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СКАЧАТЬ with Dr. Brandt’s sentiments echoed through his car twice more. What was he raising—parrots?

      Joshua kept his mouth clamped shut and concentrated on getting them all to church without disaster. Once there, he chose a parking spot as far from the door as possible in hopes that the wind would take care of the hat problem for him. Unfortunately, the day was totally calm and the hats remained firmly attached to his daughters’ heads.

      The girls raced across the lot as fast as they could manage, calling to their friends as they went.

      “I don’t think it’s fitting to take those, er, creations, into the house of God,” he muttered, staring up at the gigantic cross that sat atop the church.

      “Why on earth not? They worked so hard making them. You should be proud.” Nicole frowned at him fiercely. “Every single time those girls go out of their way to make something special like this, you should be bursting your buttons with pride.”

      “Their mother would kill me.”

      Dr. Brandt’s eyes grew cool, frosty. The tension between them grew until he could feel the ice crackling.

      “I doubt that very much. I think she’d be very proud. But even if it were true, their mother isn’t here. They are. And so are you. They need to know you love them, no matter what.”

      What had caused such anger? he wondered. It came from nowhere. One minute she was smiling like a movie star, the next growling at him as fiercely protective as a mother cub.

      “I do love them.” Why was he defending himself?

      “Have you told them that lately?” She glared.

      Joshua stalked away, a spurt of anger burning inside. What right had she to judge? She didn’t have three kids dependent on her. She was free as a bird.

      “You can run, but you can’t hide.” The whisper came from behind his left shoulder.

      “I’m not running. I just thought I might sneak into the back pew before anybody figured out the three in those ridiculous getups are my daughters.”

      Her hand on his arm prevented him from entering the sanctuary. He looked from it to her eyes, and flinched at the challenge he saw there.

      “‘Man looks on the outward appearance,’” she whispered. “‘But God looks on the heart.’ And I can tell you right now, Dr. Darling, that those three girls with their funny hats have the purest little hearts in this entire building.”

      She stepped past him, walked through the doorway and disappeared inside.

      Joshua grimaced at her invisible back. Dr. Nicole Brandt would make a good surgeon. She cut right to the quick without messing about.

      The problem was, her condemnation burned all the way to his soul.

      Chapter Four

      “It’s not that I want to leave you alone, dear.” Winifred inclined her head, her eyes darting around the foyer packed full with those departing after the service. “It’s just that Furly and I always go out for lunch on Sunday. The poor thing has no family, you know. She depends on me and I don’t want to cancel our date. Silly of me to have forgotten it, really.”

      “I’ll be fine.” The words slipped out automatically, though Nicole couldn’t help wondering why the woman hadn’t said something about this lunch date earlier.

      “No, you—I know! Why don’t you share lunch with Joshua and the girls? I’m sure they’d enjoy seeing a new face at the table.” She looked delighted with her idea.

      Nicole wanted to run.

      “Miss Blessing, there’s no need for that. Really. I’ll just make a sandwich. I’ve got a new text I’d like to study anyway.” No way was she going back inside that house with the grouch.

      “You can’t!” The words burst out, loud enough to attract attention.

      “I beg your pardon?” Nicole stared, amazed that this calm, competent woman seemed so frazzled.

      “I—I haven’t any bread. Or buns. I forgot to bring some home yesterday. And there’s no meat. Sandwiches need meat.” She turned, caught sight of her nephew and waved him over. “Joshua, yoo-hoo.”

      He came willingly enough, until he spotted Nicole.

      “Is something wrong, Aunt Win?”

      “No.” Nicole pressed her heels into the floor and refused to look at him.

      “Yes,” Winifred said at the exact same moment. “I have a lunch date with Furly and there’s not a thing in the house for Nicole to eat.”

      “Nothing to eat? At your house?” Skepticism marred Dr. Darling’s good looks.

      “Not a thing, dear. I’ve been a little preoccupied lately and I guess…” She let the sentence trail away.

      “You’re feeling all right, aren’t you?” He raised a hand, as if to check her temperature. “Nothing bothering you?”

      Winifred backed up.

      “I’m fine, dear.” She smiled at him. “I just wanted to ask you if Nicole could share that casserole I sent over for you and the girls. It’s not nice for her to have to eat all alone.”

      Nicole held her breath, suppressing the laugh that bubbled up as distaste flooded Dr. Darling’s expressive eyes.

      “But—why doesn’t she go with you and Furly?”

      “Oh, I couldn’t do that, dear.” Winifred rushed into speech, words tumbling out at a furious pace. “Furly has something rather important that she wants to confide in me, you see. I don’t think she’d open up with someone else around.”

      Oh, to be wanted. Nicole felt like a tennis ball being shunted back and forth, from one court to the other.

      “Couldn’t she tell you at work tomorrow? You two are alone there for hours.”

      “No, Joshua.” The older woman’s voice firmed. “I think it’s best if Nicole eats with you. There’s plenty of that casserole for one more to share.” Winifred leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek. “Thank you, dear.” Then she sailed away, majestically nodding to the left and right at various friends.

      Joshua glared at her back, his mouth twisting into a grim line.

      “Listen, I’ll look after myself. There’s no need for me to impose on you, other than accepting a ride back.” Nicole almost laughed at the chagrin that washed over his face.

      “Of course you’ll ride back with us, and eat lunch, too.” His glance roved the parking lot in front of the church. “We’ll leave as soon as I find the girls.” He turned away to locate his children.

      Nicole reached out and stopped him with a hand on his arm. He looked down at her hand, then up into her face.

      “Problem?”

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