Free The Doctor's Husband (Colorado Blues) by Ann B Harrison

reception.” Evan stood up and pushed the chair in, and looked at his father. “You going to be at the church waiting in the morning, or do you want me to come down and pick you up?”
    “Thanks for the offer; I’ll meet them down here. Gina said to be at the church waiting with Brother Thomas at 2 o’clock sharp.”
    “Thanks for the tea, Jock. It was lovely to meet you.” She reached over and kissed his prickly cheek, cementing the bond she knew was building between the two of them. He was the father almost banished by his kids, fighting to make his way back into the family and she was the newest girlfriend. They were both very much on the outside looking in as far as she was concerned.
    Evan held her hand as he walked her out to the truck. She climbed in and did her seatbelt up before waving out the window to Jock who stood and watched from the front garden. “Your dad is lovely, Evan.”
    “Yeah, he seems to be doing well and that’s great. Went through a hard time there for a few years.” He turned on the indicator and pulled out into the street. “It’s Lester Street isn’t it?”
    Denver nodded her head. “Yep, number thirty-four.” She looked at the mailboxes as they drove down the quiet street. “There it is.” The house sat back from the street on a slight rise, looking over a rolling front lawn in need of a good mow. The path wound up to the front door and a small hedged porch. A swing hung by the front door, the paint peeling and the chain hanging limp on one side.
    She got out of the truck and shut the door, her gaze on the house. “This is beautiful.” Denver saw how wonderful this would be with a little bit of tender loving care and a family living there. Evan walked around to stand beside her, not looking as enthusiastic as she felt.
    “Bit run down and overgrown. Guess if you get the job they’ll clean it up some.” He slipped his hand down and clenched her fingers, giving them a quick squeeze. “Let’s go take a proper look.” He drew her up the path, sparing a glance at the mailbox with old newspapers and pamphlets jammed inside and overflowing on the grass. They stepped up the wide steps, and Denver heard the boards creaking under their feet, but the sound only added to the charm of the old house for her.
    The curtains were open in the front room and Denver leaned down and looked in the window. “This must be the living room. I can see a fireplace just to the side.” The house was unfurnished which made it appear more neglected and sad than it probably was. Carpet a dull shade of brown lay wall to wall, and Denver saw the door which she presumed led into the back of the house. It was shut, closing off the rest of the interior. She walked to the other side of the front door and around the half-collapsed porch swing and looked in that window. The drapes were closed, spoiling her view of more than a sliver of the room. “This must be a bedroom, bit hard to tell. Seems clean enough inside, just very empty and unloved.”
    Evan moved down the steps and around the front of the house. “Come around here. Might be able to see inside from the back of the house.” Denver hurried after him, a small thrill rising in her chest. This could be her new home. The excitement built as she caught up with Evan.
    “Come on, there’s a back deck here with French doors we can peek through.” He held out his hand for her and when she reached for him, he gripped her fingers and pulled her up the back stairs. A large deck graced the back of the house, overlooking a fairly large yard dotted with shady trees. An old rope swing hung from the lowest branch of the large oak nearest the house.
    The welcome door mat lay at an angle in front of the back door and Denver wondered if it was an omen.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    “This place is terrific.” Rory held Fisher on his shoulders and walked around the outside of the house, explaining to Evan as they went what work he’d done to make it inhabitable