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home bored out of my mind if you want some company.”
    Zach merely flashed a smile and looked away as if he had somewhere very important he needed to be—which he did. Stacey was cute, a little forward, but cute. He just didn’t want to expend all that emotional energy on her.
    He knew what his mother would say. Zach, you’ve got to save yourself for that one special girl. He shook his head. If only she knew. He was already beyond saving, in more ways than one. College could do that to a guy. What fraternity ever encouraged something as old-fashioned as morals?
    He still occasionally heard his pastor’s voice in his head whenever he contemplated doing something sinful. Sometimes, even now, his upbringing and what he used to believe got in the way of his life.
    Even with Anna Helmuth’s beanie pulled tightly over his ears, he heard soft crying coming from somewhere behind him. Following the direction of the sound around the corner of the building, he discovered a little girl standing alone on the sidewalk that ran alongside the busy street behind the hospital. She couldn’t have been more than four or five years old. The tears trickled down her face, and she shivered violently with cold. A black scarf covered her head, and her chestnut hair was gathered into a bun at the base of her neck. She wore a thin black coat over a pastel yellow dress with long black socks and black tennis shoes. She must have been Amish. Normal kids didn’t dress like that.
    The minute she caught sight of Zach, she began wailing in earnest. He was, after all, a stranger, a male, and a terrifying giant to someone so small. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” he said in the most calming voice he could muster.
    Her screaming dropped a few decibels in volume. She still cried, but at least she hadn’t turned from him and bolted into the street. He’d hate to have to push her out of the way of a speeding bus. He’d rather not be run over this early in the morning.
    He took three steps toward her. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to help. Are you lost?”
    She didn’t answer, so he took a few more tentative steps. He didn’t want to terrify the poor thing. She was certainly frightened out of her wits already. Getting close enough to kneel next to her, he took the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around her shoulders. It was thick and extra long and would lend her a little warmth until he could coax her inside. He immediately felt icy dampness from the sidewalk seep through his pant leg. Since the recent snow, the sidewalks had been shoveled and salted but they were still wet. He’d have a nice damp spot on his knee for the rest of the morning.
    â€œAre you lost?” he asked again. “It’s cold out here.” He held out his hand. “Do you want to come inside? I’ll help you find your mommy.”
    Zach didn’t know what he said, but the girl’s uncontrollable sobbing began again in earnest. He considered picking her up and carrying her into the hospital, but he’d probably be accused of kidnapping and sentenced to five years in prison.
    â€œIt’s okay. It’s okay. I just want to help. Let’s go inside and find your family. What’s your name?”
    Her distress reached frequencies that only dogs would have been able to hear. It seemed there was no reasoning with her, which Zach hadn’t really expected from a young child, but he felt at a complete loss for what to do next.
    â€œCan I help?”
    Zach turned to see a cute blonde coming toward him.
    No, not cute. Stacey was cute. Smurfs were cute. This woman was a beauty. She seemed to glide across the parking lot, every movement a graceful dance. The very air around her seemed to shimmer.
    Zach rubbed a hand across his eyes. He must be working too hard. The lack of sleep had made him a little stupid.
    He looked again. Okay, no shimmering air. Just a woman. A woman who