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directions that Reverend Andrews mentioned today.
And, Lord& if Abby is part of Your plan for me, show
me how to help her find a way to overcome the obsta-
cles she s putting between us. Because I sense that
they re formidable and without Your intervention,
perhaps insurmountable.
170 A Dream To Share
* * *
This is a very generous gesture, Mark.
With a shrug, Mark stuck his hands in the pockets of
his slacks as the minister stared, dumbfounded, at the
sizeable check Mark had handed to him after the
service. I know there are a lot of Evans out there. And
a lot of families like the Langes. I m working on an idea
that could help more of them. But in the meantime, this
should smooth things out a bit for the Langes and give
Evan his dream back. Mark did a quick survey of the
church hall, where members of the congregation had
gathered to enjoy their pancakes. But remember I
want it kept anonymous.
No problem. I ll say this came from a benefactor
who didn t want to be identified. He pocketed the
check with care. I must admit I m also intrigued about
this idea you referred to.
It s still in the proposal stage. But you ll be one of
the first to know if anything comes of it.
Then I ll be praying for good news. It sounds like
a worthy initiative. Now why don t you have some
pancakes? I see Marge over there waving. Looks like
she saved you a place.
Turning, Mark grinned as the innkeeper pantomimed
an invitation. Considering all the gray hair at her table,
it looked like a meeting of the senior women s club.
Go ahead. Make their day, the minister encouraged
with a chuckle. It s not every Sunday the ladies get to
enjoy the company of a handsome young man. Mean-
while, I ll put this to good use. He patted his pocket
and inclined his head toward a table in the far corner,
Irene Hannon 171
where Evan sat with his family. And I guarantee you ll
make their day, too.
As the minister headed off, Mark worked his way
toward Marge, scanning the hall as he edged around the
packed tables. According to the minister, he d already
brightened several people s day. That left just one un-
resolved question.
Could he do the same for a certain newspaper editor?
What in the world was Mark doing at the pancake
breakfast?
Stunned, Abby paused as she carried plates from the
kitchen to the serving counter in the church hall. At least
she thought it was Mark. She only had a back view of
the tall man talking with Reverend Andrews. No, she
had to be mistaken. This wasn t his kind of thing.
Then he turned his head and she got a good look at
his strong, handsome profile. It was him! Her breath
hitched in her throat and her pulse tripped into a staccato
beat, destroying the calm she d managed to create yes-
terday while hibernating at home to nurse the bruised
knee she d sustained in the collision. Once, a whole
hour had gone by without thoughts of Mark flitting
through her mind. But all he had to do was show up,
and wham! she was reduced to a mass of quivering
nerves and unruly yearnings.
Depositing the plates on the counter, Abby beat a
hasty retreat to the safety of the kitchen and tried to think
of an excuse to cut out early. But that wouldn t be fair to
the breakfast committee. Besides, even if she ran away
from the man, she couldn t run away from her feelings.
172 A Dream To Share
The pancake breakfast duty was so routine to her by
now that she shifted into autopilot as she worked,
leaving her mind free to think about the odd turn of
events in her life during the past few months.
First, she d been forced to accept the harsh reality that
the Gazette wasn t going to survive without outside help,
as well as the fact that in giving the paper the help it
needed, she would be signing the death warrant for a
family tradition. Even now, with Mark ensconced in the
office, she was struggling to accept the bitter truth. Not
to mention trying to come to grips with a life suddenly
adrift and directionless. For as long as she could re-
member, she d been certain of her path. But her route had
been changed, and she had no map for the rest of her
journey. It was an unsettling situation, to say the least.
As if that wasn t enough, Mark had added more
turmoil to her life. Never in a million years had she
expected to fall for the stuck-up, lazy playboy she d
talked with back in August. And she wouldn t have, if
he d lived down to her expectations. Instead, he d sur-
prised her by proving to be a hardworking, caring
person. A person she could admire and respect.
A person she could love.
Closing her eyes, Abby drew a shaky breath. This
was so wrong. His life was in Chicago. Hers was here.
He was rich. She wasn t. He wore designer clothes.
She d been known to supplement her wardrobe at the
thrift store in Rolla. He was sophisticated. She was the
girl next door. It could never work. She had to fight this
attraction.
But that task was formidable. She was pretty sure she
Irene Hannon 173
could manage it if the attraction was one-sided. Unfor-
tunately, Mark seemed to return her feelings. And he
also seemed determined to do something about it. There
had been instances in the past couple of weeks when
she d seen tenderness and caring in his eyes, when he d
touched her with a gentleness and propriety that went
beyond mere friendship. She suspected that all he
needed was a little encouragement.
But she couldn t give him that. She had to be strong.
Fortified with new resolve, Abby balanced the next
three plates on her arm, pushed through the swinging door
into the serving area and came face-to-face with Mark.
The slow smile that started at his lips and lit a fire in
his eyes snatched away her resolve as easily as the
capricious early-November breeze was plucking the
leaves off the stately oak trees that lined her street.
Hi. His voice was husky and oh-so-appealing.
Abby refused to look at him, setting the plates on
the serving counter with more care than necessary as
she prepared to bolt. This is a surprise. What are you
doing here?
Having breakfast. Marge suggested it when I was
at loose ends this morning. She invited me to the
service, too.
Did you come? Abby stared at him, dumbfounded.
Yes. I didn t see you up there, though.
I went to the early service.
That explains it, then. Reverend Andrews gave a
great sermon, didn t he? Reaching for a plate of pan-
cakes, Mark grinned. When do you get off?
After everyone is served.
174 A Dream To Share
Any plans for this afternoon? I was going to take a
drive in the country and I d welcome some company.
He was asking her out! A delicious tingle ran up her
spine, and waves of happiness lapped at her heart. She
wanted to go. More than she could remember wanting
anything in a very long time. The temptation to accept
was almost too strong to fight.
But somehow she managed to summon up the self-
discipline to refuse. I have a bunch of things I need to
take care of today. Thanks, anyway. With that, she
turned and almost ran back into the kitchen.
Juggling his plate of pancakes and a cup of orange
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