Mrs. Miracle Page 0,38

made it sound as though they should meet as soon as possible to discuss the details of her upcoming wedding.

A wedding.

Four years earlier Reba had worked with her mother to plan a large, formal wedding ceremony. She'd taken time and effort with every detail, choosing the invitations and bridesmaid dresses and everything else that went with the special occasion. The thought of going through all that needless hassle again left a sour taste in her mouth.

It had been humiliating to call her family and friends and announce that she wouldn't be marrying John after all. She'd escaped shortly afterward, putting herself up at the beach alone for several days, thinking matters through.

Returning the gifts had taken weeks. Although she'd sent out notices that the wedding had been canceled, gifts staggered in for thirty days or longer, and she had to deal with their timely return. Reba wanted no part of a large, conventional affair.

If she ever married, it would be a small, casual gathering. As she had with so much else in life, Vicki had robbed her of the beautiful wedding she'd always dreamed of.

Not wanting thoughts of her sister to ruin her day, Reba hurried out the door for church. She smiled as she thought ahead to spending the afternoon with Seth and his family. An image of Judd in the Christmas pageant came to mind, and she chuckled. He might have resigned himself to playing the role of an angel, but he wanted to make sure everyone knew he was a man angel and not some blue-eyed blond sissy. Seth's children were so easy to love.

What her mother had said about her being good with children was true. After the broken engagement, she'd shoved the thought of being a mother to the back of her mind. It hurt too much to dwell on all the might-have-beens.

Vicki had a child, Reba mused, and at the thought a strong stab of resentment shot through her. Again she mentally released her anger. Nevertheless, she couldn't help thinking how unfair it was that Vicki could have a home with a husband and a child when she had neither. The sister who'd betrayed her, the sister who'd stolen away everything Reba treasured, was happy while she, Reba, wallowed in the injustice of it all.

The church parking lot was almost full. Reba hurried into the sanctuary just as the congregation stood to sing the opening song, "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful." Organ music swelled and filled the room. She found a seat and set her purse on the pew and reached for the hymnal.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Seth with his two children, and the resentment and sadness that had settled over her like a dark cloud lifted unexpectedly. Sunlight filtered into her soul. For whatever reason, she'd been given this second chance at finding happiness. She intended to take hold of the opportunity with both hands and let it take her where it would. Throughout the remainder of the service, her gaze continually strayed to Seth and the children. Every time she glanced in his direction, the warmth returned.

During the closing hymn, Reba felt Seth's eyes on her. She held his look and smiled, surprised by how shy and uncertain she felt. It was a little thing, this dinner with him and his children. But she'd rarely looked forward to any time more.

They met on the concrete steps outside the church. "There's been a small change in plans," Seth announced.

"Oh?" She could see by his look that the revision had unsettled him.

"Unbeknownst to me, Mrs. Merkle promised the twins she'd take them to the movies this afternoon. She said she could make us soup and sandwiches before she left if you wanted. I'd thought...I'd hoped...What I'm trying to say is that we can make it another time if you'd like."

So both the housekeeper and the twins would be gone. "Would you rather I came another time?" she asked, preferring he make the decision.

His eyes scooted past her. "No. I was looking forward to seeing you again."

"I don't want to wait, either."

This appeared to surprise him, but a smile soon formed and he reached for her hand, his fingers tightening around hers. "Actually I make a mean toasted cheese sandwich."

"Does this mean you'll be doing the cooking?"

"Don't let him," Judd advised, glancing up at his father. "We eat a lot better since Mrs. Miracle came."

Mrs. Miracle. Reba's gaze went to the plump older woman. The children gathered about her like