Read Online Noble Pursuits by Chautona Havig - Free Book Online
Authors: Chautona Havig
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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football hero.
Nolan snapped the book shut sharply. Thoroughly ashamed of his invasion of Grace’s privacy, he turned off the lights and shut the door. Testing to assure that the door was locked, Nolan stepped out into the night and walked home praying. A baby, Lord. A baby girl. Keep the family safe, happy and in Your care, always.
Chapter Seven
“Is this your classroom?” Grace looked through the little window in the door.
“Yes, that is Mr. Minchin. He says that he is a great decadent of Miss Minchin in A Little Princess . I think he’s joking ‘cause that’s just a story.”
Grace managed to stifle a chuckle over Amber’s malapropism. “Ahh. A descendent of the right, dishonorable Miss Minchin, huh? Is he nicer than she was?”
Amber nodded, and waving cheerfully, skipped into her classroom. Grace grinned as the teacher sent Amber back to the door to walk in properly. Turning to leave the school, Grace sighed to herself. “Some things never change.”
Grace eagerly rode to the hospital on the ‘dial-a-ride’ bus to practice her new role as a doting aunt. She found Melanie taking a shower and getting dressed, while Craig sat in the chair and held his sleeping daughter. “How is Mel feeling?”
“The doctor says it’s been over twelve hours, the pediatrician has agreed to release her, and everything looks good, so we’ll be going home in about an hour.”
Grace took her niece from Craig and cooed over her. “They made me scrub up before coming in so I’m all clean, sweetie. You’re one blessed little girl. My big brother is your daddy, and he picked out the sweetest mommy in the world for you.”
“Let’s ask your daddy what they’ve decided to name you.” Grace looked pointedly at her brother. She knew that they had considered many forms of Anna and Grace and had tentatively settled on Hannah as a compromise.
Craig shrugged his shoulders in mock annoyance. “We haven’t come to an agreement yet. We’re still deciding.”
“What are the options today?” Grace traced the baby’s features with her fingers as she listened to the great debate begin again, in earnest.
“I want Hannah Grace, but Craig says that’s like naming someone Grace Grace since Hannah means grace.” Melanie, walking in with a towel wrapped head, sounded ready to cry. Grace rocked the baby with slight exaggeration to hint to her brother that the new mother might need a little more understanding.
“What do you want, Craig?” Though hesitant to ask, Grace was curious.
“Anna Grace. After Mom. I’d like to name her after both mothers, but I don’t like Adeline or Lynn with Grace or Anna.”
“Doesn’t Anna mean grace too?” Grace winked at her sister in law.
They tossed names about the room until the doctor came to sign the discharge papers. Melanie began to act a little panicked at the idea of leaving the hospital without a name for her child. With an air of resignation, Melanie took the baby from Grace and sat in a chair next to her husband. “Name her anything, Craig. I just want the birth certificate filled out before I walk out that door.”
Grace stepped outside the room and pulled the door shut behind her. A nurse came with more papers for them to sign, but Grace waved her off. “They need a moment to discuss something; I’ll let you know when they are ready.”
Ten minutes later, the door opened with a grand flourish. “Grace… May I formally introduce you to your first niece, Graceanna Lynn Buscher.”
Grace took her niece from the little one’s proud papa. While Melanie signed papers, Craig gathered Melanie’s and the baby’s things and headed to their car. Walking down the hall, Craig listened to his sister crooning over his little daughter and was happy with his lot. God had given him a beautiful wife, a loving sister, and now the world’s sweetest baby. With a heart full of gratefulness, he thanked the Lord for His blessings and prayed for wisdom in the coming months and years. To
Nolan snapped the book shut sharply. Thoroughly ashamed of his invasion of Grace’s privacy, he turned off the lights and shut the door. Testing to assure that the door was locked, Nolan stepped out into the night and walked home praying. A baby, Lord. A baby girl. Keep the family safe, happy and in Your care, always.
Chapter Seven
“Is this your classroom?” Grace looked through the little window in the door.
“Yes, that is Mr. Minchin. He says that he is a great decadent of Miss Minchin in A Little Princess . I think he’s joking ‘cause that’s just a story.”
Grace managed to stifle a chuckle over Amber’s malapropism. “Ahh. A descendent of the right, dishonorable Miss Minchin, huh? Is he nicer than she was?”
Amber nodded, and waving cheerfully, skipped into her classroom. Grace grinned as the teacher sent Amber back to the door to walk in properly. Turning to leave the school, Grace sighed to herself. “Some things never change.”
Grace eagerly rode to the hospital on the ‘dial-a-ride’ bus to practice her new role as a doting aunt. She found Melanie taking a shower and getting dressed, while Craig sat in the chair and held his sleeping daughter. “How is Mel feeling?”
“The doctor says it’s been over twelve hours, the pediatrician has agreed to release her, and everything looks good, so we’ll be going home in about an hour.”
Grace took her niece from Craig and cooed over her. “They made me scrub up before coming in so I’m all clean, sweetie. You’re one blessed little girl. My big brother is your daddy, and he picked out the sweetest mommy in the world for you.”
“Let’s ask your daddy what they’ve decided to name you.” Grace looked pointedly at her brother. She knew that they had considered many forms of Anna and Grace and had tentatively settled on Hannah as a compromise.
Craig shrugged his shoulders in mock annoyance. “We haven’t come to an agreement yet. We’re still deciding.”
“What are the options today?” Grace traced the baby’s features with her fingers as she listened to the great debate begin again, in earnest.
“I want Hannah Grace, but Craig says that’s like naming someone Grace Grace since Hannah means grace.” Melanie, walking in with a towel wrapped head, sounded ready to cry. Grace rocked the baby with slight exaggeration to hint to her brother that the new mother might need a little more understanding.
“What do you want, Craig?” Though hesitant to ask, Grace was curious.
“Anna Grace. After Mom. I’d like to name her after both mothers, but I don’t like Adeline or Lynn with Grace or Anna.”
“Doesn’t Anna mean grace too?” Grace winked at her sister in law.
They tossed names about the room until the doctor came to sign the discharge papers. Melanie began to act a little panicked at the idea of leaving the hospital without a name for her child. With an air of resignation, Melanie took the baby from Grace and sat in a chair next to her husband. “Name her anything, Craig. I just want the birth certificate filled out before I walk out that door.”
Grace stepped outside the room and pulled the door shut behind her. A nurse came with more papers for them to sign, but Grace waved her off. “They need a moment to discuss something; I’ll let you know when they are ready.”
Ten minutes later, the door opened with a grand flourish. “Grace… May I formally introduce you to your first niece, Graceanna Lynn Buscher.”
Grace took her niece from the little one’s proud papa. While Melanie signed papers, Craig gathered Melanie’s and the baby’s things and headed to their car. Walking down the hall, Craig listened to his sister crooning over his little daughter and was happy with his lot. God had given him a beautiful wife, a loving sister, and now the world’s sweetest baby. With a heart full of gratefulness, he thanked the Lord for His blessings and prayed for wisdom in the coming months and years. To
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