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children. Or rather,
I’d
been talking about it. That night, she lashed out at me and said she didn’t want any more children. She wanted a life other than being a wife and mother. She stormed out of the house as the hurricane was nearing the coast. She told me she was going to town for more supplies, but instead she was heading to Memphis to her parents’ house.” His gaze locked with Susan’s. He wasn’t going anywhere until he made her understand what he’d been wrestling with for the past year.
    “She left her daughter without a word?”
    He nodded.
    “And you had to pick up the pieces, not only from the hurricane, but from what your wife caused by walking out.”
    “For a long time I felt guilty for bringing Caroline to Hope. If she hadn’t been here, she would be alive today. But I’m not going to let guilt rule my life anymore. She made the choice to leave. I couldn’t control her decision.” He snuggled her closer. “I thought I was doing okay. Then I met you, and I began to feel things I used to think I didn’t need. I realized it wasn’t just guilt that was eating at me, but my anger at Caroline. I’m working on forgiving her. I’m not going to live with hate or guilt. I want so much more. I want to feel again what it means to be in love. Will you give Carly and me a chance?”
    “Only if Oreo is included in the deal,” she said with a wink. “She needs a good home, and she loves this place.”
    “How do
you
feel about this place?”
    “I love it. Why else would I have gone to all the trouble to get you help with all your animals?”
    “Is that the only reason? The animals?”
    She tilted her head to the side and looked skyward. “Well, let me see.” She locked gazes with him. “The owner of the farm isn’t too bad, either, and he has an adorable daughter.”
    A peace descended as he shook off the last remnants of his past. As usual the Lord was right.
It is better to forgive than to hold on to anger.
    He cupped her face. “I want you in my life.”
    “So you don’t mind that I butted into it?”
    “When I said those words a month ago, I didn’t know that was the best thing you could have done for me.”
    She chuckled and leaned forward, brushing her lips across his. “Then you’re stuck with me. We’ll be each other’s shelter.”
    THE END



ISBN: 978 1 472 07501 7
    SHELTER OF HOPE
    © 2014 Margaret Daley
    Published in Great Britain 2014
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
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