Christian Romance: Heaven on Earth... [4 Beautiful Christian Romance Stories] by Joanne Sawyer Page A

they sent me to boarding school. My family moved out
while I was at school and I haven’t been back until a few years
ago. Wait… wait… that’s a huge needle!” then he turned his head as
she took out the surgical sutures.
    “Why did you decide to come back Gage?
Emille tells me you were doing very well for yourself.”
    “Yes I was. But what was it all for? I
had money, but I felt empty. I felt like God spoke to me and I felt
like I had to come back. And I did.”
    “You’ve managed to do so much
though.”
    “Well, I owe a lot to the people here.
When father cut his losses and left, it never felt right to
me.”
    Oh why hadn’t she put it together
before? Gage’s family must have owned the old plantation, that’s
why he had roots here and was so close to everyone. Karen felt a
small tinge of regret as she finished up the last stitch and
bandaged the wound, she was enjoying herself in his company.
Surprisingly.
    “Well, you’re done, remember not to
move it too much, and I‘ll give you some pills for the pain, but
you should be good as new I no time.”
    “Wow, well thanks doc… I… thanks,” he
said as he got up awkwardly and turned to leave. “I was thinking,”
he said abruptly as he turned to her again, “maybe you’d like to
have dinner?”
    Karen blushed slightly, “Yes. I’d love
to.
    ************
    They ended up having dinner in an old
boathouse by the river that Gage and some of the other men had been
fixing up. They couldn’t go to town as it would not be a good idea
for someone who’s just had stitches to drive for hours, as Karen
had said sternly.
    Karen didn’t bring so many clothes
with her, but she found a lovely blue dress that was simple yet
elegant.
    Gage came to pick her up at 8 o’clock
and just shook his head when he saw her.
    “What’s wrong? Am I overdressed for a
date by the river?” Karen asked, looking down at her
dress.
    “No, you look…perfect,”
and he smiled in a way she had never seen before. Brent never told
her she was perfect, he complemented her, but then he’d say
something like, “You should have worn the yellow one,” or “The ruby
necklace would have been perfect for this”. This is the man everyone else knows and admires so
much , Karen thought as Gage opened the car
door for her. They drove down a dirt road that led off the town
until they were at a clearing. There were the docks, all bright
with white lights that led to the sweet little
boathouse.
    “Oh Gage, this is
beautiful.”
    “Well we didn’t have much time, but
she is a beauty.”
    They went inside and there was a small
table with two chairs with two covered plates. “Granny Mae made her
specialty, she insisted actually. I hope you like it, I don’t know
if you’ve ever had shrimp gumbo.” And Gage took the covers from the
plates. Karen took her first bite and it was a heavenly, rich and
full of flavor.
    “Tell Granny she blew my mind. This is
wonderful.”
    They ate their meal and talked about
their past, Gage, about his lawyer years, and Karen about medical
school and her internship, then about Blake.
    “He just said it outright. ‘We should
break up,’ and there was nothing I could say, it was
devastating.”
    “I had a girl like that, she pushed me
to take jobs I didn’t want to, you know, high-paying jobs that ate
at my soul. She said it was for our future. I couldn’t look myself
in the mirror sometimes, then I prayed to God, I didn’t know what
to do and I needed guidance. It was weird, I suddenly remembered
Granny Mae then, her telling me that it was better to be poor and
have integrity, than rich and perverse. I felt like God was telling
me to come back, to get my integrity back, to help those who
deserved it.”
    “And you’re happier here…”
    “I am. I’m happier.”
    “What happened to the
girl?”
    “She said I was crazy, then when she
found out I was serious, we broke up.”
    “Can I ask you something that I want
you to give an honest answer