A Mother's Love

who were both enthusiastic when I told them about

this one. You’ll never know how much that means.

And to my sister, Deborah. I love you, hon. I hope

this one touches your heart, too.

Prologue (#ulink_b3fb1b85-78a2-562c-932f-0cd3b06a1fd2)

Maggie looked at the suitcase sitting by the front door. It didn’t contain much, just her most treasured possessions. Funny how everything she really cared about could fit into one suitcase.

Looking back at the house and the lavish staircase, she realized what a pampered life she’d led.

Fear clutched her heart, emerging from her numbness. So much had happened in the past seven weeks, things that had totally changed her outlook on life. No more was this house a haven for her; no more was it a place she could run to when she was hurt or afraid.

She saw a maid peek around the corner, heard the muffled sniffles of another when she picked up her suitcase. Maggie hadn’t realized how much the staff cared for her. Of course they wouldn’t say anything about her leaving. Their jobs wouldn’t permit it.

Had her whole life been so marked by privilege? She’d been so innocent, working at a job that had been provided for her, going to the church where she’d been raised, doing everything she’d always been told.

Until now.

But she just couldn’t do what her parents had asked of her.

She couldn’t.

At twenty-six, she was old enough to make her own decisions. It was time to stop listening to everyone else. Past time.

So, when the ultimatum had been given, she had shocked everyone by accepting it.

She went to the door, then looked back one last time. Black dots danced before her eyes, and she swayed before fighting off the dizziness. She’d never been on her own before. She was scared, more scared than she could ever remember being. She took a deep breath.

Pushing the desolation from her thoughts, she reached for the brass doorknob and pulled the door open. She wished once again there was an easy way out of the mess she was in.

But there wasn’t That was why she was leaving.

For better or worse, she had made her bed; now she had to lie in it.

Squaring her shoulders, she headed toward the cab, refusing to look back, promising herself to only look ahead. She would rely only on herself from this day forward to get herself through the next six months.

Chapter One (#ulink_31c87589-8e4e-5645-b435-ad2d1eaa33fb)

“Shirley quit?” Jake Mathison swerved to avoid a huge puddle in the middle of the road, the beat-up truck bouncing as he hit a pothole instead. He moved the cell phone from his ear, then brought it back. “But she was assisting with those plans we’ve been working on as well as keeping my notes. And,” he suddenly added, “she helps with the children’s programs.”

Doom loomed before him as he realized all that would be left hanging with Shirley gone. He almost missed Jennifer’s next words, but instead nodded with exasperation. “I know, Jennifer. I’m not blaming her. If Charlie finally asked her to get married, I can see why she jumped at it. She’s been head over heels in love with him forever. I even counseled her when he left. That’s why she took that vacation out there.” Jake now wished in a small way that he’d had her wait just a bit longer.

No, that wasn’t true. He was happy for her.

He listened as Jennifer quickly suggested a solution.

“Yeah, okay. You do that. Maybe if you put it in the church bulletin, someone will be interested in temporarily assisting me.”

Though it was the middle of the afternoon, Jake squinted through the deepening gloom that had settled over the small streets of Centerton, Louisiana. It was the time of year for hurricanes. And whether they had hurricanes or not, the summer months always brought rain. So what if today was like a monsoon? Yesterday had been, also.

“Yeah, Jennifer. No, I won’t be back today,” he replied to her question. “Go on home to Gage.”

He squinted again as he went down the country road. “You, too. Bye.” He hung up.

Jennifer was a wonder. He adored her, had been delighted when she’d come to work for him as the day-care manager at his small church. Jake had even performed her marriage ceremony six months ago. He depended on her help.

Just as he had Shirley’s.

So, what was he going to do without his assistant? Not only had she kept his files in order, helped him when he went on his children crusades into the inner city, but she’d also been working closely with him on his latest project: getting the cities around Baton Rouge to pitch in and work together to build an inner-city recreation center where the kids would have a place to go, to get off the streets and away from drugs.

And now Shirley was gone.

Maybe it was the rain or his telephone call that kept him from seeing the woman until he was right beside her.

He caught only a flash of someone with long limp hair, huddled in an oversize yellow raincoat, before his truck splashed her and she cringed.

He hit the brakes, pulling off the road immediately. In his rearview mirror he saw the person stumble and fall from trying to avoid his splash.

“Oh, great! Good going, Jake,” he berated himself. He grabbed his umbrella and ran back to where the young girl was struggling up. Concerned, he held the umbrella out over her, trying to protect her from the rain.

Reaching down, he extended his hand. “Are you okay?”

The girl placed her pale-white hand in his. He felt calluses on the pads of her fingers, saw short clipped nails that were clean of nail polish. She struggled up.

When she lifted her head, green, the brightest he’d ever seen, met his gaze and he was transfixed. This girl—no, he corrected himself, this woman, had the most exquisite eyes he’d ever seen. They were beautiful. Large and innocent, they were framed by dark lashes. Perfectly arched eyebrows, a darker shade than her eyelashes, crested over her eyes. A few small freckles dotted the bridge of her nose, the same color as her dripping red hair.

Then her expression changed, became guarded, world-weary. “Are you okay?” he repeated, wondering what had caused the change.

“Fine.”

He waited, but she didn’t say anything else.

“Can I give you a ride somewhere?”

She started to shake her head, but he stopped her. “It’s pouring rain. Come on. I can’t leave you out here like this.”

She lifted her chin, then sighed, her shoulders drooping.

What could make this beautiful woman look so beaten down? His heart went out to her. “It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I won’t hurt you. Besides, it’s the least I can do, since I wasn’t paying attention and splashed you.”

She raised her wary gaze to his again, then nodded once, curtly. “Thank you.”

He walked beside her to the car. “I’m Jake Mathison.”

“I’m Margaret…” She hesitated.