A Family for Thanksgiving. Patricia Davids

      

      “What will you do if you have to give up Kasey?”

      A chill settled around Nicki’s heart. “I don’t know. I hope that I’ll rejoice because it means she’ll be reunited with her family.”

      “But the truth is?” Clay prompted.

      Nicki smiled sadly. “The truth is—it will break my heart into a million pieces.”

      Glancing at Clay through suddenly tear-filled eyes, Nicki knew he’d heard the catch in her voice. She hoped he hadn’t seen her eyes mist over at the thought of losing Kasey.

      He said softly, “You love her. You want what’s best for her—even if that isn’t a life with you.”

      Meeting his gaze, Nicki realized the brash, reckless boy she’d known had changed in more ways than she’d given him credit for. He’d become an insightful man capable of understanding the feelings of others.

      After the Storm:

       A Kansas community unites to rebuild

      Healing the Boss’s Heart—Valerie Hansen

       July 2009

      Marrying Minister Right—Annie Jones

       August 2009

      Rekindled Hearts—Brenda Minton

       September 2009

      The Matchmaking Pact—Carolyne Aarsen

       October 2009

      A Family for Thanksgiving—Patricia Davids

       November 2009

      Jingle Bell Babies—Kathryn Springer

       December 2009

      PATRICIA DAVIDS

       Patricia Davids continues to work as a part-time nurse in the NICU while writing full-time. She enjoys researching new stories, traveling to new locations and meeting fans along the way. She and her husband of thirty-two years live in Wichita, Kansas, along with the newest addition to the household, a stray cat named Spooky. Pat always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can contact her by mail at P.O. Box 16714, Wichita, Kansas 67216, or visit her on the Web at www.patriciadavids.com.

      A Family for Thanksgiving

      Patricia Davids

      MILLS & BOON

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      Special thanks and acknowledgment to Patricia Davids for her contribution to the After the Storm miniseries.

      Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

      —Psalms 55:22

      This book is dedicated with respect and deep

       admiration to the people of Chapman, Kansas.

       Go Irish!

      Contents

      Prologue

      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

      Questions for Discussion

      Prologue

      July 10, 4:04 p.m.

      “It’s only a thunderstorm. It’ll be over soon.”

      Huddled in the basement of the High Plains Community Church with her preschool class and numerous townspeople, Nicki Appleton tried to maintain a brave front for her kids. The howling wind sounded as if it were trying to rip the building apart. The old wooden structure shuddered and groaned over their heads in protest.

      The lights flickered. Some of the children around her whimpered with fear.

      “Don’t be scared.” One of Nicki’s students, three-year-old Layla Logan, was patting the shoulder of a little girl sitting beside her.

      Nicki couldn’t help but smile at the child’s motherly tone. Maya Logan would be proud of her brave little daughter.

      Glancing at the small basement window near the top of the wall, all Nicki could see were the limbs of the nearby cedar trees thrashing wildly and the greenish-gray sky beyond. A flash followed by a deafening clap of thunder made her jump.

      Suddenly, hail began pelting the roof and bouncing off the ground outside the window. In a matter of seconds, marble-size chunks of ice were filling the window well.

      Even by Kansas standards, this was a wicked storm.

      At least her car wasn’t getting hammered in the parking lot outside. Nicki breathed a quick prayer of thanks that she had chosen to walk to work leaving her car safely under the carport at her apartment.

      Then abruptly, the wind and hail stopped. Nicki tensed. Something wasn’t right.

      The thought had barely formed in her mind when a great roar began. Like a dozen jet engines bearing down on them, the sound filled the church basement, drowning out the frightened cries of the people sheltering there.

      Tornado!

      Nicki pulled the youngest children closer to her, sheltering them with her body. Her ears popped in the intense pressure change. Dust filled the air. The lights went out. People screamed.

      The roar went on and on until Nicki thought she would scream, too. It seemed like forever but, in reality, it only lasted a few minutes. Finally, the noise died away, and the sounds of the children’s crying rose in volume.

      “I’m scared.”

      “Turn on the lights, Miss Appleton.”

      “It’s okay.” Nicki used her calm teacher voice, although she felt anything but. Her heart was hammering hard enough to jump out of her body.

      Close by in the darkness, Josie Cane added her reassurances to her daycare group. “It’s fine. Everyone sit quietly, please.”

      Nicki fumbled, with shaking hands, for the flashlight in her emergency kit. Locating the plastic cylinder, she snapped it on.

      The sudden bright circle of light showed her a dozen frightened, tear-streaked faces looking