His Forever Love. Missy Tippens

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      “How long do you plan to stay in town for this time? Ten minutes?” Lindsay asked.

      Obviously she hadn’t forgiven him for leaving town after high school. Was she upset that he hadn’t said goodbye? Or maybe he was reading too much into her anger. Maybe she just thought she needed to protect his grandmother. “I know I’m not here often, but I do love my grandmother, and I’m here now,” Bill said.

      “Where were you when she had the flu last winter or when someone tried to break into her house or when she almost gave her credit card number to a phone scammer? I’m the one who helped her then.”

      She sounded hurt that he was trying to exclude her. “I’m sorry. I just thought you might enjoy a little time off.” Plus, I’m not sure my heart can take being around you every day.

      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 publishing, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to Steeple Hill Books’ Love Inspired line. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened!

      Missy would love to hear from readers through her Web site, www.missytippens.com, or by e-mail: [email protected]. For those with no Internet access, you can reach her c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

      His Forever Love

      Missy Tippens

      MILLS & BOON

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      For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

      —Jeremiah 29:11

      To my husband for being my biggest cheerleader

       and promoter.

      To Belinda Peterson for being a trusted, faithful

       friend and sister in Christ.

      And, as always, to God for giving me the stories.

      Acknowledgments

      Thank you to my church family for supporting me and loving me. And to the Girls’ Night Out Gang (you know who you are!) for helping me stay sane.

      Thank you to my kids for allowing Mom to work and for not complaining about eating spaghetti over and over…and over.

      I’m so thankful for my critique partner and good friend, Belinda Peterson, for generously and, yes, even cheerfully, reading a zillion versions of this manuscript. And for always being willing to room with me at conferences—snoring and all!

      A special thanks to Emily Rodmell and all the wonderful people at Steeple Hill Books for their excellence and their commitment to bringing quality inspirational fiction to the shelves.

      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

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      Epilogue

      Questions For Discussion

      Chapter One

      Time flew backward at warp speed for Bill Wellington when the name Lindsay Jones popped up on his cell phone.

      Warm summer evenings studying on the front porch swing. Working together on projects.

      Holding hands around The Forever Tree.

      But then he hurtled back to the present as he realized there could be only one reason why she would call.

      Granny.

      He snapped opened his cell phone. “Lindsay, is Granny okay?”

      “She’s fine. Sorry to scare you.”

      He had programmed Lindsay’s number into his phone when Granny hired her as a caregiver, so he’d assumed the worst. Relief nearly brought him to his knees. He waited for Lindsay to say more, but she remained silent. “Lindsay?”

      “I’m sorry. I—” She sighed. “Your granny did take a fall, so I wanted to let you know. She has a mild concussion, and they’re going to X-ray her wrist. But the doctor said she’ll be fine.”

      Tension raced across his shoulders and ran up the back of his neck. “How did it happen?”

      “She fell off the back porch early this morning while taking out the trash.”

      Poor Granny. “She’s at the hospital now?”

      “Yes. They’ll probably keep her overnight for observation.”

      “I’ll head down there as soon as I can get a flight.”

      “Oh, you don’t need to do that. I’ll stay with her. And Granny Bea didn’t even want me to bother you.”

      She thought he’d be bothered? “No, I want to come check on her. Other than Drake, she’s the only family I have.”

      She sighed again. “Do you need a ride from the airport?”

      With all the sighs, it made him wonder what she thought of him. Or did she even think of him at all anymore? “No, thanks. I’ll rent a car.”

      He closed his phone and clutched it in his palm. Lindsay Jones. Smart, beautiful, kind, funny. Since he’d avoided all the high school reunions, he hadn’t seen her in nearly fifteen years.

      A thrill at seeing her surged through him, then immediately plummeted. He hated the thought of heading home to Magnolia, Georgia, for more than a quick weekend. It would mean facing the townspeople he had escaped right after graduation.

      It would mean facing Lindsay,