Free A Soldier's Promise (Crystal Lake Series Book 2) by Laura Scott Page A

much longer than that anyway. “Don’t you think that’s the right thing to do?”
    Lexi scowled but gave another nod.
    “Good girl,” he said. “What would you rather do? Sit and read in your room? Play video games? Or sit outside and draw?”
    “Draw,” Lexi said promptly, and he grinned again, wondering why he’d bothered to ask. Lexi could easily spend hours drawing, which had been another problem with that private school Claire’s parents had enrolled her in. The teachers there were all about learning, which was fine, but they didn’t provide any time for Lexi’s drawing. And they forced her to interact with the other kids, which Lexi found very distressing. And when she didn’t socialize with the other kids or raise her hand in class, the teacher made her sit outside in the hall. The memory made his blood boil.
    He forced the memories aside. “Okay. Let’s get your sketchbook, okay?” He went over to find her book and her pencils and carried them outside. He glanced at the lake and then turned back to Lexi. “No swimming without me, all right?”
    “I know,” she said, barely casting him a glance as she reached for her pencil.
    He sat down beside her, catching her gaze with his. “I mean it, Lexi. No swimming without me.”
    She must have recognized the seriousness of his tone, because she said, “I know, Daddy.”
    “Good.” He stood and made his way back inside to finish pulling down the drywall. As he worked, he kept an eye on his daughter. But he needn’t have worried. When Lexi concentrated on drawing, the rest of the world ceased to exist.
    And for once he was glad for his daughter’s single-minded focus.
    ___________

    Julie tried to pay attention to the church services, but once the final hymn had been sung and she’d followed her fellow parishioners outside, she couldn’t remember what the theme of the pastor’s sermon had been.
    She smiled and greeted people as she made her way to her car, too preoccupied to notice that a few of them were looking at her with frank curiosity. No doubt, the rumors were already flying about how she’d been seen with the tall, dark stranger and his daughter.
    The next stop was the grocery store, and she mentally reviewed her list as she pushed her cart up and down the rows, moving fast. Too fast, because then she forgot something and had to go back for it. It wasn’t until she was in line at the register, tapping her foot impatiently, that she realized her stomach was knotted with anxiety.
    A sensation that didn’t ease as she transferred her groceries into the trunk of her car. After sliding behind the wheel, she had to remind herself not to speed through town as she headed home.
    As she pulled into her driveway, she glanced around for any sign of Derek or Lexi. But even though the windows were open, she didn’t hear a sound from their side of the townhouse.
    Her heart lodged in her throat as she opened the trunk and walked around to pick up one bag of groceries. She practically raced inside and set the bag down on the kitchen table before crossing over to the patio doors.
    The sound of Lexi’s laughter stopped her, and she let out a sigh of relief when she saw two heads bobbing in the water near shore, evidence that Derek and Lexi were swimming in the lake.
    They were still here.
    Derek hadn’t been telling her goodbye after all.
    Every bit of apprehension that she’d felt since she left earlier that morning faded away as she watched father and daughter playing in the water.
    Suddenly, she abruptly straightened. What in the world was Derek thinking? He shouldn’t be swimming! Not when he still had the catheter in his chest.
    In a flash, she threw open the patio doors and ran down the grassy slope to the lakeshore. “Derek! Get out of the water! That catheter site is going to get infected!”
    Derek stood and carried Lexi over to the shore. After he set his daughter on her feet, he swiped his wet hair from his face. “Calm down. Your friendly