Lisa Carter - The Christmas Baby

Mistletoe Mommy

Anna Reyes is pregnant and widowed, and a Christmas homecoming isn’t so simple. Reuniting with her best friend, Ryan Savage, makes it easier—even though she knows he’ll soon be leaving their small coastal hometown. After putting his career on hold for his family’s business, Ryan’s finally ready to pursue his goals. But as he and Anna work to make the holidays special for a group of at-risk kids, Ryan wonders if he can give up one dream for another. They’re determined to make this a Christmas to remember, but can Ryan and Anna also make their holiday family last forever?

“There’s something else you can keep me from.” Ryan grinned.

Anna rested her hand on top of her basketball-size stomach. “What’s that?”

“You can keep me from another Friday night of eating alone.” He winked at her. “Dinner will give us a chance to catch up. Our Christmas reunion. A lot has happened since we last saw each other.”

“No kidding.” Her gaze fell to the wooden steps. “I’m sorry about your dad, Ryan.” She dropped her hand to her side. “Mateo was going through chemo and...”

“We lost touch. No problem. So...dinner?”

Her lashes feathered her skin. “I never could say no to you.”

Which wasn’t how he remembered high school. Though more often than not, he hadn’t given her a chance to say no. He’d been too scared to ask Anna to prom or on a date. He’d reckoned it best to be content being best friends. But how many times had he secretly wished for more...

Dear Reader,

Sometimes we find love. And sometimes, like an unexpected gift, love finds us.

In writing this story, I was forced to ask myself, how far was I willing to go for love? What would I sacrifice? What would I risk?

To risk much for love, like Anna, I have to be willing to come to the end of my pride and self-sufficiency if I am to discover God’s best, often unexpected, gift for me. Like Ryan, I, too, have grappled with what this kind of love will cost me. Sometimes I lacked the courage to love this way—feeling the cost too high. The price of obedience. The cost of laying down my plans. The death of self.

But love is a choice. An unconditional love with no expectation of return demands courage. My prayer—like Ryan’s—is for God’s love to be born in me so that I might love the way God loves us. And to persevere in loving, despite knowing the outcome may never be what I long for most—but trusting God anyway.

Bethlehem and Calvary are the greatest love story. God’s love story for all mankind when He chose to make our heart His home. Love is calling, and I pray you will answer love’s call.

I hope you have enjoyed taking this Christmas journey with me, Anna and Ryan. I would love to hear from you. You may email me at lisa@lisacarterauthor.com or visit www.lisacarterauthor.com.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas,

Lisa Carter

LISA CARTER and her family make their home in North Carolina. In addition to her Love Inspired novels, she writes romantic suspense for Abingdon Press. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys traveling to romantic locales, teaching writing workshops and researching her next exotic adventure. She has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball. She loves to hear from readers. Connect with Lisa at lisacarterauthor.com.

The Christmas Baby

Lisa Carter

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Now before the Feast of the Passover,

Jesus knew that His hour had come that

He would depart out of this world to the Father,

having loved His own who were in the world,

He loved them to the end.

—John 13:1

This book is dedicated to my late uncle, Hugh Adams.

You are missed. Thank you for sharing your family

with me. I will always treasure the memories of

fun, golf and barbecue chicken.

But most of all, thank you for Christmas.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

His footsteps echoing, Ryan Savage walked the first grader from the cafeteria toward the media center. The dismissal bell had released the rest of the students to buses and to car pool thirty minutes ago.

Oscar’s hand slipped into Ryan’s. “Mister Sabbage?” The child barely spoke above a whisper.

Biting back a smile, Ryan paused in the school corridor. “What is it, Oscar? Are you still hungry?”

Eligible students enrolled in the after-school tutoring program received a healthy snack. For some of them, it was the only food they’d receive until returning to school the next morning for a nutritious breakfast.

Small for his age, the little boy shook his head. “I jus’ wonnered if the new teacher in our group was as nice as Miz Thompson. I’m gonna miss her.”

There was something endearing about the child, which tugged at Ryan’s heart. “Perhaps Mrs. Thompson will return to school after she has her baby. But I think you’ll like the teacher who is taking her place.”

“What’s her name?”

“Mrs. Reyes is an old friend of mine.” Ryan smiled. “In fact, we became best friends when we were in first grade like you.”

This was Anna’s first day of teaching at the small elementary school outside Kiptohanock, Virginia, where they’d grown up. He was looking forward to seeing her again, but an unexpected nervousness opened in the pit of his stomach. Which was ridiculous. He wasn’t the gangly teenager who once had feelings for Anna Pruitt.

Oscar’s eyes widened. “You were in first grade like me?”

Ryan rolled his tongue in his cheek. “Hard to believe, I know. But true.”

Oscar shook his head as if he wasn’t quite sure he should believe Ryan. “Is she pwetty?”

Ryan pushed his glasses farther along the bridge of his nose. “I think so. You’ll have to tell me what you think.”

Oscar nodded. “We better go see.”

Anna was probably already inside the media center waiting with the other two students who would make up their group in the after-school enrichment program.

Pressing through the doors, Ryan steered Oscar past other clumps of students and supervising adults. The intervention teams were composed of teachers, professional counselors and trained community volunteers.

Due to a poor attendance record, Oscar was falling behind his classmates. His classroom teacher also reported that when Oscar managed to get to school, he often fell asleep. A six-year-old shouldn’t be so tired. Ryan needed to make a home visit to talk with Oscar’s mother.

Weaving past the computer lab and waist-high bookcases, Ryan waved to other kids he’d come to know during his short career as a fifth-grade teacher. Students entered the program due to behavioral issues and low academic performance in math or language. The goal was to help kids rise above difficult home circumstances and acquire the academic and lifestyle skills to achieve success far beyond their current situations.