This was a story about a couple who met at the bus stop on a rainy day. Ellen Gerber was a forty-year-old widower who merely offered a young man her umbrella to get out of the rain. That young man was twenty-six-year-old Adrian Templeton. He was involved in an accident and had a nasty scar. This led him to be very self-conscious and insecure with many things. He let his hair grow long to help cover it up. He was taken aback when Ellen showed him kindness and made no mention of his scar.

From a distance they were falling in love, hoping to one day again run into each other on the bus. As it turned out, Adrian was having problems with his boss and lost his job. He found another where he met his Stacey. He later found out Ellen worked for the same company. She and a co-worker Christian, who had been diligently trying to date her, were sent to help out another sister company when a terrible earthquake hit leaving them all in a pile of rubble. Adrian didn't know it was her until he saw her picture. He was excited to see her again.

Once back, Adrian and Ellen began talking but Christian wanted revenge. He started digging up dirt on Adrian that he was involved in a manslaughter charge and he gave it to Stacey. Stacey, being his boss and Ellen's best friend, decided to do some follow up investigating. She was friends with the investigator, and they ended up dating. This further upset Christian as he had once dated Stacey but she left him.

Meanwhile Adrian's father came into town and told him he might not really be his dad. Adrian found out his mother was with his ex-boss and that he might be his father. So a paternity test was given. Adrian also found out he was to get an inheritance when he turned twenty-eight or got married. He found out his mother was plotting to get the money from him. Upset over all the commotion, he decided to leave home. He moved into an apartment with James, a born again Christian. They became friends and got into some good discussions about different things.

Ellen was conflicted about her budding relationship with Adrian. She was a good Christian woman and upheld her beliefs strongly. Adrian respected her wishes. She was also a lot older than he was, couldn't have more kids and didn't want to hurt him. One day she wrote her thoughts down. Adrian found her notes and decided to make things easy and end the relationship. He quit his job, gave a month's rent and left town without talking to anyone.

He then got a job working with horses in another town. One day, a horse got spooked and bucked, kicking him several times. Severely injured, he was taken to the hospital. His boss went through his belongings as he misunderstood the nurse and thought he was dead. He found the newspaper clip on Ellen and got in touch with her.

Ellen had been looking for Adrian. She went up to see him and spent time at his work with him. He decided he wanted to marry her and they went back to meet his mother. Once there his mom wasn't very nice and the entire story of the inheritance came out, embarrassing him greatly. Ellen took it in stride. Adrian told Ellen how he got the scar and the alleged manslaughter charges but that he was cleared of any wrongdoing. She again took everything in stride.

The day finally came for the wedding and James and Adrian had a huge talk. Adrian decided to become a Christian himself and then they had the ceremony. In the middle, his mom interrupted, apologizing for her actions and gave her blessings. Adrian forgave her and they finished the ceremony.

This story had various little twists and turns. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. A nice wholesome Contemporary Romance story.

Laurie Johns
August 2004