LITMIR.BIZ

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Graham had headed down the hall, Lucy stayed until it was time to turn the phones over to the answering service. Then she’d waved goodbye to Danielle—who probably thought she was just ducking out to grab something for lunch—and headed outside.

      She didn’t want to leave the only real job option she had in this town, but Lucy knew better than to let someone treat her the way Graham just had. His accusations had stolen the air from her lungs and the words from her mouth.

      She and Hunter had been totally innocent in that situation, yet Graham assumed the worst.

      Lucy didn’t like thinking a person was one thing and then finding out they were something completely different. At least with Graham she’d found out right away.

      Unlike before.

      Words spoken about her years earlier tumbled back. She could still hear Nate talking to his best friend, still picture his arrogant behavior.

      After that, she’s all yours.

      Indignation flared at the memory. Lucy had vowed never to let someone treat her with such disrespect again. Her independent, take-care-of-herself streak had started growing the day she’d overheard Nate, and it hadn’t slowed since.

      Which meant she couldn’t stay working for Graham. Not if that was what he thought of her. Not if that was how he planned to treat her.

      She should feel relieved leaving. Instead, pinpricks of disappointment riddled her skin.

      She needed this job. Too bad Graham had reacted the way he had. Lucy could see now he’d never really given her a chance. He’d thrown her into the position with hardly any training and then he’d jumped to conclusions.

      It wasn’t as though working as a receptionist in a medical office would end up on her Pinterest board for dream work. If Lucy let herself travel down that road, she’d wish her way into owning a dance school she could run under her own philosophy. But that option wasn’t on the horizon.

      Lucy paused near her car as a school bus pulled up to the parking lot. The door opened and Mattie got off, clutching some things to her chest.

      Hadn’t Graham said he was going to pick her up?

      The bus pulled away, and Mattie dropped the items she’d been holding on to the grass between the sidewalk and the parking lot.

      Lucy approached. “Hi, Mattie Grace.”

      The little girl glanced up, shoving her glasses to the bridge of her nose. “Hi, Lucy.” One shoe was untied, but the rest of her looked perfectly put together. A bright, white shirt without a mark on it—something Lucy could rarely boast of accomplishing—a jean skirt, light-up tennis shoes and a pink fleece sweatshirt. The sight made Lucy realize she’d forgotten her jacket inside.

      Double drat. Maybe she could live without it. After all, the weather in Texas was warmer than Colorado.

      “What’s going on with your lunch?” Mattie’s pink-and-purple lunch box was open, leftover contents and containers spread on the ground. Lucy knelt, helping her put the items back inside.

      “One of the boys kicked my lunch box on the bus and everything fell out.”

      At Mattie’s quiet explanation, Lucy’s outrage spiked a few degrees. “Sounds like I should pay a visit to your school bus tomorrow.”

      The girl’s smile was like the sun coming out from behind clouds. “It’s okay. He doesn’t bug me very often. My dad said he was going to pick me up so I didn’t have to ride the bus today, but he must have forgot.”

      Oh, be still her heart. No matter how much Lucy didn’t like Graham right now, she knew he’d never forget Mattie. “I don’t think he forgot, sweetie. I think he just had a busy morning.”

      Lucy barely resisted scooping the girl up in a big hug. They closed the lunch box and stood, slipping it into Mattie’s backpack.

      After Graham and Mattie had left the other night, Olivia had told Lucy that Graham’s wife had passed away from cystic fibrosis at a young age—only in her twenties. Since then, it sounded like Graham pretty much worked and took care of Mattie.

      As if her thoughts had summoned him, Graham came out of the office and jogged to his car, the beep-beep from his key fob interrupting the quiet. Since he was parked on the other side of the building, he didn’t notice them.

      Lucy and Mattie shared a grin. “Told you he didn’t forget. Think we should stop him or let him go?”

      “Let him go.”

      Lucy laughed. “I’m not sure whether to be impressed or shocked.”

      That earned her a giggle.

      The thought was tempting. A trip to school and subsequent freak-out would serve Graham right. Smothering her impulse to let him suffer a bit, Lucy called out to him across the lot. He looked in their direction, shoulders sagging when he saw Mattie.

      Since his adorable daughter was standing next to her, Lucy would figure out how to talk to Graham in a civilized manner. She would put on her maturity cape—at least, until no little ears were listening—and if she could manage it, beyond that.

      He came over, dropped in front of his daughter and pulled her into a hug. Lucy ignored the tug on her heart. I will not like Graham. I will not soften toward him. When Graham buried his face in Mattie’s hair and inhaled as if he wouldn’t live another second without smelling her, Lucy lost the battle. The chant wasn’t working.

      “Did you take the bus?”

      Mattie nodded.

      “Why didn’t you wait? I told you I’d come get you.”

      “It’s okay, Dad. I didn’t mind.”

      Graham ran a hand through his hair, causing the dark locks to stick out in every direction and reminding Lucy of a young boy. She skipped over the thought, concentrating instead on the irritation she’d felt inside the office minutes ago.

      “Next time, just wait for me, okay?”

      The small shrug told Lucy Mattie’s answer was far more of a “we’ll see” than a “yes.” Lucy liked the girl more and more by the moment. If only Mattie didn’t have that look marring her features. Lucy couldn’t figure out if she was sad or serious or both.

      “Why don’t you go inside and find Danielle?” Graham spoke to Mattie. “I’ll be in in a sec.”

      “Okay. ’Bye, Ms. Lucy.”

      So they’d gone formal. Lucy offered Mattie a fist bump, which she answered with a small nudge.

      Graham watched Mattie go inside before facing Lucy. She fought the temptation to squirm, knowing she hadn’t done anything wrong. It might have looked strange to find Hunter behind her desk, but Graham could have given her the benefit of the doubt. He could have let her explain.

      Instead, he thought she was so unprofessional that she’d throw herself at one of his patients.

      Lucy sent up an SOS prayer that she’d be able to talk to Graham in a mature manner and that God would show her how to handle this conversation. After Graham had walked away from her inside, Lucy hadn’t even considered asking God for guidance. She’d just followed her instincts. She was horrible at remembering to pray for help, usually barreling forward without stopping to think. Certainly without stopping to pray.

      But in this situation, Lucy needed all of the direction she could get. Because not only was she at a loss for what to do if this job didn’t work out, she’d never been very good at keeping her thoughts to herself.

      * * *

      When Graham had realized Lucy was no longer inside the office, he’d wondered if she’d just left to grab some lunch...or if she’d taken off, never planning to return. After the way he’d acted, Graham wouldn’t blame her if she had bolted.

      Hunter had told Graham

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