Hope Reborn

By Alisha Jones

Andrea Walker is a brand new doctor in small town, North Carolina, with a booming medical practice, a hugh network of family, and a soft spot in her heart for all of her patients. She also has the love and support of her best friend, and true love, Michael. Although she throws herself into her work, and rarely sees him, she knows that he loves her. But, when he grows tired of eating alone and rearranging dinner reservations to suit her schedule, she may find that her true love needs a little more than just... love.
Andrew Jordan is a police officer and father with no reason, in the world, to take his mind off of his responsibilities. That is, until he meets the intriguing Dr. Walker. Her way with her patients rivals the very best big city doctors, and her home town humor breaks down all of his barriers that he had erected around his heart.

Will Andrea and Andrew be able to conquer insurmountable odds and build a future for themselves? Or, will an untimely death and a heart-wrenching decision, cause the two to go their seperate ways?
Find out in the second book of the Hope Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alisha Jones
• Release date: Nov 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370804870

Book preview

By: Alisha Jones

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Text Copyright © 2014

All Rights Reserved

To my wonderful husband and children,

who always support me.

Also, to my parents and sisters.

I love you all.

Prologue

The stadium was filled to capacity as the graduating class marched into their places. Streamers and banners in the school's colors waved proudly as all families and friends stood to honor the students. After all the students and faculty had made their way to their designated seats, the pledges were made, and the Dean of Students made his speech, the Chancellor of the college stood and made his way to the podium. 

And now, the Chancellor announced, May I present your Valedictorian for this completed year, Miss Andrea Walker. Andrea made her way from her seat, on the platform, to the podium as the audience, and the Chancellor, welcomed her. She had been nervously twiddling her thumbs, crossing and uncrossing her ankles, and pulling invisible lint from her skirt since she took her place on the platform. Please, God, don’t let me make a fool of myself. She approached the podium and adjusted the microphone... a lot. Being only five feet tall was no picnic. The audience’s laughter eased her tension a little, but only a little. As we near the end of this leg of our adventure, she began, I’d like to leave you with something that I hope will stay with you for the rest of your lives. As doctors..., the students stormed the stadium with shouts and applause. Calm down. We gotta get our diplomas first, she giggled nervously. As doctors, we have the chance to, not only, heal, but shape lives with the way we live ours. Our lives will affect others, there’s no getting around that. But, how we affect them is absolutely up to us. If we are loving, they’ll feel loved. If we are patient and kind, they’ll feel worthwhile. If we are compassionate, they’ll feel cared for. However, if we are uncaring, unsympathetic, and unfeeling, we have not performed the task to the very best of our abilities. We are to be givers. Givers of health? Yes.  But, also, givers of life; a life worth sharing with others. Let us always remember our very own ‘Giver of Life’, Jesus Christ, and do our very best to serve others as we serve Him. Thank you.

Applause rang from one end of the auditorium to the other. Andrea returned, shakily, to her seat and heard a commotion coming from one side of the coliseum. When she sat, she saw two whole rows of family and friends standing and clapping. Her parents and sisters were in tears and her 15 nieces and nephews were jumping up and down, hollering at the tops of their lungs. She smiled and shook her head as they calmed down and returned to their seats.

It took a very long time for the Chancellor to call Andrea's name, but when he did, Andrea walked across the platform again. This time she received the very important document that would begin the rest of her life, her diploma. She also received another long ‘stand-up, shout-out’ from her family and friends. She sat back down, feeling relieved that she had actually received her degree. She was glad to be finished with college, but she knew her adventure had just begun. A new doctor had to make a name for herself and she was determined to make it a good one. ‘A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches’.

After the ceremony, she ran into the open arms of her dad and squeezed him around the neck. He picked her up and swung her around. I’m so proud of you, punkin.

Thanks, daddy. He put her down and she gazed up at him. Thank you for everything. I don't know how I could have made it through all of this without the support of you and mom.

Are you kiddin’? You know I’d do anything for my girls. He grinned and meant every word. Luke Walker always had done anything he could for his family. His four girls knew he would have bought them the moon, if he could. 

I know, daddy. She hugged him again and saw her mom standing behind him sobbing. You better stop that, she teasingly scolded. I spent the better part of an hour on this face. I don’t wanna ruin it.

Her mom laughed and grabbed her around the neck. C’mere you dope. She enfolded her in her arms and tried to get a hold of herself. She finally released her and wiped the tears from her face. I think you have a few more people to speak to.

Andrea looked to where her mom was pointing. She saw her three sisters and their many kids awaiting her. She ran to her sisters and they all hugged each other. Can you believe it? Finally! She squeezed the diploma in her hands with pride.

We knew you’d do it, Annie, her oldest sister commended  . You always did have the brains of the family.

Hey! I resent that, Amy, the youngest of the Walker clan, commented and laughed. Just because I can’t stand the sight of blood, doesn’t mean I couldn’t have been a doctor if I wanted to.

Adelaide, daughter number two, elbowed Amy in the ribs, Actually, that’s exactly what it means. She laughed and the rest joined her. "So, how’s it feel, Dr. Walker?

Andrea grinned, Feels really good. How’d you like my speech?

Loved it! Thought it was the best thing I’ve ever heard, Amy bragged. Probably because I wrote it.

The sisters laughed again and Andrea stuck her tongue out at Amy.  Looking just beyond the throng of kids waiting for her attention, she saw her wonderful fiancé, Michael, waiting patiently. She had met him in their first year of med school. He had since decided being a doctor wasn’t for him, but was always very supportive of her. She eased around the crowd and headed straight for him. Man, he looks good in a suit.

Michael Crane had been in love with Andrea since they had their all-night study groups that first year of college. She was the smartest one in their group and she was always able to keep them awake with her humor and wit. After he decided to drop out of med school, she never judged him. She supported anything he wanted to do. That’s just the kind of person she is. Hey, there.

Hey, yourself. So, what’d you think? she asked as she approached him.

He put one arm around her shoulders, You were amazing. That was quite a speech.

Thanks. But, I have to confess, she whispered, Amy wrote it.

Smiling, he said,  Really? Well, you delivered it beautifully. He had always boasted about her to anyone who would listen.

Okay, y’all, who’s ready for cake and ice cream? her dad asked.

All the kids, of course, were ready for anything sweet.

Michael and Andrea walked toward the car hand in hand with her family close behind. She felt so blessed to be part of this wonderful family. Andrea couldn’t imagine a better man to share them with. He had become quite close with all of them, and she loved that he seemed to fit right in with them.

Pulling into the driveway of the Walker home, Andrea smiled. Did you invite the whole neighborhood, mom? There were easily fifty people standing in the yard.

Oh, honey, this is all family.

You're kidding! Andrea climbed out of the car, along with Michael, and headed toward the throng of people. Upon closer inspection, she began to see all familiar faces. She saw Annie, her husband, Clay, and their nine children. They had apparently not had such a rough time getting out of the coliseum parking lot as Andrea had. Then, she saw Clay's family, the Covingtons, who had become part of her own family after Annie and Clay had married. The Covington clan was almost as large as her own Walker clan. There was Cash, his wife Abigail, and their four children, Caleb, his wife, Analese, and their three children. Then she saw her sister Adelaide, with husband James, and their four children, along with her sister Amy. With so much family, she felt blessed beyond measure.

Congratulations, kid! Clay called as he saw Andrea walking towards them. You finally did it, huh?

That's what they tell me, she teased. I didn't know your whole family was gonna be here.

Are you kiddin'? They never miss a good party, Clay laughed. Besides, they're just as proud to have a doctor in the family as I am.

Thanks, bro, she said as she hugged his waist.

The party was a fabulous send-off, as Andrea and Amy were moving into their very own place the next day. Andrea was so nervous about living on her own, that she asked Amy if she wanted to share an apartment for a while. Of course, her sister hastily agreed, so they had been packing for nearly a week, and was all set to move the day after graduation.

After the guests had gone, and the house was cleaned, Andrea sat on the sofa and burst into tears.

Honey, what's wrong? Luke asked as he entered the living room. He had always hated to see one of his girls hurting.

Oh, I'm just being silly, I guess, Andrea swiped at the tears smearing her face.

C'mon, now, Luke soothed. I don't think crying is silly. Tell me what's bothering you, punkin'.

Andrea sniffed, Oh, I don't know. I guess I'm just a little sad because it's the end of an era. I'm finished with college, and I have my diploma. But, what do I do if I'm not good doctor material like I think I am. She tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Being a doctor is all I have ever wanted to be. What happens if I can't make it work?

Luke sympathized with his daughter. It wasn't too long ago that he and his new bride were starting out on their own, and he had some of the same concerns. He tipped her chin up with one finger, and said, Hey, now you listen to me. When you were born, you were two months early and weighed only two pounds. You were the tiniest baby in the preemie ward of the hospital. Your mom and I were so scared that you wouldn't be able to make it through the night. But, you did, and you became the chubbiest, little baby that we had ever seen. Then, when you started kindergarten, you were the only girl in a whole class of boys. Luke snickered at the memory. "And, you were so worried