Page 53 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
The thought of the mountain of work that would await her when she returned was enough to distract her. She was feeling more like herself again when she tuned back in to what the minister was saying.
“… And that, my dear friends, is the true healing power of love.”
She swallowed down a scoff.
“The healing power of love”?
Please.
She crossed her arms with a huff.
Had she honestly gotten emotional over this topic?
Love was many things, but healing? Hardly.
Sure, maybe when it came to God and Jesus, but in everyday life with ordinary people?
Nope. No, sir. When it came to mere mortals, love didn’t heal. It destroyed and burned and bruised.
By the time the service ended, Dahlia had wound herself back to her usual state of unrest. There was an odd comfort to the norm, and she found herself itching to get on that plane the next day.
She followed Rose as she shuffled out of the pew and into the aisle.
Maybe it wasn’t traditional allergies she was suffering from, but she was definitely starting to think she might be allergic to this town and its inhabitants. There was nothing for her here other than Rose.
“Oh my, you’ve gotten so much bigger,” an older woman was saying to Rose.
Another woman reached out and touched Rose’s belly. As if she had any right.
Dahlia would have slapped the woman’s hand away if it were her, but of course, Rose was too nice for that.
“This baby can’t come soon enough.” She smiled sweetly, as though she honestly didn’t mind the probing questions.
“Dr. Dex was telling us that you’re working on choosing the perfect name for this little one.” The older woman’s face begged to be let in on the secret.
As if!
Rose hadn’t even told Dahlia what she was thinking of naming her daughter. She wasn’t about to tell some strange old lady.
“Have you and the doctor set a date?” another woman piped up.
Rose smiled, her cheeks flushing red, and Dahlia felt all her mama bear instincts kicking in. “Will you excuse us?” She snagged Rose by the elbow and, with a polite smile, started walking for the exit. “I think our sister Lizzy is waiting.”
Rose giggled. “Lizzy’s waiting, huh? You know, you really shouldn’t lie in church.”
“How do you put up with all these small-town busybodies?” Dahlia muttered when they were out of earshot.
“You get used to it,” Rose said with a good-natured shrug. “Besides, there are good things about living in a small town too. It’s not all about the gossip.”
Just then, they overheard a group of older men beside them. “Well, I heard they still can’t find April. I wonder whatever became of that girl.”
Dahlia arched her brows at Rose meaningfully, but Rose just burst out laughing. “Oh, that’s just Norman and Chicken Joe for you. You’d like them.”
“Chicken who?”
“You want me to introduce you?” Rose started to turn toward the old men, but Dahlia put a hand on her arm. “Maybe another time.”
Rose grinned. “Okay. But I think you’d really like them.”
