A House Full of Hope. Missy Tippens

      From Black Sheep To Father Of Four

      Before becoming a Christian, Mark Ryker ran with a bad crowd and broke hearts. Including his father’s. Now a successful businessman, Mark has come home to Corinthia, Georgia, to make amends. But no one will forgive him. So when the widowed mother of four renting his dad’s run-down house needs help fixing up the place, Mark gets to work. Pretty Hannah Hughes and her sweet kids have him longing to be part of the clan, but Hannah isn’t ready to let go of the past. Still, they are working together on a house full of hope—and that’s all Mark needs.

      “Let me help clean up,” Mark said, swiping the dishrag from Hannah.

      Warmth crept through her, making her want to smile, to stand near him and chat about the day while they worked side by side.

      She shook the thought out of her head and busied herself putting away leftovers. The kids played in the next room, leaving Mark and her alone in the kitchen.

      Enough.

      “My turn.” She tried to take back the dishcloth, and their hands tangled in the soapy water.

      “I don’t see how you do it all,” he said.

      “It was difficult in the beginning, but I’m getting used to it.”

      “Do you ever get lonely?”

      “Most of the time I’m too busy to think about it. But sometimes, like on Valentine’s Day, I wish for a knight in shining armor to shower me with flowers and jewels.” Hannah laughed. She felt silly for admitting it. “Dumb, I know. But a girl can dream, can’t she?”

      “Not dumb at all. I have a few crazy dreams myself.” Mark stared into her eyes for a moment before glancing away.

      A House Full of Hope

      Missy Tippens

      

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

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

      —1 Corinthians 13:13

      But because of his great love for us, God,

      who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions— it is by grace you have been saved. —Ephesians 2:4–5

      To my children:

      Tyler—

      my very own budding aerospace engineer and hero in his own right.

      Nick—future earth and ocean scientist

      and soon-to-be Duke University graduate!

      Michelle—future photographer/interior designer/writer/mother/anything-you-want-to-be

      (I’ll adore you no matter what).

      Mom is so very proud of all of you.

      To God—

      Who loves me generously and unconditionally.

      Acknowledgments:

      A big thank you to Matthew McWhorter

      and Amy Hagin for research help— especially Amy for answering my many text messages. To Janet Dean for quick reads and spot-on feedback. To Lindi Peterson for friendship and moral support. And to Janet and Lindi for helping me figure out the ending!

      Thanks to my wonderful agent, Natasha Kern,

      for believing in me.

      Thanks to Emily Rodmell, Rachel Burkot and

      all the fabulous people at Love Inspired Books for their hard work and dedication.

      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

       Dear Reader

       Questions for Discussion

      Chapter One

      Asking for forgiveness from a man like Redd Ryker was sure to backfire.

       But Mark Ryker had returned to Corinthia, Georgia, to apologize to his father anyway. Because God had hit him with conviction far more compelling than any fear of Redd’s reaction.

       As Mark traveled through the overarching trees along the long, winding driveway, he recalled the peace it used to give him as a boy. But for several years before he moved away, even the calm, light-speckled green tunnel offered no relief from his grief. From his guilt.

       He braked and stared at the house that had sheltered Rykers for generations. He couldn’t believe the poor condition of his dad’s home. Home. Not quite a fitting term for the house during Mark’s teenage years, yet he did have some good memories here.

       Memories from before his twin brother, Matt, died.

       The overgrown front walk led to a house, once a cheery yellow, which now sat sallow and peeling. The roof needed replacing. When he stepped onto the porch, he found a shutter tilted at an angle, and a screen door that didn’t sit flush. The pair of old rocking chairs, the one place his parents used to seem happy, were mildewed and caked with bird droppings. Why had the old man let the house go? Finances? Lack of interest after Mark’s mother had died?

       He blocked the pain that thoughts of his mom dredged up, took a deep, fortifying breath and knocked.

       A few seconds later, footsteps approached from the yard. He turned and stood face-to-face with his father. He hadn’t seen the man in fifteen years, and every one of those years was now etched in his craggy face.

       Stooped and rail-thin, the man who once intimidated Mark looked far older than his sixty-five years. But the hard golden eyes that perfectly matched Mark’s hadn’t changed a bit. They revealed his anger even while registering shock.

       The hope Mark had cautiously