Read A Passion Redeemed for Free Online Page A

up. "Oh, speaking of Boston, we received a letter from your mother yesterday." She hurried to the counter and plucked an envelope from the windowsill. She placed it on the table with a chuckle. "Poor Marcy, sounds like she has more wedding jitters than Faith and Collin."
    The fork all but dropped out of Charity's hand in her haste to pick up the letter. Without thinking, she lifted it to her nose, as if to breathe in the scent of home. She pressed the cool parchment against her cheek, suddenly overcome with longing for her mother. She blinked to clear her eyes, then put the envelope aside. Her fingers lingered to caress her mother's graceful script. "Is she all right?"
    "Yes, of course, other than missing you."
    Charity smiled. "I miss her too. Terribly. So why the 'wedding jitters'?"
    "Well, it seems she's rather fit to be tied with all the preparations. Apparently Katie, the most stubborn flower girl on God's green earth, according to Marcy, is refusing to walk down the aisle with Collin's ten-year-old cousin, the ring-bearer."

    Charity grinned. "Father always thought I was the difficult daughter. I suspect he's met his match with Katie."
    "So it seems. When he's home to discipline her, that is. Marcy says he's been working longer hours since his promotion to editor, and that doesn't set well with her, either. And then there's Faith and Collin ..."
    Charity took a quick sip of her coffee. "And what's the problem with the lovebirds?"
    "Wedding jitters, I suspect. Evidently they're sparring like siblings, Marcy says. Claims Collin wants Faith to quit her job after they get married, and Faith is none too happy about it."
    Charity chuckled. I think Faith traded in the most stubborn fiance in the world for the second most stubborn. With her temper, it should be interesting to watch." She popped up to refill coffee, her tone suddenly buoyant. "And speaking of stubborn, guess who I saw at Duffy's last night?"
    Bridget stopped chewing. "Not Mitch Dennehy, for mercy's sake?"
    Charity giggled and shimmied into her seat like a little girl with a big secret. "One and the same!"
    "Goodness, don't just sit there grinning like a monkey, how is he?"
    "Handsome as ever, of course, but still holding a grudge, I suspect."
    Bridget puckered her lips while buttering her bread. She placed her knife on the plate. "Mmmm, I don't wonder."
    "Well, it's water under the bridge now, Grandmother; he needs to get over it." Charity chomped on a piece of toast and brushed the crumbs from her lips. "So I suggested you and Mima would love to see him."
    Bridget jagged a brow. "And you?"
    Charity frowned and shoved a piece of bacon into her mouth. "And me, yes, of course. Why not? We're all family."

    Bridget chuckled. "Or would have been."
    "Grandmother!"
    "Like you said, dear, water under the bridge. We can certainly laugh about it now, can't we? So ... do you think he'll come?"
    Charity polished off the last of her eggs with a smug smile on her face. She drained her coffee and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a definite degree of confidence. "Do I think he will come?" She nodded and grinned. "Whether he wants to or not."

    "Tonight? He's coming tonight? Saints alive, Grandmother, why didn't you tell me?" Charity all but ripped her black, woolen shawl off her back. Her insides quivered while her arms hung limp at her sides. The shawl dangled to the floor, puddling in a pile at her feet.
    Her grandmother blinked. "Well, for mercy's sake, Charity, I just found out myself this afternoon. He came by on his lunch hour."
    Charity's heart took a nosedive. "Mitch was here? This afternoon? Grandmother!"
    Bridget crossed her arms. Her blue eyes bristled. "I believe that's what I said, and I don't appreciate your tenor, young lady."
    Charity expelled a calming breath and adjusted her tone. "I'm sorry. You just took me by surprise, and I'm. . ." She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling faint. "I'm not ready!"
    "Charity, you look lovely-"
    "No! I'll have