Might saving a little girl...
...help mend their broken hearts?
When ex-doctor Tasha Kincaid escaped to Africa to teach, haunted by the loss of a young patient, she never expected to find now-widowed Quinn Shapiro—the doctor who once broke her heart. But a pupil is sick, and she needs his help! As they care for little Abeje, Tasha finds herself falling for Quinn again—could healing this child help them embrace a future together?
LOUISA HEATON lives on Hayling Island, Hampshire, with her husband, four children and a small zoo. She has worked in various roles in the health industry—most recently four years as a Community First Responder, answering 999 calls. When not writing Louisa enjoys other creative pursuits, including reading, quilting and patchwork—usually instead of the things she ought to be doing!
Also By Louisa Heaton
The Baby That Changed Her LifeHis Perfect Bride?A Father This Christmas?One Life-Changing NightSeven Nights with Her ExChristmas with the Single DadReunited by Their Pregnancy SurpriseTheir Double Baby GiftPregnant with His Royal Twins
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
A Child to Heal Them
Louisa Heaton
ISBN: 978-1-474-07496-4
A CHILD TO HEAL THEM
© 2018 Louisa Heaton
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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For the real Tasha, Bonnie and Lucy.
Contents
SHE COULDN’T SEE the road. There were too many people criss-crossing in front of her. This way. That. Seemingly with no order to their lives.
Women were heading home from the market with goods balanced in baskets atop their heads, babies strapped to their backs in swathes of fabric. Cattle chewed the cud at the side of the road, as if bored with life, idling alongside market traders who were much more vibrant, calling out, selling their goods—brightly patterned fabrics, spices and vegetables—whilst loud pop music blared from speakers she couldn’t see.
Her nose was filled with the scents of food—fresh fish, caught that day, being the strongest.
Tasha Kincaid urged her off-roader forward, sounding the horn as much as she could. Thick, choking dust was being kicked up from the tyres as she revved the engine, desperate to get through the crowds, anxious to get back to the Serendipity, on the far side of town, because of her passenger, lying on the back seat, unmoving.
Children were not meant to be this still. This quiet.
The Serendipity had anchored just two days ago. She’d taken the children in her class to see it. The vast vessel, a floating hospital ship, sat there in the waters of the Mozambique Channel, waiting to give aid to those who needed it for free.
The children in her class had drawn pictures of the boat, and she’d used the lesson to teach them about kindness and giving. About helping others. They’d even been able to go on board briefly and talk to one or two of the nurses, who had generously given their time.
Maria and Rob were from