Page 38 of The Preacher's Bride

Hailey woke up and struggled to get down, so Mia set her on her feet and watched as she scampered off. Even though Hailey was little, Mia’s arms felt as if they were about to fall off from carrying her. She had never been around children for any length of time before and wasn’t used to carrying a little one around so much.

“Come with me and I’ll show you around,” Caleb offered happily. He opened the door to what she assumed was the spare room, and everything in there was fairly neat. There were some toys on the bed, but the room showed promise. “This is your room. I’m in the process of moving the children’s things over to the master bedroom.” He closed the door, and then walked over to what she had assumed was the master bedroom. It was a bitlarger and there was a curtain hanging in the center across the length of the room, dividing it into separate spaces.

The children were already sitting on the floor, playing. Shane’s eyes narrowed when he saw Mia, and then he went back to playing with his soldiers.

“I’ll share this room with the children,” Caleb announced, claiming her attention, “and you’ll have the spare room to yourself.”

Mia made a mental note to make cleaning this room a priority when she had the chance.

Caleb rubbed his hands together, causing his arm muscles to flex under his crisp white shirt and gray vest. “Okay, then. I’ll leave you to settle in. I’ll be right back with your things.”

“Would you like any help?” she offered, her eyebrows lifting.

He shook his head as he hurried out of the bedroom. “No, I’ve got it. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded her thanks, glad that he was talking to her again, at least.

Mia looked around, not quite knowing where to begin as the muted sounds of the children playing filled the house.Well, first thing’s first,she thought to herself. If she was going to make the house a home, then she’d better get started.

She walked into the kitchen and dainty, frilly doilies lay across the countertops and on the table. She carefully folded the doilies on the countertop and opened the drawers until she found where they belonged, not to rid the house of Jessica’s memory, but to open up some workable counter space.

Next, she filled two steel buckets that she found in the utility room off from the kitchen with water and put them on the stove to boil. The kitchen and the house reminded her of her childhood. Making bread and baking with her mother had created fond memories that had sustained her through manyhard times. This kitchen was very much like her mother’s kitchen from her childhood.

Mia unbuttoned and pushed up the sleeves of her dress and prepared to wash the few dishes that were in the sink. She knew she should have changed her clothes first, but she was eager to get started in her new home. Also, they hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and, although they hadn’t said anything yet, she knew they must have been starving.

“Where are Jessica’s doilies that were on the counters?” Caleb froze as he entered the kitchen.

Mia let out a deep breath. “I folded them up and put them in a drawer.” She looked at him kindly. “Caleb, I’m not trying to get rid of her. I just need the counter space.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow as if he were about to say something, but then he nodded in understanding. “I want you to make yourself at home here.”

She nodded. “And in order to do that, I’ll have to move some things around.”

“Yes. Do what you must.” Then he turned on his heel and left the room abruptly.

As she prepared their dinner, she wondered if he would ever come to accept her. Not as his wife, but as a part of the family.

Chapter 8

Caleb

Faint rays of morning sunlight shone through the window as Caleb tried to orient himself the next morning. Suddenly, the events of the day before ran through his mind. He sat up and scrubbed his hands across his face.

Guilt reared its ugly head within his chest at the thought of having betrayed his wife by even entertaining the thought of marrying another, let alone going through with it. But deep down in his heart, he knew that Jessica would have wanted their children to have a mother, and for him to have someone to care for, and someone to care for him.

But knowing those things sure didn’t make it any easier.

Alone, he knelt by his bed and prayed that God could forgive him, and that Jessica could forgive him for making this choice, even though he felt it was the only choice he could make.

But now that the choice was made, he was determined to make the best of it.

After he finished his morning prayers, he poured water into the porcelain basin—white with a blue pattern across it—and slipped on his pants, leaving his chest and his feet bare like he did every morning. The cool morning air felt good against his skin.

He headed past the children where they were still in their beds, sleeping soundly. He stood in the doorway for a moment,watching them sleep, knowing things were just as hard on them as it was on him.

Caleb headed into the living room and placed another log on the fire. Warmth immediately filled the room. The fresh scent of coffee wafted through the house. He was surprised that Mia was up and about so early.

“Good morning,” she said, handing him a cup of coffee as he walked into the kitchen.

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