Taking On Twins. Mollie Campbell

Cecilia. I suppose my childhood dreams of love may not be out of the question just because I lost Alan, but I’m not ready to take that risk again.”

      Cecilia’s eyes narrowed as if she wanted to dig deeper into her sister’s words. “Remember, God can use more than just birth to make a family.”

      Coralee averted her gaze. She didn’t want to spend any more time talking about her crushed longing to have a baby of her own. That ship had sailed after five childless years of marriage.

      To her relief, Cecilia didn’t say more about it before leaving to help Aunt Lily at the café. Coralee spent the early afternoon catching up on rest and praying about her future. It had been so long since she’d spent time in prayer on a daily basis and the words seemed stilted at first. But praying with Jake earlier had reminded her that God was always there to listen to the words she couldn’t say to anyone else.

      When the time came to get ready to leave, she shook the wrinkles out of her dress and let her hair down. Making several thick braids, she twisted them together into a pretty chignon. She searched around in a bottom drawer for a narrow bow that matched her dress. Turning her head back and forth in front of the mirror, she checked the hairstyle and pinched her cheeks for a bit of color.

      Will Jake like this shade of red on me? The thought popped into her mind unbidden. She realized she’d been studying herself in the mirror far longer than necessary. What was wrong with her? She felt like a schoolgirl, giddy about a young man coming to court her. But Jake was not courting her. This was hardly even a social event where she should be worrying about her looks. She was helping out in a time of crisis.

      Settling a straw bonnet over her hair, she worked to pull herself together. She had to remain above reproach to keep the community’s respect. Acting like a silly young miss would give Dr. Jay more fuel for turning the town against her. She had to get a handle on these errant thoughts before Jake arrived to pick her up.

      Just like a man who’s courting a woman.