Romancing the Widow
Page 17
She pulled her hand away and buried it in her skirts. Her eyes glistened, and she looked ready to flee the room.
His conversation with her parents, and what he believed to be her genuine affection for him, steeled his will to continue. “I love you, Martha.”
She blinked. Her lips parted, and a small gasp escaped.
“Marry me. Sit on my porch swing and share what’s left of this old man’s life.”
Her lips trembled and her brow crushed together. “You are not an old man, Haskell Jacobs.” She glanced down and rolled her lips. “But—” She peeked up at him. “In the orchard. I was not completely truthful with you.”
He knew now, but he let her say it.
“I am not all that you think I am.”
Clasping her hands tightly, she drew a deep breath. “There is something you should know about me that could change the way you feel.”
A smile pulled at his mouth “I already know about your two last names.”
She choked out a halfhearted laugh but shook her head. Then she raised that defiant chin he had come to love.
“You will have no son to give your father’s watch if you marry me. Nor any daughters.” Her eyes pooled and her voice fell to a whisper. “I am barren.”
The groan broke deep in his chest and he pulled her into his arms. “My sweet Martha.” Gladly he’d spend the rest of his life proving she was more than enough. “I don’t need a son if I have you.”
A shudder rippled through her.
“Your love means more to me than many sons or daughters.”
She pushed free and held both hands to her mouth. Above them, dark eyes searched his face, hoping, doubting, pleading.
How to convince her? He couldn’t lose her now, not because of her doubts, not after all they’d been through.
“Do you need proof?”
She blinked again and a jewel slipped from her eyes and down her face.
“What did your father say? The day of the basket social.”
Her brows furrowed and she glanced away, remembering.
“If you cannot see the evidence of my love, then take it on faith.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. His insides knotted. Had he misjudged her feelings after all?
“Oh, Haskell.” A wind whisper through the pines. He shivered at the sound.
“I have loved you with such hope.”
He pulled her to him and her arms went round him with a quivering breath. Then he raised her chin and gently kissed the tears from her lips.
“Who knows what God has in store for us, Martha? He proved that to me the day I watched a red-haired beauty in black step from the train.”
A breathy laugh pushed against his chest. “Only you would see beauty where there was nothing but pain.” She sat back and brushed at her damp cheeks. “I suppose there is more than one way to fill a home with love and laughter.”
“Who’s to say there is not a child somewhere who needs the same? More than one, or a whole house full.”
Her smile spilled over him, soothing all the old scars, healing every longing.
“A porch, you say?” She slanted a teasing glance.
His heart raced. “And a swing.”
She held out her delicate hand in acceptance.
“Well, in that case, the answer is yes, Haskell Tillman Jacobs. I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460337691
Romancing the Widow
Copyright © 2014 by Davalynn Spencer
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