Her Unlikely Family Read Free

his watch. “You know, I really want to find her and get back to Charleston. I have an important meeting tomorrow. Do you have any idea where she could be?”
    â€œSo this is all about getting back to your important meeting, huh?”
    He sighed. This woman was impossible. Since when was it a crime to work hard? “No. It’s about making sure my niece is safe. About getting her back to school—and round-the-clock supervision—where she belongs before she makes a stupid mistake.” Like her mother made sixteen years ago.
    â€œWhat kind of mistake?”
    â€œSome of her friends thought she might have left with an older boy. A troublemaker.”
    Josie thought about her one encounter with the troublemaker boyfriend and said a quick prayer of thanks that the creep had ditched Lisa and hit the road—even if he had “borrowed” her car.
    She figured another prayer for guidance wouldn’t be a bad idea either since Michael Throckmorton didn’t seem as awful as Lisa had made him out to be. In fact, he seemed downright concerned. Except for wanting to get back for a meeting. That bothered her.
    But maybe she should at least let him know Lisa was safe.
    But then Lisa would feel betrayed and might run again.
    What a mess.
    â€œYou know, Mike, if you’ll hang around until I’m off tonight, I might be able to help you.”
    His all-business, I’m-in-a-hurry-to-get-out-of-here scowl lit with a hint of hope. “I knew it. You do know where Lisa is.”
    â€œOrder’s up,” Bud called.
    What should she do? Mike obviously cared for his niece. Maybe he just didn’t know how to show it. “Okay, I admit I’ve met her, and I can tell you she’s safe. But she doesn’t want to see you.”
    He winced at the truth. “She’s made that fairly clear.”
    Bud impatiently clanged the little service bell and nodded toward a customer. “Hamburger’s getting cold.”
    â€œLook, I need to get back to work. I’m pulling a double, so I don’t get off till ten.”
    She hopped up and went to pick up the order, but when she turned to take it to the table, she glimpsed the back of Mike’s broad back as he disappeared through the swinging door into the kitchen.
    By the time she caught up to him, he stood alone in the middle of the spick-and-span room. Lisa was nowhere in sight.
    â€œShe’s not here.” He sounded deflated.
    â€œNo. But like I said, she’s safe.”
    He zeroed in on the exit leading to the alley. “If I don’t find her, I’ll meet you outside at ten. But I expect some answers.” In four strides of his long legs, he was out the door, his head snapping left and right to search the darkening alley.
    Bud stuck his head into the kitchen, saw the intruder was gone and said, “She left with Brian after he delivered the bread.”
    â€œDo you have any idea where they went?”
    â€œNo.”
    A flutter of panic beat against Josie’s chest. “What if she ran again?”
    A worried look deepened his wrinkles, but he shrugged. “The girl’s your mission project. Not mine.” The door flapped closed as he went back to the dining room and his grill.
    Josie wondered if protecting Lisa had been the right thing to do. Instinct had told her the girl needed some time away from peer pressure family pressure, and the burden wealth could put on a person—just as Josie had needed at that age. Lisa needed time to figure out who she was and what she wanted out of life.
    But Josie had thought she was dealing with an unwanted eighteen-year-old. Now she had to find a way to prevent the girl from running away again while being responsible to the hunky uncle. Maybe she could hold him off until she talked to Lisa—providing Lisa showed up at home that night.
    Lord, I thought You sent Lisa to me like You sent the other runaways. I thought You wanted me to help her.