Tracie Peterson (28 page)

“You can do both of those things when you’re thirty,” Brad replied. “Eighteen still seems too young.”

The ladies laughed and Tess felt an overwhelming happiness as Sherry gave Brad a playful nudge. “No fair, Dad. I want to be just like all the other kids.”

“I’d rather you just be yourself,” Brad replied. “Now, I’m going to head back to the car. You ladies hurry it up.”

Sherry released him and nodded. “We’re coming.” She waited until Brad had stepped down the hall to look to Tess. “I love it here. I’m so glad you picked this house.”

“I like it too,” Tess admitted. “It feels like home.”

Sherry nodded and came to where Tess stood. She hugged Tess tightly. “You’re the best, Mom.” She stepped back and
grinned. “I love being able to call you that. Mr. D always says what a privilege and joy it is to call God ‘Abba-Father,’ and I agree with that, too, but there’s nothing in the world like having a mom.”

Tess felt tears come to her eyes. “There’s nothing quite like having a daughter, either.”

Tess reached her hand up to brush back an errant strand of Sherry’s hair. “I’m so proud of you, Sherry. You’ve come so far and had to deal with so much. You’ve worked hard on your studies and now you’re graduating with honors and getting ready for college. I know it hasn’t always been easy for you, and sometimes I haven’t handled things as well as I had hoped to. But I love you. And I consider myself the most blessed woman in the world.”

“I love you too,” Sherry said, beaming with happiness.

Tess knew that no one else in Sherry’s life had ever praised her like this. Tess thought of her own adopted mother and how good it felt to be recognized as having worth. Suddenly the past seemed so unimportant. The pieces all fit, and each one held equal value.

Tess had known security and love in her adopted home. Her birth and the difficulties that followed were of little consequence, because what man had meant for evil, God had worked for good. She couldn’t help but fervently hope that her own children would feel the same way one day.

“Come on,” Tess said, reaching out for Sherry’s hand. “Laura and Darren are probably half crazy trying to keep up with your brother and sister.”

Adoption had proven such a blessing with Sherry that Brad and Tess had found four-year-old twin siblings to add to their family. “We’ll be lucky if they haven’t turned the entire retirement center upside down. I’ve never seen two kids with more energy.”

Sherry laughed and the sound rang through the empty house like a song. It was a melody Tess hoped to hear many
times in the years to come. It was a song of hope and joy. It was a song of home and family.

TRACIE PETERSON is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 80 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Belgrade, Montana.

Visit Tracie’s Web site at:
www.traciepeterson.com

     Books by Tracie Peterson     

www.traciepeterson.com

House of Secrets
•
A Slender Thread
•
Where My Heart Belongs

LAND OF THE LONE STAR

Chasing the Sun

B
RIDAL
V
EIL
I
SLAND
*

To Have and To Hold To Love and Cherish

S
ONG OF
A
LASKA

Dawn’s Prelude
•
Morning’s Refrain
•
Twilight’s Serenade

S
TRIKING A
M
ATCH

Embers of Love
•
Hearts Aglow
•
Hope Rekindled

A
LASKAN
Q
UEST

Summer of the Midnight Sun

Under the Northern Lights
•
Whispers of Winter

Alaskan Quest (3 in 1)

B
RIDES OF
G
ALLATIN
C
OUNTY

A Promise to Believe In
•
A Love to Last Forever

A Dream to Call My Own

T
HE
B
ROADMOOR
L
EGACY
*

A Daughter’s Inheritance
•
An Unexpected Love

A Surrendered Heart

B
ELLS OF
L
OWELL
*

Daughter of the Loom
•
A Fragile Design
•
These Tangled Threads

L
IGHTS OF
L
OWELL
*

A Tapestry of Hope
•
A Love Woven True
•
The Pattern of Her Heart

D
ESERT
R
OSES

Shadows of the Canyon
•
Across the Years
•
Beneath a Harvest Sky

H
EIRS OF
M
ONTANA

Land of My Heart
•
The Coming Storm

To Dream Anew
•
The Hope Within

L
ADIES OF
L
IBERTY

A Lady of High Regard
•
A Lady of Hidden Intent

A Lady of Secret Devotion

R
IBBONS OF
S
TEEL
**

Distant Dreams
•
A Hope Beyond
•
A Promise for Tomorrow

R
IBBONS
W
EST
**

Westward the Dream
•
Separate Roads

W
ESTWARD
C
HRONICLES

A Shelter of Hope
•
Hidden in a Whisper
•
A Veiled Reflection

Y
UKON
Q
UEST

Treasures of the North
•
Ashes and Ice
•
Rivers of Gold

* 
with Judith Miller
    ** 
with Judith Pella