Hope Springs Read Online Free Page B

and her redesigned blog was about to go live. Suddenly she needed professional photos for marketing materials and the blog banner, and she didn’t want to use the boring studio picture she’d taken more than three years ago.
    Becca had known Patti for years. They’d served together on a local not-for-profit board in St. Louis, and she’d heard Patti had a reputation for capturing beautiful, natural shots. These photos were even better than she’d hoped.
    â€œOkay,” Becca said, “so if I send you my choices right after Christmas—not trying to rush you or anything—” She knew Patti would have to enhance the lighting and anything else her photographer’s eye deemed necessary.
    â€œDon’t be silly. You didn’t brave the wind and cold trying to look cute out there for nothing. I know you need these ASAP, so soon as you know which ones you want, I’m on it.”
    â€œReally?” Becca was smiling. “You’re a gem, Patti. Okay—”
    Her phone beeped, and she looked at it. “Hey, Patti, that’s my agent. I’ll call you . . . Okay.” She clicked to take the call. “Nick, hi, I’m about to take off. Hope you’ve got good news.”
    â€œWould a two-book contract fall under ‘good news’?” His voice brimmed with excitement. “They loved our proposal.”
    â€œGet out of here!” She was whispering, but the enthusiasm was unmistakable. “Two-book contract? Did they say they loved it, or are you saying they loved it?”
    â€œTalked to the main editor who handles Worth & Purpose’s speakers, and those were her words—‘I love it.’ ”
    â€œGet out of here!”
    â€œAll electronics need to be powered off at this time . . .”
    Becca bowed her head behind the seat. “We’ve got so much to talk about! I have to tell you about the planning meeting today with Worth & Purpose too.”
    â€œCall me when you can, even if it’s Christmas. I never take off.”
    â€œYou’re the one who made me a workaholic. You’re a bad influence.” She saw the flight attendant coming toward her. “Okay, gotta go.”
    Becca powered off her phone and iPad, tucked them into her bag, and sank into her seat—then came forward suddenly again. She’d forgotten to call Todd. Ugh .
    Things were already a tad strained between them. News of his dad’s death had rocked him, and he’d wanted the family to drive to Hope Springs the next day. Any other time Becca would’ve done all she could to be there for him. She knew how close he’d been to his father. But the timing couldn’t have been worse.
    Patti had squeezed Becca into her schedule on short notice, and she needed those pictures right away. And the meeting in Nashville was easily the most exciting event of her life—spending the morning with some of the heaviest hitters in women’s ministry, talking through her ideas for the conference. The speaking team had already had their planning meeting a month ago, but one of the speakers had to bow out due to pregnancy complications requiring bed rest. They’d contacted Becca three weeks ago and invited her to come on board. Given the upcoming holidays, she had the option of meeting in person or, if time didn’t permit, by conference call. She’d jumped at the chance to meet at their offices and had been giddy ever since—until her father-in-law’s death . . . and the funeral planned for the same day as her meeting.
    Todd had thought it an easy matter. “Can’t you contact Worth & Purpose to see if they’ll reschedule?” he asked. But Becca chafed. She was the new kid on the block. How would it look if she asked the leadership team to switch gears at the last minute? Plus—and she knew it deep down—she didn’t want to reschedule. So she asked if the funeral could be set for the