A Friend to Love

Chapter 1

Jeff Barnes was sitting at his desk after his last patient left. He was thinking back to when he first met Lora Matthews. They both went to work at Roanoke Regional Hospital as resident doctors on the maternity and pediatric floor.

This was Jeff’s first hospital after his residency. He was looking for the obstetrician he would be working with. When a woman came running out a door and right into him. She said, “Why don’t you watch where you are going?”

“Excuse me, but you ran into me.” When he looked at her he noticed her beautiful blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Then he noticed her white coat and name tag. This was the doctor he was supposed to work with. Oh great!

Lora knew she was wrong, but it didn’t stop her from being annoyed at being stopped from her retreat. She’d just seen her fiancé kissing a nurse very passionately in an empty room. When she looked up she was staring into the darkest eyes she has ever seen. The man was over six feet tall with dark black hair. He had on a white doctors’ coat and his name tag told her, he was the new pediatrician she was going to be working with. Oh Lord! she didn’t need this right now.

Jeff saw she was upset and took her arm. “Where is the doctor’s lounge?” He took her there, gave her a cup of coffee and introduced himself. He waited until she was ready to talk. He didn’t know why, but she opened up to him and told him what got her upset. The day began a friendship lasting over four years, with each of them being there for the other.

Jeff was in love with Lora from the first day they met. He kept hoping someday she would realize God meant them for each other.

His love for Lora grew but he was ready to give up when he thought she was going to marry Tom Brown, the lawyer owning the building their offices are in.

When Tom realized his heart belonged to Ellen, his new bride, and Lora realized her heart belonged to him. He thanked God for bringing them together, but wondered why it took so long. Then a thought came to him “all things come to those who wait upon the Lord.”

Lora opened his door and asked him if he was done for the day. “Would you like to go for dinner? I don’t have anyone going in labor for at least a week.”

“As far as you know you mean. Where would you like to go? I’m all done. I don’t have to make rounds until later.”

“Maybe we should stay in town, just in case someone changes their mind. I’ll be ready when you are.”

Jeff thought to himself she was just as beautiful now as she was the first time he saw her, four years ago. She was an excellent doctor and a very caring person. All of her patients loved her and trusted her.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they saw Jordan Price sitting in one of the booths. He waved at them and asked them if they would like to join him. He just finished a 24-hour shift at the fire department, where he’s fire Chief. They went over and joined him. He asked them if anyone heard from the newlyweds?

“Ellen sent us a post card from the Grand Canyon and said they were having a great time. Davy, (Ellen’s son from her first marriage), was thrilled about everything, except he hasn’t rode horses with his daddy.”

“His third birthday is this fall. I bet he gets a horse of his own by then. His daddy wanted to get him one before they got married but Ellen said he was too young. Davy has Tom wrapped around his little finger. He picked Tom out for his daddy before his mother even knew where things were going. Tom was bringing him in for his check up and shots before they were engaged.”

Lora smiled at Jeff and said “It was a good thing we all came to our senses before it was too late.”

Jeff put his arm around her. “Lora, I wouldn’t have let you marry Tom. I couldn’t give up so easily I’ve been in love with you for over four years, do you think I would have let you marry someone else? You’ve led me on a merry chase long enough.”

“Well I needed to keep you on your toes. Couldn’t let you off so easy, could I?”

“Jordan where is your lovely wife tonight? We don’t usually see you without her.”

“She went with the boys on a field trip today. They haven’t made it back yet. I am fending for myself. The school decided to have this trip before school starts.”

They finished their meal and Jeff left to go back to the hospital. He has twin boys to check on, who were premature. He always liked to make sure his babies are doing okay for the first 48 hours and with twins you never know what could come up.

When he got to the hospital he saw Anna Norton, the head of Nursing, and asked her how she and Hank were doing? Hank is the reason the hospital is once again a functioning hospital. She said they were all fine. She would be bringing Katelyn to his office in a couple of weeks for her yearly checkup and shots. The twins were gaining weight and doing well so he left.

As he was heading to his apartment he noticed a Victorian house for sale. He decided to stop and look at it.

Don Price and another man came to the door. Don owns the construction company in town. He is known for his work on historical homes. He and his family are also good friends and he’s Anna Norton’s father.

“Hi Don, I was wondering if someone was here. I would like to look at the house if I could.”

Don introduced the other man, Gordon, as the grandson of the lady who passed away. He inherited the house. He was from out of state and wanted to sell, rather than try to take care of it from 1000 miles away.

“I am interested in finding someone who will love and take care of the house the way my grandparents did. My grandmother was unable to keep things up. It needs some tender loving care to bring it back to its original glory.”

They took Jeff through the house. Don pointed out what needed done to bring it back to its original beauty.

“Jeff, the house is solid and the roof was replaced two years ago. What needs done is more cosmetic than constructional. It could be made in to what every you want as long as we keep the historical value.”

“I would like to bring Lora over to see it tomorrow, if it’s alright. It’s what I am looking for.”

“I will be here to show it. I’d really like to get it sold before I go back to work”.

They made an appointment for 12:30. They could come during their lunch. While driving home Jeff was thinking of what a great home it would make for a family. He would love to fill it up with a house full of children.

When Jeff got home he knocked on Lora’s apartment door. When she answered the door, he told her about the house. He said he wanted her to see it.

“Why do you want me to see it? If you like it and want to buy it, then do.”

“Lora, I want you to like it too. It will be your home too, some day. Why is it every time I try to talk to you about getting married you either change the subject or start an argument? You keep telling me you love me. You have a strange way of showing it. I won’t wait forever for us to be married. It you don’t love me and don’t want to marry me, tell me and we will go back to being friends. I do want your opinion on the house, no matter what, before I buy it.”

“Jeff, I do love you. I will go with you to look at the house. We will talk about the rest when we can have a long talk, with no interruptions, I promise. But when we do you may not want to marry me.”

“What are you saying? I have waited four years for you to figure out we belong together. Nothing you tell me will change my mind about marrying you.”

“I hope you’re right, but you can’t guarantee it until we have a talked. When I tell you everything you need to know, we’ll decide if we get married. I’m afraid you’ll change your mind, when we talk.”

Jeff kept thinking about what Lora said as he walked to his apartment. Nothing she tells me will change my mind about my love for her. What could she possibly be worried about? No one is perfect, I won’t change my mind, no matter what she is worried about.

Jeff had a hard time going to sleep. He was trying to figure out what Lora thinks will cause him to not marry her. She was his life, if she just knew it. He got down on his knees and asked God to give him peace and help him when the time came to have a talk with Lora.

“God, you know she’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. Nothing she could tell me will change anything. I know she loves you as much as I do. Give her the strength to tell me and help me accept what she says. Help me show her how much I love her. Amen”

Jeff went to bed then and had a goodnights sleep. He knew God is in control and everything will be okay now.

The next morning when Lora came in she looked like she hadn’t slept.

Jeff took her in his arms. “Lora, stop worrying so much, turn it over to God. He has everything in His control. Everything is going to be fine. God brought us together and he will help us through...