Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee (38 page)

Amy turned to her son with a smile. “He and Aunt Gwen have to be up early in the morning. She has a doctor’s appointment.”

“Is she sick?”

“No, honey. They’re going to find out if their new baby is a girl or a boy.”

Timmy’s nose wrinkled. “Hope it’s a boy. Girls are so dumb.”

“I used to think that too, son,” Steve said, tousling his son’s hair. “But I was wrong.” He looked at Amy with such tenderness that it melted her heart. “On every conceivable level I was wrong.” Looking back at his son, he added, “Your mommy was my lady-in-waiting.”

“Lady-in-waiting?” Timmy shrugged. “What does that mean?

“It means she was worth waiting for. One day you’ll understand, trust me.”

Timmy didn’t look convinced.

“And your daddy is my knight in shining armor,” Amy said, her heart rising to her throat. “Always has been.”

“What about me?” Timmy asked. “Can I be a knight too?”

“I don’t know. What do you think, Steve?” Amy looked her husband’s way with a grin. “Is Timmy old enough to accept the challenge?”

“I am! I am!” the youngster cried out.

“Are you ready to give your allegiance to the King?” Steve asked. Timmy’s eyes widened as he nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“And are you ready to join with the other knights in service for the betterment of the kingdom?”

Timmy’s emphatic nod let them know he was. “I want to be in the play too.”

“Someday, son,” Amy said. “We’ll talk about that later.”

“And now, the most important question of all…” Steve leaned in close and whispered, “Are you willing to listen to Lady Guinevere when she tells you it’s time to turn out the lights and go to bed?”

“I guess.” Timmy groaned.

“Well, then…” Steve knelt beside him. “The time has come at last.” He put his hands on his son’s shoulders and spoke in a kingly voice. “I hereby knight you Sir Timothy Charles Garrison. From this point forth, you will carry out your Father’s orders, only going into battle as He leads. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Timmy’s eyes grew wide.

“You will grow up and make a difference in your world.”

“Just like your father,” Amy threw in.

“And you will share the story of Camelot wherever you go.”

“The story of a King who led others with a kind and compassionate heart,” Amy added. “And who loved unconditionally.”

Steve looked her way, his eyes reflecting his joy.

“I’m a knight!” Timmy jumped up and down. “Finally!” He did a funny little dance around the room then stopped and put his hands on his hips. “Tell me the story of Camelot again,” the youngster begged. “I need to memorize it, so I can tell it like Grandpa does. He’s the best!”

“First, let’s get you into bed, young man,” Amy said.
“Then
you can have your story.”

“If I hafta…”

Amy followed behind him as he headed into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Then he settled into his twin bed, the sheet twisted around his ankles. She knelt beside him.

“Now, Mom,” he implored, “tell the story.”

Amy nodded and drew a deep breath. “Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…”

“How far?”

“Not as far as you might think,” Amy said as she pulled up the covers and tucked her son in for the night. “It was in a land of knights and castles, kings and queens.”

“The land of Camelot!” Timmy sat up in his bed, a childish giggle erupting.

“Yes, Camelot,” Steve said, entering the room. “A land where would-be kings shared a round table with ordinary men. Where knights in shining armor would give their lives for a noble cause.”

“Why don’t you take over from here?” Amy said. She rubbed her expanded belly. “This little girl is tossing and turning, making it hard for me to stay down here on my knees.”

“Of course.” Her husband drew near their son’s bed and helped her stand. Amy settled into a spot near the door, watching as Steve eased his way down to sit on the side of the bed. He smiled in Timmy’s direction. “Are you sure you want to hear that same story, son? Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

“No way!” A smile lit the youngster’s face. “It’s the best story ever.”

“Okay, then.” Steve started at the very beginning. “Once there was a king named Arthur. He lived in a kingdom shrouded with mystery, one that even the best of storytellers could not do justice. He lived in the kingdom of Camelot.”

“Camelot,” Timmy whispered. “Like our town.”

“Yes, Camelot.” Steve wove the tale from beginning to end, his voice carrying just the right amount of magical wonder to keep Timmy’s eyes wide. When he reached the end of the story—changing it slightly so that Arthur and Guinevere lived happily ever after—Timmy yawned.

“I like your version better than Grandpa’s.”

“Me too,” Amy said, drawing close. She joined her husband on the edge of the bed, taking his hand. “I’ve always been a sucker for a happily-ever-after story.”

“Me too,” Steve said then kissed her on the cheek.

“Does the story
have
to have kissing in it?” Timmy yanked the covers up over his head and groaned.

Amy pulled the covers off and kissed her son on the forehead. “Yes, it has to have kissing. Wouldn’t be much of a story without it.”

“I guess.” He yawned once more.

Amy rose and walked over to the light switch. She flipped it, and the room fell into shadowy darkness. The tiny night-light at the foot of Timmy’s bed illuminated her husband’s face. Steve’s voice rose out of the mist, strong and secure as always, pulling her in as it had done all those years ago when he’d first stepped onto the stage as King Arthur.

“Don’t let it be forgot…”

“That once there was a spot…” Timmy chimed in.

“For one brief shining moment…”

Steve rose and took Amy by the hand. Together they whispered the words to end the beautiful tale….

“That was known as Camelot.”

Award-winning author J
ANICE
H
ANNA
, who also writes under the name Janice Thompson, has published more than sixty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, non-fiction books, devotionals, children’s books, and more. Her passion? Romantic comedies! Janice currently serves as vice president of the Christian Authors Network (
christianauthorsnetwork.com
) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the Year by the American Christian Fiction Writers organization. She is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing.

Janice lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at
www.janicehannathompson.com
or
www.freelancewritingcourses.com
.

Want a peek into local American life—past and present? The
Love Finds You
^™
series published by Summerside Press features real towns and combines travel, romance, and faith in one irresistible package!

The novels in the series—uniquely titled after American towns with romantic or intriguing names—inspire romance and fun. Each fictional story draws on the compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Summerside Press plans to publish at least one novel set in each of the fifty states. Be sure to catch them all!

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