A Christian Easter Read online

  A Christian Easter

  - Book II Love for the Holidays Anthology -

  PAT SIMMONS

  Copyright © 2014 Pat Simmons

  This is a work of fiction. References to real events, organizations, and places are used in a fictional context. Any resemblances to actual people, living or dead are entirely coincidental. To read more books by this author, please visit www.patsimmons.net.

  All rights reserved.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  About the Author

  Other Christian Titles by Pat Simmons

  Other Christian titles include:

  The Guilty series

  Book I: Guilty of Love

  Book II: Not Guilty of Love

  Book III: Still Guilty

  Book IV: The Acquittal

  The Jamieson Legacy

  Book I: Guilty by Association

  Book II: The Guilt Trip

  Book III: Free from Guilt

  Book IV: The Confession

  The Carmen Sisters

  Book I: No Easy Catch

  Book II: In Defense of Love

  Book III: Driven to Be Loved

  Book IV: Redeeming Heart

  Love at the Crossroads

  Book I: Stopping Traffic

  Book II: A Baby for Christmas

  Book III: The Keepsake

  Book IV: What God Has For Me

  Making Love Work Anthology

  Book I: Love at Work

  Book II: Words of Love

  Book III: A Mother’s Love

  Praises for Pat Simmons

  I love Christian Romance novels and Pat Simmons knows how to unlock the imagination and take it on a quick path of hope, love and Jesus. You will always find some sort of message in her books just like I found in Stopping Traffic. I smiled! …Tamara Gatling, reader

  Pat Simmons does it again and again!

  Another great story from Pat Simmons! What I love about her books is they are all biblically based! She shows how we, as humans, are in need of healing, deliverance, forgiveness, etc. I really like her approach to the dating scene! It is refreshing from some other Christian novels that allow their characters to engage in sexual activity without being married! Thank you, Pat, for giving us some good, pure, interesting Christian materials to read!! I appreciate you! You and a handful of other Christian Authors are rare commodities in these last days! … LeeLee, reader

  Simmons has laid it all out on the line in this installment of the Jamieson legacy. This is pure Christian romance with a touch of heritage. There were moments in the middle that I wanted them to get it together but it turned out better than expected. The personal touch of genealogy is wonderful and will make you think about your own family heritage. Wanted to see more Grandma BB but loved the new character development. Simmons is on top of her genre... Reviewed by M. Bruner “Deltareviewer” on Free from Guilt

  Free from Guilt may be listed as Christian fiction, but it's so much more. You read about family history, romance and transformation. This is a great read and leaves the reader wanting more, with that being said I'm looking forward to the next Guilty installment… Reviewed by Melody Vernor-Bartel for Reader's Paradise

  CHAPTER ONE

  Following his wife’s instruction to buy one item, Christian Andersen made a quick dash inside Walgreens with his two sidekicks for a gallon of milk. In and out, he thought, until he got behind at least five or six others in the checkout line.

  “Daddy, I want one of those,” three-year-old Jada, the youngest of “Daddy’s little girls,” begged while patting his leg. From his vantage point, standing at six-feet tall, he smiled down at his cute squint. Although all three of his girls were adopted, Christian spoiled them unapologetically as if he was in the birth room when they came into the world.

  Jada pointed to dozens of bunny baskets, which came in various colors and sizes; they saluted customers like a Soul Train line leading up to the register. The store’s strategic placement of the seasonal items couldn’t be missed.

  Christian grimaced at society’s belittling of the sacred Easter celebration. He had seen the decoys in various spots upon entering the store, but he had steered Jada and her cousin in another direction. Actually, he had tried diverting their attention from it since Valentine’s Day when the Easter bunnies and all their trappings began to appear on the top shelves of stores.

  The innocence in Jada’s big, brown eyes always tugged his heartstrings, but he had to stand his ground on this poor substitution for a Christian day of celebration. “No, sweetheart. Those are toy baskets. Easter is about Jesus and His gifts to us.” Christian exhaled as the line moved at a faster pace.

  “I like toys,” Darla spoke up. A year older than Jada, the two cousins shared the same brown complexion and big, brown eyes. Christian braced himself for the double trouble.

  That’s what he got for caving in to their whining to come inside with him. But the truth was he always liked to show off his lovely daughters. Christian should have left them in the SUV with Joy and the other two children. Wasn’t it enough that he let them each have a treat? “You both have something,” he reminded Jada, who was clinging onto a bag of pretzels. Darla’s little hands were busy trying to open the box of animal crackers.

  When Jada began whimpering, Christian shifted the milk and lifted her with one arm. Usually, when he rested her head of soft curls on his broad shoulders, it pacified her. Not this time. Jada’s whining turned into sobbing.

  He had to be firm about this. “You have a treat. Jesus doesn’t want us to replace Him with a bunny.”

  Jada wailed even louder as if she had no home training, and his attempts at quieting her were pointless. Heads began to turn and stern faces looked toward him, thrusting Christian into the what-did-you-do-to-that-child spotlight. Darla seemed to be unfazed by her cousin’s theatrics.

  Humph, a grunt came from behind him. “It’s a shame you deny that sweet little girl her childhood. I’ll buy a basket if you don’t have enough money,” a woman offered sarcastically.

  Are you kidding me? Christian froze; even Jada quieted and looked over his shoulder. He and his two brothers headed Andersen Investors & Consultants, LLC, one of five thriving subsidiaries under the umbrella of Andersen & Associates, an investment company started by Kaplan Andersen in the 1950s. Christian did all right in taking care of his wife with a ready-made family of four rugrats.

  Pivoting on one foot, Christian prepared to respond to the critic. The devil was taunting him in the form of a cute, sweet-smelling petite chick with a whole lot of attitude. Crossing her arms, she lifted a penciled brow and smirked. As he rubbed soothing circles on Jada’s back, Christian measured his words carefully. “Keeping my daughters, all three of them, and my son away from sexual predators, bullies, and other dangerous jerks is my definition of preserving their innocence, not a basket full of candy, bunnies and toys.”

  A few nods behind the woman confirmed that they had an audience. Unfortunately, Christian hadn’t won ov
er the intended person as the woman twisted her mouth at his statement.

  “You religious folks…make me sick. Think you’re better than us,” she snapped. Then added, “There’s nothing threatening about a chocolate bunny.” After a sneer, she dismissed him with the roll of her eyes.

  The timing couldn’t be better as the line suddenly moved faster and closer to the counter. Christian was not about to get in a heated debate over a silly rabbit. When he got to the clerk, she rang up his items, including the bag of pretzels he had to pry from Jada’s hand.

  “Sir, would you like to donate a dollar or more to the Easter Seals?” the cashier, who couldn’t be more than seventeen, asked as if she was programmed with a push of a button.

  “Sure, I’ll do twenty-five.” He swiped his debit card through the machine.

  The girl’s eyes widened in surprise, and gave him a brilliant smile that showed dimples like Jada. “Thank you, sir!”

  “Not a problem.” Taking his purchase, he stepped aside and pulled the girls’ treats from the bag. As the trio was exiting the store, the clerk repeated the same request to the rude woman who had been standing behind him.

  Her answer was a flat out, “No.”

  ***

  Joy Knight sat in the front seat of her SUV, waiting for her husband, daughter and niece to return. Her nephew, Shane, was asleep inside his car seat while his big sister chatted away.

  “Aunt Joy, Leah’s church is having an Easter fashion show. Can I be in it?” Bethani asked from her spot next to Shane.

  Twisting her lips, Joy pondered her response. She wasn’t opposed to fashion shows. Joy loved them. As a matter-of-fact, she and her late-sister, Regina, had been in a few as children, but a church actually having an official Easter fashion show seemed like an oxymoron. She didn’t know how to answer that.

  Before meeting her husband and surrendering to Christ, Joy had assumed that Easter was the designated day for an unofficial fashion show, at least for folks like her who didn’t attend church regularly.

  She had been a single mother of four when Christian had rescued her twice—the first time in a checkout line. Jada was hers from a previous, unmarried relationship, and after her only sister died of breast cancer and the children’s father practically abandoned them, Joy gained custody of her nieces, Bethani and Darla, and their brother, Shane.

  The second time, she and Bethani were standing in another line to receive a free turkey dinner. Christian just so happened to be one of the sponsors at a food pantry. He and Bethani seemed to have a spiritual kinship in the Lord and that piqued Joy’s interest. When he learned that Joy had three additional mouths to feed, he stepped up to the plate. To any other man, the children would have been a turnoff.

  When Joy finally repented and consented to the baptism in Jesus’ name, God filled Joy with His Holy Ghost. Now, as one big happy family, Joy and Christian vowed to be a godly example to everyone, especially their children.

  “Well…” She gnawed on her lips, determined to make the right decision. If Joy said no, would she come off as too strict and plant the seed of rebellion? She sighed. Maybe she was over thinking this simple request.

  Angling her body, Joy met her niece’s pleading eyes. “You know a fashion show doesn’t have anything to do with Easter, don’t you?” Surely this was a test of “Living in this world, but not of it.”

  Although Bethani was only ten, she was wiser beyond her years. Yet, it was normal for her to enjoy activities that any other girl her age would like.

  “Yeah, but it’s a fashion show and I’ve never been in one before,” she pleaded, twisting one long braid of her two ponytails.

  That wasn’t entirely true. Regina had put Bethani in three when she was a toddler and she had been so cute. Of course, Bethani didn’t remember a thing and pictures of those memorable times had been lost or misplaced.

  When Christian returned to the vehicle with the girls, he saved Joy from answering. She turned her attention to Jada’s flushed face, which revealed that she had been crying. Despite her daughter’s tortured expression, she held onto her bag of pretzels for dear life.

  “What’s the matter?” Joy asked as Christian helped them into their booster seats.

  “Chocolates and toy baskets,” he griped as he made sure their straps were secure.

  Frowning, she waited for him to get behind the wheel. As if on cue, they gave each other a look that said, “We need to talk.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “That woman had a lot of nerve.” Joy was steaming as she paced the plush carpet in their master suite. He had waited to relay his conversation with the stranger until after the children had taken their baths and were in bed.

  Now they were discussing how to keep Christ in Easter for their children, especially after his wife mentioned her displeasure of a fashion show on Easter.

  Christian was amused. If the love of his life didn’t look so cute when she was angry, he would have saved her the tirade. But whenever Joy was passionate about something like her family—their family—it was definitely an allure.

  As he fingered the hair on his mustache, he admired her God-given beauty inside and definitely out. Besides her eye-stopping long legs, her second best asset was her shoulder-length jet-black hair against her rich-brown complexion. He had a thing for women with jet-black hair. She and her daughter had the same brown eyes that could melt his resolve on anything—well almost.

  Standing from the lounger near their balcony window, Christian walked toward her and then gently tugged her fists off her shapely hips. “Hey, I handled it,” he said softly to calm her down. Trapping his arms around her, he silenced Joy with a kiss as he indulged in the scent of vanilla on her skin.

  He reluctantly released her, so they could deal with the heart of the issue. “Okay, we agree that the cute little bunnies are a deception to mask the Lamb that was slain for our sins…and we can’t yield to the commercial hype, but I’m confused on your hesitation with Bethani being in a fashion show.”

  Joy sighed and then gnawed on her bottom lip. “Don’t get me wrong, my sister and I were in fashion shows as children. I don’t know a girl or woman who doesn’t like to dress up, but since I’ve been walking with God, the more I read my Bible, the more convictions I have about certain things.” She paused. “Remember when we first met and you showed us your interpretation of Christmas?”

  “Yep. Christ should be the center of His birthday bash.” He nodded and dragged her back to the lounger, then guided her to perch on his lap. Christian really wanted to understand her passionate opposition to this.

  “I know the birth of any child is adorable and the birth of our Savior was glorious, but His death is just as important. How can we make Easter more than about clothes, chocolate bunnies and dyed eggs?” Joy shrugged, got up before he could trap her, then disappeared into their walk-in closet.

  While she disrobed behind closed doors, she continued, “As a practicing Christian, I want to be aware of Satan’s subtle trickeries. I can’t go with the majority anymore. Before I came to Christ, my philosophy was ‘Live and let live.’ When the Holy Ghost opened my eyes, I realized that only what we do for Christ will last.”

  When she stepped in attire that teased him, Christian got up and methodically dimmed the lights on the wall sconces in their master bedroom. He tried to keep the conversation going to prove he was listening, but his attention was fading fast. Christian had other plans, but Joy hadn’t seemed to notice.

  “Evidently, one of her classmates always comments on Bethani’s clothes and invited her to model her Easter best in a fashion show at her church next Sunday. I think it sends the wrong message. What do you think?” She padded into the adjoining master bathroom to brush her hair, not waiting for his answer.

  “Hmm-mmm.” Climbing in bed, Christian pulled back the covers. When she reappeared and leaned against the doorframe, he patted the empty space beside him.

  A temptress without trying, Joy was making it difficult for him to
focus. But he couldn’t dismiss the frown on her face that signaled she was really struggling to do the right thing. Closing his eyes, he gathered strength.

  Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I shall direct your path, God spoke.

  Christian meditated on Proverbs 3:6 before opening his eyes. “I agree that the Resurrection shouldn’t be the sideshow and the Bible does say bring up a child as you should have them go and when he is old, he shall not depart from it.”

  Joy curled up her lips and moved toward their bed, but sat on the foot of it. She didn’t look at him when she said, “Proverbs 22:6, the golden text of the Andersen household.”

  Maybe it was a good thing that they were physically separated because if he touched her one more time, this conversation would be put on hold. And it appeared the Lord was drawing him into the conversation. “God is letting me know nothing is too insignificant not to bring to Him.”

  “Then we need to pray fast because she has to tell Leah yes or no by tomorrow evening.”

  “Now?” He gritted his teeth.

  She nodded.

  Outnumbered two-to-one, Christian closed his eyes, cleared his head and began to pray as Joy joined in. “Lord, we know the magnitude of Calvary. Help us to instill that in our children’s minds and hearts...”

  Soon, God’s spirit took over their tongues as they mingled intercessory prayers on their behalf.

  When they finished, Joy sniffed and looked at him. “Did God give you a word?”