Rachel's Gift: The Hawkins Series

By Celise Saenz

In Arlington, TX, college student Rachel Emerson has two Christmas wishes: to graduate college and keep her heart safe. After ending a terrible relationship that lasted way too long, she has no desire to date. However, she never planned on seeing Jason Samuels again.
Jason Samuels is the only man she ever pictured herself marrying. She hasn’t seen him in six years, but a chance meeting puts her in the position to help him. As the relationship between Rachel and Jason builds, the wall around her heart crumbles. Can she trust God enough to protect her? Is Jason her happily ever after or just an old high school crush?
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celise Saenz
• Release date: Dec 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386584001

Book preview

For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.

Job 14:7

Hello Again

My two main goals in life were to graduate college and to not fall in love, so why was I heart deep into my fourth inspirational romance that month? A fabric book cover hid the front. I had enough people searching for my perfect match. No need to give them more fuel by sharing my reading preferences.

Chapter ten ended with Beth staring out the window as Jacob stormed away. Would she go after him? I'd have to wait until after work to find out.

The back door leading to the laundry room opened. Tara, my co-worker, and roommate for the last three years stepped out. Hey, time's up.

I shut my book and stood. My legs were stiff from sitting on the cement floor during my lunch break. Stretching them out, I asked, How many rooms are left?

She had a huge smile on her face. One. By the way, I found him.

Him who?

Your perfect man.

There's no such thing, and I'm not interested.

Christmas will be here soon, Rachel. You can't be alone.

I won't be. I'll be with my family. Did I appear that desperate?

You need a sweetie of your own.

Can I manage my own love life, please?

She put her hands on her hips. Shouldn't be a problem. It’s non-existent.

Exactly. I left her standing on the covered porch and entered the house.

∞

The bright Texas sun streamed through the massive living room windows, warming my skin. Five glorious panes of glass reached from the floor to the ceiling, allowing the natural light to bounce off the walnut wood floors. Breathtaking, but only if I didn't have to clean them. I was on my second to last window when I caught a glimpse of him. My eyesight had to be failing, because the ex-love of my life, Jason Samuels, couldn't just stroll into my world after six years. I scrunched my eyes to get a better look. Yep, it was him. I’d know that walk anywhere.

My thoughts traveled to my freshman year of high school. My older brother Ben brought a few friends home with him after basketball practice one day. I wasn’t sure who the other teenage boys were, but the image of Jason in his royal blue t-shirt stood forever in my mind. From the moment we met, I pictured him as my future husband. We'd have three precious children; J.J., Jessica, and Reese. Too bad he said nothing more than hi.

Someone tapped my shoulder, bringing me back to the present. Rachel, you okay? Your arm will get stiff if you leave it hanging like that much longer.

I tore my attention away from the mesmerizing sight. Sorry, did you need something?

No, just wanted to know what had you in a daze. Tara peered through the glass. I see. Nice.

I couldn't give her any ideas. He's a friend of Ben's from high school. I recognized him, that's all.

Why don’t you introduce yourself before we leave?

He wouldn't remember me. And do you see what I'm wearing?

If you won't speak to him, I will. Do you mind? He’s a cutie.

The thought of Tara striking up a conversation with Jason didn’t sit well with me. What if he liked her? But then again, it didn't matter if he did or not. Jason Samuels was a childhood crush, nothing more and nothing less. I guess.

∞

I returned to cleaning the windows, trying harder to make them shine. The sound of the front door opening drifted into the room, along with voices. A quick survey of my condition revealed a blazing hot mess. I had on my oldest pair of jeans, a red faded t-shirt, and old sneakers. My pants were a size too big, thanks to a thirteen-pound weight loss. It's amazing how less stressful my life was when I didn't have a cheating boyfriend. Several curly strands had fallen out of my lopsided ponytail.  Did I have time to sneak out back to the porch? No such luck.

Simone, my boss, sauntered into the room, side by side with Jason. Girls, this is Mr. Samuels. He'd aged but was still as handsome as I remembered. The lines next to his eyes were more pronounced, and his style of clothing had evolved since those days at San Antonio Central. Khakis and a blue button-up shirt were a step up from basketball shorts and high tops. I wasn't sure what kind of cologne he was wearing, but it was tantalizing.

His gaze swept over Tara and me as he spoke. Hello, ladies. It's a pleasure to meet you. You're doing an excellent job.

When his eyes met mine, they lingered. Surely he didn’t recognize me after so many years.

Let me show you the rooms we have already cleaned, said Simone.

Reviews for Rachel's Gift

[Emily Williams · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This story seems unfinished and choppy. The author has real potential to be great but the writing seems rushed.