Read Time to Heal (Harlequin Heartwarming) for Free Online

heartbeats, Jake simply stared at him. Michael waited a moment more and then turned, locating the gate. He took a step.
    “Michael—”
    He faced Jake. “Sir?”
    “I don’t think I told you…”
    Michael waited, his heart thumping.
    “I’m glad you’re here.”

CHAPTER THREE
    J AKE WALKED SLOWLY along the brick path that led to his front door. Fifteen years ago he’d bought this house for Rachel, and he still loved it. It was a popular style in Florida—low, sprawling stucco painted a soft coral with red tile shingles, a style reminiscent of the Spanish explorers whose influence was seen the length and breadth of the state. Originally, there were only three bedrooms and no den, but as he and Rachel prospered, he’d added a big family room on the back and put in a pool. A couple of years later, he’d added a roomy master bedroom with a lavish bathroom, complete with a sunken tub, which Rachel loved to use. His fingers clenched on his keys. Slowly, a little unsteadily, he put his key in the lock and, giving a little shove, pushed the door open.
    Something smelled good. It took him back for a minute. For weeks he’d been coming home to no dinner, or at best something thrown together with little regard for his or Rachel’s taste, something that took little effort and less imagination.
    “Rachel, I’m home.”
    Rachel came in from the direction of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Hi, you’re a little early, aren’t you?”
    “Yeah, a little.” He tossed the jacket he was carrying on the seat of a chair in the foyer. Rachel used to greet him with a kiss when he came in at night, but that along with lots of other little demonstrations of affection had stopped with Scotty’s disappearance. “Something smells good.”
    “Roast beef. It’s been a while since we had it.” She hesitated and, looking at her, Jake narrowed his eyes, wondering. Then he realized that she was smiling. Almost. She hadn’t really smiled in a long time, but this was close.
    “How about a drink before dinner?” she suggested.
    “Sounds good.”
    When she turned to the family room, he followed. “I’ll fix it,” he told her.
    “Okay. I’ll have some wine.”
    He looked at her. Rachel hardly ever drank anything, not even wine. “Are we celebrating something?”
    She did smile then, a quick, soft curve of her lips. It was gone almost instantly. “We are.”
    He had the whiskey in his hand, ready to pour. He stopped, looking at her. “What is it, sweetheart?”
    She shook her head, gesturing to the bottle andhis glass. “No, fix your drink first.” She reached up and got a wineglass. “Don’t forget mine.”
    He splashed a good double shot into his glass and then, working the cork free on a bottle of chardonnay, poured some for Rachel. She took it as he lifted his own.
    “Here’s to—” he looked at her questioningly “—what?”
    With her glass poised, she said, “I got a job today.”
    He didn’t move. “Well, that’s great, honey. Congratulations.”
    “Thanks.” She leaned forward and clinked her glass gently against his. “Wish me luck.”
    “You bet.” With his eyes locked on hers, Jake sipped his drink.
    “It was a lot easier than I expected. You can’t imagine how nervous I was.”
    He cleared his throat. “Which bank?”
    She set her glass aside. “Neither. I went to the hospital instead. Suzy called as I was trying to decide. She reminded me of the years of volunteer work I’ve done at the hospital and suggested Ron Campbell would probably think that counted for real experience.” Rachel smiled. “He did. I’m working in the emergency room starting Thursday.” With a lift of one shoulder, she made a little face. “That’s because their payroll is set up for the first and fifteenth of the month, and Thursday is the first. I would have started tomorrow morning—or even fifteen minutes after I got the job—but I guess I can use the time to polish up my typing and check my