Gift-Wrapped Family

Gift-Wrapped Family
Lois Richer

A Family for ChristmasTwenty-three-year-old widow Mia Granger is shocked to learn her late husband fathered a child out of wedlock. Now the handsome lawyer representing the young orphan's adoption agency is pressing Mia to meet the girl. She's touched by how deeply Caleb Grant cares about the five-year-old, especially given his own harrowing past. But with all the betrayals in her life, Mia is scared to open her heart to anyone. When she learns she owns a lovely ranch she never knew existed, Mia wonders if it's a home meant for a family of three—just in time for Christmas.

A Family for Christmas

Twenty-three-year-old widow Mia Granger is shocked to learn her late husband fathered a child out of wedlock. Now the handsome lawyer representing the young orphan’s adoption agency is pressing Mia to meet the girl. She’s touched by how deeply Caleb Grant cares about the five-year-old, especially given his own harrowing past. But with all the betrayals in her life, Mia is scared to open her heart to anyone. When she learns she owns a lovely ranch she never knew existed, Mia wonders if it’s a home meant for a family of three—just in time for Christmas.

“You said Lily is five?” Mia hiccuped a sob.

“That means my late husband and his secretary were together about as long as we were married. Why stay married to me if he was in love with someone else?” She dashed a tear from her cheek. “Why not marry her? Create a family with her?”

“There’s no way we’ll ever know.” Caleb refused to restate the obvious lure of Mia’s money. He wasn’t sure she knew how much her mother had left her, but his sources told him the number was high, very high.

“He said he never wanted to have children.”

“Judging by the amount of attention he paid Lily, I’m guessing that part was true.”

“I wish I could have a child.” She began to weep as though her heart was broken.

Caleb watched helplessly, thinking what a wonderful mother this caring woman would make. Somehow he knew that Mia was cut from the same cloth as his mother had been. Mia would welcome a child, make him or her feel loved, the most important person in her world. Mia would intrinsically know how and when to give a hug.

Things Caleb lacked. Because of his father.

LOIS RICHER loves traveling, swimming and quilting, but mostly she loves writing stories that show God’s boundless love for His precious children. As she says, “His love never changes or gives up. It’s always waiting for me. My stories feature imperfect characters learning that love doesn’t mean attaining perfection. Love is about keeping on keeping on.” You can contact Lois via email, loisricher@yahoo.com, or on Facebook (LoisRicherAuthor).

Gift-Wrapped

Family

Lois Richer

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

—Deuteronomy 6:5

Contents

Cover (#u3f9276b0-7178-5738-9f36-6d6ae4191a74)

Back Cover Text (#u3d83f169-ba07-545b-9d77-fcc2dc340db9)

Introduction (#u93b63bb8-f311-5446-ab57-bb0a40dc67e5)

About the Author (#u13963b28-9726-5f9c-9252-acfab5d4fdd3)

Title Page (#u422e8d16-dc32-5588-a711-dd600c1c0afa)

Bible Verse (#u8f5da5db-c1d0-5fc1-b3e7-1c1d75d70a9f)

Chapter One (#ulink_6dca73f5-2895-5276-a647-f6eb53e616c3)

Chapter Two (#ulink_644a477c-b711-5870-bff0-edceebc27bd0)

Chapter Three (#ulink_197edbde-1515-52db-a8c2-7bb0af72b52c)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_e272ef70-8264-500d-8f43-e86723139e95)

“This can’t be the place.”

Lawyer Caleb Grant matched the address on the paper in his hand with the crooked numbers on a small bungalow that had seen better days in this Canadian neighborhood of Calgary, Alberta, and grimaced.

“Are you sure you gave me the correct address?” he asked into his phone. Having confirmed his location, he opened the rickety gate.