The Best Bride Read Online Free PDF

take all the time you need to heal. Your job will be waiting when you’re ready.”
    â€œThank you,” she murmured as relief filled her.
    He was going to make her cry. After breaking downyesterday, she’d sworn not to cry again, but she could feel the tears forming. Maybe it was all going to work out. She’d been so afraid her life would never be normal again. Six months ago, when the police had shown up at her door, her world had collapsed. Slowly, so slowly, she was getting it back together. They were going to make it. They had to.
    Before she could ask him what else Rebecca had said, the door pushed open and an attractive nurse came into the room with Mandy in tow. “We do not allow children in this ward,” she said sternly, then grinned. “So I’m bringing her in here to get her out from underfoot.”
    Mandy held her bear in one hand and clutched a balloon giraffe in the other. There was chocolate icing on her cheek and she was dressed in a cute pink-and-white shorts outfit that Elizabeth had never seen before.
    â€œMommy!” When the nurse let her go, the little girl rushed toward her. Travis walked over and lifted her until she was sitting on the bed.
    â€œTravis Haynes, I might have known I’d find you here with one of our prettiest patients,” the nurse said as she paused by the door.
    â€œYou know me, Pam. I can’t resist a female in distress.”
    Pam laughed, then looked at Elizabeth. “You watch out for this one. He’s our resident heartbreaker.”
    â€œI’ll be careful,” Elizabeth said, knowing she wasn’t ever going to get involved with any man, let alone one as charming and good-looking as Travis.
    â€œYou’ve got fifteen minutes,” Pam said. “Then my supervisor gets back and Mandy will have to leave.”
    Elizabeth nodded and the woman shut the door.
    â€œI missed you, Mommy,” Mandy said, reclaiming her attention.
    â€œI missed you, too.” Elizabeth held out her arms.
    Mandy dropped the bear and the balloon animal, andslipped next to her to snuggle close. Despite the tangle of IV’s and the pressure on her incision as she leaned toward her daughter, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her and held on, wishing she never had to let go. Mandy’s warm body felt small and fragile cuddling against her, and so very familiar. Elizabeth stroked her head, then bent down and kissed her cheek.
    â€œHow are you doing, sweets?” she asked softly.
    â€œThere was a clown and he made me this.” She picked up her giraffe. The rubber squeaked as she held it and she laughed. Bright blue eyes met her own. Sam’s eyes, she thought with regret. Mandy had her smile and her nose, but her eyes and the rest of her coloring was all Sam’s. It made it hard to forget her daughter’s father. But forget him, she would. She’d promised herself.
    Mandy laughed and tossed the balloon animal in the air, then wiggled to sit back and look up at her. “I had a cupcake.”
    â€œSo I see.” She wiped at the frosting. “Sheriff Haynes said you spent the night at his house.”
    Mandy nodded vigorously and grinned. “Louise made us another dinner. Then we had doughnuts for dessert.” She sounded faintly scandalized, but quite delighted. “She gave me a bath but he read me a story. About nines and their end.”
    Elizabeth looked up at Travis who had returned to his perch on the windowsill. “Nines and their end?”
    He cleared his throat. “You sort of had to be there. The San Francisco 49ers are looking for a decent tight end. I don’t have any children’s books in the house, so I read the sports page.”
    She grinned. “Whatever works.”
    â€œAnd we played with trains,” Mandy said.
    â€œI keep them for my nephews,” Travis added helpfully.
    â€œAnd I got a new nightgown with a bunny on the front from that nice lady,