Marrying Kate by Kimberly Rae Jordan Read Free Book Online Page A

nerves taunt at the thought of being alone with Jared. Even after Jared had gone downstairs she still lingered until the last child was asleep.
    As she walked down the stairs Kate saw rain dripping down the large window and paused to watch it. The rain they had predicted had finally arrived. She shivered and ran her hands up and down her arms. The temperature must be dropping too.
    Kate finally ventured into the family room where she found Jared. He sat next to the fire, a bunch of papers in his lap. He looked up as she entered the room.
    "Come sit down." He motioned to the chair across from him. "The fire feels great now that it’s finally decided to rain."
    Not sure what to expect, Kate sat down in the chair and stared into the fireplace. Jared had turned his attention back to the papers.
    A million thoughts tumbled through her mind, not the least of which was her wedding night. Kate had made a decision, she just didn’t know how Jared was going to react.
    " Kate, would you mind explaining something to me?" Jared’s voice broke into her thoughts, drawing her attention from the flickering flames.
    She turned and met Jared’s piercing blue gaze. "What do you want to know?"
    "Exactly how have you and the kids been surviving these past six months? Marcus turned all the financial papers over to me today. You haven’t touched any of the money."
    "It wasn’t left to me. And your estate was left to the children as well."
    "But you could have accessed it for the care of the children. What have you done for money especially since you haven’t been working?"
    Kate looked back at the fire. "I used my savings and when that ran out and it looked like this was to be a more permanent home, I sold my condo in Seattle."
    Jared said nothing at first so Kate glanced at him. When their gazes met, he asked, "How much do you have left?"
    Kate remembered her promise to be honest with him so she was. "After buying my dress for today I probably have about twenty-five dollars in the bank. This house is not a cheap place to live. I’m just glad that Steve and Jen had insurance to pay off the mortgage so I didn’t have to worry about monthly payments on that."
    "I can’t believe you spent all your savings! What were you planning to do when it ran out?" Jared asked.
    "I had hoped to somehow be able to work from home." She lifted her chin. "I would have found some way to support the kids. They never would have gone hungry."
    "I know that," Jared said gently. "I just can’t believe what you’ve sacrificed for them."
    "No sacrifice would have been too great to keep the children with me. I would have done anything."
    "Including marrying me," Jared pointed out.
    "Yes, including marrying you. To lose their parents at such a young age is a tragedy. They deserve so much more and I think we can give them that. Together."
    "I agree with you. I think we made the right decision. I feel at peace about it."
    Kate fell silent and Jared turned his attention back to the papers. They sat together for a while longer before Kate finally stood. "I think I’m going to go up to my room."
    "Good night," Jared said, but didn’t stand to give her a kiss or even to hold her hands like he had a few nights ago.
    With a heavy, worried heart, Kate climbed the stairs. She had made her decision but what if Jared rejected it? Rejected her?
    In her room, Kate sat on the edge of her bed and opened her Bible. She had bookmarked the page and over the past few days had spent much time reading the verses and praying over them. When thoughts of the intimate side of their marriage worried her, Kate had prayed for wisdom and believed the Lord led her to the verses in I Corinthians 7. Struggling for peace about her decision, Kate read them again.
    Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.     The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his