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Twice Blessed: A Borrowed Brides Novella
Twice Blessed: A Borrowed Brides Novella
Twice Blessed: A Borrowed Brides Novella
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Twice Blessed: A Borrowed Brides Novella

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A “Borrowed Brides” Novella

Can a ‘marriage of convenience’ ever blossom into true love?

Prim and proper Lydia Turner believes she has no choice but to sell her father’s beloved drugstore and make a new life for herself far away from the idyllic Texas town of Eden Point. But when the drug store’s buyer turns out to be a handsome young doctor with a little boy in tow, Lydia succumbs to the temptation to linger in Eden Point for a few more weeks.

Major Thomas Sullivan and his son are looking for a safe haven where they can heal from the heartbreak of war. Although Lydia vows to protect her own heart, she soon finds herself falling for the wary little boy...and his irresistible father...

TWICE BLESSED is a long novella of 32,000 words. A shorter version was previously published in A HOMESPUN MOTHER’S DAY

The other books in the Borrowed Brides series include:
Golden Chances
Harvest Moon
Something Borrowed

“Rebecca Hagan Lee warms my heart and touches my soul. She’s a star in the making!” Sabrina Jeffries, New York Times bestselling author

“Every Rebecca Hagan Lee book is a tender treasure! Small town Americana romance at its best!” Teresa Medeiros, New York Times bestselling author

“Rebecca Hagan Lee taps into every woman’s fantasy!” Christina Dodd, New York Times bestseller

“Rebecca Hagan Lee is a writer on the rise!”—Romantic Times

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 1, 2013
ISBN9781939541277
Twice Blessed: A Borrowed Brides Novella
Author

Rebecca Hagan Lee

After arming herself with a degree in fine arts and experience in radio, television, and film, Rebecca Hagan Lee wrote her first novel Golden Chances. Since then, she’s published numerous bestselling and award-winning novels and three novellas.She’s won a Waldenbooks Award, a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award, several Romantic Times awards, been nominated for an RWA Rita Award and has been published in nine languages.She currently lives in Georgia with her husband, her two beloved Quarter Horses, and a miniature schnauzer named after literary icon Harper Lee.

Read more from Rebecca Hagan Lee

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Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A very sweet story about two people who had a second chance at love

Book preview

Twice Blessed - Rebecca Hagan Lee

CHAPTER 1

Late April, 1919

Eden Point, Texas

As always she was perfectly prepared.

Lydia Turner tucked a stray lock of light brown hair back into the Gibson girl bun on top of her head and carefully repinned it. She pulled on her best visiting gloves and picked up her handbag, checking one last time to make certain she’d put the calling card with the train’s arrival time carefully written on the back inside her bag along with her handkerchief and leather change purse. She straightened, drawing herself up to her full height, and fastened the gold-braided frogs on the front of her military-style jacket. Lydia adjusted the high ruffled collar of her blouse just so, and ran her hands over the front of her skirt, smoothing away invisible wrinkles.

Control, she whispered to herself.

Control and Lydia’s attention to details gave her the false courage she needed; helped her to focus on what she was going to do. In the past four weeks, her world had been turned upside and Lydia had found herself in the unaccustomed situation of feeling like a small boat adrift on the wide, vast sea—anchorless and without direction.

And she knew the feeling would continue. Although her meeting at the Eden Point depot was necessary, if it turned out to be successful, she’d be at a loss. She would finally have a tidy sum in her bank account, but she’d lose the only job and the only home she’d ever known.

She glanced down at the delicate gold watch pinned to her jacket. Ten-fifteen. His train was scheduled to arrive from Houston at ten-forty-five. Thirty minutes to walk to the depot and await Mr. Sullivan’s arrival. Only thirty minutes.

Control. Lydia took a deep breath to steady her nerves, then walked to the big yellow-tinted, plate glass window and straightened the hand-painted sign. She pulled the shade down on each of the front doors, stepped out onto the crushed shell sidewalk, then closed and locked the doors to Turner’s Drug Store behind her.

Lydia allowed herself one backward glance at the red brick building with the large window as she headed down Front Street toward the depot, but all she could see was the white sign with the big black letters informing the entire world that her father’s beloved drug store was For Sale.

Major Sullivan? Lydia addressed one of the passengers, a middle-aged man with frown lines and thinning hair, disembarking from the train.

The man shook his head.

She approached another male passenger. Major Sullivan? Major Thomas Sullivan?

I’m Thomas Sullivan.

Lydia turned.

A tall black-haired man, in his late twenties or early thirties, exited the depot office and hurried toward her. He carried a black leather physician’s bag and wore civilian clothing—a well-tailored black suit—instead of the uniform of an army surgeon. He wasn’t what she had expected.

And he wasn’t alone.

He carried a child, a little boy of four or five. The boy had his face pressed against the major’s chest. As Lydia watched, Major Sullivan hefted the sleeping child a bit higher.

Lydia Turner. She stuck out her hand.

Major Sullivan glanced at it and nodded. He couldn’t accept her handshake. His hands were already full.

Lydia’s cheeks flamed with color. Struggling for something to say to ease the awkwardness, she gazed up at him and said the first thing that came to mind. You’re not at all what I expected, Major Sullivan.

He met her gaze. It’s Dr. Sullivan, now, Miss Turner. I’ve resigned my army commission.

Lydia couldn’t seem to stop staring at the man. His eyes were the most extraordinary shade of green. Please, call me Lydia.

He smiled down at her. What exactly were you expecting, Lydia? He emphasized her name as if he liked the soft and gentle way it rolled off of his tongue.

Lydia blushed again, but managed to find her own tongue. Someone different. Someone in uniform, older, she shrugged her shoulders, more…

They spoke at the same time.

Experienced?

Like my father.

Ladies first, Thomas said, urging her to continue.

I, please, let me apologize… Lydia stammered, feeling all of sixteen, instead of a mature twenty-six. She cleared her throat, straightened to her full five feet, four inches, and tried again. I know you’re an experienced physician, Dr. Sullivan, I’ve read of your record.

How?

What?

How did you know of my record? I’ve only written you the one letter stating my interest in purchasing your father’s practice.

Lydia’s cheeks reddened again. Well, after I received your letter, I wrote to a few of my father’s colleagues asking about you.

He frowned.

I had to know if you were the kind of doctor Eden Point needs. Lydia hurried to explain. You see my father was the only physician and pharmacist in Eden Point for years. When he died, she paused, I felt I had to find the right man to take over his practice. It was my duty as his only child.

Thomas nodded somewhat somberly. As if he understood duty all too well. What did you find out from your father’s colleagues?

Lydia decided not to be embarrassed about her nosiness. After all, she had Eden Point’s best interests at heart. I learned you were stationed in Panama and later volunteered to serve as a doctor with the Army Medical Corps in Europe. You stayed in France even after your term of duty expired a couple of months ago. I know you’re the most fully qualified doctor to express an interest in coming to Eden Point—a doctor more qualified than I’d ever hoped to find, but your civilian clothes and your—Lydia toyed with the gold braid on her jacket—well, I didn’t expect… She stopped abruptly.

She’d read his record, knew he’d graduated from college and medical school at the top of his class, knew the year of his graduation, knew that he’d spent time in the Panama Canal Zone, and four years caring for the troops in France and Belgium, but still she’d expected something…someone different. Someone balding, with a paunch around his middle from too little exercise, and dark circles under his eyes from too little sleep. This man, this Dr. Thomas Sullivan was tall and lean, and gorgeous. How could she explain that she’d never expected him to be so young and handsome or that she would respond to the sound of his voice like a twittering schoolgirl?

Control, she whispered again.

What? Thomas asked.

I didn’t expect the train to arrive ahead of schedule, or that you would have to wait for me to appear. And I didn’t expect… Lydia clamped her mouth shut to keep from making an even bigger fool of herself.

My son, Robert.

Thomas studied the woman standing before him. He’d expected someone different as well. Someone older. A spinster—tall, spare and as tough as old leather. He’d done his homework and knew almost as much about the late Dr. Josiah Turner and his very efficient daughter, as she knew about him. But none of Dr. Turner’s medical school colleagues had thought to mention how young or how pretty Lydia Turner was and the sight of her had set him back several paces. She wasn’t very tall—didn’t even reach his shoulders—and Thomas suspected that was part of the reason she carried herself with the stiff comportment any soldier would envy and dressed in such a severe fashion. She probably thought it made her look taller, older and more business-like. But she was wrong.

Several strands of baby-fine hair had come loose from her topknot, ruining the severe look of her high-necked military jacket and the crisp white ruffle of her blouse, emphasizing the delicate beauty of her oval face. And the dark jacket and skirt accentuated, rather than concealed, her slight figure. Though she tried to project a no-nonsense image, Thomas got the feeling she wasn’t as straight-laced or as rigid as she appeared. At least he hoped not. But she didn’t seem thoughtless or scatterbrained either. He knew a flighty, carefree, society miss when he saw one and Miss Lydia Turner simply didn’t fit the bill. But she was definitely flustered. Thomas liked what he saw. His instincts told him she’d be like a shot of adrenaline to his war-weary brain.

He smiled at her. Am I making you nervous, Miss Turner?

No. No, of course not. She pulled a gold thread loose from one of her jacket frogs. What makes you think that?

Thomas bit the inside of his lip to keep from smiling at her again, then spoke in his best doctor’s voice. I seem to have that effect on people. I’m afraid my height is intimidating.

Not at all, she said, speaking the truth. Lydia didn’t find his height daunting, though he stood head and shoulders above her five feet, four inches. It was his face and his youth, and his warm, wonderful, baritone voice that had her babbling like an idiot. Lydia glanced up to find him looking at her, but she couldn’t quite meet his gaze. Shall we go? she invited. The store is just a short walk down the street. Feeling more in control, Lydia turned to the porter. Amos, we’re going on ahead. Please send Dr. Sullivan’s luggage to the store. She started down the platform steps.

Yes, Miss Lydia, the porter answered.

I planned to stay in a hotel, Miss Turner, Thomas said as he followed her down the steps onto the sidewalk.

Eden Point doesn’t have a hotel, just Casey’s Boardinghouse. But its clientele mainly consists of railroad employees and traveling salesmen, Lydia explained. It’s a male establishment with lots of rough language and drinking and— she blushed, fancy women. I don’t think you’d find it suitable for your son.

I see, he said, taking careful note of the fact that she had definite ideas on what was right or wrong for small children.

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