Mrs. Miracle Page 0,39

chicks seeking the protection of a mother's wing.

"I do hope my taking the children won't be too much of an inconvenience," the housekeeper said, looking to Reba. A smile courted her lips, causing the edges to quiver. "I would stay and fix dinner, but I'd hate to disappoint the twins. They've been extra good all week, and this is their reward."

"It's no problem," Seth assured her.

Reba drove to Seth's house. Mrs. Merkle had the children change their clothes while she set sandwich makings on the kitchen counter.

"There's plenty of leftovers," she called out.

"Don't worry, we'll see to everything ourselves," Seth told her.

The housekeeper's gaze slipped from her employer to Reba. She looked well pleased with herself. Reba glanced around, suddenly uneasy with the thought of being alone with Seth. The attraction she felt toward him was strong and was sure to grow more so once they were alone. Perhaps it was the conversation with her mother earlier in the day, the coming inquisition lunch on Monday would bring. She couldn't very well play down their relationship when meeting Seth was the best thing that had happened to her in four long years.

"All things are possible with God," Mrs. Merkle said out of the blue, looking intently at them both. "But no one said they'd be easy."

Reba glanced at Seth, wondering if he could explain the comment. He looked as puzzled as she.

In a matter of minutes the housekeeper had disappeared with both children. The silence that followed engulfed both her and Seth.

"I can't shake the feeling that she somehow arranged this in advance," Seth mumbled as he carried two cups of coffee into the living room. She wasn't in the mood for lunch yet, and neither was he.

Hoping to give a relaxed impression, Reba removed her shoes and tucked her feet up against the side of the chair. This was the first time she'd been inside Seth's house. She liked it. The style was homey and comfortable, the furniture large and bulky. Sturdy, like the man himself.

Seth handed Reba the coffee and sat across from her. He seemed deeply wrapped up in his thoughts.

"Do you get the feeling we're being purposely thrown together?" she asked.

He nodded. "It seems that way, but Emily didn't know that I'd invited you to dinner. I forgot to mention it," he added sheepishly.

"She's an unusual woman."

Seth shook his head and relaxed against the cushion. "You're telling me! I can't help but wonder..." He let whatever he was going to say fade.

"Wonder?" she prodded. Although she'd met Mrs. Merkle only once, Reba had the same feeling about her. She found the older woman to be something of a puzzle. Perhaps it had something to do with the way Seth's housekeeper regarded her. It was as though she had looked straight through her and read her soul. The feeling prompted the oddest sensation.

"She showed up out of the blue one night, likea...miracle. I hate to say it, but it's true. The former housekeeper had been gone for some time, and the house was a disaster. Because of all the uncertainty, the kids were in an uproar and I was at my wits' end. All at once Mrs. Miracle was there. I didn't even think to check her references or contact the agency until..." He hesitated again, as if caught in some warped memory.

"Seth?"

"The agency hadn't sent her."

"What?" He certainly had her attention now.

"When I asked Mrs. Merkle about it, she had a perfectly logical explanation. The Ackerman Agency, the one I'd been working with, contacted another agency, Heath, Health, Heaven...something like that. And they're the ones who'd sent her. I checked her references, and she was given the highest recommendation. I certainly can't find fault with her. What she's done for the children is nothing short of miraculous." He tossed her a chagrined look, then chuckled. "There's that word again."

"You're reassured, then?" He regarded her blankly, and Reba added, "With her explanation about the agency?"

"Yes. She was adamant that she'd told me the name of the agency earlier, but I don't seem to remember her saying anything. There's been a few other things - minor things, really - that leave me to wondering. And the things she says..."

"Says?"

He chuckled. "This morning when the offering was taken in church, she leaned close and murmured something about not being able to take our money with us, but we can send it on ahead."

Reba laughed. "You're not worried about her, are you?"

"Heavens, no. She's wonderful, and as I said, I