Page 32 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
He wasn’t trying to outrun anything. He entered the silent house. The last couple of months they’d all gathered in the kitchen. Lindy raced about until bedtime. Before that, Roscoe and Merry had always been around. At one time, Pa’s presence had filled the place. Matt grinned. Pa always seemed larger than life. And long ago, Ma had been there, her quiet, sweet spirit offering calm to any situation.
Matt sighed. A lonely sound he was grateful no one heard. He peeked into the sitting room where they gathered in the winter months. Though he wondered if they would do so again. They each had their own homes. He would have Gwen and Lindy in his. The others had no one. He’d suggest they should be trying to find wives too. Amusement tickled his insides at the idea of doing so.
His gaze went to the chair where Ma would sit and then to the one where Pa had spent the evenings. Sometimes the boys had been there playing games or reading. Even after they built their own houses, they preferred this place. Guess he could understand why Lindy balked at leaving the only home she’d ever known. Gwen was wise to recognize the child needed time to adjust.
His gaze settled on the bookshelf near Ma’s chair. Was that her Bible? He crossed the room and pulled the book out. It was, indeed. He flipped the pages until he found the picture of the angel. It was as he remembered. The same as the one in Lindy’s book.
He sat on the floor, the Bible open on his legs, when footsteps sounded behind him.
“Hi, Andy. I thought you were in bed.”
“It’s too quiet. I’m glad you’re here.”
He turned back to the Bible. “I think I’ll borrow this and read it if no one objects.”
Andy snorted. “Only one here to do so is me and I don’t see any reason you can’t borrow it.”
Matt didn’t miss the emphasis on borrow.
“Why do you want it?” Andy asked.
He showed the illustration to Andy and explained about the book Gwen had given to Lindy.
His younger brother dropped into Ma’s chair. “You think it means something? That it has the same picture?”
Maybe that thought had crossed Matt’s mind, but he wasn’t about to admit it. “I think it means it’s a frequently-used illustration. Nothing more.”
Andy leaned forward. “What do you think of her?”
“Who?” As if Andy could mean anyone but Gwen.
Andy jabbed Matt’s leg with his toe. “You know who I mean.”
“I’m guessing Gwen. She’s all right as far as I can tell.” He itemized mentally what he knew about her. She could cook. She liked to laugh. She didn’t mind having an opinion that differed from his and letting him know. That could make life uncomfortable in the future. “I’m not about to jump into something permanent without being sure.”
“Then why’d you ask her to come? Doesn’t seem right.”
He wasn’t about to admit to his younger brother that he hadn’t allowed doubts until he was on his way to town. Andy would laugh and say it sounded like a typical groom’s cold feet. “I gave her a chance to say she didn’t agree to waiting a month.” But why he’d asked her to make the decision wasn’t as easy to put into words. “Guess I want to make sure she was right for Lindy.” Not even to himself would he admit he was now wondering if she was a good fit forhimbecause that was not part of his plan. Like he’d told Gwen, he’d loved once and had the wounds on his heart.
“Well so long as you aren’t wishing she was Corine.”
Matt closed the Bible slowly and pushed to his feet.
Why was everyone—himself included—suddenly thinking of Corine? That was the past and he’d moved on.
But was it truly past and forgotten? Would it ever be?
7
Gwen had decided she must say something about Matt’s confession last night. She didn’t want him to think she wasn’t sympathetic toward his loss. She’d even shed a few tears into her pillow as she thought of his pain. Not that he needed to know that.
She had breakfast ready when he came to the house. Lindy had set the table. Knowing how much Matt liked everything in place, Gwen had gone around quickly and straightened the cutlery when Lindy wasn’t watching.
Her heart lightened when Matt entered, smiling and greeting them with a cheery, “Good morning.”
“Good morning to you,” she replied. At least he wasn’t grumpy as Luke had accused him. “I made my special breakfast cake today.” She’d also made savory pancakes that she guessed were not part of his usual fare. If he didn’t like them, she wouldn’t make them again.
“Cake?” He blinked. One eyebrow quirked and then he smiled. “Why not?”
