Sweet Blessings

By Judy Prescott Marshall

Sweet Blessings is the first book in the Be Strong Enough Series Spin Off. Michael and Christine's Story.

A captivating and bittersweet romance.

Michael and Christine had it all. A great marriage, beautiful daughter, wonderful friends and, they were living their dream – working together at The Inn in Rhode Island.

The only thing Christine wanted to do was…take her daughter to dance class. She never expected to come face-to-face with Brin's identical. That day, Christine discovered her husband was keeping a secret from her; leaving their world upside down. Trying to sort through the madness of it all, Christine takes her daughter and heads back to where it all began for her and Michael – the bakery. Unbeknownst to Christine, she too is carrying her own secret. Despite her fears and apprehension, she knows she must deal with both situations because everyone's future depends on it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Judy Prescott Marshall
• Release date: Dec 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223313052

Judy Prescott Marshall

Judy Prescott Marshall earned her certificate from Michigan State University. She writes womens-cougar-lit-fiction.

Book preview

SWEET BLESSINGS

Chapter one

August 1 st , proved to be hotter than July. Everyone was feeling the heat. Brin was inconsolable. Amanda rocked her, sang to her and read her every book in the day care. All Brin wanted was her mother. When Amanda kissed her on the forehead and told her she would bring her to Michael, Amanda discovered Brin had a fever.

Delilah was sound asleep in her bed so Amanda gently lifted her up, put her in the stroller and carried Brin over to the inn. Amanda was glad she ran into Heather on the back porch. Hey, can you open the door for me?

Heather put her cigarette out and asked if Brin was okay. Is she feeling, okay?

Amanda shook her head. She has a fever.

Brin’s eyes were glassy, her nose started to run down her face and her cheeks were turning red.

Poor baby, Heather said as she opened the door. Here, let me take Delilah. Heather rolled the stroller back and forth in the kitchen as she listened to Amanda tell Michael, Brin was not feeling good and she wanted to go home.

Hey, sorry. Brin has a fever of a hundred and one. She keeps crying for Christine.

Michael held his hands out to Brin, but she buried her face in Amanda’s neck. When he took her from Amanda, she cried, I want Mommy.

Okay, baby. Daddy will take care of you. He looked at Amanda and asked, Did you give her any Tylenol?

No, she just started to feel this way. She was fine when Christine dropped her off this morning, playing, clapping her hands and then all of a sudden, she started crying.

Michael turned to face Heather. I’m going to take her home and see if I can get this fever down.

I can take care everything, Heather told him and pushed the stroller closer to Amanda.

Michael stopped in the lobby and told Teresa he was going home. Brin doesn’t feel good, I’m going to take her home and let her take a nap in her own bed.

Teresa walked over to him and put her lips on Brin’s forehead. Yeah, she’s burning up. If she’s hungry you should only give her some applesauce, banana or toast. Then she waved her hand in the air. You got this. Go!

Michael was glad it was Wednesday and the inn only had a few guests. He carried Brin back to his house, singing her favorite song, but the entire time she kept telling him she wanted her mommy. Daddy’s going to take care of you. I’m going to give you some medicine and we’re going to take a nap together in your bedroom. We can watch Paw Patrol."

Brin started to cry even harder. I want Mommy.

Michael took in a deep breath. I know you do honey, but mommy is at work and daddy is right here. I can take care of you. We’ll have fun. I promise. As soon as she saw the house she started screaming for her mother. Michael opened the car door and put her in her car seat. Okay, baby. I’ll take you to go see your mother. He buckled her in, kissed her on the cheek and handed her the soft gray turtle to hug.

Brin sniffled the entire way, sobbing for her mother. Every time Michael told her just a few minutes longer, she would say, I want my mommy.

Fifteen minutes later, Michael pulled up to the bakery. He could see Christine inside waiting on a customer and three other patrons sitting at a café table. He lifted Brin out of her seat and told her they were at the bakery. It was the first he had been there since Christine left him. His heart started racing seeing her up close. When Christine caught sight of him, she stepped backwards almost knocking the tea cart over. She shook her head at him.

Michael swallowed the lump in his throat, walked inside and said, She has a fever. She won’t stop crying…for you.

Christine took Brin from his grip and told him to leave. Then she went into the kitchen, stood with her back to the door and told Brin it was going to be okay. Mommy has you. Tears cascading down her own face. She never expected Michael to just show up.

Her helper, Savannah said she could take care of everything. Christine sucked in a breath and thanked her. When she kissed Brin, she realized her temperature was bad. Christine held back her emotions and carried Brin upstairs.

She gave her some Tylenol and wiped her face with a cool washcloth until she fell asleep, then she texted Michael scolding him to never come to the bakery again. Next time, send her home with Kourtnee or someone else. In capital letters she wrote––I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"

Christine put Brin down on the couch to keep a close eye on her, texted her helper and said she could close the bakery early if things got too busy for her to handle.

Mary is on her way, she texted back. She called a few minutes ago looking for you and when I told her you were upstairs with Brin, she said she would come in and help.

Please thank her for me and thank you for everything.

Is Brin, okay?

She has a little cold. She’s sleeping. Thanks, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Christine tossed the phone onto the table and slid down to the floor next to the couch. She wasn’t prepared to see Michael yet. Her heart still reeling from seeing the other child he fathered. The little girl was Brin’s identical––they could be twins. Why? Christine cried. All she wanted to do was take her daughter to dance class. She believed Michael when he said he loved her and she was his life. Never in her wildest dreams would she think he would have cheated on her. Michael was her world and she was supposed to be his.

Four hours later, Brin woke up hungry. Her temperature was down to ninety-nine so Christine gave her some oatmeal with applesauce, cinnamon and butter. Is that good?

Brin took another bite and nodded her head. I love it! she said and ate the whole bowl.

Christine heard Brin sigh several times in the night. At midnight, she woke up fussy, fretful and started long periods of crying. Christine took her temperature, but the temp had broken sometime during the night. She rubbed her head, back, her belly and discovered she had a gas pocket. There you go, she said and kissed the back of her head. Come on, you can sleep with your momma tonight. Christine patted Brin’s buttocks until she fell back asleep. When she heard her little coos, she took a sigh of relief. Christine lied there thinking about Michael, their wedding and the promises they made to each other. She gazed out the window. Looked at the stars and cried, You should be here…with us.

Chapter two

The next day, Brin was her bubbly self. Her nose was still a little runny, but otherwise she was happy to sit in her highchair and watch her mother make cookie dough, cupcakes and her favorite morning biscuits. I swear, you are the only two-year-old who loves clotted cream, Christine said as she spread strawberry preserves and the cool cream on Brin’s biscuit.

Yummy, she replied and licked her finger.

A moment later, Christine heard a knock on the back door. At first, she thought one of the homeless people were looking for an early treat, but it was Julie. Christine opened the door and told her to come inside. Good morning, what brings you here so early in the morning?

Julie pointed to Brin. I heard someone didn’t feel very good yesterday. Then she went over and handed Christine a little white bag from the drugstore. Lollypops to help reduce the fever. She winked. No sugar and they sooth the throat.

Thank you, Christine said, set the bag on the counter and asked if she wanted a cup of coffee and a biscuit. They’re still warm.

No, thanks. I just stopped by to see if you needed my help.

Thanks, but Mary is coming in at nine and I hired a young girl to help out in the afternoons. How is Dan feeling these days?

Julie kissed Brin and wiped jam off her cheek. He’s doing great. We are so grateful he received the liver in time.

Christine set the tray containing six loaves of bread on the counter. I have to tell you, Christine said as she put the cream in the refrigerator. When I heard he had stage four liver disease, I couldn’t believe it. That had to be scary.

Julie inhaled and blew out a long breath. You have no idea what we went through. She offered a gentle smile. "Are you still closing at three to serve coffee and muffins to