Her Texas Family by Jill Lynn

down the photos, sinking into the memories.
    He missed her, but with each day Brooke was beginning to feel further and further away. Like a fading photo he couldn’t protect. His mom wanted him to move on. The Wellings didn’t want him to. Everyone had an opinion, making him feel like a piece of taffy stretched in every direction. But Graham could only deal with his own emotions. And he just wasn’t willing to give Brooke up.
    If he had his way, he never would.

Chapter Eight
    â€œY our dad should be here any minute. In fact, we should probably wash your hands before he arrives.” Lucy should at least make an attempt to remove some of the dirt from under Mattie’s fingernails.
    They went into the bathroom, and Lucy ran the water until it was lukewarm.
    â€œI hope Daddy wasn’t lonely without me today.” Mattie lathered soap between her hands.
    Did normal five-year-olds worry about their parents while they were out having fun? Lucy didn’t think so. Just another reason this little girl was one of a kind.
    â€œDid you think he would be? What does your dad do after work and on the weekends?”
    Mattie continued to scrub the soap up to her elbows as though she were a surgeon. “Work.”
    â€œAll of the time?”
    â€œNo. He also cleans, and packs my lunches, and goes to Grandpa and Grandma’s house—my other grandparents, not the ones you met.”
    All exciting things. “What does your dad do for fun?”
    Her little forehead crinkled and she finally slipped her hands under the water. “What do you mean?”
    â€œFun. Like does he golf? Run? Hunt?”
    Each thing was met with a shake of Mattie’s head.
    â€œWatch movies?”
    â€œYou mean like Frozen ?”
    â€œKind of.” Though not really.
    â€œHe usually falls asleep during that movie.”
    â€œWhat about watching TV?”
    Mattie perked up. “He reads.”
    Hmm. Lucy flipped the water off, and Mattie used the hand towel.
    â€œAnd he watches baseball and football sometimes.”
    Sounded as if Graham rarely relaxed or did anything for himself.
    Lucy’s conscience raised its hands, screaming for attention. She wanted to ignore it the way she did laundry, but her passionate heart wouldn’t let her.
    Graham was exactly the type of person who needed someone like her to intervene in his life. Lucy knew without having to peek into Graham’s windows that he was the best kind of father. She imagined he read to Mattie every night and packed healthy lunches and was übercalm all of the time. But did he ever have fun? Let loose? According to Mattie, not really. Of course, there was a chance the girl just didn’t know, but Lucy doubted it.
    Usually, she would be all about bringing a little happy into someone else’s life. But diving into Graham’s was a bit complicated.
    His in-laws didn’t like the idea of them spending time together, even if they weren’t dating. So how would Lucy ever go about helping him kick back if she couldn’t be seen around him?
    Unless...the Wellings didn’t know.
    She could totally help Graham if his in-laws didn’t find out.
    Mattie flew out of the bathroom, and Lucy followed at a slower pace. She’d have to come up with a plan, though she wasn’t sure where to begin.
    She shrugged. She’d pray about it. She’d think about it. The idea would come to her.
    It always did.
    * * *
    â€œThanks for dinner.” Graham set a pile of plates by the sink, and Olivia looked up from loading the dishwasher.
    â€œNo problem. I’m glad you could come. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”
    â€œThat would be great.” Graham had enjoyed dinner. The smaller group setting fit him, and being with Jack and Cash was always easy. They’d reminisced and talked work, sports teams and family. Graham hadn’t realized Olivia was pregnant. It had come up in conversation tonight, though