Page 56 of The Preacher's Bride

Caleb’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Mia, have you ever been married before?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Why not?” he asked, unable to believe his ears. “I mean, you’re smart, funny, intelligent, beautiful….”

She shrugged, a delicate blush coloring her cheeks. “I guess I never met anyone who filled my heart.”

Caleb nodded, giving her a small smile. Then, he started eating again, lost in thought. Mia wasn’t the type of woman who would just marry someone out of convenience, and it wasn’t fair for him to expect her to. “Mia, I hope that you’ll be patient with me.”

Mia smiled. “Falling in love has to be natural. Not forced.” She reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m not expecting you to love me, Caleb. Not now. But maybe in the future, we can have something special.” She let out a deep breath. “Caleb, I’ll never be Jessica, but you can love people in different ways. Maybe someday, we’ll come to love each other for who we are, and not for what we represent to each other.”

One corner of his lips curled into a beautiful smile, appreciating her words. “So, you think we can make this work?”

Mia smiled, nodding her head. “Yes, I do. We just need to give it time.”

He leaned forward, having an overwhelming urge to kiss her. But, instead, he rose from his seat and pulled her to her feet. “May I have this dance?”

She giggled, taken by surprise. “Why, yes, sir,” she said, giving him a slight curtsy. “I would be delighted.”

There was no music, so he began to sing “Aura Lee”.

“When the blackbird in the Spring,

On the willow tree,

Sat and rocked, I heard him sing,

Singing Aura Lea.

Aura Lea, Aura Lea,

Maid with golden hair;

Sunshine came along with thee,

And swallows in the air.”

Mia looked at him, her eyes wide. “I didn’t know you could sing.”

Caleb shrugged. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”

A smile lit her lips. “Well then, we’ll have to do something about that.”

She drew closer, sending electricity through him. Caleb spun her around, and then started singing again as he guided her around the living room. He couldn’t believe she was so light on her feet. She really was a great dancer. A few moments later, he ended the song with a dip.

He held her as she leaned back and was tempted to kiss her slender neck and then her cheek and her lips. Instead, he lifted her and spun her around and bowed as she curtsied. Then, he moved her hair away and placed his hands on the sides of her face and kissed her forehead as her hands rested on his arms.

“Goodnight, Mia,” he whispered, looking deeply into her eyes. Then, he touched her cheek with the back of his hand and smiled. “Thank you for the dance.”

She forced a smile as something filled her eyes. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it hadn’t been there before. “Goodnight, Caleb.”

He walked into the bedroom and leaned his forehead against the door after he pushed it closed. Seeing her like that, so beautiful and vulnerable, it was all he could do to walk away. A twinge of guilt filled his heart, but this time, it was a different kind of guilt. It was the guilt of not yet seeing her as his wife. The guilt of taking a wife and then not being a good husband to her.

He knelt by his bed and folded his hands. “Jessica, I think I’m falling in love with Mia. I’m confused, and I need time. You would love her. She’s great with the children, and I know sheloves them. I hope you understand, but she is what the children and I need. I love you and I always will, but I can love her, too.” He let out a deep breath. “Mia said that you can love more than one person, but in different ways. After spending time with her, I know it’s true. I know that you would approve of her. She’s smart, funny, and full of surprises. Just please forgive me. It doesn’t mean that I love you any less, but I’m ready to start opening my heart again. I feel alive with her. She’s very special. I hope you understand. I love you, darling.”

Then, he sat on the edge of the bed, unable to sleep, not wanting to sleep, energized instead of exhausted from the day of hard work he had put in. Although he enjoyed visiting his parishioners, he enjoyed his time on the farm, as well.

Birthing the calf was rewarding. The cow was having a hard time delivering, and if he hadn’t been there, they would have probably lost them both. It just so happened that he was there today. The Lord truly did work in strange ways.

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