Two Rings, One Heart. Martha Mason

      

      Table of Contents

       Cover Page

       Excerpt

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Epigraph

       Dedication

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

       Dear Reader

       Copyright

      “You’re the last person I expected to see at the door…”

      Megan stared at him, dazed. “What are you doing here, Mitch?”

      “I came to town on business. I thought I’d come by and see the kids…and you,” he added.

      His dark brown hair was tousled as usual and a bit of gray showed around the edges. He was looking very fit and handsome. She gave up the pretense. She felt unhinged, and it showed.

      “Maybe it would be better if you just left,” she said crisply.

      “I just wanted to see all of you. I didn’t come to cause any trouble, Megan.”

      Finally her eyes met his. He was intently watching her. In his eyes she saw a sadness that had never been there before.

      “I couldn’t stay away any longer. It was time to come back,” he said softly.

       MARTHA MASON

      has spent the major portion of her adult life being a stay-at-home mom. Now that her children are grown, she has time to pursue things she has never done before—like writing. “I prayed, asking God what I could do with my time, and unexpectedly I was led to writing. This surprised me, because I never had any aptitude for writing. Composing a note to go on the refrigerator was a major task.”

      Martha is delighted with writing Christian fiction. Knowing life isn’t always perfect, but that things always turn out right if she puts her trust in God. She feels this career change was “inspired.” Two Rings, One Heart is her first novel. She plans to keep writing, enjoying the new direction her life is taking.

      Smith Mountain Lake is where she resides with her husband, Boonie, and her mother-in-law, Beverly. She has three children—Chris, Amy and Andy. With the lake in her backyard, there is always plenty of company. She is also looking forward to the construction of the church she attends. She says the Lord, her family and friends gave her the encouragement she needed to write this book.

      Two Rings, One Heart

      Martha Mason

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

      —Ephesians 4:32

      To “Boonie,” Chris, Amy, Andy, Beverly and all my family and friends who believed in me and encouraged me in untold ways. I love you all.

       Chapter One

      Memories. Old memories, always flooding up from the past Megan Whitney had built a new life, but the past was always coming to haunt her. Reminders of a life years ago and the husband she had loved and trusted.

      Why couldn’t she just let it go? Maybe it was because of the kids. But they were a blessing. No, it was deeper than that It was the promises. The vows she had made to God and to Mitchell.

      Megan realized she felt this way every time she had a confrontation challenging her moral values. This time not only had her integrity been questioned, but by the end of the encounter she was being accused of causing her husband’s departure. Was it true? Had she been the problem all along?

      The day had started out as usual for Megan. She got her two children off to school. Afterwards she opened Meadow Flowers, a once-small florist’s shop that she had built into a flourishing nursery and landscape business.

      In the morning, she made flower arrangements. After lunch, she delivered them and went to do a final inspection on a landscaping job. From there she went to the high school to pick up her sixteen-year-old son, Zack.

      Zack drove his mother to the Division of Motor Vehicles. He was finally old enough to get his driver’s license. Coming out of the building, he proudly showed his mother the license. To him it meant freedom to come and go without his mother escorting him. “See Mom, it’s official. I can drive now. Aren’t you happy?”

      “Overjoyed! Now you can do the evening deliveries.”

      “Aw, Mom!” Zack groaned. “Can I have the truck after that?”

      “We’ll see,” she said, smiling faintly.

      The last stop was a meeting to complete a landscape proposal. Megan’s day had been hectic, but she didn’t complain. There had been lean years in the past, when it had been hard to make ends meet.

      Faith in God was her foundation. She had learned to pray, work hard and hold on. Now she