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paper inside. “Oh my,” she whispered as she lifted out a handmade journal and an old-fashioned fountain pen. “I love them.”
    “We thought maybe you might want to start a new journal,” Geoff said, clearing his throat as if it had suddenly filled with emotion. “And the fountain pen was your grandfather’s.”
    Geoff’s father had owned a small newspaper back in Iowa where Geoff had grown up. After Tessa was born, her grandfather had written her a series of letters with this, his favorite pen. He’d sent a letter to her on every birthday until his death a year earlier, when the pen had been given to Geoff. “Now it’s your turn to write,” Geoff told her.
    “But write what? I have nothing to say.”
    “How about letters to us?” Jeannie suggested.
    “You’re kind of right here, Mom.”
    “I know, but you could write letters to us that we could read later—like when you’re off to college or on your wedding day or when you have your first child or…”
    “Stop it, Mom,” Tessa said laughing. “You’re going to have me living my whole life before I’m out of high school.”
    Geoff was laughing as well. He looked at Jeannie the way he used to look at her when they were courting. His eyes twinkled with that same surprise and curiosity that fueled her interest in him from their first meeting. She looked from Geoff to Tessa and grinned. For the first time in weeks, she felt sure that everything was going to be all right for them.
    Geoff held out his hand for Tessa’s new journal and flipped through the pages. “That’s a lot of blank pages,” he said. “I figure you’ll have it filled up by…”
    “…Tuesday,” Jeannie said, knowing that when Tessa started any new project, she became single-minded about finishing it.
    “I’m going to start tonight,” Tessa said when Geoff handed back the book. She clutched it to her chest, her eyes sparkling. “Thank you so much—it’s perfect.” She started up the stairs then turned back. “And, Mom. No peeking.”
    “Me?” Jeannie asked, pointing to herself. “Why would that even cross your mind?”
    Both Geoff and Tessa rolled their eyes.
    “Promise?” Tessa said, and it was clear that she was asking for a serious commitment.
    “Promise.” Jeannie placed one hand over her heart.
    Satisfied, Tessa blew them both a kiss and hurried off to her room.
    Jeannie was watching her go when she felt Geoff’s arms come around her, his lips close to her ear. “Thank you,” he whispered.
    “I would never have violated…”
    “Not for the promise,” he said, turning her so they were facing each other. “For raising such a wonderful kid.”
    Suddenly shy, Jeannie fingered his shirt collar. “I didn’t do it alone.”
    “But you’re the one who has given her confidence and your gift for taking care of others.”
    Jeannie’s heart was so full that she circled her arms around his neck and laid her cheek against his chest. “You make me so very happy—you and Tessa are my whole world.”
    She felt the rumble of his chuckle deep from in his chest as his arms tightened around her. When he spoke, his voice was so soft that she had to stay very still to hear him. “We’re going to be all right,” he said, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he had meant to speak the words aloud.
    She looked up at him and stroked his cheek. “I love you, Geoff Messner.”
    He grinned. “That’s Vice Principal Geoff Messner,” he teased.
    “No. That’s Geoff Messner, the best husband and father God ever created.”
    He kissed her then, and as they walked upstairs together arm in arm, Jeannie silently prayed the prayer she had prayed every night and every morning of her life. This is the day the Lord did make; let me be glad and rejoice in it .

Chapter 5
    Emma
    A fter weeks of sunny days with cloudless blue skies, the day after the annual picnic dawned with an unexpected and relentless downpour. Emma was making breakfast for the family, although she was well