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“Come on, Papa is going to be waiting for us.” Julie tugged gently on her daughter’s hand. Lilian was toddling along, her short little legs having to run to keep up with Julie.
“Will we come every day to have lunch with Papa now?” Lilian asked.
“No, darling. We can’t come every day. But today is a special day.” Julie grinned as she remembered what day it was. It was the day that she and Alex had gotten married.
She knew that he was very busy with his practice and his apprentice, but she wanted him to know that she remembered and that she cared. Of course, she didn’t expect much for her efforts, but she thought it would be nice to share a meal with him and enjoy some conversation as they remembered the good times they’d had and hopefully would continue to have.
They had ridden into town but left Prince tied at the general store. Alex had built his practice a good distance from the other doctor’s office. Not that the town doctor minded another practice in town—there were a lot of new people, and more just kept coming on the train. There were so many new settlers that it seemed like Julie didn’t recognize half of the people anymore.
When they got to the little practice, Julie smiled with pride. She remembered the first practice that Alex had built, nearly four years ago when they had first been married.
It had been so quaint in comparison with this one. Her father was responsible for the beauty of the structure. He’d paid to have it built by a professional architect.
She pushed through the door, holding it open for Lilian, who hurried through. There was a nice room for people to wait, with a quaint white bench on once side and two chairs on the other.
Passing through the doorway, there was a room with a table for examination and a shelf full of supplies that Alex used for his patients.
“Mrs. Holden, it’s good to see you,” Thomas, Alex’s apprentice said as he spotted her.
Alex had decided to take on an apprentice when he started having too many patients to care for himself. He loved his patients and caring for them, but he also knew that there was too much work for him to do alone and so had taken Thomas on and started to train him, just as Dr. Manchester had once done for him.
Julie knew that Thomas couldn’t be more than sixteen, but according to Alex, he did a good job.
“I’ll tell the doctor that you’re here,” Thomas said with a grin before disappearing through the door.
Julie had been in the back of the practice before. It was two small rooms, one for examinations in case they received two patients at a time and the other for supplies.
Julie led Liliana over to the chairs against the wall and helped her into one.
“This is where Papa works,” Liliana said proudly.
“Yes, it is. Do you know what your Papa is?”
“He is a doctor and he makes people feel better.”
Julie laughed. “You’re right, he is.”
Alex walked through the door just at that moment. “Hello, you two. What are my two lovely girls doing here?”
Julie stood and hurried over to give him a quick embrace. “Liliana and I thought we would bring you a special lunch to celebrate today.”
“Ah, yes, today. The day I became the luckiest man in the west.”
Julie blushed. “The day I became the luckiest woman alive.”
“What about when I was born?” Liliana asked with one of her huge smiles.
Alex scooped her up into his arms and swung her around. “The day you were born was the happiest day for both your mother and myself.”
Julie laughed along with Liliana. Alex was right about that, she vividly remembered the day that Liliana had become a part of their family.
“And how is my other little one?” Alex put his hand on Julie’s stomach and gave it a soft rub.
Julie giggled. She had learned that she was expecting a second child nearly three months ago.
They had been hoping for more children, and even though it had taken a bit of time just like it had with Liliana, they couldn’t have been happier. Liliana was three, nearly four and Julie knew that she would love a baby brother or sister.
“Will the baby eat lunch, too?” Liliana asked.
“No, no, it won’t.” Julie sat Liliana back down in the chair and pulled out things from her picnic basket.
“Julie, I ran into Clyde earlier. I invited him to supper next week.”
“Good, it’s been a little while since we’ve had him over.”
Julie thought of Clyde fondly. They had reconciled things between him and her father. It had taken him a couple of years, but she was sure that Clyde had forgiven her father and she knew that her father had let go of whatever resentment he’d held toward Clyde. He had given him a good piece of land and asked his forgiveness.
Clyde was a big part of their lives now. They often had him over to share a meal or just to visit. Julie found herself looking forward to those evenings.
“Thank you for doing this, Julie. It means a lot to me.” Alex said softly as she passed him a plate.
Julie felt a smile spread across her face. This was why she did this. She did it for Alex. She knew that he loved the little things, the gestures that she made to show him how much he meant to her.
“Here you go.” Julie gave Liliana a plate. Her daughter looked a lot like Alex. Her dark little curls framed her round face, and her beautiful, sparkling eyes were always full of fun.
“Do you think you’ll be able to come and help with the patients next week?” Alex helped her.
Julie nodded. “I believe so, I bet Margaret would love to watch Liliana.”
Julie would often come in and help Alex with the patients to take some of the load off of Alex and Thomas. Alex’s reputation may have started with working for the Brandt family, but it had only grown from there.
Every single one of his patients left with wonderful things to say about Alex, and Julie couldn’t blame them.
As they ate, Julie remembered some of the things that had drawn them closer over the last four years. It had been such a journey, one that had brought her to love Alex more and more every single day.
It felt like so long ago that they had married—in some ways it felt as if Alex had been a part of her life forever. As they had learned to work together and love each other more, they had also learned to forge a strong relationship with her father.
He and Alex were now close friends, and Julie couldn’t be happier. The time they spent at her father’s house was a happy time where they all learned a lot about each other and enjoyed each other’s company.
Julie looked down at her expanding stomach and then at her husband and daughter. Her family was growing, and she couldn’t be happier with where she was—she was right in the middle of a bunch of people who loved her for her.
—*—
“Is your wife still here?” Thomas asked as he arranged the new supplies on the shelves.
“No, she just left.” Alex still had a smile on his face. “She left you a plate of food in the other room.”
“Thank you.” Thomas went to get it. “Your daughter is bigger every single time I see her.”
Alex nodded. “Yes, she is. Do you want kids someday, Thomas?”
“I don’t know.” Thomas shook his head. “Seems like a complicated thing.”
“Maybe, but I believe that one day, you’ll see that it is worth it.” Alex was surprised at how much Thomas reminded him of himself. He was a young man with a lot of passion to become a doctor, but also a lot of opinions.
There were days that Alex wondered how Dr. Manchester had tolerated him for so long.
Alex remembered the days when he had been convinced that he would never have a family. And yet, here he was awaiting his second child.
He took a wet rag and wiped down the examination table he had just used. He liked to keep his practice clean and fresh for each new patient that came in. He wouldn’t have thought there could be so many sick people in this one little town.
And the town kept growing, more and more every week. Alex was sure that in the coming years, they would see more doctor’s offices sprouting up, with new doctors looking to make a reputation for themselves, too.
Alex sighed. He remembered how he had once only cared about his reputation, and then he had found the most important person in his life.
A knock on the front door pulled Alex from his thoughts. Usually, he let Thomas get the door, but he was closer.
When he pulled the door open, he was pleasantly surprised to see Clyde. He had let any misgivings he had once had about Clyde slip away. The incident with Julie was a far-off memory, now. He didn’t even think about it anymore, and when he did, he no longer felt anger like he once had.
“Clyde, come in. What can I do for you? I wasn’t expecting to see you until next week.”
“I know. It’s just that I am heading out of town for a few days. I thought I would stop by to say goodbye before I left.”
Alex shook his friend’s hand. “It is always a pleasure having you stop by. Won’t you sit down for a few moments?”
Clyde nodded and took a seat where Alex was gesturing. “How have you been? How has everything been with Mr. Brandt? Has he come down to see the new practice yet? I have to say, this building is a lot more than I expected.”
Alex nodded. He had been more than grateful when Mr. Brandt had funded his new practice. It had been built with fine materials that he never would have been able to afford by himself.
“We are getting along nicely. It has been a long time since we have had a disagreement.” Alex gave a little chuckle as he remembered some of the arguments he’d had with Julie’s father in the beginning.
Once Julie and he had married, her father had thought that Alex would like to become a bank manager instead of a doctor. For a while, there had been a bit of tension over the topic.
But little by little, Mr. Brandt had come to accept Alex for who he was and even support his career as a doctor.
“I am glad, I am glad. I couldn’t imagine having a father-in-law like Mr. Brandt, but if you are managing it, I am happy for you.”
Alex clapped his friend on the back. “What about you? Have you found some lucky lady to start a family with yet?”
Clyde looked away and Alex knew that he had. “I might be seeing someone special in town, but I am not ready to make it public.”
Alex nodded his head. “Well, when you decide to tell people, make sure and let us know.”
“If it works out, you will be the first to hear.”
Alex knew that any young woman would be lucky to have Clyde as a catch. The man had become more charming and funny over the years. It seemed that after he’d let go of his desire for revenge for his father, he had slowly come out of his shell, showing a carefree, kind personality that seemed to attract everyone around.
Of course, when he and Clyde had first met, Clyde was plenty charismatic, but that had only multiplied tenfold.
“I should get going. I just wanted to stop by and say hello, but I will be there next week.”
Alex stood and shook Clyde’s hand again. “It is always a pleasure to see you.”
Clyde smiled and retreated out into the street once more. Alex watched him go, feeling thoughtful about their shared past.
He wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t saved Clyde’s life that day. His family never would have known the friendship they now shared.
Alex shook his head and went back inside his doctor’s office. A few moments later, a young mother entered with a child in tow.
The child was clutching his arm with tears streaming down his face.
“What happened? How can we help you, little man?” Alex asked, addressing both the mother and the child.
“He fell and his arm is twisted.” The mother looked as if she had been crying, too, and reminded Alex of Julie.
“It’s going to be all right. We’ll get this little man fixed right up.” Alex reached down and set the young boy up on the examination table.
The little boy whimpered as Alex examined the wounded limb.
“I believe that it is dislocated, we are going to have to set it. Thomas, get me a brace, some gauze, and help me stabilize this here.”
Thomas moved quickly and had everything Alex asked for in a matter of minutes. Alex took it from him and then turned to the mother.
“You are going to have to hold him still, this will hurt a bit.”
She nodded, looking reluctant while she reached out and took ahold of her son’s shoulders.
Alex began to count and, on the count of two, he twisted the arm and it popped back into place.
“There we are, nothing to worry about,” Alex said, patting the boy on the back.
He took his time to carefully brace the arm and wrap it. Even though it had just been dislocated didn’t mean that a muscle hadn’t been torn or something.
“Thank you, oh, thank you.” The mother hugged her son as she expressed her gratitude.
“Just doing my job. Now, be careful with that arm, little man.We don’t want it to happen again, now do we?”
“No, sir.” The young boy looked very convinced that this would be the last time he would allow this to happen to his arm.
Alex left Thomas to finish up with the patients while he went into the back room. He wanted to write a letter back to his friend taking care of Dr. Manchester’s shop.
It had been nearly six months since he had heard from his friend. They shared letters when they had the time to do so. It seemed that Dr. Manchester’s practice was as successful as ever, and Alex felt proud to know he had made the right decision by leaving it in Charlie’s care.
He could almost see his friend now, taking up Dr. Manchester’s position, filling the man’s shoes. They were hard shoes to fill, but from what he had read in his friend’s letters, he was doing a splendid job of it.
He hoped that one day, he would have the chance to go back to Dr. Manchester’s practice and show his children where he learned to become a doctor. Hopefully, when that happened, he would still be well known for his work there.
There wasn’t anything quite like helping and healing people for Alex. He loved his wife, and his children, but he also loved his work. He loved giving people second chances. He loved helping children and seeing their parents’ faces when they saw their child was well again.
He enjoyed teaching Thomas the trade and imagining his apprentice to be a good doctor one day, well known for his practice of helping others.
Alex sighed, putting his quill to the paper, and began to write. He told his oldest friend about how Liliana was growing up right in front of his eyes, all the new things she said and talked about. He told his friend that he was expecting a second child and how he couldn’t wait.
When he was done, he had filled three pages with details of his life, ready to send across the country. He smiled, imagining Charlie sitting in the parlor of the little house in Chicago, reading about Alex’s life in Texas.
When he had first come to this town, he hadn’t expected it to become his home. He hadn’t expected it to be the place where he would grow his career. He’d thought he would start in this town and then move to the next.
But a job caring for a rich man’s daughter had changed his life forever. That one decision had given him his life and his family.
He couldn’t be more grateful for the day he had stepped into the doctor’s office for his interview. And then, his life had turned from loneliness to happiness.
“God is good,” Alex whispered. It seemed that Dr. Manchester had been right so long ago. God had had a plan for Alex, and Alex knew he was right where he belonged.
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OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Brides of the Untamed Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears, I hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue! I will be waiting for your comments here. Thank you 🙂
This story was of how God has a plan for our lives….
Jeremiah 23:11
Loved the story of how God restores and provides even as we stumble along in this life.
Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words, dear Rhonda! <3
I think your story about the need for forgiveness rather than revenge addresses a problem that most folk have a struggle with at some time in their lives.
Jeremiah29:11
<3
A great story of defiance, anger,revenge, pain and great love between rich and the poor.
Glad you enjoyed it! <3
You did a great job on this story. The love that grew and the fear of the future. I enjoyed this book very much.
Thank you, dear Sherrie! <3
I enjoyed this book very much. I didn’t want it to end. I loved all your caracters. Thank you for writing this wonderful story. Wendie
So happy you enjoyed it, dear Wendie! Thank you very much for your kind comment!
A wonderful story
So glad you enjoyed it, dear Gwen!❤️
Stay tuned as I have more stories coming!
I love the story how God was always in control. And how they believed in second changes.
I deeply appreciate your support, dear Shirley! Thank you so much!
I really enjoyed this book! I’m looking forward to reading more of your books. It’s nice to get such a good feeling after finishing a book like this.
This is so nice to hear, dear Carolyn! It really means a lot to me!
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Wonderful story with good character involvement. Good overcomes evil. Great epilogue.
Thank you so much for your kind comment, dear Gloria!
I enjoyed this book and the extension.
Ginger Hosick
Glad to hear this, dear Ginger!
WONDERFUL READ! THERE WAS EVERY EMOTION IN THIS BOOK! THE CLIFF HANGER AND THEN THE ANSWERS LIE BEFORE US! I LOVED THIS BOOK FROM BEGINNING TO END! SEARCHING NOW FOR YOUR OTHER BOOKS! ALSO THANK YOU FOR SHARING US GOD IS ALWAYS THERE!
So glad to hear that you enjoy my stories, dear Sharon! Make sure to stay tuned, as I have more coming!
This book shows just how God meant life to be and all the good and bad that us humans do to each or her and made for an execelnt read. Thank you would love to learn about Clyed’s life now. God bless looking forward to your next books.
Thank you so much for your support, dear Brenda! It means the world to me!
I enjoyed this book so much. It was all about forgiveness and what God can do in our lives. God has blessed you with a gift for writing wonderful stories.
I’m humbled, dear! Thank you! <3
Great read with its good, bad, and ugly along with second chances. I would have loved to have seen some interaction between “Grandfather” Brandt and Liliana. And I appreciate that there was not an over abundance of mind play about Alex and Julie’s second guessing their feelings. Great characters and interplay.
Thank you so very much, Vivian!
I really liked this book and the Extended Epilogue was a really nice addition to the story.
Happy you liked it, dear!
This is a lovely story and so very well written. It held my attention all the way through it. Wonderfully inviting with true to life characters and events.
I look forward to reading more of your books.:-):-)
Aurora, this was my first book to read from you and I absolutely loved the story! I was amazed at the different transformations of Clyde, Mr. Brandt, Julie, and Alex. I can hardly wait to read more!
Glad you enjoyed it, dear Jenny! I’m truly grateful for your support!
Miss Aurora. This book about Julie and Alex was wonderful and of course the extended epilogue made me very happy with their marriage and family. I enjoy reading whenever I have time and I did not like having to stop reading this book. Thank you very much.
Sharon
Wonderful story, enjoyed it very much.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the story, dear Whonia! Make sure to stay tuned because I have more coming 🙂
What a sweet story. Love, fear, revenge, and forgiveness…..oh, did I mention love? Keep it up. I can’t wait to read the next one!
Thank you for the lovely comment, dear Janny. So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Such a lovely story. I love the part of giving second chances. Thank you for such inspirational stories. Always thanking God. Even though we stumble God is faithful.
Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear Melony! Stay tuned as I have more stories coming!
Loved your book .The story was filled with so many heart felt lessons.
A lovely story. It had a lot of twists and turns but worked out beautifully.
As always your book was awesome. It keeps your attention, and if you read it through their I a lesson in them.
So happy you enjoyed it!
I loved your book and how you brought so many people together and the hard life they each had. You brought out the best in each one and you gave God for working it all out. It is near midnight and I could not put it down!
I. Loved this story and the epilogue. The characters were role models and lived up to their daily walks of life.
Thanks Karin!
What a well written novel. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all your clean cut Christian books. It’s suspenseful all the way to the end with love and happiness all thru it with no garbage in it.
Thank you, Martha!
This struck home for me and was much needed. I definitely needed to be reminded to forgive and not take revenge!
Glad it spoke to you, Di!
Thank you for a wonderful story. People are all good, somtimes it takes a stranger to see the other side of a sad and lonely person. Enjoy!!!
Thanks, Patricia!
This was a great book and the characters were blended together smoothly. The ending was glorious. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and am looking forward to the next one. Thank you so much my dear.
Thanks Arnold!
Dear Aurora, I so enjoyed this story of Alex and Julie. The each found what they needed In spite of Julie’s father Thank you for this Good story
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m delighted you enjoyed Alex and Julie’s journey despite the challenges they faced with Julie’s father. Your support means a lot to me!
Thank you for a beautiful story of love and redemption. Well done Aurora.
Thanks, Nida!
I really enjoyed this book. The sweet love that grew between Julie and Alex was so touching.
You could know they were meant for each other as I read along. Thank you for writing this book for me to enjoy.
So glad you enjoyed it, my dear Linda! Stay tuned because I have more coming!
This is a great story of hurt, anger, love, forgiveness and redemption. The extended epilogue was a great ending of the fruits of redemption. Good job Aurora.
Thank you for your kind words, my dear Patricia!
This was a really great book too relax with. It included love, hate, forgiveness and mystery. The epilogue brought a nice conclusion on everything. As always you didn’t disappoint me.
Your support means a lot to me, my dear Ella! So happy you enjoyed it!
This is a beautifully ending to a wonderful story. Thank you, Aurora for writing this remarkable book.
Thank you for your kind words and support, my dear Nancy! I deeply appreciate them!
This is a really good story about love and romance and hate and forgiveness Alex and Julie belonged together and the extended epilogue supports that . Very well written
So glad you enjoyed it, my dear Gwen!
I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have your wonderful stories to read during our troubling times. I at least have something to look forward to.
I am humbled, my dear Karen! What a sweet comment! Stay tuned because I have more coming.
Another great story line with twists and turns keeping you entertained and not wanting to stop reading until the end!! Julie and her dad sounded like typical father and daughter clashes. Will continue to look for more of Auroras books!!
Thank you for your support, my dear Karen! It means a lot to me!
LEnjoyed the book very much. One of my favorite authors.
Thank you so much, my dear Linda, for your kind words!
This is a wonderful love story with a mystery thrown in. I enjoyed the extended epilogue also and was glad that you included a follow-up on what happened to Clyde. You are a very talented author, and I look forward to your next book.
I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed my story! Make sure to stay tuned because I have more coming!
God is the God of second chances! Loved the book. Never put it down until I finish any of your books. It is now 11pm. Just finished. Looking forward to reading another one!
Linda S.
Thank you so much, my dear Linda, for your support! It really means a lot to me!
So enjoy your stories. It was so refreshing to see young Alex want to make his own way in the world and not settle for letting Dr Manchester’s reputation give him the start he needed to move forward as a doctor. It was so crucial to the details of the story that both Julie and Alex learned to speak their mind to Mr Brandt with respect and courage. Thank you for writing about true love.
So glad you enjoyed it, my dear Audrey!
Enjoyed this book very much.also like your stories including God.
Thank you, dear Shirley! I will keep this in mind!
Wonderful story and message. I so love good stories and when they incorporate the message of the Bible in them so completely without preaching it is a blessing. Readers will receive the word of God without even knowing that someone teaching them. They will just be enjoying reading taking in new ways to live. Keep up the good work. The Lord has given you a gift.
Thank you so much, dear Nancy, for all your encouraging words and support!
Great story. Wonderful, enriching and full of vim and vigor. Julie being the defiant one knowing exactly what she wanted and knowing it may or may not fit what her father wanted. A sweet story of God’s plan for our lives and how if we ask he will provide.
So glad you enjoyed it, dear Donna! This is really important to me!
Another great book! Could not put it down as usual. Keep your books coming.
Make sure to stay tuned, dear Louise as I have more coming soon! Thank you for your support!
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Great characters that carried the weight of the story well. I’m a believer in what goes around comes around so not surprised by Clyde’s wish for revenge for the loss of the life he should have had. The sin of greed was so evident it was going to take a miracle to make Mr Brandt see things from a different perspective. Thankfully love for his daughter made him reflect on a life not so well led leading to a more benevolent approach to life. The gift of giving being far greater. Epilogue always give us what we don’t usually get for free so thank you for continuing to share your gift with us
Thank you, dear Carol Ann, for your encouraging words and support! I really appreciate it!
This is still a wonderful story about love and forgiveness and knowing God is in control
So happy you liked it, dear Gwen!
Enjoyed reading this unusual story. Alex had lost both parents at a young age. Luckily a kind Doctor took him under his wing and trained him an enabled him to go to school for additional knowledge. However when his benefactor passed on, he decided to move on and start his own practice, Julie was injured in a freak accident and her wealthy father hired Alex to care for her. This story shows how differently the Rich and the poor think. Many unexpected events and changes of plans and of views. An interesting. Stotyd
Thank you, dear! So glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed this book and extended epilogue. It had hurt,anger,revenge,love, forgiveness, and redemption. Please keep up the good writing. Hope we get a story on Clyde. and Charlie.
Make sure to stay tuned, dear Letha, because I have more coming!
Loved how independent Julie is! She maybe only 19 but she realizes that what her father is doing is wrong for her. Alex the new doctor in town is hired to help Julie after her “accident”. While neither of them want to fall in love, they realize after some time that some things aren’t up to them. After 4 years they know what true happiness is. Even Clyde begins to realize he can be happy. Thank you Aurora for another great epilogue!
Thank you, dear Mary, for your kind words!
Another great story. Julie is independent and a strong character. Great to give others second chances.
It truly is! So glad you like it, dear Barbara!
Wonderful story. I loved it
So glad to hear it, dear Ann!
Thank you
I hope you enjoyed it, dear!
SECOND Chances…what a wonderful concept for mankind to follow…great read, heart warming with out being overly gushy. Your story is a must read for anyone wanting a mental vacation today.
SO happy to hear this, dear! Thank you so much!
What a GOOD read !
What great characters. Julie and the doctor were meant for each other and Julie’s father had such in his personality at the end. Clyde was something else. I am so glad he was given a second chance and they stayed friends with each other. I thought Hank and Margaret were such good people to have in Julies life.
You are a very good author, so keep on writing Aurora!
Wow! Thank you so much for your lovely comment dear Dixie. It truly means the world to me!
I’m so happy you enjoy my stories ❤️
Loved your story , especially the characters, and surprises along the way. Thank you
What a great read,loved this book ,is hard to get enough!
Loved this book. Can hardly wait for more stories
Thank you so so much dear Dawn 💕
Keep an eye for my new book coming out really soon!
Very good story. Kept me in suspense a lot.keep on writing.
Loved this book. A good read about good people with some not so good people thrown in, to create some excitement!
I strongly recommend this sweet story. Enjoy!
Glad you appreciated it, Mary! I wish you the best!
I enjoyed this book so much. It shows how the situations we experience in our lives can lead us to try to impact those we come in contact with for the better. God gives us the ability to make a difference if we will just allow him to lead us. Glad to see so many lives were changed because they chose to do the next best thing in spite of past hurts.
So true, Shannon!
A great story to the end. I very much liked the characters and how the story unfolded.
Thanks, Marlys!