A Family-Style Christmas & a Mother at Heart by Carolyne Aarsen

Author:Carolyne Aarsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

“You smell like dirt, Daddy.”

Jake smiled down at his daughter as he washed his hands, then bent over at the waist to wash his face and neck. “I was working in lots of dirt, sweetheart,” he said, drying off. “I was working on the tractor.”

“Your hair is dirty, too.”

Jake glanced at his reflection in the mirror, shoving his hands through his thick wavy hair. It needed to be cut. He paused, looking at himself critically, trying to see himself through Miriam’s eyes. Then he wondered why he should care.

Miriam Spencer. He drew a deep, tired breath, wishing away the jolt he had felt when he had first realized the identity of the very elegant woman standing on the side of the road. Now she sat in his kitchen, chatting to Tilly and Fred, who, even though she hadn’t even bothered sending them so much as a postcard, were delighted to see her.

He felt like the prodigal son in the parable. He should be glad she was back, but he just wished he knew why she had come. He doubted it was to settle on the farm to raise wheat and barley. Miriam wasn’t a country girl any longer. And it wasn’t hard to see. Though her clothes were casual, they had an elegance that quietly stated their cost.

High.

He remembered the first time he had seen the new Miriam. Paula had shown him a fashion magazine, and Miriam was on the front—her tip-tilted eyes gleaming with gold eye shadow, her full mouth glistening with coral lipstick. Her once unruly hair cropped and artfully tousled. Neither that person, nor the casually elegant girl now sitting in his kitchen were the Miriam he knew.

They weren’t the Miriam who would sometimes wear a T-shirt backward, who wouldn’t care if her jeans were ripped or patched.

The Miriam he had once loved.

“What’s the matter, Daddy? You look sad.”

Jake pulled himself back to the present, and, squatting down, put himself level with his daughter. “I’m just tired, Pip. And hungry for some of Grandma’s supper.”

“That sure is a pretty lady that is here,” she said solemnly, her hands on her father’s shoulders.

Jake remembered a comment Taryn had made while they were standing on the porch. “What did you mean when you said you saw that lady’s picture in Mommy’s book? What book?”

“Mommy’s book. You know.” Taryn shook her head at her father’s obtuseness. “Me and Grandma found it in the attic.”

“Well, you’ll have to show me the book when I tuck you in.” He was curious, but knew it would have to wait.

Jake gave her a quick hug, and, holding her tiny hand, walked back down the hallway.

“Your supper is on the table, son.” Tilly smiled at Jake as he sat. “Taryn, you should run and get your pajamas on. It’s getting late.”

Taryn dropped her head, her fingers fiddling restlessly with each other, her lip beginning to curl in a classic pout. “But I wanna talk to the lady,” she mumbled, lifting her eyes briefly to her father.

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