Arms of an Angel (11 page)

“
Well,” Brad clapped his
hands making Terry and Mark both jump. “Let’s cut to the chase. We
don’t have a lot of time. Our mom will be back with Mark’s kids in
about an hour. So, we all know why we’re here. What do you two
think? Deal or no deal? Could you marry each other or
not?”

Mark snorted, surprised at his brother’s
abruptness. Terry looked away, reaching down to pet the cat for
distraction. It gave Mark the opportunity to look her over again.
He was sure a slight blush stained her cheeks. He found that
somehow endearing. How awkward this must be for her. For them
both!

She was a nice looking woman. Not ravishing
like Sara, but not bad. It appeared she took care of herself, yet
he wouldn’t think she was a freak about it. Her dress was casual,
which he liked. Her hair, a sandy blonde mass of shoulder length
curls that she continuously tucked behind her ears, complimented
her coloring perfectly. He’d like to see it longer…he’d always
loved Sara’s straight, long, blonde hair. Terry glanced back at
him, her timing perfect to pull him back from his musings. He liked
what he saw in her eyes. Without knowing her he got the feeling a
kind soul lived behind them. He also sensed something else. Terry
had a need to be needed.

He smiled at her. “Are you willing? Truly?”
he asked tentatively.

Fearful relief washed over Terry’s face as
she nodded. Another oxymoron, she thought. Her life seemed riddled
with them.

Brad jumping up with a loud whoop gave her no
time to ponder the thought. He grabbed her, hugging her, and
spinning around. “I knew it. I knew it, knew it, knew it. I knew it
was perfect.” He released Terry and noogied his brother who pushed
him away and tried to straighten his hair. “You’ll see. Both of
you,” Brad said looking triumphantly from one to the other. “This
is going to work. I feel it.” Terry and Mark both looked
hopeful.

Brad jabbered on and on as he drove Mark back
to his house. Mark was quiet though his brother seemingly didn’t
notice. He couldn’t believe what he’d just done. He wondered what
his children would think. What would Sara have thought?

“
If something ever happens
to me, you just make sure you find someone that’ll take good care
of my kids,” she’d told him once.

“
What about me?” he’d
pouted.

“
You!” She’d wrapped her
arms around him and kissed him warmly. “You’ll never find anyone
like me so don’t bother trying.”

“
How right you are. Only one
perfect woman in the world and she’s all mine.” He’d nuzzled her
neck which had led…well, it had led to their twin boys; two more
children for this someone else to take care of. Mark hoped Brad was
right about being right for both of them.

 
Twenty minutes later,
staring into the stony faces of his children, he had his doubts. He
tried to explain the absolute divine reasoning behind his decision
but, being uncertain himself, it was an impossible task. Once
again, he was saved by his mother.

“
Now kids,” she began with
her kindly, grandmotherly voice, “This has been so terribly hard on
your dad and I’ve know him long enough to know it wasn’t an easy
decision. He loves your mother every bit as much and maybe even
more than every single one of you do.” She pointed her bony, aging
finger at them. “I also know Terry.” Her statement surprised the
children, and Mark. “She’s pretty special. Give her a chance. She
needs you kids.” She nodded and stood with Mark’s help. Brad
grabbed her cane for her and they headed toward the door. She
looked back. “I’m expecting the best from all of you.”

The best, Mark thought as he watched his
children march away offering him nothing but chilling glares. One
by one they filed off to their rooms, each with his or her own
thoughts on the matter. Was he truly doing what was best? Had he
let his need for help and a pretty face make the decision for him?
He thought of his mother’s words. There was so much to all this
that he obviously didn’t know. Still, he centered on one phrase in
particular. She needs you kids. Why, he wondered.

Regardless, they’d all be
meeting the next day. Brad and his mom would return along with a
batch of his mom’s famous homemade chicken and noodles. It would
all be okay. It
had
to be okay. Mark breathed deeply a few times then went to his
room, the room he’d shared with Sara for eight years before her
death. God how he loved her. He sat down on the edge of the bed
completely overwhelmed.

“
Daddy? You okay?” Madi’s
sweet voice floated in from the doorway. Mark pulled his hands away
from his face and smiled as best he could at the hesitant figure of
his nine year old daughter. His heart pitched. Of all his children
she looked the most like his beautiful Sara.

“
Come here, love.” He held
out a hand and she moved quickly across the floor to be wrapped in
the comfort of her daddy’s arms.

“
Will she be nice, Daddy?
The woman? What was her name? Terry?” She was filled with
questions.

“
Yes, baby. She seemed very
nice,” he tried to soothe her fears.

“
Then everything will be
okay.” She patted his arm.

“
Why do you say that?” he
asked. “I agree but I was wondering what made you say
that.”

She shrugged her shoulders then wiggled off
his lap seemingly satisfied with the upcoming change. At the door
she turned back. “Mommy told me she’d send us someone nice. Terry
must be the one Mommy’s sending.” She turned and skipped from the
room.

Mark stared after her. He wondered when Sara
had told that to Madi. Madi had spent so many hours sitting still
beside her dying mother. They’d talk. Madi would read to her,
comfort her as only a child can. It was as if she was soaking her
in before there would be no more.

He looked around the room.
He wasn’t prepared to share it with anyone else, married or not. He
wondered what Terry’s expectations were. It was purely a marriage
of necessity. It was that for her as well, right? He thought of how
she had flinched slightly when they’d touched. He hadn’t noticed
that when his brother had touched her. Why wasn’t
he
marrying her to help
her get her inheritance? He was a bachelor after all and Mark would
guesstimate they were close to the same age. Why then… Madi’s words
floated back to him. Terry must be the one Mommy’s
sending.

“
Oh Sara. If only this truly
could be by your hand,” he whispered

* * * * *

About The Author

Linda Boulanger is a self-proclaimed hopeless
romantic. Her stories almost always have a happy-ever-after ending
and leave her readers feeling satisfied that the characters have
had or are walking into a life of complete fulfillment. Along with
being an author, she is an entrepreneur, wife, mother of four busy
children, and volunteers as her local no-kill animal shelter. She
holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Oklahoma State
University and continues to reside in that state where she works
with authors through her various entities and affiliates while
pursuing her own writing.

Linda’s author blog is a
great place to keep up on her writing, information for and about
other authors and books, as well as glimpses into her personal
life. The site: The Shelf Life of a Novel Writing Book Writer is
located at
www.WritersShelfLife.blogspot.com
.

Other place you might
enjoy visiting

www.LindaBoulanger.com

The Shelf Life of Linda Boulanger on
FaceBook

BvilleOKAuthor on Twitter

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Cover Design for
Arms of an Angel
: Laura
J. Miller

www.AnAuthorsArt.com

Print edition of
Arms of an Angel
available at

www.TreasureLineBooks.com

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