Samantha's Gift. Valerie Hansen

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ not you, Mom. The cat.”

      “Oh. I never could abide animals in the house, myself. Too messy. All that hair!”

      “I keep them brushed. Anyway, Schatzy hardly sheds.” Rachel surveyed her homey living room with a contented smile.

      “You and your animals.”

      Here it comes, Rachel thought. She tensed, waiting for her mother to seize the opportunity to point up the difference between keeping pets and raising children.

      Instead, Martha said, “I had my hair done today. Mercy Cosgrove was in the beauty shop the same time I was. She says her granddaughter, Emily, is getting married.”

      “I know.”

      “Why didn’t you tell me?”

      “I only found out today. She’s marrying Jack Foster.”

      “Hard to believe, isn’t it? I mean, there was a time when she could have had a doctor for a husband. Sam Barryman was ripe for the picking.”

      “So you’ve reminded me. Often,” Rachel drawled. “Didn’t he finally run off and marry Sheila Something-or-other?”

      “That’s old news,” Martha said. “They’re getting a divorce.”

      “Too bad. But it doesn’t surprise me. My one date with good old Dr. Sam was enough to cure me—pun intended.”

      “What about the new guy at your school? I understand he’s single. And cute, too.”

      “News travels fast.”

      Rachel knew better than to offer additional information about Sean. All she’d have to do was give her mother a hint that she might be interested in him and Martha’s wild imagination would take off. Pretty soon, she’d have convinced herself that Rachel was practically engaged to the poor guy, when nothing could be further from the truth.

      “Well, have you met him yet?” Martha asked.

      “I, uh, I did run into him,” Rachel said, laughing to herself and picturing the shocked look on Sean’s face when she’d crashed into his broad chest. The vivid memory of his strong hands steadying her followed instantly, leading to an all-over tingle and another little shiver. Maybe she was catching a summer cold or something.

      “You wait too long and there won’t be any good ones left,” Martha said.

      “There weren’t all that many to start with, Mother.”

      “I still don’t know why you had to break up with that nice Craig Slocum.”

      Because that nice Craig Slocum dumped me when I told him I might not be able to have kids, Rachel countered silently. She said, “These things happen. Look, Mom, I’m really beat and I have to put my groceries away before they spoil. Can I call you back later?”

      “There’s no need. I just wanted to hear your voice, to make sure my little girl was okay.”

      “I’m fine, Mom,” Rachel said. “I’m all grown up, remember?”

      “You’ll always be my little girl, honey.”

      She laughed lightly. “I can just see us now. I’ll be seventy and you’ll be ninety-five and you’ll still expect me to phone you every day to tell you I’m okay.”

      “Not a chance,” Martha said. “By that time, I’ll either be living with you and your family or you’ll at least have a husband to look after you so I can quit worrying.”

      What a choice! Rachel was glad her mother couldn’t see the way she was rolling her eyes. “You wouldn’t like living in my house, Mom. Animals make you sneeze, remember?”

      Martha snickered. “I’ll hold my breath. At ninety-five, that shouldn’t be hard. It’s the breathing in and out part that might get a little tricky.”

      Rachel wasn’t too weary to appreciate her mother’s dark humor. “You’re amazing.”

      “You, too, honey. Talk to you tomorrow.”

      “I’ll call you as soon as I get home from work. Don’t panic, okay? You know I’m always late when school first starts.”

      “You shouldn’t let them take advantage of you.”

      “I’m the one who’s taking advantage, Mom. I let them pay me for something I’d gladly do for free.”

      “So, swallow your pride and marry a rich man. Then you can afford to be a volunteer.”

      “I’d rather eat dirt.”

      Rachel could hear the smile in her mother’s voice when she replied, “I hear dirt is pretty tasty if you pour enough red-eye gravy over it.”

      Chapter Three

      If Samantha had been added to her class after the group had been together longer, Rachel would have made a special point of introducing her. Since it was only the second day of the school year, however, that wouldn’t be necessary. Or advisable. The less fuss, the better.

      Parents had already escorted many of the other children to the classroom door. It was amusing how often the parent was the one reluctant to let go, while the child was eager to join in the excitement of finally starting school.

      Wearing a favorite lightweight summer shirt with a softly draped skirt, Rachel stood in the doorway of her room to welcome her students and gently encourage their parents to leave. She glanced up at the clock on the wall as the final morning bell rang. One child hadn’t arrived yet.

      A few latecomers rushed by. Concerned, Rachel was about to give up and close the door when she saw a man and a small, blond girl approaching hand-in-hand. It was Samantha!

      Rachel’s breath caught. Sean Bates was bringing her.

      “Thank You, God,” she whispered.

      Watching their approach she couldn’t have said which of the two she was most delighted to see. Each was certainly a welcome sight. And together they made her heart sing.

      Unfortunately, the little girl was wearing the same faded T-shirt and baggy blue shorts she’d had on the day before. In contrast to the new school clothes her classmates were sporting, she made a sad figure, indeed. Rachel made a mental note to remedy that situation ASAP. If Heatherington wouldn’t see to it that Samantha had proper clothing and shoes for school, she’d do it herself. There was no excuse for sending the little girl out into the world looking like an urchin—even if she was one.

      Rachel greeted the latecomers with a broad grin. “Good morning! I’m so glad to see you, Samantha. Did you ride the bus to school?”

      Sean spoke up. “I think so. I found her standing out front on the lawn. It looked like she was waiting for directions, so I brought her on over. I hope that’s okay.”

      “Of course. Thank you for helping. We all try to watch out for each СКАЧАТЬ