Doris English - A Healing Love

Cover Page

Excerpt “But I love you,” he insisted. “Love is more than attraction, Brad.” Laura smiled gently. “It begins with friendship, compatibility—” “I think we have that,” he replied. “Then it grows into admiration and respect, where aspirations and values are shared,” she continued. “It involves being willing to place someone else’s happiness above your own. And I think it’s knowing you’d rather be with someone more than anyone else in the world.” She paused and gazed up at him. “Those are the benefits of a sacred commitment. I determined long ago, I’d settle for nothing less.” Brad’s gaze darkened. He took her hand. “What about us?” he asked. “Only time will tell. You never know what will happen when you regain your memory,” she reminded him, her voice husky with emotion. “There’s nothing in this world that could change the way I feel about you, Laura McBride.”

About the Author DORIS ENGLISH After only one year in college, Doris English left school to marry her high school sweetheart. Forty years later and more in love than ever, he is still the man of her dreams and she would do the same thing all over again. Although marriage and children—three daughters— delayed her education and put her dream to write on hold, she nurtured that dream by pursuing her education when she could work it in between family commitments. In 1990, just one year before her youngest daughter graduated from college, Doris graduated from West Georgia University with a 4.0 average and a B.A. in history and a minor in journalism. Meanwhile, she fulfilled her writing dreams by writing articles for inspirational magazines, historical journals, newspapers and inspirational novels. Doris and her husband, Bob, live on a small farm just outside of metropolitan Atlanta where she delights in sitting on the front porch of her modified French country home and watching deer graze in the pasture in front of her house. They enjoy travel and their cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains where Doris spends her most productive hours writing. Doris’s message to young women in whose heart God has put a dream is don’t despair. Set your priorities in order and God will bring you the desires of your heart.

Title Page A Healing Love Doris English www.millsandboon.co.uk

Epigraph Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, all things become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Dedication To the man of my dreams, my husband, Bob, whose constant encouragement and steadfast belief in my dream during the times when I struggled and doubted, kept me faithful.

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

Dear Reader

Copyright

“Love is more than attraction, Brad.” Laura smiled gently. “It begins with friendship, compatibility—”

“I think we have that,” he replied.

“Then it grows into admiration and respect, where aspirations and values are shared,” she continued. “It involves being willing to place someone else’s happiness above your own. And I think it’s knowing you’d rather be with someone more than anyone else in the world.”

She paused and gazed up at him. “Those are the benefits of a sacred commitment. I determined long ago, I’d settle for nothing less.”

Brad’s gaze darkened. He took her hand.

“What about us?” he asked.

“Only time will tell. You never know what will happen when you regain your memory,” she reminded him, her voice husky with emotion.

“There’s nothing in this world that could change the way I feel about you, Laura McBride.”

After only one year in college, Doris English left school to marry her high school sweetheart. Forty years later and more in love than ever, he is still the man of her dreams and she would do the same thing all over again.

Although marriage and children—three daughters— delayed her education and put her dream to write on hold, she nurtured that dream by pursuing her education when she could work it in between family commitments. In 1990, just one year before her youngest daughter graduated from college, Doris graduated from West Georgia University with a 4.0 average and a B.A. in history and a minor in journalism. Meanwhile, she fulfilled her writing dreams by writing articles for inspirational magazines, historical journals, newspapers and inspirational novels.

Doris and her husband, Bob, live on a small farm just outside of metropolitan Atlanta where she delights in sitting on the front porch of her modified French country home and watching deer graze in the pasture in front of her house. They enjoy travel and their cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains where Doris spends her most productive hours writing.

Doris’s message to young women in whose heart God has put a dream is don’t despair. Set your priorities in order and God will bring you the desires of your heart.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new

creature. Old things are passed away, all things

become new.

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

To the man of my dreams, my husband, Bob,

whose constant encouragement and steadfast belief

in my dream during the times when I struggled and

doubted, kept me faithful.

Dr. Laura McBride eased her red sports car into the morning rush-hour traffic, headed toward the freeway. Once on the main north-south artery, traffic evened out and the young doctor had time to puzzle over why her former medical school suite mate, Darlene Coleman, had invited her into the city for a visit.

They hadn’t been in touch for several years—not since the two had left to do their residencies. When Darlene’s unexpected invitation arrived last week, curiosity had drawn Laura like a magnet. A weekend in the city seemed a welcome relief from her duties in her dad’s clinic, now a fully accredited hospital located in a quiet hamlet in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The congested neighborhoods of the inner city gave way to larger, towering structures. Laura saw the sprawling new medical center ahead, and beside it Darlene’s office complex. A twinge of envy clouded Laura’s countenance. She had rejected a residency at this very hospital to return to her father’s small clinic. Her refusal proved Darlene’s opportunity.

Laura stepped out of the glass elevator tower into a plush reception room of marble floors, lofty ceiling and a magnificent view of the river. Laura still had trouble visualizing her shy, somewhat stodgy, suite mate managing successfully in such an elite urban environment.

A woman in a tailored navy suit and silk blouse looked up from the reception desk and stared at Laura coolly. She reached a manicured hand behind her for an acrylic pad before asking Laura if she were a new patient.

Laura beamed, ignoring the woman’s frosty look. “No. Please tell Dr. Coleman that Dr. Laura McBride is here.”

“Dr. McBride?” the woman repeated as she scanned a computer screen. “I don’t have you down on her appointment list.”