Mrs. Miracle Page 0,58

much attention they'd attracted. This dinner was supposed to have been fun for them both. A chance to get away, shop together, and chat. Reba had agreed with a certain amount of reluctance, fearing her mother would use the time as an excuse to wave her relationship with Vicki in her face. Until now the evening had been enjoyable, but she should have known better than to lower her guard.

"Tell me, Mother, what did you think when I told you I couldn't make it to dinner Christmas Eve?"

"You never said any such thing. You told me you were taking over the church program. How was I supposed to know that meant you wouldn't be able to make dinner?"

"It should have been obvious!" Reba argued.

"You might have explained."

"I think it's time I left," Reba said tightly, and reached for her purse.

"Don't run away," Joan pleaded, her voice much lower.

"Run away?" Reba challenged. "What makes you think I'm doing that?"

"You've been doing it for years."

"Mother, please, don't start on me."

"I can't help it," she cried. "You've been running away from your sister for four years. It's past time the two of you sat down and settled this."

"Why should I talk to a woman with the morals of an alley cat?"

"Reba!"

"There you go defending her again." She removed a ten-dollar bill from her wallet and set it on the table next to her half-eaten meal. "I love you, Mom, but I think it'd be better if we didn't have these little get-togethers any longer. We get along better when we don't see so much of each other." Having said that, she whirled around and quickly wove her way through the dining room and out of the restaurant.

By the time she arrived home, Reba was trembling. She sat in her car in the driveway, her hands clenching and unclenching on the steering wheel as she battled to keep her head above water in the flash flood of emotions that followed.

It sounded juvenile to claim her mother loved her sister best, but that was the way Reba felt. All her life she'd been forced to accommodate Vicki. Her sister's plans had always taken priority. And now, once more because of Vicki, she was about to be swindled - this time out of a visit with her favorite aunt and uncle.

Perhaps this was her mother's less-than-subtle attempt to trick her into mending fences with her sister; it wouldn't be the first time she'd tried to manipulate events. After four long years, she still refused to accept that Reba wanted nothing more to do with her sister.

She felt lost, alone. Friendless. The temptation to talk to Seth was strong, even though she hated to subject him to the emotional baggage she carried around with her; he deserved a woman whose life was not complicated with family problems. Still...

Before she could change her mind, she backed the car out of her driveway and drove to Seth's house. She'd told him that he wouldn't be hearing from her that evening, and why, but she needed to see him, needed the comfort of his reassurances, of his arms.

The woman she assumed was his mother-in-law answered the door and smiled a warm greeting. "Ah...is Seth available?" Reba asked.

Sharon ushered her inside. "You must be Reba."

Feeling self-conscious, Reba nodded. "Seth isn't expecting me...."

"He'll be glad for the break. He's been busy inside his study all evening. I'll get him for you."

"Hi, Reba." Judd raced into the living room at full speed.

"Hi, Reba," Jason cried, following on the wave of excitement. "Our grandma and grandpa are visiting."

"I told Grandma all about you and how I drew your picture and that you might be our new mom, and - "

"Judd!" Seth's stern voice cut into his son's enthusiastic tirade, but his gaze softened as it met hers. "Hello, Reba."

"Seth." Her eyes pleaded with him, for what she wasn't sure. Support, she suspected. Comfort.

He walked across the room and took her hands, gripping them firmly with his own. "What's happened?"

The gentle concern in his voice produced tears. They filled her eyes and threatened to slip down her cheeks.

"Mom," he said, glancing over his shoulder at Sharon, "would you be kind enough to bring us some coffee in the den?"

"Right away. Come on, kids, you can help me make up the tray."

Judd and Jason willingly followed their grandmother.

"I shouldn't be here," Reba whispered. She was sorry now that she'd come, sorry to be involving Seth in her problems. She was a big girl, and this wasn't