Time to Heal (Harlequin Heartwarming) Read Online Free PDF

trying the banks next.”
    “Is that blackmail?”
    “No! I don’t have enough to offer for that.”
    “Suppose you let me be the judge.”
    There was something in his expression that she couldn’t quite decipher. He was eyeing her thoughtfully while fingering a gold pen, tapping it on one end and then reversing it. Over and over.
    “Can you type?”
    “Actually, yes, I can. And I’m familiar with the public health database you use here at the hospital, too. I guess I should have mentioned that, but I thought you’d suggest something like public relations or patient liaison—or manning the information desk.”
    “Glorified candy striper, you mean.”
    “Well, it seemed logical.”
    “I think you’d be bored in two weeks. Besides, it would be a waste. Don’t you have a degree?”
    “I have a BA in psychology.”
    Ron looked interested. “How would you like to work in Emergency?”
    “I’m willing to work anywhere. What would I do?”
    “The clerical duties would be no challenge, but there’s more to it than that. I should warn you that Emergency is not like a doctor’s office. We get a lot of accidents, drug overdoses, indigents and the like. But with your training, you should be good at handling scared, sick people. And occasionally,” he added, “freaked-out ones.”
    For the first time since Scotty disappeared, Rachel felt a stirring of interest in something other than her loss, her pain. She’d grasped at the idea of a job for one reason only, to distract herself. What if she should actually like it, actually do something?
    “Well, would you like to think about it?” Ron asked.
    “I don’t need to think about it, Ron. I’ll take it.”
     
    M ICHAEL HOPED he wouldn’t throw up. He was so nervous about what would happen in the nextfew minutes that he felt sick. He’d already thrown up lunch, but he hadn’t told anybody. It had been a Big Mac, too. He hadn’t been able to afford a Big Mac in so long that he used to dream about them when he was hitching down to Florida. His dad had sent one of the deputies out to get lunch. That was nice. Having his lunch bought by his dad. And that was how he thought of Jake, even if he wasn’t sure Jake quite believed he was who he said he was.
    Michael climbed into the front seat of the squad car, fumbling to buckle his seat belt while Jake buckled his. He hunched forward a little, his fingers clutching the strap of his knapsack. He couldn’t quite relax enough to lean back. This was it. They were going home. At least, Jake’s home. He closed his eyes for a second or two. Everything hung on whether or not they believed him. If they didn’t, he didn’t know what he was going to do.
    He felt the thrust of power as the car pulled out of the spot marked Sheriff. Any other time he would have flipped out at the chance to ride in a squad car. He fixed his gaze on the dash. He’d always wondered about the radio equipment in police cars, the radar stuff used to nab speeders, the lights and the siren. If he got to stay, he would ask his dad to show him how it all worked. If he got to stay.
    He glanced at Jake. His dad seemed okay, butMichael sensed he wasn’t a man who showed everything on his face. Like when he’d responded to Michael’s question about the picture of the lady and little boy on his desk. The boy was his son. Scotty. Michael didn’t think he’d ever forget the look on Jake’s face when he’d said Scotty’s name. Blank, sort of. As if he would never smile again. He understood why. It was too bad about the kidnapping. It must be awful to wonder whether Scotty was okay or…not okay. He drifted off into a dream where he was instrumental in finding Scotty and bringing him safely home. For a few moments, he basked in the fantasy of having Jake and Rachel lavishing smiles and goodwill on him, delighted by his part in restoring their son to them.
    “There’s the high school,” Jake said. The sound of his voice startled Michael. He looked at