The Mistletoe Kiss. Janet Lee Barton

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СКАЧАТЬ of weekends earlier, where she’d taken snapshot after snapshot.

      She smiled now as she took them down from the drying line strung up in a storage closet on the third floor that Mrs. Heaton let her use for a darkroom. At one time, Mrs. Heaton’s son Michael had allowed her to use a storeroom in his office building. But being able to do her developing at Heaton House made things much easier—at least until she could afford to open her own shop one day. What a dream come true that would be—to have a studio where she could take photos and develop them all in one place. But was she willing to face her fears to make things happen faster?

      She’d gone out earlier in the day to look at the Park Row Building John and Elizabeth wanted her to photograph. Her heart had begun to race as she’d looked up shielding her eyes against the sun to see how high the structure climbed into the sky. The actual floors only went a little over halfway up the steel frame, but still, the floored part stood taller than any of the surrounding buildings. When finished, the Park Row would be the tallest in the city. She’d shuddered and swallowed hard, willing her heart to slow down at the very thought of being up so high.

      Thinking about it made her queasy now. “Dear Lord, please give me guidance in what to do if John and Elizabeth get the assignment,” she whispered. “I would so like to do this and I think I’d enjoy looking out on the city from that vantage point. Matt’s stories have always made me want to see what he does from up there. I’d really like to get past this fear I don’t understand. Maybe this offer is just what I need to get over it. Lord, I’d appreciate your help in letting me know what to do. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

      Millicent turned out the light and closed the door before heading down to her room. While Christmas was still several months away, she’d decided to make Mrs. Heaton a photograph album of the group outings and the photos she’d taken of them at Heaton House.

      Letting herself into her room, she laid the photos on the desk that looked out onto Mrs. Heaton’s small garden and then hurried to the bathroom to freshen up for dinner. She’d work on the album when she came back up later that night.

      The aroma wafting up the staircase made her tummy rumble and she realized how hungry she was. The telephone rang just as she reached the bottom of the stairs and she hurried to answer it. “Heaton House.”

      “Millicent?”

      “Yes. You sound excited, Elizabeth, have you heard something?”

      “We did. We have the assignment and we’re wondering if you’re going to take the photos for us. Have you decided if you’ll be our photographer?”

      Millicent’s stomach did a dive while apprehension warred with excitement. “I wasn’t expecting to have to make up my mind quite this soon. I—”

      “I understand. And I’m sorry, but we really need your answer by tomorrow, please.”

      “All right, I’ll have one for you by then.”

      “Thank you, dear friend. Have a good evening.”

      Millicent hung up the receiver and prayed once again, Dear Lord, please help me to know what to do. Then she joined the others in the front parlor to wait for Mrs. Heaton to call them to dinner.

      Julia and Joe, along with Stephen and Emily, were there, and just as she wondered if Matt was going to be late, he rushed in. His damp hair told her he’d probably just got home and she hoped there’d been no more accidents at his work.

      “You running late again, Matt?” Joe asked.

      “A little. But I made it before—”

      “Dinner is ready,” Mrs. Heaton said from just outside the dining room, interrupting what he’d been about to say.

      They all headed across the foyer and Matt seated their landlady and then held Millicent’s chair out for her before taking his seat beside her. Joe and Stephen performed the same courtesy for Julia and Emily.

      Mrs. Heaton asked Matt to say the prayer, and then Gretchen and Maida began to serve the meal of roast beef, scalloped potatoes, green beans and rolls. Meals at Heaton House were always something to look forward to, along with the table conversation.

      Their landlady always asked how each of their days went, which helped get conversation started and led to easy rapport among them all. Millicent remembered how welcomed she’d felt from the very first night at Heaton House. It’d meant so much to her that she’d tried to emulate Mrs. Heaton’s example when the new boarders came in. But tonight her attention wasn’t on the conversations going on around her. All she could think of was the decision she needed to make.

      Once they’d finished their desert of coconut cake, they all headed toward the parlor once more, and Millicent and Matt both turned to one another.

      “May I speak to you for a moment?” Matt asked.

      “Of course. I wanted to tell you Elizabeth telephoned—”

      “And she told you the news? My boss told me this afternoon and then I ran into John at the trolley stop. Have you made up your mind?”

      “Not yet. I was hoping to have more time to make a decision. I told Elizabeth I’d let her know tomorrow. I’m sure they really want an answer now, but—”

      “I understand. John wants to meet with us tomorrow evening to make plans.”

      “I suppose I’d better do some serious thinking and praying.”

      “Might be a good idea. And just so you know, I’ve been assigned to keep you safe while you take your photographs.”

      “Oh...well, that does make me feel better, I suppose.” She managed a smile.

      “You don’t have to take the offer, Millie.”

      “I know.”

      They walked toward the foyer. “I’m sure there’ll be another one of these days.”

      “Perhaps. I assume you want me to say no.”

      “It might make my job easier.” He grinned but then turned serious and surprised her when he said, “Actually, Millie, I want you to do whatever you believe the Lord is leading you to do.”

      He sounded so sincere Millicent felt bad for presuming she knew what he was thinking. “Please say a prayer I get some direction soon.”

      “I will.”

      Millicent nodded. “Thank you. I think I’m going on up. Good night.” She headed upstairs. Oh how she wished she and Matt weren’t so different, that he didn’t disapprove of her starting her own business. Especially now she’d seen a side of him he’d never shown her before—his strong belief in letting the Lord guide them.

      * * *

      As always, the next day passed fairly fast for Matt. There was always much to do and he loved seeing the progress being made. When they broke for lunch, he told his crew about the upcoming photo shoots and wasn’t surprised by their reaction.

      “What? Is the boss crazy? He’s letting women up here?” Burl asked.

      “He is. I don’t like it СКАЧАТЬ