Marta Perry - A Father's Promise

Cover Page

Excerpt “Sarah!” In an instant he reached for his daughter, scooped her up in his arms, held her close. “I was so worried…” Her arms went around his neck, and she buried her face in his shoulder. He hugged her, the little angles of her knees poking him, her tears wetting his shirt. He’d never felt anything so sweet in his life. He had her back. “You’re safe now, honey.” Daniel turned to the woman before him. He hadn’t seen her on the island before. If he had, he’d have remembered. Short blond hair, sea-green eyes and a splattering of freckles across her cheeks that gave her a sun-kissed glow. “Thank you.” The words were inadequate. She smiled. “You’re welcome.” He held out his hand. “I’m Daniel Gregory, Sarah’s father.” Her palm fit nicely into his. “Leigh Christopher.” Daniel knew it was time to thank her again and walk away. But somehow he couldn’t just leave …

About the Author MARTA PERRY loves seeing the stories in her imagination take shape on the page, so that they can be shared with others. The idea for A Father’s Promise began in a chance meeting at a church conference with a child whose hearing impairment didn’t keep her from doing everything she wanted to do. The Sea Islands, where the author and her husband have a vacation home, provided the perfect setting for the story of Daniel, Leigh and little Sarah. Marta wanted to be a writer from the moment she encountered Nancy Drew, at about age eight. She didn’t see publication of her stories until many years later, when she began writing children’s fiction for Sunday school papers while she was a church education director. Although now retired from that position in order to write full-time, she continues to play an active part in her church and loves teaching a lively class of fifth- and sixth-grade Sunday school students. As is true for Daniel and Leigh, the author has found in her own life that God gives far more than we could ask. The author lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband of thirty-six years and has three grown children. She loves to hear from readers and enjoys responding. She can be reached c/o Steeple Hill Books, 300 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017.

Title Page A Father’s Promise Marta Perry www.millsandboon.co.uk

Epigraph Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, by the power which is at work within us… — Ephesians 3:20

Dedication This book is dedicated to my children, Lorie, Susan and Scott, who have taught me much about love. And, as always, to Brian.

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

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Copyright

In an instant he reached for his daughter, scooped her up in his arms, held her close. “I was so worried…”

Her arms went around his neck, and she buried her face in his shoulder. He hugged her, the little angles of her knees poking him, her tears wetting his shirt. He’d never felt anything so sweet in his life. He had her back. “You’re safe now, honey.”

Daniel turned to the woman before him. He hadn’t seen her on the island before. If he had, he’d have remembered. Short blond hair, sea-green eyes and a splattering of freckles across her cheeks that gave her a sun-kissed glow.

“Thank you.” The words were inadequate.

She smiled. “You’re welcome.”

He held out his hand. “I’m Daniel Gregory, Sarah’s father.”

Her palm fit nicely into his. “Leigh Christopher.”

Daniel knew it was time to thank her again and walk away. But somehow he couldn’t just leave …

loves seeing the stories in her imagination take shape on the page, so that they can be shared with others. The idea for A Father’s Promise began in a chance meeting at a church conference with a child whose hearing impairment didn’t keep her from doing everything she wanted to do. The Sea Islands, where the author and her husband have a vacation home, provided the perfect setting for the story of Daniel, Leigh and little Sarah.

Marta wanted to be a writer from the moment she encountered Nancy Drew, at about age eight. She didn’t see publication of her stories until many years later, when she began writing children’s fiction for Sunday school papers while she was a church education director. Although now retired from that position in order to write full-time, she continues to play an active part in her church and loves teaching a lively class of fifth- and sixth-grade Sunday school students.

As is true for Daniel and Leigh, the author has found in her own life that God gives far more than we could ask.

The author lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband of thirty-six years and has three grown children. She loves to hear from readers and enjoys responding. She can be reached c/o Steeple Hill Books, 300 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, by the power which is at work within us…

— Ephesians 3:20

This book is dedicated to my children, Lorie, Susan and Scott, who have taught me much about love. And, as always, to Brian.

The moment he realized his daughter was lost, Daniel Gregory knew his life had to change.

Alone as usual, he balanced on the second-story beam of what was going to be his oceanfront inn and stared down at the teenage baby-sitter. She stood just outside the construction site, tears streaking her face. He’d feel sorry for her if not for the panic searing his nerves.

“How did this happen?” He swung himself to the sand. “How could you let a deaf child out of your sight?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Gregory. Honest. I didn’t mean to. But the phone rang, and she was just playing on the porch, and I thought I’d only be a minute…”

The girl’s excuses ran out, and she gestured up the path to the house.

“You don’t think she went toward the water?” Daniel’s heart clenched. He shot a glance at the ocean that lapped the shores of the Georgia sea island. The tide was going out; the surf, a gentle ripple.

She shook her head, tears welling. “Sarah’s scared of the waves. I don’t think she’d go that way. I looked out by the road but didn’t see her, so I ran down here to find you.”

The girl dissolved in heart-wrenching sobs, and Daniel gave her shoulder a quick pat. He was about as helpless at comforting her as he was at taking care of his child, he thought bitterly.

“Come on, Patsy. We’ll find her.” He couldn’t let the kid see how scared he was, or she’d be no help at all. “You go back up and search the house. I’ll check the beach.”

Patsy brushed tears from frightened brown eyes. “Right away. I’ll look everywhere.” She turned and darted up the path through sea grass and palmettos toward the house.

Daniel rounded the edge of the construction, scanning the beach. The usual few tourists, a fisherman or two. No little girl with dark hair in untidy braids and the cords of her hearing aid dangling like a necklace.

He forced himself to look again, tamping down the need to run, to shout her name. Shouting wouldn’t do any good. Sarah wouldn’t hear him.