Missionary Daddy Read Online Free PDF

involvement might be helpful.”
    “Helpful? In what way?”
    Sam knew the minute he figured it out.
    “Oh,” he said. “I get it. People will come to see the famous model.”
    Trying not to bristle at the slight note of condescension, she squared her shoulders. “If using my name helps the kids, I’m willing to do it.”
    “Yeah,” he said softly. “You’re all about the kids, aren’t you?”
    His words weren’t cruel but they cut just the same. And Sam knew as well as she knew the number of calories in a slice of bread that Eric didn’t trust her goodwill one little bit.

Chapter Three

    S itting cross-legged on Ashley’s pink duvet cover, Sam watched her sister gobble down three slices of thick pan double-cheese pizza and mentally calculated the calories and fat grams. To tell the truth, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d tasted pizza but the smell was tantalizing. For most of her life, smelling pizza was as close as she dared come.
    Following an afternoon around the family’s magnificent backyard pool, she, Ashley and two-year-old Gabriel had come upstairs to Ashley’s large bedroom suite to eat and talk, a sisterly act they hadn’t embraced during their growing-up years. Funny how maturity and a little baby could change one’s attitude.
    Maturity had other effects, too. Or perhaps she could blame the perspective change on Africa. Her sister’s living quarters included a private bathroom and balcony, as much space as the entire bedroom facility in Eric’s orphanage.
    In fact, the spectacular Harcourt Mansion, with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, was considerably larger than the space where thirty African children lived, slept and attended school.
    The comparison made her feel guilty. Worse yet, her parents were renovating a huge area into a private apartment every bit as elegant as the best hotel, just for her.
    “Have some pizza, Sam.” Ashley pushed the opened box toward her.
    Sam patted her empty stomach. “Not hungry.”
    Baby Gabriel, sitting on Sam’s lap, reached for a slice. Ashley gently pushed his hand away and made a face. “I’ve been with you all day and you haven’t eaten a bite. Eat. You’re not going to lose your skinny-model body over a single piece of pizza.”
    Sam blinked, stunned. No wonder the pizza smell was killing her. She really hadn’t eaten anything all day. Six years ago the monster of anorexia had sent her to the hospital, malnourished and dehydrated. Nobody, not even Ashley knew about her secret shame.
    Since that frightening wake-up call and the subsequent months of treatment, she was regimented about her eating, making sure she took in sufficient nutrition every day. Somehow she’d gotten off schedule since coming back to Chestnut Grove.
    With every ounce of willpower she possessed, Sam reached for a pizza slice. “Smells awesome.”
    Ashley chowed into a fourth slice. “Tastes even better.”
    Sam forced the pizza to her lips and took a bite. “Mmm. Delish.”
    The food lodged in the back of her throat. She grabbed her diet soda can and swigged, forcing the pizza down. During times like this, times of high stress or emotional unbalance, the anorexia tried to rear its murderous head. She’d done enough damage to her body already. Damage that might never heal. She couldn’t allow the disorder to take control again. Next time, it might kill her.
    “Why don’t you come to church with us tomorrow, Sam?” Ashley asked as she handed LEGO blocks to her son with one hand and stuffed away pizza with the other.
    “Chris is coming down after service.”
    Ashley’s face glowed when she mentioned her fiancé, Chris Sullivan who pastored a church in Williamsburg. Some Sundays she and Gabriel drove up to spend the day with him. On others, he drove down to spend the afternoon with them. He was a great guy who’d helped Ashley forgive herself for past mistakes, and Sam was glad to finally see her sister so happy.
    “The whole church thing seems weird