Promise Of Forever

Promise Of Forever
Patt Marr

I learned that in Sunday school. That's why I draw rainbows. I love Bible stories, especially Noah and the ark - 'cause Daddy's name is Noah McKnight.I thought it would be nice to make a rainbow for his new boss, Dr. Beth Brennan, to welcome her. She joined her family's medical clinic and painted animals two by two on the walls! Daddy comes home smiling every night, when he used to be so sad.Beth's smart and pretty. She goes to church with me, likes cookies, knows how to fix a little girl's hair and would make a perfect mommy. I just have to convince Daddy of that!

“We might as well acknowledge that two single people working in the same office are going to be teased until people realize we’re just friends.”

Noah was surprised she had the guts to say it, but it was true. People had been trying to set him up on dates since the day his wife had died. Beth Brennan was the hot topic of gossip right now, and he would be mentioned in the same breath…for a while.

“Even if we ignore it, they probably won’t stop until one of us starts to see someone,” Beth said ruefully.

“It’ll have to be you,” he said dryly. “My daughter is the only woman in my life.”

Beth sighed very unprofessionally. “I hate to date.”

She looked so genuinely distressed that a chuckle escaped Noah’s lips.

“Hey!” She frowned at his laughter. “That’s going to cost you. Until I find Mr. Right, I might just act as if I don’t mind the teasing. What do you think of that?” she challenged, mischief in her eyes.

She didn’t mind if they were linked together? Noah was in big trouble….

PATT MARR

has a friend who says she reminds him of a car that’s either zooming along in the fast lane or sitting on the shoulder, out of gas. Her family says he’s dead right. At age twenty, she had a B.S. in business education, a handsome, good-hearted husband and a sweet baby girl. Since then, Patt has had a precious baby boy, earned an M.A. in counseling, worked a lifetime as a high school educator, cooked big meals for friends, attended a zillion basketball games where her husband coached and her son played. She has also enjoyed many years of church music, children’s ministries, drama and television production—often working with her grown-up daughter.

During down time, Patt reads romance, eats too many carbs, watches too many movies and sleeps way too little. She’s been blessed with terrific children-in-law, two darling granddaughters, two loving grandsons, many wonderful friends, a great church and a chance to write love stories about people who love God as much as she does.

Promise of Forever

Patt Marr

For I know the plans I have for you.

They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a hope and a future.

—Jeremiah 29:11

Heartfelt appreciation for help with this book goes to my cousin Paul Lawrence, for expert critique; my daughter J. Marr, for endless encouragement; my son and daughter-in-law, Dane and Carla Marr, for providing the prototype of the character, Kendra; and Beth Elwood, R.N., for technical advice.

I dedicate this story to a woman of unshakable faith, my dear friend, Sue Lemmon.

Contents

Prologue

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

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Prologue

Beverly Hills, California—April

For one moment, Dr. Beth Brennan felt as if she soared on invisible wings, floating on the approval of her entire family and the Brennan Medical Clinic staff. Well-wishers thronged about her, congratulating her for finishing her residency and becoming the new clinic pediatrician.

In the next moment, her mother’s manic rage came out of nowhere, and she launched into the most outrageous of all of her tantrums. The room went silent as Deborah Brennan’s illness took center stage.

Everyone here was associated with the clinic in some way. Most of them had been guests in Beth’s parents’ home. They knew her mother as a vibrant, elegant hostess, not this vicious tyrant, but her manic behavior wouldn’t be the family secret anymore.

It shouldn’t have come to this, not with seven doctors in the Brennan family. Not one of them, including Beth, had the guts to stand up to her mother and make her get the help she needed. If they had, there wouldn’t be an audience watching her dad and uncle drag her protesting mother away.

With so many pitying eyes upon her, Beth felt paralyzed. She wanted to leave, but her feet wouldn’t move.

A tall man in blue scrubs—a man about her own age with close-cropped dark hair and intense brown eyes—took her elbow. “Your grandfather sent me to get you, Dr. Brennan.”

Beth was a veteran at fighting her own battles, but, just this once, retreat seemed like a better idea.

They didn’t talk on the way to her grandfather’s office. Another time she would have paid more attention to the man’s chiseled good looks and muscular build. She might have shrugged away from his hand on her elbow and made some joke about knowing the way to her grandfather’s office as well as every inch of this building. But his steadying presence offered the perfect amount of comfort without pity.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m Noah,” he answered, opening the door to her grandfather’s office.

“Thank you, Noah,” her grandfather said.

The man nodded and shut the door behind her.

Noah. Sometime, she would thank him.

“Come in, Beth. Sit here beside me.” Her handsome, white-haired grandfather patted the burgundy leather sofa.

She snuggled close, glad they were there for each other. Grandpa had been the anchor in her life, the one person she could always count on.

“How’s my favorite granddaughter?”

His only granddaughter. It was an old joke, but she usually played along. Not today. She leaned her head on his shoulder.