His Forever Love

Missy Tippens

In Magnolia, Georgia, local legend says that a couple who holds hands around the "forever" tree will have an unending love.Even so, Bill Wellington held Lindsay Jones's hands around that tree years ago…and then left her behind. He chose the big city, and now he wants to bring his grandmother there. But to his amazement, he finds that Granny has a boyfriend–and a vibrant life.A life that includes Lindsay, Granny's caregiver. Bill never thought he'd want to come home, yet Magnolia clearly has its charms. As does Lindsay, who makes him long for a second chance at forever love.

“How long do you plan to stay in town for this time? Ten minutes?” Lindsay asked.

Obviously she hadn’t forgiven him for leaving town after high school. Was she upset that he hadn’t said goodbye? Or maybe he was reading too much into her anger. Maybe she just thought she needed to protect his grandmother. “I know I’m not here often, but I do love my grandmother, and I’m here now,” Bill said.

“Where were you when she had the flu last winter or when someone tried to break into her house or when she almost gave her credit card number to a phone scammer? I’m the one who helped her then.”

She sounded hurt that he was trying to exclude her. “I’m sorry. I just thought you might enjoy a little time off.” Plus, I’m not sure my heart can take being around you every day.

MISSY TIPPENS

Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy met her very own hero when she headed off to grad school in Atlanta, Georgia. She promptly fell in love and hasn’t left Georgia since. She and her pastor husband have been married twenty-plus years now, and have been blessed with three wonderful children and an assortment of pets. Nowadays, in addition to her writing, she teaches as an adjunct instructor at a local technical college.

Missy is thankful to God that she’s been called to write stories of love and faith. After ten years of pursuing her dream of publishing, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to Steeple Hill Books’ Love Inspired line. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened!

Missy would love to hear from readers through her Web site, www.missytippens.com, or by e-mail: missytippens@aol.com. For those with no Internet access, you can reach her c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

His Forever Love

Missy Tippens

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

—Jeremiah 29:11

To my husband for being my biggest cheerleader

and promoter.

To Belinda Peterson for being a trusted, faithful

friend and sister in Christ.

And, as always, to God for giving me the stories.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my church family for supporting me and loving me. And to the Girls’ Night Out Gang (you know who you are!) for helping me stay sane.

Thank you to my kids for allowing Mom to work and for not complaining about eating spaghetti over and over…and over.

I’m so thankful for my critique partner and good friend, Belinda Peterson, for generously and, yes, even cheerfully, reading a zillion versions of this manuscript. And for always being willing to room with me at conferences—snoring and all!

A special thanks to Emily Rodmell and all the wonderful people at Steeple Hill Books for their excellence and their commitment to bringing quality inspirational fiction to the shelves.

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

Epilogue

Questions For Discussion

Chapter One

Time flew backward at warp speed for Bill Wellington when the name Lindsay Jones popped up on his cell phone.

Warm summer evenings studying on the front porch swing. Working together on projects.

Holding hands around The Forever Tree.

But then he hurtled back to the present as