Finding Glory

Once upon a time, he was just a hopeless cause from the wrong side of Glory, Kansas. And he’ll be damned if he’ll let anyone drag him back down after finally clawing his way out.

Everyone knows that Gina Townsend is a saint, always taking care of everyone around her. And now she’s trying to be a mother to her six-year-old niece, Amanda Jane. But the girl’s biological father isn’t helping matters. The scruffy, gangly boy Gina remembers has returned to Glory a sexy, successful man, but Reed Hollingsworth is the only thing standing between her and losing Amanda Jane to foster care.

Betrayed that neither Townsend sister bothered to tell him he was a father until he had money, Reed’s still not about to shirk his responsibilities. So when he demands Gina move in with him as part of Amanda Jane’s custody agreement, he tries not to notice pretty much everything about her—especially the way his solemn-faced daughter laughs when they play together.

Raising a child together, Reed and Gina learn that some dreams come and go, but some are a spark that burns eternal...

Dear Reader,

Here we are again back in the small town of Glory, where things aren’t always what they seem, and neither are the people we grew up with. Even with such a close-knit community, the people on the fringes are often the ones who need that community the most.

Just like Reed and Gina.

This story is a little different than the others on the surface, but deep at its core, it’s about the same things. Love, hope and redemption. Finding the courage inside yourself to be the best person you can be, letting love heal the wounds that are soul-deep, and fighting for the happily-ever-after that we all deserve.

Thanks so much for coming back again and checking in on our favorite small town. You know it’s not the same here without you.

Happy reading!

Sara Arden

Finding Glory

Sara Arden

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This is dedicated to the steadfast, inspiring, beautiful Nicolase Mallat. You’re the best book midwife there is. You held my hand, soothed my brow and helped me bring this into the world.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

Title Page

Dedication

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

PROLOGUE

“I SAY, DO HUSH, ETHEL.” Helga Gunderson rattled the gavel at the podium with all of the authority afforded her station both as the Grand Dame of the Glory Grandmothers and as the chief judge for the first district in Glory County.

Ethel Weinburg, local busybody, knitting genius and general jill-of-all-trades, squirmed in her seat and made a big show of adjusting the folds of her dress.

Helga warmed. “I want to hear all about your petunias, dear, but we have urgent business on Maudine’s behalf.”

The woman in question, one Maudine Townsend, sat in the proverbial hot seat up on the small stage. Her blue hair didn’t put anyone off—after all, it was perfectly coiffed as it had been every day since she was thirteen. The dye job had been to show school spirit for her old alma mater, but the temporary dye had become more of a fixture.

“As you all know, I haven’t been feeling well.” Maudine took a deep breath, deciding what she wanted to say next. She didn’t want anyone other than Helga to know just what she’d been going through, but she needed them to understand the importance of what she was about to ask.

“Have you tried a cleanse?” Regan Marsh asked, pushing up her glasses. “A good colonic can fix everything. I remember this one time when—”

Heavens save her from people who could only talk about their bodily functions. Maudine held up her hand. “Stop right there. I swore that the day I spoke of such things in public would be my cue to lie down and let them bury me. If that’s all I can converse about, it’s a sad day indeed.” She pursed her lips. “No, what I need is more for my granddaughter, Gina. She has absolutely no life trying to raise Amanda Jane. She’s a good parent, but she’s too young to have given up on falling in love.”

“Maybe her priorities are right where they need to be,” Rose Cresswell offered.

Maudine’s eyes narrowed. “Amanda Jane needs a father.” And I need to know she’ll be loved when I’m gone.

“I raised my daughters without a man just fine, thank you very much.” Ethel crossed her arms.

“No one is saying you didn’t. I didn’t say Bitsie Weinburg needs a father. I said Amanda Jane Townsend does. And Gina needs the help. Not because she’s not capable, but because she deserves to have something in her life she didn’t have to fight for. It would just kill me if she missed out on becoming a doctor because I couldn’t take Amanda Jane full-time,” Maudine confessed.

Gina’s story thus far was like a penny dreadful. She’d lost her mother, her sister, and now was trying to take care of her niece and put herself through medical school. She’d found a way to do that with the army, but when she found out Amanda Jane needed her, she’d declined to reenlist. And in doing so, had declined the GI Bill that would’ve paid for her education. No, Gina wasn’t going to end up like everyone else in Maudine’s family. She would survive and thrive, no matter what Maudine had to do to make it happen. She couldn’t help but feel like she could’ve done more, done better.

“Honey, no one would expect you to.” Helga gave her a sympathetic smile. The kind that you save for kittens, daisies and best friends. Especially when you knew how much pain that best friend was in.

Of course Helga knew what she was thinking. Helga always knew. She was like the FBI.

“Anyway—” She shook her head. Maudine didn’t want the conversation centered on her. It was about Gina. Making Gina happy. Seeing her settled.

Maudine knew that Gina could do anything. She believed in her—in her grit, in her spirit, in the fire in her belly that would help her succeed at everything. But her whole life had been a fight. It was time for something good and Maudine was going to make that happen for her.

“As I was saying—” she continued “—I want to see Gina settled.”

“Why do they call it settling? I wouldn’t think you’d want her to settle,” Regan interjected.

“Fine. Happy. I want to see her happy.” Maudine rolled her eyes and wondered how they ever accomplished anything.

“I heard that Reed Hollingsworth is back in town. He bought a big house on Knob Hill,” Rose Cresswell added helpfully.

“We all know that, Rose,” Helga reminded her kindly. “He’s Amanda Jane’s father. We’ve been watching this very closely.”

Rose sighed. “I suppose I mean to say what are we going to do about it? I mean, if we’re trying to matchmake for Gina.”

“Exactly!” Maudine pointed a finger at Rose. “That’s it exactly. What are we going to do about it?”

Ethel’s brow furrowed. “I suppose it depends on what you think we can do about it. What’s your endgame?” Ethel had on her game face, the one she reserved for their poker matches after the meeting. Things were getting serious.

“Gina’s happiness.”

“Duh.” Regan Marsh rolled her eyes behind her thick, bejeweled glasses. “But what—” she stuffed a bite of scone from Sweet Thing into her mouth “—do you think her perfect pitch is? What sort of resonance will make her happy?”

“I really wish you wouldn’t speak like that, Regan. It shatters your credibility.” Helga wrinkled her nose. “And why do you always have to bring everything back to a musical analogy? Wouldn’t it annoy you to no end if I did that? If I made everything about the law?”

Several glances cut to Helga sharply and she narrowed her eyes. “Fine. I’ll work on that. Anyway, Maudine. What do you think will make Gina happiest?”

“To have a whole family. A man who will love her, and Amanda Jane as his own. To go to medical school without worrying about how we’re going to provide Amanda Jane with the things she needs.” Maudine sighed heavily. “I’ve done my best.”

“We know you have, dear. So does she.” Marie Hart nodded from her chair.

“We could set her up with my grandson, Greg. He’s a firefighter. He’s always had an eye for Gina,” Helga offered.

“No.” Ethel shook her head. “It’s too cute. Greg and Gina Gunderson. There are so many g’s there, I choked on them.”

“Ethel, you cannot expect people to marry or not marry because of their names,” Rose admonished.

“The answer is staring us in the face.” Maudine’s expression melted into a sly smile. “She’ll marry Reed,” she proclaimed. That was the perfect solution.

“Have you lost your mind?” Rose asked, her expression one of serious concern.

“No, no. I’m serious as Old Man Zorn’s heart attack.” Maudine nodded emphatically. “She’s always had a crush on Reed. Even when the boy had no prospects. Now, he does. He has several billion of them, he’s Amanda Jane’s father...it solves all of our problems.”

“Have you forgotten the part where he was on the drugs?” Ethel faux-whispered.

It was Helga’s turn to roll her eyes. “The drugs? As if he did them all? That was years ago. He’s cleaned up his act. He’s CEO of a major international company. If there was the slightest chance he was slipping, his board of directors would oust him so fast it would make your head spin.”

“I wouldn’t trust him with a child.” Ethel crossed her arms. “This is all just so seedy.”

“Good thing it’s not up to you, isn’t it?” Maudine looked pointedly at Helga. She’d be hearing the paternity suit Maudine had convinced Gina to file against Reed.

“You’re asking me to break the law. To form an opinion days before I hear a case.” Helga shook her head.

“No, I’m asking you, after listening to the evidence for yourself, to consider this option as a relief of circumstances to both parties.” Maudine flashed a self-satisfied smile. “Offer them marriage as an option to child support and a custody fight.”

“Are you sure you’re not the one who should’ve gone to law school?” Helga eyed her.

“I just know what’s best for Gina. That’s why we started the Grandmothers, right? To put our life experience to good use.” Maudine nodded.

“Do you have any doubts about this? Any at all? A man can change a lot in seven years,” Helga asked.

“Yes, I do believe he can.” Maudine nodded again, but this time it was weighted with purpose.

“I won’t make you any promises. If, based on the evidence presented, this is a good idea, I’ll suggest it. But it might not be. I am an officer of the court. So we need a backup plan.”

“Your grandson is my backup plan.” Maudine grinned.

“That’s probably not something you should ever say to his face, dear,” Regan added.

“Too true.” Helga nodded. “He’s a good man. And should be a woman’s first choice, not a backup plan.”

“You know what I mean. I already love Greg like my own.” Maudine tried to smooth over her careless words.

“I know that.” Helga sniffed. “So, anyone else have anything to contribute or are we ready to move on to the next item of business?”

Maudine stood. “We can move on to Ethel’s prize-winning petunias.”

“Actually, I think we should discuss how to get Marie’s B and B more exposure,” Ethel added. “My petunias are quite special, but they can only do so much, you know.”

CHAPTER ONE

A LACY COLLAR lay expertly arranged atop the judge’s black robes, like the doily positioned just so underneath the orange carnival glass bowl that held an endless supply of her grandmother’s hard, ribbon candy. The kind Gina had chipped her front tooth on when she was eight. Seeing it perched there, so crisp, so proper, caused a heavy knot to turn in on itself in her gut.

“Sit up straight,” Maudine Townsend whispered in Gina’s ear. “Just because I’ve played pinochle with Helga Gunderson every Saturday for as long as I can remember doesn’t mean she’s going to look kindly on you. She’ll be fair.”

“How is it fair to judge someone by their posture? Especially when I know that you two have never played pinochle. You play five-card stud and shoot whiskey,” Gina whispered back to her blue-haired grandmother. The woman’s hair was literally a light shade of blue. She’d dyed it for the street carnival two weeks back and temporary had turned out to be more permanent. But she’d accessorized nicely, striking an imposing figure in a white vintage Chanel suit circa 1963. Somehow, she’d made it work.

Maudine raised a perfectly drawn eyebrow. “Don’t be tart.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Gina straightened her posture. She was a grown woman, former army, and her grandmother still had the power to make her jump to. She didn’t mind it much. Her grandmother was the reason she was a fighter. Her grandmother was the reason she’d made it through high school after her mother died.

And her grandmother was the reason that Gina believed she could be a good mother to her niece, Amanda Jane, after Crystal died a year ago.

There’d been a lot of loss and a lot of sorrow in the past few years. It was a lot for anyone to bear, especially a six-year-old girl.

Suddenly, her grandmother’s fingers tightened around hers, the cool metal of her mail-order costume rings digging into Gina’s palms.

She looked up and saw him.

Him.

Reed Hollingsworth.

Gina thought she’d prepared herself for this—for seeing him after all these years. For facing him and demanding he do what was right.

No, faced with him, she felt like she’d opened the door to confront the monster in the closet and found out he was real. No, no...Reed wasn’t a monster. He was just a guy. A man like any other, even if he didn’t think so anymore.

He smelled of money, or she could tell that he would from across the courtroom.

Reed was ushered into the court by some shark masquerading as a man in a suit. They each had haircuts that probably cost more than all the shoes in her closet combined. Of course, that probably wasn’t saying much.

His hair gleamed, perfect and golden under the light. Too perfect, she wanted to muss it, push her fingers through it and disturb its perfection. She wanted proof that he was still Reed underneath this shiny veneer. Still the same boy, at heart. Because if he wasn’t, how would she survive this?

She’d survive anything, because she had to, she reassured herself.

Gina crossed her ankles and tucked her dollar-store flats underneath her, self-conscious of her hand-me-down dress and the slightly gnawed tips of her unpolished fingernails.

“I’m not worried about the judge, I’m worried about him. Don’t give him the satisfaction,” her best friend and lawyer, Emma Grimes, said from the seat next to her. “I don’t doubt he’s going to try to pull something here. That attack dog he’s got with him looks much too smug.”

“Good thing you’re better than an attack dog. You’re a nuclear weapon.” Or so Gina hoped. She’d need it to stand her own.

Gina had never been so angry as the day she found out that Reed had bought a house on Snob Hill. He had money for houses, for fancy cars, for whatever he wanted. Not just what he needed, but wanted. Any little thing—especially coming back to Glory and showing everyone he’d succeeded even when the world had been against him.

Well, that was just lovely for him, but what about his daughter? What about Crystal?

And what about herself?

Gina didn’t begrudge him his success and she didn’t want a handout. She was more than happy to work for everything she had, but it wasn’t fair that she was back to waiting tables, working as an EMT and trying to get through premed, all while raising his daughter with no help from him.

If he didn’t want to know the beautiful girl his daughter was, fine. But helping pay for her education, for her food and the clothes on her back was his responsibility, too, not Gina’s alone. She’d be damned if she’d let him waltz back into town and lord his money and success over everyone while Gina went without so Amanda Jane could have the things she needed—let alone anything she just wanted.

It was wrong that when they went to the store Amanda Jane never asked for anything. That when she made her Christmas list she put things on it like school supplies for Gina. It was kind, yes. She had a large heart, but Amanda Jane had gotten to know nothing of being a child. Even when she played on the swings, it was done with the grim determination of a chore. Something she was supposed to do.

All because she’d had a mother who loved her high more than her daughter and Reed couldn’t be bothered to be a father.

That thought sat cold and false in her mind. Even though she’d seen the proof in his absence, she’d never thought he’d be that way. In fact, when she’d played pretend in her head, she was the sister he’d fallen for, and he was always a wonderful dad.

But in those pretend schemes, he’d never been a junkie, either. Not that he was now; he was clean and sober.

Damn him, anyway.

Why did he have to be so handsome?

Why did he have to come back?

Why did he have to be Amanda Jane’s father?

She supposed if she were going to get stuck on that endless loop, she could ask the universe a lot of questions. Why did her mother have to die... It was what it was and the only thing she had control over was the here and now.

Sort of. She had control of her actions. That was it.

Judge Gunderson’s voice yanked her out of her thoughts. “Before I officially hear this case—” she peered down at them meaningfully, her presence heavy in the small room “—I want to offer you both a solution that has been suggested to me by concerned parties.”

Concerned parties? That would equal one Maudine Townsend. Gina forced herself to keep her eyes forward on the judge and not glaring at her grandmother.

She loved the woman.

She admired her.

Couldn’t live without her.

But she liked to meddle where she oughtn’t.

“Consider giving the child the stability and permanence marriage will provide.”

Maybe the judge was her grandmother’s best friend, but damn it.

“I object,” Gina said.

“Shh!” Emma and her grandmother said at the same time.

“Of course you do.” Judge Gunderson addressed her. “I wouldn’t want to marry a man I didn’t love, either. But you could do it for Amanda Jane.”

Reed’s gaze was hot on her, as if she’d just come into the sight of some heat-seeking missile. Well, she wasn’t going to look at him and give him the satisfaction.

“So my client is good enough to provide for you, but not good enough to marry? Noted,” the shark replied.

“Young man,” Helga Gunderson began as she turned her chilly stare on him. “Maybe your theatrics are appreciated in other courts. But you are in my courtroom. Being a smart aleck isn’t going to win you any favors.”

The shark grinned, not at all put off by her words. “Yes, ma’am.” He was almost handsome, that predator in a suit, with his boyish grin.

“And, Miss Grimes, please remind your client that she isn’t the one who gets to object.” Helga looked at them both pointedly.

“Yes, ma’am.” Emma nudged her under the table like she had those years ago in study hall.

And her grandmother pinched her on the other side.

“You don’t get to object, either. Stop it,” she grumbled under her breath at the woman who looked more pleased with herself than she should.

“Miss Grimes, Mr. James, confer with your clients.”

Emma leaned over. “It costs us nothing to say you’ll consider it. In fact, it could gain us some leverage if we have to appeal. You look agreeable and motivated to do what’s best for Amanda Jane.”

She snuck a glance at Reed and felt as if she was in high school all over again. She didn’t want to be the one to put herself out there. To say yes before he did. It was like admitting she didn’t think boys had cooties in the fourth grade. That was so stupid.

“You need every advantage you can get here. He’s her father. Crystal may have wanted you to have custody, but legally—” Emma whispered.

“Okay, fine.” Oh, God, could Reed really take Amanda Jane away from her? She’d never actually believed that could happen, but sitting here in the courtroom now, it was a sword of Damocles hanging over her head. He had more money, more advantages and no matter what Judge Gunderson’s ruling was, Reed could appeal it forever.

Emma straightened and nodded to the judge.

Reed’s eyes were on her again; she didn’t need to look at him to know that he was the one who watched her. It was almost as if he was trying to see what was under her skin. Or maybe he was just trying to look through her and pretend she wasn’t there.

“What about you, Mr. James? Your client’s answer?”

“We agree to consider it.”

Consider it. Marrying Reed Hollingsworth? That was just insane. The idea crashed into her, bruising her in places she didn’t know were still sore.

He was “considering” it. As if he would deign to look down from the castle he’d built for himself and still found her lacking.

She snuck a glance at him and he was still watching her, his blue eyes sharp as blades slicing her to ribbons.

But Gina refused to look away, refused to back down. She’d fight for Amanda Jane with every breath in her body.

“If you decide to go forward, I want a prenup on my desk before next week. If not, we’ll be revisiting this case to decide custody, visitation and support.”

“This is wonderful news. What are your colors going to be?” Maudine asked. “I’m thinking blush and cream.”

“I’m thinking you’ve lost your mind.” She took her grandmother’s hand. “If for some reason, this insanity happens, it will be just a signing of papers in Emma’s office. No dress, no vows, no—”

“Why would you deny an old woman her last wish?”

Gina snorted. “You’re far from dying, Grams.” She said it more to reassure herself than anyone else.

“You don’t know that. I could get hit by a bus. Or choke on—”

“Then I should never get married so you don’t ever leave us.” Gina hated how close to the truth that really was and her nose prickled.

“Hush with that.” Maudine’s thin arm came around her and pulled her close. She smelled like lavender and home. “Come on, now. Everything will be well. I know these things.”

After the judge left, Gina wanted to do anything but be in the same room with Reed. She was afraid he’d speak to her; she was afraid he wouldn’t. She didn’t know how to act.

When she’d been thinking about taking him to court for child support, this part of it had never figured into the equation. This hadn’t been real to her. It had been some fey idea in her head. When Emma asked her if she was sure about taking him to court, she’d been so steadfast. So sure. Now? She was drowning.