For Love Alone

Book Series: Trevor Family Saga (Book 5)

Publishing Date: 1999

Author: Anita Stansfield

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Category: LDS Contemporaray Romance

Point of View: Third Person Limited: Mallory and Thomas

Chapter Count: 15

Page Count: 237

To the many friends who have helped me along the way, and continue to be a source of great support and inspiration. You know who you are. I couldn't have done it without you.

And a special thank-you to my readers…Through you, my characters have truly come to life.

Chapter 1- Mallory Taylor has had a significant blow. After a short, four year marriage and a baby girl, her husband Brad is dead.

As she sobs, Mallory recalls all the events leading up to the night Brad died. She remembers how she and Brad first met. The youngest daughter of Colin and Janna Trevor, Mallory was studying to be a dental assistant while Brad, a Boston native from a good LDS home, was about to graduate from dental school and begin his practice. They fell in love quickly. With his black hair and brown eyes complimenting her own dark hair and green eyes, (inherited from Janna) Mallory was smitten by his quiet goodness. Despite having never served a mission, he treated her like a queen which was good enough for Mallory. They married in the temple and settled in Highland, Utah (one of the many small towns along the Wasatch Front between Provo and the Salt Lake Valley now engulfed by the population explosion) on the same street as Mallory's older, married brother Matthew. Brad and Matthew hit it off. The two families began doing everything together. Sure, there were times Brad was reticent about attending the temple with her or taking the sacrament in church but he just explained he was working with the bishop on some personal worthiness issues and Mallory let it go. Brad was a good man. The perfect husband to her, father to Bethany; a responsible provider. When Mallory learned she was expecting a second child her happiness was complete; life couldn't be more perfect.

Then one day, the first warning sign came in the discovery of a pornographic magazine under the seat of the car. Brad excused it saying he loaned the car to a fellow dentist in the office but Mallory's reaction is harsh and critical. If she were that man's wife, she'd either leave him or insist he get counseling. Pornography kills. It destroys marriages and wrecks homes (just ask Susan Cox-Powell). Mallory quotes the statistics to prove it until Brad promises never to let this man borrow their car again.

That Sunday, Brad is very quiet. Mallory observes him standing over their daughter's crib that night, stroking her sleeping head and singing softly. The scene is heart-melting and Mallory eases away with a silent prayer of gratitude for her life and the good man she married.

In the middle of the night, Mallory is awakened by a gunshot. Brad is nowhere to be found. The house is eerily silent. Mallory makes her way downstairs to find the light shining under the door of Brad's study but he doesn't answer her calls or knocking. The spirit tells her, DO NOT open that door. Mallory takes Bethany and flees the house to her brother's down the street where Matthew calls the police before investigating the situation for Mallory.

Chapter 2- Matthew is very shaken when he returns. Brad was found alone, a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The police are filling out their report. He committed suicide. There's no other explanation and his motive is unknown.
Mallory falls apart. Matthew calls his parents and the Trevor clan rallies around in support of this terrible tragedy.
Now the funeral is over. Mallory has to return to the house and go on living. Her brother and mother made sure all evidence of the suicide was removed, the room professionally cleaned and carpet replaced before Mallory even had time to think about it. She's grateful.
Mallory was never close with Brad's family who always made her feel inferior. Brad's mother felt her son had married down. They came for the funeral but gave Mallory the impression she was to blame for Brad's death. It is hard to go back to an empty house with only a toddler for company but Mallory finds the strength to keep going.
March arrives and since the night is cold, Mallory decides to make a fire in the wood burning stove which hasn't been used since before Brad's death. To her surprise it is filled to overflowing with ashes. Suspicious, Mallory calls her brother who comes right over. Apparently, Brad burned several unidentified magazines and two video tapes. What on earth was he up to? Mallory decides she'll think about it tomorrow.
To his credit, Brad made sure his wife would be financially secure in the event of his death. His life insurance policy was up to date and they had no outstanding debt. He left Mallory enough to live on so she won't have to go out and look for a job, yet, but the baby is due in five months.
Just as Mallory is about to spiral down into another cycle of depression and grief, an old flame shows up on her doorstep holding a bouquet of flowers. It's Darrell from her college days. He lost his own wife recently. To suicide no less. He'd like to take Mallory out on a dinner date which she happily accepts.
To her dismay, Darrell takes Mallory to that fantastic new restaurant, Buchanan's, (not Mullboons) where Brad took Mallory on what turned out to be their last date. It's uncomfortable but knowing she has to face the reality her husband is gone, Mallory sighs and agrees to enter the crowded establishment but Darrell is not the world's best dinner date. Their server is a tall, handsome black man, around thirty. Darrell is very rude and condescending. He demands his steak was done wrong and makes a fuss, reluctantly accepting a new plate while Mallory wants to crawl under the table and die of embarrassment. Darrell takes her home, still complaining about the incompetent service. Mallory disagrees. Their server did everything he could to make their meal enjoyable. Dropping her off, Mallory accepts Darrell's weak apology regarding his behavior. Mallory realizes she spent most of the evening missing Brad and it makes her sad.

Chapter 3- Mallory knows if she wants to keep paying her mortgage and remain in the same neighborhood as her brother, she needs to start to looking for a job. Ironically, Buchanan's is hiring. Mallory applies and is called in for an interview. The owner, Thomas Buchanan, turns out to be none other than the handsome, dignified, African-American man who waited on her and Darrell last week. He remembers her but is friendly and understanding of her situation: widowed with a baby on the way but willing to work hard and pull her weight as a server and hostess. Even after the baby is born she'll stay on. Thomas admits he feels good about her and she gets the job.
Her first week goes very well. Mallory enjoys the work and is very impressed by her employer. Buchanan's is closed on Sundays, Thomas is a member of the church who relocated from California with two college degrees to start his business. He's single and lives alone.
That Sunday, with Matthew tagging along for moral support, Mallory meets with their bishop during the block of meetings. She really wants to know why her late husband met so often with him. What were these personal issues and did it have anything to do with his suicide? The bishop is surprised at her question. Didn't she know her husband had been struggling for years with a pornography addiction? Shocked, Mallory asks if they're talking about the same Brad Taylor. Matthew is no less surprised.

Chapter 4- The bishop tells Mallory her husband was making great strides to beat this addiction, doing everything he could to overcome it, but he got so discouraged after his relapses, well, it's no wonder he took the easy way out.
Matthew takes Mallory to her home where she has another emotional meltdown in the first stage of mourning: anger. She's furious at her husband. His life was a lie. They could've faced this trial together if he'd only confided in her but his affair with dirty pictures was too tempting. Janna and Colin come over to talk to their daughter. They reveal Colin's own dark secret of infidelity and Janna's long, hard path to forgive him. Mallory must do the same.
It is hard for Mallory to concentrate on her job the next day. Seeing her distress, Thomas tells her to go to his office where she can take all the time she needs. He is a victim of divorce himself so he can sympathize, to some extent, what Mallory is going through. He brings her a tray with a nice lunch and they chat while she eats. A bond of friendship is forged.
That night, Matthew and Colin come over to use Brad's computer. They call Mallory in to inform her Brad dumped a lot of files the night he died. All were pornographic photos. He had a real problem. Mallory feels like throwing up.

Chapter 5- All the stress brings on premature labor pains and Mallory is at work when she realizes she's losing the baby. Thomas insists on driving her to the hospital where she's admitted immediately. Feeling lost, Thomas finds the room and sits with Mallory until her family is contacted, wiping her tears and sharing her grief over the lost baby, her last connection to her husband.
One week later, Janna tells her daughter she lost four babies herself. Instead of feeling better, Mallory feels overwhelmed by a cloud of depression. It was her fault Brad killed himself. She just HAD to make that remark about the evils of pornography. She has another emotional meltdown in front of Matthew one Saturday morning. Unsure how to handle this, he picks up the phone and calls Janna for reinforcements. She comes right over. Everyone keeps repeating to Mallory none of this was her fault but she refuses to calm down. Janna calls her husband to come and help give Mallory a blessing.
While they're waiting, the doorbell rings. It's Thomas, all dressed up in his Sunday best, having just come from attending a session at the temple (bet he gets a lot of double takes there). He's here to check up on his favorite employee and would be happy to help with the blessing. He's invited in and warmly received by everyone. 

Chapter 6- Mallory has no problem with Thomas participating in giving her a blessing. This is post-1978 after all. The priesthood blessing helps and Mallory finds the strength to return to work and keep trudging on.
Darrell calls and she agrees to go out with him again, since no one else is asking. Mallory continues to enjoy her job in the food service industry. Fall arrives and Mallory feels motivated enough to do some deep cleaning in her home. To her alarm, porn keeps turning up in the oddest places. What a sick man her husband was. Just as the confusing emotions threaten to bring her down, Darrell asks her out again and they start seeing each other exclusively. 
Darrell gives her gifts she doesn't appreciate: new clothes in bright colors that aren't her type and gaudy jewelry she's never been into; implying he's trying to change Mallory. Christmas arrives and Mallory graciously opens yet another set of tacky jewels. Secretly, she wants to tell him off, but Mallory needs a man in her life and Darrell fills that empty place. 
January, Darrell does the most idiotic thing a man can do to ruin a relationship. He takes her to Buchanan's for a romantic dinner, the last place Mallory wants to be on her night off but he made special reservations so Mallory gives in. The last course is served with a flourish and a lot of embarrassing fanfare as the waitress (a new girl Mallory hardly knows) places an elaborate dessert in front of her with an engagement ring ostentatiously sticking out on top. Since she's already wearing one of Darrell's outfits she hates and the horrible jewelry, Mallory sees no choice but to accept his proposal. Everyone claps and congratulates them, Mallory is glad Thomas is nowhere to be seen. The whole thing felt fake, like she was playing some part in a bad rom-com.
She's moody and silent during the ride home with Darrell and when she goes into work the next day, Thomas avoids her, pouting in his office until she confronts him. Thomas tells her, as a friend, this guy is a jerk and she should dump him which only offends Mallory. She'll marry him, if only to spite everyone.

Chapter 7- Mallory's family isn't very excited about her engagement either which troubles Mallory. Is Darrell really that bad? Yes, they tell her, he's a self-righteous controlling jerk. Mallory's doubts about Darrell's character are further validated when she receives a phone call from Darrell's wife's family. She felt compelled to warn Mallory, her sister was driven to suicide thanks to Darrell's emotionally abusive, misogynistic, behavior. This is why Darrell doesn't have custody of his two daughters who are in the care of relatives. While he's a successful OB/GYN, he's not fit to be a husband or father. Mallory should call off her engagement and run.
Despite fasting and praying for guidance, this phone call seems to be the answer. Mallory gathers her courage, including all his gifts and the ring, goes to Darrell's house and tells him, in person, the wedding is off.
She leaves before he can protest and since this is before the age of cell phones, Mallory drives all over Utah county to avoid going home and facing the answering machine. She ends up at the restaurant to find Thomas closing up for the night. He's glad to see her and relieved to hear she's called off her engagement. They have a good, long talk over dinner that Thomas prepares himself. Along with his interests as a foodie, Thomas keeps busy doing his genealogy work and submitting names to the temple. Thomas has a fascinating family history. He's traced his ancestors as far back as the slaves ships and the plantations they were sold to where they were actually treated quite well (which is hard to believe). After they were freed, his father's family took the plantation name, Buchanan, and migrated to the North while his mother's family migrated to California after the second world war. Mallory is impressed.

Chapter 8- Darrell comes pounding on Mallory's door the next morning but she stands her ground. She's not reneging on her decision and she doesn't want to get into details. Their relationship is over. Darrell slumps away with his tail between his legs.
Next, Mallory gets a disturbing phone call from Brad's mother who tells Mallory, straight out, she drove Brad to suicide and everything is all her fault. Mallory hangs up before calmly phoning Janna who suggests Mallory get a second opinion. Mallory calls one of Brad's sisters who admits both her father and Brad had problems with pornography. Brad's father was responsible for introducing his son to it while her mother was always in denial, refusing to acknowledge the problem. Nobody in the house growing up was sexually abused, as far as she knows. All they can do is try and break the cycle by teaching their children to Fight the New Drug.
Grateful she made the call, Mallory begins to feel some closure over Brad's death. Then, one day in May, Thomas approaches her at work to ask her out. The dangers of office romances notwithstanding, Mallory is intrigued by the idea. 
Thomas takes her to a nice restaurant, "To keep tabs on the competition," he says. They enjoy a wonderful meal and fascinating plot exposition as Thomas tells Mallory his own story of growing up Baptist in central California with one younger brother, Robert. His father ran a successful restaurant but his parents divorced, his mother died several years later and both boys stayed with their dad, who was a good man, helping him run the business. When he was sixteen, a Mormon friend at school introduced Thomas to the church. After serving a mission to (where else?) Africa, he met his wife, a fellow black woman, at church and they married in the temple. During this time, his father's health began to fail while Robert took up a wild and irresponsible lifestyle.
Just like in the Bible, the prodigal son returned but Robert managed to pull the wool over everyone's eyes, pretending to change, swindling Thomas out of his share of the inheritance and stealing his wife away to boot. After his father died, Thomas relocated to Utah to try and make a life for himself. It's taken two years to come to terms with his brother and ex-wife's deception and treatment of him, but he's doing very well and has learned to be happy and find peace.

Chapter 9- After the movie, Thomas sees Mallory safely home. They both have to work the next day and while the restaurant is very busy, Mallory feels a tingle of attraction every time she and Thomas catch each other's eye. She likes him and the color of his skin makes no difference to her.
Thomas wants to take her out again. Mallory suggests he come over and help babysit as she owes her brother a night off. Thomas arrives and Mallory feeds him dinner before Matthew and Melody bring their children. 
Using basic ingredients in her kitchen, Thomas whips up Mallory's favorite dessert they serve at the restaurant. She marvels at this man who is good with children and even better in the kitchen where he insists on cleaning up after himself. He's the perfect man. She could see herself in a relationship with him, but could she ever get past her feelings for Brad and the recent burn by Darrell?
Bethany is put to bed, Matthew's children are collected and Thomas is left alone in the kitchen with Mallory where he takes the opportunity to kiss her and declare his feelings for her. Mallory returns his kiss, giddy with infatuation.
At work the following Monday, Thomas and Mallory keep sneaking off to be alone where they can make out. Next day, he takes her on a date to the temple. Mallory realizes she could marry this man but the thought scares her.

Chapter 10-Wednesday, Mallory calls in sick with menstrual cramps. Thomas proves what a sweetheart he is by coming over to nurse her and bringing the fast food she's craving. (Lucky woman, the only thing I ever crave while doubled over in pain is Midol.) Mallory refills her hot water bottle (hot rice packs are better) and relaxes on the couch while Thomas takes care of everything. Mallory tells him more about her first marriage, including the pornography issues that drove her husband to suicide.
Thomas invites Mallory over for dinner at his place that Friday. Bethany can't come until Mallory's had the chance to scope out the bachelor pad and make sure it's baby-proof. Matthew is happy to babysit and Mallory arrives at the condo, a little nervous at how fast this relationship is moving but Thomas makes her feel right at home. Mallory admires his prints on the wall reflecting African culture, Martin Luther King and a picture that reminds both of them of the 1977 TV-miniseries, Roots (an excellent film everyone needs to see, but the book is better). Overcome by white guilt, Mallory starts to cry. Her pioneer heritage seems so lame. What's a little frostbite while crossing the plains compared to the suffering of human bondage? Thomas eases her head to his shoulder and comforts her.
Mallory brings Thomas to her family's Mother's Day barbecue where he fits right in. The family accepts him without question and he's grateful beyond words. 
Mallory's older sister gets married over the summer. Thomas attends the temple wedding and reception with Mallory. Afterwards, he declares he's ready to marry again, if Mallory will have him. Mallory is hesitant. This is a big step. She takes Janna aside to ask her, straight out, how she would feel if her daughter married a man like Thomas. Janna says it would be fine. Mallory continues to drag her feet. Thomas tries to be patient but he's anxious for an answer. He tells Mallory to take a few days off. Fast, pray, attend the temple, get a priesthood blessing, do whatever she needs to get in touch with her feelings.

Chapter 11- But Mallory doesn't follow through. She's not ready to move forward. Overcome with frustration, Thomas pays a visit to the home of Colin and Janna Trevor who advise him to give Mallory an ultimatum: either set a date or he's moving on.
Upset by Thomas's ultimatum, Mallory calls her mother who advises her to do some deep soul searching, along with staying physically and emotionally healthy so she can be better in tune with the spirit. Mallory gets a priesthood blessing, attends the temple and leaves with a new perspective on Brad's death and a firm answer that marrying Thomas Buchanan is the right thing to do. 
She can hardly wait to tell him.
Next day at work, they leave the restaurant and drive to one of the malls in the Salt Lake Valley where they sit near the indoor carousel (South Towne in Sandy as opposed to the less respectable West Valley "Ghetto" mall) and talk. 
As they make wedding plans, (Thomas will be moving in with Mallory) it begins to occur to both Mallory and Thomas that not everyone in the ward and neighborhood are going to be so accepting of their inter-racial marriage. Thomas compares himself to other minorities, such as handicapped people, (a weak comparison) and the prejudice he's dealt with all his life. It's hard sometimes, thanks to Bruce R. McConkie, but he just tries not to let other people's rude comments at church bother him as a black man in a predominately white religion and area. The church is still true, even if the people aren't. He warns Mallory, prejudice goes both ways as those in his own family will look down on her as a condescending white woman who can't be trusted. 
Armed with the knowledge that they can endure any hardship, together, including children whose skin might be a different shade than their neighbors, Thomas attends church with Mallory that Sunday. There are some looks but, for the most part, everyone is happy for them. Mallory gets up in testimony meeting the following week when Thomas is absent to take her ward family to task which helps ease some of the awkwardness. Unlike her engagement to Darrell, Mallory is looking forward to being called Mrs. Buchanan.

Chapter 12- Buchanan's has a new hire, a woman whose husband is lying in a coma in the hospital; the result of a suicide attempt. Mallory goes into shock, hearing this. There but for the grace of God...
Frantic with worry, Thomas searches for Mallory who left without telling anyone to go for a long walk in the pouring rain. Fall is here and it is very cold. Mallory is shivering as Thomas helps her into his car. He takes her home and orders her into a hot shower. Mallory curls up on the bed, depressed and unresponsive while Thomas plugs in the hair dryer and dries her hair for her: first one side, then flips her over so he can do the other. He pulls her into his arms and leans against the headboard. At last, Mallory opens up about this latest development in her grieving process.
Feeling better, Mallory decides to tackle one last junk drawer in the house, all Brad's. As she dumps it out, she sees an envelope with her name on it stuck to the bottom. It's Brad's suicide note, deliberately placed here by Brad, who anticipated Mallory's grief. He loves her and Bethany, hopes she can forgive him and that one day she will meet a good man who will treat her the way she always deserved. Poignant is the only word to describe Mallory's feelings. 

Chapter 13- The wedding announcements are mailed off and Brad's mother calls, all upset, over the kind of family her granddaughter will grow up in. Mallory hangs up on her.
Mallory and Thomas attend the funeral for the husband who attempted suicide where Mallory finds some additional closure. The woman is relieved to have it all over and finalized. Her no-good husband is dead and she is grateful beyond words for this job at Buchanan's so she can support her family.
A few members of Thomas's family, two aunts, come to Utah to meet Mallory. They are colorful and warm and full of southern hospitality. They have accepted their Mormon nephew is marrying a white woman and have come to show their support and attend the reception.
The temple wedding is beautiful. Thomas and Mallory kneel across the alter to be married for time only, since Mallory is still sealed to Brad. Thomas has admitted he's having trouble accepting this technicality but they can deal with that later. Now, it's time for the honeymoon!
True to the Stansfield theme of newlywed frugality, Thomas and Mallory stay in Utah, traveling to Moab, Arches and the Grand Canyon. (How boring, since neither ever mentioned any interest in the outdoors: hiking, repelling, spelunking. So they just drove around?)
Apparently, Thomas is quite the passionate lover. They host Colin and Janna for dinner shortly after returning from their honeymoon where Mallory and her mother have a chance to talk privately while Mallory prepares her daughter for bed. Mallory confides to Janna her discovery that making love to Thomas is a very different experience from Brad who didn't always want to do...everything and blamed Mallory for his lack of sexual fulfillment; Mallory had always believed him, that she was the one with the problem. Janna is furious. Anyone who covers up their own lack of self-worth by putting down and destroying the self-worth of others is evil! Mallory cries in her mother's arms as she understands there was never anything wrong with her.

Chapter 14- In no time at all, Mallory gives birth to a baby boy they name Spencer. It's family reunion time as a "who's who" of every past Anita Stansfield book is paraded through the narrative. Colin and Janna's good friends: Jack and Hilary Hayden, Ammon and Allison Mitchell, Sean and Tara O'Hara. The gang's all here! Everyone is in town to celebrate the blessing of Spencer by his proud father. Thomas is still troubled, though, by the fact that neither Mallory nor his son are sealed to him. Sean reassures Thomas everything will make sense in the eternities and God will take care of everything.
A few months later, Thomas and Mallory have a surprise visitor. His ex-wife decided she was bored with Robert and thought she'd drop in on Thomas and see if he was still available. She's not happy to find her plan has been ruined by Mallory. She leaves but a misunderstanding has Mallory believing Thomas was considering taking her back. She's very upset.
They go for a drive, everything is cleared up but the tension remains. Just then, a deer crosses the highway and cars start swerving. Mallory screams as Thomas slams on the breaks. Defying the laws of physics, their car slides sideways, crossing two lanes of traffic with nary a dent before coming to a complete stop on the side of the road. Thomas and Mallory cling to each other in gratitude for their lives.
Upset that one of them could've been killed in anger, without the security of eternal marriage, Thomas and Mallory recommit themselves to trusting each other and will do their best to avoid any future arguments about fidelity in their marriage again.
To the dismay of Thomas, his brother, Robert, phones. His wife leaving hit him hard. He wants to try and make up for his past wrongs against his brother. Thomas is doubtful of his sincerity. He's not sure he can ever forgive him.

Chapter 15- To show how serious he is about changing his ways, Robert shows up at their doorstep one evening just as the family is sitting down to dinner. He's come in person to ask forgiveness. He's been taking the missionary discussions and wants his brother to baptize him. This is why his (their?) wife left him. She wasn't comfortable with coming back into full activity in the church, giving up their comfortable lifestyle. So, here he is. 
Thomas weeps. He believes his brother and would be happy come to California to perform the ordinance.
Sean O'Hara telephones a few days later. He wants to introduce Thomas and Mallory to some very special friends of his, they'll only be in town a short while to visit and they really need to meet each other. Can they come for dinner? The invitation is accepted and babysitting arrangements are made. 
That's right, Michael and Emily Hamilton have come all the way from Australia to visit and who else but Michael can relate best to Thomas's frustration and fear of ending up a lone man in the eternities with no wife or family? Thomas and Mallory listen as Michael and Emily share their journey, how they came to learn for themselves that if being together for eternity is what they really want, then God will make it possible for them. Michael was able to forgive Emily's first husband and find peace with their situation. Encouraged by such an inspiring story, Thomas blinks back his tears and thanks them. 
Conversation turns to Sean and Tara's story which leads to Emily asking if Sean has heard from Melissa lately and a brief summary of A Promise of Forever is given. Michael has one to top them all. His great-grandparents, Jess and Alexa Byrnehouse-Davies suffered many ups and downs before their happily-ever-after.
But that's another story and shall be told at another time.
Driving to California together. Thomas squeezes Mallory's hand and they marvel at how blessed they are.

THE END

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Anita Stansfield has a letter for her readers. She's taking a break from contemporary fiction, delving into historical fiction as her next project. With the completion of this, her eleventh novel, and this large cast of modern-day characters she's created, it's time she backtracked to 1880's Australia where Michael Hamilton's origin story really began. She's about to unleash a manuscript she started working on when First Love was just a twinkle in her eye. Another Christmas story is also in the pipeline. She hopes everyone will enjoy this next leg of the journey to other places around the world and the new characters her readers will meet. (Don't worry, Anita, we will!)   

A Christmas Melody

Book Series: Trevor Family Saga (Book 4)

Publishing Date: 1998

Author: Anita Stansfield

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Category: LDS Contemporaray Romance
Point of View: Third Person Limited: Melody and Matthew
Chapter Count: 14
Page Count: 219

This book is dedicated to anyone who has ever hated Christmas

And written with heartfelt gratitude to my father…for giving his children the spirit of Christmas.

I’m glad you finally got your little red wagon.

Chapter 1- Twenty-year-old Melody Morgan hates Christmas. Thanks to her completely messed up, dysfunctional family, her cynicism is justified. Her father, a raging, abusive alcoholic, died years ago while all her brothers and sisters (she's second youngest) are either pregnant, in jail, doing drugs, passed out drunk or mooching off her weak, passive mother who lets them all, except Melody, take advantage of her. Melody does what she can for her siblings but as the chilly November wind blows through her long, dark hair she wonders if maybe she's become an easy target and doormat too like her poor mother. She's lived in Provo, Utah her whole life and is the only one who graduated from high school and has managed to stay employed at a respectful job while living independently.
As Melody  enters the courthouse where she's been summoned, she wants to cry. She had to walk all the way downtown today because her brother totaled her car. Her older sister was living with her in her apartment until she threw another wild party, stole all Melody's money and ran off with her boyfriend to Mexico leaving Melody to take the blame for all the damage. Her family inactive, Melody offers a fervent, silent prayer for strength to make it through this, the worst day of her life.

Chapter 2- The male judge shows no mercy and throws the book at Melody who reluctantly agrees pay the fine caused by her irresponsible sister. Vision blurred by tears, Melody exits the room, runs smack into a tall, handsome man with sandy hair and the entire contents of her purse go flying. The young man starts talking to her as he helps Melody gather her things. Melody notes his deep blue eyes and fights a surge of attraction. He introduces himself as Matthew Trevor. Melody tells him hers and the reason she had to appear in court today. Matthew is a pre-law student and was there observing her case as his studies require. Because he's a nice guy, and it's obvious Melody is still upset, he offers to take her to dinner. Melody is hesitant but after Matthew reassures her she can trust him, she agrees.
Over their meal, Matthew tells her more about himself. He's the oldest of five children. One of his sisters, Mallory, is currently thirteen (and will star in her own upcoming book). Matthew is living at home while attending BYU law school, served a mission to Russia, works at a sporting goods store and is very single in his LDS family ward where he has a calling. Melody also serves in her family ward as a primary teacher.
Matthew insists on driving her back to her apartment. Melody fights apprehension. She's from the wrong side of the tracks from a socio-economic circle way below his and once Matthew and his perfect family realizes these facts, he'll reject her.

Chapter 3- Unable to get this girl out of his mind, Matthew tracks her down at the Blockbuster video store  where she works. It isn't easy as Provo has many, (not so today as the franchise went bankrupt in 2010 and closed all its stores) but with the help of the Yellow Pages, he makes a few phone calls, finds the right store and startles Melody with a cute pick-up line. Flattered he would make the effort to find her so he can ask her out again, Melody hides behind a front of defensiveness. Matthew wants her help to do his Christmas shopping, but Melody HATES Christmas. She refuses but Matthew is charmingly persistent with the inclusion of dinner and a movie with the unpleasant chore. Melody laughs and agrees.
He picks her up as soon as she gets off work. The shopping is done quickly and the movie is good. They are enjoying themselves at the restaurant until the subject of Christmas comes up again. Upset, Melody leaves the table in a huff. Realizing his date just ditched him, Matthew discovers the wallet she accidentally left behind. He does some snooping and smiles as he learns Melody Noel Morgan has a birthday coming up next month. He slips in a twenty, pays the bill and leaves the restaurant to hunt Melody down, insisting she get in the car so he can at least do the chivalrous thing and take her home. Later, Matthew arranges for flowers to be delivered to Melody's apartment because he's a sweetheart.

Chapter 4- It is Melody's turn to track down Matthew at his job a few days later, to thank him for the flowers and make a peace offering. She took his suggestion, talked to her bishop about her financial troubles and was able to reconsolidate her finances and look into purchasing a used car which is parked outside on which she'd like Matthew's opinion. They go for hamburgers and Matthew tells her to buy it.
Matthew won't hear any excuses, Melody will spend Thanksgiving at his house so she can meet his wonderful family and for once in her life experience the holidays the way they were intended; with family. However, before they enter the house, Matthew confesses the judge who passed such a harsh penalty on her case was his father. Melody panics but Colin Trevor is warm, friendly and accepting ("It's not personal, just business, young lady,") as Matthew introduces them. His angel mother, Janna, is equally welcoming. It is all like a dream for Melody who permits a chaste kiss on the forehead from this young man standing on her doorstep who would love to be more than a friend.
Back at his home, Matthew tells his mother about his growing feelings for this poor, young, single woman forced to estrange herself from her family; all alone in the world with no man to care for her. She's working her way through school with plans to major in elementary education (NO! Don't do it, Melody!) which makes her the perfect candidate for wife and mother in a temple marriage. Janna tells her son to go for it.
Determined to convert Melody to the joy and wonder of Christmas, he continues seeing her and Melody slowly finds herself accepting his attention. During one date, they browse a Hallmark store where Matthew, seeing one of those cute "Our First Christmas" ornaments for newlyweds jokes about buying it which Melody doesn't find funny at all.
Outside, Matthew stops Melody as they walk, takes her in his arms, declares his eternal love to her and kisses her. Melody responds and is amazed at how right and good it feels. She weeps, explaining to Matthew no one has ever committed to her like this before.

Chapter 5- Back in the warm car, Matthew listens while Melody pours her heart out about her rough start in life, growing up in the Morgan household, where it was every child for themselves ducking the flying beer bottles. Birthdays were never acknowledged; holidays never celebrated. Melody never got anything new. Matthew notes the old, tattered coat she wears. Melody tells him she once saved all her babysitting money to buy herself something respectable but one of her siblings stole the money to buy cigarettes and she was never compensated so she gave up believing she would ever be worthy of having nice things like all her classmates; who teased her about her poverty and family reputation.
Matthew invites her over for the annual Trevor pre-Christmas party where, for the first time in her life, Melody experiences baking cookies and decorating a Christmas tree. Melody cries at so much love and harmony, mourning for what she never had. Matthew just holds her.

Chapter 6- A few days later, Melody is brought over for the first night of the annual Trevor Christmas movie marathon starting with everybody's favorite classic It's a Wonderful Life which, naturally, makes Melody cry. The movie's message about angels touches something deep inside her which, as she whispers to Matthew, she'll explain later.
Melody stays for dinner. Later, she and Matthew go into a room to talk. Matthew shares his family's story and Melody learns they are not so different as he grew up with an abusive stepfather and a mother who suffered from depression but was able to overcome her trials and emerge a strong woman and the best mother any kid could want.
Melody shares her story. She would never have stayed active in the church if it hadn't been for Sister Thompson, a kind, grandmotherly widow in her primary presidency who lived down the street and made sure Melody came to church and offered a safe refuge when home became too much. She was like an angel. Matthew really wants to meet this remarkable woman and Melody's family too but Melody refuses fearing once Matthew sees the state of her childhood home he'll run away screaming.

Chapter 7- Melody relents and takes Matthew to meet Sister Thompson first. They enjoy a pleasant visit while the reception and atmosphere at the Morgan residence is not so pleasant. The house reeks of cigarette smoke and stale beer. The front room is a mess. Melody's two older brothers, currently living at home, do nothing but drink, smoke and play video games all day while her mother uses all her social security to support them. One brother yells at them to keep it down and is very rude while Thelma Morgan greets Matthew shyly. She has little to say while Matthew tells her about his ambitions in school and the respect he has for her daughter. Melody is anxious to leave. Outside, Matthew pulls her into his arms, completely understanding and accepting of Melody's toxic, dysfunctional background.
After dropping Melody off, Matthew returns home where he has his own emotional breakdown. Janna finds him sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth reverting to his childhood coping method. With tears streaming down his face, Matthew confesses to his mother his post-traumatic issues have not completely healed as being in the Morgan home brought it all back. Yet, he still loves Melody, more than ever; now convinced they were meant to be together.
Later that night, Matthew knocks on Melody's door to talk. He tells her about what happened and the conversation he had with his mother. Melody finds herself falling in love with this man who really does understand the hard-knock life.

Chapter 8- Melody sobs in Matthew's arms as their heart-to-heart continues until after two in the morning. Melody returns Matthew's "I love you's," and lets him out with new hope this relationship just might work.
Several days later, Matthew arrives to pick Melody up from work for another shopping date when a rough looking, very pregnant, seventeen-year-old young woman with multiple piercings and wild hair approaches them in the parking lot. She is Melody's little sister, Lydia, who only comes home once in a awhile and has a police record for shoplifting. Melody introduces Matthew as her very good friend while Lydia begs her sister for money; playing the single mother victim card. Knowing she'll just use the money for drugs and she'll never see a dime of it back, Melody refuses, advising her sister to go back to church, back to school, or get a job and take responsibility for her actions. Lydia storms away, leaving a trail of swear words behind.
Matthew has to pull over so Melody can sob in his arms. She really does love her sister but how can you help someone who won't help themselves? Melody remembers something Sister Thompson once told her, about warrior angels like the stories from the Book of Mormon. The idea that she had her very own patriarchal, male, angel warrior standing guard at her bed at night, defending her from all the evil that surrounded her daily brought great comfort to young Melody over the years; an idea she continues to cling to today. She's beginning to realize Matthew has become that kind of angel for her. But is she ready to accept it?

Chapter 9- Melody helps Matthew put up Christmas lights around the Trevor home. He guides her up to the roof, holds her tight, promising he won't let her fall so she can enjoy the view in the fading light. Melody cries, again, at this incredible turn her life has taken now that she has a man, her very own angel, to share a passionate kiss.
With Melody's birthday approaching, Matthew enlists the help of his two younger sisters, Caitlin and Mallory to help him pick out the right surprises. They put together a tasteful gift basket with inexpensive, feminine, items Melody will like. Later they help him smuggle a Christmas tree with all the trimmings into her apartment and set it up.
Melody can't believe it when Matthew shows up at her work to wish her a happy birthday with balloons and the gift basket. She bawls when Matthew escorts her home where a lighted tree awaits her with a gift underneath, just for her. It's a beautiful, tasteful, black coat. Melody is overcome with emotion and love for this man who really is too good to be true.

Chapter 10- One date later, Matthew assures Melody that she's not responsible for the choices her family members made. They enjoy dinner at a nice restaurant and go for a walk where Matthew pulls out a ring and asks for Melody's hand. Overwhelmed by emotion, Melody has to plead for time to process this, decide if she's ready to start a family and not mess it up. She resolves to fast and pray the next day.
Feeling inspired, she calls Janna who is happy to meet so they can talk. She's aware of Matthew's intentions and they have her blessing. She shares with Melody her own tragic story of being an unwed mother who impulsively married a man who turned out to be a controlling, abusive psychopath. He's dead now, committed suicide in prison, so she and Colin, Matthew's biological father, can live happily ever after. She tells Melody not to make the same mistakes she did. When God sends you a worthy priesthood holder on a white horse, jump in the saddle and ride away with him! If a man texts you back, is committed to you, MARRY HIM! Melody realizes just how blessed she is to have been chosen by Matthew. (Oh, how low the dating bar has fallen for men in the 21st century).

Chapter 11- Because smart phones haven't been invented yet, Matthew calls Melody on her apartment landline, looking for his mother. Melody laughs. Janna's here and they've been having a long talk. About him.
Melody is invited back to the house for another Christmas movie, Scrooge (the 1970 musical version, good choice!) which makes her cry. Matthew drives her back to her place and comes in so they can have another long talk. Melody confesses some of her worst childhood memories. Her jerk of a father was so negative about Christmas, he once slapped Melody just for saying the word, "Christmas." That's why it was never celebrated. Her mother should never have married him and borne his children but she did. Melody cries herself to sleep in Matthew's arms and he carries her to bed and leaves but Melody can't fall back asleep; she stays up reading Dickens until four and is so moved by the story she cries herself to sleep.
Good thing Melody has the day off work so she can sleep late. When Matthew arrives to pick her up for their date, Melody is a changed woman. She tells Matthew she's ready to accept his proposal. Filled with the spirit of Christmas, Melody tells him she'd also like to do something special for her mother this year.
They go shopping and conceive the brilliant idea of inviting Melody's mother to the house for Christmas dinner and the Trevor Family Christmas tradition of attending The Nutcracker ballet. (As performed by the exquisite Ballet West company. If you've never seen one of their productions, GO!) Such a special outing deserves a new outfit. They find the perfect dress and shoes to give Mrs. Morgan and Melody finds a dress for herself as well.
Matthew takes Melody to meet some special friends of the Trevor family, Jack and Hilary Hayden. Melody is impressed by their example of overcoming challenges and trials. She agrees with Matthew that if people like his parents and this amazing couple who have managed to conceive a second child, (yes, Hilary's pregnant) despite Jack being in a wheelchair all the while maintaining a perfect marriage and orderly household can overcome adversity, they can too!
The next day is Christmas Eve. Melody is packing her overnight bag in preparation for her invite to spend the holiday at the Trevor house when she realizes she never got Matthew anything. She runs to the Hallmark store and buys that ornament he once teased her about. Very appropriate.

Chapter 12- Christmas is like an incredible fairy tale for Melody. She and Matthew visit Sister Thompson to wish her a merry Christmas. Next stop is Thelma's to present Melody's gift to her mother whose eyes fill with tears as she humbly accepts the gracious invitation to both events.
Back at the Trevor home, everyone laughs, eats, hangs stockings, reads the Bible story together and exchanges wonderful gifts the next morning. Matthew loves his. Melody has to keep pinching herself to make sure she's still awake, engaged to the world's most perfect man who adores her

Chapter 13- At one o'clock, Matthew and Melody arrive to pick up Mrs. Morgan for her dinner date. She is wearing her new dress and has fixed herself up, nicer than Melody can ever recall and for once she doesn't reek of cigarette smoke.
Janna takes Thelma Morgan under her wing, chatting comfortably with her about her own life, her challenging first and second marriages and the ups and downs of child-rearing all through dinner. Thelma just sits and listens, hardly able to get a word in edgewise, Janna is being such a chatterbox, even Matthew is confused.
Janna's prattling did the trick. Thelma takes her daughter aside and gives her a small gift. It's a white, handmade, temple handkerchief a church leader from her youth gave her instructing Thelma to carry it on her wedding day. Since Thelma married a man who was never temple worthy with no interest in becoming active, she wants to break the cycle by passing this item on to her only child who stayed strong, unlike her other children who fell away. She is very proud of the decisions Melody made and happy to see her daughter moving on to a better place in life.
They drop Thelma off at her house with hugs at the door and return to the Trevor home, ready to spend a pleasant evening with Matthew's family. Until the phone rings.
Thanks to her boyfriend's beating her in the front room, before one of her brothers threw him out, Lydia is in premature labor. Matthew and Melody rush to the hospital. Melody is especially upset. Once again, her psycho family has managed to ruin her life. Now Matthew will never want to marry her.

Chapter 14- On top of that, it breaks her heart to see her teenage sister give birth to a tiny, drug addicted, fetal-alcohol syndrome suffering, baby girl with every intention of keeping it because it is now socially acceptable, even expected, for teen moms to do so. Lydia seriously believed by getting herself pregnant, her boyfriend would propose marriage and she'd have her own fairy-tale ending like Meldoy managed to snag for herself. Melody tells her it was because she made good choices and kept high standards that she was able to meet someone who shared those standards.
With all the health issues, this little one isn't going to survive long. Matthew asks Lydia for permission to give her baby a name and a blessing. Tears stream down Lydia's face as she listens to the beautiful words spoken by this good man over her new daughter. The baby dies later that evening. Arrangements are made for Lydia to be transferred to a drug rehabilitation unit so she can turn her life around.
A few days later, Matthew and Melody pick up Thelma for their Nutcracker outing in Salt Lake, stopping to visit Lydia in the hospital where Matthew gives her a priesthood blessing of comfort and guidance.
As Melody experiences the ballet for the first time in her life, she knows it's time to set a date with Matthew on when they should get married. April would be a good month. They kiss outside the (Capitol) theater and Melody compares it to the kiss of an angel.

Epilogue 
One year later, Matthew arrives home from the courthouse where he's still preparing himself for the bar, to surprise his wife with flowers. They leave their newlywed apartment to visit Thelma who has made some major changes to her home and life: kicking out her ungrateful sons who fled to Mexico to find refuge with the oldest sister, throwing away her cigarettes and alcohol declaring such things will never be allowed under her roof again, getting a part-time job and using the money to redecorate the shabby old home, creating a welcoming environment for visitors (and future grandchildren). She is happier than Melody has ever seen her. Lydia moved back in with her mother and turned her life around too, enrolling in classes, getting a job and setting goals.
Matthew's parents arrive to pick them all up for dinner out. Cuddling with Melody in the backseat of the suburban, Melody whispers to Matthew she's expecting his baby. It is the perfect Christmas present. Merry Christmas! And God bless us every one. (especially if we're married!)

THE END
  

Legally and Lawfully Yours

Book Series: Stand Alone Title 

Publishing Date: 2015

Author: Anita Stansfield

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Category: LDS Contemporaray Romance
Point of View: Third Person Limited: Shannon and Phillip
Chapter Count: 17
Page Count: 249

Chapter 1- New York City, Manhattan: Meet Shannon Turney, a successful attorney at law with curly blonde hair who wears pencil skirts, pantyhose and pumps. Despite living in the city she drives an SUV. Shannon has one messed up brother who is currently doing time while his ex-wife is hardly fit to be a mother to their two kids who live upstate. Shannon visits her brother in jail after she gets off work. He is worried about his children's welfare. Shannon promises to do everything in her power to keep her niece and nephew safe. They are Shannon's next stop where she finds their mom passed out drunk leaving nine-year-old Neal and seven-year-old Jeanie to fend for themselves. Shannon is appalled such negligence could exist in the world. She must rescue these poor children!

Chapter 2- Next day, Shannon makes some major life changes: she quits her job, withdraws all her money, talks to the children's social worker, has the necessary legal papers drawn up, packs up her apartment and moves out. Shannon was once engaged to be married but he cheated on her. She has no religious affiliation but believes in the Bible, prayer and angels. With a police escort, Shannon drives to her sister-in-law's house to claim the children. Mom is escorted off to jail in handcuffs. Shannon tells her new charges she will be their legal guardian from now on. Neal and Jeanie have no problem with this. They pile into the SUV. Shannon drives all day and all night going wherever the open road takes her without a care in the world. All she knows is that she MUST get these kids away.

Chapter 3- Day Three: Shannon checks into a respectable motel in a quiet town. They find the local city park where the kids play while Shannon starts talking to an attractive man with five dogs he's currently pet-sitting. She finds herself telling him everything before he introduces himself as Philip Meadows and informs Shannon she's ended up in (fictional) Sugar City, New York (not Idaho?) which is supposedly located near Lake Erie. Shannon and Philip talk and talk and talk until they've completed a circumference of the park with the five dogs in tow on their leashes. Both are amazed at the developing chemistry between them, as if they've known each other all their lives.

Chapter 4- Still the same day, Shannon learns Phillip is actually the local veterinarian here. The kids are invited to come see his office and visit the animals. Shannon has a "good feeling" about this man and this town. She admits she likes the idea of setting up house here. Phillip promises to help Shannon find a place to live. He'd also like to take her to dinner. 

Chapter 5- Phillip lives with his mother who is delighted her son has finally taken an interest in girls and getting serious about matrimony. Marj wants Phillip to bring Shannon and her kids over right away so she can meet them all.

Next morning, Phillip greets Shannon and the kids at his office. Since they're both mid-singles, it just seems natural for them to be together now; every minute of the day. Shannon sends the kids off to play so she can make Phillip cry after he hears the tragic story of the children's upbringing and how they came to be under Auntie Shannon's care. Phillip tells her she is one extraordinary woman. Shannon blushes modestly. Phillip is not gay, he's always been shy and introverted (and sexually repressed) around all females. He's never had any close friends and apparently has no social life. Now that Shannon and her kids are here, being with them has become his number one priority. Now he feels compelled to help them, and they only met yesterday.

Chapter 6- Phillip jokes if they were back in high school, he would've called Shannon up for a date on a Friday night, taken her to prom, asked her to go steady, ect. Shannon grimaces. She was a high school dropout, living on the streets until she decided to go back to school and make something of herself. Now her knight in shining armor is here to rescue her, take care of her and the kids. He starts by taking them all back to his veterinary office where, once again, the kids are sent off to play because, as Phillip explains, they'll only find what he plans to show their aunt boring. He selects a key from the wall and takes Shannon downstairs where he unlocks the door to his red room empty room that he declares would be perfect as an office for the new local attorney this town has always needed. Shannon likes the idea.

Next, Phillip takes them to meet his mother who welcomes them with open arms. The children immediately accept her as a surrogate grandma who whisks them off to the kitchen to make cookies so Phillip and Shannon can have more alone time. Phillip takes Shannon in his arms. Shannon sobs because Phillip really is too good to be true.

Chapter 7- Somebody pops in a Disney movie and Shannon falls asleep with her head on Phillip's shoulder. He nudges her awake and they have another long conversation that takes many pages. As if we haven't guessed by now, Phillip really, really likes her. Shannon demurs, she's just not that into him...yet. Phillip agrees to be patient until Shannon has made up her mind what she wants to do and how they should define their relationship. Since it's summer, the kids can roam free and no definite plans need to be made. For now, Phillip invites her to bring the kids to church services tomorrow. Unfortunately, they've never attended church in their lives and have no appropriate Sunday clothes to wear (Really?). Shannon promises to come next week. They seem to have time-warped to the 1960's because apparently, here in Sugar City, no businesses are open on Sundays (not even Wal-Mart?) and the local diner where they've been taking all their meals will be closed so they might as well come over for Sunday dinner with Phillip and his mom.

The entire next day, like most of this book, is unbelievably saccharine. After an amazing Sunday feast and more feel-good conversation, Phillip escorts them back to the motel where Shannon allows a chaste hug before closing the door firmly behind him, locking it tight because there's always the possibility sister-in-law might've sent a hired assassin after them.

Chapter 8- Next morning, Shannon gets two phone calls. One is from Phillip asking for her number (about time!), the second is from her brother, checking in, relieved to know his sister has the kids, just as they agreed, and will keep them safe until he's finished paying his debt to society.

Phillip tags along with Shannon as she goes apartment hunting. Sugar City really is like something from the Twilight Zone. Because the city planners won't allow anything but single family homes, there are literally no apartment complexes or structures of any kind, only private "mother-in-law" units for rent. Shannon is shown a spacious, airy, FURNISHED, 3 bed/2 bath basement apartment that opens onto a back porch and private yard. The home owners, their landlords, live upstairs. The rent is more than affordable. Another miracle for Shannon and the kids.

But the kids aren't alright. Left with Marj all morning, they became overly anxious with the abandonment issues Shannon forgot to warn them about. The kids are both screaming and Phillip's mom is understandably upset at the dramatic display of bipolarism as Neal uses words that would make a sailor blush. Phillip intervenes. Neal calms down, dissolving into tears. Everyone joins in and the incident is smoothed over and resolved until Shannon can arrange some psychological counseling for everyone.

Chapter 9- Shannon moves her family into their new home and goes online to Google "Family therapists for our unique situation" but rural towns like this one have very limited resources. Shannon kneels in prayer and we get the first hint that Phillip and Marj are members of the LDS faith as Shannon mimics the prayers she's already heard over the dinner table in the Meadows' home which always end in the name of Jesus Christ.

Feeling inspired, she makes one last phone call where the female Dr. Bell sounds like the perfect match for all their needs (um, insurance?). In celebration she invites Marj and Phillip over for dinner. Afterwards they (say it with me) send the kids off to play so the adults can have another long, boring "first discussion" about God and religion. Shannon will set up her own private law practice in Phillip's convenient office which he's promised to let her use, rent free, until she's made permanent arrangements and can pay him back. Is this guy for real?

Chapter 10- Yes he is. Phillip loans Shannon his credit card so she can make all the necessary online purchases from an office supply store (he's really that naive) to furnish her new office. He shows up one day at the apartment to present them with a kitten along with all the pet supplies (so maybe he does secretly hate them after all).

Shannon takes the kids into the nearby (unnamed) city to meet the esteemed Dr. Bell in person for their first appointment. Phillip comes over to the apartment later that evening to hang out (again). He offers a family prayer and helps tuck the kids in bed because there's nothing creepy at all about this entire situation.

Chapter 11- With the front room to themselves, Shannon and Phillip can finally make out have another long, boring conversation; this time concerning Shannon's fragile self-esteem issues. Phillip keeps telling her she's beautiful but Shannon has trouble accepting the sincerity of his declarations. This non-sexual relationship is going nowhere fast.

Weeks pass. Shannon gets a few legal cases to keep her occupied and help supplement her dwindling budget. They attend church every Sunday with Phillip and Marj. Shannon and Phillip spend every waking moment together (This town has no singles bars? Phillip has no LDS Planet profile? He's never heard of Tinder?). Since Marj is only too happy to babysit for free, Phillip FINALLY gets around to taking Shannon out on an official "date" where he actually picks her up at her door and they go somewhere together. He takes her to dinner, in the city, at a nice restaurant. Phillip just won't shut up telling her how beautiful she is. He's the perfect date and this is all starting to feel very contrived.

Chapter 12- Walking Shannon to her door, Phillip is allowed to kiss her on the forehead (like a good brother in the gospel). Another couple weeks pass. The children make friends at church and seem really happy and content with their new life. 

One evening, everyone is at the apartment, dinner cleared away, kids outside and Phillip takes the opportunity to give Shannon her first kiss. Both marvel at how incredibly RIGHT this feels, as if they've stepped back into the 1950's when teenagers dated and went steady (and either practiced abstinence or married young). Since they are both in their thirties, Shannon agrees it's time to take this relationship to the next level. She will be Phillip's girlfriend, *headdesk* while the word "cohabitation" is never mentioned because this is an LDS published novel.

As more time passes, Shannon, Phillip and the kids continue to do lots of wholesome, uplifting, family activities together. Shannon enrolls the kids in school, talking to their teachers about their "unique" dysfunctional family situation and their tendency to freak out whenever they remember Shannon is not their real mother and could abandon them at any time. 

Halloween is celebrated with all the adults dressing up and taking the kids trick-or-treating.

Chapter 13- Marj has big plans to host Thanksgiving for all her married children and their families which now includes Shannon and the kids. It promises to be a major event. Phillip takes them back to the apartment and leaves them at the door, kissing Shannon before he departs. Shannon enters and finds the kids staring in shock at the shattered sliding glass door. Shannon screams at them to run upstairs and tell their landlords. They obey. Shannon turns around just as a man with a gun appears out of the shadows to confront her. He's here for the children.

Phillip enters the scene and, with one judo kick, takes out the man. The police arrive and take the man into custody. They all end up back at Marj's. Shannon calls Phillip her hero.

Next day, the police return to discuss the filed break-in report. Phillip holds Shannon's hand while she recounts the experience again. Later, Shannon worries maybe Phillip will abandon her thanks to her shady family connections with the mob. Phillip reassures her by proposing marriage. Shannon sobs in his arms (with happiness).

Chapter 14- Turns out the perpetrator traced them through the kids' school records transfer. He did this illegally, of course. The law is on Shannon's side and she will continue to have custody of the children. That night she has a nightmare about the children witnessing Phillip's violent judo kick against their intruder, screaming and crying at such explicit behavior. The shock and horror on their innocent little faces makes Shannon sit up in bed with a gasp. 

Saying nothing about her dream, she and the kids spend the day with Phillip who uses the kids to officially propose marriage to Shannon who accepts. They impulsively decide, since neither of them have any friends worth mentioning and Shannon has no immediate family, why not get hitched over the Thanksgiving break when the entire Meadows clan will be in town? Shannon loves the idea.

Thanksgiving Day, everyone crowds into the house. Shannon enjoys meeting all her new family and the kids bond immediately with their new cousins. Everything is perfect until Shannon overhears Phillip having a heated discussion with one of his married sisters who is concerned over just how fast they're moving; rushing into marriage like this. Phillip tells her to chill out and Shannon feels a rush of warm, tender feelings towards her fiancé.

Chapter 15- The wedding takes place without a hitch; no one crashes the party and the kids are all right. Phillip and Shannon spend four days in the city on their honeymoon (Not Niagara Falls?) and don't do anything significant to commemorate this joyous occasion. Even the consummation of their marriage gets no mention. They check into their hotel and return to Sugar City four days later so Phillip can move his new, instant family, into his mother's house (on which he did co-sign).  

Everyone anticipates the most extravagant, outrageous Christmas ever because the holidays don't mean a thing without family around. 

By spring, Shannon is pregnant. Both are thrilled over the idea of becoming first-time parents. The children are apprehensive at first but soon embrace the idea of a growing family. Shannon gives birth to a girl they name Shannon Grace.

Christmas comes round again and life is perfect. The following year is without incident until one day, in late autumn, a court summons arrives in the mail for Shannon from sister-in-law. Shannon runs to the bathroom to be sick then sits down and cries until the baby wakes from her nap. When Phillip returns from work and sees Shannon curled up in the fetal position, staring at nothing he knows something is very wrong. When he learns the news, the world goes dark. This is a disaster of epic proportions. Worse than a terrorist attack in Paris. Biological mom has the right to split up their family. What can they do?

Chapter 16- They tell Marj who tells them to have faith. They sit the kids down and tell them about the possibility they might have to return to their real mother. They pray together as a family and Shannon promises the kids she'll take them to see Dr. Bell who can advise them on coping strategies. Phillip and his little family all fly to NYC where the hearing will take place. Phillip rents a car so they can all enjoy some sightseeing during their trip (Has the author never visited Manhattan? You don't need a car!).

With brave fronts, Shannon and Phillip enter the courtroom and the battle over legal custody of the children begins.

Chapter 17- The female judge calls the two children in, with the adults present and with the understanding that if any of them interrupts they will be held in contempt. It doesn't take much questioning for both children to make it clear who they prefer to live with. Their mom starts screaming her indignation. Judge Judy tells her to shut up and orders her back to jail. It's a miracle from God! The day is won. Shannon has been granted permanent custody of the children, she's pregnant again and everyone can now live happily ever after.

THE END