Renee Andrews - Child Wanted

A Mother’s Second Chance

Lindy Burnett can hardly believe it: she’s found her son. In the three years they’ve been separated, Lindy has thought of nothing else but her little boy. But Jerry doesn’t remember her—and he’s about to be adopted. His would-be father, schoolteacher Ethan Green, would do anything for the child—except give him up. Ethan has no idea of Lindy’s connection to the boy, but there is no denying the connection Ethan feels to her. His painful past makes him hesitant to trust her, but their mutual love for Jerry might be strong enough to help them find their way home...to each other.

“So, did y’all catch anything, Jerry?” Lindy asked.

“No, ma’am,” he said, “but Mr. Ethan said we’re going to get some Popsicles anyway.”

Her gaze moved from Jerry to Ethan, and he saw a hint of appreciation in her eyes that went straight to his heart.

“Yeah, sometimes those fish do play hide-and-seek,” she said, “but I’m hoping they won’t play so well the next time.”

“Me, too,” Jerry said, nibbling the end of his Popsicle.

“I got you a peach one,” Ethan said.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said. “But thank you.”

Jerry glanced at Ethan, and then watched Lindy as she tried hers. “Do you like it, Miss Lindy?”

She nodded. “I like this,” she said, giving him a tender smile. “I like this very much.”

Ethan watched her, eating his Popsicle and sitting beside his future son, and he knew she wasn’t just talking about the Popsicle. She, like Ethan, enjoyed the feeling of sitting on the porch with a little boy, spending time together on a beautiful early summer day.

And he found himself suddenly wondering if what she liked so much about this moment included him.

RENEE ANDREWSspends a lot of time in the gym. No, she isn’t working out. Her husband, a former All-American gymnast, owns a gym and coaches gymnastics. Renee is a kidney donor and actively supports organ donation. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys traveling with her husband and bragging about their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. For more info on her books or on living donors, visit her website at reneeandrews.com.

Child Wanted

Renee Andrews

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

—Ephesians 4:32

This book is dedicated to the ladies who lunch: Connie, Gay, Linda and Marie. Life is so much better when I get to spend time with all of you!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A Mother’s Second Chance Lindy Burnett can hardly believe it: she’s found her son. In the three years they’ve been separated, Lindy has thought of nothing else but her little boy. But Jerry doesn’t remember her—and he’s about to be adopted. His would-be father, schoolteacher Ethan Green, would do anything for the child—except give him up. Ethan has no idea of Lindy’s connection to the boy, but there is no denying the connection Ethan feels to her. His painful past makes him hesitant to trust her, but their mutual love for Jerry might be strong enough to help them find their way home...to each other.

Introduction “So, did y’all catch anything, Jerry?” Lindy asked. “No, ma’am,” he said, “but Mr. Ethan said we’re going to get some Popsicles anyway.” Her gaze moved from Jerry to Ethan, and he saw a hint of appreciation in her eyes that went straight to his heart. “Yeah, sometimes those fish do play hide-and-seek,” she said, “but I’m hoping they won’t play so well the next time.” “Me, too,” Jerry said, nibbling the end of his Popsicle. “I got you a peach one,” Ethan said. “You didn’t have to do that,” she said. “But thank you.” Jerry glanced at Ethan, and then watched Lindy as she tried hers. “Do you like it, Miss Lindy?” She nodded. “I like this,” she said, giving him a tender smile. “I like this very much.” Ethan watched her, eating his Popsicle and sitting beside his future son, and he knew she wasn’t just talking about the Popsicle. She, like Ethan, enjoyed the feeling of sitting on the porch with a little boy, spending time together on a beautiful early summer day. And he found himself suddenly wondering if what she liked so much about this moment included him.

About the Author RENEE ANDREWS spends a lot of time in the gym. No, she isn’t working out. Her husband, a former All-American gymnast, owns a gym and coaches gymnastics. Renee is a kidney donor and actively supports organ donation. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys traveling with her husband and bragging about their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. For more info on her books or on living donors, visit her website at reneeandrews.com .

Title Page Child Wanted Renee Andrews www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. —Ephesians 4:32

Dedication This book is dedicated to the ladies who lunch: Connie, Gay, Linda and Marie. Life is so much better when I get to spend time with all of you!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Jerry, this is Mr. Green.”

Ethan Green crouched to eye level with Jerry Flinn as Mrs. Yost, the social worker, introduced the four-year-old boy to the thirty-year-old man. “Hey, Jerry. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

Talk about an understatement. Every day for the past three years, Ethan had prayed for the sandy-haired, freckle-faced child. He was fisting his hands in the fabric of his navy T-shirt as he edged backward, his eyes darting from the social worker to Ethan to the couple that ran the children’s home in this tiny town of Claremont, Alabama, where Jerry had been placed merely three days ago.

Ethan recognized the panic, the terror, pushing through his future son’s veins. He wanted to run. Or cry. Or both. But he also wanted to be tough. Be strong. Control the fear.

Ethan knew each of these emotions firsthand.

God, please help me know what to do, what to say, to gain his trust.

“Hey Jerry, I got some bread for you and your friends to give the geese.” Ethan held up the brown lunch sacks of stale bread that he’d purchased at one of the stores on the town square. He knew the twins belonging to Brodie and Savvy Evans, the couple that ran Willow’s Haven, weren’t technically Jerry’s “friends” yet, since he’d only met Rose and Daisy three days ago, but Ethan wanted him to know that they would be. It was important for Jerry to understand that he would have friends and that he now had people who cared about him in his life.

Like Ethan.