Carol Steward - Second Time Around

Emily raised her eyes and met Kevin’s. Her demure smile seemed to hold a touch of sadness and the air whooshed from his lungs, leaving him with a burning need for oxygen.

He studied her intently, remembering…. Suddenly her hunter-green dress faded to white, a veil covered her face and her smile was full of love…. Kevin furiously blinked the dream away.

“Why didn’t you tell me Emily was coming?” Kevin asked.

His best friend, Bryan, looked unconvincingly baffled. “Did I forget to mention that?”

“Yeah, I’d say you forgot to mention that!” Kevin mocked.

“A lot has changed in seven years.”

Kevin scowled at his friend. “Eight. And yeah, a lot has changed. I’ve just made a bid that will put my entire business at stake, and I don’t need some woman turning my life around to fit her agenda.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call your ex-fiancée some woman.”

lives with her hero/husband of twenty years and three teenage children in Greeley, Colorado. When she isn’t busy caring for preschoolers in her home, she keeps busy with the activities of her daughter and two sons, and with volunteer work for various organizations. A retired cake decorator, Carol enjoys camping, restoring antiques, tole-painting, needlework, gardening, traveling, sewing and collecting Noah’s Ark items.

She loves to hear from readers. You may write to her at Carol Steward P.O. Box 5021 Greeley, CO 80631-0021.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Two are better than one, because they have a good

reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up

his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he

falls and has not another to lift him up….

A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

For my mother, Phillis Bohannan, for teaching me

never to give up. Thanks, Mom.

To Robin and Michelle for your inspiration even

before God introduced us.

Many thanks to Marty, Deb and Bette for your

expertise and continued support.

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

Letter to Reader

From the parlor, building contractor Kevin MacIntyre heard the church bells outside announcing the celebration. He ran a finger inside his shirt collar, suddenly feeling as stuffed as insulation between two-by-four studs. Why the suit bothered him today, he hadn’t a clue. He wasn’t the type to shy away from formal occasions. In fact, he typically enjoyed them. He guessed it was because his best friend was making the long-awaited trip to the altar, and Kevin had yet to find Miss Perfect. With all the hours I’m putting in at work, I don’t have time for anyone else, anyway. What do I care?

Kevin picked up a miniature plastic football and tossed it to the groom. The music began softly, then grew louder and faster. Kevin opened the door to the chapel and peeked out to see if it was time for them to take their places. The usher escorted the beautiful guest down the aisle on his arm. Dr. Emily Berthoff was as gorgeous as ever.

Emily raised her eyes and met Kevin’s. Her demure smile seemed to hold a touch of sadness, and the air whooshed from his lungs, leaving him with a burning need for oxygen.

He studied her intently, remembering… Suddenly, her hunter-green dress faded to white, a veil covered her face, and her smile was full of love…. Kevin furiously blinked the dream away. No longer concerned with starting any wedding, he pushed the door closed. “Why didn’t you tell me Emily was coming?”

The groom looked unconvincingly baffled. “Did I forget to mention that?” Bryan threw the football back across the room, the ball hitting Kevin in the stomach before dropping to the floor.

“Yeah, I’d say you forgot to mention that!” Kevin mocked.

Bryan followed his chortling toddler across the room to get the toy, and the two embraced in a growling hug. “Just be glad Barb is feeling better. Laura was going to ask Emily to stand in as the maid of honor.”

Kevin straightened his suit, then combed the unruly waves of hair back into place with his fingers. “Laura’s trying to get even with me, isn’t she? Your future wife has a warped sense of humor.”

Bryan chuckled.

Jacob handed Kevin the football. He picked the toddler up and tossed Bryan the ball. “Go tackle your dad,” Kevin whispered into Jacob’s ear as he set the boy down. Then Kevin watched with envy as his best friend and son played together, casually waiting for Pastor Mike to come for them. I’m going to miss having Jacob around.

“She’s a romantic. Thinks you and Emily should give it another try.” Bryan checked his watch, stuffed the toys into a baby-size backpack, then pulled his suit jacket on. “You’ve got to admit, Emily is still available—not to mention as beautiful as always.”

“Even if I did admit it, it doesn’t mean anything.” Kevin had chased away memories of Emily Berthoff long ago. Moved on with his life. Pursued his dreams and was on the verge of making them come true. And she was no longer a part of the plan.

“Maybe Laura’s right, Kevin. A lot has changed in seven years.”

He scowled at his friend. “Eight. It was the year the Buffs beat Nebraska. Yeah, a lot has changed. I’ve just made a bid that will put my entire business at stake, not to mention the risk I’ve let you take on this investment. I want to pay you back as soon as possible. I don’t need some woman turning my life around to fit her agenda.”

Bryan smoothed his son’s tiny vest, while obviously trying to wipe the smirk from his own lips. “I wouldn’t exactly call your ex-fiancée some woman. That in itself tells me how you feel about her.”

“Wait just a minute here! Don’t go assuming anything. Seeing her here surprised me. That’s all.” Kevin checked his pocket for Laura’s wedding ring, wishing Bryan would let the issue die, just as his and Emily’s relationship had died. “It’s been too long to care what the doctor does. She made her choices.”

Until he had unexpectedly run into Emily in Laura’s hospital room two months ago, he’d successfully erased the enchanting woman from existence. Since then, unmanageable thoughts plagued his mind with reruns of the years they had been together: dreams of a family, of traveling across the country together, of waking up to one another—

Bryan’s somber voice interrupted him again. “Put the show aside, Kevin. I know it hurts. You’re not going to like this, but I’m going to say it anyway….”

Kevin wanted to walk out of the room in the worst way. He didn’t need Mr. Happy here to throw his own words back in his face. Problem was, on the other side of that door was a chapel full of smiling loved ones ready to celebrate “happily ever after.” There was no escaping. No matter how desperately he wanted to leave, he couldn’t do that to his best friend. Not today.

“It’s time you put the past behind you and looked at your future. And Emily’s as good a place as any to start.”