Lanterns and Lace

Epilogue

Jenny laid her pen aside. While the ink dried, she stared dreamily out the window facing her and Grant’s backyard. Their lives were good and definitely blessed, and even the bad times brought them closer to God and each other.

Sadly enough, Ben had passed away last Christmas after a fierce battle with a lung ailment. Bonnie seemed so lost, unhappy, and lonely.

Morgan and Casey were busy expanding the ranch to include more horses—always busy and working together.

Mimi didn’t seem to age or slow down. She just added more projects to her list of things to accomplish. Jenny didn’t know what she’d do without the widow, who was so much a part of their family.

Jenny smiled at the thought of Ellen and Frank’s news. They were expecting a baby in a few months. Such a blessing for two good people.

Grant and Jenny’s prayers had been answered about her parents. Shortly after the wedding, they had taken Rebecca to Cleveland. At first her parents had refused to see them, but then something had changed their minds. Her parents claimed it was precious Rebecca. Jenny smiled. God changed their minds. At first the meeting was very uncomfortable, especially when Grant prayed at dinner.

“Mr. Andrews, we do not pray in our home,” her father had said. “We have no use for such nonsense.”

“Sir, my family is a praying family,” Grant said. “Have you read the Bible?”

“No. I haven’t. Never saw a reason to.” Her father’s face reddened, and Jenny feared a display of his temper.

“Then I challenge you to read and study it. I’ve studied the sciences—even read Darwin’s views on the origin of life. We could conduct a discussion of both books through letters.”

Grant’s suggestion sparked a challenge, and Jenny’s father agreed. After much debate and many letters, her father wrote Grant and Jenny of his desire to attend church. Neither he nor her mother had found salvation in Jesus Christ, but they were in church and reading scripture, and Grant and Jenny continued to pray for them, convinced that God would continue to draw her parents to Him.

Jenny’s eyes trailed down to her letter. Guess she’d read it one more time before posting it:

Dear Mother and Father,

I am so excited to write you this letter. We have a new addition to our family. A week ago, Grant and I presented Rebecca with a precious baby sister. I cannot say who is prouder. Grant tells me she looks just like Rebecca did as a baby. Big sister is doing quite well with her new role, and Grant and I are working diligently to make her feel important and needed. She acts so grown up at age four and wants to help with everything about the new baby.

We named our new daughter Rachel Kathryn, and she is beautiful—lots of dark hair, and eyes so blue they are nearly black. I imagine they will be brown.

We are so looking forward to your visit at Christmas. It will make our holiday perfect. May God bless you both.

Love,

Grant, Jenny, Rebecca, and Rachel


DiAnn Mills Bio

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Website: www.diannmills.com