janet dailey- the healing touch Read Online Free PDF

Dad. No problem," she said knowingly.
    As soon as Katie and the goat were gone, Michael seemed even more nervous than before.
    "I...ah..." he began. He paused to clear his throat.
    She leaned closer to him. "Yes, Mr. Stafford?"
    "I wanted to thank you for what you said the other day," he blurted, as though afraid to lose his momentum and courage. "I don't mind telling you, I was furious with you then. But I thought about it, and I decided you were right. I have been neglecting Katie."
    He drew a deep breath, and Rebecca could see the pain in his eyes. This man was no coward, but he had been deeply hurt. That much was obvious, in his face, his voice, even his body language. Usually, he stood with his arms crossed over his chest, as though guarding his heart.
    It was ineffectual armor, Rebecca knew. Unfortunately, there was no way to shield the soul from life's cruelest arrows. She remembered Tim and how she had felt the first year after he died. Yes, she knew all about
    having your heart pierced when you least expected it. A wound like that took a long, long time to heal, if it ever totally did.
    "I was married once," she said, "and I lost my husband, too. I've felt some of what you're going through, and I know it's a really tough time for you."
    "Yes, it is. But that doesn't excuse the way I acted about the little goat" He stared down at the ground, unable to meet her eyes. "I don't know why I said what I did and..."
    His voice trailed away, and Rebecca could see the depth of his guilt on his handsome face. Who would have thought that a face that looked so strong could reflect so much doubt? So much self-condemnation?
    "I was afraid for Katie," he admitted, "because I truly thought the goat was unhealthy. I didn't want her to lose something else she loved...not so soon after..." He paused to gather the rest of his thoughts. "I know I overreacted, but the poor kid has already lost so much."
    "I understand." Rebecca stood there, wondering if she should say what was on her mind. She would risk making him angry again, but she felt she should be honest with him.
    "Mr. Stafford," she said. "I don't claim to know everything you're feeling, everything you've experienced. But if you overreacted, I think if s only because you love your daughter so much."
    "Yes, I do," he said. "And her mother's death was very hard for her."
    Rebecca nodded. "I know you're afraid of her suffering another loss, and you don't want her to love something else that could die."
    "That's true," he said, obviously touched that she understood. "Living things are just so.. .so.. .fragile."
    "I know they are. Believe me, in my line of work I know that all too well. But Katie can't close her heart, not even to protect it. She has far too much love to give. And so do you," she added quietly.
    He said nothing, but stared down at the sawdust on the ground.
    She continued, "To love a living being is to risk getting hurt, because we all die, sooner or later. But there is one thing that's worse than losing someone you love. It's not having anyone to love in the first place."
    She couldn't tell how her words had affected him, because he continued to look down at the toes of his boots.
    "I know you're afraid to feel your love for Katie," she ventured, knowing she was going too far. But if she was going to upset him, she might as well go all the way. "You know, Michael, there are lots of ways to lose someone... besides death, that is. We can lose someone we love, even though we see them every day...if we allow our fear to get in the way."
    He cleared his throat and nodded curtly. "Yes. Of course you're right, Dr. Barclay. But I have to get going. Katie needs help loading Rosebud into the trailer."
    Before she could reply, he was gone.
    "Way to go, Rebecca," she muttered. "You sure have a great way with people. The true gift of gab. Maybe, in the future, you'd better confine your conversation to fuzzy faced critters who can't talk."
     
    Chapter Three
     
    "Would you like