Mountain Homecoming (36 page)

She frowned. “Well, hold your horses, boy. I ain't as spry as I used to be. You can help me up, and we'll go together.”

Anna laughed and pushed to her feet. “Everybody come back in the kitchen, and we'll all have another piece.”

She hurried back to get the cake and some plates out of the pie safe. She set it on the table and began to place slices on the dishes. As she did, she closed her eyes and thought once again of her children and Christmases past.

She glanced around the kitchen. To some people their small cabin might look like something only the poor could call home, but to her it was the castle her prince had brought her to over twenty years ago. She had never regretted her decision to stay here instead of going to New York. She closed her eyes.

When I came to the Cove, Lord, I didn't know what You had planned for me. Thank You for my wonderful life with Simon and Granny. You gave me three wonderful children, and I thank You for each one of them. I pray that Rani and Stephen have had a wonderful Christmas, and let them know I'm thinking of them. Lord, You've heard my prayers of heartbreak through the years for the loss of Willie, but I've always felt Your strength flowing through me. Now You've sent me another child, and I find he's healing the hole in my heart. Help me to be worthy of Your love
.

Movement at the door signaled the entrance of someone from the other room. She opened her eyes and smiled at Noah leading Granny into the kitchen. He glanced up at Granny and grinned. “Look, Granny, Mama's already got the cake cut for us.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I sure do, son.”

Simon and Matthew followed them into the room, and Simon walked over and put his arms around her. Together they watched as Noah sat down and began to devour the cake in front of him. Simon's arms tightened around her.

“Merry Christmas, Anna.”

She looked up into the face that was still as handsome as the first day she saw him and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Simon.”

Mrs. Miller set the silver tray on the parlor table and glanced over at Rani, who was sitting on the sofa. “Miss Rani, here's the coffee and my special Christmas cake. Do you want me to cut it before I go?”

Rani scooted to the edge of the sofa and frowned. “Where are you going?”

“Home. I don't want to be in the way.”

Rani stood up and pointed to a chair. “You are not in the way. You are going to sit down in that chair and have dessert with us. I won the battle to make you eat dinner at the table with us, and I'm not going to give in on this, either.”

Mrs. Miller smiled. “Well, if you think Doc wouldn't mind.”

Uncle Charles and David walked into the parlor at that moment from the dining room. “Uncle Charles, tell Mrs. Miller we want her to have dessert with us.”

He directed a shocked look in his housekeeper's direction. “Why would you not want to join us?”

“I didn't want to intrude.”

Uncle Charles took her by the arm and guided her to a chair. “You are not intruding. Now have a seat.”

David laughed and plopped down on the sofa next to where Rani had been seated. “I don't know about you, Mrs. Miller, but I can't wait to get a bite of that coconut cake you made. I haven't eaten any since I was a boy.”

Mrs. Miller frowned. “Then at least let me serve everybody.”

When everyone had been served, Mrs. Miller took a seat opposite the sofa and joined in the conversation. Rani smiled and nodded from time to time, but her mind kept wandering. She imagined her family gathered to read the story of Christ's birth. She could see Granny nodding in her chair as she listened, and she wondered if they had invited Matthew for Christmas dinner. She hoped so. He probably hadn't celebrated Christmas in years, and she wanted his first one back in the Cove to be a good one.

Later, when the dishes had been cleared away and Uncle Charles and Mrs. Miller were in the kitchen, she turned to David. “I hope you aren't missing your family too much today.”

He shook his head. “I'm not, but I imagine you are. You haven't been away from home as long as I have.”

“I have had a few moments when I wished I was home, but I've really enjoyed being with you.”

He smiled. “I'm glad.” He pulled a small package from his pocket and handed it to her. “I wanted to get you a present to let you know how much I appreciate all the help and encouragement you've given me as I've prepared for the show. And also to let you know how important you are to me.”

She stared at the box wrapped in white tissue paper with a red bow on top. “I'm the one who should be thanking you for all you've done for me. I don't know what to say.”

“You don't have to say anything. It's not much, just something I saw and thought you would like.”

She tore the paper from the box, opened it, and stared in wonder at the gold locket nestled on black velvet. A four leaf clover made from small emeralds decorated the front, and small diamonds sparkled at the top and bottom of the clover. She shook her head. “I can't accept this. It's too expensive.”

She started to hand it back to him, but he shook his head and reached inside the box. He pulled out the necklace. “No, I want you to have it. Let me put it on you.”

She hesitated for a moment, but the look on his face told her he wouldn't give in. With a sigh she turned away from him and lifted her hair off her neck. As he slipped the necklace around her neck and fastened it, his breath fanned her back. A tingle ran down her spine at the touch of his lips grazing her skin.

“You're so beautiful,” he whispered. “You know I've fallen in love with you. I'd like to give you much more than a necklace.”

She let her hair drop back to her shoulders and swiveled to face him. Her fingers touched the locket that rested in the hollow of her neck. “I'm flattered that you think of me that way, David.”

His eyebrows arched. “But?”

She smiled and touched his cheek. “Give me some time.”

His eyes darkened. “All right. I can be patient. I'm going to show you I really am a great guy.”

She clasped his hand in hers. “I already know that. But you're too good to me, David. I've been hurt before, and I don't want to do that to you. Like I said, just give me some time.”

He stood and pulled her to her feet. His arms encircled her waist, and he drew her closer. “I've been in love with you since the first day you walked into my shop. I've waited a long time for a woman like you, and I don't intend to let you get away.”

She smiled. “I'm not going anywhere.”

Matthew shivered in the saddle and urged his horse to go faster. This had been a wonderful Christmas, but he was ready to get home and sit by his own fireplace.

He'd never spent a Christmas like the one he had with Simon, Anna, and Granny. From the look on Noah's face, he'd never had one like it either. The only thing that could have made it better was if Rani had been there with him.

He wondered what she had done today. Had her Christmas been as peaceful as his? Anna said she might come home in the spring, but that was a long time off. At least four or five months. She'd already been gone for five months, and it seemed like an eternity.

He touched the muffler Anna had made and tucked it tighter around his neck. Although he treasured the gift Anna had made for him, he wanted the one Granny and Noah had been given. He wanted to be a member of Simon and Anna's family.

A pang of regret shot through him. If he hadn't held onto the guilt about his past for so long, that might very well have happened. When he'd sent Rani away, he had dashed that dream forever.

He stared up into the sky and prayed as he had for months since Rani left. “Keep her safe, Lord, wherever she is, and please help her not to hate me too much. I love her so.”

R
ani looped her arm through her uncle's and stepped into the showroom of the Knoxville gallery. She stopped inside the door and let her gaze drift over David's displayed pieces around the room. Her breath caught in her throat at the rich colors and unusual shapes David had produced. After nine months of hard work, the day she and David had looked forward to had finally arrived.

“Oh, Uncle Charles, aren't David's pieces beautiful?”

David appeared at her side before Uncle Charles could answer and laughed. “Thank you, ma'am, but I suggest you look at the pieces my assistant made. They're quite exquisite too.”

She glanced up into David's smiling face and arched her eyebrows. “Could you guide me to where this budding artist's wares are being shown?”

His eyes softened. “It would be my pleasure. If you and your uncle will follow me, I'll lead the way.”

They crossed the room and came to a stop at a table where her pieces sat. As she studied each one, she recalled the hours she'd spent working on them and how patient David had been with her. Her eyes filled with tears, and she turned to him. “When I visited your shop for the first time last August, I would never have believed that nine months later I would be showing my work in a public exhibit. I'll never be able to thank you enough for all you've done for me, David.”

He cleared his throat and smiled. “You really didn't need my help all that much once you decided you could do it. I'm very proud of you, Rani.”

“And so am I,” Uncle Charles added. “Now I think I'll leave you two artists alone to greet the guests who are entering, and I'll browse around.” He winked at Rani. “I might even find a piece I wish to purchase.”

Rani laughed and stared after him as he strolled across the floor. When she turned back to David, he smiled and inched closer. “Do you think your uncle would mind if I stole you away from him tonight for supper? Something has happened that I want to discuss with you.”

“I'm sure he wouldn't mind. But now I'll be in a stew all afternoon trying to figure out what the big mystery is all about. Can't you give me a hint?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “It's no big mystery, just a business proposition I've been offered. I want to get your reaction to it. Will you have supper with me?”

She smiled. “Of course I will. After all you've done to help me, I want to do whatever I can for you.”

His eyes sparkled. “Thank you, Rani.” He glanced around and took a deep breath. “Now we need to do as your uncle suggested and meet our guests. I want everyone to get a chance to see your pieces.”

He took her by the arm to lead her across the room, but she held back. “David, this is your show. I want you to be successful. You've worked hard, and you deserve it. Don't worry about trying to promote me. I want you to be the star today.”

He swallowed hard. “Thank you, Rani, but you've been the brightest star in my life since the day you walked into my studio.”

“I'm glad, David,” she whispered.

He smiled down at her and led her to where a group of men and women stood at a display table. She stared up at him and thought how handsome he looked today. His fair skin and blond hair were very different from Matthew's dark eyes and hair, but maybe that was good. At least she wasn't constantly reminded of the man she had once loved.