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but I’ve also spoken with Millie. She comes by during the week to visit. She’s a wonderful lady. I can see why your father thinks so much of her.”
    Mildred visited his mother during the week. That was something else he didn’t know. “What about Bev’s life?” Dale let his gaze drift to the playground slide. Bev stood at the bottom, waiting for Kristin to take a turn.
    His mother ignored his question. “It’s just sad when a young woman has such burdens. She should be enjoying life and sharing it with a husband.”
    “Seems like she should be concentrating on those kids before one of them gets killed.”
    “Dale, I can’t believe you said that.”
    The disappointment in his mother’s voice caused him to regret his comment.
    “Where’s your compassion?” she asked.
    “I have compassion. I think they need a firm hand. And love,” he added before his mother became upset again.
    “Love is the answer,” Dotty said.
    His mother’s eyes said more than he wanted to hear. She was conspiring, he guessed, working on a romance. His heart ached. She’d wanted grandchildren so badly, and he’d let down both his parents.
    “Are you ready to go?” he asked, rather than plowing any further into a discussion about Bev.
    “I suppose. It’s getting a little chilly.”
    He stood, released the brake on her wheelchair andshifted it around. Bev looked their way, and he lifted his hand in a wave. She barely responded.
    “You should tell Bev we’re leaving,” Dotty said as he moved her chair along the sidewalk.
    “I already did.”
    For a moment no one spoke until his mother, like a person who loves a song and keeps singing it over and over, started the topic again. “Bev needs a good husband—a man who’ll love her and the children. Someone raised as a believer who can be faithful. Marriage is a wonderful experience when it’s between two people whom God meant for each other.”
    What could he say that he hadn’t already said? God had meant his father and mother to marry. They were a perfect couple. One of a kind. Dale didn’t question that. But in his heart, he sensed the Lord was leading him to remain unattached. No troubles. No heartache.
    Anyway, he’d make a lousy parent.

Chapter Four
    B ev looked up as Annie DeWitt poked her head into the Loving Care playroom. “Dale Levin’s here to see you.” Her voice rose above the clamor of the children, and she gave Bev a conspiring smile.
    Dale? Her pulse skipped for a moment before she realized something must be wrong. Bev’s voice lodged in her throat as she brushed away Annie’s insinuation with a wave of her hand and rose from her crouched position. “Don’t start that, Annie.”
    Bev stepped over a toy truck as she headed for the doorway. “Can you keep an eye on things until I can send in someone else? It’s almost time for me to leave anyway.”
    Annie took over, and Bev hurried to the front door, searching Dale’s face for bad news. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    Dale drew back, his expression becoming apologetic. “Nothing. I didn’t realize I’d frighten you.”
    Relief washed over her followed by surprise. “Then why are you—”
    “Impetuous, I suppose.”
    His grin rallied her pulse back to a skip.
    “I recalled your saying you worked here, and I had a couple of things to talk over with you.” Dale shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, his gaze surveying the room. “Is this a good time to talk?”
    Addled by his sudden appearance, Bev calmed her thoughts and glanced at her watch. “I’m off in a couple of minutes, and my mom has Kristin today. That would probably be better.”
    He agreed and remained by the door.
    As she walked away to say good-night to her employer, Christie Hanuman, Bev asked herself what she was doing. She was absolutely loony to build a friendship with Dale. She knew it, but something pushed her forward despite her reservations.
    She hurried not to keep him waiting, and in minutes, Bev followed him