“I want to put it out there that when you’re ready, I do want you to marry me. I’ll wait as long as it takes. I want to be your husband. To love, honor, and obey you. To help you raise your and Jack’s children the way you’d have wanted it.”
She hugged his neck.
“Interrupt worry with gratitude.”
—
The next morning, it took a moment for Amanda to realize where she was. It would take some getting used to living here in Maeve’s house. She heard voices from outside. She pushed the covers back and walked into the hall. She followed the sound toward the front door and stepped out onto the porch. Paul, Hailey, and Jesse looked as guilty as three pirates standing there at the bottom of the steps.
“What is going on?”
“A couple things, actually,” Paul said. “One planned, one unplanned. Which do you want first?”
“Hmm. Planned?”
“It’s such a good surprise,” Hailey said.
“Come on, Hailey. You can help me carry it.” Paul and Hailey disappeared under the carport area and stepped back out with something under a big sheet. Jesse danced around, giggling. Keeping the secret was probably about to kill him.
She stood there trying to figure out what they were up to.
Hailey raised her hands in the air. “Three. Two. One!”
Paul let Jesse pull the sheet back. Paul held a four-foot wide sandblasted sign that read, The Shell Collector.
“Oh my goodness. For the house?” Amanda ran over. “I love it!” She traced her fingers across the textured wooden sign. The raised letters were charming, and in each of the O’s there was a shell. It was perfect.
Hailey and Jesse jumped up and down. “Paul let us pick out the colors,” Hailey said.
She reached up and kissed Paul on the lips. She caught herself, then glanced down, hoping it hadn’t upset Hailey or Jesse, but they didn’t seem to have even noticed.
“What was the unplanned?” she asked. “It can’t be better than this.”
“It’s a really close second,” Paul said. “Might even be better. Close your eyes.”
She closed her eyes.
“Hold out your hand.”
She extended her hands.
He placed something in them.
She opened her eyes and looked at the simple shell in her hands. “Where did this come from?”
Paul pointed to the house near the flower bed. “It was tucked right there.”
She read the short sentiment in the shell: “In His Time. Trust there is a time for every event under heaven.”
Maeve was certainly still here, guiding her.
“Shall we hang this sign?” Paul pulled a ladder out of the back of his truck.
“Absolutely.”
It only took about five minutes because Paul had already placed the screws. All he had to do was climb up and hang the sign there on the house. “What do you think?”
The colorful sign brightened the front of the house. The kids whooped and hollered so loud it was very likely both Maeve and Jack heard them.
Amanda walked out to the edge of the driveway. “It looks great!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I do.”
“Ready to go inside?”
“I have one more thing to do,” Amanda said. “You and the kids go on up. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Sure, babe. Take your time.”
She watched until all three of them had gone inside. Then she took the phone out of her back pocket, scrolled through her contacts, and clicked on her mother’s phone number. It went straight to voice mail, but she took a breath and left a message.
“Hey, Mom. It’s me, Amanda. It’s been too long since I told you I love you. I’d like to bring the kids up to visit.”
This story has been pressing on my heart to be told since the year I lost my husband, but I just couldn’t bring the words to the page until recently. Wishing you unexpected strength in your most difficult times.
Acknowledgments
People often say writing is a solitary job, but I could never do this alone. It truly takes a village to take an idea through the process of turning it into a novel. This book is no exception.
Thank you to the many people who helped me along the way.
Steve Laube for opening up doors to find the right home for this novel. The Shell Collector has a special place in my heart, and Steve understood that. I love working with the team at WaterBrook. Thank you, Steve. This is only the beginning. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.
Becky Nesbitt for seeing the potential of this story. From the moment we met, I felt like I had a new friend, and I appreciate the mentorship she shared with me through this story. Becky, you made this book sparkle as brilliantly as sea glass.
Andrew, my sweet husband, thank you for being patient through the process, especially the part where I’m struggling with the story and tired from staying up all night. You are always there to pray with me and remind me where to place my worries when I falter.
My dear friends Missy and Pam. Missy for the real estate details I needed in the research phase. It’s so wonderful to have smart people ready with answers faster—and more reliable—than the internet. The same goes for Pam for helping me build out the fun Paws Town Square. She’s had a dream of running a dog camp. I don’t think it’ll be in an old ghost box in a city, but boy, wouldn’t that be a hoot.
Hidden Haven in Tobaccoville, North Carolina, for hosting my getaways to bring this book to completion and inspiring a new story too. I love staying there.
Special thoughts for the friends and family of Mike Wiles, who passed away during the developmental edits of this book. I’d promised to make him a character one day, so I wove him into this story as Paul’s right-hand man, Chase. Mike had said he’d always liked that name. Mike played a special role in my husband’s business start-up, and he’ll be greatly
