Love Inspired Historical November 2015

by Linda Ford

  Millicent knew the others wanted to be there to see her open the gift they’d all worked on together and she was glad Mrs. Heaton was excited about having everyone over.

  She looked forward to this Christmas more than she had any in a long time. She’d miss her family, but Heaton House had become home to her, and she thought of the boarders, present and past, as family, too. And Matt would be here. This would be the first Christmas they’d shared and for some reason the thought of spending it with him made her feel all fluttery inside.

  She took a sip of tea and glanced at Matt. He smiled at her and then winked, and Millicent nearly choked on the warm liquid she’d just swallowed. He immediately began patting her on the back, but tears were streaming down her eyes before she got things under control.

  “I’m sorry, Millicent. I didn’t know I had that kind of effect on you,” Matt whispered as Mrs. Heaton brought a glass of water for her. He grinned as she took a sip, sending her pulse into overdrive. Oh, that man!

  Chapter Twenty-One

  When Millicent came downstairs the next morning, she was still thinking about Matt’s wink, which led to thoughts of the kiss they’d shared weeks ago—although it seemed like yesterday.

  Matt had been quite observant the night before and she’d caught him looking at her each time she glanced his way, which was much too often.

  Millicent entered the dining room and in spite of her determination to quit thinking about the wink and the kiss, her glance strayed straight toward Matt.

  “Good morning,” he greeted her.

  “Morning.” She filled her plate with fluffy scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and toast before joining him at the table.

  “You ready for that photo shoot?” he asked.

  He’d remembered. And no matter why she’d offered, or how crazy she might have been to do so, she wasn’t going to take back the invitation—no matter what effect being around him all day had on her. If her pulse weren’t racing, her heart was hammering, and all because he’d become very attentive—almost…flirty lately, and she didn’t know how to react to him. “Are you certain you feel like going with me, Matt? I have another in a few days. You can go then if you aren’t up to it.”

  “I’ll have some pain no matter where I am and won’t think about it as much if I’m out and about.”

  “But your shoulder—”

  “I don’t have any pain in my shoulder now, and while I’ll need to be careful with my arm for a while, not to hit it and to keep it in the sling until the doctor says I can take it off, the pain is manageable. Are you trying to say you don’t want me to come along?”

  “No! Of course not. I just don’t want you to feel you have to go, if you don’t want to.”

  “Millie, you should realize by now that I don’t do many things I don’t want to.”

  His gaze was so direct, so sincere, it gave her heart a jolt.

  “You’re right. We’ll need to leave by nine-thirty.”

  Matt looked at the clock on the mantel. “I’ll be ready when you are. Your clients won’t mind my being with you, will they?”

  “I don’t see why they would. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  *

  And it was. The Williamses, friends of the Evanses who’d recommended her to them, were quite welcoming to them both. They asked Matt about his arm and he told them about his accident as he tried to help Millicent set up her tripod and camera, and then stood out of the way while she conversed with the couple and found out what it was they wanted.

  “We just want photographs like you took of our friends—we loved the ones of them all smiling. It was so heartwarming and that’s the feeling we want our photographs to depict.”

  “I’m so glad you liked them. I feel many of our formal photographs are much too serious.”

  The couple wanted one in front of their fireplace and she took several shots of them there, making them laugh together so that she could catch them in a happy pose. But she didn’t stop there. She took several more photos of them on the settee, asking them to sit like they normally did.

  By the time she’d finished and began packing up her camera, Matt could see why she was becoming much in demand. She worked hard at what she did and he had no doubt the final photographs would be keepsakes handed down for many generations. Millicent had a one-of-a-kind talent that would eventually be emulated by others for years to come.

  When he said as much to her on the way home, she looked surprised.

  “What? You don’t think I know how talented you are? Or that I appreciate it?”

  She shrugged. “I just thought you disapproved and—”

  “I’m not sure disapproval is what I felt at first, but I can assure you, it’s admiration I have for you and your talent, Millie. You’re going to be famous one day.”

  He could tell she was at a loss for words and it was probably a good thing the trolley came to a stop, for the disbelief in her expression had him wanting to pull her into his arms and convince her he meant what he said.

  *

  The next week was one of the best Millicent could remember. Mrs. Heaton had all kinds of greenery delivered on Monday, and she and Millicent and Georgia stayed busy over the next few days, draping it over mantels, the staircases and doorways. The house smelled of the outside and Christmas.

  That, added to the aromas coming from the kitchen, made Millicent’s mouth water. Gretchen and Maida were making all kinds of Christmas treats—cookies, cakes and candies—to have at Heaton House and give to friends and neighbors.

  Millicent and Georgia wrapped their presents, and Matt’s, to send home and he accompanied them to the post office. They stopped for hot chocolate at the café near the building Millicent was still waiting to hear about.

  When they came out, they paused in front of it to peek in the window again, and Millicent liked it as much as she had the first time she and Matt had looked at it.

  When they arrived home, it was to find that the broker for the building she wanted to see had telephoned. She excitedly returned his call and in minutes she and Matt and Georgia were on their way back out to see it.

  “I’m sure it’s going to be too expensive. I probably shouldn’t even be looking at it.”

  “Even if you decide against it, you’ll know if you like the floor plan and the style. It might not even be to your taste,” Matt said, moving his arm a bit so that Millicent had no choice but to walk closer to him. “And if it needs a little work, I’ll be glad to help.”

  Her heart seemed to melt at his words as she suddenly realized Matt was letting her know he would be there for her whether he liked the idea of her having her own business or not. “I… Thank you, Matt.”

  The broker, Richard Green, was there to greet them, apologizing for being out of town when she called.

  “But that might be for the best,” he said. “The other person interested in the property, who was trying to get his financing together, had to pull his offer and right now, there are none on this building. I know the owner wants it sold as quickly as possible.”

  Millicent’s excitement at his words was tempered with the knowledge that she wasn’t sure she was ready to make a quick decision. He led them inside and she knew immediately that she loved the building. The bottom floor was just right for a photography shop, with several other rooms leading off the hallway, one much larger than the others. It would work well as a studio.

  “You could rent out one of these rooms for someone’s office, Millicent,” Georgia said.

  “It does look as if there were offices in here at one time.”

  “Oh, there were,” Mr. Green said. He opened the door to a smaller room. “This was used as a supply closet, but could easily be turned into a darkroom for your developing, I would think.”

  Millicent looked at Matt for his opinion.

  “He’s right. It’d be no problem at all. Let’s see what’s upstairs.”

  “A beautiful living area is on the next two floors,” Mr. Green said. “I th
ink you’ll love it.”

  There was a frosted glass door at the top of the stairs and Mr. Green opened it to a nice-size foyer that led to a parlor on one side, a dining room on the other, with the kitchen at the back. It needed a bit of work, but was quite usable as it was.

  Then he led them to a room across from the kitchen that had been used as an office, but could be a second parlor or study. They went back into the hall and up the staircase to the third floor that opened up to three bedrooms and a nicely fitted bathroom. It was everything Millicent had dreamed it might be and more. Or at least it seemed to be.

  They were shown the attic and Matt poked around while Millicent looked out the window onto the street below. Unless Matt found something horribly wrong, it was perfect to her.

  This was truly a home and shop all together. And what work was needed wouldn’t be that hard to do. But because it seemed to be in such great shape, she was almost certain she wouldn’t be able to afford it.

  The broker asked if they wanted to see the basement and Matt immediately said yes. Millicent knew that meant he was checking out everything as well as he could in this short visit. She looked around, but then she and Georgia went back up to look at the living quarters once more, telling Matt to let her know when he was through.

  *

  Matt couldn’t find much of anything wrong with the building—nothing he couldn’t take care of anyway, and he knew Millicent loved it. It would be perfect for her.

  Although he was feeling steadier as the day went on, Matt appreciated that Mr. Green followed him back up the stairs, where they met up with Millicent and Georgia.

  “Well, what do you think? Would it fit your needs, Miss Faircloud?” Mr. Green asked.

  “Yes, it would. Can you tell me what the owner wants for it?”

  Mr. Green named a number that raised Millicent’s eyebrows and told Matt that it was out of her price range. His heart fell with disappointment for her as she shook her head.

  “I’m afraid that’s more than I can afford. The owner would have to come down several thousand dollars.”

  “He might. He wants to sell it. He’s out of state until after Christmas, so you have some time. I’ll get in touch with you once he gets back.”

  “But what if someone else—”

  “I’ll contact you right away and give you first dibs.”

  “That’s all I can ask. Thank you for your time.”

  “Yes, thank you, Mr. Green. It’s a nice property.”

  “It’s been my pleasure. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me,” Mr. Green said.

  “We will.” Matt held out his hand and shook the other man’s hand. Green seemed sympathetic to Millicent. Maybe he could get that price down for her.

  Millicent sighed as they started back to Heaton House. “I knew I shouldn’t look at it. It was perfect, wasn’t it?”

  “It was very nice.” Matt patted Millicent’s hand that rested on his forearm. “Don’t give up. Maybe the owner will come down on his price or rent out the bottom for you.”

  “I’m not going to count on it. Perhaps now isn’t the time. If I’m meant to open my shop, the Lord will show me the right place at the right time.”

  “That’s a good way to look at it,” Georgia said.

  “Well, I’d miss everyone if I did move out. I’m not sure I’d be happy by myself. It’s a big place for just one person.”

  Matt couldn’t argue with her there. “That it is.”

  *

  That evening Mrs. Heaton’s family joined them for dinner, and afterward, the whole group went to see Macy’s windows. Emily was even able to go along with them as she was now only in charge of the subtle changes they’d make each day to keep the windows looking fresh up until Christmas.

  There was quite a crowd gathered and once they drew nearer one could see why. The displays were quite spectacular.

  “Oh, my,” Georgia said when they got close enough to look in one of the windows. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s beautiful!”

  “It’s better even than last year, Emily,” Millicent said. “I’m sure your touch helped very much.”

  “Oh, I can’t say that. But I think all the displays are wonderful. I did have some input on this one.” Emily pointed to the next window along Fourteenth Street.

  Once Jenny saw it, she ran forward and plastered her face to the window. “Oh, Granma, look! Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “It truly is, Jenny, dear,” Mrs. Heaton said from behind her grandchild, her eyes sparkling as much as Jenny’s.

  Millicent felt like a child again looking at the collection of dolls set in all kinds of different Christmas venues. One showed a family gathered around a small Christmas tree to decorate it. And another had a family sitting at a table set with tiny dishes, their heads bowed as if they were praying. She loved it.

  There were so many different scenes that when it was time to leave they still hadn’t seen all the windows. Millicent’s hand was resting on the forearm of Matt’s good arm and he leaned over to say, “I’ve never really done this—come to see Macy’s windows during the Christmas season. I won’t miss it again.”

  “Nor will I.” Millicent smiled up at him.

  “We’ll come again,” Rebecca promised her daughter as they turned to go. “It will give you something to look forward to until Christmas Day gets here.”

  “Want to come with me again before Christmas?” Matt whispered to Millicent.

  “I’d love to.” She could think of nothing she’d rather do than spend time with Matt. Did his invitation mean that he had the same kind of feelings for her that she had for him, or was he just trying to fill the hours of the day? And even if he did feel the way she did—could she endure the worry of something happening to him every time he went to work? If not—could she bear not having him in her life? Please, dear Lord, help me to know.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Everyone was very happy to have perfect weather for the progressive dinner the next evening. The houses really weren’t all that far apart, and the air more crisp than cold, so they could walk to each one.

  Everything would start and end at Heaton House, since Maida and Gretchen would be watching Mrs. Heaton’s grandchildren while they were gone.

  After they admired Mrs. Heaton’s decorations, they headed to Violet and Michael’s, where she served canapés to get them started. At Rebecca and Ben’s they enjoyed seeing the decorations they’d put up, many of them handmade with Jenny. Then Rebecca served clear soup with breadsticks to warm them up for the next walk.

  At Kathleen’s they were served baked fish with coleslaw. Her dining table had a beautiful centerpiece spanning the length of it made with fresh greenery and red candles.

  The next stop was Elizabeth and John’s, which was a little longer walk than the last ones and turned out to be a good thing.

  “I think I’m going to be quite full by the time this evening is over, but it’s quite fun, isn’t it?” Matt asked.

  “It is. I hope everyone wants to do it again next year.” Would she and Matt be walking together then? What did the next year hold for them?

  Millicent shook off her thoughts as they arrived at the Talbots’, where greenery was draped and tied with red ribbon on the staircase and over the windows. Elizabeth served filet of beef and duchess potatoes, and by the time they all headed back to Heaton House, Millicent seriously wondered if she’d be able to hold another bite.

  When she said as much to Matt as they walked behind the others, he pulled her a little closer and whispered, “Me, either. I don’t know when I’ve eaten so much food for one meal—or four meals in one night. But it’s all been delicious and a lot of fun. Now I’m wondering what Mrs. Heaton has for dessert.”

  Millicent chuckled. “I’m hoping it’s something light.”

  Mrs. Heaton must have realized how full they’d be when they arrived back home, so she’d decided on a frozen pudding and bonbons served afterward.

 
It’d been a fun evening, getting to see how the married couples had decorated their homes and the laughter and conversation they’d all shared. Everyone declared the progressive dinner a success and decided to do it again the following year.

  As Millicent joined the others in seeing the married couples off, she wondered if she would be here or in her own place by then. Her glance strayed to Matt. He turned to her and smiled—he would have to catch her staring at him!

  The other women headed upstairs and Millicent turned to join them, but Matt stopped her by putting a hand on her arm.

  “You need help getting down, Matt?” Joe asked with a smile on his face.

  “No, thank you. I can make it fine.”

  “I’m sure you can.” Joe chuckled as he headed down. “By the way, I saw what you snagged at John’s.”

  “Yep, so did I,” Stephen said. He and Joe laughed together as they made their way to the ground floor.

  “What did you snag, Matt? And what do you want to speak to me about?”

  Matt smiled at her and Millicent’s heart did a flip as he lowered his head. “I—”

  “Millicent, where are you? Are you still downstairs?” Julia’s voice from upstairs jerked them apart, although Matt’s arm remained around her. “Would you see if I left my purse in the parlor?”

  Millicent heard the deep sigh Matt released as her gaze locked with his. “I’m still down here. I’ll see if I can find it.”

  “Good night, Millie.” Matt’s voice was husky and thick and she was certain she’d never forget the sound of it. “We need to talk soon. See you in the morning.”

  With that he turned to go downstairs and Millicent hurried to the parlor, her fingers covering her lips. Had he been about to kiss her? And what did they need to talk about?

  *

  It’d turned colder over the weekend, but with no wind, it wasn’t too bad. They’d walked to church on Sunday, and the sermon, along with the quiet peacefulness of the walk home, did much to make Millicent realize the Lord was in control and would give her guidance when He thought the time was right, and she did pray it was soon.