Reba held the phone away from her ear and looked at it. No one on earth could drive her crazier faster than her own mother. Joan sounded like a little girl, all excited, eager to hear the details of Reba"s romance.
She exhaled slowly. It was too soon to be telling her mother anything about her and Seth. They"d only gone on one official date, and her mother made it sound as though they should meet as soon as possible to discuss the details of her upcoming wedding.
A wedding.
Four years earlier Reba had worked with her mother to plan a large, formal wedding ceremony. She"d taken time and effort with every detail, choosing the invitations and bridesmaid dresses and everything else that went with the special occasion. The thought of going through all that needless ha.s.sle again left a sour taste in her mouth.
It had been humiliating to call her family and friends and announce that she wouldn"t be marrying John after all. She"d escaped shortly afterward, putting herself up at the beach alone for several days, thinking matters through.
Returning the gifts had taken weeks. Although she"d sent out notices that the wedding had been canceled, gifts staggered in for thirty days or longer, and she had to deal with their timely return. Reba wanted no part of a large, conventional affair.
If she ever married, it would be a small, casual gathering. As she had with so much else in life, Vicki had robbed her of the beautiful wedding she"d always dreamed of.
Not wanting thoughts of her sister to ruin her day, Reba hurried out the door for church. She smiled as she thought ahead to spending the afternoon with Seth and his family. An image of Judd in the Christmas pageant came to mind, and she chuckled. He might have resigned himself to playing the role of an angel, but he wanted to make sure everyone knew he was a man angel and not some blue-eyed blond sissy. Seth"s children were so easy to love.
What her mother had said about her being good with children was true. After the broken engagement, she"d shoved the thought of being a mother to the back of her mind. It hurt too much to dwell on all the might-have-beens.
Vicki had a child, Reba mused, and at the thought a strong stab of resentment shot through her. Again she mentally released her anger. Nevertheless, she couldn"t help thinking how unfair it was that Vicki could have a home with a husband and a child when she had neither. The sister who"d betrayed her, the sister who"d stolen away everything Reba treasured, was happy while she, Reba, wallowed in the injustice of it all. was that Vicki could have a home with a husband and a child when she had neither. The sister who"d betrayed her, the sister who"d stolen away everything Reba treasured, was happy while she, Reba, wallowed in the injustice of it all.
The church parking lot was almost full. Reba hurried into the sanctuary just as the congregation stood to sing the opening song, "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful." Organ music swelled and filled the room. She found a seat and set her purse on the pew and reached for the hymnal.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Seth with his two children, and the resentment and sadness that had settled over her like a dark cloud lifted unexpectedly. Sunlight filtered into her soul. For whatever reason, she"d been given this second chance at finding happiness. She intended to take hold of the opportunity with both hands and let it take her where it would. Throughout the remainder of the service, her gaze continually strayed to Seth and the children. Every time she glanced in his direction, the warmth returned.
During the closing hymn, Reba felt Seth"s eyes on her. She held his look and smiled, surprised by how shy and uncertain she felt. It was a little thing, this dinner with him and his children. But she"d rarely looked forward to any time more.
They met on the concrete steps outside the church. "There"s been a small change in plans," Seth announced.
"Oh?" She could see by his look that the revision had unsettled him.
"Unbeknownst to me, Mrs. Merkle promised the twins she"d take them to the movies this afternoon. She said she could make us soup and sandwiches before she left if you wanted. I"d thought...I"d hoped...What I"m trying to say is that we can make it another time if you"d like."
So both the housekeeper and the twins would be gone. "Would you rather I came another time?" she asked, preferring he make the decision.
His eyes scooted past her. "No. I was looking forward to seeing you again."
"I don"t want to wait, either."
This appeared to surprise him, but a smile soon formed and he reached for her hand, his fingers tightening around hers. "Actually I make a mean toasted cheese sandwich."
"Does this mean you"ll be doing the cooking?"
"Don"t let him," Judd advised, glancing up at his father. "We eat a lot better since Mrs. Miracle came."
Mrs. Miracle. Reba"s gaze went to the plump older woman. The children gathered about her like chicks seeking the protection of a mother"s wing.
"I do hope my taking the children won"t be too much of an inconvenience," the housekeeper said, looking to Reba. A smile courted her lips, causing the edges to quiver. "I would stay and fix dinner, but I"d hate to disappoint the twins. They"ve been extra good all week, and this is their reward." They"ve been extra good all week, and this is their reward."
"It"s no problem," Seth a.s.sured her.
Reba drove to Seth"s house. Mrs. Merkle had the children change their clothes while she set sandwich makings on the kitchen counter.
"There"s plenty of leftovers," she called out.
"Don"t worry, we"ll see to everything ourselves," Seth told her.
The housekeeper"s gaze slipped from her employer to Reba. She looked well pleased with herself. Reba glanced around, suddenly uneasy with the thought of being alone with Seth. The attraction she felt toward him was strong and was sure to grow more so once they were alone. Perhaps it was the conversation with her mother earlier in the day, the coming inquisition lunch on Monday would bring. She couldn"t very well play down their relationship when meeting Seth was the best thing that had happened to her in four long years.
"All things are possible with G.o.d," Mrs. Merkle said out of the blue, looking intently at them both. "But no one said they"d be easy."
Reba glanced at Seth, wondering if he could explain the comment. He looked as puzzled as she.
In a matter of minutes the housekeeper had disappeared with both children. The silence that followed engulfed both her and Seth.
"I can"t shake the feeling that she somehow arranged this in advance," Seth mumbled as he carried two cups of coffee into the living room. She wasn"t in the mood for lunch yet, and neither was he. She wasn"t in the mood for lunch yet, and neither was he.
Hoping to give a relaxed impression, Reba removed her shoes and tucked her feet up against the side of the chair. This was the first time she"d been inside Seth"s house. She liked it. The style was homey and comfortable, the furniture large and bulky. St.u.r.dy, like the man himself.
Seth handed Reba the coffee and sat across from her. He seemed deeply wrapped up in his thoughts.
"Do you get the feeling we"re being purposely thrown together?" she asked.
He nodded. "It seems that way, but Emily didn"t know that I"d invited you to dinner. I forgot to mention it," he added sheepishly.
"She"s an unusual woman."
Seth shook his head and relaxed against the cushion. "You"re telling me! I can"t help but wonder..." He let whatever he was going to say fade.
"Wonder?" she prodded. Although she"d met Mrs. Merkle only once, Reba had the same feeling about her. She found the older woman to be something of a puzzle. Perhaps it had something to do with the way Seth"s housekeeper regarded her. It was as though she had looked straight through her and read her soul. The feeling prompted the oddest sensation.
"She showed up out of the blue one night, likea...miracle. I hate to say it, but it"s true. The former housekeeper had been gone for some time, and the house was a disaster. Because of all the uncertainty, the kids were in an uproar and I was at my wits" end. All at once Mrs. Miracle was there. I didn"t even think to check her references or contact the agency until..." He hesitated again, as if caught in some warped memory. and the house was a disaster. Because of all the uncertainty, the kids were in an uproar and I was at my wits" end. All at once Mrs. Miracle was there. I didn"t even think to check her references or contact the agency until..." He hesitated again, as if caught in some warped memory.
"Seth?"
"The agency hadn"t sent her."
"What?" He certainly had her attention now.
"When I asked Mrs. Merkle about it, she had a perfectly logical explanation. The Ackerman Agency, the one I"d been working with, contacted another agency, Heath, Health, Heaven...something like that. And they"re the ones who"d sent her. I checked her references, and she was given the highest recommendation. I certainly can"t find fault with her. What she"s done for the children is nothing short of miraculous." He tossed her a chagrined look, then chuckled. "There"s that word again."
"You"re rea.s.sured, then?" He regarded her blankly, and Reba added, "With her explanation about the agency?"
"Yes. She was adamant that she"d told me the name of the agency earlier, but I don"t seem to remember her saying anything. There"s been a few other things-minor things, really-that leave me to wondering. And the things she says..."
"Says?"
He chuckled. "This morning when the offering was taken in church, she leaned close and murmured something about not being able to take our money with us, but we can send it on ahead."
Reba laughed. "You"re not worried about her, are you?"
"Heavens, no. She"s wonderful, and as I said, I did check out her references." He raised the coffee cup to his mouth and hesitated with the mug halfway to his lips. His gaze stretched to the far side of the room.
Reba glanced over her shoulder and discovered a twig of mistletoe dangling from the doorway leading into the kitchen. The twins or possibly Mrs. Merkle had placed it there before they"d left for the movie.
The air in the room seemed to grow warm as the awareness between them became stronger. Reba moistened her lips, remembering their exchange the night of their first date. The kisses had been wonderful. A renewal. A discovery. Reba was confident that Seth had experienced the power of their attraction as strongly as she.
"Mrs. Merkle, no doubt," he offered, clearing his throat. "I don"t want you to think...you know, that I brought you over here on the pretext of...well, seducing you."
"With mistletoe?"
"Yes." He stood and walked over to the fireplace, which was the farthest point he could be from her and still remain in the same room. "I invited you to dinner, and the next thing you know we"re here in the house, alone, and there"s all these not-so-subtle hints that I"d like to pick up where we left off Friday night." these not-so-subtle hints that I"d like to pick up where we left off Friday night."
"Would you?" she asked, lowering her gaze.
"Yes." His response was sharp and immediate. "Maybe I should lie about it, but I don"t see much sense in that. It"s been a lot of years since I was in the dating scene, and I don"t know how to play those games any longer."
"I don"t, either."
"You were married?" His eyes held hers, his look intense.
"No," she whispered, and then amended, "Almost...the engagement was broken." She didn"t offer any other information; didn"t see the point. He couldn"t possibly understand, and she wouldn"t ask it of him.
"It does seem a shame to waste that mistletoe, don"t you think?" He moved toward the kitchen doorway and stood under the Christmas decoration.
Smiling, Reba set aside her coffee and walked toward him. They stood facing each other, and for a long moment neither spoke. Then, as if this were what they"d been waiting for, what they"d both antic.i.p.ated from the moment Mrs. Merkle had left with the twins, they moved into each other"s arms.
Reba"s eyes fluttered closed as Seth gathered her close. She wanted this, needed this, and sighed audibly when his lips met hers. His kiss left her breathless and clinging. It had been like this the first time, too. Her head had been spinning ever since. He gave her hope, helped her to believe that there could be a future for them. this the first time, too. Her head had been spinning ever since. He gave her hope, helped her to believe that there could be a future for them.
"Do you think this is what she was talking about?" Reba asked.
Seth spread small kisses on the underside of her neck. "Who?"
"Mrs. Miracle." She"d said all things were possible with G.o.d. Only this felt easy, much too easy.
"Maybe so." Seth a.s.sured her once more with another deep, soul-stirring kiss.
Chapter 16
If you"re waiting for a sign from G.o.d, this is it.-Mrs. Miracle
"You left the milk out again," Sharon reminded her husband pointedly.
Without comment, Jerry scooted his chair away from the table, removed the milk carton from the counter, and placed it back inside the refrigerator.
Her husband looked at her as if he had something on his mind, but whatever it was, he let it go. They seemed to be at an impa.s.se. Once they would have joked and laughed at how silly they were being, but that time was gone, and they both knew it. What had started out as a minor disagreement over a cruise and Christmas had evolved into something much more serious.
They were sleeping apart and cooking their own meals. It was ridiculous. Stupid. Childish, and a hundred other adjectives Sharon could think of. and a hundred other adjectives Sharon could think of.
Jerry cooking! She cringed as she glanced around at her once orderly kitchen. How any man could make such a mess scrambling eggs was beyond her. Eggsh.e.l.ls and spilled milk puddled across the countertop, and runny egg had dried on her once spotless stovetop. The peanut b.u.t.ter had been left out, along with the bread and just about everything else Jerry had touched in the last several days.
Regretfully Sharon realized she had no one to blame but herself. She was the one who"d insisted her husband cook his own meals. The words had been spoken in anger, but she"d regretted them almost immediately. Surely Jerry knew that, yet he chose to carry out this ridiculous charade. Even then she didn"t completely blame him. She wasn"t any better, opting to sleep in the guest bedroom when it was apparent they were both miserable.
If she hadn"t had Maggie to talk to, she didn"t know what she would have done. Her best friend had tried to help, but all she could do was listen. If ever Sharon needed a sympathetic ear, it was now. They"d gone shopping, and Maggie had taken her to lunch afterward. When she"d heard about Jerry and the cookie incident, she"d been furious with him.
As soon as he finished his breakfast, Jerry left the house. Sharon watched him leave. The problems within their marriage were compounding instead of simplifying. Maggie had listened, and although she hadn"t said it, the subject was there. Divorce. It had happened to some of their friends. Sharon just had never expected it would happen to Jerry and her. instead of simplifying. Maggie had listened, and although she hadn"t said it, the subject was there. Divorce. It had happened to some of their friends. Sharon just had never expected it would happen to Jerry and her.
For the first time since she"d spoken her vows, Sharon seriously considered contacting an attorney. With a heavy heart, she sat down, opened the local phone directory, and ran her fingers down the long list of lawyers" names, shocked by how many claimed to specialize in divorce cases.
Divorce. What an ugly word it was, even uglier with a forty-year investment in what had once been a satisfying marriage. But something had to be done, Sharon realized. They couldn"t continue the way they were, constantly at odds, working against one another. Their home had become a battlefield.
She stared at the door. Jerry had walked out without telling her where he was going or what time he"d return. Sharon had a general idea of how he kept himself occupied. He golfed a couple of days a week, played pinochle with his cronies, and coached basketball for a group of junior high kids.
She had her own life, her own interests, her own friends. It would be difficult, but she could learn to live without Jerry. She might as well be alone now-what they shared wasn"t worthy of the word "marriage." Their love had become a contest of wills and frequent battles.
Depressed and unsure if she was doing the right thing, she closed the phone book. As strained as their relationship was, she loved her husband and was convinced that in his own way he loved her.
The house was empty and silent. In an effort to lift her mood, she put on a Christmas alb.u.m, turning up the volume as she finished with the housework. The cheerful, happy music was infectious, and she had the sudden desire to go shopping. With Christmas less than two weeks away, she still had several things she wanted to buy for the twins. Generally Jerry went Christmas shopping with her, but she would go without him this year. Just as she was visiting Seth and the grandkids for the holidays alone.
The rest of the morning proved to be productive, and her spirits lifted considerably. She wished Maggie could join her, but her best friend had made other plans. Her arms loaded down with packages, Sharon headed for the restaurant in Nordstrom. Their Chinese chicken salad was one of her favorites.
A line had formed outside the restaurant, and as she stood awaiting her turn, Sharon"s eyes wandered over the crowded room. By chance, she caught a glimpse of long red hair. Maggie. This was a pleasant surprise. She was just about to raise her hand and call out to her friend when she noticed Maggie wasn"t dining alone. She was with Jerry.
Jerry.
The two were deeply involved in conversation, their heads close together.
Sharon felt as if someone had kicked her in the stomach. The cla.s.sic scenario: her husband and her best friend. Blindly she whirled around, nearly colliding with a young mother pushing a stroller.
"I"m sorry," she murmured. "So sorry." Escaping before Maggie and Jerry saw her was of the utmost importance. She all but stumbled out of the store.
Inside the mall, she stood still and silent as her mind processed what her eyes had seen. People flowed past her like rushing water scooting around a large rock. All at once everything that had happened between her and her husband made sense.
Everything added up.
Jerry and Maggie.