While Love Stirs by Lorna Seilstad Page A

mother a little less.
    “You don’t have to apologize if you can’t get here when you planned.” She draped his coat on a hook by the door. “We know you’re busy. We’re blessed that you and your sister come visit us as often as you do. Your mother would be so proud of you.”
    “I wish I could do more.” He scooped four-year-old Alice Ann up into his arms. “Now, let’s go in the parlor. I have a couple of surprises in my bag to share.”
    “Gumdrops?” Alice licked her pink lips.
    He bounced her as he carried her into the parlor. When had this child, the youngest in Mrs. Goodwin’s care, stolen his heart? If only things had happened differently with Prudence, he might have been at a place to adopt Alice Ann. “Why do you always want gumdrops? Don’t you think the licorice and the lemon drops feel left out?”
    Alice Ann stuck her finger in her mouth, seeming to give the matter a great deal of thought. “I know. You could bring those too. Then they wouldn’t get their feelings hurt.”
    He chuckled and set her down on the threadbare carpet. “Maybe I’ll have to do that.” A dozen children clamored around him, so he opened his bag and pulled out the sack of large gumdrops. He let one of the older girls pass out the treats while he sought out his sister.
    From her seat at the long table, Mattie gave him a mock look of disapproval. “They’d love you even if you didn’t bring them candy.”
    Lowering himself into a rickety wooden chair beside her, he clasped her hand. “But I don’t possess your natural charm that so easily wins their favor.”
    “You have nearly every nurse in the hospital swooning over you. I think you have plenty of natural charm.” She reached for the package he held under the table. “What are you hiding?”
    He yanked it out of her reach. “It was for you to share with the older girls, but if you think Anne of Green Gables would spoil them—”
    “ Anne ! The girls will adore it.” She kissed his cheek.
    “And I got a couple of picture books for the little ones.”
    “I wish you’d gotten one for him.” She glanced at ten-year-old Jacob sitting in the corner by himself. “He’s taking Harvey’s passing badly. Mrs. Goodwin says he won’t talk to anyone.”
    “Maybe I can get him to play some marbles with me. They’ve always been his favorite.” He started to rise, but Mattie laid a hand on his arm.
    “Wait. How did Miss Gregory do at the competition?”
    “How did you—”
    “You took a very long lunch. Besides, I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away.” She flashed him a smile. “Well?”
    “She won.”
    “And?” Her eyebrows arched, implying there was more to the story than he was telling.
    “And what?” He kept his face devoid of expression, but pride swelled deep in his chest concerning Miss Gregory’s accomplishment. He shoved those feelings away. She was not part of his plans for the future. The last time he got sidetracked by a woman was disastrous.
    “Did you talk to her? Are you going to let her come speak to the nurses now?”
    With no desire to go into the details about his conversations with Miss Gregory, he stood. “Mattie, now is not the time or place to discuss this.”
    “I don’t want you to pass up this opportunity.”
    “An opportunity to spend money on something the hospital doesn’t need? An opportunity to deal with a stubborn, know-it-all woman?” He gave her a wry chuckle. “Why in the world would I want to pass that up?”
    “Because you’re smart enough to know she has a point—and you’re used to stubborn, know-it-all women.” She grinned. “In fact, deep down, you like us very much.”

8
    Like a rash that wouldn’t go away, Joel kept thinking about Charlotte Gregory. He turned the Model T onto Summit Avenue and passed the House of Hope Church. He could use a little hope right now—hope that this visit tonight would get Charlotte Gregory out of his mind once and for all.
    He pressed the gas pedal and the