A Heart's Blessing - Linda Ford Page 0,11
Mr. Remington to join them or hope he’d leave?
Kent solved the problem by sitting down at the table. “Mr. Remington can sit next to me.”
Delcie pulled herself together. “Oh, yes, of course. Please join us and excuse my lack of manners.” If he thought the oversight had been intentional, he didn’t reveal it.
“I don’t like to impose.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say it was too late to worry about that. But she couldn’t go on resenting him for something that wasn’t his fault.
It wasn’t his fault she’d fallen and hurt her ankle. It wasn’t his fault Robert had proven to be a skunk. Nor was it his fault she mistrusted men on principle because of the lessons Robert had taught her.
“Sharing a meal with you is the least we can do after all the help you’ve been,” she added.
He sat. “Thank you.” His words held enough graciousness to make her feel regretful of her attitude.
Laura carried dishes of food to the table and sat down at one end. Delcie shifted her stool so Sally could sit beside her.
Another awkward silence. They always said grace before they ate, but she didn’t feel comfortable praying before a man. She knew Laura would faint at the mere idea.
“Auntie,” Sally whined. “I’se hungry. Can we eat?”
Delcie swallowed back her reluctance to ask anything more of this man but it went against her upbringing to pray before a man she didn’t know. “Mr. Remington, would you mind asking the blessing?” He could refuse if he wasn’t comfortable doing so. Then she’d force herself to.
He blinked. And blinked again. About the time she thought he was going to refuse, he bowed his head.
The children did the same. Delcie looked at Laura, who shrugged. Delcie looked at the top of the man’s head. Brown hair brushed back and staying in place. He seemed to be a kind man.
A good man? That was an entirely different matter and remained to be seen. She lowered her eyes as Mr. Remington began to pray.
“Thank you, God, for this food. For rest and home. And all things good. For wind and rain and sun above. Amen.”
“Auntie.” Kent’s eyes were wide with wonder. “That’s just like Mama used to say.”
Emotion clogged Delcie’s throat at the familiar words though she noticed that he left off the final words, But most of all for those we love. But she supposed it made sense. He didn’t love anyone around the table. Did he love someone not here?
But his loves and life were quickly dismissed as homesickness, hopelessness, and other emotions filled her, triggered by memories refreshed by the prayer Cousin Sophie had so often used. She couldn’t dwell on it. Couldn’t nurse the feelings or even analyze them. For the sake of the children, she must move forward.
She managed a smile for Kent’s sake. “I remember that.” She offered a bowl of potatoes to Mr. Remington. “Help yourself.”
She wondered if Laura would help Kent, but Mr. Remington held each bowl and allowed Kent to take a spoonful.
He beamed at the attention of a man. Poor boy. Always surrounded by women since Finn and Jenny left. She might not trust Mr. Remington on general principle, but he seemed to understand Kent. For that she couldn’t help but be grateful.
Everyone was dished up and began to eat.
Sally, normally tidy, spilled potatoes and gravy down her front and cried, “I’se dirty. I’se dirty.”
Delcie reached over to calm the child. “Honey, it’s all right. It will wash off.”
Sally jumped off her chair. “No. I’se dirty.” She cried as if her whole world had crumbled.
Laura began to get up, but before she could gain her feet, Mr. Remington was at Sally’s side and scooped her up. “Let’s take care of that, little gal.”
Sally, surprised, stopped crying as Mr. Remington carried her to the washbasin, dampened a cloth, and wiped her dress clean. “How’s that?”
“Good.” Sally beamed as he carried her back to her chair and sat her down.
Delcie stared at the child, a quagmire of emotions churning through her. This man appeared to be what she’d hoped and believed Robert to be. Though Robert had never shown any kindness to the children. His words still stung. “They aren’t mine, why should I care about them?” She pushed away the bitter thoughts and brought her mind back to the present. What should she do about Mr. Remington?
Not that she could do anything. He seemed set on helping them. She supposed it was a way to ease any