Returning Home to Melodie by Kate Bridges

Author:Kate Bridges
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989198308
Publisher: Cabin Lake Publishing

CHAPTER 6

“But you’ve got to go,” said Francis. “You must go again to dinner.” Alone in the shop with her sister two evenings later, Melodie lowered her head and listened as Francis brushed her hair and tried to convince her.

Melodie twisted in her chair, trying to deny the stirring deep in her soul whenever she thought of Logan’s sad smile. And that incredible kiss. “But I suspect it’s another false invitation. The timing seems to have been calculated so that Donald can’t attend. I’m sure the doctor knows that tonight Donald’s store is open late. And Logan is bound to be at the private party. It’s being given by Dr. Calloway, this time in the officers’ dining room at the fort.”

Rufus sat at her feet while Francis fussed over her, and Melodie remembered how often the two of them had sat like this together back home, when their folks had been around to share their Christmases. Family is what matters most, they’d often said. Devote your time to the people who matter to you.

“But you enjoy the company of those men and women. It would be an insult to ignore the doctor’s invitation.”

“I didn’t go last year.”

“There, you see. He throws a party every year, so it isn’t calculated.”

“But last year it was smaller and given in his home.”

“And you couldn’t go because you were still in mourning. You’ve got no reasonable excuse this time.”

Melodie didn’t answer. It had been pleasant to enjoy dinner with Logan the other night, to sit beside him and pretend she fitted in, but several times she’d felt like a stranger who’d been invited in from the cold simply because no one knew what else to do with her. And their difference of opinion on how much Logan should confide in her about his work hadn’t changed.

Yet she couldn’t deny that his unexpected kiss had brought a rush of desire and hope, and fueled her curiosity at what could be between them, if only she’d give him a chance.

Francis yanked a handful of hair as she pinned. “Last year at this time, do you remember what you were doing?”

Melodie winced from the hair-pulling. “No.”

“I remember it well. You passed on the surgeon’s invitation, and you passed on my invitation to spend the evening with Eli and me. Instead you went to church, then for that long walk to the river’s edge where you and Logan used to sit for hours, you later told me. The next day you were stricken with that stuffy nose and fever. Well, Logan’s back and you don’t have to sit at the river’s edge to respect his memory. You can sit across the table from him tonight and talk.”

“I wouldn’t know what to say. We-we had a stark difference of opinion the last time we were together.”

“Tell him how much you missed him when he was gone.”

“He knows already.”

“How can he know if you haven’t told him?” Francis braided the strands at Melodie’s temples before pulling them back.

Because we kissed. And surely he could tell by my response that I missed him.

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