Free A Mother at Heart by Carolyne Aarsen Page A

feeling well?”
    â€œIt seems so up and down. If he doesn’t get better, I’m going to have to bring him in to the doctor. But for now all is well, and God is good. We still haveeach other and Jake and Taryn, and for that we can be grateful, can’t we?”
    Yes you can, thought Miriam.
    â€œNow, what groceries do you want?” Miriam wrote down what Tilly told her. They chatted a bit more and then Tilly said goodbye. It was like old times, Miriam thought with a smile as she closed the phone. Running errands, idle chat.
    She missed it.
    She was putting her phone and the list back in her purse when she saw a tall figure pausing at the traffic lights on the main street. Jake.
    He was frowning. Miriam could see it from here. She swallowed down her quick response to him, frustrated with how easily old feelings came back. The light turned green and he crossed the street. He walked along the street opposite her, then looked up and saw her. His step faltered, then, after a quick glance both ways, he jogged across the street toward her.
    Visiting with Donna this morning had recreated the past. Now, once again, as Jake sauntered up to her, she felt the same foolish thrill she always did when she saw him. It didn’t matter that just this morning she had seen him with mud on his face and pants; he still seemed to tower above her, to dominate the area around him.
    â€œHello,” she said evenly. “You finished at the church?”
    â€œThey didn’t need me. So I had some business to do.”
    â€œI’m picking up some groceries for Tilly.”
    â€œThat’s not necessary,” Jake said abruptly. Heshifted his weight and slipped his hands in the back pockets of his blue jeans. “I can get them.”
    Miriam felt dismissed. Though she wanted to fight it, she realized that putting her farm up for sale pulled her back from their lives, as well.
    She busied herself looking through her purse, found the piece of paper on which she had written the list, and handed it to Jake. “Are you sure? I don’t mind doing it.”
    â€œThat’s okay. Thanks anyhow.” He forced a smile as if to compensate for his brusque attitude, but Miriam wasn’t fooled. She knew what Jake’s sincere smile could do. And had he bestowed one on her, she wouldn’t be standing here, seething over how easily he seemed to exempt her from his life.
    She had hoped to visit with Tilly for a while, but she’d have to make time for that another day.
    â€œWell, I guess I’ll see you around.” She was about to turn.
    â€œDid you want me to give you a ride to Denny’s?”
    â€œThat’s not necessary,” she said mimicking his words of a few moments ago. “They said they would deliver the car to me.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll see you around then.” And he turned on his heel and walked across the street again.
    Miriam watched him go, her emotions narrowing down to anger. She felt as if she had been judged and found wanting. As if Jake Steele were above reproach, she thought angrily.
    By the time Denny brought her car to town, she was tired and glad to see him.
    She followed him back to the office, paid for the repairs done on her car and then drove home.
    The road back was still wet from the rain of this morning and the car was difficult to handle, but that didn’t stop Miriam from going too fast. She fishtailed a couple of times, and after the second time, forced herself to slow down. The last thing she wanted was for Jake to have to rescue her. Again.
    By the time she got home she wasn’t quite as angry as before. Instead, a peculiar hurt overlaid her earlier emotions. A painful realization that she didn’t fit here anymore.
    Well, it was a good thing she had realized that as soon as possible and hadn’t pinned anything on this place.
    She spent the rest of the day and most of the night cleaning up and making the place look a little