Looking for Miracles (8 page)

“Come to think of it, no. What were you going to do with her?”

“The same thing I did with Tyler. Watch.” Lori set the seat down on the carpet and walked over to the antique dresser with all the little porcelain whatnots on it. How his mom ever dusted all this stuff, and why she would want to, was beyond him. It was her guest room, though, so if she wanted to put all this froufrou in it, that was no skin off his nose.

Lori opened the lowest drawer and set it on the floor. She took out the sewing patterns and other contents then removed the scented drawer liner paper. At least that was what the stuff printed with violets seemed to be. Mike didn’t know until now they made such a product, much less that anybody bought it. However now that he was aware that somebody made it, there was no surprise in knowing his mother used it.

He watched as Lori folded one of Mikayla’s blankets into a rectangle that fit the drawer. “See? Instant crib. Folks have been doing it this way for
generations. In fact, as old as this dresser is, it was probably used this way before.”

“I don’t know about that. Martin babies have probably had hand-carved cradles for generations.” As soon as Mike said that, he wondered. If that was the case, where was that cradle? If Gloria had been in possession of such an item, surely she would have hauled it out of one of the numerous attic nooks of the old house last night when he mentioned a baby. He made a note to ask her about it once their guests were settled.

“Well, maybe Martin babies have been using high-class furniture, but Harper babies definitely use dresser drawers for a couple of months. Then when they get too big for the drawer, we go looking for a secondhand crib.” Lori said it without any sign of pain or regret.

“It’s really very practical that way.” She smoothed the blanket, and settled the drawer next to the bed. “I mean, bassinets and cradles are pretty useless pieces of furniture unless you have a huge house. And we’ve never had a house, let alone a huge one to store anything in.”

He must have shown the pang of guilt he felt, because Lori crossed the distance between them quickly. “Hey, I didn’t mean to offend you or anything. That’s just the way life is. I mean, we’re still better off than the Birthday Boy, aren’t we?”

“Huh?” Okay, so it wasn’t eloquent. He was too short on sleep to be anything but dense.

“Jesus, silly. He didn’t have a house to be born into. The best His folks could do was a stable and a feeding trough in a strange city. And things turned out okay after that. I figure in comparison, we’re doing great.”

Then why was her lip trembling? Mike followed his instincts and put his arm around her. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.”

She leaned against him and he was overpowered by the scent of her. It was warm and clean and comforting all at the same time and he fought the urge to bury his face in her hair, lift her off her feet and envelop her.

Instead, he just leaned his forehead down to touch the top of her head. She felt so slight in his arms, and her shoulders trembled for a moment. “I know. I know. But sometimes it’s just so hard.”

“Being both mommy and daddy to Tyler, and now the baby, too?”

“Mostly that, I guess. The hardest part is knowing I don’t have to be both all the time. That God really is in charge and looking out for all of us every minute of every day. That, Mike, is the hardest part. I feel better when I’m holding the reins.”

“Well, sure. Don’t we all.” His arm tightened around her instinctively.

“Yes, but see, it doesn’t have to be that way. That’s the beauty of really knowing Jesus. You can let go of the worries and the wondering. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. If you’re good enough at it, I’m pretty sure that’s how it works.”

“But you don’t know for certain?” Mike used his finger to tip her heart-shaped face up to him. She felt so wonderful. Could he kiss away the pain that he saw there? No, this wasn’t the time. He let go of her face.

Her eyes glowed with unshed tears. “No. Not for certain. Because I’m never good enough.”

“Lady, if you’re not good enough, then I definitely don’t want to know that God you talk about so much. Because if somebody like you doesn’t measure up, nobody will.”

Lori’s head sank, and her eyes closed. “Then I must not be good enough even at explaining all this, because that isn’t what I meant. I think I’m just too tired to have this conversation, okay?”

He had to get out of here. If he didn’t, soon he was going to be picking her up and tucking her into the frilly white sheets on Gloria’s guest bed. The urge to take care of this young woman was way beyond his control. “Fine.” He looked around the room. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Just the things out of the bags Carrie brought
back. And Tyler, of course, if your mom will let go of him.”

“I can probably persuade her. They must have read every old picture book in the house by now.”

“Then send him back here, and I’ll see you in the morning. I still think we should be setting up housekeeping next door instead of here.” How could anybody look that determined and that girlish at the same time?

“No way. Not until you’re a few days farther from birthing that baby. And we have a phone installed in that place. And I make sure all the doors and windows lock, that there’s food in the fridge…”

“Okay, I get your drift. Go get Tyler before you upset your halo.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

Lori blushed; he was sure of it. It was appealing and attractive. “Nothing. Nothing that makes sense, anyway. Just let me get everybody settled and get some sleep. I promise I’ll make more sense in the morning.”

That was almost a shame. This slightly goofy, vulnerable side to Lori was very attractive. Once she had her wits about her in a day or two, it was likely to disappear. And Mike knew he’d miss it when it was gone.

This bed was almost too comfortable. Lori knew she ought to get up. It was daylight and both children were still asleep in her room. Both children. That thought still took some getting used to.

Tyler slept in a sleeping bag on the plush carpet. He had one arm flung out in classic little-boy fashion and the rest of him wound up in the sleeping bag. Mikayla looked like an angel baby in her makeshift crib. And soon she would be big enough that she’d sound like one, but not yet. All that sighing and squeaking kept Lori awake a good deal of the night.

Now it was morning and she should take advantage of both of them sleeping to grab a shower if she could. Heaven knew when she’d get this opportunity again.

The hot shower was bliss. Lori decided it was the first miracle of the day. Why not hot water as a miracle? Definitely the source of the water, being in the Martins’ house and taken care of in this luxury, was a miracle.

Mikayla didn’t wake up while Lori dried off and got dressed. That had to count as at least half a miracle. Sweats and leggings still made up most of Lori’s wardrobe that fit. Her prepregnancy jeans looked impossibly slender. She sighed and folded them back up, sliding them into the bottom of a
bag. So every miracle didn’t happen on her timetable. The thought actually made her smile.

Now what? Breakfast and some brainstorming about how to get a phone installed next door on her limited credit. She agreed with all of Mike’s conditions for her to move in there. They needed working utilities, a phone and a full refrigerator. She needed to retrieve her car from out at the trailer, and look over things one last time to see if she’d missed anything someone had stolen or tried to find. It was a mystery to her what anybody wanted out there, but obviously somebody knew something she didn’t.

She left the door to her room open and went to the kitchen. It was a good thing she’d showered and done her hair, because Mike was already at the table drinking a cup of coffee. And he was the kind of person who woke up clear-headed and good-looking.

Of course he went to bed good-looking, Lori thought, making it an easier process. How had she been this close to him for several days without noticing how handsome he was? Maybe because she was busy seeing the good heart inside him. That good heart was packaged in nice wrapping, she had to admit. Mike looked freshly showered, too; dark hair slicked back and face shaved to show off that cute cleft in his chin.

“Good morning.” Lori should have been expecting him to speak. But why did it make her jump?

“Hey. Happy Boxing Day.”

“Sure. Want to go a few rounds?”

Lori giggled. “Not that kind of boxing, silly. Don’t you have any class? It’s a British thing. The day after Christmas you go visit the relatives and bring goodies…”

“And boxes?”

“One would assume. It’s one of the many strange holidays I know about.”

“Is there a girl manual you people are issued that gives you instructions about those things? I swear my mother knows all that stuff, too.”

“No manual. But I used to love parties when I was a kid, could never get enough of them. So I found every excuse I could to make one.”

“Good. We need more parties around here.”

“Oh?” Lori found a coffee cup set out next to the pot, and poured herself a cup. Maybe she should have waited to be served, but this morning she needed the real stuff. “I would have thought your mom would be a party expert.”

“She is, but hers tend to be on the gala side. I like backyard barbecues and Monopoly marathons better.”

Lori nodded. “Sounds like more my speed. Did we keep you up any last night?”

“Not a bit. My apartment is too far from where you are to hear much. How about you? Is my namesake the model baby?”

Lori looked around, wondering how to ask about breakfast. “She is, to tell the truth. I mean, she didn’t sleep through the whole night, but people who are two days old seldom do. She got up twice, ate and went back to sleep.”

“Good.” Mike got up from the kitchen table. “I’m forgetting my manners. Mom will shoot me when she gets up. Can I get you some breakfast? I don’t eat much myself in the morning, just toast or cereal or something. You’re probably starved.”

“I could eat,” Lori admitted. “But I don’t want you to go to any trouble. Cereal would be fine.”

He led her to a walk-in pantry. Lori kept herself from going goggle-eyed. It was the size of her kitchen. There were appliances she couldn’t identify, and enough boxes and cans to stock a small grocery. “Wow. Your mom really likes to cook.”

Mike laughed. “That she does. Now, when she has those parties, the gala ones, somebody else caters. But for us, cooking is her relaxation.”

“Sounds like you reap the benefits of her relaxing.”

“We work things out. I do most of the outside
stuff around the place, the yard anyway. We lease out the farm land mostly, when she doesn’t run her goofy goats.”

Lori picked a box of cereal off one of the shelves. “She sounds like a woman of many talents.”

“I guess. Between you and me, the goats are more of a pain than an asset. But they are as friendly as dogs around her. I’m surprised she didn’t have Tyler out seeing them yesterday.”

“I think she did. Now I understand his comments about feeding the funny-looking dogs while we were gone.” Lori giggled. “I guess they were funny looking, for dogs.”

Mike had a nice smile. She could get used to seeing him this cheerful. “They bark funny, too. The real dog just goes nuts trying to figure them out. Now let’s get you fed before you starve.”

Lori waved him off. “I’m okay, really.”

“Sure. But how long do you think we’re going to have this house to ourselves this way? You know we’ll have a kid or two up soon, and Mom with them.”

“True. Just about the time I pour milk on this stuff most likely. You get used to it after a while.” Of course Lori was still getting used to having two children depend on her, but she wasn’t about to let Mike know how vulnerable she felt. If he saw her
as a competent, together person and mother, that was great.

She got more than halfway through her cereal before Tyler bounded into the room. “Can we watch cartoons? Is it Saturday?”

“And good morning to you. How did you sleep?”

“Great. But ’Kayla squeaks.”

“Uh-oh. Is she squeaking now?”

He shook his head and Lori eased back into her chair. “Not now. But she sure did last night, didn’t she? Is she gonna do that all the time?”

“For a while. But soon you’ll be back in your own room and you won’t hear her as much. Will that be better?”

“A lot.” Tyler pushed his shock of blond hair out of his face and looked relieved. “Can I watch cartoons now?”

“It’s not Saturday. Mike has box cereal every morning for breakfast.” Lori looked at her confused breakfast companion. “See, at our house sugared cereal in a box is a Saturday-morning treat. The rest of the time it’s toast or oatmeal or something more nutritious.” And cheaper, she could have added in honesty.

She turned back to Tyler, who was wide-eyed and grinning. “Box cereal every morning? This is cool.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get too used to it. When life goes back to normal, you’ll get this sugary stuff only on Saturday morning.”

“Then I hope we stay here a while. I like cereal every morning!” Tyler got up on a chair, sharing a grin with Mike.

“And I like having company. How long do you think we can talk your mom into doing this?” Looking between the two of them, Lori wasn’t sure who was having a better time. She grinned. Two and a half miracles already and breakfast wasn’t over. It was starting to be a pretty good day.

Chapter Eight

“Y
ou sure you’re up to this?” Mike cast a worried glance Lori’s way across the car seat.

Lori thought he looked less comfortable driving his mother’s car than his own truck. It touched her that he was willing to go through some discomfort just to have Mikayla’s car seat fit better here than in the truck. Another example of his care and concern for them. “If I weren’t, I’d tell you. Rest assured of that.”

“Okay. I guess I’m not used to new babies or new moms. I mean, I’m still surprised you’re up and around already.”

“Believe me, women have been doing this for centuries. And most of us get right up and do stuff. And you said if I was good for a week we could
get moving.” Lori looked out the window. The winter scenery didn’t offer much to make conversation about. “I still think it’s a little silly telling the sheriff about all this.”