Page 44 of The Preacher's Bride

“See? What did I tell you?” Mrs. Jenkins smiled as she looked at her pocket watch. “Oh, my goodness! I have to go.” She reached over and squeezed Mia’s hand. “Are you sure you’ll be okay, dear?” The elder woman reminded Mia of a proper Georgia peach and probably had an interesting backstory to go along with it. But that would be a story for another time.

Mia smiled as she gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Yes, of course. I appreciate you coming over today. It’s hard to believe that we just met. It feels as if I’ve known you all my life.”

“Thank you. I feel the same way.” Mrs. Jenkins rose to her feet. “I really must get home, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Mia smiled. “Thank you for coming over and for showing me how to make biscuits. I look forward to your visit tomorrow.”

The woman pulled her in for a dainty hug. “You take care, now.” She sighed as she looked at her with kind eyes. “I know it’s hard, Mia, but try to have patience with Caleb. He really is a good man. He’s just been through a lot.”

Mia gave her a small smile. “I will. Besides, I don’t give up so easily.”

Mrs. Jenkins returned the smile. “I’m glad that you don’t.”

After she left, Mia looked at the clock. Three o’clock. “Oh my goodness!” She ran into the children’s bedroom, and they were playing on the floor. “Shane, go ahead and put this on.” She rummaged through the chest of drawers and pulled out a shirt that matched the pants he was wearing.

He folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t have to do what you say!”

“Oh yes you do, little mister,” Mia said, taking a deep breath. “Shane, let’s make the best of this and try to get along. Okay?”

“You’re not my mother!”

He started toward the door, but Mia stopped him. He struggled a bit, but she held on.

“Shane,” she cooed in a soft, soothing voice. After a few seconds, he stopped struggling. “Come here and sit down beside me. I want to talk.”

He let out an exasperated breath. Then, he sat down beside Mia and folded his arms abruptly across his chest.

Mia let out a deep breath. “Shane, I know that I’m not your mother.”

Shane looked at her sharply.

“And I don’t intend to be,” Mia began. “I mean, I’ll never be able to take her place. I know that.”

Tears came to his eyes as he listened.

“But I’d like to be your friend, if you don’t mind.” Mia’s eyebrows lifted, her eyes filled with hope.

Shane glared at her as tears brimmed his eyes. “I don’t need you!”

Pain shot through Mia’s chest, but she wore her best Poker face. “Well, I’ll be here if you do. In the meantime, let’s just learn to get along. I know your mother’s not here to take care of you, so I’d like to do that, if you don’t mind.”

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he hung his head.

“Hey, hey,” she cooed, pulling him to her chest. “Shane, your mother will always be right here….” She touched his chest. “In your heart.”

He began sobbing openly, so she pulled him onto her lap and rubbed his back, rocking him back and forth while he cried. Hailey looked up at her brother and scooted onto the bed beside Mia. When he was almost cried out, he said, “What should I call you?”

Mia ran her fingers through his hair. “I don’t expect you to call me Ma or Mama, but how about Mia?” He looked up at her, and she shrugged. “Then, if and when you’re ready, we can think of something else, if you like. Either that, or it can just be Mia. Is that okay?”

He nodded.

“Shane, if I could bring your mother back, I would,” she whispered as she stroked his hair. “But I’ll be here for you and Hailey any time you need me.”

Shane nodded, and then his eyes started growing heavy. Mia picked him up and laid him on the bed and covered him over with a blanket. She was about to give him a kiss on the cheek but thought better of it, not wanting to muddy the waters. Hailey held up her arms and Mia swept her up. Then, she laid her on the bed beside her brother, and Hailey immediately curled up on her side.

“That’s a good girl.” Mia pulled the blanket over her. Then, she gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Sleep well.”

As she walked toward the door, she looked over at Shane, and he curled up toward the wall, not making eye contact. Mia knew it would take time, but at least she felt they had taken a baby step in the right direction. She couldn’t come into a family and expect everything to go smoothly right off the bat.

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