A Treasure Worth Keeping

“This is summer school. Call me Evie.”

By the time Sophie’s modest, two-story house came into view several minutes later, Faith was still chattering about the puppies and how it was up to her to choose a name for her favorite.

“I’ve always wanted to have a dog, but Mom doesn’t like it when they shed,” Faith continued. “Sophie says she’ll keep the one I name and I can visit it whenever I want to. That’s kind of like having my own dog, isn’t it?”

Evie thought it an extremely generous gesture on Sophie’s part, which made her more anxious to meet the woman. And even though Faith’s comment about her mother made Evie curious, she knew it wasn’t the time to press Faith to talk about her family.

“There she is.” Faith broke away and sprinted toward a woman kneeling in a patch of freshly turned soil. “Hi, Sophie!”

No wonder Patrick talked about her. Sophie Graham was beautiful. Blessed with classic features and smooth, porcelain skin, Sophie resembled an aging film star. Her faded housedress and scuffed gardening clogs couldn’t disguise her natural grace as she rose to her feet and greeted Faith with a hug.

Faith pointed in her direction and Evie quickened her steps, hoping Sophie wouldn’t mind they’d shown up without a formal invitation.

Before she could apologize, Sophie’s warm smile put her at ease. “Evangeline. I’m so glad to finally meet you. Patrick talks about you and your sisters all the time.”

“Dad talks about you, too,” Evie said, surprised to see a hint of rose tint Sophie’s cheeks.

“Can I show Evie the puppies, Sophie?”

“If we’re not interrupting anything,” Evie added quickly.

“Not at all. You came at just the right time. I’m ready to take a rest.” Sophie swept her straw hat off and used it as a fan.

Evie’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the irregular patches of silver hair on Sophie’s head.

“I’m in remission, praise the Lord,” Sophie said simply, and then gave Evie a mischievous wink. “Now, let’s get acquainted over ice cream and puppies, shall we?”

Chapter Five

When an hour went by and Evie and Faith still hadn’t returned, it occurred to Sam that his niece may have tried to sweet-talk Evie into stopping at Sophie’s house.

Which meant Sophie might inadvertently reveal the real reason behind Patrick and Jacob’s fishing trip.

Sam winced as the hammer missed the nail and ground the tip of his thumb against the shingle.

None of your business, he reminded himself. If Evie had a problem with her dad, she should take it up with him. Sam had his own stuff to worry about. He was one hundred percent uninvolved in the situation.

Except that Evie was Faith’s tutor. And for the next few weeks, he was committed to making sure she stayed that way.

Sam sat back on his heels, trying to convince himself it wasn’t necessary to look for them. Evie would be a strict teacher—the kind who wouldn’t waste precious minutes of a two-hour tutoring session playing with a litter of puppies. Hopefully the reason they were late was because the search for Canis familiaris was taking longer than expected….

A dim memory from Biology 101 struggled to the surface. Canis. Canine. Dog.

Sam’s shout of laughter scattered the guinea hens in the yard below.

So maybe he’d misjudged her. But he knew one thing for sure. He had to get to Sophie before Evie did.

It didn’t take Evie long to understand why Faith frequently “ran away” to Sophie’s house. And it wasn’t just to visit the puppies or because Sophie’s home, filled with simple yet comfortable furnishings, created a peaceful retreat. Sophie was the reason Faith returned. The older woman radiated a warmth and inner peace that instantly made a person feel welcome. And accepted.

“I wish I could keep all four of them,” Sophie said as Faith wrestled on the braided rug with two of the more active puppies while their mother, Sadie, kept a watchful eye from her wicker basket in the corner. “A few days after my diagnosis, Sadie showed up in the yard. I knew right away she was a stray—her fur was matted, and, even pregnant, she looked like she hadn’t eaten for days. I called your dad and he came over and helped me bathe her. He even offered to take her home with him, but I’d already fallen in love with her. God must have known I’d need her.” Sophie smiled. “She’s a very good listener.”

Was Sadie the only one you fell in love with?

Evie didn’t voice the question that sprang into her mind. Whenever Sophie mentioned Patrick’s name, her eyes sparkled with affection. The two of them had obviously become close. But had the friendship developed into something more?

And how would she feel if it had?

The previous summer, Evie had scolded Caitlin for her strong reaction to Patrick and Sophie’s friendship. If Sophie Graham brought some happiness into their dad’s life, shouldn’t they be supportive?

She had to admit, though, that the possibility of making room for another person in her dad’s life was a little unsettling. Especially when Evie had been the one looking out for Patrick since Laura died.

“I don’t know what I’d do without Jacob and Patrick,” Sophie went on. “They fuss more than they ought to, but I wouldn’t be able to live out here if they didn’t help me keep the place up. The Lord sent those two wonderful men. I was in the hospital with complications from pneumonia, worried I’d have to sell my house, when Patrick showed up one Sunday with a group of men from his church to read to the patients. Your father got stuck with me.” Sophie chuckled at the memory.

“We had a nice chat afterward and found out that we both loved antiques. The next Sunday, he introduced me to Jacob. They brought Monopoly along and convinced me to play. I don’t think I ever laughed so much in my life. By the time I came home from the hospital, they’d spruced up the place and every day one of them would stop by or call to check up on me. I think they adopted me like I was a stray—just like Sadie.”

Evie hid a smile. Somehow, she doubted it was an accurate comparison!

“They were a reminder that no matter what the future holds, God’s already there, preparing the way. Oh, He doesn’t always smooth out the rough spots in the road ahead. Those are the places we have to exercise our spiritual muscles, you know. To build our faith, so to speak. But God always provides the strength I need to keep going.”

The sincerity in the words touched Evie and explained the source of the peace in Sophie’s eyes. Evie knew that the woman’s deep faith, the fruit of years of walking with the Lord, was another quality Patrick would have been drawn to.

A sudden movement on the stairs caught Evie’s attention. The man glowering at them over the railing looked to be only a few years older than she was, but the expression on his face made him look like a cranky toddler who’d just awakened from a nap.

“Evie, this is my son, Tyson.” Sophie ignored Tyson’s sullen look while she made the introductions. “Tyson, this is Evie McBride, Patrick’s daughter.”

“Hey.” His hooded stare fixed on Evie. It reminded her of a crocodile. Cold and flat.

This was Sophie’s son?

A shudder chased up Evie’s spine, but she forced a polite smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Tyson.”

“Evie is taking care of Beach Glass while Patrick is away on his fishing trip,” Sophie told him.

“There’s not much to do around here.” Tyson’s gaze burrowed into her. “We should hang out sometime.”

A shiver coursed through her. “I’m afraid I don’t have much free time. I’ll either be minding the shop or tutoring Faith.”

Tyson shrugged and stomped down the rest of the stairs. “I’m going out for a while.”

“Ty, where—”

The door snapped Sophie’s question in half.

Evie’s heart went out to her. It was hard to believe someone as rude as Tyson was Sophie’s flesh and blood. With his unkempt appearance and surly attitude, Tyson didn’t seem to be someone Sophie could depend on. No wonder she was so grateful for Patrick and Jacob’s help.

Faith broke the awkward silence as she plopped next to Sophie on the couch, the puppy draped over her arm. It raised its head and tried to lick her cheek, igniting a fit of the giggles.

Sophie smiled but Evie didn’t miss the pensive look in her eyes. Compliments of Tyson. Impulsively, Evie patted Sophie’s hand before rising to her feet.