Faith, Hope & Love Page 12

  “Well, honey, you can come by anytime and eat with us. No invitation required!”

  “Thank you.”

  “So, any idea what this big announcement is?” she whispered, grinning.

  Faith swallowed. “Not a clue.”

  “Brandon seems so excited about it. He can barely keep from smiling.”

  “Yeah. He does look happy,” Faith said, a totally fake smile pasted on her face. She hoped Addy didn’t notice that her hands were shaking.

  Faith walked to the kitchen where Brandon was standing alone for a moment. “Can I talk to you?”

  “Sure,” he said, putting his tea on the counter and walking out onto the deck with her.

  “Listen, before the festivities begin, I wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Without you, I wouldn’t have found my job or my mother. No matter what, I just wanted you to know that I’m grateful, Brandon.” She spit the words out as fast as she could, afraid she’d chicken out or possibly throw up on his shoe if she didn’t get them out.

  “Faith, you don’t have to thank me.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Brandon, are you ready?” Olivia asked, poking her head out of the door.

  Brandon smiled and nodded before looking back at Faith. “I guess it’s time for my big announcement.”

  “I guess so,” she said, trying to smile but feeling like running down the beach. Instead, she followed him inside.

  Brandon walked to the other side of the living room, and Faith moved next to Olivia across the room from him. This was it. This was when he said goodbye for God knew how long. Maybe years?

  “First, I want to say thank you to everyone who came tonight. As you know, I have something exciting to share. It’s life changing, and I hope you’ll all be happy for me as I take on this new adventure in my life.”

  Not really new, right? I mean, he’d gone to the Middle East before. Everyone knew that. Faith started to wonder what the big hullabaloo was even about.

  “A few months ago, I met this crazy woman when Scooter knocked her down on the street…”

  Wait. Why was he talking about her?

  “Over the last few months, our friendship has meant so much to me. She doesn’t realize it, but she’s changed who I am as a person. She’s also helped me realize what’s been missing in my life all these years.”

  Faith’s cheeks were turning red. Was he proposing or something? Because that would be way out of her comfort zone. Not that she didn’t have feelings for him, but that’d be a big jump. From their “almost kiss” to a marriage proposal?

  “Her love for the kids at HOPE and the inner strength she’s shown after a really hard few months gave me perspective about my own life.”

  Where was he going with this?

  “A few weeks ago, I made a big decision. I’ve always wanted to help people. I even went across the world for years to do just that. And I thought that going back there was the only way to help, the only way I could affect lives in a positive way. I thought it was the only way I could contribute to changing this world for the better…”

  Wait. He thought. He wasn’t leaving?

  “And then one day I realized that changing the world can start right in your own town. In your own home, even. And with that, I’d like to formally introduce you all to…” he said, walking across the room and opening a door in the hallway, “my daughter.”

  Amelia. Amelia was standing there. She was wearing a beautiful pink dress with the biggest smile on her face. She made eye contact with Faith and waved like a giddy child who just found out they were going to Disney World. Brandon picked her up and she hugged his neck tight as everyone applauded.

  Faith felt hot tears rolling down her cheeks. She wiped them away as best she could, trying not to miss any of the scene in front of her. Brandon had adopted Amelia? How? When? She had so many questions, but the sound of applause and cheers pounded in her ears as her heart practically leapt from her chest.

  “Everyone, this is Amelia James. She’s my daughter, and we’re going to take on the world together, aren’t we?” he said looking at her. She high fived him as everyone laughed and cheered.

  Faith couldn’t catch her breath as she watched the scene. Olivia put her arm around her, seeming to notice she was overcome with emotion.

  “Surprised?” she whispered.

  “Shocked is more like it. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  “Because Brandon didn’t want to disappoint you if things didn’t work out. He’s been working on this for weeks now.”

  “But I was so mad at him.”

  “I tried to get him to tell you the truth, but he preferred you to be mad at him than to be heartbroken if the adoption fell through.”

  “Oh my gosh… But the texts…”

  “Those were from me, Faith. And the notepad was old. Just a bad combination being that they were beside each other.”

  Faith covered her face. She was embarrassed and mad at herself for jumping to conclusions.

  “Hey,” she heard Brandon say from behind her. Olivia slipped away into the crowd and left them standing in the kitchen alone.

  “Brandon, I’m so sorry I jumped to conclusions.”

  He put his hands on her shoulders. “It’s okay, Faith.”

  “No, it’s not. I was so mad… so hurt…”

  “That kind of makes me feel important,” he said with a smile.

  “You are important. So important that I couldn’t imagine you leaving.”

  “Well, I’m not leaving. I have a daughter to raise.”

  “I have to know… Did you adopt her for me, Brandon?”

  “No. I adopted her because she needed someone who cared. She needed a stable home. And I have the means to raise her in the way she deserves. I realized at the carnival that I could be a great father to her. I’ve spent a lot of time with Amelia over the last few weeks. We had counseling sessions together, and I took her on day trips so we could get to know each other. I love her. She’s my kid. She may not be my blood, but I love her like she is. Her mother decided that it was better to let her be adopted than send her into the foster care system.”

  “How’s Amelia doing with all this?” Faith asked.

  “You tell me,” he said, looking into the crowd where everyone was swooning over her. Faith had never seen Amelia smile like that. She looked almost angelic as she chatted with the guests and ate a doughnut.

  “She looks so happy.”

  “I think she is. I had her bedroom decorated with princesses. Even got one of those big canopy beds. Almost didn’t get the darn thing in the house it was so tall,” Brandon said laughing.

  “I can’t wait to see it.”

  “I might be spoiling her just a bit,” he said, wrinkling his nose.

  “She deserves it.”

  “Miss Faith?” Amelia said from behind Brandon.

  “Amelia! I’m so glad to hear this happy news!” Faith said, leaning down and hugging her.

  “Thank you. I love it here!”

  “I bet you do! Sounds like your Dad is spoiling you rotten already.”

  “He is, but I like it! Do you want to see my room?”

  “Absolutely!” Faith barely got it out of her mouth before Amelia had grabbed her hand and started dragging her up the stairs. It was the first room on the right, overlooking the beautiful ocean view. It was all pink and white and frilly. She couldn’t believe Brandon had done this by himself.

  “It’s beautiful, Amelia. I know you’re going to love it here. Look at that view! I’m so jealous!”

  “I love to watch the dolphins in the morning. They come up so close,” she said, looking out the window and pointing. “Last night, Dad let me eat dessert on my balcony and I saw three dolphins.” She held up her little fingers and grinned.

  Dad. She was already calling him Dad. Faith’s heart swelled.

  She turned to see Brandon leaning against the doorframe, smiling. Faith scanned the room and noticed all the litt
le details. A fluffy bean bag chair. A teddy bear almost too big to fit in the room. A tall chest of drawers perfectly painted the starkest shade of white to complement the pink walls. The epitome of a little girl’s dream bedroom.

  “Did you do all of this?” Faith asked softly as Amelia waved at party guests from her small balcony above the deck.

  “I did. You like it?”

  Faith walked toward him slowly. “It’s amazing, Brandon. You’re amazing.”

  “Amelia?” Olivia called from the bottom of the stairs. “Come get your banana split!”

  Amelia flew past them in the doorway and ran down the stairs. Brandon and Faith were left alone, standing just inside the pink room. With over twenty people milling about downstairs and outside, the volume was loud, but Faith could hear nothing but the ragged breaths she was taking as Brandon closed the space between them.

  “You’re the amazing one, Faith. You inspired me to do this. Watching you overcome everything these last few months… watching you literally change who you were because you knew you could be a better version of yourself… it made me realize that I could never leave this place again. I could never leave you. It’s killed me to have this space between us the last few weeks…”

  “It’s killed me too,” Faith said, a rogue tear rolling down her cheek. “I just couldn’t take someone abandoning me again.”

  He brushed the tear away with his thumb. “I’d never abandon you. And I’ll never abandon Amelia. You’re my family.”

  “But we haven’t even kissed yet,” Faith said with a giggle.

  Brandon smiled and slid his hands behind her neck, cradling her head in his hands. “Well, let’s remedy that, shall we?”

  And with that, his warm lips met hers and Faith McLemore knew she’d finally found her real home - in Brandon James’ arms.

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  Faith pulled the pie from the oven, trying not to burn her hand again. She’d learned a lot of lessons about cooking since being on her own, but the best lesson was not to get distracted in the kitchen and grab a hot dish without an oven mitt. Ouch. Lucky for her that she was dating an ER doc.

  “Amelia, honey, have you finished your homework?”

  “Almost…”

  “You’re not playing on your phone, are you?”

  “No, ma’am…”

  “No pie until that math worksheet is done,” Faith called again, smiling at Olivia who was sitting across from her at the breakfast bar. “She’d do anything to get out of math homework.”

  “Pie is a great bribery tool, though,” Liv said, pinching off a piece of the crust. Faith swatted her hand.

  “No pie for you until after dinner,” Faith said laughing.

  “So where’s that fiancé of yours?”

  Faith smiled every time someone called him her fiancé. Brandon had surprised her a month ago with a proposal on the beach in front of Olivia, Ed and Amelia. It had been perfect.

  “Fishing with Clay.” She checked the time on her phone. “He should be home…”

  “I’m home!” Brandon called out from the foyer.

  “About now,” Faith finished her sentence with a laugh.

  Faith was still living at her bungalow, but she spent a lot of time at Brandon’s. She already thought of Amelia as her daughter, so it was an easy fit. But she couldn’t wait to move in with Brandon and Amelia in a few weeks after their wedding.

  “Hello, my beautiful bride to be,” Brandon said, planting a long, soft kiss on her neck as he entered the kitchen. Faith loved keeping her hair up in a ponytail just to encourage those amazing neck kisses he always gave her.

  “Well hello. How was fishing?”

  “Clay beat me again. I swear he baits his hook with something illegal.”

  Olivia laughed. “I think he’s just better than you.”

  “I see I’m already going to have problems with my new mother in law.”

  “Okay, that’s weird. I’m only a few years older than you,” Olivia said cringing as if bugs were crawling on her.

  “You two stop it or no pie after dinner,” Faith chided.

  “So, how was your visit with your father last weekend?” Olivia asked, pinching off another piece of pie crust when Faith wasn’t looking.

  “It was actually really good. He’s got a new attorney, and they think they can appeal the case and maybe get him a shorter sentence. I hope it works out. He’s done as best as can be expected in there, I guess. He’s working in the dining hall, which is funny because he never could cook.”

  “Was he happy to meet Brandon?”

  Faith looked up at him. “He really liked my sweetie. It was just a great visit. A full circle moment. And he was so happy we found each other too,” she said, reaching across the counter and squeezing Olivia’s hand. “He was glad I finally found where I belong.”

  Olivia walked around the counter just as Amelia trotted down the stairs. “We are blessed to be family,” Olivia said as she hugged her daughter. Brandon, with all his fishy smell, put his arms around them both.

  “Hey, what about me?” Amelia yelled as she ran toward them and scooted in the middle of the group.

  Faith looked up at Brandon and smiled. Family didn’t have to be blood. Sometimes you get to choose your family, and sometimes they choose you. And in that moment, she knew it had all been worth it. Family always was.

  Copyright © 2018 by Rachel Hanna

  All rights reserved.

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