“We have a picnic planned for this Saturday,” the pastor said.
“Not only to give potential parents information, but as a meet and greet so the mentors can get to know the boys and vice versa,” he continued. “We’ll match up the pairs after.”
“I don’t know,” Jake hedged. “I’d have to know more about what’s involved.”
“It’s easy. You just take a kid who needs a little time and attention under your wing.”
Under his wing.
That, Jake thought, wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Not for someone like him.
Maybe he should have thought it through a little more when he’d told God he’d say yes to whatever He asked.
Especially considering he had been about to die when he made the promise.
KATHRYN SPRINGER
is a lifelong Wisconsin resident. Growing up in a “newspaper” family, she spent long hours as a child plunking out stories on her mother’s typewriter and hasn’t stopped writing since! She loves to write inspirational romance because it allows her to combine her faith in God with her love of a happy ending.
Love Finds a Home
Kathryn Springer
MILLS & BOON
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And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
—Ephesians 3:17–18
To Colleen, my “third” daughter, who has a special place in my life and in my heart. Love ya!
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
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
Letter to Reader
Questions for Discussion
Chapter One
“Flowers?” Police Chief Jake Sutton spotted the enormous bouquet of roses the moment he stepped into the break room, where the officers roosted near the coffee pot before heading out on patrol every morning. “I’m touched, guys, but you shouldn’t have.”
The three men staring morosely at the fragrant centerpiece snapped to attention at the sound of his voice.
“We didn’t,” Phil Koenigs muttered, the droop of his narrow shoulders more pronounced than usual.
“No offense, though, Chief,” Tony Tripenski added quickly. “We would have brought you flowers if we knew you liked them.” His eyes widened when he saw Jake’s eyebrow lift. “I mean, not that you look like the type of guy who likes flowers…”
Phil rolled up the fingers on one hand and cuffed Tony on the shoulder. “Put the shovel away, Trip. All you’re doing is digging yourself a deeper hole.”
Glowering, the younger officer folded his arms across his chest and slumped lower in the chair.
Jake paused long enough to pour himself a cup of coffee before making his way to the table. Something warned him that he was going to need the extra caffeine. The last time he’d seen the men in such a dismal mood was the day he’d officially been sworn in as Mirror Lake’s new police chief.
He flipped an empty chair away from the table and straddled it. “If one of you has a secret admirer, you’d look a little happier. That means someone must be in the doghouse with the wife.”
“The doghouse would be easier,” Steve Patterson, one of the part-time officers, grumbled.
“Yeah.” Trip nodded. “Much easier. I’d rather face Sherry when she’s in a mood than…” His voice dropped to a whisper. “You know who.”
No, Jake didn’t know. He hadn’t been born and raised in the area, something more than a few people had been quick to point out since his arrival.
His gaze cut back to Phil. If he wanted a straight answer, it would most likely come from the senior officer. As second in command, Phil had been the most likely candidate to step into the shoes of the former police chief, who’d opted for an early retirement. Instead, he’d astonished everyone by turning down the position.
Any concern that Phil’s decision would make the transfer of power a rocky one had been put to rest when Jake found out Phil was the one who’d pulled his resume from the stack of applications and given it his personal stamp of approval.
He still wasn’t quite sure why. But he did know that if it weren’t for the dour officer’s willingness to fill him in on the local—and sometimes colorful—history of the town and the people who lived there, Jake might still be suffering from an acute case of culture shock. Within the first twenty-four hours, he’d discovered that what Mirror Lake lacked in population, it made up for in quirks.
He had a feeling he was about to add another one to the list.
He glanced at the officer, surprised when Phil averted his gaze. “Phil? Flowers?”
The officer scratched at a coffee stain on the table with his thumbnail. Sighed. “They’re for Emma Barlow.”
“Okay.” Jake drew a blank on the name. “I’ll bite. Who is Emma Barlow?”
The three men exchanged looks but none of them seemed in a hurry to enlighten him. Jake waited, drawing on the patience that had become second nature while working as an undercover narcotics officer.
“Brian Barlow’s widow,” Phil finally said. “Brian was a good man. A good…cop.”
Was.
Jake didn’t miss the significance of the word. Or the flash of grief in the older officer’s