A Tender Touch by Lenora Worth

Author:Lenora Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2004-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Honey, you don’t have to have a reason to visit me. And you sure don’t have to call ahead. You know I’m going to always be here.”

Freddie smiled over at her father, understanding that his words were sincere, and realizing, too, that he wouldn’t be able to always be here. Her mother was gone. Gary was gone. Her father was the only close relative she had left. And apparently, since Clay hadn’t called her since their last jogging session three days ago, she’d managed to drive her new best friend away, too. Which only proved she just couldn’t live on promises anymore, even from her sweet father. Yet, she couldn’t say that to him, either.

“We just wanted to spend the day with you, Daddy,” she said as he handed her a glass of his special hand-squeezed lemonade.

“Well, I’m glad. But you sounded a bit frantic when you called.”

Wade Noble was still a very distinguished-looking man, even if he was in his seventies. He lived a simple life, here in the brick ranch house he’s shared with her mother for over thirty-five years. Freddie appreciated the way he’d saved little things of her mother’s, to pass on to her and Ryan one day. He hadn’t changed the house that much, but he’d learned to live and move on without his wife. Never one to be domestic before, he now cooked and cleaned and stayed busy volunteering at his church, and he worked part-time at various odd jobs around the small community that had been his home all of his life. As much as he missed her mother, Wade Noble had a kind of peace about him that spoke of a deep, abiding faith that would take him into eternity.

Freddie could take a lesson from that.

“Oh, I’m okay,” she said now in answer to his concerned statement. “Just busy at work. I didn’t mean to worry you. It’s just…good to see you, Dad,” she said as she hugged him close. They stood on the back patio, watching Ryan as he played in a brand-new kiddy pool his grandfather had bought especially for him.

“So how are things on Sunset Island?” her father asked, his expression telling her he wanted to get to the bottom of this sudden visit.

“Work is good. I have a great office manager, a cute college student named Kate. She’s planning on becoming a veterinarian herself one day. And I have a crusty helper who continues to amaze me. Lee has such a way with animals.” She thought back over her talk with Lee Fletcher earlier in the week, worry causing her to frown.

“But?”

“But what?” she asked, seeing the questions in her father’s hazel eyes.

“But…something is bothering you. I could always tell when you needed to have a heart-to-heart talk.”

Freddie laughed. “How so?”

“You’d come into the den and just sit there. Much in the way you’re just standing here right now. I mean, you had to drive a couple of hours, but here you are. Is this Lee fellow giving you trouble?”

Freddie laughed, then sank down onto a cushioned deck chair.

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