A Family for Faith

A Family for Faith
Missy Tippens

When Faith Hagin sees widower cop Gabe Reynolds every day in her coffee shop, she can't help but feel for the struggling single dad. She's raised a teenager of her own–and sadly, knows what not to do.But thanks to his matchmaking preteen daughter, Chelsea, the whole town's praying for Gabe to find a wife! Even though Faith thinks she's content being just friends, spending time with him and Chelsea starts to feel like a fresh start at having a family. And their love may be the answer to everyone's prayers.

“I want y’all to find a bunch of people to be praying for my dad…to find a girlfriend.”

“Not on the church-wide prayer chain, Chelsea,” Faith protested.

“His whole life is this town and me—specifically keeping me his overly safe little girl. I want him to have some fun.”

Faith wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Surely it was a good plan. But a girlfriend? On the prayer chain?

“What do you think, Faith?” Chelsea asked.

“When would he have time to go out?”

“That’s the point. He needs to make time. To be forced to make time.”

Faith wasn’t so enthused. All she could think about as she waved goodbye to Chelsea was that Gabe would be angry. And she would be miserable.

But why would watching Gabe go out and have fun make her miserable? Did she feel more than a neighborly connection with Gabe? More than friendship?

MISSY TIPPENS

Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy met her very own hero when she headed off to grad school in Atlanta, Georgia. She promptly fell in love and hasn’t left Georgia since. She and her pastor husband have been married twenty-plus years now, and have been blessed with three wonderful children and an assortment of pets. Nowadays, in addition to her writing, she teaches as an adjunct instructor at a local technical college.

Missy is thankful to God that she’s been called to write stories of love and faith. After ten years of pursuing her dream of being published, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to the Steeple Hill Love Inspired line. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened!

Missy would love to hear from readers through her website, www.missytippens.com, or by email at missytippens@aol.com. For those with no internet access, you can reach her c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

A Family for Faith

Missy Tippens

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

—1 Corinthians 13:13

There is no fear in love, but full-grown love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love.

—1 John 4:18

To my two wonderful sons—both amazing young men. And to my wonderful daughter—a joy at age thirteen. Thank you for making life so fun!

To my husband for unwavering love and support.

To God for allowing me a career I love so much.

To the father and daughter on the flight from D.C. to Atlanta who inspired this story.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Lindi Peterson, Ruthy Logan Herne and my sister-in-law for research assistance.

As always, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Emily Rodmell and the team at Love Inspired.

Contents

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

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION