Happy Wednesday !

I have a special treat for you today from a few characters in the Finding Home series. Since it's fall, I kept thinking about how the kids in these books would love going to a fall festival, so I decided to write a bonus chapter. Enjoy!

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Finding Home Bonus Chapter

© K. Leah

Leighton

"Mama, is it time to go yet?" Kensley asks for the hundredth time tonight.

“We’re almost ready," I tell her. 

"I just wanna get some candy," she whines, bouncing up and down in my bedroom doorway. "All of my friends are gonna be there, and Sally told me she was going to wait on me, and Micah promised to bring me a popcorn ball, and..."

"Kensley," I interrupt her ramble. "We will leave when it's time to go. And it's not time to go yet. Remember how we've talked about being patient?" 

She frowns but stops complaining. 

My youngest daughter is the most talkative of my three children. I thought there was no way she would ever out-talk her older sister, Kamryn, but I was wrong. This child is vocal from the moment she gets out of bed until her eyelids close at night. Even then it's not until she's been in bed for at least a half hour. Many nights I hear her chattering as I pass by the door, talking to herself, and the array of animals and babydolls spread around her. 

"What's she fussing about?" my husband asks as he ascends the stairs to greet the impatient child fairy standing before him. 

"I'm ready to go, Daddy," Kensley cheerily greets him. "Don't I look pretty?" She twirls around in front of Brexen, showcasing her fairy costume paired with a plastic star wand in one hand.

"You look like a beautiful princess," he bends to kiss her cheek, but she pulls back, and her face scrunches up with displeasure. 

"I'm not a princess, Daddy. I'm a fairy!"

Brexen looks at me with his eyebrows raised. I intervene since he has no idea of the difference. "Fairies are not the same as a princess. See the wings?" I extend my hand toward the sheer wings secured to her shoulders. 

"Ahh," Brexen says, understanding sinking in. 

"Fairy Kensley, it is time to leave and your chariot awaits in the garage," he says, scooping her into his arms. 

"Silly, Daddy, princesses ride in chariots, not fairies. We can fly ourselves."

She presses her little hands to Brexen's cheeks while she giggles at his antics. 

"Well, for tonight, you'll have to keep those wings under control and settle for a minivan to get you to the fall festival. The only thing left to do is summon your brother and sister," he says. 

She begins to yell, "Kamryn! Matthew! It's time to gooo!" and wriggles loose as he lets her down. He plugs a finger into his ear while the grimace on his face is evidence of the shrilling noise. The girl may be tiny, but her volume is not. 

I walk up to my husband and put my arms around his neck while giggling. "Do you think you'll be able to hear out of that ear again?" 

He shakes his head. "How is she so loud?"

I rise on my toes and place a quick kiss on his lips. "Those Davis genes are strong in that one." 

Pulling away quickly, I skip back to my bedroom. Brexen calls out, "Hey now!"

Kensley reminds me so much of his twin sister, Bristol. I can imagine she’s exactly like our daughter when she was that age. 

"If you want treats tonight, you have two minutes to get in the van," Brexen calls out. 

We hear the rustle from our son’s room as his footsteps rattle the floor and he bounds from his room, yelling, "Woo hoo!" 

He takes a running leap at the top of the stairway and jumps the first set of steps, hitting the landing with a thud and quick-stepping the remaining stairs. 

"Matthew, what have I told you about jumping the stairs?" Brexen's voice bellows out from the hallway. 

"Sorry, Dad!" he calls out.

I peer around the doorway, and Brexen shakes his head. "It's a wonder that floor hasn’t caved yet. There’s surely the beginnings of a crack in that plywood." 

Kamryn appears from her room wearing a hoodie and leggings. "You not dressing up tonight?" I ask.

"Mom, I'm not a little kid anymore," she says. 

I walk over to my oldest daughter and place my arm around her shoulder. "Yeah, I guess not. It's still crazy to me that I have a teenager."

Kam smiles and says, "We'd better go before Dad leaves us or Matthew terrorizes the van." 

As we all pile into the van, Brexen looks in the rearview mirror and asks, "Who's sharing their candy with me tonight?"

A harmonious wail from all the kids echoes through the van.

"You know I always get first dibs," he jokes.

"That's not fair, Daddy," Kensley whines. 

"I have to make sure it's all safe before you eat it," he adds. 

"Dad, we're getting candy from church. It's already safe," Matthew chimes in. 

The debate over who will share some candy with Brexen continues the entire drive to the church. It's the annual Fall Festival, and the whole community shows up for the festivities each year. It's a great outreach for our church and a fun family fellowship. 

When we pull into the parking lot, Kensley spots her cousins immediately. She squeals with delight as we all groan and shove hands over our ears. 

“Kensley stop screaming,” Matthew groans with his hands planted firmly on each side of his head. 

"Ryder and Sawyer are here!" she blurts out. 

Parking beside my sister, Bristol, our van is barely stopped before Kensley unbuckles herself and jumps out of her car seat. She's bouncing while waiting for the door to slide open. 

"Hey," Bristol says and gives an exaggerated wave, with her twin boys standing beside her. 

We all pile out of our van, and the little kids skip in front of us as we approach the festivities. A welcoming display of fall decor spreads across the parking lot with an array of hay bales, pumpkins, mums, and friendly scarecrows. As we enter the designated area, we see a variety of activities for all ages. Kids in costumes are running around everywhere and smiles cover everyone’s faces. 

"Kensley, Matthew, Ryder, Sawyer," Brexen's voice calls out over the crowd's roar. "Hold up!"

The little kids stop in their tracks while the adults catch up. Brexen walks over to them as they all anxiously wait for their instruction. "You know the drill. You stick with an adult at all times. If you don't see one of us," he points to me, Bristol, and himself, "then you've gone too far."

Their heads bob up and down. 

"Wait your turn in line. Don't cut in front of someone else."

They continue to nod.

"You can play a few games first, then we'll eat dinner as a family."

Brexen looks intently between all four sets of eyes while they eagerly await their release. 

"Go have fun," he beams, and they take off toward the fishing game in front of us. 

Bristol walks up to her brother, linking her arm through his. "It never ceases to amaze me how good you are with these kids." 

Brexen pats her hand and smiles. 

"You know they're not going to listen to a word I just said," he says. 

"I know," she giggles. 

"It's going to take all of us to keep track of them tonight," I add. 

"Where's Kamryn?" he asks. 

"She's with the youth working some of the booths in the back," I tell them. 

"Hey, y'all. Sorry I'm late," Gavin greets, walking up to hug Bristol and kiss her on the cheek. 

"We just got here," she says. 

"Where are the boys?" he asks and we all point to the booth in front of us. A half dozen little kids are reeling plastic fishing rods and squealing with excitement over the prize on the end of the line. 

"Looks like we'll get our pick of the candy tonight," Gavin says with a chuckle, nudging Brexen with his shoulder. 

"Already staked my claim in the van," Brexen proclaims proudly. 

Bristol and I just roll our eyes. 

The kids rotate to a few stations and already have bags stuffed with candy and prizes when we convince them it’s time to eat. 

We all go inside the fellowship hall for dinner and find Chase and Cait sitting at a table with a stroller parked beside them. 

"Uncle Chase," Matthew beams while running to greet one of his favorite people. 

"Hey, bud. You want to sit with us?" Chase offers. 

"Is Colten in there?" Kensley asks, pointing to the stroller. 

"He sure is, but he's sleeping right now," Cait tells her in a softer tone. 

Kensley tries to peer into the stroller, but she's not quite tall enough. I walk over and pick her up to see the sleeping baby.

"Aww, he's so cute," she coos. 

"He wasn't so cute about fifteen minutes ago. I didn't think he'd ever calm down," Cait groans. 

I remember those days well, and I don't miss them. 

"He's sleeping, so let's leave him alone right now," I remind Kensley, placing her back on her feet. "You sit with Chase and Cait, and I'll get you some soup."

You never know what fall weather will bring in Atlanta, but it's cooled off enough now there's a chill in the night air, and it's the perfect night for a warm bowl of soup. 

"The chili is delicious," Chase mumbles with a mouth full of cornbread. 

We fix our kid's food and take it back to the table where they are all jabbering about the fun they’ve had so far. Chase acts like he’s hanging on their every word, and I love the expressions he’s giving them. 

Kamryn walks in and greets Chase and Cait with a hug, and joins us for family dinner. It's one of the things I try to make sure we do at least a few times a week. While the adults could sit and chat forever, the kids only give us enough time to scarf down some food before they're ready to go at it again. 

After a few more games and two rounds of a cakewalk–in which Brexen won a pound cake and a pan of brownies–we wrangle our crowd together, and everyone says their goodbyes. I steal baby kisses from Colton, who's awake and much happier now that he's had a cat nap. We have to pry the twins away from Kensley, but it’s only when we remind them they will see each other at school tomorrow. I love how close the kids are.

Brexen reaches across the console and takes my hand in his when we're finally in the van on the way home. He glances over at me with the sweetest smile on his face. "I love our family. Tonight was so much fun."

"Me too. I'm so thankful we have this--us."

He pulls my hand up to kiss my knuckles and mouths, "I love you." 

“I love you too,” I whisper back. 

My heart swells with emotion for this man. Every day I thank God for giving me a family once again, and I will forever be grateful for the blessing of a husband, three beautiful children, and an extended family who love me unconditionally. I always want them to know how much they mean to me.

Not Friends

by Rachel John

*Kindle Unlimited*

New Release!

Friends come and go. I wish this one would go.

Sadie… I know Denver Talcott hates me as much as I hate him, but since we’re sharing custody of the same friend, I can’t get rid of him. Believe me, I’ve tried.

Worse, he’s now working at the same startup as me. My dream job cannot be his dream job, because my dream is to not see him on a daily basis.

Denver… You wouldn’t think a prickly introvert could also be a busybody, but it’s possible. I’ve met one. Sadie raises my blood pressure with her mere presence, and she can’t ever know that. She’d weaponize it. And then sell the recipe to other sadists.

Plus, I have another secret—this pesky attraction I feel towards her.

It’s got to be one of those inappropriate reactions to stress, like when you laugh while being reprimanded, or see your to-do list and decide to take a nap.

I’ll be fine. It’ll be fine. I just won't ever look at her. Except now we're desk mates at work...

The Finding Home Series

Books 1-3

by B. E. Baker

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Finding Faith: A woman who swore off marriage and children falls for a handsome widowed father.

Finding Cupid: An event planner who never plans weddings meets a handsome billionaire playboy determined to change her mind.

Finding Spring: A single mom meets Mr. Right at exactly the wrong time and in exactly the wrong place because he’s her boss and she needs this job.

Fall in love with these spunky heroines and their swoon-worthy leading men.

Hope for the Hero

by Mandi Blake

*Kindle Unlimited*

New Release!

She’s his opposite, and opposites don’t attract. So why is she impossible to resist?

Tessa Mitchell is finally getting a chance to work at her brother’s private security firm, and after one hundred other jobs that didn’t work out, this one needs to stick. Headquarters could use a makeover anyway. Oh, and she’s working for up-tight Adam. Ruffling his meticulous feathers should be fun.

Adam Roberts doesn’t need an assistant, especially not flighty Tessa. If she’d let him get a word in between her constant questions, he’d save her the trouble. She’s not meant to work in the security field.

Except, Tessa is intelligent underneath all that flirty chatter, and Adam can’t focus when she’s around. The smart thing to do would be to shut down the feelings and put some space between them. Instead, they’re sent out of town for work. Together.

When a snowstorm descends on their first co-assignment, will a change in the weather cause a change in their hearts?

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