Page 22 of The Preacher's Bride

Mia pretended not to notice.

Caleb extended his arm to her, the perfect gentleman. After she slid her arm in his, he led her and Hailey down the stairs, meeting Shane at the bottom.

“Hmph,” Shane grunted as he turned away, his arms still folded.

Caleb frowned as he looked down at his son. “Straighten up.”

“Welcome!” A waitress approached, her face bright, a bit too chipper. “My! Don’t you look fine this evening! Four for dinner?”

Caleb smiled. “Yes, please.”

The waitress lifted two menus from the box beside the stand. “Right this way.” Mia and Caleb followed her until she stopped before a round table and set the menus down at two place settings. Caleb held the chair for her as she sat and then slid into the chair across from her. The children sat on the other chairs between them. “What can I bring you to drink?”

“Lemonade all around,” Caleb answered without even asking her.

“Okay. I’ll have that out to you in a minute. By the way, my name’s Dolly, if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Dolly.” Mia opened her menu and Dolly walked away. Then Hailey climbed onto her lap and smoothed her hand over her gloves.

“You like these?” Mia asked.

Hailey nodded. Mia observed that she didn’t say much. Losing her mother had obviously taken a toll on her.

“Well then! I’ll have to make you a pair.”

A crease formed between Hailey’s eyes. “How did you do that?”

“Make these?”

Hailey nodded.

“I sew. In New York, I used to sew for a lot of people.”

“And you danced, too,” Shane added flatly.

“Shane!” Caleb scolded. “You apologize to Mia right now.”

Mia wondered how he knew, but she guessed that he must have overheard his father talking. Her heart sank as she wondered who else he had told. She wasn’t ashamed of having been a dancehall girl, but she didn’t want to be reminded of it constantly, either.

“No, I won’t,” Shane yelled, “because it’s true!”

Caleb was about to say something else, but Mia intervened. “Yes, I was also a dancer in New York. But my favorite thing to do was to sew. In fact, I’m going to make you both some new clothes when I have the chance.”

“My clothes are just fine,” Shane blurted out.

“Pa, too?” Hailey asked, her eyes hopeful.

Caleb looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

“Yes, of course.” Mia smiled. “And I’ll teach you, too, when you’re old enough. Would you like that?”

Hailey nodded excitedly.

“She doesn’t need to know how to sew,” Shane retorted.

“Shane!” Caleb warned. “That’s quite enough!”

Mia pretended not to notice. “Everyone should know how to sew. I can show you how to sew, too, if you like. Or I could show you how to make candles.”

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