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  Mildred came to pick up Tyson—a fact that didn’t completely surprise Charlotte but disappointed her all the same.

  She kept her smile bright as she ushered child after child into the care of whoever was picking them up. Michael still sat at his desk, reading a book. Mavis was often late, so it didn’t worry Charlotte, though she was anxious to be alone with her thoughts. She knew Mavis would dart her head into the classroom just long enough to let her son know she was there, and Michael would quickly gather his belongings and hurry out.

  Charlotte never had found out why Mavis was trying to track her down. She imagined it was because of the recess incident, but clearly things that had pressed into Mavis’s life overshadowed it. For today, at least, Charlotte was just as glad that the other woman had nothing to say to her. She was anxious to be alone and to ask God one more time to reassure her that she was doing the right thing.

  But, once again, it appeared that God had other plans.

  When Mavis showed up, she startled Charlotte by asking, “Can I talk to you?” Mavis hovered at her desk with her arms awkwardly hanging at her sides.

  “Of course. How can I help you?” Charlotte asked, pulling out every molecule of professional decorum that she had. She hoped that Mavis would at least have the sense not to have it out with her in front of her son.

  “You wrote in Michael’s art book that you love the way he draws birds,” she blurted out.

  “I did,” Charlotte agreed. “And I meant it. Michael has a wonderful eye. He notices things.”

  “Most people just think he’s bad all the time. They don’t know...” Mavis’s voice faltered, then she braced herself, and when she spoke, her voice sounded even harsher, but Charlotte could hear the pain within it.

  “They don’t know...it hurts to have people misunderstand—not to know what your life is all about.”

  “I know,” Charlotte said. “And I think everyone has something good in them.”

  “Well, I think you’re good at helping people find that,” Mavis said. “It’s got me thinking that maybe I’m the one who has to figure out what’s good and what works instead of running all the time. Thank you for that.” Then she barked out a scornful laugh as if she was ashamed of herself for being vulnerable. “Let’s go, Mikey. I haven’t got all day.”

  For a long time after they left, Charlotte sat at her desk, pondering.

  God...? Did You...?

  Because maybe, just maybe, He had answered her question using the most unexpected source possible; because He was God and because He could do whatever He wanted.

  But the longer she sat there and thought about what Mavis had said about not running, the more she realized that there was nothing she could do, whether she stayed or left, to change the tragic fact that Anna had drowned. As she realized that she was responsible for her own healing, she finally realized that her parents were responsible for theirs. Going away wouldn’t truly solve anything, at least not if she left feeling the way that she did. She had to confront them, and she had to tell them that she would no longer allow them to hold her hostage to their own guilt and remorse.

  She lifted her head and, with her eyes streaming with tears but her heart full of new determination, she thanked God for finally showing her the way.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Is everything okay, Paul?” Harold asked as they prepared to close shop on Friday.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Paul asked.

  “Of course not,” Harold said. “I’m not asking about work, I’m asking about you.”

  Paul thought that it was rather a shame that this town continually showed its kindness and concern to him and Tyson but still couldn’t deliver what he wanted most of all: a future with a certain person who couldn’t wait to get away.

  He had done everything he could to avoid Charlotte since they’d parted on Wednesday. That meant asking Mildred to pick up Tyson from school. He felt bad about that, but he didn’t see that he had another choice.

  As for his reading, he battled down the feeling that you never knew what you were missing until you lost it. He’d gotten along okay without it so far and he was determined that he would continue to do so.

  Except for knowing that he’d gained and lost much more than learning to read...

  He realized that he hadn’t answered Harold.

  “I’m okay, thanks for asking. It’s just been, ah, kind of a tough week.”

  “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “I appreciate the offer, but no.”

  Paul left work, and as he headed toward Mildred’s house to pick up Tyson, he kept up a silent debate with God.

  Somewhat to his own surprise, his disappointment in Charlotte hadn’t caused him to stop talking to God. Instead, his prayers grew more intense than ever. He thought about the way she talked about finding solace in His word, and he couldn’t help wondering if there were Scriptures that could help him deal with how he was feeling. But how would he ever know?

  Ask for help.

  The thought literally stopped him in his tracks.

  Thoughts and questions continued to barrage his mind and heart. What would he accomplish if he continued to keep his secret? What would he risk by telling it? What would he lose by not?

  The realization dawned that whether he learned to read or not and what he did with his future was his alone to make. No matter how much he cared for Charlotte and hoped she cared for him, she wasn’t responsible for his future or for his happiness, and it wasn’t fair for him to hold her back.

  He had to find her. He had to tell her.

  * * *

  Charlotte laid her fork down beside what was left of her strawberry rhubarb pie. She told herself, It’s now or never, and gave a silent prayer. Yet somehow she already knew that God was with her and that He’d only been waiting for her to realize what she had to do.

  “We’re going to talk about Anna,” she began in a firm voice.

  Immediately, it was like the actual air around the table changed, filled with gazes that were either averted or filled with pain.

  But she didn’t waver.

  “I am deeply sorry for my role in what happened. But I was fifteen years old. If I could go back and change what happened, I would, but I can’t. All I can do is move forward and remember Anna the way she deserves to be remembered. And I’ve decided that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to talk about her when I want to, and remember things about her, and laugh about what a funny little girl she was.”

  She paused and looked pleadingly at her father and her mother, who was hugging her own stomach.

  She looked at them and she loved them with her whole heart, but she knew she couldn’t make things better for them...nor was she expected to.

  “I love all of you,” she said, glancing around the table. Bridget met her gaze directly, her mouth trembling, but she nodded and attempted a smile.

  Finally her mother answered. “We love you, too, Charlotte.” Her father nodded.

  Charlotte was happy to hear it, but she no longer expected them to change. Her parents had their own journey to travel, and she had made her peace with God and with herself.

  And now she was ready to tell Paul that she was staying. Not because he or anyone else demanded it of her, but because she no longer had to run.

  Later that evening, Paul and Tyson stood outside Charlotte’s house. Paul rang the doorbell, then rang it again.

  “She’s not home,” Tyson said.

  “I guess not.” Paul tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. “Well, since we’re out anyway, should we get some hot chocolate at Seth’s?”

  Tyson bounced along beside him. “Yeah!”

  They were halfway there when they spotted Charlotte heading in their direction.

  “Ms. Connelly!” Tyson bolted in her direction. “We were just at your h
ouse.”

  “You were?” she smiled absently at him, but her eyes sought out Paul.

  “I had to see you,” Paul said. “To tell you that I’m sorry, and that I realized that if I truly love you, I won’t stop you from doing what makes you happy.”

  Beneath the streetlight, Charlotte’s eyes shone. “I was looking for you, too,” she said. “I wanted to tell you that I’m going to stay and that...” She stopped. “You love me?”

  Paul nodded. “You’re staying? Does that mean that...?”

  “I love you, too, Paul. I want us to have a life here. I want us to make a difference here, together.”

  They embraced while Tyson jumped around them and asked, “Can Ms. Connelly come have hot chocolate with us?”

  Paul smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, “Do you think Tyson should practice calling you Aunt Charlotte?”

  He gave one hand to Charlotte, the other to Tyson, and together they moved forward.

  Epilogue

  “You look so lovely, Charlotte, dear,” her mother said as she adjusted the white silk flower in Charlotte’s hair. It was a crisp and sunny day the following September.

  Charlotte had not wanted a dress that was too frothy or overwhelming, and the simple but elegant lines of the white lace gown she wore suited her perfectly.

  “You do look so beautiful, Char,” Bridget reaffirmed in an awed voice. She and Rena wore matching silk bridesmaid dresses in autumn shades of gold and coral.

  “I can’t believe this day is finally here,” Charlotte said. “It still doesn’t feel quite real.”

  Less than a year ago, she had barely known Paul Belvedere. And now, on this warm morning in September, with the trees beginning to change their wardrobes to yellow, red and brown, she was about to become his wife.

  Tyson had entered grade two with confidence and enthusiasm. If he had any regrets about not being in Ms. Connelly’s class anymore, being able to call her Aunt Charlotte instead more than made up for it.

  Since Paul and Tyson had come into her life, she continued to learn what God was capable of.

  “I wish that...” Charlotte began to say, then stopped.

  “I wish Anna was here, too,” Lenore finished for her.

  Charlotte swallowed and hugged her mother.

  It had taken time, but after she had confronted her parents with her need to talk openly about Anna, they were finally facing their own grief. Her mother had sought counseling to help her with the process and her physical symptoms were improving.

  “Anna is here in our hearts and our memories,” Charlotte said.

  George poked his head in. “There’s a young man down the hall who’s getting anxious to see his bride. And who can blame him? You look absolutely wonderful, Charlotte.”

  * * *

  Down the church hallway in another room, Paul adjusted his bow tie and checked his reflection in the mirror. He thought his black tuxedo looked all right, but mostly what he saw was his eyes glowing with anticipation.

  “I’m happy for you, Paul,” Seth said. “You and Charlotte are perfect together.”

  Tyson, dressed in his own tuxedo and bow tie, stalked around the room with his hands bent into claws in front of him. “I’m the ring bear. Grrrr!”

  Instead of telling him it was ring bearer, Paul scooped him into a hug. “How about a bear hug for the ring bear?”

  Tyson wriggled and snorted with laughter.

  “Ready to get me married to Ms. Connelly?” Paul asked.

  “She’s not Ms. Connelly anymore,” Tyson corrected. “She’s Auntie Charlotte.”

  The music began. They stepped out of the room and waited at the front of the church.

  Paul felt like his heart couldn’t possibly hold any more happiness, as he watched his beautiful bride walk down the aisle toward him on her father’s arm.

  The minister gave a warm welcome to the congregation. Then he said, “Before we get to the vows and the exchange of the rings, Paul has asked for time to share his thoughts with his bride.”

  A murmur of joyful anticipation stirred through the congregation, as Paul’s best man handed him a folded piece of paper. But his eyes were locked on the beautiful violet eyes of the woman he loved—the woman he intended to spend the rest of his life with.

  His hands trembled a bit with emotion and nerves, then Charlotte’s loving and encouraging smile calmed him and he unfolded the paper and began to read the words that he had written just for her: “Charlotte,” he began, his voice filled with emotion, “When I came into your classroom that first day, I had no idea that God would use you to change me, to help me let go of the fear I had, and that I would find love with you...”

  With God’s help, Paul knew, they would continue to love, trust and help one another grow to be the best people they could be as they faced the future together with open hearts.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed Instant Father,

  look for Donna Gartshore’s earlier book:

  Instant Family

  Available now from Love Inspired!

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Amish Spinster’s Courtship by Emma Miller.

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  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for reading Instant Father and spending time with Paul, Charlotte and Tyson.

  Being people of faith doesn’t always stop us from doubting ourselves and feeling like we must hide our flaws from others. It also doesn’t stop us from letting the expectations of others influence our decisions.

  Both Paul and Charlotte struggle with these things and it is only by learning that they can trust God to be strong in their weaknesses that they are willing to take a chance on each other and on love.

  I wrote this book because I wished to express that, although we are imperfect, God loves us and we can all have fulfilling lives. We do not need to let our shortcomings define us.

  I also brought bullying into the story because I believe it’s an ongoing issue that we all need to be aware of, pray about and take a stand against.

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  Thank you again from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to hearing from you!

  Blessings,

  Donna Gartshore

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  The Amish Spinster’s Courtship

  by Emma Miller

  Chapter One

  Hickory Grove

  Kent County, Delaware

  Marshall Byler stepped into the shade of the concrete block dairy barn that housed the new Miller harness shop and breathed a sigh of relief. The July sun was hot and the day was muggy, just what one would expect for midsummer in Kent County and sure to make the corn grow. He’d been cultivating his corn in his east field when a groundhog had startled Toby, the younger of his two horses, and he’d spooked.

  Marshall had gotten the horses calmed down before they tore up more than a small portion of his crop. However, somewhere in the frantic shying of the team, Toby’s britchen strap, a section of harness that kept the horse from getting tangled in the traces, snapped. Marshall didn’t need the harness immediately, but he decided to go ahead and drop it off for repair right away, so it would be ready when he needed it again.

  Miller’s Harness Shop would save him time because it was closer to his farm than the Troyer Harness Shop, which he usually frequented. And he also liked the idea of giving his business to the new place; there was enough leatherwork to be done in Hickory Grove to support both the Troyer and the Miller families. Besides, the shop was owned by his new friend Will’s father and it seemed only right to go there.

  Marshall waited a moment for his eyes to adjust to the shadowy shop with its massive overhead beams and concrete flooring. A section of the former milking stalls had been cordoned off from the rest of the barn, and the stanchions and feed trough was replaced with shelving, display space with an assortment of items for sale and a counter with a cash register.

  “Hello! Anyone here?” he called. When he got no answer, he put two fingers to his lips and whistled.

  Still no response.