Page 56 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
Gwen looked to Matt, hoping he’d had a way of making Lindy see she would never be able to fly. His eyes begged her for the same thing.
They pulled her to sit between them on the bed. Their arms crossed each others on the child’s back. A jolt of something warm and sweet—and totally unfamiliar—filled Gwen from fingertip to toe. She tried to keep her gaze lowered, and avoid eye contact with him, but she was powerless to stop herself. Her eyes felt too big, too full of an emotion she couldn’t control.Please don’t let him see anything but concern for Lindy.
He looked directly at her. His eyes brimming with—
She lowered her eyes, uncertain of what she saw…what she hoped she saw…and then her gaze returned to him. Nothing existed apart from this moment. Full of unknown, beckoning possibilities.
Lindy shifted, piling feathers into her lap and Gwen turned her attention to the child. “Honey, why do you want to fly?” She understood it was in the hopes of finding her parents, but did Lindy understand her reasons?
Matt’s arm pressed against hers, providing encouragement, yet also inviting her to soar. She shook her head. Was she getting as fanciful as Lindy?
“I just do.” Lindy’s words were half desperate, half stubborn.
“You run fast enough it’s almost like flying.” Gwen hoped her words would comfort the child.
“No, I don’t.”
“I have an idea.” Matt waited for Lindy to give him her attention before he continued. “How would you like me to take you for a horseback ride? We could go so fast it would feel like you have wings.”
Lindy bounced to her feet. Gwen’s arm fell to the bed as did Matt’s. Their fingers nestled together. The two becoming one. Gwen couldn’t say who pulled back first. She clasped her hands tightly and ordered her insides to stop quivering.
“Will you?” Lindy rocked forward on her toes, like a bird ready to leave the ground behind. “When?”
“Is tomorrow soon enough?” Humor brimmed his words.
Pleasure filled Gwen, not only at Lindy’s eagerness but with joy, sheer joy at sharing the care of this child with Matt, sharing his home, anticipating their marriage—
“When I wake up?” Lindy pressed for the earliest possible moment.
Matt glanced at Gwen and at the expression in his eyes she sucked in a breath and blinked. He turned away before she could analyze what she thought she saw…what she wanted to see. “How about after breakfast?”
Lindy considered his offer. Her shoulders sank. “Fine.”
Matt and Gwen smiled at each other as Matt held out his hand to help Gwen to her feet then they followed Lindy from her room.
The three of them worked to clean up the kitchen and do the dishes. The chore was as pleasant as yesterday’s picnic. All because they worked together in harmony. Matt teased Lindy making her laugh. He playfully flicked the tea towel at Gwen, never getting close enough to make her feel threatened. In turn, she dabbed a soapy drop of water on his nose.
He caught her wrist. Time froze as they faced each other. The only thing that moved was her frantic heartbeat, racing upward as if trying to fly free. Lindy put a fork in the drawer, the sound was a warning bell.
Gwen jerked back to the wash basin. What was wrong with her? Did she have a desire to embarrass herself? Yes, they would share the house, living side by side in it, when—if—they married. That didn’t give her permission to dream of more. She scrubbed at the last dish, running the rag over and over the surface until Matt spoke softly.
“I think it’s clean.”
“Oh, right. I was lost in thought.” Lost in mental scolding but wasn’t that the same thing?
She handed him the item. She hadn’t even realized it was a plate. While she emptied the water and put away the basin, Lindy prepared for bed and returned carrying two books to the settee. Her look informed Gwen that she expected them both to sit beside her and read. Telling herself they’d done this before did nothing to ease the tension gripping Gwen’s spine yet somehow, she made her way across the room and sat beside Lindy as Matt sat on the other side of the child.
Somehow, she read aloud without her voice cracking. Somehow, she listened to Matt read without swallowing so loudly that she drew his attention. She rose to take Lindy to her room and tuck her in. Before she crossed the threshold, Matt was on his feet.
“It’s been a long day. I’ll say good night.”
“Good night.” She managed to stammer the word. He’d left in a hurry. Had he been aware of her inner turmoil and wanted to escape it? Her cheeks burned at the thought.
After a good night’ssleep and a long, serious talk with herself, Gwen was ready to face Matt the next morning when he came for breakfast. Lindy could barely contain her impatience over the promised ride.
“Are you done eating?” she asked Matt when he had a forkful of eggs halfway to his mouth.
“Mind if I finish my eggs and drink my coffee?” His humor-filled look at Gwen undid all the progress she’d made with her serious talk. Her heart strained at its moorings.
