Finding Hope Read Online Free PDF

me.”
    Hope groaned inwardly. “I don’t mean to. I wasn’t flirting—honest.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t think you were,” he replied imperturbably.
    Somewhat relieved, Hope spoke to the face in her coffee cup. “Thank you, Dr. Hartman, but I don’t go out with men.”
    â€œDon’t you? Why not?”
    She forced herself to look up. “Because I plan never to marry.”
    His hazel eyes glinted with amusement. “Let me assure you, Hope, the only thing I am proposing is dinner and conversation.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I never go on dates.” But for the first time she found herself tempted to make an exception.
    â€œGoodbye, then,” he said abruptly. He snatched his empty cup off the table, crushing it in his hand as he walked away.
    Â 
    Hope couldn’t get Dr. Hartman out of her mind. She wished she hadn’t turned down his invitation. Her “no” had been automatic, a reflex.
    She would never marry. She had reasons, good ones, and they began and ended with a handsome college student named Trevor Daniels. But now for the first time in almost seven years, she felt a twinge of regret.
    Although she went to the hospital every day to visit Gramps, nearly a week passed before she saw Charles again. One morning she glimpsed him in the hall just as the door of her elevator closed. She frantically pressed the “open” button, but it was too late. She got off at the earliest opportunity and hurried back up to the sixth floor.
    She’d missed him, of course. She stood in the middle of the hall and stared at the ceiling, completely at a loss to understand why she suddenly felt so depressed.
    â€œIs something wrong?” a nurse asked.
    â€œI’m all right, thank you,” Hope replied without a particle of conviction.
    â€œI’ve seen you in here a lot,” the nurse commented. “You’re with Mr. Seltzer, aren’t you?” Hope nodded and the woman went on. “He’s doing better. Try not to worry.” She lightly touched Hope’s shoulder before continuing on her way.
    Hope’s dreary mood lifted as she watched the nurse go. There were a lot of nice people in the world, she reflected. It was silly of her to be chasing after a charm-school reject like Dr. Charles Hartman. She made up her mind to forget him.
    She had just pressed the button to summon another elevator when she saw him come out of a room not twenty feet away. The resolution of a moment ago was instantly forgotten. “Dr. Hartman!” she called eagerly.
    He stopped, but he didn’t turn. He didn’t look up from the clipboard he was writing on, but from the angle of his head she understood that he was listening, waiting.
    â€œCharlie?”
    She read his annoyance in the slight jerk of his head, the stiffening of his back. He turned, frowning. A second later he recognized her and his expression softened.
    â€œHello, Hope.” He didn’t smile, but his eyebrows lifted slightly and he looked almost friendly. He replaced his ballpoint pen in the chest pocket of his white coat and waited for her to speak.
    She was direct. She didn’t know any other way. “Charlie, I’ve thought about it and I want to go to dinner with you.”
    He regarded her thoughtfully. “Thanks,” he said quietly, then he gave his head a brief shake. “But I don’t think so.”
    Surprised and embarrassed, Hope lowered her gaze. “I understand. I’m sorry to have troubled you.”
    She was aware that his head dipped slightly as he attempted to engage her averted eyes. Not succeeding, he studied her face for a moment before he spoke. “No, I don’t believe you do understand.”
    She looked up. “Of course I do. I don’t interest you anymore.” She gave him a rueful grin. “It’s okay, Dr.Hartman. I’m not going to throw myself off a bridge or anything like that.”
    The firm