Free Project Love (Cascade Brides Series) by Bonnie Blythe

Charity's
presence. It was what might or might not happen following the
service. How would she take it? There was another part of his life he
wanted to share with her but it was a world away from soft music and
scented candles.
    Lord, prepare Charity's heart. Prepare my heart. Go
before us and lead the way .

Chapter Seven

    Charity sensed a suppressed something from Daniel all
through lunch at an Italian eatery. As she pushed the last of her
fettuccine Alfredo around on her plate, she darted little looks at
her companion, wondering when he would tell her what was on his mind.
    “ Are you finished?”
    She looked up to see the waitress hovering at the table.
Leaning back, she said, “Yes.”
    “ Me, too,” Daniel said.
    Once their plates were cleared and they were alone, he
scooted forward in his chair.
    “ Thank you for lunch,” Charity said, suddenly
nervous.
    “ You're welcome. I'm glad we can do this together.”
He paused then shook his head. “I'm sorry if I seem to be acting
mysterious, I just have an odd request, and I want you to feel
comfortable saying no.”
    “ I would say no if I needed to, Daniel.”
    He nodded. “Okay, here's the thing. I have a standing
appointment on Sunday afternoons. It's at the Lutheran home. It's a
care facility for the elderly.”
    She waited for him to continue, wondering why he thought
she'd be shocked by his visitation at a care home.
    “ My church sponsors the facility, obviously, and I
went along one time when I found out about it.” He swallowed. “In
fact, they have this big fund-raiser every year to help defray
finances for patients who can't afford it. They have asked me to head
it up this year, despite my lack of experience. I don't know if
that's something you'd be interested in helping me with. It would be
quite the time commitment and on my part, a learning curve—”
    “ I'd be glad to help.” Was that all? He knew she
enjoyed community work.
    “ A lot of the ground work is done throughout the year
for the fund-raiser. They need me—and an assistant—to do the
heavy lifting over the next month or so. The event itself will be the
first week of November.”
    “ Like I said, I'm in.”
    He smiled, a measure of the strain on his face easing.
“Thank you, Charity. It means a lot to me.”
    She nodded, trying to control an impulse of giddiness.
Despite her uncertainty of feelings for Daniel, she knew she'd enjoy
working with him.
    “ But there's something else. It kind of goes along
with the fund-raiser. As I mentioned, I visit the home every Sunday.”
    “ Just you? Or do you go with a group?”
    “ Just me. There's someone there I go to see.”
    “ A family member?”
    “ No, a stranger.”
    Charity wasn't sure how to respond. “Oh.”
    “ I'd like you to accompany me there today.”
    She nodded. “What's this person's name?”
    “ Evelyn. And that's all I know about her.”
    “ How long have you been going to see her?”
    “ It's been almost six months now.”
    She lowered her gaze so
he wouldn't see the surprise in her eyes. Okay .
“So what time do you usually go?”
    Daniel glanced at his watch. “About now.”
    Charity scooted back in her chair and got to her feet,
determined to relax and be there for Daniel. Because she was pretty
sure he needed the support.

    ***

    Huge vases of gladiolas and snapdragons greeted them in
the foyer of the care home. But they couldn't completely mask the
heavy scent of cleaning supplies common to such facilities.
    New lines appeared around Daniel's eyes as they neared
Evelyn's room after checking in at the front desk. The halls were
dotted with the elderly using walkers and in wheelchairs, while
around them white-garbed staff flowed past. The facility seemed clean
and shiny, but despite the hygiene and flowers and competent staff,
places like these tugged at her heart like nothing else.
    Daniel stopped at a room and knocked. He didn't wait for
a response. Propping the door open, he entered the room.