A Time To Heal

A Time To Heal
Linda Goodnight

Only one person knows why Kat Thatcher left her Oklahoma hometown ten years ago.Why she ran to the city and became a workaholic doctor. Why she put off marriage…indefinitely. And that person is now staring her in the face on her first day back in town!Seth Washington is as handsome as ever. Way too available. And wanting to talk about the past–which Kat prefers to leave alone. Seth insists the Lord is on their side and always was. Kat's starting to believe, but will that be enough for love?

“I’d forgotten how much fun we used to have.”

“One bad event can destroy a lot of good memories.”

Kat’s face closed up and she looked away, smile gone. Seth wished he’d kept his mouth shut.

“Hey, look at that sky.”

“I see Venus,” Kat said, focused upward, and Seth was relieved to have skirted the issue that always drove her away. They had never talked about it. The topic of their mistake, their shame, their loss and guilt was like a wall between them.

Was he falling for Kat all over again? Was that what was happening here?

The haunting cry of a whip-poor-will sounded in the woods behind them. He understood the loneliness in that call. Loving had cost him too much, but not loving left him empty.

And under the circumstances, he didn’t know what to do about either one.

LINDA GOODNIGHT

A romantic at heart, Linda Goodnight believes in the traditional values of family and home. Writing books enables her to share her certainty that, with faith and perseverance, love can last forever and happy endings really are possible.

A native of Oklahoma, Linda lives in the country with her husband, Gene, and Mugsy, an adorably obnoxious rat terrier. She and Gene have a blended family of six grown children. A former elementary-school teacher, she is also a licensed nurse. When time permits, Linda loves to read, watch football and rodeo and indulge in chocolate. She also enjoys taking long, calorie-burning walks in the nearby woods. Readers can write to her at linda@lindagoodnight.com, or c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

A Time To Heal

Linda Goodnight

“For I know the plans I have for you,”

declares the Lord.

“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.”

—Jeremiah 29:11

This one is for you, the faithful readers who buy

my books, who write me letters and e-mails filled

with sweet encouragement. I am grateful for every

single one of you. You are a blessing.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Questions For Discussion

Chapter One

“I’m never going back.”

Dr. Kathryn Thatcher lay in the wooden porch swing, one arm slung across her eyes, her weary body soaking up sun.

She hadn’t been outside in such a long time she’d likely suffer second-degree burn. But the old family home at Wilson’s Cove, Oklahoma, was tailor-made for lazing around, something the career-driven Dr. Thatcher never did. Until now.

Three days and counting since she’d asked her medical director for a leave of absence and walked out. In truth, she wanted to resign, but he’d talked her out of it. Didn’t matter. She was done, finished, through.

Too many dead kids would do that to a person.