Mrs. Miracle Page 0,55

was sure God would be equally charitable with her niece. If she weren't already so involved with her many efforts at the church, she would offer to come help Jayne with the household chores. But one could take on only so much.

"I imagine you'll want me over for Christmas dinner again this year," Harriett said as she filled the teapot with hot water.

"Actually, Steve's family asked us to dinner."

"Oh." That left Harriett with several choices.

"You'd be welcome to join us," Jayne offered.

Harriett squared her shoulders. "Thank you, no. I'd be uncomfortable with a group of strangers on Christmas. I suppose I can change my plans and spend Christmas Eve with you and the children. We can open gifts then. Yes, that's what we'll do. Following the program Christmas Eve, we'll return to the house and the girls can open their gifts."

Jayne cleared the breakfast dishes from the table. "Ah...I'll need to check with Steve, but I think it should be all right."

"Of course it'll be all right. I'm your aunt." She carried the steeping tea to the table. Jayne brought down two delicate cups and pulled out a chair.

Harriett sighed as she settled across from her niece. Frankly it felt good to sit down. She'd been on her feet most of the day and was scheduled to meet with Reba Maxwell later in the afternoon to practice for the Christmas program.

"Well," Harriett said with a belabored sigh, "I have a number of concerns on my mind that I've made a matter of prayer."

"You mean about the holidays?"

"Some," Harriett answered, and stirred sugar into her tea. This issue with Ruth Darling and the new man at church was a delicate one, and she'd decided to test the waters with her niece. "You realize I'm playing the piano for the Christmas program."

"Yes, it's very generous of you."

"It is, but then I don't see that I had much choice," Harriett muttered, pinching her lips closed. "No one else seemed willing to step forward. It was the least I could do. No one seems to appreciate that if it wasn't for me, the program would have been canceled this year."

"You?"

"Why, yes," Harriett said, holding Jayne's gaze. "I was the only one of the women in the Martha and Mary Circle with the gumption to come up with someone who could take over the project. While it's true, I suggested you as the leader, a natural choice, you being related to me and all. You've got your mother's and my blood in your veins...it's only natural for you to step in wherever you're needed."

"Reba Maxwell took over as the pageant director."

"I know that," Harriett snapped, "but you were the one who convinced her to do so."

"But, if you're concerned about the Christmas program..."

"It isn't the pageant that concerns me."

"It isn't?"

Harriett took a tentative sip of her tea, eyeing her niece above the rim of the china cup. "I have a...delicate...prayer concern I want to share with you," she said, lowering her voice. This wasn't a conversation she wanted the children to overhear. "One that's been burdening my heart for several weeks now."

"Of course, Aunt Harriett. Who is it you'd like me to pray for?"

"It has to do with...one of the women at the church." Harriett averted her gaze. "You might know her. Ruth Darling."

"Mrs. Darling...oh, of course." Jayne perked up instantly and sounded positively delighted for the opportunity to pray for the older woman. "I know Mrs. Darling. She's such a dear heart. A month or so after I brought Suzie home from the hospital, Mrs. Darling spent an entire afternoon watching the baby so I could rest. It meant the world to have those few hours to myself. She's always been so kind and generous. She isn't ill, is she?"

To hear her niece, the woman was a candidate for sainthood. "As far as I can tell, Ruth's in the best of health."

"Is everything all right with her husband? I think Fred is one of the nicest men I know."

This was the avenue that Harriett had been waiting to open. "I fear there are problems brewing with Fred and Ruth," she said. "It's for the two of them that I'm seeking prayers."

"Oh dear, what's the problem?"

"I'm afraid it's Ruth," Harriett said, hoping her words would show her niece exactly the kind of woman Ruth was. She squared her shoulders at the pure distastefulness of her disclosure. "Ruth has a roving eye."

"A roving eye?" Jayne repeated as if it were a medical condition. "What do you