Kate Welsh: A Family for Christmas

Cover Page

Excerpt It was decided. He and Maggie would be guardians to his orphaned nieces and nephews. But doubt assailed Trent once again. How would he deal with Maggie? He’d loved his wife so deeply, and yet he’d been unable to give her what she wanted most children. And that dream had proved more important than their love. But now she’ll have both, a voice within him whispered. And you can have her back. Trent ached to be able to forget his anguish in Maggie’s arms. But the day she’d left with tears in her eyes, he’d sworn never again to open his heart to that kind of pain. And never to inflict it on Maggie, either. Because Trent was afraid. And he was right to be. Because now he found he had no idea how to be a loving parent.…

About the Author KATE WELSH A two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s coveted Golden Heart Award, Kate lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband of twenty-six years. She has two daughters whose childhood antics often wind up in her stories. Besides her writing career, Kate works part-time as a graphic artist and does administrative work for an international manufacturer. As a child she was often the “script writer” in neighborhood games of make-believe. Kate turned back to storytelling when her husband challenged her to write down the stories in her head. With Jesus so much a part of her life, Kate found it natural to incorporate Him into her writing. Her goal is to entertain her readers with wholesome stories of the love between two people the Lord has brought together and to teach His truths while she entertains.

Title Page A Family for Christmas Kate Welsh www.millsandboon.co.uk

Epigraph For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. —John 3:16-17

Acknowledgments Leona, I couldn’t write a Christmas book and not think of you. Thank you for all those extra years you kept me believing in Santa, for the camaraderie during the Great Tree Hunts and on Christmas Eves when we couldn’t get to sleep, and for all the years when making Christmas special for the whole family couldn’t have been easy but you did it anyway. Most of all, thanks for being my big sister. Oh, and I hope you appreciate that the painting gets finished before Thanksgiving. Ain’t fiction great!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Dear Reader

Copyright

He and Maggie would be guardians to his orphaned nieces and nephews.

But doubt assailed Trent once again. How would he deal with Maggie?

He’d loved his wife so deeply, and yet he’d been unable to give her what she wanted most children. And that dream had proved more important than their love.

But now she’ll have both, a voice within him whispered. And you can have her back.

Trent ached to be able to forget his anguish in Maggie’s arms. But the day she’d left with tears in her eyes, he’d sworn never again to open his heart to that kind of pain. And never to inflict it on Maggie, either.

Because Trent was afraid.

And he was right to be.

Because now he found he had no idea how to be a loving parent.…

A two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s coveted Golden Heart Award, Kate lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband of twenty-six years. She has two daughters whose childhood antics often wind up in her stories. Besides her writing career, Kate works part-time as a graphic artist and does administrative work for an international manufacturer.

As a child she was often the “script writer” in neighborhood games of make-believe. Kate turned back to storytelling when her husband challenged her to write down the stories in her head. With Jesus so much a part of her life, Kate found it natural to incorporate Him into her writing. Her goal is to entertain her readers with wholesome stories of the love between two people the Lord has brought together and to teach His truths while she entertains.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only

begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world; but that the world

through him might be saved.

—John 3:16-17

Leona, I couldn’t write a Christmas book and not

think of you. Thank you for all those extra years

you kept me believing in Santa, for the camaraderie

during the Great Tree Hunts and on Christmas Eves

when we couldn’t get to sleep, and for all the years

when making Christmas special for the whole

family couldn’t have been easy but you did it

anyway. Most of all, thanks for being my big sister.

Oh, and I hope you appreciate that the painting gets

finished before Thanksgiving. Ain’t fiction great!

“There’s a Mr. Edward Hanson to see you, Mrs. Osborne. He says it’s urgent that he speak to you.”

Maggie stared at her secretary. What could Trent’s lawyer have to say that would be urgent? Hope flared to life in her heart. Could this be the Lord’s answer to prayer? she wondered. Had Trent rethought the idea of divorce as she’d begged him to do?

The flame of hope flickered and dimmed a bit. Were that the case, Trent would have come himself. Just last week hadn’t he said he wouldn’t change his mind? He’d even asked her not to contact him again. He’d reminded her that he was dating. He was marvelously happy with his life the way it was. The past was past, he’d said. His future lay ahead.

Without her.

And losing him was all her fault.

“Show him in, Connie.” She forced a smile, her heartache too personal to share with a co-worker.

“Oh…okay,” Connie said, clearly surprised at the break in policy.

Having cut her hours, Maggie’s appointments were carefully scheduled now. Forty to forty-five hours a week. That was all she’d ever give to a career again.

Maggie watched Connie’s wide retreating back for a few short seconds, then she closed her eyes. Please Lord. Let this be good news. Bless my marriage. Bring Trent back to me.

Maggie stood to greet Ed Hanson. His sandy hair was in its usual disarray, his jacket wrinkled as always. He was a man she’d once considered a friend, though he’d been Trent’s friend since childhood. And like most of their friends, he had chosen sides in the divorce—Trent’s side.

“Ed, good to see you. Won’t you have a seat? Can Connie get you something? A cup of coffee? Iced tea or a soft dri—” Maggie’s breath hitched in her throat when she saw the desolate expression in Ed’s pale blue eyes. Her hand came up to cover her heart. “What’s wrong? Is it Trent? Has something happened to him?”

Ed shook his head. “It’s Sarah and Michael. And the kids. They were on vacation.”

“Yes, I know. Sarah and Michael have remained friends. We attend the same church now. In fact, they—” She stopped. She was babbling. Her heart clenched with fear. “What’s happened?”