Heart Of A Husband. Kathryn Alexander

white house was nestled among several wooded acres of gently rolling farmland. A two-story barn, garage and a couple of other small buildings were set off to the rear and the west side of the home, and a white board fence neatly edged the property line.

      “I had no idea it would be so lovely,” Joanna said.

      “It is, isn’t it,” Ina replied. She pulled the car up close to the garage, and both of them got out of the vehicle.

      Joanna looked toward the woods, now stark and barren from the harshness of winter.

      “Just wait until you see it in the summer, Joanna. The trees will be beautiful then.”

      “I can almost imagine it,” she said, hugging her new coat to her in the hush of the late-winter afternoon. “But I won’t be here this summer,” she added before pulling her suitcases from the trunk of the car and walking with Ina toward the front porch.

      “You never know what the good Lord might have in mind for you, my dear. We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”

      Joanna was ready to respond that, whatever the Lord had in mind for her, it certainly wouldn’t include a future with a man who loved neither her nor God, when Ina began describing the house.

      “Upstairs there are four bedrooms and four bathrooms.”

      “Four baths? Are you kidding?”

      “Not at all,” Ina assured her. “I heard Jake’s mother entertained a lot years ago. She wanted each bedroom to have a private bath. And, this, as you can see, is the main entrance.” They stepped inside the home. “The living room is to your right.”

      They walked into the large room with warm, inviting tones of gold, rust and shades of brown throughout.

      Ina continued, “That door to the left at the foot of the staircase is Dr. Barnes’s study. Lately, he’s been spending too many of his evenings in there, if you ask me.”

      Joanna smiled. The fact that she hadn’t asked Ina’s opinion obviously didn’t stop the woman from giving it. “Jake probably wants to be alone,” Joanna replied. She wondered if he regretted this mission of mercy he’d set into motion to help Aunt Mae. It was costing him much more than money.

      “Well, I’m hoping that your arrival will put an end to his being alone so much. It’s not good for him. I’ve only been staying here for a few days. Until then, he lived in this great big old house all by himself. Can you imagine that?”

      Yes, Joanna could imagine that. But she smiled and shook her head. There wasn’t much point in defending Jake. He enjoyed solitude, whether Ina understood that or not. “So, that’s the dining room?”

      “Yes,” Ina responded, looking into the adjoining room. But Dr. Barnes prefers to eat in the kitchen usually. Let’s go upstairs so I can show you your room.”

      They climbed the staircase together. “That’s yours there to the left,” Ina explained when they reached the top. “Mine is right across the hallway. Aunt Mae is in that room down on the right, and the fourth is a guest room. Dr. Barnes has the master bedroom, which is downstairs next to the study.

      “Let me put these suitcases in here, then I’ll go see Aunt Mae.” Joanna stepped inside the door to her room and stopped. Exquisite was the only word that came to mind. She looked from the delicate furniture fashioned from honey-colored oak to the soft, pale colors of the wallpaper with matching curtains and bedspread. Realistic oil paintings of Victorian gardens and English cottages hung over two dressers. In the far corner near a window, there was an overstuffed chair covered in tapestrylike fabric similar to the paintings.

      “Well, do you like it?” Ina asked.

      “It’s wonderful. Amazing,” Joanna replied, stunned to find such lavish surroundings. Several times during her unsettled childhood, she had walked into a new home, a new bedroom—but nothing as lovely as this had ever awaited her.

      “I told Dr. Barnes you would. I helped with the decorating,” Ina answered with a grin. “Now, let’s get you down the hallway to see your aunt.”

      And down the hallway they went. Joanna found her aunt awake, with a little more color in her face than the last time she’d seen her and very happy to see her niece again.

      It was much later that afternoon before Joanna unpacked her clothes and then eased into the ivory porcelain tub for a bath. She leaned her head back, soaking her hair as she sank into the vanilla-scented bubbles. For the first time in weeks, she didn’t rush through her bath to hurry over to the hospital, to work at the day care, to class…wherever. Instead, she allowed herself to enjoy the fragrant warmth of the water for as long as she wanted—a luxury of time Jake had provided. Her eyes flew open at the thought. Bringing Mae here helped Joanna as much as it helped Mae. Jake had known that. How was she supposed to stop caring about a man like that?

      Jake had a briefcase in his hand, and his head was down when he entered the house many hours later. He seemed unaware of Joanna’s presence as she sat silently in the chair in the corner of the darkened living room.

      “Hello, Jake,” she said softly, but if he was surprised, he did not show it.

      The corners of his mouth lifted in a generous smile as he studied her for a moment before answering. “I didn’t think you’d still be awake. It’s after midnight.” He loosened his necktie before dropping his briefcase and jacket into a nearby chair.

      “I wanted to see you before I went to sleep.” Her voice wavered, and she paused for a moment. “I want to thank you.”

      He tilted his head in unspoken question as he approached her.

      “I mean, for bringing Mae here, for my plane ticket, for hiring Ina to stay here. For all the inconvenience you’re willing to put up with to help Aunt Mae, to help me. I think it’s rather noble of you.”

      “Noble?” His laugh was gentle. “I doubt that’s the right word, but thank you for the thought.”

      “And the bedroom, it’s beautiful but unnecessary.”

      “It needed to be remodeled,” he said. “This seemed liked a good time to take care of it.”

      “And the paintings, Jake…they’re lovely.”

      He nodded with a hint of satisfaction tugging at one corner of his mouth. “I bought those a long time ago.” They reminded me of you, he almost added, but decided it was better left unsaid. He slid a hand into his pocket and looked down at the carpet for a moment trying to sort out what he was feeling from what he could say. “Ina selected most of the furnishings. I asked her to make your room resemble one you’d find if you could see into a window of one of those English cottages.”

      Joanna swallowed at the lump that rose in her throat. “And…it does….” An instant of pain squeezed her heart.

      Jake was standing beside her now, and Joanna had to tilt her head back slightly to look up at him. Her heart pounded mercilessly within her. She’d come here to get over this man, she reminded herself. Not to fall hopelessly in love with him.

      Jake knew they needed a change of conversation before nostalgia overtook their emotions. “I apologize for not picking you up at the airport this afternoon, Jo. I’d intended to be there.”

      “It’s all right. Ina told me you were delayed at the hospital.”

      “Yes,” he replied. “You’ll see that the cancellation of personal plans is a frequent and unfortunate consequence of being in the medical profession.” His mouth slanted into a smile that softened the negative quality of his comment.

      Joanna smiled back. “I had a chance to get acquainted with Ina. She’s a sweet lady.”

      “I knew you’d like her.” Jake placed a hand against the back of the chair as he studied the dark eyes that viewed him—gentle eyes he’d never forget, not even when Joanna was gone.

      Joanna