Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Patrice Lewis (best large ereader .txt) 📕

“Yes. It’s an open secret here in town. It doesn’t help that my brother, Braden, is getting hitched soon. You know how that is. People have started to look at me cross-eyed because both my younger siblings have settled down.”

“That’s a bit of pressure, isn’t it?”

Connor shrugged. He didn’t want to admit that lately it hadn’t been as easy to shrug it off. He spotted Sage, Hank and his niece, Addie, standing across the way. Whenever he was in their presence, Connor wondered what it would be like to fall so deeply in love with someone that you wanted nothing more than to devote your life to that person. He’d never felt anything remotely like that.

“It is, but I suppose it’s a bit of a compliment. Everyone in town has known me since the day I was born. They really want me to be happy.”

“Aren’t you happy now?” Ella asked. She was gazing at him intently, as if she really cared about his welfare.

“I’m very content with my life, but when I see my sister and her family, I wonder how much better things could be,” he admitted, jerking his chin in Sage’s direction. His sister was holding Addie in her arms while Hank was making her giggle by tickling her. Anyone could see that they were a picture-perfect family. He’d surprised himself by being so honest with Ella. Maybe it was easier to admit something of that nature to someone he didn’t know very well. Somehow it took the pressure off.

“They do look blissful,” Ella said. “Their little girl is precious. She’s the spitting image of her daddy.”

“That’s my niece, Addie. When Sage met Hank, he was a single father, so my sister became a mother when they got married. She fell in love with Hank and got Addie as a beautiful bonus.”

“They’re such a sweet family. Sage looks like she’s a great mom to Addie. She’s so loving and attentive. And a schoolteacher to boot. She’s like the Mary Poppins of mothers.”

The image of his sister swinging down from the sky with an umbrella brought a smile to his face. Connor shifted his gaze in Sage’s direction. “She really is incredible, isn’t she? It’s been amazing getting to know her.”

Isabelle furrowed her brow. “What do you mean? Shouldn’t you already know her? She’s your sister.”

Connor let out a ragged sigh. “I didn’t grow up with her. This is going to sound pretty wild, but she was kidnapped from our home when she was only three months old. She was missing for twenty-five years. We were only reunited with her a short while ago. Thankfully, we’ve all bonded, but it’s been a tough journey.”

Isabelle gasped. Clearly she hadn’t known about his family’s tragedy. Sometimes it seemed to him as if the entire world knew about what had transpired. When Sage had returned to Owl Creek last year it had coincided with the twenty-fifth anniversary of her abduction. As a result, there had been an abundance of media attention. The headlines had broadcast the story of Sage’s return all over the country.

“I do recall hearing the news story, but I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time. I can’t believe that was Sage.”

“The woman who stole her from us actually ended up raising Sage,” Connor explained. Although he didn’t mind telling Ella about his family’s tragic past, it still hurt to discuss it. Jane Duncan, the kidnapper, had passed away last year, but he still harbored anger toward the woman who had perpetrated such a heinous act.

“I imagine something like that would devastate your whole family,” Isabelle said. “For the life of me I can’t imagine how my own family would have weathered such a storm. A stolen baby must’ve led to such unimaginable loss and uncertainty.”

“It did. The tragedy was never far from us,” he acknowledged. “We could be enjoying a wonderful Christmas celebration when it would rear up and bring us all crashing down to reality. Even as a small child I felt it. There was a void in our family that could never be filled until Lily returned.”

Isabelle frowned. “Lily?”

“That’s what my parents named Sage at birth. By the time she came back to us, she wasn’t Lily anymore. The woman who stole her ended up raising her as Sage.”

Isabelle made a tutting sound. “The name change must have been a painful reminder of the abduction, although Sage’s return is an incredible blessing.”

Connor nodded, then bowed his head. “We all prayed for years for her return. I don’t think my folks ever gave up hope. God brought her back to Owl Creek so we could make our family complete. Now we can’t imagine how we made it through all those years without her being with us. It just feels so natural.”

“I’m feeling a bit ashamed of myself,” Ella admitted.

“For what?” he asked. He froze for a moment, wondering if she was about to confess something about her past.

“Ever since I met your sister, I’ve been viewing her as this perfect woman living a storybook existence.” She let out a hollow laugh. “In reality she was an abducted child who was separated from her real family for decades. I can’t begin to wrap my head around what that knowledge did to her.”

“Sage has been through a lot,” he acknowledged. “There’s no way you could have known about the burdens she’s carried. She walks through life radiating positivity. We like to think that God was with her for every step of her journey. He gave her the strength to seek out her family.” He shook his head. It still stunned him to reflect on Sage’s courage and tenacity.

“She’s way more incredible than I realized. And your family is, too. To endure such a devastating loss, then come together the way you’ve all done is awe-inspiring.”

“I’m fortunate to have a really strong family. It took a little convincing to make me accept Sage