Cheryl Reavis by An Unexpected Wife

Author:An Unexpected Wife
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Robert watched their faces. If he had to assign an emotion to each of the people present at the table—the ones who had known him before the war—it would have been the same emotion—incredulity. And he would have to include his brother-in-law as well, because the Colonel, who had likely heard a great deal of what Maria’s brother had been like, was nothing at the moment if not incredulous.

“And who has approved this?” Mrs. Kinnard wanted to know, clearly intending to interrogate him, as was her self-appointed duty.

“Reverend Lewis,” he said. “I had a long talk with him. It’s all arranged,” he added.

Mrs. Kinnard opened her mouth to say something, but then didn’t. She was clearly undecided about the appropriateness of such an event. She, like everyone else in the town, knew that he had lived “a man’s life” before the war, and “all arranged” was not a term she was inclined to recognize, especially when she had had no part in the arranging.

“Well,” she said after a moment. “I simply do not know what to say.”

“It won’t be my first sermon,” Robert said. “If that helps.”

Clearly, it didn’t because she looked even more startled than she had at his initial announcement. And Maria. Maria was openly bewildered by it all, and he couldn’t fault her for that. He was still somewhat bewildered himself.

“I take it you have had some kind of Saul-on-the-road-to-Damascus experience, then,” Max said finally. The remark was rude; everyone at the table recognized that fact, just as everyone wanted to hear Robert’s response.

“Nothing nearly so dramatic,” Robert said, looking at his brother-in-law directly. “I will talk about that tomorrow in church.”

“I see,” Max said.

There were no more comments and the silence at the table grew more and more uncomfortable.

Robert looked at Kate. He couldn’t read her expression at all—because she was avoiding his eyes. He expected her to be surprised—and doubtful. Given their conversation last night, doubtfulness was the one emotion he was most prepared to see. But when she finally did look at him, he saw neither. What he found there in her eyes was understanding, as if the things he’d just said, to her way of thinking, explained everything: his coming home again, the effort he was making to mend his relationship with Maria—and the chaplain in the summer kitchen.

Two are better than one, he suddenly thought. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow...a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

He gave her a slight nod and stood, and he thought for a moment she was going to ask him to sit down again. It was clear to him that she didn’t want him to go, not yet, and that she was a woman with questions, who apparently saw no reason in this world why he shouldn’t answer them.

“If you’ll excuse me now,” he said. “I’ll take my leave. Maria—Max, thank you for inviting me. The meal was excellent. The best I’ve had in a very long time. Ladies, it was a joy to spend this time in your company.

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