Made to Order Family

Ruth Logan Herne

Single mom Rita Slocum wants to get her life back on track. Taking things one day at a time seems doable–especially with Brooks Harriman at her side.Brooks has been there for her through good times and bad. But she's always been leery of getting too close to the broad-shouldered woodworker who keeps his past locked away. Now that Rita's opening her own bakery, she needs him more than ever. If only Brooks would open up his life–and his heart–to Rita.

“What’s wrong?” Skeeter asked her mother, uncertain.

Rita swiped a tissue over her eyes, reached out and hugged her daughter. “I’m crying because I’m happy.”

“But you’re okay?” Skeeter pressed, confused.

Rita hugged her again and gave a brisk nod. “I’m more than okay. I’m wonderful. I’m going to open my own bakery.”

Rita flashed Brooks a smile that thanked him for his caring, his friendship, his support and maybe more.

“This makes our celebration tonight doubly sweet.”

“It does.”

Rita sailed into his arms and hugged him, holding tight, feeling more right and natural than he had hoped and dreamed for years. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

Her smile said more than words ever could. “Everything.”

His heart burst wide open, embracing her, her family. Holding her, cherishing her—this was the future he’d wanted and needed without knowing it.

RUTH LOGAN HERNE

Born into poverty, Ruth puts great stock in one of her favorite Ben Franklinisms: “Having been poor is no shame. Being ashamed of it is.” With God-given appreciation for the amazing opportunities abounding in our land, Ruth finds simple gifts in the everyday blessings of smudge-faced small children, bright flowers, fresh baked goods, good friends, family, puppies and higher education. She believes a good woman should never fear dirt, snakes or spiders, all of which like to infest her aged farmhouse, necessitating a good pair of tongs for extracting the snakes, a flat-bottomed shoe for the spiders, and the dirt….

Simply put, she’s learned that some things aren’t worth fretting about! If you laugh in the face of dust and love to talk about God, men, romance, great shoes and wonderful food, feel free to contact Ruth through her Web site at www.ruthloganherne.com.

Made to Order Family

Ruth Logan Herne

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

—Ephesians 5:18

This book is dedicated to my beautiful girls, Sarah, Mandy, Beth, Lacey and Karen. I hope my love inspires your continued strength and faith as motherhood offers interesting challenges and grace.

Just remember that Cousin Ann in Understood Betsy is a GREAT role model.

Seriously.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the local members of Alcoholics Anonymous whose ongoing struggles and strengths helped me create this story, and to the communities of Canton, Potsdam, Pierrepont and Malone for their graciousness. Special thanks to the good Sisters of St. Joseph, especially Sr. Mariel from Nazareth Academy, whose belief in me never wavered. Thanks to my dad who gave me a Wilton cake-decorating book when I was sixteen. Thus began a long career of creating beautiful cakes and pastries. His love of baking became mine. Special appreciation to Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down, and Eric Haney, author of Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit, two wonderful depictions of life in Special Forces.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

Rita Slocum worked to envision every possible reason why she shouldn’t quit her job right now, pack it in and call it a day.

Three good reasons came to m