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Josh, you might have better luck than Caleb did,” Cord suggested mildly.
    â€œHold it,” Josh protested. “When did this become my problem? I’m here to build a house, not to provide counseling services. Besides, I don’t even know this woman. Why would she listen to me?”
    Cord didn’t answer.
    â€œThere won’t be any reason to build a house unless we get Amanda back on board,” Caleb pointed out.
    â€œHey, that suits me,” Josh said.
    Cord regarded him with disappointment. “Josh, take a look out there,” he said, gesturing toward the main room. “See those kids. Who do they remind you of?”
    Reluctantly Josh turned to look at Amanda O’Leary’s three children. They were sitting on metal chairs, their expressions glum. Two little boys, who should be out running and playing ball on a Saturday morning, and a pint-size girl with huge blue eyes who looked as if she might cry any minute. She was clutching a worn stuffed bear by one arm. Josh saw himself in each of those solemn faces. Once again he cursed the day he’d ever confided in Cord about his past.
    â€œWell?” Cord prodded.
    Josh wondered how different his life might have been if someone had ever sat his mother down and had a heart-to-heart with her about giving him a real home, instead of dragging him from city to city, from motel to motel. He heaved a resigned sigh.
    â€œOkay, where is she?” he asked.
    â€œOver in the corner trying to stay out of Dinah’s path. Dinah’s already tried and failed to persuade her,” Cord said. “Knowing Dinah, she’s just taking a breather, but maybe you can head her off.”
    â€œI think you’re giving me way too much credit on all fronts,” Josh said. “But I’ll give it a shot for the sake of those kids.”
    Rueing the day he’d ever met Cord, much less agreed to take on the building of this house, Josh crossed the parish hall to where Amanda O’Leary was sitting all alone, her jaw set stubbornly and her chin lifted high.
    â€œMind if I sit down?” he asked, already sliding onto the chair next to her.
    â€œThere’s nothing you can say to change my mind,” she said before he could say another word.
    He grinned at her defiance. She might be down, but she was definitely not out. He had to admire her for that. “What makes you think I’m here to change your mind?”
    â€œOh, please,” she said disdainfully. “I saw you with Caleb and Cord. I’m sure they’ve given you an earful about how stubborn I’m being.”
    Josh grinned. “They did say something along those lines. To tell you the truth, I get where you’re coming from. I grew up with folks thinking I was the perfect target for their good deeds. It wasn’t much fun.”
    Amanda regarded him skeptically. “Then why are you over here pressuring me?”
    â€œPressure?” Josh scoffed. “Sweetheart, this isn’t pressure. This is just two people having a get-acquainted chat. Obviously I know who you are, but since we haven’t been introduced, I’m Josh Parker.”
    Her gaze narrowed. “The builder Cord hired?”
    â€œThat’s me.”
    â€œSo you’re out of work if I don’t go along with this thing,” she said with a biting edge of sarcasm. “Not my problem.”
    â€œIt’s not about me. I don’t need the work.” He studied her intently, then glanced toward her kids. “But those children over there look to me like they could use a nice home.”
    â€œAnd I’d love for them to have it, but not if it’s going to split this congregation apart,” Amanda said spiritedly. “That’s too high a price. Things might be a little cramped where we’re living, but we’ve been managing for the last year.”
    â€œWith a little help, I understand…Anyway, Caleb seems willing to pay the