Amy R. Anguish's Blog

Today, we have the blessing of getting to know Sue A. Fairchild a bit more. She's an editor as well as an author (as am I, so excited to find out there are more out there!) and has a heart for God. And she's giving us a peek into her newest release--perfect for this time of year. We're so glad to have you here today! Can you tell us how you got started writing?

A church friend told me that a story I told in Sunday school would make a good devotion, but I didn't know what a devotion even was! She invited me to her writing group and taught me how to write it and get it published. Since then my group has helped me publish numerous devotions, newspaper articles, and six books, the sixth of which is an Advent devotional coming out soon. 

I know you're an editor too. What are some ways that being an editor makes your writing stronger? Does being an author make it easier or harder to be an editor?
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Being an editor has definitely helped me with my writing because I am constantly learning about writing rules to help my clients. I take what I've learned and apply it to my writing. I know it's helped me be a better writer. But it can also make it harder to be a writer because I'm quite meticulous, some would say a perfectionist, which can cause me to stall my writing endeavors. One of your books is set in the Outer Banks. Can you tell us what drew you to that location for your setting?

Yes—Changing Tides. I set this story there because it's based loosely on my marriage and my husband and I love to vacation in OBX. Avon, NC was the first place we ever went on vacation together, in fact. And the coffee shop in the book is similar to one we like to visit there. The Outer Banks is such a lovely, peaceful place, and I wanted to have this backdrop of something beautiful in contrast to the hard things my main character goes through with the loss of his wife. Plus, we always joke that we'll retire to the beach someday and Avon seems like a place that would be good for that.

Of all your characters, which one is most like you and why?

Well, I've written a few books based loosely on my own life, so I'm a bit like Emily from What You Think You Know and also Summer Stewart from Summer's Refrain. Emily is me when I was younger. That story is based on my teenage years. Summer is more like me in my early twenties. She is constantly running away from things, thinking it's easier than sticking it out in the hard times. That was a lot like me at one point in my life. But if I had to say one of my characters that is most like me, it would be Ellie from Changing Tides since that character is truly based on who I am right now. I guess I put a little bit of myself in a lot of my characters!

You have several books published already, including a young adult one. What's next for you? Can you give us a sneak peek?

I've just released an Advent devotional called More than A Manger. This book came about from that same friend who first encouraged me to write a devotion and get it published. She and I worked on Advent readings for our church for several years. In the process, I've learned so much about Jesus and his birth and I wanted to share it with others. There is so much more than just what we see in Christmas plays or in movies. I've also published a companion journal readers can purchase to go along with the devotional. I wanted readers to have a place to write down all they learned as they also dig into the story of Jesus's birth. I've put a fiction novel on hold to finish this book, so we'll see if God leads me to finish that one next. It would be the third in my "Changing" series.

What is one thing you discovered while editing that you found absolutely fascinating?

I love fact checking as part of the editing process. I've learned so much as a result. One time I was proofreading a book set in the Thousand Islands in the early 1800s, I think. The author spoke about Adirondack chairs which weren't invented until the 1900s! I wouldn't have known that but something just told me to look it up and I did. I'm not sure if the author changed it, but I hope so.

Any tips for those who aspire to be authors?

Know that it's hard work. Writing can be fun and therapeutic and even rewarding, but it takes a lot of effort to publish things with integrity and excellence. As a Christian author, I write to put God's message out into the world and I want to ensure I do it with the utmost quality so the light I shine on him is clear. But no matter what or who you write for, know your stuff. Take classes. Go to conferences. Seek the wisdom of more experienced writers. Be willing to learn and open to critique. I've done those things and am a better writer because of it. But I know I still can learn and grow more.
More than a Manger

A Christmas nativity set traditionally includes a barn-like setting, Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, one shepherd, a few animals, and three wise men. But Jesus’s birth is about more than just the manger and those who were (and were not) there. Jesus came to earth for more than just one day and for more than that manger scene.
Delve into the Christmas story with twenty-five short Advent devotions designed to draw you closer to God and show you so much more than the typical manger scene. Author Sue A. Fairchild explores texts from both the Old and New Testament to show readers the intricate story of Jesus’s birth and his love for us. Separate companion journal also available.  Sue A. Fairchild is an editor, writer, and speaker. In 2024, Sue traditionally published two Christian Contemporary novels, one of which, Changing Tides, won honorable mention in the AWSA Golden Scrolls awards and was a finalist in the American Legacy Book Awards. When she is not writing her own books for God’s kingdom, Sue loves working with clients who are working toward the greater good of sharing God’s message in this world. Sue is also the Faculty Coordinator of the St. Davids Christian Writers' Conference in Meadville, PA. Learn more about Sue on her website sueafairchild.wordpress.com or on Instagram @suefairchildedits or email her to talk about working together sueafairchild74@gmail.com.

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"Mom, can you send my teacher your website? She wants to order one of your books."
That's not necessarily something I expect to hear every day. Though it also didn't catch me terribly off guard. For years now, my kids have been some of my biggest marketers. As early as kindergarten, my daughter saw one of my bookmarks on my husband's desk and decided to take it to her teacher.
Sure, the teachers could see my signature line in my email responses to them too. But how much attention do you pay to the signature line in an email? If you're like me, probably not much.
So, when my son came home the other day and told me that his teacher wanted to buy one of my books, I knew it was because he had been talking about how "my mom is an author." Not a bad feeling. It's nice to know my children are proud of me. ;)
Then, when I sent a bookmark with my son, my daughter decided she needed one for her teacher too. And the tradition continues.
Later that day, my son's teacher texted me and asked which book was my favorite because she wanted to buy one to support me. I joked that it was hard to pick, but mentioned Rendersella was my latest and was really fun. She said, "That's what Alex suggested too."
Apparently, my son is not only recommending my books in general. He's giving titles. How cool is that?
What's a way someone has learned of you that caught you off-guard? Did your kids ever brag about you to their teachers?

Do you love it when authors hide little bits of their personal life in their stories? What about their personal favorites? My friend Erin Howard does just that with hers. And it happens to be one of my favorites too. see what you think. ​I love how Easter eggs from my family, friends, or favorite movies naturally find their way into my new stories. Every story is full of things from my life. Whether it’s an inside joke that a friend might get, or inspiration from how my husband and I banter back and forth, or a crochet item because my Nanny was the one who inspired me to crochet and made the most beautiful afghans.
One of my favorite things is including things from The Princess Bride. It is one of my all-time favorite movies. In my first series, I mention it in Book Two, The Soul Searcher, and then, after that, I believe I’ve made some reference to it in each and every novel or novella.
 
So when I was getting my line edits back for my novella, "Inheriting Peace," in The Wonders Within the Starlit Inn, I was shocked when my editor and publisher mentioned that a certain scene between Maggie and Prince Alexander was missing the opportunity to include that Alexander had been “mostly dead”. If you know, you know what scene I am talking about, so I had to add that reference in, and I’m so glad that I did because it was the perfect comeback and Easter egg.
 
I think after this blog post, I’m going to have to make a series on my own blog about all the Easter eggs in each and every book. It may take a while, but I think it would be a blast. In the meantime, I hope you go snag your copy of The Wonders Within the Starlit Inn. It’s a Christmas novella collection about a magical inn and the things that are happening there. I fell in love with Maggie and Prince Alexander’s story, and I hope you do too! The Wonders Within the Starlit Inn

“Inheriting Peace” by Erin R. Howard
Maggie’s long-lost relative informs her she’s inherited the Starlit Inn, and she jumps at the chance of a brand-new life. Except, the magical place her aunt described is in desperate need of renovations mere weeks before Christmas guests arrive. Second-born prince Alexander is happy not to inherit the crown of a land that hasn’t had peace in twenty years. When the portal to the Starlit is unexpectedly fixed, he packs his bags for his childhood spot only to find it in disrepair. He offers to help Maggie, but how can he put his happiness above his kingdom’s suffering?
“Asunder” by Brett Armstrong
A couple ready to give up hope on their marriage stops at the Inn and finds themselves trapped in frozen nightmare-scape of Vonlaus. As they race to save the planet and themselves, the fire of hope they mutually stoke in one another may be the only thing that can help them return to their world.
“Keeper of the Stars” by Dawn Ford
Grief-stricken girl escapes a Mars space station through a hidden portal back in time to the Starlit Inn on Earth. Once there, mysterious items plague her, and she finds a path to joy she never imagined possible. Time is relevant and surprises abound in this story of redemptive joy.
“A Quantum Christmas” by J. L. Burrows
When key intel drives a researcher into the quantum time-travel loop to travel three hundred years back, she never imagined she’d be assigned a handsome but reluctant protector. Yet even as time twists into a knot, they somehow discover the true meaning of Christmas for themselves–love.
Will trouble reign, or will each visit to the Starlit Inn result in the wonder of joy, peace, hope, and love? Erin R. Howard is the award-winning fantasy author of Window of Time and the Acquisitions Editor for Expanse Books, an imprint of Scrivenings Press. Her other titles include The Kalila Chronicles (YA urban fantasy) and The Gates of Deceit (dystopian) series.
She loves playing video games with her husband, watching movies with her children, and fueling her many craft addictions. Erin has a Creative Writing degree and is a member of Realm Makers, RagTag Writers, and Once Upon a Page. She resides in Western Kentucky with her husband and three children.

Links:

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Last Christmas, my dear friend Heather Greer gave me the cutest little notebooks. Big enough to be able write something but small enough to fit in a purse. I'd only used them on a couple of occasions before now. But we're in soccer season again, which means sometimes I spend an evening sitting on the side of a field while my nine-year-old gets some energy out and the sun sets.
At first, I thought I would just take a book and let myself enjoy the "quiet." Then, I realized the hour could be used even better.
I really want to be writing my next story, Beauty School and the Beast. But I'm having trouble finding time to write right now. I'm editing several stories for others, expecting edits for Fairest Inn All soon, and running crazy with all my jobs and family obligations. But God had given me this hour of time where I didn't really need to be doing anything else.
I pulled out my pretty notebook and scribbled (seriously--my handwriting is getting downright lazy) several pages to open my new story. Is it perfect? Nope. Would it be perfect if I had risked taking my laptop? Nope. But you know what? It's something I can edit later. And that's all you need.
So, here's my new normal. Sitting in the glow of sunset and stadium lights, jotting ideas down longhand, in the hopes of being able to get it all in my computer soon so I can get it in your hands in 2027.
What's the strangest place you think I've written? Can you imagine a stranger place? Where do you think authors usually write?

A lot of people think more about Jesus around the Christmas season. Author Wade Webster has woven a fictional look at the different parts of the story of Jesus' birth along with devotional thoughts, just perfect for people wanting something different during Advent. Today, he's giving us a sneak peek. "Will we see Messiah in our life, Abba?" The voice came from Mary's brother but the words came from her heart.
"It could happen, Sol. There are rumors of an angel sighting in Jerusalem, but it's been more than four centuries since Yahweh has spoken to us, his people. The last time I was in Jerusalem I overheard Simeon say he would not die before he saw the Lord's annointed. As old as he is I would say it should happen any day now." The father gave a boisterous laugh.
The voices outside caught Sol's attention. "May I go play now, Abba?"
"Yes, my son. Today's lesson is complete. You may go." He looked at his daughter. "What is it, Mary? I know you have something on your heart. You always do."
"Do you think the Messiah will see us. Will he talk to us?"
"Oh, Mary, you have so much to learn. Messiah will be very busy defeating the Romans. Then setting up his kingdom in Jerusalem. I very much doubt he'll have any business in Nazareth."
Mary stared out the window. "I think Messiah will be a much better king if he loves his people enough to want to know them and want them to know him."
"That sounds so like my Mary, always the dreamer. Don't you have someplace to be today?"
"Yes. Jacobed promised me one of her fine blankets if I clean her house while she's gone to buy more wool. I should be going." She gathered her things and left.
After she finished in the kitchen she paused for a drink. Her mind drifted to the Messiah. His strong hands picked up children as they laughed. Maybe he would give her a hug across her shoulders. She soon realized the man in her thoughts was none other than her own Joseph. She sent up a prayer. "Can you speed up the time, please?"
The sudden shadow cast on her made Mary jerk. She kept looking up until she found the eyes of one who would give her the news that would change the course of human history.
"But, I haven't been with a man like that. How can this be?"
"The Spirit of God will overshadow you. You will conceive and bear a son. You are to call him Jesus."
Her mouth spoke her heart. "Let it be done to me as you have said."
When Gabriel left she knew she had to quickly finish her task and make plans to visit Elizabeth as soon as possible.

***
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This is our introduction to Mary in The Extra Ordinary Christmas: How God used ordinary people to bring the most extraordinary person into the world. The same style of writing is used in each chapter to see how each of the people mentioned in the Christmas narrative was just a regular person going about their ordinary life as this epic event unfolded.
Devotional thoughts follow to guide our thoughts into how God used them then and can use us now to fulfill his redemption story today. The 24 chapters make this book a great advent tool to focus our hearts on the impact of God becoming one of us.
The Extra Ordinary Christmas

What was it about Joseph and Mary that set them apart from everyone else? Why were the shepherds in that particular field picked to hear angels glorifying God? Why did God choose Zachariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of the forerunner of the Messiah? What made them so special?
Nothing. They were the most ordinary people God had to choose from to unfold his redemption plan to the world. You see, that's the way God works. He uses normal folks to do his incredible assignments. The little towns of Bethlehem and Nazareth hold surprises as well as a shock that display why Jesus came to earth for us.
Join me in sharing their stories as we walk alongside them and learn lessons that will benefit us today. Don't be surprised if you see yourself in this story at some point. God's redemption plan is still unfolding.
Your view of the Christmas story will be forever changed as you realize God could call upon you to fill a special role in his redemption plan today. ​Wade Webster lives in The Colony, Texas with his best friend, Jesus Christ. He gave his heart to Jesus so young he doesn't remember not being born again. He attended Grace Christian University in Wyoming, Michigan. As a truck driver he has delivered Christmas mail and decorated Christmas trees. He's proud of the fact that he can now deliver the true reason for Christmas with this book.

Do you like being in the hot seat? The one who is the center of attention?
Honestly, it doesn't usually bother me, but it's a little different when it comes to book club. I have no idea why.
Rendersella was the chosen read for this month. And everyone in our book club loves me. And is usually fairly kind as we unpack a book and tell why we did or did not like it.
But this was MY book. Don't worry. The girls were very sweet about my book. They spent a lot of the time, saying what they liked and asking for inside information about how I came up with the different parts. It was delightful.
But it was still awkward at first. We normally all say what we would rate the story each month between one and five stars, with five being best. We skipped that part on Monday. ;) 
Will I offer to do other book clubs in the future? You bet! Even though it's awkward and a bit disconcerting to have a bunch of people dissecting a story you worked so hard on, it's also so much fun getting to share behind-the-scenes info and backstory and inside scoops and have the people share what they loved. And, I do include questions to help with book clubs in the back of all my full-length novels.
So, do you think you could feel comfortable being front-and-center in a book club? Think you'd be okay with people analyzing your hard work?

It's easy to take for granted the convenience of picking up a phone and having a firetruck come in an emergency. Author Kelly Goshorn did quite a bit of research for her newest historical fiction, The Undercover Heiress of Brockton. The story sounds wonderful and the information she's sharing today is fascinating. See if you agree. ​March 20, 2025, marked the 120th anniversary of the catastrophic steam boiler explosion at the R.B. Grover Shoe Factory that is central to the plot of the novel. My hero, Leo Eriksson, is a second-generation firefighter. His father and brothers are also firemen stationed together at the Campello firehouse, historically located on the same block as the ill-fated shoe factory.
Making one of my main characters an early 20th century firefighter meant researching a profession I had little knowledge about. And boy, did I learn a lot. Unfortunately, several chapters which showed my firefighter hero and his fellow firemen battling another blaze had to be cut from the book. So, I hope you’ll put on your history nerd girl hat as I share some of what I learned.
 
Around the turn of the 20th century, rubber became part of standard firefighting gear. A long woolen coat provided the first layer of heat protection. This was covered with a heavy rubber slicker which provided a waterproof covering. Rubber also replaced leather as the first choice for footwear. Respirator gear was minimal, with most firefighters covering their mouth with a wet bandana or handkerchief to help filter smoke from their lungs. About the same time, mechanized vehicles arrived in some big city fire departments. Smaller departments, like the one featured in The Undercover Heiress of Brockton, still used horses to pull steam-powered pumps for water. Ironically, the steam engine was designed to use fire to fight fire. The advancement from hand pumpers to steam pumpers was about a 300 gallon per minute difference that played a huge role in saving both lives and property.
 
But in order to be effective, the water had to be hot enough to produce steam. While in the fire station, a hose from the steamer tank was connected to a pipe in the firehouse that kept the water in tank hot. When the alarm came in, a fireman would start a fire in the fuel box under the boiler using coals, wood kindling, and a kerosene-soaked rag. This combination of fuel would bring the water from warm to steam level by the time the fire steamer engine arrived at the disaster.
 
The deleted scenes from The Undercover Heiress of Brockton were set in the upper-class neighborhood of Beacon Hill in Boston where the heroine was attending a dinner party at the home of childhood friends. In order to learn about some of the modern equipment and techniques available to the city fire departments like those in Boston, Leo agreed to volunteer with Engine Company No. 3 in Beacon Hill, an affluent neighborhood in the city.
 
When a fire breaks out on the same street as the dinner party, an alarm box on the corner was used to notify the fire department. Fire alarm boxes were installed in Boston beginning in 1852, over two decades before the first telephone patent. Boston was the first city in the world to use the telegraph as part of a municipal fire alarm warning system. Each fire alarm box has a unique identification number. When the white lever is pulled, it sends an signal to the Fire Alarm Office with the number of the box. The emergency responders who received the alarm then look up the address of the box and send the closest available fire trucks to the spot.
​Boston has around 3,500 fire alarm boxes spread throughout the city which are often overlooked by passersby, but these red alarm boxes are still fully functional. In fact, just recently one resourceful citizen used the alarm box to notify the fire department when a fire broke out in a laundromat in the North End of Boston when the city’s 911 system had gone down.
 
Once the station received a signal of a fire in progress they needed to respond quickly. The firemen relied on trained firehouse dogs, typically Dalmatians, to snap into action, herding the horses from their stalls in the firehouse and position them below their harness. Then, the firemen would lower the harness using a system of pulleys and hitch the team to the steam engine. Then the dogs would dart through the large firehouse doors and clear the exit of oncoming foot and mobile traffic from wagons or automobiles. The Dalmatians protective nature and reputation for bonding with horses, led them to be an ideal choice for this job. I’m happy to say that I was able to rework the bit about the firehouse dogs into the scene when Engine Company No. 1 responds to the explosion at the Grover Shoe Factory. ​If this romp through firefighting history, or a love for historic firefighters, has sparked your curiosity, I’ll be sharing those deleted scenes from The Undercover Heiress of Brockton with my newsletter family later this month. I’d love for you to join us! Just head over to my website and click on the newsletter tab. A Socialite in Disguise Seeks Truth and Justice
 
Henrietta “Etta” Maxwell is a hard-hitting investigative reporter for The Enterprise Daily. The catch? Etta must pen her columns under the nom de plume, Henry Mason—a fact that routinely puts a knot in her knickerbockers.
 
Leo Eriksson is a second-generation firefighter with a passion for rendering aid to those in need.
When Leo discovers that Henry Mason is really Henrietta Maxwell, the fire department’s wealthy benefactress, he agrees to keep her identity secret.
 
After a sudden blast rocks the Grover Shoe Factory, Leo and Etta team up to determine if the explosion is related to a series of suspicious fires in the area. When an unnamed source reveals Etta’s secret identity to a rival reporter, she falsely accuses Leo of being the informant.
 
As the truth comes to light, Etta must persuade Leo to give her a second chance or lose the only man she’s ever loved.
 
Available at:
Amazon  |  Baker Book House  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Books-A-Million  |  Christianbook.com  | Target.com  | Walmart.com
​ Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, won the Director’s Choice Award for Adult/YA fiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference in 2019, and earned recognition as both a Selah Award finalist in the Historical Romance category and as a Maggie Award Finalist for Inspirational Fiction. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys, binge-watching BBC period dramas, board-gaming with her family, exploring historical sights, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Biscuit.
 
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Theme: Embracing who God made you to be, quirks and all.

Quite a few of my stories end up having a verse or two that runs through them, strengthening the characters. Or challenging them. But I don't often start writing knowing those scriptures are going to be the ones my fingers add to the writing as I type. And yes, my brain really does work that way when writing. 
That being said, however, as I plot and imagine scenes for my next story, Beauty School and the Beast, I have several scriptures that keep popping up in my head. And I love that this novel is starting with scripture instead of just allowing the Spirit to move as I compose.  The scriptures are perfect too. Because my story is about a character too focused on the outward appearance and not focused enough on the inside. Just like the original story. Too wrapped up in self and not enough in love.
First, I Peter 4:3-4. "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."
Can't you just see the character sitting in a church service and being hit with that one? Of course, it won't penetrate at first. We can't have the character change ways too quickly.
Then, Colossians 3:12-14. "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Yep. We've got to focus more on the inward than the outward. And it's not always an easy lesson to learn. My poor character is in for quite an ordeal in this book, but if these scriptures can wiggle their way into the heart, there's hope yet that that character will emerge more beautiful than beast. 
What other Scriptures can you think of that would apply well to a Beauty and the Beast retelling? I'm itching to get some words on the page for this one, but have several edits to get through first. But soon!

I had no idea that other people started college as art majors and ended up authors too. But apparently, Patience O'Brien also started college as an art major. Want to know more about that as well as her gorgeous new Historical Romance? Read on! 1) Pat, your cover is beautiful. What moved you to write historical romance?

Thank you for your cover compliment--it's so appreciated! 
I've been reading historicals since grade school and enjoyed books like Jane Eyre and Little Women--their sweet touches of romance inspired me.

 2) As an artist, do you find the creativity from one part of your life meshes with the other? Does one feed the other?

At one time it was all about art. I graduated with a Masters in art & education; but in college I also enjoyed writing stories and poetry for campus publications. I won a few prizes in writing and one professor told me outright I'd chosen the wrong field to pursue. (he told me this in my 4th yr. 🙄 )  ​ 3) Was your own teaching experience inspiration for the teacher in your story? In what ways?

Yes; Getting adjusted to new classes and new students yearly is always exciting, but both teachers and students are 'testing' the other. For some reason three seems to be a magic number--as after three days have passed in the beginning of a new year and class, students relax, become themselves and reveal their true nature and behaviors. They are either interested (and can do well in your class) or some struggle and that's where teachers really need to be on their toes. 


4) Your book is part of a series written by lots of other authors? What was the best part of being part of a multi author series like that?

It was my second attempt at having my work published; and I'm so grateful to the authors who put out the call--Madisyn Carlin and Penny Zeller--to join them in the Hearts of the West collection. And of course, thoroughly enjoying the other authors' stories!

5) What's next for you? Can you give us a sneak peek?

I'll pretty much stick with historical romance from 18th & 19th century America; though I did have a contemporary romantic suspense in a collection which I may reissue.

6) What was one of the hardest parts of writing historical fiction? 

I spend months gathering information to authenticate parts of the story, then as I'm going along if I decide to change or add something, it's back to the 'drawing board'. Sometimes that new background information might change other parts of the story as well. I do enjoy learning history though. Heart of Honor

A teacher is in danger of losing her heart and future to a man who holds a painful secret.

When Beth Pruitt becomes a teacher, she achieves her dream for her future--until she discovers she is bound by old-fashioned contract rules that require her to remain single during her teaching career. While Thomas Gabriel, a ruthless business tycoon lives in silent misery over a family secret...Beth follows the most important lesson plan of her life.

She hopes to save an orphanage but is forced to choose between her work and revealing Thomas Gabriel's heart-breaking secret and losing his love. A thankful member of a four-generation family of police and military, Pat is a public school art teacher and Christian fiction author. She enjoys writing, reading, and painting. She and her family also own a small rescue ranch for animals and currently enjoy the company of a palomino horse, a Belgian Malinois, a Dutch Shepherd, and three cats.

Keep up with her at https://hopeinspiredstories.blogspot.com/, or on facebook, instagram, or bookbub.

It's the final day of our short story for this birthday week. I hope you've enjoyed the little drama between Rob and Lindsey. If you missed any of the previous days, they can be found here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, or Day 4. And now, the conclusion of our story ... This was English, wasn’t it? Rob stared at the directions again. Something designed for a baby to use shouldn’t be this complicated.

Which piece was A again? He scanned the various wooden parts scattered on the floor around him. There. Now, where was B?

“Rob?”
​
He froze. Lindsey wasn’t supposed to be home right now. He’d taken off this morning because he knew she would be at work. He hadn’t been trying to figure this puzzle out that long, had he? “Rob?” The door opened and there was Lindsey.

No hiding things now.

“What are you doing?”

“Why are you home?”

Their questions crossed each other and they both laughed.

“Is this a crib?” She knelt beside the box and ran her hand over the picture.

“It was supposed to be a surprise.” Rob set aside the screwdriver he hadn’t figured out where to use yet.

“You knew?” She fingered the edge of her hair. “But you acted like you didn’t remember.”

He sighed. “I knew before you chopped your hair off.”

Her eyes widened. “But how?”

“The trash.”

“I hid the test under everything else.”

“And when I lifted the bag to take it out, everything shifted.” He mimed his actions. “The box peeked out and I have to admit my heart skipped a beat. Then, when you came home with your hair gone, it was a confirmation. I just couldn’t figure out why you didn’t tell me.”

“That was my way of telling you.” She crumpled a bit. “I wanted it to be something original. The bun in the oven trick has been done by so many others. I wanted it to be only ours for a while. Something no one else would guess or figure out.”

“I don’t need some social media-worthy announcement telling me you’re pregnant. Just you.” He reached over and squeezed her fingers. “The news itself is what’s thrilling and important—not how it’s done.”

“But I wanted you to be all excited and pick me up and spin me around and stuff. Instead, all I got was a fish face.”

“A fish face?”

She opened her mouth and eyes wide and stared at him.

He couldn’t help it. A guffaw erupted. “Okay. Fair enough. I guess I didn’t realize when you said your hair would be shorter that you meant that short. And then I figured if you weren’t going to come right out and say something I’d play at the same game and surprise you.”

His gaze traveled around the mess taking up most of the guest room. “Guess both of us failed, huh?”

She giggled. “What a mess we are. How on earth are we going to do as parents?”

“Too late now.” He caught her in his arms and cuddled her close. “I think we’ll be okay. Though we obviously need to do better at the communication thing.”

Her head bumped his chin as she nodded. “And we still have a few months to figure things out."

"How many?"

"If I counted right, we should be welcoming this child at the very beginning of June.”

He held up his hands and ticked off fingers. “It’s October now, so about seven months?”

“Give or take a few weeks.”

“Wow.”

“Yep.” She motioned around them. “Good thing, too. Because it may take us that long to figure out where all these pieces go.”

He chuckled. “No kidding. But you never said why you were home right now. Normally you can’t get any time off until after October 15th.”

“I … um … I was sick this morning. And since no one else knew why … well, I have been sent home to get over the bug.”

“Oh boy. Guess we better start telling some people or you’re going to miss a lot of work.”

She nodded. “Want to go to the doctor appointment with me next week?”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Would’ve agreed earlier if you’d just come out with it.”

“Yeah, yeah. No more keeping secrets.” She kissed his cheek. “At least not ones like this.”

“You keep other secrets from me?”

“A girl’s gotta have some secrets.”

“From her husband? Even after seeing how much trouble this one caused?”

She shrugged. “What if I want to throw you a surprise party or something? I can’t exactly tell you about that.”

“I hate surprise parties.”

“Right, but there are other things. Like Christmas presents. I can’t tell you what I buy for Christmas.”

He growled and pulled her into a kiss, perfunctorily ending that conversation.

“No more secrets. We have to be a good example for the baby, after all.”

​She beamed. “Right. For the baby.”
Ta da! Did it take you very long to figure out the secret? Did it end the way you hoped? 
I hope you enjoyed this year's short story. If you missed any of the others, they can always be found ​here. Until next year ...