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Mistletoe Twins
Lois Richer
A family for the holidays…Her Rocky Mountain Haven Christmas wishA former foster child herself, Adele Parker’s committed to adopting twin preschoolers Francie and Franklyn—even if she does it alone. But being home at The Haven for the holidays means reuniting with handsome childhood friend Mac McDowell. And as they work together to create a new trail-riding program, Adele begins to wish her growing family could include the wounded military hero, too…
A family for the holidays...
Her Rocky Mountain Haven Christmas wish
A former foster child herself, Adele Parker’s committed to adopting twin preschoolers Francie and Franklyn—even if she does it alone. But being home at The Haven for the holidays means reuniting with handsome childhood friend Mac McDowell. And as they work together to create a new trail-riding program, Adele begins to wish her growing family could include the wounded military hero, too...
LOIS RICHER loves traveling, swimming and quilting, but mostly she loves writing stories that show God’s boundless love for His precious children. As she says, “His love never changes or gives up. It’s always waiting for me. My stories feature imperfect characters learning that love doesn’t mean attaining perfection. Love is about keeping on keeping on.” You can contact Lois via email, loisricher@gmail.com, or on Facebook (loisricherauthor).
Also By Lois Richer (#u2344d822-a1cd-5153-b484-e66cd214ec78)
Rocky Mountain Haven
Meant-to-Be Baby
Mistletoe Twins
Wranglers Ranch
The Rancher’s Family Wish
Her Christmas Family Wish
The Cowboy’s Easter Family Wish
The Twins’ Family Wish
Family Ties
A Dad for Her Twins
Rancher Daddy
Gift-Wrapped Family
Accidental Dad
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Mistletoe Twins
Lois Richer
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08647-9
MISTLETOE TWINS
© 2018 Lois M. Richer
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
“Love costs too much. I want
no part of it.”
“Adele, love has given you so much,” Mac countered, hating to see her so distraught. He brushed his hand against her cheek before quietly continuing, “You and your foster sisters have two aunts that adore you. And you have each other to lean on.”
“True,” she agreed solemnly, her gaze holding his.
“But?” Mac hated that she couldn’t seem to break free of her past.
“This sounds a little schoolgirlish, but I’ve always longed to have somebody who loved me enough that I never doubted it.”
“I don’t count?” Mac arched his brows.
“You were my best friend, Mac, and that counts for a lot. But you never loved me,” she said. “Not romantically. We’re just friends.”
“Just friends.” His mouth turned down. “Friendship’s not enough now?”
“It’s a great deal, Mac, and I will always treasure it.” Her hand closed around his and squeezed it. “But my escape from the past was always a dream about a fairy-tale love that would override my past.” She withdrew her hand. “Hasn’t happened and I doubt it ever will.”
Dear Reader (#u2344d822-a1cd-5153-b484-e66cd214ec78),
Welcome back to The Haven, a refuge hidden in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies where foster kids come to find hope.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Adele Parker’s journey toward motherhood and love as she learns that God doesn’t expect perfection. He expects our trust. After Mac lost his hand in an airplane crash he caused, his struggle to learn God’s plan for his future got tied up with guilt. Mac doesn’t get a list of “next steps” from God, but he, like Adele, learns that if he keeps seeking God’s will, Our Father will point the way. As they travel that path, best friends Mac and Adele realize that friendship has changed to love.
I hope you’ll visit The Haven again to read how grief and loss bring Olivia joy and love.
Until we meet again may you find abundant faith, infinite peace and the love that comes from God.
Blessings,
Lois Richer
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.
—Romans 8:28
This book is dedicated to my mom,
who always believed God had an answer
for whatever problems came her way.
Contents
Cover (#ua0a6bd0c-67be-51f1-94a8-e488cb717ddf)
Back Cover Text (#u6c02c2ef-f1cc-5671-982d-ccb6c6600bcb)
About the Author (#u33122f4a-0d9a-586c-ac07-2f899786ef01)
Booklist (#u6dfe144f-e0d9-5016-b23c-4dc7f9e64fb2)
Title Page (#u564eb7ca-3249-56c8-a1a3-1c45463cb796)
Copyright (#uecad2b66-c9f0-5f82-b17b-bb371c46e762)
Introduction (#u59354ece-f1d3-55cd-a3d3-c36ce282cf87)
Dear Reader (#uce7483d8-cb28-52ea-be38-522b2b6c6ebb)
Bible Verse (#uff5ae864-87ef-5e2a-96bc-767f6cac9333)
Dedication (#u2b13fbaf-82d1-5446-9f1b-ae8691811a58)
Chapter One (#u89db6976-3160-51f0-9e5c-83388d6caf31)
Chapter Two (#u269c4dda-a769-55fa-9a7d-ec767ecd47f4)
Chapter Three (#u8ab10a32-b01a-5885-b61e-2a96b0b5a1c6)
Chapter Four (#u835c2d25-290f-5688-a9fb-32d86c163765)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#u2344d822-a1cd-5153-b484-e66cd214ec78)
“Are we there yet?”
“Yes. This is The Haven.” Adele Parker pulled up in front of the big stone house set in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies and heaved a sigh of pure happiness. “We’re home.”
“Can we get out now?” In the back seat Francie nudged her brother, Franklyn, awake. “I’m tired of riding in this car.”
“Me, too,” agreed her four-year-old twin, with a yawn. “Tired.”
“It was a long drive from Edmonton.” Adele twisted to smile at the pair, treasuring the way their little faces came alive with interest at their first view of this place she loved. “Let’s get out but zip your jackets first. The mountain winds will be chilly.” Not wanting to arrive home disheveled, she checked her makeup, patted her curls, then thrust her arms into her own coat before exiting the car.
“Hey, where’s the snow?” Francie looked around, obviously disappointed.
“An’ where’s the ski hill you tole us ’bout?” Franklyn frowned. “This is a desert, like in that story you read us.”
“Franklyn, that’s not true,” Adele scolded. “Deserts don’t have all those green spruce trees, do they? Anyway, it’s barely October. It’s not time for winter yet. But don’t worry, snow will come.” She smothered a chuckle at their glum looks, then hunkered down beside Franklyn and pointed north. “The ski slopes at Jasper are about an hour away. In those mountains. Maybe we’ll go there one day, hmm?”
“Okay.” Usually biddable, Franklyn assessed The Haven. “It’s a very big house. And it is, too, made of stone. Francie said it wasn’t,” he confided to Adele.
“I won’t ever lie to you, Franklyn.” A thrill whispered through Adele at the trust in his dark eyes. Trust in her.
“It’s kinda like the castle in Beauty and the Beast.” Francie leaned back so far Adele worried she’d topple backwards. “Is it cold in there, Delly?” Their nickname for Adele brought back fond memories of her own youth at The Haven.
“No. It’s warm and friendly and the best place on earth.” It’s home. “C’mon. I’ll show you.” Grasping each child’s hand, she led them to the side of the house, in through the back door and into her favorite room, the kitchen.
“Adele!” Her aunties—Margaret and Tillie Spenser—sat at the massive kitchen table having tea, just as Adele had expected. Tillie was pouring while Aunt Margaret snuck a wafer from the stack on a plate.
“We didn’t hear you arrive.” Margaret jumped up and hugged her so tightly Adele could barely breathe—and she loved it. “We’re so glad you’ve come home, dear.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad to be here.” She should have come back right after her breakup with Rafe, Adele mused as Tillie’s embrace followed, just as tight, just as welcome.
