never convey what she was feeling.

But perhaps they didn’t need to?

“Are you sure you won’t mind leaving Michigan?” Calvin asked.

“I wouldn’t mind at all. I want to start over,” she said. “I want to start over someplace where I only have happy memories, where the two of us can plan a future together. I can’t think of a better place to do that than in Jacob’s Crossing.”

Calvin squeezed her hands. Exhaled. Almost looked content.

Almost. His gaze drifted to her lips. Almost as swiftly, he looked away. Suddenly shy.

Lucy realized he wasn’t going to kiss her or even hug her without her permission. He was too afraid of spooking her. Of pushing.

But now that she knew what love was, Lucy realized she had no fears at all. A quick inspection revealed that they were still alone in the train car. As alone as they were ever going to be for the next many hours.

She leaned a little closer. “Calvin, perhaps you’d like to kiss me?”

One of his palms released her own and cradled her jaw. Unable to help herself, she pressed her cheek against his hand, enjoying the feel of his hand on her skin.

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all.” She bit her lip, then continued: “I want to kiss you. I mean, if that . . . if that is what you want—”

She wasn’t able to finish because his lips were on hers then. Tenderly kissing her. Tenderly making her feel loved.

Caring for her. Just as she’d cared for him. Little by little, she leaned closer. Rested her palms on his shoulders. Calvin’s hands skimmed her arms, then lightly closed around her back. After too short a time, he broke away.

Lucy felt a shiver run through her. Everything with Calvin was so perfect. So sweet. So worth waiting for.

He looked into her eyes and smiled. “Lucy, when I stopped being afraid to give you my heart, I realized something.”

“And what is that?”

“My heart wasn’t in jeopardy with you at all. Instead of being hurt, it would be cared for. By you.”

“Always,” Lucy said. “I will always care for you.”

As they sat together, side by side on the train, Lucy knew that she could finally look forward to the idea of always. Of Always . . . And Forever.

At last.

A Letter from the Author

Dear Reader,

I was on a cruise when I learned I had a new contract with Avon Inspire. How neat was that? I was thrilled. I celebrated! I love writing, and was I very excited to get home and start on a new series.

However, God had other plans. When we got off the ship and were in the Ft. Lauderdale airport, I checked our home messages and discovered my mother was in the hospital. She’d been having some heart problems and was disoriented.

Suddenly, everything I thought mattered so much didn’t matter so much at all.

Over the next few weeks, I flew to California, spoke to doctors, and called my brother and sister more than I’d called them in years. Our mom would get better, things would settle down, then one of us would get another phone call and find out she was in the emergency room again. It was a frustrating and very

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