Mrs. Miracle (10 page)

T
he phone pealed just as Reba started out the door Sunday morning for church. She was tempted not to answer, afraid it would be her mother. She hesitated, then quickly crossed the room and reached for the receiver. It might be important. It might be Seth.

“Hello.”

“Reba, sweetheart, I wondered if you’d be up and about.”

Her mother. Reba gritted her teeth. She knew it would be more of this Christmas business, and she didn’t want to discuss it again. Her mind was made up, and all the talk in the world wouldn’t make her change it.

“Hello, Mom,” she said without any real en
thusiasm. “Listen, I’m on my way out the door for church.”

“Church.” Joan Maxwell’s voice swelled with approval. “You’ve got a couple of moments to spare for your mother, don’t you?”

Reba wasn’t given the chance to say no.

“You remember Betty Gleason, don’t you?”

Reba didn’t; impatiently she glanced at her watch. She was meeting Seth and didn’t want to be late. “No, Mom, I’m afraid I don’t.”

“I attended the early church service and met up with Betty. She and Ernie were in this fancy Thai restaurant in Federal Way and she thought she saw you with a nice-looking young man.”

Reba swore her mother had informants who routinely reported her activities. “That was Seth Webster,” she said, making sure none of her feelings for the aeronautical engineer bled into her voice. It would be just like her mother to make more of this dinner date than there was.

“Seth Webster…” Joan Maxwell repeated the name slowly, as if saying it aloud magically released the information she craved. “Have you known him long?”

“Mother, I’m going to be late for church.”

“Are you meeting Seth there?”

The woman was a mind-reader. “Yes, and—”

“I think it’s a wonderful thing you’re doing, taking over the Christmas program at the last minute like this. You always were good with children. You don’t know how I’ve prayed that you’d
get involved in the church again. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

“Did I mention that I was on my way to church?” she asked pointedly, not that it would do much good. Reba knew her mother all too well. She was on a fact-finding mission and wouldn’t let up until she’d ferreted out the information she sought.

“Tell me about Seth. Where’d you meet him? How long have you been dating?” All this came in one giant breath. “Betty claimed the two of you only had eyes for each other. She seemed to think the fire alarm could have gone off and neither of you would have noticed.”

“Mother—”

“Betty claims it’s clear that the two of you are serious. I do wish you’d said something to us before, sweetheart. It’s a bit disconcerting, not to say embarrassing, to have a family friend know more about what’s going on in my own daughter’s life than her own mother.”

“Mom. Church.”

“I know, I know, but the worship leaders generally start the service a few minutes past eleven. It won’t hurt to be a couple of minutes late. We’ve barely had a chance to talk. You so rarely phone me.” Her voice contained just the right amount of injury for Reba to experience a twinge of guilt. She did avoid calling her mother and for this very reason.

“Why don’t we meet for lunch one day next
week?” Reba suggested. She was as susceptible to guilt as the next person, and her mother knew all the right buttons to punch.

“Tomorrow,” Joan Maxwell suggested. “I can’t wait to hear all about Seth. I’ll meet you at the agency at eleven-thirty. Don’t plan to be back in the office for an hour, either, okay?” Having said that, she hung up.

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 hassle 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 after
ward, 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.

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.”

“It’s no problem,” Seth assured 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 God,” 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.

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. Sturdy, 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.

“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 reassured, 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 mur
mured 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.”

“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.”