Sarah Jane felt terrible. "I'm sorry. I was tired, and I fell asleep right after Chrissy did. We'll talk tonight."
Chrissy still hadn't come out of her bedroom, so he pressed a little further. "Are you certain that's all it was?"
"Are you asking if I'm angry with you, Micah? Because if you are, just come right out and ask. There's no reason to beat around the bush."
Micah frowned. "Are you angry with me?"
Sarah Jane shrugged. "A little. But not so much that I wouldn't have come out to talk to you last night. I have things to say, and I'll say them."
Micah nodded, knowing she had every right to express her anger. He had treated her unfairly.
All through the day, Micah thought about ways to apologize to his bride. He thought about flowers, but they were hard to come by in the winter. There were greenhouses in Austin, but he didn't want to have to drive that far. He didn't have money to buy her jewelry. What could he do to tell her he felt badly for the way he'd jumped to conclusions?
Sarah Jane followed the plan she'd outlined for Micah the previous evening. She spent the morning at Ruby's house, making certain her sister had enough to eat and was comfortable. She cleaned everything quickly. The family had left the dishes for her and Chrissy, but she had no problem with that.
She fixed the noon meal for Ruby, taking it to her room on a small tray. "I'm going to take the girls to my house for the afternoon so they don't make noise and you can nap. You'll be alone for about three hours before the boys are home from school. You need to sleep."
Ruby nodded. "I'm so tired. All I want to do is sleep anyway."
"Do you need me to check on you at all?"
Ruby shook her head. "Tell Lewis to pop his head in at half past one. I'll be fine other than that."
"Okay. I've fed the twins and will put them down for a nap as soon as we get to my house."
Ruby grabbed Sarah Jane's hand. "Thank you for helping me. I never was sure how to feel about you when we were children. You've turned into an amazing woman, always thinking of others first."
Sarah Jane felt a tear pop into her eye. "Thank you for saying that. I know I was more than a little self-righteous."
Ruby grinned. "Maybe a bit."
At home, Sarah Jane set the pot of soup she'd made for lunch on the stove. She'd left a bit for Lewis to eat, but the rest was for her family. She served the thick potato soup she'd made with the bread she'd baked the day before.
Micah walked into the house at lunchtime and took a deep sniff. The breakfast dishes were still in the sink, but he knew better than saying anything about them. She'd been working all morning, and whatever she'd cooked for lunch smelled like it could be served in heaven!
"I have no idea what that is, but I want a whole mountain of it," he told her.
"Just potato soup. Nothing fancy, but it is tasty." Sarah Jane put a large bowl in front of him.
"Thank you. Where's Chrissy?" he asked.
"I fed her with the twins over at Ruby's. I thought it would be easier to feed the little ones at their own home."
"Makes sense to me." He took her hand and said a quick prayer for them. "About last night—I'm sorry. I keep jumping to erroneous conclusions, and it's not fair to you at all."
"No, it's really not. I'm a hard worker, and I always have been. I don't think it's right that you assume the worst of me so often. If I don't get something done, it's never through lack of effort."
He nodded, his eyes sad. "I know that. I had a hard day yesterday, and I took it out on you. That's no excuse. The truth is, there is no excuse for my behavior, and I'm very sorry."
Sarah Jane nodded. "I forgive you. I'm sorry I fell asleep instead of coming out to talk to you last night. I promise you, it wasn't intentional."
"I realize that now. I was worried that you were angry enough with me for my harsh words that you had decided not to speak to me. I'm glad that's not the case."
"Where do we go from here?" she asked. "I can't live my life the way it needs to be lived and worry my husband is going to constantly assume that I'm not doing something because I'm lazy. I want to be trusted."
He sighed. "I do trust you. I won't make that mistake again." He glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned. "I have an appointment to counsel and pray for a new couple who has moved to Nowhere. They're having some problems. Can we talk about this after Chrissy goes to sleep tonight?"
She nodded. "Of course we can. I intended to do it last night."
He stood, walking around the table to press a kiss to her forehead. "I know. I'm sorry I thought otherwise."
For the rest of the day, Sarah Jane thought about their talk that night while she cleaned and cooked. The girls napped, and Chrissy helped her with the dishes. "Do you enjoy watching the girls?" Sarah Jane asked while they were working side by side.
"Yes, ma'am. They're a lot of work, but I like them."
Sarah Jane smiled. "I'm sure you were a lot of work at that age too."
"Is that why my mama didn't want me anymore?"
"Oh, sweetie. Your mama wanted you or she wouldn't have kept going back to the orphanage to get you. Her circumstances didn't allow her to take care of you, so she put you somewhere you could find a family who would love you. She put you there for your daddy and me."
"Do you think she knew you'd come get me?" Chrissy asked, her voice anxious.
"I don't know. I do know she did the right thing by putting you there. Now we're a family, and we wouldn't be without you."
"Even though you and Daddy are mad at each other?"
Sarah Jane bit her lip, trying to decide how to respond to that. "We're not really mad at each other. You know how when you move in with a new family, and they expect certain things of you? But you don't know what they are until they tell you?"
"Yes. I got sent back once before they told me what they expected." Chrissy sounded sad.
"Well, that's the place your daddy and I are in. We're trying to learn what the other expects of us, and it's hard work right now, figuring it all out."
Chrissy nodded. "Because you just got married."
"Yes! Because we just got married, and we had a little girl we were getting used to as soon as we married. It's not usually like that."
"But you're not sending me back, because you love me."
"That's right. We're keeping you forever." Sarah Jane was pleased Chrissy remembered they were keeping her. "We're not giving up on each other or on you. We're just learning to deal with each other."
"And we're not going back to the orphanage?" Chrissy asked.
"Not right now. I may work there again in the fall when you've started school, but for now, we're going to stay home. When we're not helping others, of course. You know, one of God's commands is for us to love each other. If we're not doing everything we can when others are sick or hurt, are we really loving?"
Chrissy shook her head. "Is that why we help people?"
"It is. It's because it's the right thing to do. If you knew Jade and Crystal were spending all day by themselves, wouldn't you want to help?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm the same way. I know Ruby needs someone to help her, and we live close by. She's my sister, so I help her."
"You had the same mama?"
Sarah Jane shook her head. "No. I was an orphan like you. Aunt Ruby and I lived in the same orphanage, and eventually, we were both adopted by your grandma."
"I like my grandma. She's nice to me."
"Edna Petunia is nice to everyone. She's a little crazy, but she loves people a lot." Especially bastard children.
"I love her too. She lets me help her bake." Chrissy dried the last dish. "When will I get to stay with her like she said I could on my birthday?
"Well, right now, I want to make sure you quit having your nightmares. You haven't had one for four nights. If you go three more nights without one, then we'll say you can go the following weekend."
"Right now, you need me to help with the girls."
&
nbsp; Sarah Jane smiled. "I sure do!" She hugged Chrissy close. "I love you more than I ever thought I could love a little girl. I'm so glad you came to live with us."
"Me too! Now you and Daddy just need to learn to live together, and everything will be good."
Sarah Jane sighed. She certainly hoped it would be that simple.
* * *
Sarah Jane found Micah in the parlor as soon as Chrissy fell asleep that night. He had his notes spread out around him as usual. He looked up, and a slow grin transformed his face as he held out his hand for her. "I'm glad you joined me."
She sat down beside him, folding her hands properly in her lap unlike she had most nights. Usually, she sat down and curled up against him with her head on his shoulder. Tonight, though, she needed to know where their relationship was going before she wanted to get too close.
"Let's talk," she said softly, her eyes on his.
He turned to her on the sofa, one leg curling up under him. "I'd love to."
"I feel like we're at a strange spot in our relationship. We're married, but we don't live as man and wife. We live more like man and housekeeper. Is that going to continue? Where does our relationship go from here?"
"Not afraid to get right to the point, are you?"
She shook her head. "Why waste time? We both know what we need to talk about."
He sighed. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm ready for a real marriage. Everything I've learned about you has made me fall just a bit more in love with you. I knew I was attracted to you from the first day I saw you in church, but now that I've gotten to know you, I know I've made the right choice. I love you, and want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you."
Sarah Jane stared at him in shock. "If you love me, why did you keep getting so angry with me?"
"Because you weren't telling me everything. If I'd known you weren't able to sleep at night or that you were taking care of Ruby's household as well as ours, I would have been a great deal more lenient. You never really gave me full information, and let me jump to my own conclusions." He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "I'll do better if you tell me everything."
"And you'll wait to form conclusions until you've asked?"
He grinned. "You've discovered my worst flaw already. I'm impatient and not good at waiting. Now that you know that, won't it be easier?"
She laughed, shaking her head. "Since I love you despite your big flaw, I think we'll do fine. Just please try to give me a chance before you accuse me of the worst."
He pulled her toward him, kissing her lips. "I will try my very best. Will you try to tell me when you agree to do much more than you should for others?"
She nodded, resting her head against his shoulder. "Maybe we should ask Edna to have her special weekend with Chrissy, and we can spend a couple of days really getting to know each other."
"I'd like that a lot. The funeral is Friday, so the only thing I really need to do Saturday is work on my sermon."
She smiled, kissing his chin. "Then let's take Chrissy to Edna Petunia on Friday night, and the two of us can have the weekend. Katie will help Ruby on Saturday."
He smiled. "It's a few weeks late, but that sounds exactly like a honeymoon to me."
She laughed. "What more could we ask for? Two child-free nights will feel like heaven right about now."
He stroked her cheek. "I promise you. They will be."
Epilogue
Micah was in a good mood as he walked into the house. He had spent the entire day driving around the area, visiting the sick and elderly. More than anything, he'd enjoyed the environment. The bluebonnets were in bloom, and the whole area looked as if God had painted it just for his enjoyment.
As he stepped inside, he frowned. The house was a disaster once again, and his wife and daughter were nowhere to be found.
He searched the house and found Chrissy in her room. She came out with her finger over her lips. "Shh. Mama's sleeping."
Micah frowned. "Sleeping?" Sarah Jane wasn't given to napping, especially when she hadn't finished her chores for the day. He knew Chrissy hadn't kept her up all night because Chrissy slept alone now, and she hadn't come into their room during the night. "I'll go talk to her."
Chrissy frowned. "But she's tired."
"I love that you protect your mama, but you don't have to protect her from me. I love her too."
Chrissy shrugged, going back into her room.
Micah opened the door to their bedroom quietly, going in to sit on the side of the bed where Sarah Jane was curled up on her side, sound asleep. "Sarah Jane? Are you all right?"
Sarah Jane sat up and immediately lay back down. "I'm sorry! I slept longer than I meant to."
"Did you help someone today? Are you sick?"
"I didn't help anyone, and I'm not exactly sick." She frowned. "Oh, this wasn't how I meant to tell you!"
"Tell me what? What's going on here, Sarah Jane?" He'd learned his lesson about jumping to conclusions, and he was sure there was a reason she was sleeping the day away instead of working. He just didn't understand what that reason was yet.
Sarah Jane took his hand and pressed it to her belly. "We're expecting. A baby of our own."
Micah's eyes grew wide. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "I saw Dr. Iris early this afternoon, and she confirmed it."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just really tired and queasy. When I came in here, I promised myself I'd shut my eyes for only a minute. That was right after lunch. I haven't even fixed supper." She closed her eyes. "I'm sorry!"
"Don't be sorry. Are you able to cook? Should I make something?"
Sarah Jane eyed him skeptically. "What do you know how to cook?"
"Pancakes. I'll make some if you want." Micah was willing to do anything for her. She was carrying his child, after all.
"That's all right. Pancakes don't sound like the healthiest meal I could eat. I'll fix something." She took a deep breath and rolled to a sitting position. "The queasiness seems to be over."
"You're sure?"
"I'm fine. I can handle supper." She smiled. "I can't wait to hold him!"
"Him? Are you that sure it's a boy?" Micah teased.
"I honestly don't care if we get a boy or a girl. A healthy child who will always be loved will suit me just fine. Maybe he can share a birthday with our daughter. I'm due on the twenty-third of December."
Micah laughed. "Well, our little Christmas Carol wouldn't mind sharing her birthday. She thinks it's the best day in the world already."
"I do too. Because it's the day she came into this world." Sarah Jane's eyes met his. "I'm so glad you're in my life."
He pulled her to him, kissing her softly. "So am I. Life would never be complete without you and Chrissy."
If you enjoyed this Christmas romance, be sure to look for the others in the Countdown to Christmas series. Find them HERE
Author Bio
USA Today bestselling author Kirsten Osbourne knows how to write romance. Each book is an experience that transplants the reader, indulging them in decadence, intense emotion, and sweeping love.
Hailing from the state of Wisconsin, she has lived in Texas for over thirty years as a mother, writer, and wife. Married to the love of her life for more than fifteen years, she knows that true love exists, and shares that vision with the world.
She writes contemporary and historical romance as well, and also ventures into the realm of paranormal romance. She invites you to join her in her world of fantasy, love, and make believe, no matter the location, where there is always a happily ever after at the end. You can learn more about her at http://www.kirstenandmorganna.com.
Table of Contents
Sarah Jane
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
she would be a good wife for him. Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Author Bio
Sarah Jane (Countdown to Christmas Book 1) Page 12
