All Roads Lead Home. Christine Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ Still, even though he knew it would only hurt more, he couldn’t stop looking at her. That wild mossy scent hung about her, not exactly perfume, just entirely her. The curly dark hair, the way her hazel eyes turned greenish in the sunlight and the determined tilt of her chin still turned him inside out. He couldn’t look away.

       “Everything’s settled, then,” said Pastor Gabriel. “I’d better get home to tell Felicity we’re having guests, or there’ll be trouble.”

       Mariah didn’t say a thing, but judging by the set of her mouth, she wasn’t pleased.

       Gabriel pointed to Mariah’s valise. “That your bag, sis? I’ll take it so you can stay to chat with Hendrick.”

       “Why on earth would we need to chat?”

       Pastor Gabriel picked up her bag. “Oh, something about your broken car.”

       She wrestled the valise from her brother. “I can carry my own luggage.” She added a glare at Hendrick, as if he somehow had finagled this invitation. “How long will it take to fix my car? I have important business that can’t be delayed.”

       “Me, too,” Hendrick countered with equal vigor. “It’s not like I don’t have important things to do.” Like a future with Curtiss Aeroplane.

       A flicker of worry crossed her face, and her voice softened. “But you can fix it? I—I don’t have much time.”

       The hint of vulnerability almost made him feel bad for her. Almost. But any sympathy passed the moment she offered to pay extra for speedy repairs.

       She had to bring up money. She knew he could never compete with her there. The Meekses were wealthy New Yorkers at the top of society. They hobnobbed with Astors and Vanderbilts. They attended the opera and ballet. He could afford only one good suit and shirt, a shirt that needed pressing if he was to look respectable tonight.

       “I won’t charge one dime more than I’d charge anyone else. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for dinner.” He tipped his cap and retreated down the church steps. His sole consolation was the glint of terror that crossed her face when he mentioned supper. At least this meal was going to be as painful for her as it would be for him.

       Mariah was going to kill Gabe.

       She sat on the bed in one of the parsonage’s guestrooms and yanked a comb through her knotted hair, trying to get it into a semblance of order. The dust and wind on the drive had left it a mess, and there was no time to wash it. She’d changed her gown, but the hair would have to do.

       Why she should care was beyond her. Hendrick Simmons shouldn’t mean anything to her anymore, but the man still somehow sent her calm, stable world spinning out of control. Even though he despised her.

       To be honest, she deserved it after the way she’d treated him. She owed him more of an explanation, and she’d give it, but not at dinner. Above all, she couldn’t upset Felicity. Gabe had made that clear.

       So why had he invited the Simmons family? The stress of hosting a dinner party couldn’t help Felicity’s nerves, but when Mariah insisted on cooking, Felicity had coyly informed her that Gabe had hired a housekeeper. Mariah never thought she’d see the day when her brother hired help. For years, he’d decried their family’s social status and insisted on living without the trappings of wealth. That’s why he’d accepted the pastorate in small town Pearlman. Hiring help must have wounded his pride. Thankfully Felicity had talked some sense into him.

       “Luke’s home,” Felicity called up the stairs.

       Mariah smoothed her wrinkled skirt, though the boy wouldn’t care one bit what she looked like. Little Luke had spent the day with the Highbottoms, who had a farm and five very energetic children, including one of the orphans Mariah had brought here. After all that running around, he’d be tired and cranky.

       She rose and set the comb on the vanity. Would he remember her? She’d never forget their three months together, but he’d been so young, a terrified little boy who would only speak to Gabe’s dog.

       Mariah dabbed away a tear with her handkerchief. This emotion was silly. She had to put on a cheerful face for Luke. He couldn’t suspect that danger lurked in his future.

       Before descending, she offered up a prayer, asking the Lord to watch over and protect Luke. As always, prayer calmed her. Somehow God would see this through. He always did.

       She took one last glance in the mirror and headed downstairs. Before she reached the bottom step, a war whoop rang out from the kitchen, and the door banged open as Luke barreled into the living room.

       “Aunt Mariah, Aunt Mariah.” Dressed like a member of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show with his child-size Indian headdress, he jumped up and down, waving his toy tomahawk. “I’m Geronimo.”

       “I see that. And what a fierce chief you are,” she said as she gave the boy a hug.

       He submitted for a few seconds, but quickly squirmed free, and she had to remember that he was ten now and too old for hugging and kissing.

       “My, you’ve grown tall,” she said.

       “Five whole inches just this year,” he confirmed proudly. “Daddy says it’s the most anyone in the family ever grew in half a year.”

       Oh, dear. He called Gabe Daddy. That would make the transition harder if she failed.

       She forced a smile. “I’m sure he’s right.”

       “It’s time to change your clothes for dinner,” Felicity urged, pointing Luke toward the stairs. “Neither Geronimo nor Buffalo Bill are invited tonight. And do wash off the war paint.”

       “Aw, Mom,” Luke protested.

       Arguing with a child couldn’t be good for Felicity. Mariah motioned Felicity to sit down while she addressed Luke at eye level. “It’s a special pow-wow tonight, and Geronimo will want to look his best.”

       His eyes lit up. “A pow-wow?”

       She nodded.

       Convinced, he tromped off to his room to change.

       “You’re good with children,” Felicity said after Mariah sat beside her. “One day you’ll have some of your own.”

       Mariah couldn’t tell Felicity that was beyond even prayer, and she certainly didn’t want to discuss it, so she diverted the conversation. “Luke is doing so well.”

       “He gets a little more independent every day.” Felicity sighed. “And he’s so bright, especially with his letters. He’s reading Tom Sawyer all by himself.”

       “How does he feel about getting a new brother or sister?”

       Felicity smiled softly and rubbed her large belly. “I’m not sure he understands, but he trusts us.” She laughed. “He thinks we’re going to pick one out, like at the store.”

       Mariah chuckled, though part of her ached.

       “I can’t wait for the adoption to come through. Then we’ll be a whole family, the way it was СКАЧАТЬ