White Chocolate Moments , livre ebook

Harvest House Publishers - Lori Wick

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182 pages

English

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Beloved author Lori Wick presents a new standalone in the tradition of her bestselling Sophie's Heart.After losing her parents, Arcineh Bryant lives with her grandfather as a girl. But growing up without her family causes her to hold resentment toward the man who took her in. Years later, when she meets a man she thinks she may love, she doubts whether she can trust her own heart.A character-rich journey leads Arcineh back to her grandfather's home where there are surprises, questions, and for the first time in her life, an answer to "who will love me forever?" This compelling story about a woman's hunger for acceptance and wholeness points the reader home to God's love.

Sujets

Romance

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Publié par	Harvest House Publishers
Date de parution	15 décembre 2006
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780736932882
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0480€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible , 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org )
Every effort has been made to give proper credit for all stories, poems, and quotations. If for any reason proper credit has not been given, please notify the author or publisher and proper notation will be given on future printing.
Cover by Terry Dugan Design, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cover photo Jordan Chesbrough / iStockphoto
WHITE CHOCOLATE MOMENTS
Copyright 2007 by Lori Wick Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wick, Lori.
White chocolate moments / Lori Wick.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-1780-3 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-7369-1780-2 (pbk.)
1. Young women-Fiction. 2. Grandfathers-Fiction. I. Title.
PS3573.I237W489 2007
813. 54-dc22 2006029965
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 / BP-CF / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Joyce Graves and the memory of Pastor Robert Graves. Your lives have touched mine in immeasurable ways. I thank God for you.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Prologue
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
CHAPTER Twenty-Five
CHAPTER Twenty-Six
Epilogue
About the Author
Books by Lori Wick
About the Publisher
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This page is supposed to get easier to write, but each time my heart is so full-and with some books the days have meted out challenges and times of stretching that I did not expect. Each of you have touched me in your own special way and encouraged me on my path to holiness.
-Betty Fletcher, how precious to have grown up with you. Your friendship is marvelous. Thanks for being there in such a loving, kind, and supportive way.
-Bob and Beth Hawkins, how delightful to call you friends. Your warmth, hospitality, loving spirits, and giving hearts have been our blessing again and again. Bob and I do not know what we would do without you.
-Jane Kolstad, so much more than a sister-in-law. Thanks for all you do, for your good thoughts and ideas, and for loving me so generously.
-Emilie Marie Barnes, thank you, not just for the use of your name but for the precious friend that you are. You and Bob are a highlight for us each summer, and we treasure you.
-Luke Sefton, Gage Sefton, Chad Hummel, Sarah Knepper, Jalaina King, and Jill Ciofani. I wish to thank you dear folks for the use of your wonderful names. My heart appreciates you so very much.
-Phil Caminiti, thank you for the song. I love the words and melodies you put down. Thank you for keeping on, for being a student of the Book, and passing on all you ve learned.
-Bob Wick, who does not like white chocolate, but is still amazingly sweet. Thank you for the love and laughter. Thank you for your wonderful, fun heart, and also for the heart that takes God seriously. My heart would be nothing without you.
Prologue
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS APRIL 1992
Will Quinn and Austin be at Grandpa s? eleven-year-old Arcineh Bryant asked about her cousins from the backseat of the car.
Not today, her mother answered. Quinn has a competition.
With her horse?
Yes.
The silence in the backseat was telling. Trevor and Isabella Bryant exchanged a swift look. They had forced their daughter to give up a dance performance for this event at her grandfather s. Dance was very important to Arcineh, but she loved her grandfather, and it was his sixtieth birthday. That was what had motived Arcineh to come peacefully, only to learn that the standard had not been so high with every member of the family.
Will they be there at all? Arcineh asked after a moment more.
Not tonight. They might come late tomorrow night so they can visit with Dad on Sunday.
Might? Arcineh s voice dripped with disapproval.
Well, her father began, it s quite a distance away, and Quinn doesn t compete until morning.
Low muttering could be heard from the backseat, but neither parent commented. They had shared a similar conversation on this very topic. Both agreed with their daughter s disapproval but knew better than to admit that to her.
What are you studying right now in dance? Trevor asked, his eyes on his daughter s face in the rearview mirror.
Ballroom, Arcineh told him, her eyes meeting his.
I ve done some ballroom dancing myself, Trevor told her, his eyes lighting with a smile.
That sounds a bit scary, Arcineh teased.
Not at all, Isabella put in. Your father is very good.
Arcineh laughed a little.
I ll tell you what, Trevor said. We ll go dancing next weekend-big band and all that.
Where? Arcineh was instantly taken, her eyes studying her father in the mirror.
Suite 19 has big band sound.
Trevor s gaze flicked to Arcineh s. Catching his smile in the mirror, Arcineh couldn t resist saying, I don t know if I can be seen dancing with a man your age. It might ruin my reputation.
Her parents found this hugely amusing and were still chuckling about it when they pulled into the circular driveway at Samuel Bryant s large home. This was not just Trevor s father but his boss. However, Trevor knew that the evening would be all fun. If Sam Bryant was good at anything-and he was actually good at many things-it was separating the office from the home. He worked very long hours but was very good at leaving the office behind.
There you are! Sam said the moment he set eyes on his youngest grandchild. Arcineh s smile matched his own. They exchanged a hug before Sam kissed Isabella s cheek and smiled at his son s birthday greetings. Arcineh was the one to hand him his gift.
Open it now, she ordered, excitement filling her dark brown eyes.
Very well, Sam agreed, grabbing a seat because the present was large and a bit awkward. He knew before tearing back the paper that it must be a picture frame, but he was not prepared for the photo itself.
Trevor, Isabella, and Arcineh smiled out at him from a formal studio setting, each looking wonderful. Sam felt his throat close a little and took a moment to look up and smile at them.
For the man who has everything, Sam, Isabella teased him. Family pictures always do the trick.
This is beautiful, Sam said, standing to kiss her again. And you, he continued, looking down at Arcineh, look fabulous.
It almost didn t come in on time to get framed, Arcineh said, not having heard the compliment, but Mom talked them into hurrying it.
She s good at that, Sam said with a wink for his daughter-in-law. Moments later, more guests arrived and the four were separated.
Without her cousins there, Arcineh mingled for only a short time before making her way to the kitchen. As she expected, Violet, who cooked and managed the house for her grandfather, was there. They were fast friends.
Look at you in that dress, Violet said, laying out more hors d oeuvres for the guests.
I just got it. Arcineh hopped onto the counter, smoothed the skirt of the black velvet dress, and reached for some cheese. It s all adults out there.
No Quinn today?
Arcineh made a face. She s got a horse thing.
Well, you know you re always welcome in here, Violet said, smiling at her. I might even put you to work.
In this dress? My mom would faint.
And speaking of Mom, Isabella said from the doorway. Hello, Violet.
Hello, Isabella. You look beautiful.
Thank you. And since we re exchanging compliments, I ll tell you the food is wonderful. Arcie, her mother continued, shifting her attention. I have some people I want you to meet.
I m eating, Arcineh said, stuffing food in her mouth just to make it true.
Violet turned so as not to be caught laughing, and Isabella gave her daughter a pointed look, one that had her moving out the door just moments later. She met some work associates of her father, but just as soon as she was able, she escaped back to the kitchen. Not until music was put on and the dancing began did Arcineh make another appearance. And because she loved music and dancing, the evening suddenly grew very short. Long before she was ready, her father was telling her it was time to go.
Great party, Dad, Trevor complimented, thanking his father as they took their coats from the waiting maid. As a rule Sam s only staff was Violet, but for his sixtieth birthday, he d gone all out.
It was a great time, wasn t it? Sam agreed, feeling content that his family had stayed until the end, well past midnight. Why don t you stay over? Sam suggested when the front door was finally opened and they all saw the rain that had begun to pour.
Thanks, Dad, Trevor wasted no time in saying, but I think we want our own beds tonight.
All right. I ll see you Monday were Sam s last words before he hugged his daughter-in-law and Arcineh again.
The Bryant family moved to get into the car that had been driven under the canopy by the hired valet, everyone wearing a smile.
That was fun, Arcineh said, settling in the backseat. Quinn really missed out.
Trevor and Isabella, who loved their daughter to distraction, were kind enough to agree, and also to remain quiet about the fact that Arcie hadn t wanted to go in the first place.
CHAPTER One
Sam knew the moment Arcineh awoke because he d been watching her face intently. Her eyes shifted around the ho