think we’re all lucky. I know that tonight I feel blessed.”
Earlier, they had broken from strict Stapleton family tradition and opened their gifts. Now Mozart was upstairs in his travel crate, happily chewing on the toy that Jared had given him while wearing the stylish new collar that was Molly’s gift. Molly wore the diamond stud earrings that had been a gift from her parents.
Jared’s gifts to her and her gifts to him remained wrapped up in their boxes, and they would stay that way. They’d both decided that in this case, it truly was the thought that counted. Those wrapped packages would forever be symbols of their love that never died. The perfect Christmas gifts.
Outside, church bells began to peal. Molly and Charlie broke their kiss, then Molly looked at her parents and smiled with utter joy. “Merry Christmas, parents.”
“Merry Christmas, daughter and son,” Jared replied.
Though Emma wouldn’t have thought it possible, Molly’s smile grew even brighter. “The human heart is a curious thing. How can it possibly hold this much joy?”
The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the quarter hour as Celeste Blessing swept downstairs, a vision in a shimmery gold dress with a white wool coat draped over her arm. “Merry Christmas, friends. I’m so glad you are joining us for our midnight service, especially since I just received a phone call from Reverend Hart. We’ve had a bit of a problem, and we’re hoping you will help.”
And so it was that at eleven-thirty at night on Christmas Eve, with her daughter and her husband seated in the pew behind her, Emma Stapleton took a seat at the piano in St. Stephen’s. The first song she played was “Joy to the World.”
The members of the congregation agreed that the song had never been played so beautifully.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emily March lives in Texas with her husband and their beloved boxer, Doc, who tolerates a revolving doggie door of rescue foster dogs sharing his kingdom until they find their forever homes. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports, and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.
Visit Emily March's website for more information on Lover's Leap and her other Eternity Springs books.
www.emilymarch.com/eternitysprings
Read on for an exciting preview of Emily March’s next novel in her Eternity Springs series:
Lover’s Leap
ONE
March
Near Cairns, Australia
“Mom! Hurry up,” Lori Reese urged, sounding more like a six-year-old than a young woman in her sophomore year of college. “We don’t want to be late!”
At the sound of her daughter’s voice, Sarah Reese rolled over in bed, buried her face in the thick, downy pillow, and contemplated taking up bank robbery in order to afford a return trip to this resort. She and Lori were nearing the end of their two-week all-expenses-paid Australian vacation, and the experience had given her a tantalizing taste of traveling in the lap of luxury.
“Ten more minutes.” This bed was heaven.
“It’s already six-fifteen.”
Their ride to the marina was scheduled to arrive at seven o’clock, and getting ready would take fifteen minutes, tops. She didn’t need to hurry. “Five more minutes.”
Indulgent frustration laced Lori’s voice. “When exactly did we switch roles? I think it must have been the first day of the trip, when you spent half of that interminable plane ride flirting with the man across the aisle.”
Sarah grinned into her pillow, then lazily rolled her head and looked at her daughter. Her heart melted with a potent combination of love and pride. Lori was a sophomore majoring in biomedical science at Texas A&M University and making excellent progress toward her goal of earning admission to A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She’d worked hard to work ahead and cleared an extra ten days of spring break with her professors. At
Earlier, they had broken from strict Stapleton family tradition and opened their gifts. Now Mozart was upstairs in his travel crate, happily chewing on the toy that Jared had given him while wearing the stylish new collar that was Molly’s gift. Molly wore the diamond stud earrings that had been a gift from her parents.
Jared’s gifts to her and her gifts to him remained wrapped up in their boxes, and they would stay that way. They’d both decided that in this case, it truly was the thought that counted. Those wrapped packages would forever be symbols of their love that never died. The perfect Christmas gifts.
Outside, church bells began to peal. Molly and Charlie broke their kiss, then Molly looked at her parents and smiled with utter joy. “Merry Christmas, parents.”
“Merry Christmas, daughter and son,” Jared replied.
Though Emma wouldn’t have thought it possible, Molly’s smile grew even brighter. “The human heart is a curious thing. How can it possibly hold this much joy?”
The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the quarter hour as Celeste Blessing swept downstairs, a vision in a shimmery gold dress with a white wool coat draped over her arm. “Merry Christmas, friends. I’m so glad you are joining us for our midnight service, especially since I just received a phone call from Reverend Hart. We’ve had a bit of a problem, and we’re hoping you will help.”
And so it was that at eleven-thirty at night on Christmas Eve, with her daughter and her husband seated in the pew behind her, Emma Stapleton took a seat at the piano in St. Stephen’s. The first song she played was “Joy to the World.”
The members of the congregation agreed that the song had never been played so beautifully.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emily March lives in Texas with her husband and their beloved boxer, Doc, who tolerates a revolving doggie door of rescue foster dogs sharing his kingdom until they find their forever homes. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports, and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.
Visit Emily March's website for more information on Lover's Leap and her other Eternity Springs books.
www.emilymarch.com/eternitysprings
Read on for an exciting preview of Emily March’s next novel in her Eternity Springs series:
Lover’s Leap
ONE
March
Near Cairns, Australia
“Mom! Hurry up,” Lori Reese urged, sounding more like a six-year-old than a young woman in her sophomore year of college. “We don’t want to be late!”
At the sound of her daughter’s voice, Sarah Reese rolled over in bed, buried her face in the thick, downy pillow, and contemplated taking up bank robbery in order to afford a return trip to this resort. She and Lori were nearing the end of their two-week all-expenses-paid Australian vacation, and the experience had given her a tantalizing taste of traveling in the lap of luxury.
“Ten more minutes.” This bed was heaven.
“It’s already six-fifteen.”
Their ride to the marina was scheduled to arrive at seven o’clock, and getting ready would take fifteen minutes, tops. She didn’t need to hurry. “Five more minutes.”
Indulgent frustration laced Lori’s voice. “When exactly did we switch roles? I think it must have been the first day of the trip, when you spent half of that interminable plane ride flirting with the man across the aisle.”
Sarah grinned into her pillow, then lazily rolled her head and looked at her daughter. Her heart melted with a potent combination of love and pride. Lori was a sophomore majoring in biomedical science at Texas A&M University and making excellent progress toward her goal of earning admission to A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She’d worked hard to work ahead and cleared an extra ten days of spring break with her professors. At
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