Picture Perfect Family

Why did the sight of Daniel Brantley still cause her knees to sway, even when he’d upset her?

She took a deep breath and told him exactly what was on her mind. “I’m not going anywhere, Daniel. I’m staying right here in Claremont with our nephew.”

“Me, too.”

“Then we need to come up with how this is going to work, because I promised my sister I’d take care of Kaden, and I’m not about to break that promise. I love Kaden.”

“I know.” He pulled out a chair from the table and sat down as though he totally belonged here in the middle of her home and in the middle of her life. Suddenly Mandy realized that if he was determined to help raise Kaden, too, then that’s where he’d be, in the middle of her life from now on.

Mandy and Daniel, working together to raise a child, forever.

Dear Reader,

When Jacob and Mia died, Mandy Carter’s world was upended, her dreams were thrown out the window and she had to put another person’s needs—her nephew, Kaden’s—above her own.

This is the kind of challenge that everyone wants to believe they could handle. That this-is-what-my-life-is-now moment, where a person sees that they’ve been tossed onto a different path than they anticipated, and they accept that test and excel. Mandy grew emotionally and spiritually because of the hardship, and she became Kaden’s princess, the one who took care of him when his mother couldn’t, much like Pharaoh’s daughter took care of Moses.

I enjoy mixing facts and fiction in my novels, and you’ll learn about some of the truths hidden within the story on my website, www.reneeandrews.com. You can enter a contest on my site to win a painting by Gina Brown, the artist mentioned in the book and the person to whom this book is dedicated.

Additionally, my site includes alternate beginnings for some of my novels and deleted scenes that didn’t make the final cut. If you have prayer requests, there’s a place to let me know on my site. I will lift your request up to the Lord in prayer. I love to hear from readers, so please write to me at renee@reneeandrews.com.

Blessings in Christ,

Renee Andrews

Picture Perfect Family

Renee Andrews

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Whoever welcomes a little child like this

in my name welcomes me.

—Matthew 18:5

This novel is dedicated to Gina Bowers Brown,

my amazing and beautiful sister.

“A sister is a little bit of childhood

that can never be lost.”

—Marion C. Garretty

Chapter One

“So I guess Kaden’s excited that Daniel Brantley is back in town, huh?”

Mandy Carter couldn’t control the natural flinch that Jessica Martin’s question provoked. Consequently, the perfect photograph she’d been about to take turned into a distorted mess when her normally steady hand jerked the camera. Instead of capturing Nathan and Lainey Martin giggling atop two bales of hay by the pond at Hydrangea Park, she got a blurred picture of the grass around her feet.

“Wait, hold on, let’s try that again,” she coaxed the kids, but the two-year-old had turned her attention from her brother to the buckles at the top of her pink overalls, and a group of bicyclists passing by had piqued Nathan’s interest.

“Oh, sorry,” Jessica apologized. “I should have known better than to talk to you while you were photographing the kids.”

“It’s okay, really.” Normally Mandy wasn’t affected at all by conversation while she worked. There was plenty of background noise at the park, and none of that disturbed her concentration. But Jessica’s statement had been far from typical conversation.

“Oh, no,” Lainey said, her tiny brows furrowing when she accidentally unhooked one of her buckles.

Nathan turned back toward his little sister. “Here, Lainey, I’ll help you.” He guided her small hand through the process of fastening the strap while she watched in awe.

“Thanks, Bubba,” she said, giving him a full baby-teeth smile.

Mandy snapped away, capturing the precious gesture and getting even better photographs than she’d planned.

“Oh, wasn’t that adorable? Did you get that?” Jessica asked.

“I sure did,” she said, grinning.

“Chad’s going to love photos of the kids for his birthday present.”

“I certainly hope so,” Mandy said, while a tiny poke in her back told her Kaden’s patience had run out.

“Hey, Aunt Mandy, are you done yet?” Sky-blue eyes—Brantley blue eyes—squinted up at her in the sun.

“I am now,” she said, packing up her camera. “Thank you for being so good while I took the pictures.” She ran a hand over his sandy waves.

“So we can go play now?”

“Sure.”

Kaden pumped a fist in the air. “Yes!” He ran toward Nathan. “You want to slide or swing?”

“We’ll slide first, and then we’ll swing,” Nathan said.

“Okay!”

Nathan, at seven, was three years older than Kaden and therefore “major cool” in her nephew’s eyes. Mandy loved seeing him so excited, so happy. Nine months ago she’d worried that she’d never see that sweet smile again, but there it was, stretching from cheek to cheek as he ran after his new friend toward the wide red slide. Maybe she was getting a better handle on this parenthood thing than she thought.

Jessica scooped up Lainey from Mandy’s hay props and kissed her soft blond curls. “I’m so glad you brought Kaden along today so he and Nathan can play.”

“Me, too,” Mandy said. It wasn’t as if she really had a choice, since he was with her 24/7, but she didn’t mind.

“Kaden looks like he’s doing well.” Jessica didn’t add, “considering all that he’s been through,” but it was definitely implied.

“He is. It took a little time for him to get adjusted. He was quiet for a while, and he still asks a few questions about his mom and dad every now and then, but I really think he’s going to be okay.” Mandy wasn’t so sure about herself, but she was determined that one way or another, Kaden would be fine. That was her main mission in life now, keeping her promise to Mia and making sure Kaden was okay.

“He sure enjoys playing with Nathan.” Jessica pointed to him as he flew down the slide headfirst with his new friend cheering him on. “Nathan likes being the big boy. He’s really good with younger kids and a great big brother for Lainey.”

“I’m glad Kaden’s getting a chance to play with another boy. Most of his time is spent with me.” And soon Kaden’s time would be split between Mandy and Daniel Brantley, if Daniel had his way and sent her packing.

Not happening.

“Hey, we have a great four-year-old class at the day-care if you ever want to bring him in and let him try it out. He wouldn’t have to go full time, you know. There’s a Mommy’s Day Out program on Wednesday morning that you could put him in. It’d be good for him, social interaction and all.”

Mandy blinked past the automatic response to the mommy reference. She wasn’t Kaden’s mommy. In fact, she missed his mommy, probably as much as Kaden. Mia had been more than a sister. She’d been Mandy’s best friend and confidante. They’d been through so much together. Mia was truly the only person who not only knew Mandy’s history but had experienced it, too.

“Sorry,” Jessica said, obviously noticing the change in Mandy’s disposition. “I’m sure you want to keep him close by with everything he’s gone through. It’s a reflex, telling people about the daycare, since I work there. But I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s fine.” Mandy was glad so many people in town were interested in Kaden’s well-being, a sign of how much Mia and Jacob had been loved and a promise that Mandy wasn’t completely on her own raising her nephew. Claremont, Alabama, was small enough that everyone knew everybody’s business and looked out for each other. Growing up, Mandy had hated that. Now, though, with Kaden to watch after, it didn’t seem like such a bad thing. “From the looks of the way he and Nathan are playing, Kaden might enjoy spending time with other kids. I’ll think about the Wednesday morning option.”

“Well, I have it on good authority that the teacher for that four-year-old class would absolutely adore him.”

“I’m guessing that teacher would be you?” Mandy asked.

“You’d guess right,” Jessica said with a laugh.

“I swing, Mommy?” Lainey pointed toward the swing set beside the big slide where Nathan and Kaden were playing. “Please?”

“Sure.”

They walked toward the swings chatting, and Jessica slowly worked her way into a topic that had come up way too often in Mandy’s conversations around town over the past nine months.

“So, Chad told me about a new support group at the community college for people who have been affected by drunk drivers, specifically those who have lost someone due to an accident caused by drunk driving.” Jessica gazed at her friend, concern evident in her eyes. “I was thinking that maybe you could give it a try.”

Mandy bit her lower lip and focused on Kaden, instantly orphaned when a drunk guy climbed behind the wheel, drove the wrong way and crashed head-on into Jacob and Mia’s car. She swallowed past her emotion and said, “I don’t need a support group.”

“It might help,” Jessica said. “I can tell you’re coping okay, but I also can tell that you aren’t as involved around town as you used to be. We’ve missed you at the church, you know. And I—well, everyone, really—wants to see you happy again.”

“I’m happy with Kaden,” she said truthfully, which was why she wasn’t about to let Daniel take her nephew.

“I believe that, but you need to find happiness with life again. Most people can’t relate to what you went through, but this group can. That’s what they are there for.”

Mandy pictured Mia, squeezing her hand as her life slipped away that night. Jacob had died at the scene, and the guy driving the other car died en route to the hospital, but Mia had held on until Mandy and Kaden made it to the hospital. Long enough for Mandy to get there and make that promise.

She kept her emotions in check as she glanced at Jessica, who was only trying to help. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’m not ready to meet a group of people who’ve been through the same experience. It hurts to even think that someone else has had to suffer that much.” She shook her head and added, “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for a support group.”

Jessica was undeterred. “Chad plans on talking to Daniel about going to the meetings also. Maybe it would be easier for you if y’all went together, especially since you were both affected by the same accident.” She pushed Lainey in the toddler swing and waited for Mandy to respond.

Mandy was glad the boys were so involved with sliding that they weren’t listening to this part of their conversation. She did her best to keep Kaden focused on the positive memories of his parents when they were alive, instead of the negative memory of their death.

“What do you think?” Jessica asked.

Mandy wasn’t about to give her friend false hope. If Daniel was going, she sure wouldn’t be a part of the group. He was only returning to Claremont to take Kaden, and she wasn’t spending any more time with him than necessary. So she sat on a nearby swing, avoided the question and asked another one that would turn the subject back to what she most needed to know. “Did you say Daniel is already back?”

Jessica didn’t press the issue, but instead nodded while Lainey pumped her feet and squealed with each push. “Yeah, I thought so, but I guess if you haven’t seen him yet, he may not have made it back to Claremont, huh? I mean, I’m sure he’ll make a beeline to come see Kaden, don’t you think?”

Daniel would make a beeline to Kaden, not to Mandy. Miraculously, Mandy managed a smile. “Yes, I’m sure he will.”

All of a sudden, Jessica slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, dear, maybe he was going to surprise you and Kaden, and I just blew it.”

“No, really. It’s fine.” Mandy’s shoes dug deeper in the dirt. “When I see him, I’ll act surprised. Don’t worry about it.” But Mandy was definitely worried. Daniel could take Kaden away from her, or try to take him away. She loved that little boy as if he were her own. Why couldn’t Daniel see that?

Because of that email, her mind whispered.

“Well, that’s what the church bulletin said on Sunday, that he was moving back this week and would begin working with the youth at the church as soon as he returned. I have to tell you, Chad and I were thrilled to hear he’d taken the youth minister job.” Jessica smiled warmly. “It’ll be nice seeing Nathan and Lainey become more involved with the youth group as they get older, especially if Daniel is leading the way.”

“He’s always been good with kids,” Mandy mumbled, more to herself than to Jessica. Daniel worked directly with children in his missions; she’d seen the photos. Children beaming. Daniel laughing. If those photos were shown in court, a judge would probably decide that he’d be a better parent than Mandy. Her heart sputtered in her chest.

“There was a photo of Daniel in the church bulletin beside the announcement,” Jessica continued. “It’s always a bit of a jolt to see him and realize Jacob is gone. They looked so much alike, didn’t they?”

Daniel’s eyes were a brighter blue, in Mandy’s opinion, but she didn’t say so now. She simply nodded then glanced at Kaden, whose eyes were the exact same Caribbean shade. As a photographer, she prayed for that exact color of sky when she took photos outdoors. Bright, clear and beautiful. Breathtaking.

Kaden looked at her with those exquisite eyes and grinned. “Did you see me that time, Aunt Mandy? I went fast, didn’t I?”

She swallowed. “Yes, you did.”

He nodded. “Yep, I did.” Then he ran back to the ladder to give the slide another go.

“You know, Chad and Daniel were really close in high school, back when they played baseball together. And Chad always thought the world of Daniel.”

“I remember.” Everyone thought the world of Daniel, even Mandy. In fact, she’d thought enough of him to propose to him when she was seventeen. She nodded absently while Jessica continued talking, and while her mind processed the facts. Daniel Brantley, Kaden’s uncle, had taken the youth minister job. She’d told him when he came back home for that interview at the church that he didn’t need to leave his mission work because of her impulsive email. She’d insisted that she never should have sent the thing and that she regretted hitting the send button the minute she clicked the mouse. But he’d pronounced he was coming back. No discussion. Riding in to save the day … and save Kaden from Mandy.

“And it’ll really be something for him to tell the kids all about his mission work, especially about everything in Africa,” Jessica continued. “You should have seen the slideshow they did last year when we had the annual appeal for the churches he started in Malawi and Tanzania. Seeing those people holding hands and moving into that water to be baptized, it touched my heart.”

“Oh, I remember that! I liked the elephants,” Nathan said, following Kaden down the slide.

Instead of running around to slide again, Kaden stopped, dusted off the knees of his jeans and peered at Nathan. “Uncle Daniel’s elephants?” he asked.

Nathan shrugged. “I don’t know. Is your uncle the guy from church who showed us the pictures of Africa and the elephants?”

Kaden looked to Mandy. “Is he talking about Uncle Daniel?”

“Yes, he is,” Mandy said, still forcing a smile.

“Wow, he’s your uncle? He’s so cool!” Nathan said.

Kaden beamed. “Thanks!”

Yeah, thanks, Mandy thought dryly. The appeal Jessica referred to had been held the weekend of Kaden’s fourth birthday last year. Daniel came home for his nephew’s party and did a slideshow of his African missions at the church while he was in town. He didn’t come home often and hadn’t planned to return again for another year, but he’d ended up coming back two weeks later for Jacob’s and Mia’s funerals.

For the entire time that they remained at the park, Jessica talked nonstop, singing Daniel’s praises and exclaiming about all of the wonderful advantages to having him back in town. Nathan joined in whenever he could, and Kaden automatically agreed with everything his older friend said. Mandy, on the other hand, spent her time wondering how quickly she could get him to leave. And exactly how long she had before she looked into another set of Brantley blue eyes, those belonging to the guy who broke her heart.

Chapter Two

Daniel Brantley never failed to appreciate the beauty of his hometown. No matter how many astounding landscapes he’d seen in his travels around the world, no matter the marvelous sights, smells and sounds of God’s creation that he’d witnessed during his seven years in the mission field, Claremont always took his breath away.

Maybe it was the memory of being a kid and running these streets with Jacob, Chad, Mitch and the other guys from Claremont High … or maybe it was simply the picturesque beauty of the town nestled perfectly at the foot of Lookout Mountain in north Alabama. Daniel had no idea why, but he knew that in all of his twenty-eight years, in spite of how often he’d felt close to God in his travels, there was something about being home that made God even closer, close enough to touch.

He cranked the window down and inhaled the scents of early spring, flowers blooming, trees budding. Honeysuckle and gardenia mixed and mingled, their sweet scents lingering on the air and showcasing the fact that he was no longer in Africa.

He was home.

Nearing the road leading to the high school, he saw two rows of Bradford pear trees covered in stark white blooms lining the path to the school’s entrance. Those blooms used to fall like snow all over this old red truck every spring a decade ago.

Glancing toward the brick buildings, he saw a bounty of teenagers’ cars parked in the gravel lots on both sides. He and Jacob parked out there back in the day. They’d ridden to Claremont High together every morning, stayed after school for football practice in the fall, basketball practice in the winter and finally baseball, which had been the favorite sport for both Brantley boys, every spring.

The Brantley boys. The Brantley twins. The Brantley brood. They’d been dubbed lots of things back then, but no matter how the townsfolk referred to them, it’d never been individually. They’d always been a pair, and in spite of their differences, they’d liked it that way.

Daniel sighed. Would he ever get used to the fact that Jacob was gone? And didn’t it seem odd that he’d been the one to venture out into more than his share of dangerous circumstances in his attempt to follow their missionary parents into the world and preach the Gospel, and yet the son that stayed home lost his life?

He pondered that irony as he drove through town. After Brother Henry told him to take his first day back to “get reacquainted with Claremont,” Daniel had headed directly to the photography studio in the town square to find Mandy Carter and see Kaden. Yes, he loved his hometown, but he’d have never returned this soon if it hadn’t been for his nephew. Unfortunately, he hadn’t found Mandy or Kaden at Carter Photography. Instead, he found a hand-painted sign on the door.

On a photo shoot. Be back later.

And wasn’t that just like Mandy? Be back later. No promises, nothing definite. Expecting the entire world to cater to her plans, her desires, the same way she had so many years ago. Some things never changed.

But Daniel wasn’t going to simply sit outside her door and wait for her to show. Instead, he drove through town enjoying the gorgeous day and taking in the scenery while thinking about Kaden. A little boy needed a man in his life. In truth, a little boy needed a dad in his life.

Daniel had originally thought it was fine to stay in the mission field and let Mandy Carter raise his nephew. Daniel’s parents had also agreed that Mandy was perfect for raising their grandson. Their commitment to the mission work in India kept them away, and while they loved the country there, they didn’t think they should move Kaden away from the only home he’d ever known right after losing both of his parents. And they all agreed that Mandy adored Kaden and wanted to take care of her nephew.

“I love Claremont, and I love Kaden. Let him stay here with me, please. It’s what Mia wanted.”

Maybe because he’d been so upset over losing Jacob, Daniel had agreed. He couldn’t wait to get back to Malawi to pray, to work and to grieve. After a few months, however, he realized that he couldn’t get his nephew off his mind. And when he prayed to God to help him know what he should do about Kaden, he’d received that email from Mandy.

After reading what she’d written, he realized that Mandy was still the spoiled little princess she was way back then. Why he’d believed her when she said she wanted to make a life in Claremont and raise Kaden was beyond him. If Kaden was going to have the life Jacob and Mia had planned for him, it’d be Daniel who provided it. Certainly not Mandy Carter.

He continued driving toward the edge of town so he could see the new neighborhoods everyone was talking about, but before he reached the entrances to the subdivisions that had replaced the cotton fields, something caught his eye. Or rather, someone caught his eye.

A woman stood beside a blue pickup truck waving her hands in the air. Her sleeveless pink shirt was tied in a knot at her waist, and a turquoise scarf had been threaded through the belt loops of rolled up jeans. The ends of the scarf were tipped in sparkling stones that appeared to match the bejeweled sandals on her feet. She looked like a modern princess Jasmine, waiting for Aladdin to scoop her up on a magic carpet and whisk her away from this “horrid little town,” as she’d dubbed Claremont so many years ago.

While she waved him down, a thick ponytail of shiny, chocolate-brown hair whipped across her face in the March breeze. But regardless of the mass of hair that made her face play peekaboo with Daniel as he approached, he had no doubt to the identity of the woman.

“Have mercy, Lord. Do You have to let her keep getting prettier?” His heart bumped solidly in his chest, the way it always did when he encountered the beauty that was Mandy Carter.

Daniel slowed the car as he neared and watched as one hand moved to shield her eyes from her hair, and her mouth formed a silent “Oh.” Which was quickly followed by “No.” Her wide smile slid into a flat line and she looked at him the same way she had practically every time he’d seen her in the past seven years, since that night he’d turned her down and walked away.

“You have anyone else in that old truck?” Mandy asked. “Someone who might actually be interested in helping me, perhaps?”

Here we go again. He grinned. “Afraid not.”

He heard her grumble something and was pretty sure it included, “Should’ve recognized that truck,” and “Why don’t you drive away, you always do.” But before he could respond, another voice joined in.