Heart Full of Love (8 page)

“What’s wrong between us, Eden? You’ve been acting strange since last week on Thanksgiving. I thought we had a nice time.”

“I did, too,” she said. She turned her head again. “Nothing’s wrong. I’ve just been busy with making gifts for the children for Christmas. I’m sorry if I seem a little distant.” She swiveled around to look at him. “Tell me, where are you planning to find a job?”

“Where did that come from?” No telling what thoughts were running through that pretty head.

“Do you plan to buy a house so you can have Katie stay occasionally?”

“I would like to find a large house like yours, one where she could feel at home. You might want some help with her once you find your siblings. You’ll be busy catching up on old times.”

She jerked her head up and stared at him through narrowed eyes. “Is that why you’re helping me look for my brother and sisters?”

He felt his face burn, and he turned his attention back to the road. Guilt had to be written all over his face, for he heard her catch her breath.

“That’s it, isn’t it? That’s why you’ve been spending so much time with us, why you’re so determined to find my siblings. You think once I find them, I’ll let you have Katie!”

“Look, Eden, maybe that was the reason at the beginning, but I soon learned to care about you and the kids. I really want to help you find your family.” He needed to find a place to pull over. Driving down the road was no place to declare his love to a woman. It would have to wait.

“And I was feeling guilty for keeping Katie from you. I had even begun to think she belonged with you!” Eden’s voice was choked with tears, and she bit her lip, then turned to stare stonily out the window.

How did he answer that? He swallowed and tried to think how to say he loved her. Did he just spit it out? Good grief, they were driving down the freeway! He wasn’t going to propose in this kind of situation. He had it all planned, and this wasn’t in the plan. He wanted them all to be together; he didn’t want to take Katie from her.

“She’s all I have left of my family,” he said lamely. That would have to do until the right time.

She didn’t answer him as he turned onto her aunt’s street. It was lined with old oak and maple trees that hid modest, two-story homes. He gritted his teeth and pulled the SUV to the curb. Jumping out, he started to come around to open her door, but she hopped out before he could get there. He put his hand on her arm, but she jerked away.

“Don’t touch me,” she said. “You used me, Josh. You used my need to find my family for your own purposes. I thought you cared about me.” Her voice choked off, and she marched ahead of him to the house where her aunt used to live.

“Eden, please—”

“I don’t want to talk to you right now, Josh. Let’s stop while we’re still civil.” She rapped on the door, painted red with off-white trim.

Josh fell silent, and his own temper rose. Women! They wouldn’t listen to reason.

Eden masked her pain with anger. Josh’s betrayal hurt more than she’d imagined. By the time she’d tried to protect her heart, it was already too late. He didn’t deserve Katie. The sooner he was gone, the better. She could nurse her hurt and figure out a way to get over him. When they got back, she would tell him it was best if he left.

She felt him glowering at her back as she waited on the front stoop of the house. Straightening her shoulders, she rapped at the door again.

“I’m coming, hold your horses.” Her gray hair scraped back in a bun, a short woman nearly as wide as she was tall opened the door and peered at them through thick glasses.

“Are you. . .Selma Johnson?” Eden heard her own voice quiver and bit her lip.

“Selma Johnson. Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in years.” The woman took off her glasses and polished them on her stained apron. She perched the glasses back on her nose and opened the door wider. “Don’t stand there looking like two possums in the porch light. Come in, and we’ll jaw awhile.”

Eden stared back uncertainly at Josh. Who was this woman? Obviously not her aunt. Josh gave Eden a slight nod, and she stepped through the door. The odor of sautéing onions hung in the air.

“Cooking liver and onions. I got plenty if you folks would care to join me for lunch.”

“No, thanks,” Josh said. “We won’t be able to stay that long.”

“You young folks, always rushing hither and yon,” the woman grumbled. She pointed toward a chintz sofa, its once vivid reds and greens faded to a soft mixture of pastels.

Eden slipped off her coat and sank onto the sofa. “I’m Eden Walters, and this is Josh Leland. Selma Johnson is my aunt.”

“Selma and I were neighbors for over fifty years. Maybe you heard her mention me. Gabby Summers.”

Eden shook her head. “I’m sorry; I never knew my aunt. I only met her one time.”

“Say, you must be one of them Richmond kids!”

Eden’s heart sped up. “Yes, yes, that’s right. I’m the oldest.”

“It were a shame, splitting you young ’uns up like that. I told Selma it weren’t right, but your aunt had a head as hard as a new walnut. It was hard enough for her to raise young Timmy, she said.”

“Do you know where they are? Timmy and my aunt?” Eden put in eagerly. “I’m trying to find him and my sisters.”

Gabby shook her head. “Selma’s been gone near ten years,” she said. “Timmy went off somewhere last I heard. I don’t recall just where that was.” Her voice trailed off in a mumble, and she stared vacantly toward the floor.

Eden shot a glance at Josh. He leaned forward and touched Gabby’s arm. “Mrs. Summers?”

Her eyes focused again, and she shook her head. “It’s gone, young Eden. Give me your number, though. If I happen to hear from Timmy or remember where he went, I’ll call you.”

Eden nearly gasped from the pain of disappointment. So close, and to come up empty-handed. It was almost more than she could bear.

Josh rose. “Thanks for your help, Mrs. Summers.” He pulled a business card from his wallet. “I’m putting Eden’s phone number here,” he said, scribbling the number on the back.

“Sometimes things come to me in the night.” Mrs. Summers took it, then turned away and tucked it into her purse.

Josh picked up Eden’s coat, and she slipped her arms into it. All her bright hopes for the day lay in ashes. He squeezed her hand, and she choked back a sob. What was wrong with her? This lady might remember something. At least it was something to hope for.

Mrs. Summers led the way to the door. Eden paused in the doorway. “Was Timmy happy?” she asked softly.

“Oh my, yes. Such a lovely child. So well-mannered, good in school, very helpful. He used to rake my leaves in the fall and wouldn’t take a penny for it.”

Eden’s eyes flooded with tears. “I don’t suppose you have a picture of him?”

Mrs. Summers shook her head. “I’m sorry, little lady, I don’t. But you keep your chin up. If I could just remember where he went off to, you might track him down through that.”

“Thanks for your help.” Josh laid a hand on Mrs. Summers’s shoulder, then followed Eden through the door and pulled it shut behind him.

Eden stumbled toward the SUV. Gulping back her tears, she threw open the door and practically fell into her seat. Josh slid into the driver’s seat. She felt his eyes on her face, and her lips trembled.

“Aw, Sweetie, don’t cry.”

Eden fished in her purse for a tissue. “I’m not crying,” she quavered. “I never cry.”

Josh touched the back of her head, and a sob escaped Eden. “She’s dead. My aunt is dead and with her all hope of finding Timmy and my sisters.”

He pulled her into his arms. “It’s only a delay. We’ll find them.”

“You have to leave.” With his arms around her and her nose buried in his chest, the tension in her shoulders began to ease.

“Not before your birthday tomorrow.”

She pulled away and scrubbed at her face with the tissue. “How did you know December fourth is my birthday?”

“You told me, remember?” Regret twisted his lips, and his reluctance to let her go warmed her.

Eden sniffed. “I’d hoped to find them for my birthday.” She laughed shakily. “Silly, isn’t it? For some reason I thought my birthday would be the start of a new life for me.”

“It’s not silly. And you never know what tomorrow might bring.” Josh turned the key, and the SUV roared to life. “Let’s go home to our girl.”

Eden heard the children giggling with Josh in the kitchen. They had banished her to the living room while they prepared her birthday dinner. Josh had been acting strangely all day. She caught him staring at her several times with a bemused smile on his face.

He’d arrived this morning with his arms full of helium balloons. Katie had squealed with delight, and Eden was touched he remembered how much she liked balloons. Samantha had motioned him into the kitchen, and they’d scurried back and forth with their decorations.

Eden tried to occupy herself with wrapping Christmas presents. She’d been torn over whether or not to give Josh a gift. Then she had hit on the idea of making him up a scrapbook of Katie’s life so far. Filled with pictures and cute captions, the scrapbook was almost too precious to give away. Josh would love it, though.

Smoke billowed from the kitchen. She jumped to her feet and ran through the kitchen door. “Where’s the fire?” She grabbed the fire extinguisher by the back door.

Josh grinned sheepishly. “False alarm. I spilled some cake batter in the oven.” The kids, including Katie, were busy decorating her cake. Katie had icing in her hair.

Eden wrinkled her nose, and he leaned over and kissed it. A rush of pleasure soared through her. What was with him today? She couldn’t figure him out. He seemed carefree somehow.

“We’re almost ready,” he told her. “You go in the living room, and we’ll bring the cake in there.”

Eden laughed and went back to the living room. She didn’t know when a birthday of hers had elicited such excitement. Usually there was no celebration other than a cake she baked for herself and the balloons she bought the kids. Now all these balloons were for her. The living room was full of them, bobbing from the ceiling, clustering around the Christmas tree, their ribbons hanging down like confetti.

She didn’t have long to wonder. Josh came through the kitchen door carrying the cake. It canted to the left and drooped with runny icing. The candles flickered and sputtered wax over the top and left drips like wax petals. Eden bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Samantha and Amelia carried packages wrapped with more tape than paper. Katie’s gift was clutched in her chubby hands, and the bow was now in her hair. The children placed them on the coffee table with a flourish.

“Sit down, Eden.” Amelia clapped her hands in excitement.

Eden obeyed and sank onto the sofa.

“Mama,” Katie said. Her dimples flashing, she offered her tattered package.

Eden took it. “Thank you, baby girl.” Katie tried to help her open it, and Eden let her rip the wrapping paper. Inside was a candle. Katie sniffed. “It smells good, doesn’t it?”

Katie nodded, then Cory sidled up to Eden and held out his package. “Uncle Josh helped me find it,” he said.

Uncle Josh?
Eden glanced at Josh and saw a smile of pleasure curve his lips. He’d worked so hard to get close to Cory. That was one of the reasons she loved him; he cared so much for others. His big heart had taken in all the children.

One by one she opened the packages from the children. There were bath salts, stationery, a lace throw for the piano, and a box of chocolates. Josh had gone to a lot of work with the children.

She sat back against the sofa and sighed with pleasure. It was the nicest birthday she could remember. Josh smiled and pulled the ribbon on a balloon in the corner of the room. He came toward her with a grin, but fear seemed to lurk behind his eyes.

He held out the balloon ribbon. “You’ll have to break the balloon to get your gift from me.”

“You didn’t need to get me anything. You’ve already spent way too much money. We all know where the money came from for the gifts from the children.”

“This is something special.” He handed her a pin. “Give it a stab.”

She laughed and took the pin. Poised over the balloon, she could see a stuffed bear inside. She held her breath and pricked the balloon with the pin. There was a loud
pop
then the bear dropped into her lap. Eden picked it up and hugged it.

“Mine!” Katie said. She tried to grab it, but Eden held it away from her.

“No, Sweetie, it’s Mommy’s.”

Josh was looking more uncertain. “What’s wrong?” she asked him.

“Um, nothing’s wrong. Did you see what the bear was holding?”

Eden glanced down at the bear in her hands. A small, velvet jewelry box was in the bear’s hands. Her heart began to pound against her ribs, and she couldn’t think.

Josh slid to his knees and took the box from the bear. Opening it, he held up a lovely marquis diamond ring.

Eden gasped, and tears filled her eyes. Her gaze sought Josh’s, and the love she saw reflected on his face made it hard to catch her breath.

“I love you, Eden Walters, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me? Before you answer, I want you to know I got a job here in Wabash so we won’t be leaving our kids. I’m going to be working at Ford Meter Box in their export department. And I’m handy with a hammer. I can fix this old house up and make it a traffic stopper.” He paused to catch a breath, and Eden laughed.

“All those things don’t matter,” Eden said softly. She cupped Josh’s face in her hands. “I love you, Josh. And Katie loves you. The thought of your leaving has kept me awake nights. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Yippee!” Cory began to dance around the middle of the room, and Samantha and Amelia joined him. Katie tried to dance, too, but was only able to run to keep up with the older kids.

Josh leaned forward and kissed her. The love in his kiss brought tears flooding to her eyes.

Josh pulled away and dug in his pocket. “There’s one more thing,” he said, pulling out a piece of paper. “I’ve got a lead on Crista. It looks like she might be in Arizona. How does Phoenix sound for a honeymoon? Warm sunshine, blue skies.”