“Do I hafta go to school today?” Zach peered longingly out the window at the new fallen snow. “Maybe the school bus won’t come and we’ll have a snow day.”
Paige laughed. “No such luck, pal. It’s only a few inches. Now get your backpack. The bus will be here any minute.”
With a begrudging sigh, Zach pulled his pack out of the closet and began to tug on his boots.
“Maybe we can make snow angels after school, provided your dad’s home to look after your brother.” In Paige’s arms, the baby cooed as if he knew they were talking about him.
Zach wrinkled his nose. “When’s Jake going to be old enough to make a snowman with me?” His biggest complaint about his brother was that Jake couldn’t do anything yet.
“Oh, not for about another year or so. Until then, you’re stuck with me and your dad.”
“And Farley. He loves the snow.”
She chuckled at the mental image of their black mutt romping through the white powder. “Yes, he does. Now scoot.”
Paige kissed Zach goodbye and watched out the front door as he bounded through the fresh snow in the driveway to the waiting bus. She waved at Judy, the driver, before the noisy vehicle lumbered off.
“Well, Jakey. Looks like it’s just the two of us.”
In response, the baby rubbed a fist into blue eyes that matched his father’s. Paige laughed and kissed the top of his silky head.
“Time for a nap, I think.” Maybe she’d actually get to take a shower before noon today.
After putting Jake in his crib, she finished tidying the kitchen. She could hardly believe she and Nathan had been married for almost two years, and that Jake was already six months old. It amazed her how her life had fallen into place once she stopped fighting her feelings for Nathan.
They had married as soon as she graduated. Dan performed the ceremony with all her family and friends in attendance. It had been one of the happiest days of her life. The other was the day Jake was born.
Her career, or the lack of it, was the only snag in her otherwise perfect life. She’d managed to get some part-time work with a local psychiatrist, but it wasn’t the calling she’d hoped for.
Then Jake had come along unexpectedly, changing all her priorities. She loved being a full-time mother to Zach and the baby, yet lately she found herself growing restless.
“Be patient,” she’d told herself on more than one occasion. “I’m sure God has a plan.”
After her shower, she did a load of laundry, fed Jake and was making herself a sandwich when she heard the front door open. She looked up in surprise when Nathan walked in.
“What are you doing home at this time of day?”
“Can’t a man come home for lunch with his wife and son?” He smiled, bending to kiss her.
“Of course you can. We’re happy to have your company.” She laughed when he kissed Jake in his high chair and the baby smeared a grimy fist of applesauce across his nose. “Let me fix you a sandwich.”
She turned back to the cutting board.
Nathan wiped his face, then took the knife from her hand. “That can wait a minute. I have some news first.”
“What kind of news?” He was smiling, so she wasn’t alarmed, only curious.
“Something that will please you, I hope.”
She took the seat he pulled out for her, then waited while he sat beside her.
“Dan got a call this morning,” he said. “We’ve finally been approved to start the youth center we’ve been talking about.”
“That’s great.” She smiled at his enthusiasm, not really understanding why he had to come home to tell her this.
“Dan wants to expand the program. He’s planning on hiring a youth counselor as a liaison between the church and the kids.” He paused, grinning. “And he’d like that to be you.”
Her eyes widened. “Me? A youth counselor?”
“It would only be a few hours a week—which would give you time for grief counseling, as well.”
She frowned. “What grief counseling?” Her fondest wish, to help others suffering a loss, had yet to come true.
Nathan’s grin widened. “That’s the other good news. Dan finally managed to convince Mr. Dearling at the Pine Ridge Funeral Home that they need a grief-counseling program. Mr. Dearling has agreed, especially since Dan told him he has the perfect person in mind. He’s even secured you a small office on-site.”
As the idea began to sink in, a bubble of excitement rose in her chest. It was exactly the type of program she’d envisioned starting in New Jersey. “When would all this happen?”
“Whenever you feel ready to start working again. There’s a lot of preliminary work to set up the youth program. But Mr. Dearling is prepared to have you start as soon as you’re able.”
Her mind reeling with a thousand jumbled thoughts, Paige pushed up from the table. “What about the kids? I’d have to find a sitter for Jake.”
Nathan came up beside her and put his hands on her shoulders, calm and steadying. “All those details can be worked out as we go along.”
Another thought struck her. “You wouldn’t mind me going back to work? We agreed that I’d take a year off with the baby.”
He took her face in his hands. “I know how important your career is to you, and I want you to be happy. Everything else will work itself out.”
Sudden realization dawned at the look in his eye. “You put Dan up to this, didn’t you?”
“I may have mentioned it a time or two.” He dropped a light kiss on her lips.
Her heart swelled with love for this man who always had her happiness in mind. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. “Thank you. You are amazing.”
Once again, Paige marveled at how God answered her prayers once she let go and let Him take charge.
Jake whined to get out of his chair. She quickly unclipped the belt and lifted him out.
“Here, let me do the honors.” Nathan reached for a washcloth.
Paige smiled at the tender way he cleaned his son’s face and hands. “How did I ever get so lucky?” she whispered.
His gaze locked with hers, sending tingles along her spine. “Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from FALLING FOR TEXAS by Jill Lynn.