Mail Order Mommy. Christine Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ his chair and leaned across the table to whisper something to Sadie. She giggled. Dear me, even the children found her efforts humorous.

      “Isaac, bring your plates here. Then bring ours.” Garrett then added the contents to the bowl on the worktable.

      Amanda finished peeling and chopping the potatoes and carrots. Garrett added a little of the hash to the skillet and then had her add the raw vegetables. When they had gotten tender, he added a bit more of the hash and stirred it all together. After it heated, he had her taste the mixture.

      “A little bland,” she reported.

      He added more of the salty hash and then a little more until it tasted just right.

      “How did you learn to do that?” she marveled.

      “From experience. The best teacher.” He smiled at her. “The same thing happened to me once.”

      His words were intended to comfort, but his smile went a lot further. She had hardly ever seen Garrett Decker smile. He was the sorrowing widower, never pleased with anyone or anything. Even in church or when escorting Fiona to the hotel dining room, he hadn’t smiled. Only with his children did he smile. It changed him so much, from a rigid, dour perfectionist to a compassionate man.

      Amanda breathed out. “You have a beautiful smile.”

      It instantly vanished. “Everyone’s hungry. Let’s eat.”

      * * *

      Amanda reveled in what had happened long after she returned to the boardinghouse and settled into bed. Her mind whirled round and round, going over the events in minute detail. Garrett hadn’t yelled at her. He’d worked with her. He’d shown her consideration and compassion. He’d granted her leniency. He’d smiled at her.

      The sheets being cold, she blew on her icy fingers and wiggled her toes, trying to warm them.

      “Could you be still?” Pearl grumbled. “I’m trying to get some sleep.”

      For a second Amanda tried to imagine not having to share a room and a bed with her friend, who was every bit as dear as a sister. No one to complain when she moved around in bed. No one who knew every little thing about her. Just like it had been at the Chatsworths. She shuddered. Pearl meant everything to her. With her married and gone, Amanda would no longer have someone at the ready to hear about every moment of her day and give her advice and consolation.

      “I will miss you,” she whispered.

      “Me, too. Now go to sleep.” Pearl’s muffled tones came from beneath the pillow that she’d jammed over her head.

      “I’m sure Roland will want to talk at night, too.”

      Pearl rolled over and emerged from beneath the pillow. “What’s bothering you?”

      “Nothing.”

      “Then why are you pestering me?”

      “I can’t sleep after what happened today.”

      “Oh?” Now she’d caught Pearl’s attention. “What happened today?”

      Amanda hedged, not quite ready to explain everything. “Did you know that Garrett has a lovely smile?”

      “Hmm. I suppose so.”

      “He should smile more often.”

      “Why don’t you tell him, and let me get some sleep?” Pearl plunked the pillow over her head again.

      Amanda quieted, but she couldn’t imagine going up to Garrett and telling him to smile more. Just mentioning the smile had turned it to a frown, as if that smile had been in error. “He doesn’t want to hear it.”

      Pearl said nothing.

      Amanda glanced in her direction, but in the darkness couldn’t tell if her friend was sleeping. Her thoughts drifted back to the hours with Garrett. He’d been kind today, so different from the day before.

      “I made a mess of supper tonight,” she whispered. “I burned it terribly and then added too much salt. It tasted awful, but he didn’t yell, like he did yesterday. He told me he’d done the very same thing.”

      “He did?” Pearl slid out from under the pillow, definitely more interested.

      “He did. Like all was forgiven. He’s never been like that with me before. Oh, he liked to talk about Sadie and Isaac, ask about school and all that, but never take my feelings into consideration. It was almost like he wouldn’t look at me. Not today.” Amanda sighed. “Did you ever notice that his eyes are more gray than blue?”

      “What does that have to do with anything? Roland’s eyes are blue, too. They’re brothers.”

      “Yes, but Garrett’s eyes are grayer. And his hair is much lighter, with that bit of red in it. He and Roland don’t look much alike.”

      Pearl groaned. “This is what’s keeping you awake?”

      Amanda ignored her friend. “And his hair has this way of sticking out like a little boy’s. It takes all my self-control not to smooth down the cowlicks.”

      “I can imagine how he would react if you did that.”

      “Definitely not with a smile.” Amanda giggled. “I think this new job will turn out well, as long as I don’t let the children distract me too much.”

      “Then it’s hopeless.”

      “Hopeless?”

      “I’ve never known you not to be distracted by children.”

      Amanda heaved a sigh. “It’s a fault of mine.”

      Pearl squeezed her shoulder. “It’s a testament to your caring nature. I’m glad Garrett finally noticed that. Maybe he’s finally coming around to see the treasure you are. Fiona will regret turning down the position.”

      “Does she still have her cap set on Garrett?”

      “You can be sure of it. She asked if she could help with the stable that I asked Garrett to build for the children’s nativity play.”

      “The what?”

      “Garrett didn’t tell you about it?”

      “No,” Amanda said hesitantly. “Was he supposed to?”

      “I asked Roland to make sure Garrett talked to you so you two could figure out what needed to be done.”

      At first Amanda wondered why Pearl didn’t just tell her herself, but the answer was obvious. Pearl was trying to get her and Garrett together as much as possible. But having her help build a stable made no sense. “Talk to me? Why? I can’t use a hammer.”

      “No, but you can decorate the stable and make costumes for the children.”

      “Decorate it? I don’t think the stable that Joseph and Mary used was decorated.”

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