Read Her Valentine Family for Free Online

someone?”
    â€œYes,” she said, then shook her head. “No, not really. I’d noticed last week that we had some other folks visiting again who’d been away for a while, and I’d hoped they’d be back today.”
    â€œWho?” Jessica asked. Like most people in Claremont, she knew almost everyone in town—or at least knew who their family was.
    â€œOh, look,” her father said. “Nathan’s going for the peppermint.”
    They all turned and walked toward Brother Henry, standing at the doorway shaking hands with everyone and preparing to shake Nathan’s outstretched hand. But Nathan’s palm was turned up, waiting for another piece of candy.
    â€œPlease?” he said, his s lisping a little due to his missing tooth.
    â€œHey, we had a deal, remember?” Brother Henry lifted a white brow.
    â€œI remember,” Nathan said. “And I listened to you preaching.”
    â€œOkay, what did I talk about?” He crouched down to Nathan’s level.
    Jessica was curious as to whether Nathan had actually heard. He’d spent the majority of the service admiring his Superman shoes, which he’d told Jessica were “nice enough to wear with church clothes because they’re brand-new.” She’d let him win that one, deciding to choose her battles, even though the colorful tennis shoes didn’t exactly go with his khaki pants and striped navy sweater.
    â€œYou talked about daddies,” Nathan said matter-of-factly.
    Jessica’s world seemed to stall for a moment. “Daddies?” she asked, her voice a little raspy at hearing Nathan say the word so sweetly.
    Nathan’s head bobbed. “Yep, how much daddies love their children and how God loves us the same way. That’s what you said.”
    Jessica wasn’t certain, but she thought Brother Henry’s chin wobbled a bit before he worked his mouth back into a smile. “That’s exactly right,” he said, then visibly swallowed and handed Nathan the striped candy.
    Brother Henry stood from where he’d knelt down to speak to Nathan, and this time she was sure that she saw a bit of moisture in his eyes, which matched the dampness in her own.
    â€œIt’s good to have both of you here, Jessica,” he said, the warmness in his tone touching her heart.
    â€œIt’s good to be back.”
    She, Nathan and her parents walked quietly toward her father’s car, then all piled inside and buckled up for the ride back home for her mother’s traditional Sunday pot roast. But food wasn’t on Jessica’s mind, and she suspected it wasn’t on her parents’ minds either.
    On the contrary, Nathan’s words to Brother Henry were resonating through her thoughts, and her son wasn’t done discussing the lesson.
    â€œMommy?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDid you hear him talk about daddies?”
    She breathed in deeply, let it out slowly. “I sure did.”
    Nathan nodded, and Jessica sighed with relief. Maybe that was it.
    And maybe cows would fly. This was Nathan, and he wasn’t done figuring everything out yet.
    â€œMommy?”
    She noticed her mother shift uncomfortably in the front seat, place a hand over her mouth and peer out the passenger window and she assumed this conversation was going to be as rough for her parents as it was for her. Or close. “Yes?”
    He continued looking out his window as he spoke so Jessica couldn’t see his face. And thank goodness, he couldn’t see hers, because it was very tough to control her pain at his next words.
    â€œDo all daddies love their kids?”
    Have mercy, what would she do now? Did all daddies? If she told him yes, she’d be lying, she knew. Some didn’t.Some weren’t good, and that hurt her very soul, but she knew one who would love his son very much, if he knew the truth.
    â€œYour daddy will love you,” she said, and she saw both of her