Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (The Ryan Family #1) by Carolyn Brown

The congregation was singing the first song on Sunday morning when Grady slipped in beside Addy on the third pew from the front. The lyrics of the hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” talked about being safe and secure from all alarms. Addy was a strong, independent woman who had proven that she didn’t need a man to complete her, but it would be nice to cuddle up next to a guy at night. Sure, she could talk to Grady about anything, and he had turned out to be a good friend, but a boyfriend would be nice. For some reason Mia seemed to be pushing her in that direction now that she was grown. All through her childhood she didn’t want Addy to date anyone. Addy glanced over her shoulder at her belligerent daughter, who was sitting on the back pew with Ricky O’Malley—just another of her many acts of defiance.

“Sorry I’m late,” Grady said. “My relief doctor had a flat tire on the way to work.”

“We just started the first hymn.” She handed him her song book, and Jesse immediately moved his hymnal over to share with her.

His shoulder had pressed into hers when they all had to scrunch down a little to make room for Grady. Now she had all kinds of chemistry happening on her right side, and she didn’t talk about her feelings where Jesse was concerned to anyone—not even Grady.

She and Grady worked well together, spoke the same medical lingo, and they had shared lots of feelings when Amelia had died, but Jesse Ryan was off–limits for her and always would be.

The preacher stepped up behind the lectern, cleared his throat, and said, “Good mornin’, everyone. I’d like to welcome Jesse Ryan home and back to our congregation, and to say that we all appreciate your service. Now, if you will open your Bibles to the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians, we’ll have congregational reading of the verses four through seven.”

Addy flipped her Bible open to the familiar chapter and read with the rest of the folks in the church: “‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.’”

“We have four weddings this week in Honey Grove,” the preacher said when the reading was done. “That’s why I chose this passage to talk about this morning, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is a message to all of us.”

“Amen,” Sonny said loudly.

“Glad you can agree, Sonny,” the preacher said.

He went on to talk about each aspect of the verses, but Addy only heard the droning of his deep voice somewhere off in the distance.

Love doesn’t have to be all fire and heat, the voice in her head whispered. It can be a quiet companionship, a relationship between two people who have similar interests and respect for each other.

I want both, she argued. I want it all.

You’ve kept your secrets, but if you ever want to have a marriage, you’re going to have to open Pandora’s box and let them out.

“No,” she muttered.

Jesse nudged her on the shoulder. “Don’t argue with the preacher.”

“Shhh…” She put her finger on his lips and wouldn’t have been surprised if lightning had shot through the ceiling and zapped her into a pile of ashes right there on pew three. No one with a boyfriend as special as Grady should be letting an old flame make her feel like that.

She would simply have to get over her silly infatuation.

When the services were over, folks gathered around Jesse to welcome him home with hugs and pats on the back. She and Grady headed for the door, shook the preacher’s hand, and went straight to his car.

“I don’t have time for Sunday dinner today,” Grady said, “but I can take you home. Has the tension eased up between Mia and Jesse? It can’t be easy on you for her to act like she is. I’d hate it if she treated me like she does Jesse.”

“I believe she feels threatened so she’s lashing out.” Addy got into Grady’s SUV and closed the door. “You don’t pose a threat. You’re just my good friend. Jesse is going to be her boss before long.”

“It’ll all work itself out, Amelia,” he said as he got in behind the wheel. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I was thinking about her when the preacher talked about love. I didn’t mean to call you by her name.”

Addy patted him on the shoulder. “It’s all right. She was a big part of your life for a very long time. It’s only natural that you’d think of her when the subject of love came up.”

“Thanks for that. I don’t know what I’d do without you to talk to.”

“That’s what friends are for.” Addy wondered if she was always going to be just a friend. Not that she wanted more with Grady, but Jesse could be a very different matter.

“Yes, and I love having you for my best friend.” He started the engine, backed out of the parking lot, and started driving toward the ranch. “You want me to talk to Mia? Maybe I could help her see that Jesse is a good person.”

“Not right now,” she said, “but I might take a rain check and ask for help if she doesn’t straighten up.”

“Just let me know,” he said.