Free The Fragrance of Her Name by Marcia Lynn McClure Page B

I’ve no doubt that somebody intended it.”
    “ Mr. Masterson,” Georgia began another question.
    “ Brant, Ma’am,” Brant corrected her.
    Georgia smiled. “Brant.” Then she began again. “Where were you bound? Were you as astonished as I am now to find out who these two ladies were?”
    “ Yes, Ma'am,” Brant answered. “I was heading for Memphis to meet my brother…and then these two angels of mercy came into the wounded car. And we just sort of….bumped into each other.”
    Lauryn felt she was in a dream. As she sat, so completely fatigued, listening to Brant and her mother converse, she could not quite believe she was in a realm of reality. It seemed too strange…to simply meet Brant on a train as she had and have him here, in their auto on the way to Connemara.
    Patrick wriggled, miserably confined in the back seat. Lauryn put her arm around his shoulders and whispered, “Don’t you worry, Patrick. Mr. Masterson will have plenty of time this week for you.” Patrick sighed heavily and squeezed Lauryn’s hand.
    “ I’m awful glad you’re home, Lauryn,” he whispered in return. “And I’m glad you brung a blind soldier with you, too.”
    Lauryn smiled. Yes, she was home. As they drove along the streets of Franklin, she breathed in the familiar air, gazed at the familiar buildings in town and felt whole once again. There was something about home that was comforting, secure, loved.
    “ So you’re stayin’ with us for only a week?” Lauryn’s attention was drawn back to the conversation by her mother’s disappointed exclamation. “That’s hardly long enough to have sit-down supper.” Georgia’s disappointment was obvious. “And besides, between Sean and Patrick…won’t any of us women have one minute of your leftover attention.”
    “ Sean, Ma’am?” Brant asked.
    “ Sean. Lauryn’s older brother,” Georgia explained. “He and his wife Mindy, and my adorable grand-baby, live a few doors down from Connemara House. He’s been home near to a year. Got the flu overseas and made it through, thank Heaven.”
    “ Is the baby just too cute, Mama?” Lauryn asked. The thought of a baby nearby caused her heart to flutter with delight. Her own little niece to dote on!
    “ Well, of course!” Georgia exclaimed. “What kind of a silly question is that?”
    “ I take it that you like babies, Miss Kensington?” Brant chuckled. It was obvious he’d noticed the thrill in her voice, as well.
    “ Does Lauryn like babies?” Patrick exclaimed as if it were the most ridiculous question he’d ever heard uttered. “Why do you think I thought y’all was married and gonna have one, Mister?”
    Again Brant chuckled and Lauryn’s face turned crimson as her grandmother giggled as well. Reaching over she pinched Patrick’s knee in retaliation.
    “ Ouch! Mama! Lauryn pinched me!” the child tattled.
    “ That’s enough! And Patrick…you shouldn’t say such things. And Lauryn…quit pinchin’ your brother.”
    Brant was still enjoying a chuckle when Lauryn looked over to him. Though he tried to restrain it out of respect for their mother’s reprimand, it was obvious that he was deeply amused.
    If the train ride had seemed long, the mere 5 miles home from the station seemed even longer. Lauryn’s mother continued to pop out questions to Brant, and Patrick continued to be completely tactless in his interruptions. Several times, Nana reached back from the front seat and patted Lauryn reassuringly on the knee. But all Lauryn wanted was escape. And she kept wondering why Patrick was sitting between her and Brant. And it bothered her that he was…which also bothered her because, why did she care?
    At long last, they reached Connemara House and a sweetly familiar warmth and calmness sifted over Lauryn’s tired mind and body. There it was…lights beckoning from the windows. Mindy, a baby in her arms, peered out anxiously through the large window in the parlor. And Sean stood against one column