“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 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.”
“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 anticipated 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.