Dream a Little Dream (20 page)

He looked closer. Her eyes were happy. “What's going on here? Did I miss something?”

She nodded. Getting control of her laughter, she wiped the dampness off her cheeks with her fingertips and took a deep breath. “I turned
them
down.”

He frowned. “Are you crazy?”

She shook her head, grinning. “Thinking clearly for the first time in my life.”

“But Molly, you dreamed of this. You deserve it. You'll be wonderful at it.”

She shook her head and her eyes mellowed softly, searching his face, like…like she'd missed him. Bob's heart kicked him in the ribs, which was becoming a habit around Molly, but it didn't hurt because he'd gone numb. He tossed his hat through the window of his truck
so both his hands were free and leveled his gaze on her. “What have you done, Molly?”

“I changed my mind,” she quipped.

“Molly—”

She stopped his words with her fingertips. “Listen, please. When I went to New York, I went to the top of the Empire State Building, just like in all those movies, you know
Sleepless in Seattle
and
An Affair to Remember.
Except, instead of going there to meet up with my one true love, I went there to prove to myself that I didn't need anyone in my life to make me happy. I didn't understand it at first, but I figured it out. You see, I was standing there gripping that chain-link fence, staring through it at the most beautiful sparkling skyline I've ever seen, and it hit me that I've been hiding behind my writing as if it was a chain-link fence. I don't want to do that anymore.”

“Molly.” He reached to cup her head with his hand, running it gently down the silken strands until his hand cupped her shoulder. “It's in your blood. You've just had a case of stage fright. I have faith in you. Have faith in yourself and make it happen. Call them. They'll take you back.”

“No, you don't get it. Haven't you known kids who dream when they grow up they're going to be lawyers or firefighters? Or cops, teachers—the list goes on, but when they're grown, they choose a different life path. Bob, I love you. I know I'm not the wife you've dreamed of. But look.” She swung toward her car and pulled out several books on how to make a house a home. “If you compromise just a little and don't mind
living with a writer…I can continue my freelancing and see where God leads me with it. I can do this, Bob. I can. Look I even bought a plant. I may kill it by tomorrow, but I've been talking to it all the way from Ranger.”

Bob closed his eyes. She looked so sincere. She'd said she loved him. She loved him. He sucked in a deep breath. His ribs protested, but he sucked it in anyway, battling the emotions overtaking him.

“Bob, do you love me?”

Her words cut through the war raging inside him and he met her questioning gaze. How could he let her do this?

“I have this feeling that you do.”

“It's true, Molly, I love you so much. That's why I can't let you do this.”

He watched the corners of her lips tilt upward into a slow, warm smile.

“I knew you loved me. I prayed you did.”

“But Molly, your dreams—”

“Are here, in Mule Hollow with you. Dreams don't make sense without someone to share them with. Oh Bob, I don't want you to marry someone else. I wrote all those wonderful things about you because you spoke to my heart from the moment we met. My heart recognized you before I did. Marry
me,
Bob, and let's dream a little dream of our own.”

That did it. With God on their side, Bob knew they could make this work. Renewed and humbled by God's love, he slowly took her in his arms, feeling complete as he drew her near. “How can I refuse an offer like that?” He touched his forehead against hers. “But only if you believe this—I will cherish you and support you in your
dream and do everything in my power to make you as happy as you've made me.” Lowering his lips to hers, he kissed her and felt the beat of her heart next to his. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world and one he would cherish for the rest of his life

“Y
ou may kiss the bride.”

Molly watched as Brady took Dottie in his arms and kissed his new wife. It brought tears to her eyes and she glanced up at Bob, who was sitting beside her. He was smiling at her. And her heart did a flip-flop. She was overwhelmed by the reality that she was about to plan her own wedding and begin her own love story. Standing at the top of the Empire State Building, when she'd bowed her head in prayer and prayed for clarity, she'd felt God's reassurance so distinctly that she'd stared out across the city at the millions of lights surrounding her and felt as if each represented a nod that she was at last going down the right path.

Earlier, when she'd stepped out of her car to find Bob standing there, she'd had no second thoughts. Her place was with Bob. Always and forever.

Dear Reader,

I am so happy you chose to spend some time in Mule Hollow with me and the gang! I had so much fun getting Bob and Molly together,
finally.
As I've been writing the Mule Hollow series it took me a while to realize which woman God had sent to town for my man Bob (he's been special from the beginning). But I must tell you, when Molly appeared in my first book
The Trouble with Lacy Brown,
I had no idea God was going to use her in such a big way. I thought she was going to come to town, write a few articles and move on. But God had a different plan, a larger plan, and I was so happy to watch it unfold between Bob and Molly as they learned not to limit God.

I love hearing from all of you. You can reach me through my Web site, www.debraclopton.com, or at P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, TX 77864. Or in care of Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

Until next time love, laugh and give God all the glory!

P.S. I hope you'll join me again in Mule Hollow in June 2007 for Sheri's love story,
Meeting Her Match
. Can you believe it? The lovebug is going to bite Sheri—whether she wants it to or not!

1. In
   Dream a Little Dream,
   Molly had set her life goals and had worked diligently toward bringing them to fruition. But then she became a Christian and had to make choices. Do you think that new Christians need to rethink their life goals?
   
2. Career versus family isn't just a woman's dilemma. Bob lived with the consequences of his father's preference for his career over his family relationships. As a parent, in what ways do you consider the imprint your choices are leaving on your children?
   
3. How do the bad choices of our parents influence and affect our lives today? Please discuss the positive or negative influence.
   
4. Bob almost missed the blessing of a life with Molly because he wouldn't trust that God's plan for him could mean stretching the boundaries of his dreams. Is this you? Why or why not?
   
5. Molly loved Bob, but almost chose her career over marriage. Do you think the compromise she proposed to Bob was the right choice? What if Bob hadn't had a change of heart or realized he needed to meet her in the middle? Do you think she should have made the sacrifice on her end if he wasn't willing to make sacrifices, too?
   
6. The issue mentioned above worked out for Molly and Bob for several reasons: love, willingness to compromise, trust in the Lord and a commitment to work out their future together. What do you think? How do these elements help us in our everyday life decisions?
   
7. Adela said that even the best marriages take hard work and commitment to succeed. What do you think? Do some marriages look too easy?
   
8. The Lord guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. (Proverbs 2:8) Do you believe God is leading you toward His ultimate plan for your life? How?
   
9. Is it Sam's pride or insecurity holding him back from asking Adela to marry him? Would you try to intervene in someone's life if you thought it was for the best?
   
10. Do you believe Adela is handling things appropriately? Do you think she's right about Sam needing to work his problem out himself? Or do you think she made a mistake? Why?