Free Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher

hard for Luvena to find a man willing to marry her. She was beautiful and intelligent. Despite her being only twenty-three, she was a capable and caring mother to her wards. She wasn’t afraid of hard work. A man would be a fool not to—
    â€œMy goodness.” Luvena’s voice rescued him from his thoughts. “I didn’t expect to find all of you in the kitchen.”
    Clay turned toward the parlor. Luvena stood framed in the doorway, looking even lovelier than she had in the thea­ter office. How was that possible? She wore the same dress and her hair was unchanged. Perhaps it was the way the light fell through the parlor window. Or perhaps—
    â€œWe’re helpin’ Mr. Birch make lunch,” Elsie said.
    A quick glance told him the kids had, indeed, started while he’d stood there lost in thought.
    â€œSandwiches,” Ethan added, slapping a slice of cold roast beef onto bread.
    Luvena took a step into the kitchen. “I hope they weren’t in your way, Mr. Birch.”
    â€œNo. Not at all.” He cleared his throat. “I guess you got your letter posted in time.”
    â€œYes.”
    For some reason he didn’t understand, he wished she would tell him what she’d written to the catalogue. He didn’t want secrets between them.
    â€œAnd I met Shannon Dubois,” she continued. “She invited all of us to dinner after church service tomorrow.”
    â€œGuess what, Aunt Vena?”
    â€œWhat, Ethan?” She looked toward her nephew.
    â€œMr. Birch taught me how to swing my bat better. And I hit the ball Merry threw!”
    Luvena’s eyes widened as they shifted back to Clay.
    He shrugged. “I learned a little about the game during the war. Just shared it with the kid.”
    There was a warmth permeating the kitchen. Not one caused by the sun overhead or the stove against the opposite wall. No, it was a warmth created by the people in the room. All of them. The Browne children too. It came from their hearts and their laughter and their smiles. It made the small house feel like . . . like a home. It made all of them feel like a family. Clay hadn’t felt that way in many, many years. Maybe never.
    A gentle smile played around the corners of Luvena’s mouth. “You continue to surprise me, Mr. Birch.”
    She couldn’t be any more surprised than he was himself.

Chapter Ten
    Luvena had enjoyed the previous Sunday service at the Presbyterian church. Reverend Adair was an excellent preacher with a fine, clear voice. But today melancholy wrapped itself around her heart as she sat in the same pew as Clay Birch, her nieces and nephew between them—Ethan next to Clay, Elsie next to Luvena, Merry in the middle.
    Like a family .
    Would she have preferred that Clay sit elsewhere? No. She wouldn’t. In truth, she wished she was beside him. It would feel so right, even if it made her sad. Soon enough she and the children would leave Grand Coeur, and it wasn’t likely she’d see him again. She would miss him. She would miss him more than she should. The letters they’d exchanged hadn’t been many. Her time in Grand Coeur hadn’t been long. But she would miss him. Terribly so.
    Reverend Adair began the closing prayer. Luvena closed her eyes, but rather than attending to the minister’s words, she pictured the five of them as they’d been in the kitchen yesterday. They’d all been happy in that moment. Even Clay. She was sure of it.
    Why isn’t that enough for him, Lord? What could I do to change what’s happening?
    Clay liked her. Perhaps his feelings for her weren’t as strong as her feelings were for him, but he did like her. But that wasn’t enough to change his mind.
    Don’t go .
    The words stirred inside her heart. Her own thoughts? Or God’s voice?
    Don’t leave .
    The reverend said, “Amen,” and the congregation repeated the word. Clay rose and