What the Heart Knows by Margaret Daley Page B

him. But the thing that made him themost appealing to her, and she suspected others, was his kindness and his caring attitude.
    â€œYou’re easy to tease.”
    Kathleen pushed away her musings concerning Jared. She had no business thinking of him in any way other than a friend who wanted to help her son. “I told Hannah if she needed me to help her again that I would be happy to.”
    â€œYou’re a lifesaver. I’ll encourage her to take you up on your offer.”
    â€œIt lets you off the hook.”
    â€œYou bet. I get tongue-tied just thinking about shopping with my daughter for more grown-up clothes. It was fine when she liked to dress as a boy, but realistically I know that will change, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Next thing I know some young boy will be coming to the house to take her out on a date. That’s gonna be mighty hard on me.”
    â€œIt usually is for dads.”
    â€œBut not moms?”
    â€œWe know what’s going on in the daughter’s head.”
    â€œYeah, that’s the problem. We know what’s going on in the boy’s head.”
    Kathleen laughed. “So it will be easier for you with Terry?”
    â€œYou bet. Guys don’t wear makeup and lacy things.”
    â€œI meant what I said to Hannah. I’ll help her whenever she needs it.”
    Jared’s gaze shifted to his daughter returning from the restroom. “This dad will be in your debt.”
    As Hannah sat down beside her, Kathleen felt the rightness of the situation. She had enjoyed shopping with the young girl. For a few hours she had forgotten her problems with Mark. She had experienced what it would have been like if she’d had a daughter.
    Jared made her feel important to his family, a good friend. She needed that in her time of trouble, to keep her focus on what was possible.
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    Kathleen stood on the edge of the hiking trail and scanned the valley below. Miles of green stretched before her. The tops of the trees gently swayed in the southerly breeze. The sun beat down upon her, chasing away the early-morning chill. When she lifted her gaze, she noticed not a cloud in the azure-blue sky. The scent of pine and earth filled her nostrils with each deep breath she took.
    Even though behind her she heard the voices of the teenagers, she cleared her mind and allowed peace to settle over her. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself alone on this mountaintop with not a care in the world.
    Someone jostled her. She glanced over her shoulder at a young man as he passed her on the path.
    â€œSorry, ma’am. Lost my footing.”
    â€œThat’s okay.” She fell into step behind him, realizing her moment of daydreaming was over.
    â€œI love hiking up here,” Jared said, coming alongside her on the trail as it widened.
    â€œMakes you feel on top of the world.”
    â€œMakes me feel closer to God. One of the bestways to celebrate His glory is to spend time in the outdoors admiring His work.”
    â€œI’m glad Hannah could come.”
    Jared leaned close to whisper, “She heard you were coming and her plans changed.”
    Jared’s nearness shivered down her spine. His lime-scented aftershave lotion vied with the outdoorsy scents that enveloped her. “She did?”
    â€œShe asked to come along the second I got home that day you two went shopping. I’m surprised she didn’t call me at the office. She was hopping around as though she could barely contain herself.”
    Pleased, Kathleen searched the path for the young girl and found her up ahead sandwiched between Shane and Mark. “I think I got more out of the shopping trip than she did. You’ve raised a wonderful daughter.” Again the longing for a large family inundated Kathleen. John and she had tried to have more children, but it had never happened.
    â€œYou’ve made quite an impression on her. She’s already canvassed the neighborhood for