Waking Up In Charleston. Sherryl Woods

      Dear Friends,

      Was there a doubt in your mind after reading Flirting with Disaster that Amanda and Caleb would have their own story? Certainly not in mine.

      Amanda O’Leary is exactly the sort of woman about whom I love to write. She’s suffered through tremendous adversity and triumphed. On every page of Flirting with Disaster, she gets stronger. By the time she’s ready for her own story, she’s a more than even match for the wonderfully kind and protective Caleb Webb.

      But naturally Amanda’s struggles aren’t over. All of her old issues with Big Max, her stubborn, difficult father, are about to surface in an unexpected way, and Caleb is right in the thick of it. When Amanda wakes up to discover the secrets he’s been keeping, will she ever be able to forgive him? And will she be able to make peace with her father before it’s too late? Just turn the page to find out.

      In the meantime, welcome back to South Carolina’s Low Country, one of my favorite places in the world. I’ve loved sharing it with you.

      All best,

      Sherryl

      Contents

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Epilogue

      1

      Sunday services were over and most of the congregation had gone home for the traditional midday dinner. Caleb, however, was still in the church office trying to feel his way through an unexpected and troubling counseling session. He studied the couple sitting across from him and wondered if he dared tell them what he really thought, that they were way too young even to be thinking about marriage. Mary Louise Carter was just a few months out of high school. In fact, with her stylishly short, sun-streaked hair, she looked even younger. Danny Marshall, every bit the preppy overachiever, was barely into his sophomore year at Clemson. In Caleb’s opinion, they were years away from knowing what they really wanted out of life.

      Unfortunately, he could predict exactly how they’d reply. They’d remind him that they’d known each other since grade school, been sweethearts since Danny’s freshman year in high school. They both thought their marriage was inevitable. So what if having a baby on the way had kicked up the timetable by several years?

      “It’s not the end of the world,” Mary Louise said, her adoring gaze on Danny.

      Though she rarely looked away from her fiancé, she evidently didn’t see the barely concealed panic that Caleb spotted. He’d counseled enough couples during his ten years as a minister to recognize the signs of a man being pushed toward a commitment he wasn’t ready to make.

      “Danny, is this wedding really what you want?” Caleb asked directly. Aware that Mary Louise’s eyes had widened with dismay, he quickly added, “I know you love Mary Louise and I think it’s wonderful that you want to take responsibility for the baby and do the right thing by Mary Louise, but there are other options.”

      Danny squirmed uncomfortably and avoided Mary Louise’s hurt expression. “What kind of options?”

      “You could acknowledge paternity and pay child support. Or you both could agree to give the baby up for adoption to a family more prepared to give a child the life he or she deserves,” Caleb suggested, careful to keep his tone neutral.

      Even so, Mary Louise leapt up. “No way,” she said, quivering with outrage. She scowled at Caleb, then whirled on Danny. “This is our baby. How could you even think about giving away our baby, Danny Marshall?”

      Danny gave her a sullen look. “I didn’t say I’d do it. I asked Reverend Webb what the options are. Jeez, Mary Louise, settle down.”

      “I’m keeping the baby and that’s that,” she said fiercely. “If you don’t want to marry me, then don’t. I don’t want you if you can’t love both of us. And you can keep your stupid money, too!”

      “I never said I didn’t want to marry you,” Danny said placatingly. “You know I love you, baby. It’s just…”

      “Just what?” she asked.

      “How are we going to make it?” Danny asked reasonably. “I can’t quit school. I worked too hard to get accepted and win a scholarship to throw it all away now. I don’t want to wind up in some dead-end job for the rest of my life, like my dad.”

      “You won’t have to. I can stay with my folks for now and keep working. It’s only minimum wage, but I’ll get another job. I can handle two,” Mary Louise promised staunchly. “We can put all that money into savings so we’ll have it when I have to go on maternity leave. I won’t have to take off long. Once the baby comes, I’ll move to be with you. We can figure out a schedule so you can take classes when I’m home. Then you can watch the baby while I work.”

      It was evident she’d already given this a lot of thought. Caleb admired her earnest conviction that she could handle a pregnancy and two jobs and that Danny could keep up with his classes and take care of the baby. But Caleb was more realistic. He knew the toll that would eventually take on the marriage and on Mary Louise and Danny individually. He also knew she’d never listen to him if he tried to tell her any of that.

      However, he did know someone who might be able to get through to her in a way he couldn’t.

      “Okay, you two, I think that’s enough for today,” Caleb said. The pair needed a cooling-down period. “I’m sure this has caught both of you by surprise. You need to spend some time thinking about what you really want and what will be best for the baby. Danny, can you get home from college again next weekend, so we can talk some more?”

      “I guess,” Danny said, his reluctance plain, but the stoic lift of his chin told Caleb he would do it. He’d always been a good kid, one who took his responsibilities seriously. He’d worked hard to get a college scholarship, even harder to earn money to help with bills for meals and books.

      “Great, then we’ll talk again next week right after church,” Caleb told them. “In the meantime, Mary Louise, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

      She regarded him with evident suspicion, clearly not happy about the monkey wrench he’d thrown into her plans for a hasty wedding. “Who?”

      “Let me speak to her first and get back to you,” he said.

      “I don’t know why you’re so opposed to this wedding,” Mary Louise said to him plaintively. “You’ve known us forever. You know we’re in love.”

      “I do,” Caleb agreed. “But I want your marriage to have the best possible chance to succeed, and the way to accomplish that is to make sure you’ve given this serious consideration from every angle before you rush into something. I’ve seen too many young people who start out crazy about each other wind up bitter and divorced because they did the right thing and then