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    From the Beginning
    From the Beginning
    From the Beginning
    Ebook119 pages1 hour

    From the Beginning

    By Mildred Colvin

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    About this ebook

    Tyler Baynes and Kim Norwood were best friends from childhood, but could they go beyond mere friendship to an everlasting love meant for marriage?

    After their first and only kiss as teenagers, Tyler left for college. Kim never forgot the kiss, even though she married an exciting man who put having fun ahead of his family.

    A few years later, widowed with a young son, Kim moves back to Amarillo, Texas, and is determined to make it on her own. If only she can buy the sandwich shop from her employers, she’ll have it made. Or so she thinks.

    Tyler also returning to their hometown, begins a campaign to win Kim’s heart.

    Can best friends fall in love and marry? Tyler says yes. Kim says no.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMildred Colvin
    Release dateDec 19, 2019
    ISBN9781370380244
    From the Beginning
    Author

    Mildred Colvin

    Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

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    • 5/5
      This was a great book. I enjoyed it from the chapter oneto the end chapter. What treat to read a story that has Christian values kromahde and family dynamics all rolled up together. Keep up the good work. Thankyou see Christian values , romance and

    Book preview

    From the Beginning - Mildred Colvin

    From the Beginning

    Mildred Colvin

    Contemporary Christian Romance

    From the Beginning

    Copyright ©2019 by Mildred Colvin

    All Rights Reserved

    Cover photo copyright © Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com |

    Smashwords Edition

    Scripture portions are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events is entirely coincidental.

    No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

    DEDICATION

    To my readers as I hope you will enjoy this light-hearted romance. My gift to you!

    Also to the Lord God who gives all things to His children.

    Chapter 1

    Amarillo, Texas

    Kim Norwood stood in the back room of Sandwiches and More with her head lowered while her boss informed her that the job she loved was about to end.

    Yes, we’ll be listing the shop for sale, but that doesn’t mean you’ll lose your jobs. Ted Jones had just dropped the bombshell to Kim and her co-worker, Tessa Stevens, that he and his wife, Melba, wanted to retire and move closer to their children in Michigan. We’re hoping the new owners will keep you on. We expect to stay another month or so after it sells. You’ll have plenty of time to make a decision whether to stay or find another job.

    They stood in the kitchen of Sandwiches and More, having come to work a half hour early at the owners’ request. Kim shared a look with Tessa. From the dejected drooping of her friend’s shoulders, she also expected to soon be out of work.

    Only Kim was losing more than a job. She’d dreamed of owning a place like this ever since she started working here almost a year ago. As they left to start their day, Tessa leaned close and whispered, It never hurts to ask.

    Kim considered Tessa’s comment as she pushed through the swinging doors into the dining room. With her heart crowding her throat, she turned to her bosses and blurted out her first thought. I’d love to buy your shop, but I don’t know if I can afford it.

    A smile touched Ted’s face. You think you’d like to own this place? Be responsible for repairs and upkeep? Stick it out through profit and loss? Sometimes hire the wrong employees? He held up a hand. I’m not talking about you and Tessa. We’re thankful to have both of you. But we’ve had some … we’ll not go there. And we’ve been shorthanded a time or two.

    Kim glanced toward Melba. The older woman watched with a half-smile on her face. She nodded as her eyes met Kim’s. Encouragement, or only agreement, with her husband?

    Oh, I know there will be all of those things to contend with, and probably even more you haven’t mentioned. Kim brushed his warnings aside. Was that what he was trying to do? Warn her off? She couldn’t let him. Working here fulfilled her, and how much more would it if it were her own?

    Ted, Melba. She looked from one to the other. I love this place, and I’ve grown to care very much about you. I’ll miss you when you move away, but I understand why you want to be close to your children. I’m sure they want you with them too. I missed my family when I lived so far away. This is my home, and I hope to stay right here in Amarillo for the rest of my life. That’s one reason I’d like to buy your shop. It’s become home too. She looked around the small room where soups and chili, barbequed meat, and other extras were prepared. I have a savings.

    The older couple exchanged looks as if in silent communication then Ted turned to Kim. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you what we’ll need. We thought we’d list the business itself for $7, 000. That includes everything except the building. Equipment, food, whatever is within these walls. The building itself is worth a bit more.

    Kim waited, her heart pounding deep and hard. She had enough for the business, but she’d need a building to hold it.

    Ted looked into her eyes. Kim, the least we can take for the building is $45,000. It’s small, but in good repair. There’s an apartment in the back through that door. Maybe you could live there. He pointed toward a closed door Kim had always thought of as additional storage. The supplies stored in the two rooms and small kitchen could easily be moved into a corner of the larger room where they stood if she had shelves built. Her imagination worked as her heartrate picked up. This would be perfect for her and Quint until he was older, and by that time maybe she’d have enough …

    We get a good business. Honestly, both are worth a lot more than $51,500 because of the location. But for you, that’s what we’ll take. Ted’s comments drew her back.

    They must be giving her a good deal, but it still sounded like a fortune. Her husband’s life insurance had been small, and even doubled because of the accident, came to only forty thousand. She’d used some of that to move to Amarillo. Getting set up in the apartment had taken more, and she’d had to pull a little from savings each month to supplement her income. Even if she took every bit she had left, it wouldn’t be enough.

    She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. She could do it. She had to. I’d like to try. I have enough for a sizeable down payment, but I’d need to get a loan for the rest. Can you hold it for a few days while I do that?

    It would be wise to set aside some for operating expenses for the first few months. Melba spoke for the first time. I think we can wait a few weeks before listing it, don’t you, Ted?

    He nodded. Yes, that will be fine. Let’s say by the fifteenth of next month. That will give you exactly one month.

    A whole month. It shouldn’t take that long to talk to a banker and get a loan. Kim touched the meat cutter table for support as her legs lost strength. She’d always been the strong, independent one. A year and a half older than her sister, she’d been the leader, the one who succeeded, set the standard. Then she’d married Stanley, and everything had changed. He’d insisted she drop out of college, and she’d done as he said. Now he was gone, and she had to get back on her feet. This was her chance to regain the independence she’d lost when she’d fallen in love with a handsome face.

    As Kim realized her bosses were watching her, she gave a quick laugh. I think that will work great! I’m excited about this, and I won’t let you down. I’ll go see a banker as soon as I can. I’m sure I’ll get that loan. Thank you more than you can ever know.

    Melba patted her shoulder. I’d love to leave it in your hands, hon. Now we need to get ready for a busy day.

    Kim went out of the kitchen with a smile on her face. It would work out. She wouldn’t let her faith sag. Not anymore. Lord, let it be. Surely this must be Your will. Thank You for this opportunity to make a living for my son.

    How’d it go? Tessa kept her voice low, although Ted and Melba were obviously not listening as their voices, discussing something about the meat, sounded through the doorway behind them.

    They’re going to hold off listing for a whole month so I can get a loan. Kim wanted to shout out her news, but followed Tessa’s lead and remained quiet.

    That’s wonderful. The words were right, but the crease on Tessa’s forehead looked like worry. Do you think you can?

    Kim shrugged. Sure, why not? I have enough for a down payment. She didn’t want anyone to steal her confidence and moved out from behind the counter. If everything’s ready, I’ll unlock the door.

    Sure, we’re ready to go. Tessa straightened the sweet-onion dressing container, and Kim walked to the door.

    A man stood to one side. Probably waiting to get in. They didn’t usually have a line at the door, but occasionally someone came a little early and waited. She unlocked the door and turned the closed sign over to open then walked back to her station with Tessa behind the counter. She would be making sandwiches while Tessa kept up with the drinks, condiments, and extras such as chips and

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