Angel took a deep breath, and lowered her head. “My stepmother Sylvia is here. She’s had a bad time since she left me, and she plans to stay here with us.” She mumbled the last part of the sentence, so Nate placed his finger under her chin, and raised her head to look her in the eyes.
“Would you mind repeating that last part?”
She cleared her throat. “She plans to stay here with us?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” He questioned.
“Is that all right?”
“Suppose you give me a bit more information before I answer that.” He shifted her on his lap, and slid his arms around her waist. “If I remember correctly, she’s the woman who gave you no choice about traveling across country, by yourself, to marry a stranger. She left you so she could make a comfortable home for herself with her sister in Virginia, and she’s here expecting to be welcomed with open arms?”
“I know.” Angel ducked her head again. “From what Sylvia told me, the war came to their front door, and they were tossed from their house by the Yankees. She and her sister relocated to Richmond to stay with friends, and while staying there her sister contracted scarlet fever and died. Not having anywhere else to go, she came here.”
“To her beloved stepdaughter.” Nate smirked.
“Please, she’s really in a bad way. For Sylvia to come to my doorstep, with all her belongings, I know things had to be terrible for her. Even though she has her faults, I can’t turn my back on her. She’s my papa’s widow.”
“Darlin’, you are too soft hearted, but then I guess that’s why I love you.” He said softly.
Angel looked up abruptly, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “You love me?”
He watched her carefully. Did she return his feelings? Should he have waited before speaking? He ran his knuckles across her cheek. “Oh, yes. You have turned my life upside down, and taken over my heart.”
Angel’s eyes filled with tears, and she swallowed. “Good.” She leaned her forehead on his, and lowered her voice. “Because I love you, too, and I didn’t want to be alone in my feelings.”
He pulled her close and took possession of her mouth in a hungry kiss. A wave of happiness washed over him. This wonderful woman returned his feelings.
Nate reluctantly released her sweet mouth. “Honey, this is your home, too. If you want to let her stay, then it’s fine with me. Where is she, anyway?”
“Um, that’s the other thing. She’s resting upstairs on our bed.”
“Our bed!”
“Shush,” Angel said. “She was distraught when she arrived, and had a headache, so I offered her our room to rest for a while. You do remember the shape I was in when I reached Oregon City?” She winced. “I must admit, she looked much better than I did, though.”
Julia-Rose picked that moment to bang on the floor with one of her brother’s wooden soldiers. “Mama! Up.”
Angel rescued the child from her play area and returned to the kitchen.
Nate took the baby from her, and stretched his arms up so Julia-Rose dangled over his head. “Hello, my sweetie. Have you been a good girl today?”
Julia-Rose smiled as a line of drool fell from her mouth to his nose. “Thanks, honey. Now I won’t need to wash before supper.” He studied her forehead as he handed her off to Angel before he washed his hands and face. “What happened to her head this time?”
“She fell down the stairs.”
Nate blew out a breath. “Where are we going to put Sylvia?” He rubbed his face with a cloth.
“I thought maybe the bedroom downstairs?”
“You mean my library?” He raised one eyebrow.
“We can move the bookcases into the parlor, and pretend that’s a library.” She considered him with hope in her eyes.
“That’s fine, we can do that. We’ll have to buy another bed, and move things around. I won’t be able to do that until Saturday. Where will she sleep in the meantime?”
Angel peeked at him under thick, dark eyelashes.
“No.” He rested his hands on his hips. “I’m not back on the settee, again?”