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Love for All Seasons #2
A Baby by Easter
Evenings in Tucson were a lot cooler than the Los Angeles' dusk Susannah Wells was used to.
Remember, Suze, we foster kids never know about tomorrow. Save whatever you can so you'll be prepared.
Susannah squeezed her hand in her pocket, fingering the last bits of change leftover from her meager savings. Connie's advice about money had been right on, like so much other guidance she'd given in those long-ago days when they'd shared a room in their North Dakota foster home.
What advice would Connie have for her this time—or would she even want to be bothered with her former foster sister?
Susannah hugged her thinly clad arms around her waist and breathed in the heady scent of hot pink oleanders. Deliberately she forced one foot in front of the other. Moving quickly wasn't an option when the world occasionally tilted too far to the right. Beads of moisture on her forehead chilled her hot skin, making her shiver.
The bus driver had said two blocks—surely she'd come at least that far?
Suddenly off balance, Susannah stopped to steady herself. She focused her blurry eyes on the paper in her hand, peering to confirm that the numbers on the page were the same as those on the house. Her sluggish brain responded as if obscured by fog. She squinted for a second look.
This was it.
Susannah's heart sank a little lower. Such a grand home. How could she possibly walk into that perfectly manicured courtyard, knock on that elegant glass and wrought-iron door and ask Connie for help?
You're not worth helping, but you don't have a choice.
Nothing harder to stomach than the truth. Susannah knew that too well. She gritted her teeth, pushed open the gate and moved forward. Droplets of perspiration ran into her eyes, blurring her vision. She swiped them away with a quick brush of her hand, afraid to release the branches of the hedge for more than a second, lest she flop to the ground. She was cold, and yet she was so hot.
What was wrong with her?
Finally she stood at the entrance. Music floated out from the brightly lit house. Or maybe the melody was just stuck in her head.
Susannah lifted a hand and tapped gingerly, inhaling as the world spun faster.
The door opened, light and laughter flooding out.
"Yes?" A man's voice, rich and smooth, like butterscotch candy, flowed over her. It was hard to see his face, but light brown eyes gleamed through the dusk. "Can I help you?"
"Connie," Susannah whispered. Then everything went black.
David Foster stared at the unconscious woman lying on his best friend Wade's doorstep. Wade's wife, Connie, always had someone stopping by, friends from the foster home where she'd once lived, acquaintances she'd met and offered to help, even total strangers who'd heard about her charities. This frail woman must fit into one of those categories.
But Connie and Wade were celebrating their return from Brazil with a houseful of guests. He didn't want to disturb them. As Wade's lawyer, David was accustomed to handling things for his friend. He decided he'd handle this guest, for now.
He bent and scooped the young woman into his arms.
"Who's that?" Darla asked. His little sister had a habit of soundlessly appearing at his elbow.
"I don't know," he murmured, leading the way to the study. "One of Connie's friends, I guess. She fainted. I think she's sick."
"Oh." Darla watched as he laid the young woman on the sofa. "Can I help, Davy?"
David smiled, brushed his hand over her shiny brown hair in a fond caress. Darla loved to help. Though nineteen, a skiing accident had left Darla with a brain injury that cut her mental age in half. David's goal in life was to make his sister's life as rich and happy as possible. It was becoming a challenge.
"Sure you can help, sweetie. Why don't you go in the bathroom over there and get a wet cloth?" he suggested. "You can wipe her forehead. She seems to have a fever."
"Okay."
Darla hurried to do as asked, her mood bright because of Connie's party. "Like this?" she asked him, dabbing the cloth on the woman's face.
"Very gently. That's good." He watched for a few moments. "She had a bag," he mused. "It must have dropped. Can you take care of her while I go look for it?"
"Yes." Darla hummed quietly as she gently removed the traces of dust and grime from the visitor's pale skin. Not that it mattered—their guest was gorgeous.
"I'll be right back." David hurried toward the front door, his mind filled with questions.
She was tiny, light as a feather. Her delicate features made him think of fashion magazine covers—thin, high cheekbones, full lips and wide-set eyes. She'd pulled her golden blond hair back and plaited it so it fell down her back, but little wisps had worked free to frame her face in delicate curls. He caught himself speculating what the color of her eyes would turn out to be when those incredible lashes lifted.
She's obviously needy, and your docket is full.
Boy, did he know that.
A denim backpack lay outside on the step. David bent to pic...
Remember, Suze, we foster kids never know about tomorrow. Save whatever you can so you'll be prepared.
Susannah squeezed her hand in her pocket, fingering the last bits of change leftover from her meager savings. Connie's advice about money had been right on, like so much other guidance she'd given in those long-ago days when they'd shared a room in their North Dakota foster home.
What advice would Connie have for her this time—or would she even want to be bothered with her former foster sister?
Susannah hugged her thinly clad arms around her waist and breathed in the heady scent of hot pink oleanders. Deliberately she forced one foot in front of the other. Moving quickly wasn't an option when the world occasionally tilted too far to the right. Beads of moisture on her forehead chilled her hot skin, making her shiver.
The bus driver had said two blocks—surely she'd come at least that far?
Suddenly off balance, Susannah stopped to steady herself. She focused her blurry eyes on the paper in her hand, peering to confirm that the numbers on the page were the same as those on the house. Her sluggish brain responded as if obscured by fog. She squinted for a second look.
This was it.
Susannah's heart sank a little lower. Such a grand home. How could she possibly walk into that perfectly manicured courtyard, knock on that elegant glass and wrought-iron door and ask Connie for help?
You're not worth helping, but you don't have a choice.
Nothing harder to stomach than the truth. Susannah knew that too well. She gritted her teeth, pushed open the gate and moved forward. Droplets of perspiration ran into her eyes, blurring her vision. She swiped them away with a quick brush of her hand, afraid to release the branches of the hedge for more than a second, lest she flop to the ground. She was cold, and yet she was so hot.
What was wrong with her?
Finally she stood at the entrance. Music floated out from the brightly lit house. Or maybe the melody was just stuck in her head.
Susannah lifted a hand and tapped gingerly, inhaling as the world spun faster.
The door opened, light and laughter flooding out.
"Yes?" A man's voice, rich and smooth, like butterscotch candy, flowed over her. It was hard to see his face, but light brown eyes gleamed through the dusk. "Can I help you?"
"Connie," Susannah whispered. Then everything went black.
David Foster stared at the unconscious woman lying on his best friend Wade's doorstep. Wade's wife, Connie, always had someone stopping by, friends from the foster home where she'd once lived, acquaintances she'd met and offered to help, even total strangers who'd heard about her charities. This frail woman must fit into one of those categories.
But Connie and Wade were celebrating their return from Brazil with a houseful of guests. He didn't want to disturb them. As Wade's lawyer, David was accustomed to handling things for his friend. He decided he'd handle this guest, for now.
He bent and scooped the young woman into his arms.
"Who's that?" Darla asked. His little sister had a habit of soundlessly appearing at his elbow.
"I don't know," he murmured, leading the way to the study. "One of Connie's friends, I guess. She fainted. I think she's sick."
"Oh." Darla watched as he laid the young woman on the sofa. "Can I help, Davy?"
David smiled, brushed his hand over her shiny brown hair in a fond caress. Darla loved to help. Though nineteen, a skiing accident had left Darla with a brain injury that cut her mental age in half. David's goal in life was to make his sister's life as rich and happy as possible. It was becoming a challenge.
"Sure you can help, sweetie. Why don't you go in the bathroom over there and get a wet cloth?" he suggested. "You can wipe her forehead. She seems to have a fever."
"Okay."
Darla hurried to do as asked, her mood bright because of Connie's party. "Like this?" she asked him, dabbing the cloth on the woman's face.
"Very gently. That's good." He watched for a few moments. "She had a bag," he mused. "It must have dropped. Can you take care of her while I go look for it?"
"Yes." Darla hummed quietly as she gently removed the traces of dust and grime from the visitor's pale skin. Not that it mattered—their guest was gorgeous.
"I'll be right back." David hurried toward the front door, his mind filled with questions.
She was tiny, light as a feather. Her delicate features made him think of fashion magazine covers—thin, high cheekbones, full lips and wide-set eyes. She'd pulled her golden blond hair back and plaited it so it fell down her back, but little wisps had worked free to frame her face in delicate curls. He caught himself speculating what the color of her eyes would turn out to be when those incredible lashes lifted.
She's obviously needy, and your docket is full.
Boy, did he know that.
A denim backpack lay outside on the step. David bent to pic...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 22, 2011
14 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Lois Richer
130 books71 followersLois Richer made her debut in 1997 with the launch of Steeple Hill. Today, with over a dozen titles and well over half a million books in print worldwide, Richer continues to build a huge fan base through her inspirational work. Twice a finalist for the prestigious Holt Medallion — Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent — Richer has also been nominated by Romantic Times Magazine for Best Love Inspired Book of 2001. In 2002 she won second place in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA).
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 29, 2017
For me to have recently lost two baby's due to ectopic pregnancy Nov 1, 2016 & March 15, 2017 it was a lil hard to read this book. I've been so angry and lost my faith. Even though I'm still hurting and mourning I'm so glad I kept up and finished this book. A beautiful story I could feel Gods love while I was reading it.
April 16, 2015
I enjoyed this book. The plot was good and I liked all the characters for the most part.
Sometimes Susannah got a little annoying. She did have a lot of bad things happen to her, but she was very whiney throughout a lot of the book. I understand that it contributed to the story and showed how damaged she was because of the events that happened, but it got a little irritating at some points.
Sometimes Susannah got a little annoying. She did have a lot of bad things happen to her, but she was very whiney throughout a lot of the book. I understand that it contributed to the story and showed how damaged she was because of the events that happened, but it got a little irritating at some points.
November 8, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "A Baby by Easter." The story plot was very good and David, Darla, and Susannah, among other characters, were superb. I especially loved David and Darla, who were very loving and helpful towards others. David was was a wonderful Christian young man who would do everything in his power to help out others, especially those he loved. Darla, though she was mentally handicapped due to an accident, was completely adorable and kind-natured. I couldn't help but smile when she was talking in the book. The only problem I had was with Susannah. Though she was incredibly kind, a good person, and was an excellent caregiver to Darla, she was quite annoying when she couldn't believe that she could be a good mother because of all of the mistakes she had thought she had made in the past. That being said, I would definitely recommend this lovely and inspirational Christian romance novel to everyone.
November 30, 2013
Obvious plot contrivances, silly premises and poor plotting made this sweet book into a saccharine coated nightmare. Susanna Wells needs a job. David Foster needs a care giver for his sister Darla, who is brain injured. Susanna, who is pregnant,takes a position being Darla's care giver temporarily. Naturally, she fixes Darla in a chapter and the rest of the time is spent dealing with Susanna's mental scars and insecurities and David's snobbery. There was potential here but the author took the easy way out every time.
March 1, 2015
Another book that was depicted as God's will. What a bunch of fable, it's bullshit. The author needs to stop bringing religion into her work or else mark it strictly christian because not everyone needs to believe in something fake. Faith is something people have when they aren't strong enough on themselves or their abilities. It's for the weak.
March 16, 2023
Sweet easy read. I love not only the issue the main character is struggling with, but that there is also a character with special needs. The author does a great job portraying her in a real & respectful way. This is book 2 of a series and while it can be read as a stand alone, there are characters who overlap from book 1.
April 19, 2025
I cried as the story unfolded
Ms. Richer did a wonderful job of engaging emotions. I fell in love with the characters and rooted for the hero to succeed. I was so proud of Darla and impressed by Susannah and her insight into others. The happy ending made my tears worthwhile.
Ms. Richer did a wonderful job of engaging emotions. I fell in love with the characters and rooted for the hero to succeed. I was so proud of Darla and impressed by Susannah and her insight into others. The happy ending made my tears worthwhile.
November 2, 2017
Very sweet story of two people who never thought they'd ever find love or deserve love, falling in love. Tear-jerker.
July 20, 2022
I could not read this book. I did not care for the characters.
August 9, 2012
Very sweet romance!
When Susannah finds herself pregnant and pretty much alone she turns to her old foster home sister. Turning up on her door step is the only chance she has for a home or a future. Upon arrival a man answers the door that is a family friend. He is there taking care of his sick sister and against everything finds himself taking care of Susannah as well.
In desperate need for a job Susannah finds herself being a nanny and taking care of David's sister, Darla. Some how these 2 ladies end up being just what the other one needed.
This story makes you warm and happy about the sweet family life and how much they care for one another, makes you cry for the past that each one of them has survived yet still fighting.
There is a lot to learn from this book on Loving one another and caring for people that feel that they are unloved. Its a great story that also shows God forgives and loves you anyways!!!!
When Susannah finds herself pregnant and pretty much alone she turns to her old foster home sister. Turning up on her door step is the only chance she has for a home or a future. Upon arrival a man answers the door that is a family friend. He is there taking care of his sick sister and against everything finds himself taking care of Susannah as well.
In desperate need for a job Susannah finds herself being a nanny and taking care of David's sister, Darla. Some how these 2 ladies end up being just what the other one needed.
This story makes you warm and happy about the sweet family life and how much they care for one another, makes you cry for the past that each one of them has survived yet still fighting.
There is a lot to learn from this book on Loving one another and caring for people that feel that they are unloved. Its a great story that also shows God forgives and loves you anyways!!!!
January 17, 2015
I enjoyed the storyline but the lead female Suzanne was just to whiney by about the eleventh chapter.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews